I came out of the manor and walked into the village where they were all gathered around a cart. I made my way closer out of curiosity to listen in.

"Now, good people of Locksley. I have bad news." the crowd voiced their discontent "Ah, but there is good news as well. Now the bad news is, the Sheriff's tax man is in Clun. He's not far and he'll be here soon. But the good news is that I, me, Lucky George, I'm here with you in Locksley. I will give you cold hard cash for any jewellery, trinkets, anything of value. I will turn into pennies." I shook my head, this man was a con man and I would be damned if I let these people fall into the trap.

"I suggest you leave!" I call and the villagers parted the way

"And who might you be little lovely." he tried to charm me. I took the small blade from one of the villagers side pockets and threw it to the cart. It scratched his face.

"I am Lady Ophelia of Gisborne, Lady of the manor in this village and you will leave here now. I will not have you swindle and con the people out of what little they own." Then I addressed the villagers. "Return to your homes, your jobs this man is a liar and a thief, he gives you nothing you can't earn. Go, go." they began to disperse going back to what they were doing.

"You know i can smell a co conspirator of the Sheriff and my father a mile a way. Tell them if they want to get something past me, to try again. Humm." I took the knife out. "I should get that seen to if I were you. Bye now." I sauntered away when I felt something hit my leg. I looked down and saw a arrow. Picking it up I looked around and saw Will. glancing to see if 'Lucky George' was watching, he wasn't he was leaving with tail between his legs and armed guard. I made my way over.

"My Lady." he nodded to me "Who's that?"

"He calls himself Lucky George. tells them he can trade what little they have for money to pay their taxes." I answer "Personally i think it's another scheme by the Sheriff with the help of my father of course. I don't know whether its by idiocy or design that they came while I was in residence. Either way, it's likely this isn't his first stop nor will it be the last." he hummed thinking. His gaze drifting away

"I got a look inside." his eyes snapped back "He's been a busy boy. Too busy me thinks. Have fun." I left him to relay what he saw back to Robin.

---------

I was reading downstairs when father returned in one of his moods, actually he was as he usually was, a mixture between stoic with a hint of discontent. He close the door behind him.

"You threw a knife at Lucky George." he commented

"Hummm." I replied "He might of popped his head up while I happened to be here. I listened to him and thought, what a load of old horse manure. Every word was like a pile of dung reading of the Sheriff and you. So I sent him on his way." I looked up flashing a smile, then looked back down.

"Ophelia."

"Yeeesss" I drawl. We had fallen into this new sense of...habit with one another. Nearly everything I did or was at least proven to do failed in comparison to what he had done. This meant that he had no room to be high and mighty to me if he still wanted to call himself a father. In return of not playing the I know better card, I spoke to him with a moderate sense of how we once were.

"Nothing, never mind."

"Well in any case, I best ready my horse, Marion has agreed to come on a ride with me. Don't worry we will stay off the main road." I walked out of the house just as Marion came to a stop

"Marion."

"Sir Guy." she bowed her head as my horse was already made ready by Louisa. I thanked her and mounted just as one of Fathers sergeants comes scampering over.

"You wanted to see me sir." he voiced and father took one look at us and then walked over

"Cancel the guard for the consignment from Rotherem." he ordered and my head tilted slightly listening in.

"No guards?"

"No guards, guards attract attention and why would we want to attract attention to a chest full of silver travelling through Sherwood forrest?" I slowly turn my head to look at Marion. We both share the same gaze

"Yes, sir."

"And tell no one. No one, not even the guards themselves." he turned his attention back to us "Enjoy your ride...ladies." we pulled away and made our way into the forrest.

"How are we suppose to find Robin when he could be anywhere, doing anything?" Marion wondered

"Don't worry, he has a annoying knack for finding me." just as I spoke he jumped out scaring our horses.

"Hey, hey. I wish you know harm." I fell off and grunted with a small thud. I groaned and pulled myself up. before reining my horse."But I will relieve you of your valuables." Luckily Marion did not fall, she merely dismounted.

"You are an ass Robin Hood." I shoved him making him laugh

"Sorry, I thought you were some rich noble women looking to donate your fancy jewels to a good cause." I groaned and shook my head rubbing the nose of my horse to settle her.

