Brand new fic for you all! And as usual I'm very excited about getting started. For every fic I do I like to do something a bit different. This story is what you might call a S4...if S4 consisted of only Guy related events. The rest of the gang shows up much later on in the story, and I promise plenty of drama and action.

This is about as in denial an author can get...XD Also, this story follows a more mature storyline so for the sake of those who want to be able to find it, I'm putting it up in T for now, but that is going to change. So if you like setting up Story Alerts do it now. I know how hard it is finding fics in the M rating for some reason or other.

Robin Hood is (c) to BBC...I own nothing but a handful of characters, but at this point I borrow Guy so much I feel like I should have custody of him at least twice a week....once a month...the better half of the year..? XD


I

Broken Wheel

Sherwood Forest was infamous in the minds of all traveling men. There could be no telling what trouble awaiting an unfortunate one who traversed those woods. If you didn't know the roads or the paths through the trees you were as good as caught by the outlaws which lurked in the forest.

For most merchants and nobility, it was an absolute nightmare to get through the forest, but for others it provided much needed cover. If one did not require the use of a main road, or found it to their disadvantage, Sherwood Forest was a blessing in disguise.

The cart rambled through the woods as if heedless to all the danger surrounding it. One man drove the cart onward, whipping the back of his horse occasionally when he felt their speed begin to slacken off. The cart itself was more like a cage, bars on all four sides of the cart were in place to secure the wares. Four men and a woman stood in the cart, gaunt and sunken, they appeared to be just over the line of starvation. They were clothed in rags and they stared out at the forests and the myriad of pathways with hungry eyes.

The evening sun seemed the catch fire over everything. The woman sunk to her knees, hands still gripping the bars of the cage as she looked out. She reached out a skeletally thin arm and gave a gasp as her hand came into contact with a few leaves on some low hanging branches and shrubs. She pulled her hand back in and smiled at the sight of three small leaves which she had brought back with her. She looked at them as if they were precious jewels. She stuffed the leaves into her rags, pressing them close to her heart.

Rising out of the trees and further down the path was the outline of Nottingham. The woman blinked at the sight of the town. It was not their destination, but there was always the chance that they would stop and pick up supplies and perhaps food. She was well aware that if any food was to be had she and the others would be lucky to get the better half of the scraps, but she would be grateful even for that.

Her stomach growled agonizingly and she placed a hand over it as if to silence it. Perhaps it was better to not think of food. She rested her head against the bars, feeling the vibrations of the wheels rattling over the rough road. Suddenly she was thrown backwards against the opposite side of the cart. The other men tumbled off of their feet as well. The cart tilted at an unnatural angle as the wheel snapped underneath. The horse whinnied in protest at the sudden strain against his back. The driver cursed the beast suddenly whipping him mercilessly in his rage.

When the dust settled he leapt down from the cart. His boots crunched under the stones marking the path as he bent down to examine the damage. One of the wheels had broken against a particularly large rock. This would take days off of their schedule, and they were already running late. He would have no choice but to make his way into town and get a new wheel.

The tattered woman peered over through the bars. The driver was busy assessing the damage and his attentions were focused solely on the wheel. Cautiously she reached a hand out through the bars. Her fingers stretched themselves out as she lowered her hand onto the man's belt. She clutched the ring of keys about the belt loop and unhooked it slowly. She raised her hand gently, careful not to rattle the keys as she brought them slowly inside the cart.

All eyes were on her as she inserted the key into the lock on the cage door. It turned with a most heavenly sounding click. The woman grinned from ear to ear as she swung open the door. Just at that moment of jubilation the driver righted himself and saw the woman push the door open.

"Blasted whore!" He shouted as she dove for the door.

The woman gave a scream of surprise and outrage. She tumbled out of the cart and landed heavily onto the gravelly road. The man managed to shut the door before the rest of the men could also escape.

