Esme had been missing for almost one full season. Robin Hood and the Gang had been hunting for her, as well as looking out for the poor when they were informed of her kidnapping after the wedding. Guy tried to keep himself from looking for her after she had embarrassed him at the altar though every day on his way home from Nottingham he took the longer routes in the forest to hunt for her. The Sheriff had instructed that Knighton Hall was to be watched and any news reported on Lady Esme's kidnapping.

It was in the middle of autumn, when Esme had been able to escape the man who haunted her dreams and past as dead leaves were being blown about by the wind. She was found by Little John in the darkness of the night as he returned her back to her father. He had hardly recognized her by the dangerous wounds, cuts, bruises and blood that stained her body and clothing. A physician checked up on Esme every second day, cleaning wounds and stitching them up. The guards who had been on guard outside her house had been careless, and it wasn't until two and a half weeks after she had been found did they report back to the Sheriff and Sir Guy. Esme was still extremely weak after fighting a fever, though her spirits hadn't been dampened as she sat sitting, resting in her bed, whilst her father Sir Edward sat downstairs, slurping soup from a spoon.

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

The cold cloth resting on my forehead was refreshing as the shutters swung open from the strong winds. I chuckled, only to start coughing holding my stomach as I saw Robin step into the light of my room, revealing his bow leaning outside the doorway. He came over sitting on the edge of my bed handing me some water as I took a sip. I rested once more against the pillows as the flickering candle helped illuminate his features.

"How are you feeling?" He asked with love and concern as I rolled my eyes, ignoring the itchy and iterated skin above my healing wounds.

"Never better........" I sighed as I saw Robin pull out a ring causing me to frown. 

"What do you make of this?" He asked me curious as he placed it in my place hands. Slowly adjusting the candle beside my bed, I glanced at the silver eagle ring in my hands and frowned.

"The Sheriff ’s insignia?" I questioned glancing up at him as he nodded.

"We took it off a woman on the way to Nottingham today...... and she had men and they were well trained. It was like a military unit. And she’s been granted the Sheriff ’s insignia." He told me pointing to the ring in my hand as I struggled to sit myself further up in bed as I winced. Robin helped me get comfortable as I thanked him as I let my hands trace over the design of the ring.

"And what does that mean?" I asked him curiously.

"Well, I don’t know. I was hoping you or your father might know." He truthfully suggested as I rolled my eyes.

"I get the feeling we’re not too welcome in the corridors of power." I told him sadly yet humbly before I handed back the ring to Robin.

"Good." Robin spoke earnestly; as it was evident he didn't want me near the Sheriff or guy anymore. I doubt I would be in Guy's good books after I humiliated him at the altar. What was worse was the fact it made me guilty. "Come and join my gang."

I felt my face fall as the moment I has been dreading has arrived. I scoffed slightly and turned my head away from Robin. He gently placed his hand on my arm as I looked back up at my brother sadly but with a questioning look.

"Esme...."

“You're asking me to abandon my home, abandon my father, give up any hope of a normal life and take up arms with a man who thinks resistance is about showing off with a bow.” I snapped. I realized what I had said was unfair and rude as I sighed glumly.

"That’s not fair." Robin muttered a bit indignantly.

"And to do what? To wait for a king who, let’s face it, may or may not make it home." I questioned him once more before Robin beings to laughs softly. "What?"

"So you have been thinking about it, then?" He teased as I gave him a shove, though it wasn't much since I had very little strength.

"Shut up Robin." I tried to be serious though we both ended up laughing, which caused me to cough once more, as I held my sides. Robin looked at me wounded and sad for my agony as I felt nothing. I sighed once more.

"I can't Robin, at least not like this....." My voice no louder than a whisper before the pouring of footsteps began to approach. I frowned as Robin ran to the window snarling. 

"Gisborne" he growled like a dog as I struggled to get out of my bed, wincing. Robin ran to my side trying to get me back in bed.

"What are you doing?" He snapped as I gave him pleading eyes. The pounding of the door downstairs made me jump as I struggled to hold my weight on my feet. Sweat was pounding on my forehead as I gulped in Robin's arms.