"You knew it was us." Marion retorted

"You shouldn't be riding alone through the forrest. There are some very unsavoury characters about. Outlaws you know." he smirked but it turned to confusion "What's this?" he went to lift up her necklace,

"Don't touch." she slapped his hand away

"It's very pretty. Have I seen it before?"

"No, its one of her latests gifts from my fathers lame attempts to pursue her. Nauseating isn't it. He just doesn't know when to give up." I breath answering for my new friend

"Interesting."

"What?" we wonder

"I have seen it before, around the neck of a young girl from Locksley. It was given to her by her mother. ." I closed my eyes, of course father couldn't do anything nice without doing wrong first. It was so typically him.

"Yes,And?"

"And here it is around your neck"

"So, father stole it form the girl? Why am I nod surprised." I click my tongue 

"I can't imagine she gave it to him willingly. But it's not like you stole from the girl yourself. And you obviously like it. And it is certainly special and thoughtful gift from a man that clearly means a lot to you." she sighed and removed it from around her neck and handed it over.

"Take it back to the girl."

"Gladly." I look between the two "What will you say to Gisbourne?"

"Tell her not to wear it in public, he'll never know." I shrug "Marion why don't you ride on ahead."

"With pleasure." she mounted and left the two of us. I folded my arms staring at him

"What?"

"You think she likes the doe eyes she gets from my father? But she has to play the game just like the rest of us must. It's not her fault that he won't take the hint so lay off." he sighed

"tell her she can have it back. I can find her another."

"No, it was a gift from the girls mother, even I know Marion wouldn't want to deny someone that." I mounted my horse "There was a reason we came this way. Tell, Will I was right about Lucky George. He'll know what I mean and explain." I rode off to catch up with Marion.

-----

Father had left early that morning and I was going to take this chance to change and then see what was going on the main road and being left un guarded with 'unsavoury characters about.' I was heading up get change when the doors pushed open and masked men came rushing at Louisa and I. She let out a small scream where as my instincts kicked in. I grabbed the poker and started fighting back. even though I wasn't dressed as the Scarlett archer and in my dress, I still gave as good as I got. But it was like three against one so they were bound to land a couple of blows.

the fight was taken outside and at one point my arm hit something at a awkward angle. I screamed out.

"Stop!" I looked back, "what is going on!" Robin yelled storming over

"Thank goodness your here. This is Robin Hood and your in big trouble."

"Ophelia," he tried to help me up but I yelped out in pain "what? what is it." he knelt down, concerned

"What are you doing?" Allan growled before coming over to me

"My arm. I think I did something to my arm." I winced as Allan knelt down in front of me also concerned

"I am so sorry."

"Those men were trying to rob my home." Robin laid my harm to my chest.

"Yes we were robbing her house. That's what we do. We were trying to show the top man what we can do." Allan stood back up and stormed over as Robin helped me up and over to Louisa. She fussed over to me.

"These people are our friends." he sneered

"Now you tell me. I thought."

"You don't think. You CAN'T think." Alan slapped him clearly knowing more than I did.

"These are supposed to be your new friends eh?" I groan "Some choice you made, top form." I whine sarcastically.

"Not for much longer, I promise are you hurt anywhere else." he glanced me over as to check for anything else "your head is cut and it looks like you will have a black eye." he brushed some of my hair away. He turned walking to those who attacked me

"Apologise. Apologies for the disturbance. NOW!" Robin yelled and then dragged him over

"I'm sorry."

"Louder." Robin ordered

"I'm sorry."

"I knew nothing about this. They will be punished, you have my word." he assured me and i nodded

"I am so sorry." Allan apologised once more

"Just take him away." Alan did so "Come I will help you back inside and then fetch you a physician."

"No, Louisa, retrieve Harriett from the village and then you ride to Nottingham, tell them that the house was attacked by masked men and that I was injured.Nothing more. Go, now." she ran off and he swopped me into his arms and carried me "If I don't go about this the right way it will arouse suspicion. It has to be if I don't know who did it. But Robin..." he laid me down on my bed "Theres a consignment of silver coming down the great north road. I was just about to change so I could intercept it. Well the nightwatchman and I."

