It had been probably two hours after Guy had ensured that Esme rested in bed. He was making his way through the corridors of the castle, to see if she needed anything and that she was ok. But as he came closer to her room, the sound of a piercing scream made him freeze and draw his sword.

"ESME!" He shouted as he ran to her door and barged in. Guy found her sobbing and crying out, her eyes squinted shut, her hands gripping the sheets to her bed. Her forehead beading with sweat as he dropped the sword and ran to her side by the bed. He gently grabbed hold of her arms and shook her trying to wake her.

"Esme? Esme!" He called out, until she eventually opened her eyes frightened, tears streaming down her cheeks, her breathing uneven and shaky, as she held onto him for dear life. Guy pulled her into a hug, as he could feel her shaking with fear against his body. He patted her hair and rocked her back and forth as she soon began to calm down.

"Nothing will hurt you now" He kept whispering to her, as she clutched onto him tightly, afraid that if she let go she would never be alright again. Guy's heart skipped a beat with how close he was to her. His hand trailed slowly down to her waist as she hissed and straightened as Guy pulled away realizing he must have accidently brushed against her wound.

"I'm sorry" He told her as she shook her head and brushed away her tears from her face as she sniffled a few times.

"No, you didn’t mean to. I'm going to get some fresh air" She spoke as her hair fell elegantly down her back as she slowly got up from her bed.

"Shall I come with you?" Guy asked hoping she would want his company.

"No thank you, I think I need to be alone for a little while" She smiled, before leaving her room, and finding a balcony where she took in deep breaths as if she would never breath again if she didn’t calm down her frightened body and mind.

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

As I walked around the castle for a while, I started to feel my head begin to clear. I breathed in the fresh air happily. My scar on my right hand side wasn't that painful now, as it was healing on its own. I kept walking down the corridor, hoping I would find Joe, until I was stopped by one of the guards.

"Sorry, my lady, you can’t come through here. " He instructed me as I sighed.

"I’ve come to see Sergeant Lacey." I informed him before I saw another shadow appear to see it was Joe Lacey, with his bow and sheath full of arrows.

"I’ll deal with this. You shouldn’t be here, Esme. It’s not safe and you should be resting" He told me as I rolled my eyes as he chuckled quietly.

"I know, thank you and it seems word travels fast" I muttered annoyed before I glanced around at the quiet corridor.

"It’s all right." Joe told me as if to comfort me, however I looked at him shifting my weight to my other foot as I shook my head slightly.

"It’s not, though, is it?" I asked as he sighed and shook his head.

"No. Who’d’ve thought Robin’d kill him? All these people dead and I can’t understand…Matthew. His poor mum and dad, I know how they feel. It was the same with Ruth. You try not to dwell on it…remember the good times. The only thing I regret is that she didn’t die in her own bed. That I cannot…" He tried to explain but I knew what he was trying to say as I reached out and touched his shoulder in comfort.

"Do you think you could slip away for a moment" I asked him quietly as he nodded as we quietly walked down the castle corridors to where I had been standing before on the balcony, from where I had been shot at as well as the poor young servant girl.

"From here could I shoot an arrow through that window?" I asked him as I pulled my arms back and closed my eye in a gesture to shoot from where the arrows had been shot from.

"Pull smoothly like you’re combing your hair." Joe told me as I shifted my position and saw the Sheriff walking down the opposite corridor surrounded by guards as I dropped my hands, obviously looking like a fool.

"You could." Joe told me with a smirk as I chuckled.

"But of course I wouldn’t. You’re teasing me, aren’t you?" I asked him before we both smirked.

"Yeah, I’ll say anything I will. I’m from the days when you could. Nowadays we hold our tongues. Those of us lucky enough to still have them. Say one thing when we mean another. For instance, well you say you want archery lessons, but you’re really only interested in bow range. (I raised my eyebrows) Are you trying to prove it couldn’t be him?" Joe asked me as I puffed air and started smiling silly before I turned my head to hide from him as I watched the sun disappearing.

"You’re still in love with him." Joe questioned as it caught me off guard. I have never loved Robin romantically.

"No, not romantically, like a brother though yes." I told him before it turned to him with an innocent smile on my face.

"Who?" I questioned him as if I hadn't a clue who he was talking about as we both chuckled.

"Tell him. Not that you ever see him, but tell him. Good people do still love him." Joe whispered as I nodded. Joe bowed before he had to leave and head back to his duties. I sighed before making my way back to my room, on the way I bumped in Sir Guy as he paused looking down at me worried.

"Are you feeling better?" He asked me as I smiled honestly and nodded. I was feeling better.

"I'm as right as rain" I told him before I made my way back to my room. I must admit I felt tired, even though I dreaded sleeping because of my nightmares I did need to rest, as I yawned and prepared to sleep….

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

In was dark, quiet and night as Robin and Allan made their way towards Nottingham Castle. Robin jumps up onto roof tops, and makes his way closer to the castle wall. Allan lit a fire of hay below, as Robin used his body strength to climb into the castle. Unseen and unheard Robin managed to sneak around the castle as he found himself in the Sheriff's chambers, where he slept. He placed a hand over his mouth as the Sheriff woke to a fright.

"Why can it never be a beautiful woman?" The Sheriff grumbled seeing Robin in his room holding a dagger, however he was still half asleep. When the Sheriff had calmed down Robin removed his hand and glared at the Sheriff, honestly he felt exhausted having run so much this day for being chased by Gisborne and the dogs.

"Call off your dogs. " Robin whispered in a strong voice as the Sheriff rolled his eyes.

"Why? You’re a mad killer." He grumped eager to go back to sleep.