Before the man could pounce on her, the woman rolled and sprang to her feet. Without a moment's hesitation she ran off down the road. She was without shoes, but she had no time to feel pain as hundreds of sharp rocks sliced at her feet. She laughed as she dared to look behind her. The man was chasing after her. She put on an extra burst of speed. Nottingham; she needed to get to the town and hide herself in the throngs of people no doubt bustling through.

Her legs strained and burned, having not been fed properly in days she could feel her energy waning even as she begged for her body to run faster. She could hear the man's shouts coming closer. No! She needed to get away. She had to run; freedom was so close at hand.

She managed to burst out of the forest and down into the plains. She could see the drawbridge which led into the town. She was going to make it! She jumped, springing forward with an almighty energy. Suddenly, something in her path caused her to lose her footing. She tripped, tumbling head over heels into the grass. Once down, her muscles refused to work for her a second longer. It was a struggle just to raise herself up on all fours. She turned to see what had caused her fall.

Her eyes widened a bit a surprise. A man was lying face down in the road, one arm outstretched as if he had been trying to crawl his way into the forest. A pool of blood was forming around him and as she looked back she could see lines of red in the road leading all the way to the town. What had happened to him?

She rose to her feet, as sorry as she was for the man's predicament, she had no time to check and see if he was alive, nor did she care. She was so close to real salvation. She was about to turn and run when she felt the cold metal of a knife blade being pressed into her back. "Run an' I'll stick ya an' leave ya to rot in the woods!" The rough voice of the driver hissed in her ears.

The woman's face fell as all previous hope was dashed from her eyes. She struggled and the man jabbed the knife against her. She winced in pain as she felt a thin line of blood trickle down her side. She stopped moving. The man gave her arm a swift tug, forcing her to walk in front of him while he led her back to the cart with the knife against her side. "You've just earned yourself a whipping, wench."

She turned her head and spat at the man's feet. He reacted by beating her about the head with the hilt of the knife. Stars flashed before the woman's eyes as she felt her brain rattle in her skull.

"What's this, then?" The man inquired as he glanced down at the wounded man.

He jabbed at the woman once more, "See if he's still breathin'."

Reluctantly the woman knelt beside the man, turning him over gently. She pressed a hand over his heart, but the coat he wore did not allow her to hear a heartbeat. She instead took his wrist in her hand. She held it for a few moments before announcing her discovery. "He's alive," she croaked.

"Well then, pick him up an' carry him back t' the cart," the man snarled.

"I can't carry him," the woman said.

"You had best try. If this man lives he'll fetch a fair price at the market, more than your skin an' bones will," he laughed, "Now get moving!"

The woman glared death the man, but did as she was told. She placed her arms about the unconscious man's waist and lifted him as best she could. She was reduced to dragging the man back into the forest, while at the same time trying to maintain her own balance. By the time she reached the fallen cart again she was trembling with exhaustion.

The men still trapped within the cart looked out at her with disappointment. She was escorted into the cage by the driver and she winced at the sound of the door shutting again. She let the injured man fall to the floor of the cart.

"That out t' hold all o' ya until I get back with the new wheel," the man said.

"I will need medicine and bandages...if you expect me to heal this man," the woman interjected.

The driver tossed a satchel into the cage. It was filled with simple poultices, bandages and needle and thread; supplies that had already been picked up at their last stop. "Make this do. I ain't spending no more money on you lot."

The woman once again knelt before the wounded man. She began to undo the buckles on his coat, sliding it off of him. She could see a dark stain spreading along the black tunic he wore underneath the coat. She rolled the fabric up and gave a gasp. A horrific gash marred the man's chest and she could tell he had been run through with a blade.

"Is there water?" She asked, looking at the others, "Where is the flask of water?"

"Here," one of the men said handed her a sizable flask, "It's all the water we'll get for a week."

She took the flask and poured it over a cloth, "We'll have to ration it then." The water should be warm, but there was no means to build a fire. She pressed the wet cloth against the man's wound, wiping away the blood. "Keep that cloth pressed against the wound," she instructed one of the other men.

