- Chapter 70 -

I felt my body rocking as I was leaning against something uncomfortable. It felt like armour as I struggled to open my eyes only to be met with the sight of endless desert and burning heat on my face. Struggling to move my aching body I winced to see me hands tied with a thick rope as I was sitting on a horse in front of a soldier. I noticed the Sheriff on another horse with a danger smirk on his face.

I was going to die, my fate was set and the Sheriff had the final card, the Ace up his sleeve and he knew it. Watching glumly over the horizon I noticed what looked like several posts with people tied up to them burning in the sun, obviously to die a slow and painful death of the desert.

Frowning I glanced and squinted my eyes at the group as I grew closer and felt my heart drop and my breath get sucked in. I groaned as my body felt painful as whatever he had injected into my body was seemed to be rejecting it and fighting against it as I groaned in pain.

"Esme? Esme!" I swear it was Robin's voice that called out for me, however I knew it was my delusional mind hoping he was alive.

"Over here! Help! Help!" The voices kept crying out as I felt my hope burst brighter yet dimmed at the same time as I was aware of the gang's cry out for help. It was them! Their faces dropped at the sight of the Sheriff with me and the solider as they stopped in front of the gang and dismounted. I watched and felt like a rag doll as I was carried off the saddle.

"See, that's the, er... that's the trouble with foreign travel. Hm? You run into all the same people that you see at home. Your leper friend. I understand you've met my colleague, James." The Sheriff chuckled pointing to me as James had grabbed my arm and twist it behind my back. Robin glares at the Sheriff from under his brows.

"You let the Black Knights buy you." Much spat at him in disgust as I was shoved towards the pole and tied to Robin's back. I could feel my body slacking and aching begging for rest.

"Get off me!" I growled weakly.

"Just let Esme go. She's got nothing to do with this." Robin tried to bargain as the Sheriff growled and held my chin tightly in his hand making me close my eyes to prevent myself from looking at him.

"She has everything to do with this! Hm?! All along, we thought... we had a spy in your camp. But you had one in ours." He hissed before letting my chin go and walking back around towards Robin.

"You see, there will always be people that work for me. Because I fight for justice." Robin chuckled as I swear I knew the Sheriff would be fuming.

"Oh, blah-di-blah-di-blah. I'd love to stay... but I don't tan well. Do excuse us... we have a king to kill. Come along, James." He farewelled as I leant my head back on Robin's shoulders listening to the Sheriff and James gallop off. Esme shakes her head miserably.

"I'm sorry." I weakly whispered.

"I'm sorry, too. We fought and we lost." Robin sighed defeated as I gave a weak smile and struggled under the burning sun.

"Well, at least we will have died trying." I muttered as I heard Little John sigh.

"I want to die in England. Sherwood." He growled as I wanted to laugh at the sound of Little John practically whinging. I glanced down the row of outlaws in front of me as I finally turned to Much to see tears streaming down his face as I smiled. The day I saw Much cry!

"Much... don't cry." I smile as he shakes his head. His mouth opening though his voice was barely audible as I had no idea what it is he said.

"He's not crying. He's laughing on the wrong side of his face." A voice came as everyone began to beam with smiles as I guessed whoever it was, was a friend.

"Carter!"

"I thought you'd left us!" I heard Robin sigh happily.

"Sorry. Out here you can lose your head." He smirked as he came around and began to cut our ropes. He was dressed in the King's private uniform with sandy blonde hair and a scar on his cheek. As he cut my ropes he handed me a flask of water as I quickly drained the liquid in thirst. Once Robin was free he turned and embraced me as I sighed happily.

"We have horses and we have weapons." Carter spoke as I saw he had several horses with him as Robin had a cheeky grin.

"And we have a king to rescue." Robin cheered as I sat on the horse behind him as the rest of the gang split off into couples on the horses before we followed Carter in full haste to try and save the King. We made it just in time as we saw King Richard on his horse, wearing a crimson cloak trimmed with gold, on his way to meet with Saladin when we run out from behind the brush into his path. The King stops and stares at us incredulously.

"The desert decided." Much stated as I raised an eyebrow before we all dismounted and began forming a simple plan.

I turned away when Robin and the King exchanged robes and switched places. We made our way outside Imuiz between the dunes in the desert. The gang and I laid on our stomachs on the top of a dune and watched as Robin was standing waiting at the bottom in clear view. We watched as a rider drew closer towards Robin before pulling off his dust mask and reaching for his sword. We stayed watching as Robin removed his cloak and began combat with the man as I was sure in the distance I could hear the fury and anger of the Sheriff crying out.

"Now do you believe us?" Much asked the King beside me as I glanced at him and saw the guilt that flashed across his face.

I've betrayed your loyalty. How can I repay you?" He whispered as I remained watching the fight below as Karim grabs Robin sword arm, turning Robin to face him, and swings overhand at him.

"Actually... I know this is not the time, Your Majesty, but there is a place in Nottingham called Bonchurch I've had my eye on—" Much began as I drew my eyes away from Robin staring at Much in shock.

"Much!" I bark out in astonishment as he goes red and drops the subject as we turn our attention back to Robin. Robin jumps back as Karim swings. Karim tries an overhead blow again and Robin blocks with both hands, but Karim kicks him in the stomach, knocking him onto his back.

"He needs us." I order as I push myself up. The gang, the King and Carter quickly get up and run to their horses as Robin scrambles backwards away from his foe. Karim steps forward, reaching behind him and keeping the point of his scimitar level. At the sound of horses neighing, Robin turns over to look behind him. The Crusaders' horses are running down the dune towards him with King Richard in the lead, followed by me, Carter and Much. Allan, Will, Little John and Djaq are running down on foot. Karim looks up and sees them, too.

