- Chapter 68 -

The coach travels down the bumpy road. Allan and I ride with our backs to the front facing the Sheriff and Gisborne.

"Are you seriously going to the Holy Land?" I questioned trying to get some information.

"Yes, yes. I've never been before, have you? They say the weather's wonderful. Guy's been before. Haven't you, Gizzy?" He trails looking out the window as my head snaps up in Guy's direction who sent the Sheriff a sharp glare.

"You've been before?" I questioned feeling slightly betrayed as he scoffs at me.

 "Then it's true. You tried to kill the King." I state firmly as he stared back at me. I can see the hurt and frustration in his eyes as I wondered how he would play this next.

"What? Feel betrayed?" He questioned as I saw amusement in his glint as the Sheriff chuckled. I glanced downwards wondering if he was just doing this because of the Sheriff beside him, but then he was always like this with the Sheriff beside him.

"Are you going to try and kill the King again?" I question.

"Yeeeeees. Mm. And you could say that it's Robin Hood's fault. You see, Robin did warn the King to be on his guard when he lands. So, first plan, mercenaries in the port.... dead in the water. The new plan, instead of waiting for him, we, er... we pay him a little visit." The Sheriff blabbed whilst he grins evilly.

"Mohammed not coming to the mountain." I snarl as he chuckles before the carriage once again falls into silence. Eventually we made it to the inn as the sun was beginning to set. I was relieved to stretch my legs as servants rushes to open the coach doors. The Sheriff gets out first as the innkeeper steps out to greet them.

"How many beds are you after?" The innkeeper politely asks as Guy helps me out and lets his hand linger on my lower back rubbing small circles.

"Three."

"And you? With the horses?" The innkeeper frowns pointing towards Allan.

"No-no-no. This one." The Sheriff chuckles darkly pointing to me as I could see that the innkeeper is appalled at the idea as I heard Guy beside me growl dangerously as I gulp slightly. I allowed Guy to walk me in the direction of the barn, before he pulls a chain attached to a cuff on my wrist through a ring on the wall, pulling me back. I glanced over his shoulder to see that the Sheriff stands in the doorway.

"You'd better not sleep tonight. Robin Hood will find out what you're doing and he will come and he will stop you." I warn him as Guy gave me a strict look making me feel slightly ashamed as once he was done he let his fingers clasp one of mine.

"It's, erm... it's Robin Hood's birthday today. Did you know that? He's having a party... in Nettlestone village. And somebody's invited one hundred of my fiercest mercenaries. And they've, erm..... they've got him surrounded. So... so Robin Hood is no more. Hm? Well, sleep tight. Oh, and don't let the horseflies bite." He Sheriff chuckled as he winks and leaves. I struggled to keep the horror from showing on my face as Guy caressed my cheek and left.

I wanted to cry thinking of Robin in that situation, most likely dead already. NO! I refused to believe that there wasn't any hope. Robin would come and get me. I looked up to see Allan looking at me before turning to follow.

"Allan! Allan! You can't go through with this." I whisper as I saw him check to make sure that Guy and the Sheriff had left before he walked over towards me.

"I can. You heard him, Esme. Robin's finished." He told me and I shook my head refusing to believe it.

"Not if we get away!" I suggested as he quickly shushed me from getting too loud.

"We'll go back to Nottingham. We have to help him." I pleaded him desperately as we heard Guy call out his name from the inn as he gulped.

"Coming!" He shouted in response before he turned to me one last time before closing the door. I stared at it in disbelief before sinking down onto the hay. My hope shredding away to a final piece of string.

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

Later in the night Esme sits with her back to the wall. Guy opens the door and looks in to find Esme fingering her manacles as he stares at her, wrestling with his thoughts and his feelings as he clutched the engagement ring tighter in the palm of his hand. Allan opens the inn's door and sees Guy at the stable door as Allan raises his eyebrows questioningly at Guy.

"Can I trust you?" Guy asked him his voice sounding more vulnerable than he would have preferred.

"Yeah, of course." Allan nodded loyally.

"Tell me...Robin Hood and Esme." Guy asked slightly broken as he wondered if maybe they ever had something more than friendship. He knew he loved her and he was sure she loved him. But it was the Sheriff's poisonous ways that made him doubt

"What about them?" Allan asked confused as to where it was going.

"They're still... aren't they? Allan! I need to know" His voice breaking as Allan shook his head with a chuckle.

"Look, she only thought of him as a brother. Guy you should have seen her face when she told me she knew you were going to propose to her, I haven't seen her smile like that. Guy she lov-" Allan began as hope and love filled Guy as he began to think of a way to get her to safety as suddenly the door opened as the Sheriff walked through.

"Dee dum doo day. What's this? Kissing in the moonlight? Huh? Shall I go out, come back in again? What do you think?" He nastily teased as Allan chuckled silently as Guy growled defensively as turned back to look at Esme as she felt his gaze and looked up at him before lowering her head in shame.

"Go to bed." Guy instructed Allan as he nodded and left.

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

I was half asleep on the hay with a blanket used for the saddle for warmth when the door suddenly opens making me jump awake. When I saw Allan come in with his sword on his belt I relaxed a bit disappointed until I saw the keys in his hand as I gasped in awe.

"Allan. Thank you." I smile after he had unlocked my chains,

"I can't kill the King." He told me sadly.

"Go. Go quickly." I urged him as he frowned down at me.

"What about you, though? You've crossed the Sheriff now." He hissed trying to save me from danger as I gave him a weak smile.

"Look, I'll be fine. Go. Save Robin. Go." I whisper as we both freeze to the sound of the inn door opening and closing. Allan stands, draws his sword and hides behind the door.

"Who's there? I heard voices." The innkeeper spoke as he stuck his head in through the door as I frown and shake my head as if I hadn't heard anything. I watched as the innkeeper looks around then backs out the door. Outside the inn, I could hear Allan leading a horse away as I sighed and sent a small prayer hoping he would help save Robin in time. I must have fallen asleep because I was gently being awoken by a small kiss to my cheek. Slowly opening my eyes I saw Guy assisting me to my feet and leading me outside and into the carriage.

"Where's Allan?" I question as the Sheriff walks out of the inn humming.

"He left" He stated before getting in the carriage once again. This time Guy sat beside me giving the Sheriff an opportunity to lounge across his seat. He fell asleep leaving Guy and I in silence as we rocked with the motion of the carriage. Hearing the loud pigly snores of the Sheriff he wrapped an arm around my shoulder and placed loving kissed on my cheek and forehead as I felt myself blush a deep red. Glancing up at him under my long lashes his lips met mine in a sweet passionate kiss which was interrupted to the carriage stopping as he quickly retracted his arm as the Sheriff began to awake.

I could hear the sound of the waves and knew we were at the coast. The Sheriff had taken a stroll outside before making his way back into the carriage, sitting opposite Guy and I. We made sure to not acknowledge each other and keep our distance though I found it hard when his leg brushed against mine on purpose.

" Sea air, Gisborne. Sea air. Oh. Oh, well, come along. Give Gizzy a little kiss. No? Oh." He teased me and Guy as Guy beside me just growls angrily in his direction as I watch him from the corner of my eye.

"Onward, driver! Let's go and kill a king, shall we?" He chuckled darkly as the carriage started moving once more.