- Chapter 77 -

I was jogging down every corridor in search of Guy but I had no luck. I grumbled annoyed and went to turn down the interior corridor only to take a step back when I stumbled into Guy causing me to breath out a sigh of relief. Quickly grabbed hold of his forearms and dragged him with me much to his protest. I looked down the hallway to see it empty before I turned back to him as he watched me suspiciously.

"What do you want?" He grumbled gruffly as I wanted nothing more than to slap that silly attitude off his face. But I knew I couldn't blow my cover, even though I wished he knew who I was.

"The Prince will have the Sheriff kill you for disappointing him" I warn as I saw fear flash in his eye slightly before they went cold once again.

"Why should I trust you?" He spat as he leant down at me, as he didn't know how much his husky voice affected me.

"Because you would be dead otherwise, if it weren't for me" I warn him slightly breathless as we could hear the sound of a door slamming and boots as I quickly pushed him behind a screen and placed my hand over his so he wouldn't talk. Another pair of boots added before they both paused as I looked over his shoulder and saw roughly through the screen that it was the Prince and the Sheriff. I noticed that Guy and I were chest-to-chest, not that he noticed but I felt my heart pick up slightly.

"Do you love me, Sheriff?" He asked him.

"With all my heart, sire." I heard Guy scoff slightly at the honey thick words the Sheriff spoke as I held up a finger over his lips as a warning to ensure he didn't make another sound as I felt his eyes connect with mine.

"Would you take a life for me?" The Prince questioned as it was my turn to scoff as I knew that the Sheriff wouldn't find that hard as Guy's hold on my forearm squeezed as though he was warning me this time as I smirked.

"Gisborne has so disappointed me." The Prince lied as I felt Guy stiffen.

"Disappointed us both, sire." The Sheriff responded.

"Obedience, loyalty and love, is it too much to ask? A king requires all three. Who's more loyal to me, Sheriff? You or Gisborne?" He toyed with his words as I was ready to just kill both Prince John and Sheriff then and there.

"Of course, I am, sire. My loyalty is infinite." The Sheriff answered without hesitation.

"Good. Then prove it to me. Rid me of Gisborne, Sheriff, quickly, discreetly. We don't want to disturb our noble guests with this messy business. Kill him for me, Sheriff." The Prince ordered as Guy's shoulders seemed to droop.

"A privilege, sire." The Sheriff cackled evilly as I held a finger in a warning as I heard the Prince's feet disappear before I made myself known towards the Sheriff. Letting out a growl he gave me a snarl himself, as though we were two dogs fighting for dominance, before I grabbed hold of the handle to my sword before he quickly fled down the hallway causing me chuckle.

I turned and waited as Guy came round the corner, neither of us saying anything but as he held out his hand for me to shake, I knew we had formed an alliance. I knew he was starting to trust me, which made me beam with happiness.

I freshened up and spent some alone time in my chambers before I was required to be in the Great Hall for dinner. I looked around my room to see it hadn't changed one bit since I was away, curious I rolled off my bed and lifted the sheets that overflowed over the edge and found my secret compartment under my bed. I gasped at the memory when I found my spare Night Watchman costume. I let the fabric rub against my fingers, as I couldn't believe it was still here after so long.

I quickly stuffed it back and hide it away before I made my way down to the Great Hall where everyone was already sitting eating as I sat in the right seat beside the throne at the head of the table. The Sheriff must have hired a piper and drummer to entertain the Prince as I was handed a fresh plate with cold meat, cheese and fruits with a couple of slices of bread. I slowly nibbled on my meat as I saw a serving boy put two bowls of dried plums between the Sheriff and Gisborne, who are sitting with their backs to the fireplace.

Prince John was fingering his moustache and flirting with Isabella who was on his left and seemed extremely happy to have the Prince's attention drawn to her. I snickered slightly as I couldn't wait for her to mess up and then see how being under the Prince's nose and attention was the worst place for you. Palmer was sitting half way down the table and looked uncomfortable with uneasy to have the Prince finding out information about his attack.

"And where were you attacked?" The Prince questioned as I paused for a moment when I went o have a drink.

"Near a village." Palmer quickly answered.

