- Chapter 57 -

Reaching the courtyard I noticed Allan is holding his horse by the reins, waiting unhappily as Guy's men assemble in the back of the covered wagon next to him. Guy is watching from the top of the steps. What better way to get out of the castle by through the front door. I smirked before I hurry over towards Guy as I knew that his men were getting ready to head towards Robin's camp.

"Guy, I need a favour." I spoke slightly desperate.

"No." He curtly responded not even looking at me as he begins to make his way down the steps as I quickly follow him.

"I must get to a physician. My father is getting worse." I informed sounding slightly panicked as he stopped and faced me as I knew I had him.

"Esme, you know the rules governing your house arrest." He reminded as I let my shoulders droop.

"But I would be with you and then I would come straight back. Please." I begged slightly as I saw him think it over and watch me slightly before nodding as I give him a beaming smile. I watched as he grabbed hold of his horses reigns and he walked beside me as we were easily led out of the castle and through the town.

"Thank you. Once again I am in your debt." I spoke truly grateful.

"Esme, I’m not comfortable with the way the Sheriff has treated your father, or you. You need me to wait while you go in to the physician’s?" He informed before we ended up stopping outside the physicians. I sighed slightly I was enjoying walking with him, it seemed to finish to early before I glanced at him shaking my head.

"No. Don’t let me keep you." I politely state as he nods.

"Go straight back." He gently orders as I smile.

"I promise. Thank you" I smile as I watch as he mounts his horse and starts to leave with his small company of men. Standing making sure they leave I glance across the street and see an unattended horse nearby. My luck was with me today as I dashed over the street and mounted the horse quickly before chasing after the group, making sure to keep a safe distance.

Guy and Allan lead the wagon through the forest as the turned right once they met the fork in the road taking the low road. I however went right cutting through branches and bushes to ensure that I got to Robin before they did. I felt like I was constantly being watched, but then I always did when I was in the forest as I made my way towards the camp.

"Come on" I kept muttering to myself as I quickly dismounted running the remaining bit as I saw that Robin was frowning at me slightly in the distance.

"Robin!" I shouted as he began to run in my direction with the gang behind him.

"You’re in danger! I was wrong. Allan is out of control. He’s leading Guy and his men here, now." I informed panting as I saw the disbelief flash across Djaq's face as I gave her a sad smile. Hearing the sound of horses in the distance Robin nodded towards me as I quickly ran back towards mine as I raced him back in the direction of the town.

I could hear Guy shouting orders and distressed horses in the distance but once the sound of horse prints got louder I knew I was in trouble. Gulping I was lucky to return the horse unnoticed of its disappearance before making my walk a fast pace back to the castle. The guards nodded towards me as I quickly snuck down a separate corridor to avoid being seen by Guy and Allan when they returned.

Letting out long breaths I let my breathing return to normal, fixed up my hair before I causally made my way back towards the dungeons. I couldn't let Guy go visit my father and not have him aware of the back story, then I would get in serious trouble. I had just past a set of stairs to my right when suddenly Guy dashed up them to my side.

"Esme?" He asked as I turned to look at him to see him with a cut lip as I frowned.

"What happened to you?" I asked concerned.

"It’s just... an incident in the woods. It was nothing. How is Sir Edward?" He brushed it off.

"I was just on my way to see him, actually. I'll tell him you asked after him." I truthfully told him as we stopped by a set of stairs which lead down the kitchens. Guy's back was to the stairs as he pulled me closer to him slightly.

"Esme... there is another side to me" He began when I suddenly see movement behind Guy as I noticed Robin pulling Allan off the steps as I quickly place my hand on Guy's shoulder taking his full attention.

"Guy! My father. I should like to visit him alone." I quickly cover and politely spoke as I saw Robin pull Allan off his feet and gets him out of sight probably throwing him into a table.

"Of course." He smiled as he rubbed his thumb over my hand before he turned to leave as I felt slightly guilty for interrupting him.

"Guy!" I call as he stops to look at me causing me to blush slightly.

"Maybe we can continue that conversation later" I offer as he grins and smirks before leaving. Sighing happily I could hear the noise in the kitchen as I growled and began jumping down two steps at a time to see Robin kneeling over Allan and holding a knife to Allan’s throat.

"Please. I don’t wanna die." Allan begged.

"Robin, spare him!" I told him as Robin looks up at me, suddenly daunted by my appearance.

"I can’t." He told me distressed as I rush to Robin’s side and put my hand over the knife to prevent him from sending the final stroke.

"Please. Do it for me." I begged him.

"I can’t let him live. Because one day he’ll take you away from me." He told me sadly as I placed my hands on Robin's shoulders.

"I wouldn't." Allan earnestly spoke as I could see the fear in his eyes as I got Robin to look me in the eyes. My eyes pleading as I saw him sigh defeated. Robin reluctantly lets go of Allan and sits back as I take the knife and roughly grab at Allan’s shoulder and he sits up. Robin watches with mixed emotions as Allan turns to his hands and knees and clumsily crawls away. I watch him for a moment, then takes the knife and throws it into a sack in front of his head barely missing him as Allan stops and looks back at me.

"You owe me your life! Don’t you ever betray me!" I warned him.

"I won’t." He swore as we watched as Allan moves forward, then gets to his feet and walks away. I sit by Robin on the floor and breathe a sigh of relief as we sit quietly for a few moments, catching our breath.

"You best get out of here" I warn as he nods. Helping me to hid feet he disappears whilst I pick some food and place them on a tray as I knew that deep in heart I should apologize to my father. What I said was wrong. Hopefully he will see this as a peace offering. Making my way down the dungeons I come to my father's cell as I see him lying under his cloak, with one arm draped behind him.

