In Sherwood Forest Robin and Esme are still running. Exhausted Esme drops to walk as thunder rumbles. Robin stops at the top of a hill, looking around while waiting for her to catch him up.

"What do you think you’re doing? This Nightwatchman business will be the death of you." He asked her worried for her. He wouldn't lose her to matrimony to Guy or by death of Gisborne's hand as he steps back down to Esme.

"But these are my last days as the Nightwatchman. I will not be able to do it when I am at Locksley." Esme responded dejectedly as she had slowly come to face the fact she would marry Guy.

"You do not have to go back to Locksley. I told you. You do not have to marry him." He reminded her as he shakes his head as thunder rumbles again. Robin turns and takes a few more steps forwards.

"I have no choice." Her voice was broken causing him to turn around. He refused to see his light lose hope.

"No! I was coming to tell you. I have the proof I need. The physician. The physician will talk. I found him and he agreed to give evidence. He did not treat Gisborne. Gisborne was not there. He was in the Holy Land." He informed her as he saw spirits brightening in her eyes as she smiled weakily.

"And he will say this in public?" She asked as Robin nods, smiling. Esme chuckles in relief. A bird flutters loudly nearby and Robin puts his hand on Esme’s shoulder and listens for trouble.

"Really?" She whispered as Robin nods at her, smiling.

"Thank you." She hugged him tightly half smiling, half ready to cry. Esme puts her hand on his on her shoulder. "I do not know how to thank you."

Robin slowly began to caresses her cheek, Esme thought he meant it in a brotherly gesture for the feeling of comfort, when Robin desired it out of romance.

"We’ll think of something. Come on!" He winked and cheered her to chase him like they did when they were younger as Robin runs up the hill causing Esme to laugh and smile. Suddenly her smile falters as she lets out a soft moan of pain, but she ignores it and turns to follow. She takes a step, then suddenly gasps sharply and collapses to her knees as Robin stops at the top of the rise and looks around.

"Robin?" Esme called out weakly as Esme chokes, looking up helplessly and grimaces in pain.

"Esme?" Robin’s voice echoes as he quickly runs to her and she blacks out.

*************

"Esme! Don't stray too far!" I heard my mother shout out as I laughed pulling the reigns to my horse as he slowed down. I turned around to see my mother riding towards me with a grin as her hair flowed after her. We were deep in Sherwood Forest as we continued to race and laugh as we enjoyed spending the day out in the fresh air.

Hearing the sound of panicked birds and snapping of twigs we both paused and glanced around at the empty surroundings. Hearing the sound of an arrow leaving a bow and the thud of the arrow landing into the wood just missing my mother we both screamed and took off.

"Ride faster Esme! No matter what don't look back!" She shouted before I heard a sudden scream out behind me.

"MUMMY!" I screamed glancing over my shoulder watching her fall off her shoulder before I felt something slam into me causing me to fall and black out……

*************

Little John enters the cave, dripping wet from the rain. He storms past Much and Djaq by the fire, tosses down his staff and hangs his coat up on a protruding rock in the wall. Much looks at him questioningly, holding his cap on a stick over the fire to dry.

"No sign! Of anyone!" He snapped as Much took of his cap off the stick and putting it on his head.

"I don’t understand. Where are they?" He complained as suddenly Robin enters carrying Esme.

"John! John!" He cried as it seemed to go slow for everyone as Little John and Djaq run to him past Much, who is standing, staring in horror. Little John takes Esme into his arms.

"I’ve got her, I’ve got her." Little John ensured as he held Esme, who was freezing and looking pale as Esme coughs and Robin bends over tired and scared for Esme, putting his hands on his knees and catching his breath.

"Gisborne stabbed her." Robin informed as they all gasped shocked.

"What?" Little John questioned as he glanced down at the weak Esme. She looked helpless like a new born babe.

"In the belly." Robin panted as Robin hurries after Djaq.

"It is a shallow wound, not serious." Esme struggled to say through her coughs and shivers as she winced by sudden movement.

"We need dry bedding. She needs to get dry." Djaq informed.

"Get a light." Robin instructed Much as he nods and runs to grab a light whilst Robin and Djaq lead Little John into the rear of the cave to a rock slab spread with furs, and Little John lays her down. Djaq climbs up next to her on the rock.

"Here!... John!... John!" Much claims frightened as Little John takes the torch as Djaq starts to examine Esme.

"I need clean water to wash the wound." Djaq informed as Much finds his flask and hands it to Djaq as Robin lights a thick candle from the torch to give light.

"Do you have wine?" Djaq questioned as she uncorks the flask, only to pause when Esme grabbed her hand to stop her as they all looked at her as she shook her head.

"No wine" She winced as Djaq nodded. Djaq knew that Esme was strong having cured previous whip wounds on her back as she gulped slightly, knowing that the pain Esme would experience through the surgery would be unbearable, though she didn’t doubt her. Djaq pours water on the wound much to Esme's discomfort as she winces and grits her teeth, her back arching slightly as Robin stands by anxiously. Djaq pulls open the cut.

"What did he use?" Djaq muttered as she tries to get a better look of the damage on the inside.

"I don’t know. I thought he punched her." Robin admitted as Much returned with the wine flask even though Esme didn't request it however Robin takes it from his hands and takes a strong wing, extremely nervous.

"A dagger." Esme whispered as Much glances anxiously at Robin.

"Can you feel this?" Djaq asks as Djaq pushes on the wound causing Esme to shout and grimace as her response. Her discomfort made Robin and Much uneasy as Little John stood unsure of what to do.

"Should you be pressing there?" Much asks nervous as Robin glares at Much.

"I need to look inside" Djaq informed as she glanced over at Esme.

"This will hurt." She whispered as Esme only nodded in response knowing she could take it as Djaq spreads the wound open and Esme shrieks and arches her back. Esme knew that the secret was to take large breaths as she struggled at first to control her breathing though thinking of happy thoughts she was able to do so.

"She will be all right?" Robin asked for reassurance as Djaq looks up at Robin and nods very slightly. Robin nods back.

"I need to sew. Give me a needle." Djaq commanded as Robin pulls a needle from the bottom of his jacket.

"This needle is thick... and blunt. Are you prepared?" Robin informed as she chuckled remembering the time she spoke those very words to him when he had hurt himself before he'd gone off to war.

"It is the way you sell it." They both chuckle as Robin smiles slightly and briefly at her use of his earlier words.

"Give it to me." Djaq instructed as Djaq gets a good grip on the needle with the help of her teeth, then starts to stitch. Robin grabs Esme’s hand as Djaq works.

*************

I awoke shaking, I clutched onto my mother as we were both resting our backs against a thick oak tree. Our hands and feet shackled to prevent us from planning to escape as we glanced out the nightmare scenario. Several rugs of animal furs were ripped on the floor surrounded by a well used campfire. A dusty old cloth held several instruments for torture as if on display as trophies.

Crunching sounds of marching feet made us whimper as I snuggled into my mother's side as she used her body to try and shield me from the men before us. They constantly snickered and laughed, spat on us and left us starving for days as my mother refused to let us be treated like animals.....