Robin fetched Pitts just as he had promised and in the nick of time. When he arrived he had instructed Djaq to place a bit of a draught for the surgery under Esme's tongue as Djaq showed that she had sewn up a leaking blood vessel and with the physician's approval she closed up the wound. Pitts was extremely nervous as he opened his bag to hand Djaq some fresh cloth only to make Robin notice that the bag which was originally full of cloth empty.

Pitt kept flickering his eyes to Robin as he excused himself from the cave and started to run along the journey he had travelled with Pitts to get to Esme, only to find a trail of cloth and the sound of horses and dogs growing louder.  Fearful and angry with himself having lead the Sheriff to his gang and Esme whom was in no form ready for a quick escape he struggled to think as he dashed back into the cave.

"Much! John! Your weapons, now!" Robin shouted suddenly making them both jump slightly as they turned frowning at Robin slightly.

"Why?" Much quizzed as Robin began pulling his arrows from his quiver by the fire and turning to pick up his bow.

"Unless I am badly mistaken, the Sheriff and Gisborne will arrive at any moment. We’ll be surrounded." He informed as Little John puts on his coat, grabbing his staff ready to prepare for battle as Much runs in from the back room.

"What? We’ve got to run!" Much panicked as he was about to start running outside to gain a good headstart.

"We cannot run! I cannot run! Esme." He shouted before quieting to say Esme's name as he felt fearful as he didn't know how she was doing. Suddenly laughter grew louder as they all paused to see Pitts walks away from Esme towards Robin, laughing sinisterly. Robin stands up nervous as Little John glared at him angrily..

"You." Robin spoke with quiet intensity as Much looks back at Pitts.

"What did you think? That Gisborne did not tell me that one day somebody might come asking about his alibi? That we did not have a plan in place for just this occasion? The charade is over." He chuckled and smirked at Robin as he starts to walk past Robin, nodding once at him with his eyebrows raised, then stops beside him.

"Oh, your friend is dead." He sneered evilly as they gang's blood ran cold as Pitts continues on towards the exit as Robin turns in horror to the back room. Little John blocked Pitts from leaving by his staff connecting to his stomach as he gave a large 'oof' only to look up to see Little John's fierce eyes. Robin felt frozen, Esme was dead and he felt as though his whole world began to crumble as he struggled to hold back the tears that began to bubble.

"Dead?"

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

"Esme when I tell you to run, run" My mother whispered as I nodded. We'd been able to unlock our shackles with one of our hair pins as my mother had a handful of pepper powder in her hands, ready for the men to return so we could escape. We could hear them laughing as they came round the corner, gulping I shook slightly as they sneered at us.

It all happened to fast but before I knew it my mother was pulling me to my fight and we were running for our lives, hearing the cries of the men behind us as they clutched their burning eyes. If only we'd paid more attention than we would have known that the Leaders right hand man wasn't with the group as I felt a strong arm on my waist lifting me up as I screamed.

I heard my mother cry out as he dragged her back by her hair as I could see the murderous glint that crept into the red stained eyes of the men before us.

"You will pay for that missy! Have your way with the mother!" The leader snapped as he grabbed hold of me as we both screamed. They each took advantage of her before they slaughtered her like an animal as I flinched at her pain whilst I was instructed to clean out the pepper from the leaders eyes……..

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

Robin stumbled his way further into the cave as he starts to sob, looking at Esme's unmoving body made him stop to stare at her, and then slowly kneels at her side, sobbing and sniffing as he strokes her face. He constantly cried out her name as he placed his hands over his cheeks and trying to wake her up as he turned his head to the side briefly before placing it on her chest to sob.

"Esme... I love you. I should have said. Why did I not say? I love you. Esme. I love you. Esme." Robin kept sobbing as Robin kisses her lips, then leans on her chest and cries uncontrollably. Meanwhile outside the Sheriff and Gisborne had arrived with several men as he seemed to singsong his words in torment.

"Robin? Oh, Robin? Come out, come out wherever you are!" The Sheriff chuckled as Robin slowly raises his head with an intense look of rage and revenge in his eyes. As the Sheriff and Gisborne approach several footsoldiers are carrying large basket-weave shields on their backs.

"You’re getting slack, my friend! Could it have been easier for me, hm? If you’d led me by the hand to your little hidey-hole? A clue: no." The Sheriff called out as he glanced around at the forest unsure where about to look as John and Much scramble unseen from the cave to behind two large boulders on a rise to take up positions.Much slams arrow points into the ground behind the boulder whilst Little John watches the Sheriff ’s advance as Much nocks an arrow in his bow.

