Part 2 The Sheriff's Daughter
I do not own Robin Hood.
14/4/09
Sir Guy felt many things the following few days after he kissed Jane. Sometimes he regretted it, sometimes he was worried that she would tell her father, her father would send him back to Prince John. However as the days went on and The Sheriff was none the wiser, he began to think that maybe there was some good in the black haired lady. He was on the mend, while Jane earned the hearts of the people, appearing to sneak around places to give food and money. Robin could only watch as his people, what were his people were supported without any problems or consequences.
The Sheriff gave Sir Guy a nod. He rode into the town and people screamed. Jane looked up innocently, as though she had never met him before. She winked slightly at him. He needed to be the bad guy in order for her to succeed. Sir Guy looked at the people and began his speech, knowing it was sure to spark some rebellion and distaste.
"The King is sending more men to the holy land! This means we need more supplies. As subjects it is your duty to put forward all that you can, to ensure the safe landing of the men. We'll start with flour!" He ordered.
Jane waited. Sir Guy was branded a liar and many other things. A villager challenged him and Sir Guy snapped his fingers. He was surrounded.
"Let him go!" Cried Jane.
"Stay out of it!" Snapped Sir Guy.
When Robin and his men became involved, Jane knew that she had them all on side. The man was released and Sir Guy returned to the castle. Jane turned as Robin approached her with his previous proposition. She shook her head at him.
"Gisborne is sure to tell my father. He'll have me locked up I know it. Even if I wanted to I couldn't accept your offer." She said.
"We'll get you out. You know that castle better than us." Said Robin.
"The east tower. It's nowhere near as guarded. I'm on the second floor. The clue will be the huge lock on the door, plus it's the only bed-chamber." Said Jane.
"Tonight. I promise, we'll get you out of there." Said Robin.
Jane returned to the castle and into the main hall. Sir Guy stepped forward anxiously, she nodded at him and her father. They sighed with relief and Jane smirked.
"Tonight. Hood thinks I'll be locked up on the second floor bed-chamber. He's yours for the taking Sir Guy." She said.
"That was fast." Said The Sheriff.
"Wasn't it?" Asked Sir Guy.
"We can always just leave him in there and have him hung if you like." Replied Jane.
"No. With the Sheriff's permission. I'll deal with Hood." Said Sir Guy.
"If you must Gisborne. Try not to make my daughter's efforts a waste of time." Said The Sheriff.
When Sir Guy left, Jane assumed him to be long gone, when she too left the main hall. A hand appeared tight around her arm and she found that Sir Guy was still in Nottingham castle, long before the evening. Jane didn't struggle and was pulled to one side.
"I will not be in your debt." He warned.
"Nobody said anything about a debt." She said calmly.
"You didn't tell your father." He said.
"There is no reason for me to do so. I wasn't forced. Do you want Hood dead? Or do I have to do that too?" She asked.
"You?" He asked.
Jane didn't respond. Sir Guy smirked at the thought. Robin Hood, who had defeated armies of men over and over again, beaten by a girl.
"Please. Do what you do best and go and buy some dresses." He said.
"Something that would be much easier for killing Hood." Added Jane.
"What game are you playing?" Asked Sir Guy.
"Listen to me Sir Guy, Robin Hood will be in this castle tonight and one way or another it will be his last. If you're really lucky you can take some of his men with him." Replied Jane.
"Let me make one thing clear. I'm doing this for me, not you." Said Sir Guy.
Jane rolled her eyes and looked down. He still had hold of her. She gave him a meaningful stare and he let go. Sir Guy left to prepare for the evening and Jane touched where he had held her. The Sheriff snuck up behind her as she watched him leave.
"Do I detect some romance in the air?" He asked.
"I wouldn't call it that father, I wouldn't call it that." She replied.
"Good. Because if he fails tonight, you're both in trouble. If I were you I'd make double sure that he is ready. Either that or you are ready to clear up his mess." He said.
Jane went to the armoury. She didn't expect anyone to be there and at first there was not. She was looking for something, small but sharp. Footsteps approached her and she hid away. Her foot got caught in a sheild and it fell with a bang. Jane winced silently and Sir Guy appeared with a sword at her neck again, expecting intruders or someone who wasn't supposed to be there. Jane smirked and he moved away his sword quite quickly and she went back to looking for what she came for.
"We both know what happened last time you put a sword to my neck, Sir Guy of Gisborne." She said.