Karim grimaces in frustration and retreats to his horse as Robin deftly rises and turns towards us as I hand him the reigns to his horse. Karim mounts and starts his horse running across the sand. Robin mounts as the King approaches him.

"Robin, forgive me." King Richard apologized at least he was a humble King and knew when he was in the wrong.

"I already have. Let's finish this now! After them!" Robin instructs as we begin to chase on after them on horseback towards the ruined city of Imuiz. As we continued to chase them I noticed they split into separate groups as I sighed sadly and fearfully at the sight of Guy's fading black leather along with the Sheriff. As we made our way into the city I glanced around to see broken carts and wagons litter the entrance square and a half ring of sandbags marking the last defence of the former village.

Much rides in next as a hidden archer shoots at Much as he circles around the sandbags. The arrow hits the horse's chest and Much goes down with the horse, scrambling back to avoid getting his legs caught under the falling animal and pressing himself against the protection of the sandbags. Robin and I follow him in, quickly dismount and fall against the sandbags next to Much.

"This is a trap. Are you all right?" Robin ask Much as he nodded bewildered. A trap, as I saw that the King wasn't with us anymore. He must have gone after the King already. Glancing at Much and Robin to see them planning I sneak away and begin to sneak my way through ruined houses and alleyways in search for the Sheriff or Guy. If I find them then I know that I will find the King.

Huffing in defeat I had no luck of finding either of them as I turned sharply to the left hearing the sound of a yell out of pain. Running I noticed the King's horse in the square as the King's head falls limply forward and he slides off near the fountain, grasping at his shoulder, it was only then do I notice an arrow piercing his shoulder as Guy appears at the edge of the square beyond the King's feet. Running down several sets of stairs I quickly stop by the King to see him breathing as he nods that he is alright before I see Guy taking hold of his sword.

"Guy!" I cried out desperately as I race across the square to confront him.

"Stop! It's over, Guy." I pant as I hold my hands up and come to a halt facing Gisborne.

"Get out of the way." He instructed sternly not looking at me, but instead staring ahead at the King. Guy tries to advance steadily towards the King, but I keep myself in front of him, walking backwards with my hands still up.

"All this time I've been fighting for England. Do you think I am going to let you kill England?" I begged him to see it from my view.

"Esme, get out of the way!" He roared at me taking a small swing of his sword at me. But I refused to relent I knew he was capable of good. I have seen him love and him care as he keeps walking towards me. I saw the pain in his eyes as I knew he was battling for the right decision.

"You'll have to kill me first." I whispered.

"No. We're going to get out of this. I'm going to do this thing and then I will have power beyond measure. And we will be together." He sternly spoke as I felt tears begin to bubble in my eyes as I shook my head at him.

"Guy don't do this! If you do then I could never be with you!" I choke on a sob as he stops in utter disbelief and pain as he knows he is the reason I am crying.

"No... no." He struggles to say.

"Please. Show me the man I love. Guy this is your chance to do the right thing." I whisper as his sword is lowered slightly as I could see a tear roll down his face as I take a step closer towards him, my heart ringing loudly in my ears.

"Esme....move....please. I have to do this." He whispers numbly.

"No you don't. Guy put the sword down. Please let him be and marry me." I begged stepping in front of him and placing my hands on his chest.

"Wha...." He tried to say as he dropped his sword at his feet as I smiled brightly cupping his face as tears rolled down my face. He smiled slowly and rubbed my cheek with his glove as I smiled brighter before it was all ruined.

"GISBORNE!" The Sheriff shouted as I heard the King groan before Guy took a step away from me, masking his emotions as he pulled out a dagger from his belt.

"GUY NO!" I cried out as I leaped forward in an attempt to take it from his grasp and Guy is shocked and tries to pull it away from me and not harm me. I hung to his arm with everything I had as he swung his wrist the wrong way trying to prevent it from harming me only to accidently plunge his dagger into my stomach. Grunting in pain, I lift my head and looks into his eyes before we both look down to my bleeding stomach. Horrified at what he has just done, he releases me and tries to brush my hair and make me stay with him as I felt my body shutting down.

"Esme? I didn't mean....stay with me please. I love you......stay please...ESME!" He sobbed as I felt my knees collapse as he caught me. Tears running down his face as he shook as I gave him a sad smile filled with love.

"I love you Guy of Gisborne." I gasped before I arched my back in pain as I felt something burn into my skin on my left collar bone before I felt the ground underneath my back.

"Esme!" I heard Robin cry out in the distance as I soon saw him come into my vision as he knelt down beside me as I cried slightly and gave him the strongest smile I could manage.

"No!" Much whispered broken.

"Gisborne! It's not over, Hood! I will have England!" I heard the Sheriff cry out in the distance as I closed my eye in pain knowing that Guy would have left with him. Robin would kill him at the first moment he had, that I knew and I couldn't let that happen! I felt everything fade as I grasped tightly to Robin in hope to stay for that bit longer.

"You keep fighting for me, Robin." I whispered in desperation as he tears dripped down to my face.

"I c... I can't fight without you."

"I'd love to argue with you, but we haven't got the time. You promise me you'll keep fighting." I begged as he nodded.

"I will." He promised as I arched my back in pain.

"One.....more thing.......promise me......pr....." I felt my strength fail and Robin calling out my name only to have it soon fade. As my eyes closed I felt the serum course through my veins and a dark chuckle ringing through my ears followed by a simple message.

"Death isn't ready for you yet Dearie! You have much more to do! Now it's time for my spell to awaken!" With that evil cackle a warm electric spark flowed down through my veins before I felt my heart began to beat once more.