She rummaged through the satchel and withdrew needle and thread. "Thank God, he is unconscious," she said. She moved the man out of the way and examined the gaping wound.

A few of the men winced at the sight of the woman surveying the internal damage. "He is a lucky man," she said, "Whoever stabbed him, they barely missed his heart."

"So he will live?"

The woman pierced the torn flesh with the needle beginning the tedious process of stitching the wound shut. "If the wound does not become infected, then yes, he will live. Although I hope for his sake he dies by tomorrow."

***

By the time the driver returned to the cart with the new wheel, the woman had nearly finished bandaging her patient up. "An' how fairs my discovery, hm?"

"He lives still," she said through gritted teeth.

"Good," he smiled, "That's gotten ya out of a few lashings, my sweet." He laughed as he set to work on repairing the wheel.

As soon as he was finished he unlocked the cage and pulled the woman out. She screamed and struggled wildly as he led her over to the trunk of a tree. The man tore off the woman's already tattered shirt, leaving her chest bare as he tied her wrists together and strung the rope up and over one of the branches. She squeezed her eyes tight as she heard the sound of the whip being cracked.

The first lash came so swiftly she barely had time to absorb the impact. The second lash; however, was another matter. She grunted in pain as a line of fire spread across her back. It was only ten lashes, less than what she was used to, but the pain was just as great. She could feel the lash grow slicker as it became coated with her blood. Her breath came heavy and forceful from her lungs as she fought back the urge to cry out. Rivulets of blood dripped down her back and she chose to focus on each drop as it fell. One, two, three; she counted each second as each drop of crimson trailed down the scarred skin of her back, almost as tattered as the rags she wore to conceal it. One, two three...a flash pain and then an almost soothing warmth as her own blood spread over her. She was tossed back into the cart at the end of her punishment, her shirt tossed to her carelessly. She donned it quickly, regardless of how much it scratched and irritated her wounds. It was better than being forced to expose herself before so many men, who, even though had never touched her, had often stared at her as if they wished too.

"Should've saved some of those bandages for yourself," one of the men whispered, handing her some water.

"I'll be fine," she said, the whip was not a strong one and the leather straps had not bitten in too deep. She tried to straighten, but she settled for remaining hunched in the corner of the cart until the majority of the pain passed and the thin gashes on her back scabbed over.

"You're not gonna give me anymore trouble, are ya, my pretty one?" The slave driver remarked, presses his face against the bars of the cage.

The woman merely stared back at him silently, her eyes focusing out on the trees and the stretch of road leading far away down back into the heart of the forest. The driver's face burned red in annoyance. He reached a hand in through the bars and grabbed her, "I said are ya?"

He slapped her face a few times until at least she answered a reluctant and hate filled yes. He released her and she curled back up into her corner. The man laughed at her, "Don't envy the man that gets ya, but I wish him all the luck in taming ya."

The woman ignored him, wincing at the harsh sound of the man's laughter as he went back to his post. The cart gave a great lurch as it heaved its way out of the ditch and back onto the road. The woman plucked at a tattered blanket lying alongside her. She considered draping it about herself and settling down to rest, but the injured man beside her caught her eye and gave her pause.

She placed a hand over his heart cautiously, almost surprised to still find his heart steadily beating. Whoever he was, he was certainly the most stubborn creature she had ever seen. She took the blanket and tucked it about him. He needed to stay warm in order to recover. As she settled down in the corner she wondered who had left the man out in the road to die like a dog. There was a flash of resentment in her mind; whoever had left him out there so carelessly had cost her her freedom. If she had not stumbled over him she would be lost in the town, a free woman.

What did it matter now? She closed her eyes and tried to ignore the stinging, fiery pain racing up and down her aching back. They were both slaves now.

A/N: Live in suspense with who the lovely new lady character is. Her name won't be mentioned until the third chapter in. Yes, I've already written that far ahead so you can expect the next chapter to be up soon. I hope you all are intrigued enough to continue! :) As usual, drop me a review to let me know what you think.