"Locksley village." The Sheriff added as I groaned slightly at him snitching against Locksley village. I glanced at Guy who took a dried plum and is about to eat it before catching my eye and glancing back at the plum before he looks at the serving boy. Smart boy for ensuring that the Sheriff hadn't poisoned it.

"We fought courageously, but we were dreadfully outnumbered." Palmer added as I wished he would just shut up.

"No doubt the villagers helped the outlaws." The Sheriff spoke once again before he watches Guy give a plum to the serving boy to try. The boy took it and chewed the food and when Guy realized that the food hadn't have been poisoned he waved the boy off and took one for himself to chew instead.

"And eventually I was captured.......by Robin Hood himself." Palmer nervously continued.

"Or so he said. I mean, we've all been proved wrong in the past.... haven't we, Gisborne?" The Sheriff spoke as he tried to angle the blame to Guy who was quickly popping plums into his mouth as he looks up at the Sheriff whilst chewing.

"But this time Robin Hood was fooled." The Prince smiled as I watched how the Sheriff looks at Guy's bowl, scratching his chin before glancing down at his own chin with unease. I watched as Guy leans over to the person next to him to engage in the conversation and how the Sheriff takes the opportunity to switch their bowls and take a plum from his dish. This made me straighten in my chair as Guy went to have another one as I gave a low growl. As he sat opposite me he heard it and looked at me with a raised eyebrow as I slowly shook my head and pointed towards the second bowl.

As he got the message he slowly placed the plum back and waited until the Sheriff wasn't looking before switching them back and glancing at me as I gave a small thumbs up and went back to listening to the prince.

"Excellent. And was he angry... that I'd made such a fool of him?" The Prince chuckled and clapped with joy at the fact that he had tricked Robin.

"Very angry." Palmer smiled.

"Did he curse us?" The Prince asked again.

"Fulsomely." Palmer added once more.

"Wonderful! What did he say?" He cried out happily as he skipped out from his throne and half ran half skipped over towards Palmer and leant against the back of his chair. I saw at his request that Palmer's face fell as it made me extremely eager to know what my beloved brother Robin said about Prince John.

"Oh, I—I—I couldn't, Your Highness." He stuttered as I saw that his denial annoyed the Prince as he battered his eyelashes and knelt down beside him.

"Oh, please, tell me exactly what he said." The Prince whined.

"But Your Highness..."

"Do you not love me?" He questioned offended as I saw that Palmer now knew he was in a stuck position. No matter what he said now, he was a dead man and he knew it.

"Of course." He answered nervously.

"Well, then say!" The Prince commanded once more as he smiles at Palmer sweetly. I watched as Palmer gulped before slowly nodding saying he had agreed causing the prince to clap as though he was getting candy. He was such a child at times.

"He called you a coward. He said only a coward would have a double." Palmer spoke as his voice lost all confidence it once held. The music stopped and the chatter in the hall silenced as the sound of a knife being dropped against the table echoed. I'll admit that he had guts to repeat those words in front of Prince John, yet I wanted so hard to laugh and agree with Robin. Prince John was a coward!

His face had fallen slightly before he faked it even more and made his way over to his throne slowly creating suspense a I saw Palmer gulp and try to shrink in his seat further. Once the Prince was slouched in his seat his smile dropped and was replaced with a dark snarl.

"Arrest him." He finally spoke as it took no one by surprise as we knew that he was a gonner as soon as those words had left his mouth. Two guards appeared and dragged Palmer out from his dining chair as I saw him struggle, though his efforts were in vain.

"With pleasure... and what shall I charge him with?" The Sheriff asked him.

"Impersonating the Prince Regent." Prince John impatiently commanded as I could see that he was becoming bored now once more.

"If it makes any difference, sire, I—I didn't agree with him." Palmer cried out as he was being dragged away. I took another gulp of my drink as I watched the Prince beside me who was slouching with his hand to his head. Isabella tried to cheer him up whilst eating a grape but he quickly waved his hand away and silenced her.

"Where is this village of Locksley? I want to see it." The Prince commanded with an evil smirk on his face as my heart paused for a brief moment. Bother!