"This is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard!" the Sheriff spat, so angry he nearly tumbled from his chair and down to the floor. "Go tell your pathetic excuse for a Sheriff that I refuse to pay him his money until he returns the seventy crowns he owes me!" Sir Guy of Gisborne looked over to his superior and let out a long, heavy breath. For a grown man, he was such a child. The courier who delivered the message slowly curtsied and batted her lashes.
"Your high and noble Sheriff," she began slowly, "I was warned that you would tell me such a thing. Therefore, I was given a second letter." She reached into the bag on her hip and withdrew a second scroll. Handing it to one of the guards, she looked back at the Sheriff smugly. "It says that I shall not return to Leeds until you have given me the money. Until I am free to go, it is your charitable responsibility to provide me with shelter and food in return for my patience."
The Sheriff abruptly stood and snatched the scroll from his guard, pushing the man over in the process. As he read, his frown grew heavier and heavier until it nearly fell off. Sir Guy raised his eyebrows in amusement – this courier was fiery and clever. The Sheriff tossed the letter to the ground and smirked.
"Fine. Fine! You will have shelter and food – lucky for you, we occasionally get around to giving vermin in the dungeon bread and water."
"I do not believe," Guy cut in, sauntering to his boss, "that the Sheriff of Leeds would be satisfied with those arrangements." He looked to the courier with a tight smile and then turned back to business. The ruler of Nottingham chomped his teeth and looked his right hand man up and down.
"Fine. But Gisborne, she is your responsibility. If ever I decide I don't like her… Just keep her out of my way." And with a sneer he was storming out of the room. Guy nodded to the courier and led her up the stairs to the exit. When they reached the courtyard of the castle, she stopped and laughed.
"So, is he always like this?" she chuckled. "You know, all…" she puffed out her cheeks and bugged her eyes in mockery of the Sheriff's temper. Sir Guy laughed, half in agreement and half in surprise to her forwardness, and nodded. As he looked into her green eyes, he noticed something from his past. His finger, however, he could not place.
"I don't believe I ever had the honor of your name." he said through a grin. She bit her lip, that smile was overwhelming for her.
"Lacie. Lacie Stockham-"
"You are from Locksley." Guy's eyes grew in bewilderment. Lacie's head cocked to the side.
"A psychic as well? You are severely underpaid, my friend." She laughed. He cupped her hand in both of his and disregarded her joke.
"I knew you were familiar. I am Sir Guy of Gisborne. I remember we had a mutual friend." His wide smile was reflected on her face.
"Guy! Yes! We both knew Robin! Goodness mate, you got old!" Lacie threw her arms around his neck and kissed his neck softly. This took his breath away – he could not remember the last time he was held and kissed, especially by a woman. She pulled back but kept her hands on his shoulders. "Oh my, we have so many stories to share now, don't we?" Sir Guy snapped from his daze and returned to business.
"Your chambers will be prepared by nightfall. After supper I will show you to them." Lacie nodded with a wink and turned away, glided down the steps, and left the castle grounds. It all came back to Guy as he made his way back inside. On warm summer nights he would see her playing with Robin as they pretended sticks were swords and they were knights for the King. She would pick fights with boys as much as he did himself, and often he would be the one to keep her from scratching the boys up. And yet, she was the gentlest soul he ever knew. Every day she would have flowers strewn in her hair and her laughter would make the sun peek through the clouds a little brighter. And the day he finally had the courage to tell her how he felt, Guy witnessed her giving Robin of Locksley the yellow trumpet flower from her braid. Guy shook his head and tossed the memory from his mind.
"I didn't know a boy could grow so fast!" Robin laughed as the words fell from his lips with an Irish twist. The boy's mother, holding the bread and fruit Hood's men had just presented them, thanked Robin again.
"You know," Much said as he brushed dirt from his sleeve, "I am starting to think you get too much pleasure out of helping people." The outlaw laughed and gently pushed his friend's head. They regrouped with the others and began to head down the road to Sherwood forest. But they were halted.
"Well if it isn't Robin of Locksley." Came a bitter voice from behind them. The men, and Djaq, spun on their heels and Robin licked his lips with a smirk. The fuming woman stood with her chin high and her hands rested on her hips. Her long orange hair flew with the breeze. "I never thought the time would come again when I could finally confront you." Little John tightened his grip on his stick but Robin put his hand on the man's chest. He quietly said: "This is personal."
Hate in his eyes, Robin Hood took long and striding steps towards the woman. It had been fifteen years, and now it was like only minutes had passed between them. The emotion and charge her sight drew had not weakened over time. Toe to toe, they stared into each other's eyes with contempt. After a dead still, they both burst into laughter. Much turned to each of his partners for an answer, but every face was as confused as his own.
"Lacie? What on earth brought you back to Locksley?" They held each other tight and gently swayed back and forth. "You moved to Leeds years ago!"
"Yeah," she snorted, "but I came to deliver something to Nottingham. I will be here for a bit – had to find my brother while I was in town!" Much was frozen in shock, yelling: "Since when did you have a hot sister?" The two stopped and cracked up at Much's outburst. Lacie could not catch her breath.
"She is not really my sister, Much. We were childhood friends." Biting his lip, he turned back to the girl. "We have so much to talk about." He sighed, placing his hand on her cheek.