"Sir Edward! Esme! Out now!" He shouted causing me to flinch. Guy's strong demanding voice made me shiver as I watched as Robin takes an arrow from his quiver as he turns from the window to pick up his bow, then peers out again. I was leaning against my bed as I could hear the door being kicked down as my breath caught in my throat.

"Sir Guy!" My father's surprised, horrified and strained voice made me nervous and scared.

"I’m gonna kill him." Robin snarled as he starts for the door.

"Oh, shoot first, think later?" I hissed as I watched Robin stops in his tracks at the doorway, but still looking fiercely down the stairs, shaking his head as I spoke.

"Do you want my father killed?" I pleaded before I was interrupted by Guys demanding and frightening angered voice.

"Esme!"

"Look, if you respect me, you’ll do nothing." I pleaded as Robin looks back at me.

"Come down now or I will torch your house!" He threatened as I gasped scared. At Gisborne’s latest threat, Robin again starts out the door, but I weakly pull him back.

"Answer me!" Guy shouted from downstairs once more.

"Do you respect me?" I pleaded Robin as Robin stops, still looking out the door.

"Don’t keep me waiting!" 

I insistently tug on Robin’s arm. Robin turns to face me and I silently demand an answer by raising my brows. Robin steps back and relents.

"I respect you." He whispered as I kissed his forehead and weakly stumbled down the stairs. I felt all energy drain from my body as sweat was beading on my face. By the look on my father's face I could tell I looked deathly ill. Guy's flashed with concern and regret for only a second before cold and anger filled his eyes.

"You come when I say!" Guy shouted at me causing me to flinch.

"What do you want?" I challenged him weakly as I leant against the wall for support not trusting my own feet to hold me up.

"You’re coming to the castle. The Sheriff wants you where he can see you." Guy sneered as he slowly circled around me before turning to face me as I felt tears bubble slowly to my eyes seeing that cold hearted glare towards me. It made my heart shatter as I knew I had feelings for him.

"No, we’re not. My father is frail. Release him!" I begged struggling to hold myself up though Guy would have none of that.

"You do not tell me what to do!" Guy shouted enraged at me as I stared in shock and fear at Guy with wide eyes at this turn of attitude from him. We shared a eye lock for a moment as I swear I saw a hint of regret before he turned and pointed to the guard with the torch. "Burn the house!"

"Guy, no!" I cried out desperate as I grabbed his arm as he threw me off him as I landed painfully on the floor as I gasped clutching my stomach.

"ESME!" My father cried as I glanced up at Guy with tears in my eyes and I didn't care that they showed or if they were trailing down my face as I glanced back up at Guy.

"Please, Sir Guy." I whispered broken. The man I cared for and was beginning to love was nothing but a monster.

"Better." He glared as the guard with the torch turns around behind Guy.

"Sir Guy...?" The soldier called out as I watched as Guy held up his hand as a symbol for him to wait.

"Beg." He spitefully sneered as I glanced helplessly at her father, before then resolving myself and turning to face Guy. He'd turn to a monster yet I still cared for him because I knew deep down he still cared for me. Even if it was a fraction of what it was before.

"Sir Guy, please, I beg you." I slowly and desperately pleaded not letting my broken eyes leave his. I struggled to get to my feet as I was using most of my upper body strength to prevent myself from falling back to the ground.

"Much better." He hissed as I watched as he takes the torch from the soldier and walks to the back of the room.

"But still not good enough." He sneered as I watched as he lights the curtains with the torch.

"No! No! Don’t burn my house! No! Don’t light my— Get out!" I cried out as I watched as Guy lights a table. My attempts to struggled were in vain as Guy wrestled me out of the front door, as he 'accidently' bumped my back and my side making me cry out as I would have gone limp as I felt his strong arms around me. I hated how my body melted to his touch, how could I love this monster. I sobbed harder as I was placed on his horse with him behind me to ensure I didn't escape.