"Now." They whispered as Little John stands on the boulder and Much rises up behind his, in view of the oncoming party with his drawn bow at the Sheriff.

"Stand or we shoot!" Much roars as The Sheriff and Gisborne stop. The Sheriff looks around for more of Robin Hood’s men but only notices that there are just two of them.

"Er, there are two of you!" He chuckled before he turned over towards Guy.

"How many do you think there could be of them?" He quizzed.

"A dozen or so at the most....... of the inner circle." Guy spoke as the Sheriff chuckles and looks around again before hearing the end of Guy's sentence.

"You seem to misunderstand me, my friend! You do not have a bargaining position!" The Sheriff shouted out once more.

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

Running as fast as my wounded feet could take me I ignored the pain that escaped through my body as it seemed to be on fire. I never realised how close I was to the road, with tears streaming down my face before I tumbled into Dan Scarlett.

"Woah there!" He cried out making sure I stayed on my feet as I whimpered in fear as he knelt down to my height and gave me a smile and comfort.

"Are you alright?" He asked as I continued to cry and shake my head. He gently pulled me to him and stroked my hair whilst I held onto him for dear life. I never payed attention to when he picked me up and took me back to Locksley and to safety. But I do remember his wife and children being gracious and loving as they saved me from my own death.......

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

"Positions!" Guy ordered as the soldiers and a handful of archers line up in front of the Sheriff and Gisborne. Two set up the large shields. Much holds the arrow to his cheek and closes one eye. The Sheriff ’s archers pull back their bowstrings. There is a momentary standoff, and then an arrow flies from behind Much and hits a soldier squarely in the chest in front of the Sheriff. Much looks behind him.

"There’s Hood! Shoot!" The Sheriff shouted out as Little John and Much turn back to see Robin bursts out of the cave and falls to his knees, slamming a fistful of arrows point first into the ground, his bow in his other hand. Robin draws back a nocked arrow with another one waiting tucked in between his fingers, ready to be nocked quickly. He shoots and immediately grabs the bowstring as the Sheriff ducks low behind the horse’s head. Robin fires off the other as the Sheriff ’s archers shoot back, forcing Much to duck.

Robin shoots at Gisborne, who has to duck as the mounted soldiers regroup. Robin grabs his arrows from the ground as Little John glances at him. Robin rolls down the hill as more arrows fly past him. Robin continues to roll as Much faces the battle and shoots down an archer. Robin stops about even with Little John and Much, but several paces away below the boulders. He slams the arrow points into the ground and pulls three back out. The Sheriff is on his hands and knees under his horse, looking for the tooth just knocked out of his mouth by his quick duck into the horse’s head. Robin shoots an arrow. A soldier grunts and falls onto the ground right in front of the Sheriff with an arrow in his back.

"What is this? Hood does not kill!" He exclaimed emphasizing each word as Robin has four arrows ready: one nocked on the string and three more between each of his fingers. He aims and shoots them in rapid succession. An archer and a footsoldier go down as Djaq, with her sword, and Pitts emerge from the cave. Three more soldiers are shot, the arrows squarely piercing their chests. A mounted soldier falls in front of Gisborne.

"Do not shoot!" Pitts cries out as he waves a white bandage, before he runs down the hill as Robin shoots another arrow.

"Kill him!" Guy ordered out as Pitts' eyes went wide with fear and confusion.

"I have always served you well!" He exclaimed.

"You’ve served your purpose. Kill him!" Guy snapped again as Pitts panics and turns to run away as an archer takes aim at him. He is shot in the back and falls facedown causing Robin to be stunned for a brief second; watching his only witness fall, then regains his composure and draws.

"Second line forward!" Guy ordered as the foot and mounted soldiers advance. Robin throws down his bow and reaches for his scimitar. He stands up, draws his weapon, tossing the scabbard aside, and runs a few steps forwards, holding the hilt with both hands. Much and Little John hear the ring of the scimitar and glance back at Robin. As Robin charges Little John, Much and Djaq follow, all yelling a war cry.

"What is this? Is this suicide?" The Sheriff asked confused as the Sheriff ducks behind his horse as the gang yell and charge. Robin swings his scimitar at a soldier’s sword with all his might, then spins round and holds his sword up over his head to block a second. Gisborne looks on in disbelief.

