- Chapter 67 -

I was casually sitting on my bed reading a book when I heard a knock on my door.

"Come in." I called out absently as Guy enters with a smile on his face. Smiling back I placed a piece of string on the page so I wouldn't lose it before getting up and making my way towards him as he embraced me gently.

"Today is the fourteenth of October, Robin Hood's birthday." He whispered in my ear.

"It is." I spoke absently loving the feeling of his embrace before I paused and let him go looking at him as it sunk in.

"It is?" I questioned slightly panicked as I saw he was conscious of my reaction.

"Esme.... Apart from your escapades as the Nightwatchman, is there anything else that you'd like to tell me?" He asks me running a hand down my cheek and gently caressing my neck.

"No." I breathed out as he smiled happily with my answer.

"Good. Right, well, I came to tell you that I'm going away." He informed me as my heart went heavy and my smile dropped.

"Away? Where?" I questioned saddened to know he was leaving me behind in this castle.

"I cannot say. But when I return, things will be different. Better. For me. Better for us." He promised, his voice slightly eager as I narrowed my eyes at him cautious.

"Guy, what's going on?" I questioned him suspiciously.

"Esme, I will not be here to supervise you. I must have your assurance that the Nightwatchman is finished." He begged.

"You have my word." I promised as he kissed my knuckled before leaving my chambers. I tried returning to my book but I was unable to focus, as Guy's words kept ringing over and over in my head. Where was he going? How long would he be away for? And why would everything be better for us when he returns?

Huffing in frustration I decide to talk a walk around the castle for fresh air and to clear my mind. But when I drew closer to the courtyard I saw Allan with a knapsack slung over his shoulder, walking from the town through the gate. Watching what's happening in the courtyard I see Allan puts the bag in the coach, which has iron sides, a wire mesh roof, and is lined with furs. He notices my questioning face  of "What's going on?" and sighs.

"Keep an eye on that bag, yeah?" He instructed to a solider before jogging over towards me.

"We're going to Portsmouth. That's all I know, Esme, all right? And you didn't get that from me, either." He whispered as we stood secluded in the north corridor.

"You know what this means?" I question him with a gulp.

"No."

"The King. They must be expecting the King to land in Portsmouth!" I hiss at him as though he hadn't been paying attention to the situations around him as he just rolls his eyes at me.

"It could mean anything for all I know."

"That's not good enough, Allan! Now what if it is the King? You know full well what they'll do to him when he arrives." I snap at him as he leans against the wall and folds his arms over his chest.

"Well, it's not my call, is it? Look, I'm just the whipping boy around here. The packing boy." I scoff at his pathetic excuse.

"Look, if you go along with treason, then you are committing treason." I tried reasoning with him.

"Rubbish!" He snapped before he turned and left as I watch him go I shake my head and sigh. If he wouldn't help me then Robin will. I was able to escape from the castle and make my way towards the camp calling out his name, only to see the camp empty.

I was becoming desperate. Robin wasn't anywhere to be found as I made my way back to the castle. I needed help to stop the Sheriff and Allan wouldn't help me. It's not like I could just ask Guy.

I found Allan heading with his bag past the cloister to a stockpile of barrels and baskets under the north corridor. A tarpaulin has been set up over it, between the cloister and the tree. I quickly catch him up from the stables.

"Allan... I can't find Robin." I plead as he just gives me a smile and shrugs it off.

"I wouldn't worry about it. This trip's just me, Giz and the Sheriff. Serious. No soldiers, no mercenaries. I don't think it's the King, Esme." He informed me as I still didn't feel comfortable. Something was not right.

"Yes, well, I do. I'm going to stop it."

"How?"

"I don't know. I'll kill the Sheriff if I have to." I grumbled desperate as he stares at me as though I had gone insane.

"Have you forgotten what happens if the Sheriff dies?"

"Prince John's armies will raze Nottingham to the ground."

"Yeah, so leave it!" He snapped making sure that no one had overheard us.

"Have you seen Guy?" I questioned as he frowned.

"I think he was in his chambers. Why?" He responded as I didn't answer, I just made my way through the castle towards his room. Knocking on the door and receiving no answer I frowned before slowly opening the door to find it empty. Making my way inside I found a small box on the table as I carefully open it to find my betrothal ring as I bite my lip to suppress the big smile that escaped onto my lips. My heart was racing with joy as I quickly placed it back on the table and ran out the room only to bump straight into Allan.

"Woah!"

"Oh Allan! Everything is perfect!" I smile happily, my heart soaring as I felt like I could fly.

"What are you talking about? Before you wer—-"

"Never mind that. I saw my engagement ring in his chambers. I know I shouldn't have but oh Allan. Can you believe it! I don't think I've ever been so happy!" I hug him tightly giving him a kiss on the cheek before I was practically skipping down the halls in search of him before the Sheriff came around the corner with his men. Glancing at me he snapped his fingers as they grabbed hold of my arms dragging me behind them as I demanded them to let me go.

I began to panic when he tied me to a chair, afraid of what it was that was happening to me as eventually I saw Guy storm into the room only t freeze when he saw me sitting in a chair, my hands tied behind my back and the panic frightened look on my face.

"My lord, what is going on?" He questioned as I too was eager to know the answer to that question.

"I was recently told that Esme... was the Nightwatchman. And you didn't't tell me?!" He shouted angrily as I cringe and flinch back as I saw realisation dawn in Guy's eyes as I began to panic in fear.

"I believed Esme's days as the Nightwatchman were over! I believed I had dealt with it!" Guy defended as the Sheriff came and stood behind me gripping my shoulders painfully. I struggled not to cry out in discomfort and give him satisfaction.

"By tricking me?! By faking her escape?! Who was it who ran away?" He demanded as I saw Guy turn away before he looked at Allan.

"Look, I was just following orders, all right?" Allan defended.

"Yeah, I gave the order." Guy snapped at him.

"Why?" The Sheriff demanded.

"Because I thought Esme's charitable instincts were misguided! I did not think they merited hanging." Guy shouted in my defence as I couldn't help but fall more and more in love with him. He was risking his own neck to save mine.

"Oh, how very noble of you, dear boy. Although I can't help thinking that maybe you wanted a little something in return. Huh? A display of gratitude? Oh, the Nightwatchman. I'm impressed." He snarled in my ear as I flinched away.

"Get off me." I hissed.

"Guards! Pack a trunk for Lady Esme! She's coming with us." The Sheriff demanded as I saw Guy's jaw drop in shock as they nodded and went to follow out their order.

"To the Holy Land?" Guy questioned in disbelief as I felt my body freeze. Did he just say the Holy Land? I stared up at the ceiling knowing my instincts were correct, maybe Allan will change his mind.

"Oh, yes. Oh, oh, look. Look, the look. Hm? So eloquent. "Oh, Guy, what's going to happen?" Well, we just don't know, do we, missy?" The Sheriff snapped towards me before he and Allan stormed out of the room as Guy quickly cut the ropes around my wrist.

"I don't know how he found out. I was coming to find you......when I was grabbed by the guards. Guy...." I tried to explain as my words were unable to escape from my mouth as he looks at me fearful as I could see that he doesn't know what is going to happen.

"I'm scared." I whispered truthfully as he quickly embraces me tightly. I inhale the scent of leather as he places a firm kiss on my forehead in hope to comfort me before another two guards enter the room and take my arms and lead me out of the room and down towards the courtyard and into the coach where I sit and wait muttering a small prayer under my breath.