"Guards, to the castle! Move it!" The sergeant shouted out as I caught a glimpse of an arrow between the bushes as I got hold of Robin's eye and shook my head as I let my body rock in movement with the horse. My breathing was weak as pain flooded through me as I felt my body sway until I hit the back of Guy's chest. I swear I heard him gasp as his pulse quicken as I felt pain overtake me and plunge into darkness.

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

When they had arrived at the castle Guy had Esme taken to her chambers as he felt guilty and broken as he guided her father towards the Sheriff's quarters as he opened the doors to see the Sheriff is in front of a birdcage, holding a small bird up to his lips and kissing it. When he heard the door opening to see Edward and Guy enter he smirked but frowned slightly.

"Ah." He called as he was putting the bird in the cage.

"The sanctimonious old fart..." He insulted chuckling before he glared at Guy.

"Where is the daughter?" He demanded as Edward remained standing tall refusing to give it away as he glared at Guy.

"In her chambers were she should be recovering" Edward started which made the Sheriff fume.

"GISBORNE!" He hissed before storming through the castle with both of them behind him calling after him. He didn't knock when he reached Esme's chambers he just stormed in only to pause when he saw her. She was asleep under the cover, pale as death, sweating heavily as she weakly opened her eyes to see the Sheriff, Guy and her father in her room as she tried to quickly sit up only to gasp out in pain.

"Esme! You must rest our you'll undo your stitches" Edward whispered as he rushed to her side trying to get her to lie back down as she refused and leant against the top of the bed in a sitting position.

"My lord" She bowed her head, her voice was hoarse as Guy gulped heavily and looked down at the Sheriff who narrowed his eyes at her.

"I gather you’ve been careless with your wood fire." He teased them as Edward only glared at the Sheriff. Guy would have thought that Esme would have talked back however she breathed out of her nose and said nothing.

"Tell me, whose side are you on? Mine or King Richard’s? Hm? The real world... or the old world? I know Esme's….." The Sheriff chuckled towards Edward as it gave Esme a sigh of relief. She also frowned wondering what made the Sheriff think she was on his side, though she refused to deny it.

"Yours." Edward spoke stiffly.

"No. Come along. We both know that’s not true, don’t we?" He chuckled darkly as he drew closer towards Edward invading his space as Edward refused to look at him instead he stared straight ahead.

"I believe in justice. I believe in the rights of a free man." Edward truthfully told the Sheriff as he growled and scowled towards Edward as Esme looked up at her father weakly.

"Who cares what you believe in? Hm? I have a plan. And I will not tolerate dissent. So..... you are under house arrest, here in the castle, until I can find some use for you." The Sheriff snarled at him before chuckling at the thought and made his way towards the door.

"My lord sheriff, I must protest." Esme weakly called out as she struggled to sit up only to have her father try and push her back down.

"You must?" He growled. He always admired her stupid bravery as he narrowed his eyes at her.

"My father is unwell. He must be allowed to—" She pleaded weakly.

"One more word out of you, missy, and your father will never be unwell again!" The Sheriff fiercely interrupted before he turned and stormed out of her room as she sighed deeply. Guy often wondered how she could put her father before herself, as he watched her looking close to death yet she asked for her father to be allowed to leave due to being unwell. He shook his head and went to follow on with the Sheriff only to hear her weak voice call after him.

"Guy!" She pleaded as she watched Guy stops and reluctantly turns around with an irksome look.

"Please. The castle is no place for an old man." Her voice was soft, calm and yet weak and tired. He took a step towards the bed and shielded his eyes from conveying his true feelings as he snarled making her flinch only to wound him inside.

"You think you can humiliate a man at the altar? A man like me, and get away with it? You’re wrong." He growled as Esme’s eyes drop, realizing this is her punishment, then bows her head in submission. Guy glares at Edward, then leaves following the Sheriff. Though those wounded eyes flashed in his memory he winced. The Sheriff turned to Guy as they both walked down the hall away from the room as he frowned down at the Sheriff.

"Send of a physician, also try and figure out what happened I always like a hanging" He smirked at the end as if Guy didn't know any better he would have thought the Sheriff liked Esme. He never showed humanity so why start now?