"We fight for Robin Hood and King Richard!" Much cries out as Much charges in at two soldiers, swinging his sword in an arc to parry both at once. Little John runs in and jabs the butt of his staff into one man before taking on another. Robin is hacking at the soldiers, showing no mercy as Djaq enters the fray behind him. Little John knocks out a soldier with his staff. Djaq stops in front of a charging soldier and lets him roll over her back before taking on the next one. Gisborne circles the melee on his horse, watching incredulously as Robin spins, slicing through a man in front and behind him simultaneously.

Little John knocks out a soldier. Robin hacks at another’s back and makes a beeline for Gisborne, who pulls back his horse. They stare at one another, Robin with intense rage in his eyes. Suddenly an arrow flies, just missing Gisborne’s head, a shaft from Allan’s bow. Robin looks back to see Will running to join in, yelling, as Little John watches in surprise. Robin hears the swing of a sword, ducks, grabs the soldier’s arm as he takes another swing, and slices his throat.

"Regroup!" Guy orders as Little John beats off more soldiers with his staff. Allan takes a shot at the Sheriff, who ducks. The arrow hits a mounted soldier in the neck instead.

"Get me out of here!" The Sheriff screamed out panicked and like the cowards he is as Will charges, yelling, at a guard. He blocks overhead with both hands on his broadaxe and kicks the man back at the same time. Allan runs in to join the battle with his sword in hand. All the gang are stabbing, slicing, et cetera, and showing no mercy and amazingly receiving no harm in return. The Sheriff is running around, wildly trying to find an escape.

Will swings his broadaxe into the stomach of a charging soldier and ducks another one swinging. Gisborne watches them all in fear as Allan swings his sword into the back of a soldier and Will kicks out at another. The Sheriff waves at Gisborne’s retreating men, trying in vain to get them to protect him.

The gang keep attacking and all the soldiers run off. Gisborne follows on his horse as Allan hacks at a prone soldier’s stomach. Little John wildly pulls the arrow out of his sleeve as the Sheriff and Gisborne gallop off side by side.

"Those blithering idiots cost me my tooth!" He snapped as he slapped Guy's shoulder.

The gang spin around, prepared to take on more, but their opponents are riding or running off. Battle over, they catch their breath. Robin looks around with wide eyes. Much turns around with his sword out. Allan looks round as Little John glances at Allan. Will guiltily looks down as Much sinks to his knees and sits on his heels. Robin takes one last look around, then, leaning on his scimitar, slowly goes down to one knee, hanging his head.

"Where were you two?" Little John demanded as Will is ashamedly silent before confessing before Allan could tell another lie which he was about to.

"We were gonna take the haul. Gisborne’s money. We were gonna take it to Scarborough." Will spoke honestly as they could tell he was guilty as they rolled their eyes as Allan tried covering it up as Will growled at him. Robin looks down again upset as they noticed something was off as they frowned.

"Esme. Gisborne stabbed her last night." Much informed as both Allan and Will gasped surprised. Will grew fearful and as Much struggled to say more words.

"She’s dead. Esme’s dead." Robin spoke quietly as he looked up to see Allan looking at Will, who stares, stunned, at Robin. Robin lifts his scimitar slightly and drives the point into the ground, then stands and leaves it there as he heads back to the cave.

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

I was lying down; I could see the forest roof above me. I couldn't move, I felt stuck as I tried to move my body though it felt numb. I could hear my name being called out as I struggled to pinpoint the voice as it grew louder following by the sound of horse hooves, as I felt nervous.

"Esme" The silky deep voice whispered as my body relaxed feeling a gloved hand on my shoulder as though his touch set fire to my body I could move my head and turned to see Guy smiling at me as he caressed my cheek.

"Come my love, let us leave this place" He spoke to me gently as though in a trance he pulled me to my feet. I felt his strong arms around my waist as my hands rested on his chest glancing into those amazing blue eyes as I felt my throat tighten as my breathing stopped for a second as his nose brushed against mine, and our foreheads met. I breathed in the scent of leather and forest as I let my eyes closed holding onto him tightly.

"You don't know how much you affect me Esme" He whispered, his voice husky as it sent a shudder down my back as I glanced up to him only to feel my body go cold as he was suddenly gone and I was alone once more.

"GUY!" I kept shouting out, turning trying to find him, though I remained unsuccessful. My body grew colder as I chocked before my eyes closed a final time……