"You and the nightwatchman?" he questioned

"Yes, us." I rolled my eyes wincing "It is unguarded as to not attract attention. A simple cart. I heard my father talking about it. Seemed like I would bee a fool to miss the opportunity. Pass me the pillow." he did so

"Harriett, will be here any minute, if you want it you must clear out and hurry."

"Will you be all right."

"Yes, thank you." I smile painfully. He left and within minutes Harriett arrived watching over me till help could come. That was in the form of a physician and my father.

"Ophelia, what happened? The house was attacked?" he sat down by my side. "Did you see them?" he fussed as I was looked over

"No, they were wearing masks. Rushed into the house and tried to subdue us, no doubt with the intention of trying to rob us. I fought them off. Think I made one bleed. Ah that hurts." I cried out.

"Her arm is broken my lord. I will need certain supplies to make sure she heals it right. Excuse me." he left and it was just the two of us

"You said you made one of them bleed. Where?" I didn't answer "Ophelia this is important."

"Ugh I don't know, somewhere painful and on his...right side. What does it matter, they're gone and they didn't get anything." He stroked back my hair

"They hurt you, your arms is broken and your face. You are cut and bruised. I will find those who did this to you and in the mean time, guards..."

"No, I will not feel like i am living in the castle. all stifled and constricted. No guards for heavens sake just drop it."

--3rd Person-

Tom (Allan's brother) and friends stole from Robin and the others and left in the middle of the night once more. He had the intention of trying to make amends, he tried to rob Lucky George again, only to be captured and taken back to the castle. Since they were wearing the tags of Robin Hood, they were taken to see the Sheriff. During one of his boasts that he thought he had gotten his hand on official members of hoods gang and planned to make an example out of them Gisbourne noticed something else.

"Where did you get this wound?" he questioned going over to Tom who had fresh bleeding mark through his clothes. Tom didn't say anything and Guy put pressure on it. "it was you wasn't it? You are the ones who stormed my manor and injured my daughter."

"Oh, tut, tut, tut." The sheriff "Thievery and harming a noblewoman, Hoods gang are getting more rough these days. Imagine getting caught and facing the father to your victim, humm. No matter you shall hang and I am betting anything that Hood will try and rescue you, two birds one stone." Guy punched the band repeatedly before being pulled off.

-Ophelia-

My arm had been strapped up and I had been give some ointment to help with my cuts and bruises. There was a whistle and i scowled in confusion and moved over to my window. There bold as you like was Robin. I chuckled a little.

"And what do you want?" i question

"To talk." he answered trying to sound if it was innocent.

"So talk." his shoulder sagged but then he climbed up coming the way that was beginning to get to familiar for him. "That's far enough." he grinned staring at me

"What."

"Nothing."

"You were staring at me." I countered

"That's just the way my eyes were pointing." his expression turned solemn "I am sorry about yesterday. How are you doing?" he wondered glancing at my strapped up arm.

"I will survive. My father figured out that the men who attacked me are yours and that they are going to hang." I voiced "He was absolutely furious when he connected the two."

"They're not my men."

"They were your men last night." I raise an eyebrow.

"The Sheriff is hanging them in my name hoping I'll turn up to rescue them. But my men think its a trap. Has your lovely concerned father said anything?" he wondered and i shook my head.

"I think he's a little preoccupied, but I will go to the castle and see what I can find out." I reply "Though I may have to take a cart. Hummm"

"No, you shouldn't be riding when injured."

"Awh, is ickle Robin Hood concerned for little ole me. I'm touched." I coo "I'll be fine, just may take me a minute or two." He shook his head and looked down for a moment before raising his gaze back up.

"If I do not rescue then, people will think I can't protect my men." he sighed "Do I risk us all to save them?" he wondered out loud.

"You are a good man, Robin. Highly irritating at times but generally good. nothing will change that." he leant up but I pushed him back "Making the moves on the daughter will not help you make your decision."

"It might."

"Now I know your jesting with me." he hums and then leaves the same way he came down. I changed and with the help of some steps rode one handed to Nottingham. I asked for my father and was told that he was in the dungeons. so that is where I headed. He came out after he was told that I was here.

"Ophelia? What are you doing here? You should be at home resting." he fussed

"I was bored and i wanted to annoy you. So here I am." He rolled his eyes at me and I heard screams come from the dungeons "What's that?" he takes my good arm and leads me away.