"Father? Father, I've brought you some food." I call to him but he doesn't move. There is no answer and no movement. I squat down and set the tray on the floor outside the door.

"I’m sorry about what I said." I apologize feeling guilty as I fiddle with my fingers, waiting for an answer which doesn't come. He must be deliberately ignoring me as I sigh, giving up, before I stand, and leave. I spent my time wondering around the castle trying to think of how else I could I try and get to see how the guilt was eating at me when the alarm bells tolls and guards run out of the lower tower opening to the gate.

Frowning I wonder what is going on as soon a guard came for me. I thought I heard him mention my father as I began running in the direction of the town well. Pushing away the washing on the line I notice my father lying on a stretcher not moving as I come to a halt at the sight as I feel tears begin to prick in my eyes as I slowly made my way towards him fearful. No.

"Father? Father? Father, wake up. Wake up, please wa—" I cry out in panic as I kneel down beside him and shake his shoulder in hope that his eyes would open. Tears were seeping down my cheeks as I struggled to keep my composure together.

"Father, Father... What happened?! What happened?! Tell me what happened!" I cried out as I stood and went to Guy as I grabbed hold of him shaking him slightly as he gently placed his arms on my forearms. I could see the sadness and pain for me as I shook my head.

"There were no witnesses! Esme, the Sheriff thinks that he was helping Hood—" He told me sadly as I shake my head furiously and push Guy away from me crying desperately for my father.

"NO! No! He wasn't!" I roar.

"Esme."

"I’m so sorry. Father, I’m sorry. This is my entire fault! I didn't mean it, I'm so sorry." I sob begging for him to forgive me as I fell back to my knees and place my head on his chest.  

"Esme."

Everything seemed to blur around me as I shook my father's hand hoping he would grip and give it a squeeze. I knew he was gone as I leant over and kissed his forehead, my tears dripping onto his face as I wept. My father gone, my mother gone, my family.

"Esme, come away." Guy gently spoke as he bend down beside me placing his hands on my shoulders to help me to my feet as I shook my head and struggled out of his comforting grip.

"Don’t you touch me! Don’t touch me!" I cry out as I shove Guy away from me and take off towards the castle. A hand over my mouth, I cried, my vision slightly blurry from my tears as I knew that Guy was chasing after me.

"Stop! Wait!" I could hear him shout out for me as I heard him chasing me before he leaped ahead and blocked the path towards the door to my chambers.

"Listen to me. This place may not be safe for you now." He informed as I frowned.

"Why?"

"This is yours, I believe. Your father’s jailer was killed with it." Guy informed as he pulled out my missing jewelled knife as I lifted my hand to my mouth as I closed my eyes. My father must have taken it from me as I struggled to control my sobbing.

"I don’t care!" I spat out as I saw Guy look at me sadly.

"But the Sheriff will care. And when he finds out that it was your dagger that killed his jailer, he will hang you." He whispered concerned as I took a step back.

"No." I sobbed as I shook my head in denial as the tears continued to fall down my cheeks.

"Let me look after you...... protect you. I've always cared about you, Esme. My feelings for you... I thought they’d gone away. But they haven’t. They’re stronger than ever." He speaks as I shudder at his words as he pulls me into his embrace. My head fitting perfectly under his chin as he stroked my hair and kissed my forehead. He slowly left a trail of kisses from my forehead to my cheek as I shivered under his touch.

Soon his lips found mine as I tilted my head up to give him better access of my lips as his hand came to cup my face. I could feel his passion as he held me closely, though my bitter tears brought me back to reality as I quickly push him away.

"No. No." I cry. It felt so right yet it was badly timed as I run to my door.

"Forgive me... that was inappropriate. But in time..." Guy pleaded as I wished nothing more but I couldn't face him as I quickly push my door open and slam it shut behind me. I closed my eyes struggling to control my breathing as I opened to see Robin leaning against the bedpost. Putting my hand over my mouth and nose, hardly daring to believe he’s here, I felt several sobs rack through my chest.

"I was with him when he died. I’m sorry." Robin softly told me shaking his head as I tried to take a couple steps forward, only to sinks to the floor and beginning to cry uncontrollably. I heard Robin come towards me as he knelt down on the ground beside to embrace me as I wept.

"Shh. Shh shh shh."

"It—it’s my fault. I told him he was weak." I managed to say through my sobs as Robin looks at me sadly shaking his head.

"He died a hero’s death. He got the pact, for England." He whispered as I felt my heart ache.

"He died believing he had a wilful daughter." I sobbed feeling guilty that the final words we shared we're in anger. I didn't mean it.

"No. He asked me to give you a message. “It’s good to dream.” He told me as I felt my heart break further as I let myself collapse into Robin as he kisses my forehead and rubs my back pulling me into a hug.

"Come with me to the forest. Come on." Robin whispers as I nod before he helps me to my feet. I struggle not to sob aloud as I saw the pain in his eyes at my distress and his own grief over my father as he uses his thumb to wipe away my tears. I watched as Robin ties a long chain of knotted sheets to an arrow, draws, and let's loose the arrow. It crashes through the yellow glass window at the top of the tower and gracefully arches to the ground, its long tail fluttering behind it. Robin takes me by the hand and leads me to the window.

Once we were on the ground, I mount the horse and sits behind Robin, putting my arms round his waist as I cried into his shoulder. I knew that Robin was staring at me for a moment, before I felt the horse begin to trot through the town as we left the striped-fletched arrow hanging from the sheets at the base of the tower. I glanced over at my shoulder at the castle as I knew I should have left a note for Guy, turning to face the front I leant against Robin once more as a fresh wave of tears overcame me…..