"You know I’m not." Robin teased the Sheriff with a pouting face making the Sheriff scrunch up his face in disgust.

"It’s true. So, now we got that sorted, what do you want to do, slit my other hand?" He questioned yawning as Robin rolled his eyes this time.

"It seemed to me that somebody wants you dead." Robin stated plainly.

"Oh, God, what’s new? Welcome to my world." The Sheriff groaned as he tried to get himself comfortable.

"I came to your room unseen. If the killer is half as good as me, he will do the same." Robin informed the Sheriff as the Sheriff couldn’t care less until he released what this meant for others who tried to sneak into the castle.

"And your point is?" The Sheriff asked Robin wary of the sudden catch.

"I can catch him for you." Robin offered as the Sheriff narrowed his sleepy eyes at Robin.

"Two questions: how and why?" He asked him rudely.

"Ride through Nettlestone village. Parade yourself. Make sure everybody knows you’re there. That will draw out the killer, and my men will shoot him." Robin explained as the Sheriff just raised his eyebrows not really impressed.

"Well, what about my men?" He questioned since he knew he had more men then Robin.

"Because mine are invisible." Robin muttered as the Sheriff groaned knowing Robin was right.

"Now, supposing I agree, why?" He asked as he sat up in his bed.

"Innocent people are being killed. I cannot allow that." Robin whispered.

"Oh, come along, Robin. This is pillow talk, isn’t it, hmm? Oh, come on, you can be honest with me. That’s not the real reason, is it? Do you want to know what the real reason is? Nobody loves you anymore. Hmm? They’ve turned against you. Common surfs. And really, those are the people that love you the most, and that’s what you can’t allow to have." The Sheriff teased Robin as he decided to get comfy again resting his head against his pillow.

"Do we have an agreement?" Robin snapped as the Sheriff smirked in delight.

"Oh, ‘ve I touched a sore point?" He asked in a fake innocent voice.

"I’ll take that as a yes. (Sheriff chuckles) And, by the way, this is for you, for future reference. Anybody wearing one of those is with me." Robin chuckled as he threw one of the necklaces bearing the symbol of Robin Hood's men at the Sheriff.

"How sweet. Robin, does it go with my dress?" The Sheriff asked teasingly holding it up against his night clothes as Robin picks up sheriff’s purse that is sitting on his bedside table.

"This is my fee for saving your life."Robin whispered as he took the purse showing it to the Sheriff who looked rather unhappy, before he soon fell back asleep thinking it was a dream. Robin starts to make his way down the halls when guards see him and he runs and ducks into a room. The guards follow only to find Esme holding the blanket to her chest, looking annoyed.

"I’m sorry, my lady." The guard apologized before shutting the door quickly. Esme sighed before Robin pulls blanket off head, just looking up at his sisterly figure, whom he was starting to love romantically.

"So, this is you with your hair down." He jokes as Esme, in a grumpy mood shoves him out of the bed as he landed on the floor with a sudden thud.

"Ouch!"

"You cannot be here." Esme snarled at him as Robin shushed her which only made her slightly more furious.

"Shhh. Do not be such a spoil sport, Esme." He teased as she rolled her eyes as Robin got up and put his ear against the door.

"Listen, I’ve been trying to think about who could have done this. I think the killer is De Fourtnoy, the Master at Arms." Esme whispered to him as she got out from her bed and slipped on her robe around her waist.

"Because…" Robin asked Esme unsure of her sudden accusation.

"Well, he was right there when the maid was killed. And, think about it, a murderer on the loose merely consolidates his position. This situation is in his interests. Besides I overheard him talking with the Sheriff about having a few more pretty deaths" She hissed as Robin looked at Esme frowning and slightly shocked, with how a death could be pretty.

"Well, I intent to change this situation." Robin told Esme as she folded her arms over her chest as he took a few steps forward towards her.

"You think just because you want to change things, you can?" She asked him hoping she wouldn't be so stupid to think he could control everything and everyone.

"It’s hard to change the things you do not want to change." He explained as he sat down on the bed as she joined him on the edge of the bed. Robin was still unaware of the attack on her from earlier this morning and Esme planned on keeping it that way.

"And what about just getting away while you can?" Esme asked him.

"Why? When we’re having so much fun." He teased her sitting closer as Esme gulped.

"Augh. Does anything touch you, Robin?" She questioned as he frowned.

"What does that mean?" He asked her.

"It means you wander around as if nothing could hurt you. As if arrows would bounce off you. I do not think I have ever seen you hurt." She stated him simply as Robin sighed and shook his head.

"Oh, I have been hurt. " He informed her seriously.

"Tell me. Hmm? See? You think it is strong not to feel, but if you cannot admit you feel how can you understand when others feel? How can you be a whole man?" Esme asked him as Robin looked at her seriously.

"I feel when innocent people are shot down. I feel when my men are hunted like animals. I feel when good people turn against me." Robin snapped.

"I was talking about you to someone today. A good man. Someone who still remembers you from the old days. And you know, there are still people who love you." She whispered to him remembering what Joe had asked her to tell him as Robin bit his lower lip. But they were interrupted when a sudden knock came to the door.

"My lady." The Guard called out.

"One moment." Esme shouted out.

"I must search your room." The guard instructed as Esme began to shove Robin off her bed.

"Go! Out!" She whispered as Robin was about to leave before he turned and walked back to her as she looked at him as if he was crazy.

"By the way, your investigations, (kisses her cheek) good work. Let’s see if you’re right tomorrow. (heads out her door) Shhh." Robin told her as she frowned. Tomorrow what was happening tomorrow?  She rolled her eyes chuckling to herself. Oh dear Robin, this brother will be the death of her.

"My lady!" The Guard shouted out.