"Come away, that is something you should not be hearing.|" he says "Do you know the worst crime a man can commit?" he wondered

"murder, of course."

"Betrayal." he replied "My sergeant swore loyalty to me and then he stabbed me in the back. He hasn't admitted it yet, but he will." he let go and I rest against the wall.

"Admit what?"

"We set a trap to flush out a spy. An unguarded cart. Someone told Robin Hood." oh shit. Oh shit, I should have seen that one coming, why didn't I see that one coming?

"What if it wasn't?"

"My sergeant was the only one who knew. He was the only one I told. You understand the importance of loyalty, Ophelia."

"But Father...."

"No. We shall speak of this no more, you should go home and rest, you have had quite the day yesterday. In fact I will take you. Come." he took my arm and lead me away. He helped me onto my horse and then took me back home.

-------

Father posted a guard outside the front door to make sure i didn't leave Locksley. I stayed in my room annoyed and thinking of ways to return the favour when a arrow hit my floor. i scowled in confusion and picked it up, there was a note attached. trickle I opened it.

Gisbourne suspects Marion of betrayal. He's gone to confront her about missing necklace. She needs your help. I look out of the window and see Much. I nod to him and he ran off. I crumped the note and threw it into the fire. Then I made my way downstairs and left the house.

"My Lady, where are you going."

"To visit Marion of Knighton. You can ride ahead if you like, warn my father i'm coming." I call back "Or not your choice." It was a long walk but I made it there only to be pulled into the stables by Robin.

"What are you doing here?"

"Your note said Marion needed help. Here I am helping." i retort and i saw the necklace "You got it."

"Yes I was just gonna climb up and give it to her."

"And risk you being seen. No. Quick put it around my neck." he looked at me confused "Just do it." he sighed and did so then I headed inside

"Sir Edward." i bowed my head "Is it all right if I go up." he nodded and i did so

"Marion! Your father said you were here. I've come to return...." I stopped flinging confusion at seeing my father "Father. are you bothering Marion again?"

"Ophelia, how many times do I have to say...where did you get that?" i looked down at the necklace

"Marion let me borrow it. I was supposed to give it back yesterday but i forgot for obvious reasons. But I suddenly remembered when my sling started to itch." I look between the two and Marion looked relieved. "Have I missed something?" Father looked back to Marion and then to me.

"That's not possible." he breathed

"Father. Are you okay? You look like you've seen a ghost. Don't you like it? I love it, it simple like mother would wear, remember you told me she like the simple things. I was thinking you could have one made, now that I know what it looks like on me." he said nothing as I made him doubt himself even more "Really what is with that look." i gave Marion a pointed look and she picked up on it.

"Your father thought i lied to him and gave the necklace away."

"Father you didn't." he kept quiet "You idiot, what do you need to say?"

"Sorry." he apologised "I was wrong. Marion I told the Sheriff you had betrayed us." Father voiced

"Then tell him you were wrong."

" he's expecting news of your arrest."

"Then show him the necklace."

"No, necklace will persuade the sheriff. How could he trust you after this? I cannot protect you." he then looked to me something flickered in recognition.

"You must. It is proof." Marion insisted

"You have already defied him once. suspicion will cling to you and your father. You must prove your loyalty beyond a doubt."

"How." Father grabbed her arms

"Marry me." oH my....

"Father, father no. No, we're going. We are going right now. Now." I pulled him away but he resisted "I'm not asking!" I shout and grabbed him by the ear and pulled hard.

"Ah! Ophelia!" I carried on pulling him down the steps "Ophelia!

"No, you are not forcing marriage on my friend. I won't have it. I won't, you got her into this mess you will think of a different way to get her out of it. I'm done playing nice. Sir Edward. Excuse me."

"Ophelia it makes sense. As Lady Gisborne I could protect her, it is the only way. Ophelia, let go!" he growled

"I'll do it." Marion made us stop just as we reached his horse I let go of my father "If it means saving my father then I will but only...only when King Richard returns to England."

"Marion, no." Father went over to her

"You mean it?" he questioned and she nodded. I look to my side seeing Robin peering out from the stable.

"Shall we go inside and tell my father the good news?" she questioned

"Yes, and I have an apology to make." the two went inside. While I slipped into the stables Robin and I stared at one another for a long time.