"That was a mistake." He said.
"I know." She added.
"What are you doing here?" He asked.
"Someone has to make sure the job is done." Replied Jane.
"I'm quite capable of killing a man cornered in a room." He said.
"I know, but that doesn't mean that there won't be more mistakes. Mistakes that I would share the blame for." She added.
"You don't trust me." He said.
"Of course not. You can't expect me to rely on you to keep me out of trouble. You sir, put yourself in trouble at the best of times. I'm going to make sure you don't take me with you." She said.
"You're not coming with me." He said.
"I never said that I was, ah." She said.
Jane came across a small dagger, with a gold handle. Sir Guy smirked at her and her choice of weapon. Jane simply smirked at him.
"Size isn't everything Sir Guy, it's how you use it that counts." She added.
Sir Guy did not appreciate her rudeness. He found his things and left the room. Jane put the dagger inside her sleeve. To the unknowing eye she was perfectly harmless. Until the sun went down and Nottingham castle expected vistors.
Robin Hood kept his men outside of the castle. He took Jane's specific directions and found that she was right. There were only two guards to defeat, until he made it into the castle walls. He checked the key-hole of every door on the second floor. Finally he saw in one a bed, a bed with curtains drawn around it. There was a figure sat up right and it appeared to be waiting. To his surprise the door was unlocked. He went inside. The door slammed shut behind him and locked from the outside. Robin panicked on the other side and struggled with the door. On the other side the key remained in the door. A gloved hand held it, which led to a dark arm and a female face, glowed in the moonlight. Robin turned to the bed. The curtains were drawn back and there was nobody on the bed. He turned his head to check the whole room. There had been somebody there, he knew it. However, no sooner had he turned he felt a terrible pain on his face and it became darker. Jane was outside and heard the crack of bones. She unlocked the door and went into the room. Robin was unconscious on the floor and his nose was bleeding. Sir Guy smirked, but Jane was not impressed. She looked disgusted at Robin, before she looked up at Sir Guy in amazement.
"I gave you this chance to kill him. Not break his nose. Haven't you learned your lesson yet? The more you toy with him, the more likely it is that he will get away. Now I am going to send the guards to check for Hood's men. When I return, I want your sword through his heart." She said.
Jane went to leave, but Sir Guy got to the door first. He slammed it shut and leaned against it. Jane couldn't escape. She knew that she did not have the strength to fight him. She had seen his muscles first hand and knew it would be unlikely for her to overpower him.
"I want him to know that he's been fooled before he dies. You did organize this. It would be a shame for me to take all of the credit wouldn't it?" He asked.
Jane looked nervous.
"Sir Guy, this is your time. Not mine. The man has done me no harm. I've changed my mind. I'm sure you can handle this yourself." She said.
"Why so frightened my lady? Do you think I'd not protect you if the outlaw turned violent?" Asked Sir Guy.
"You need not protect me, if you stepped away from the door Sir Guy." Replied Jane.
Robin groaned and they both turned to him. Sir Guy kicked him to silence him again. He looked up and smirked at Jane, who winced.
"Does he seem threatening to you?" He asked.
"Kill him. Just kill him." She replied.
"What are you afraid of?" He asked.
"Failing. If he sees me and you do fail, we won't get this chance again. He knows I'm the Sheriff's daughter but thinks I'm against him." She replied.
"My lady, there are no windows in this room. I am blocking the only exit. The chances of him escaping are..." began Sir Guy.
His feet were pulled from under him. Jane screamed and stepped back. Sir Guy had been knocked out. Her scream had allerted the guards. Robin had been awake the whole time that she had spoken. She ran after him, past her half asleep father, who shouted loudly.
"That outlaw better be dead or dying!"
Jane was breathless as she ran after Robin. She took her dagger out from it's hiding place. She took aim and threw it. The worst it gave was a flesh wound. Robin escaped and took his men with him, back into the forest. Meanwhile, Jane returned to Sir Guy and knelt down next to him. She took a near by pillow. Part of her wanted to smouther him with it, for his huge mistake. The demons in her mind, seemed to think it a good idea. The trouble they would both be in was unthinkable. Jane wasn't the suicidal type and didn't want to face The Sheriff alone. She gently lifted Sir Guy's head and put the pillow under it. She then left the room and locked it in order to protect him from The Sheriff until morning. She heard him coming and ran. It was a castle and there was plently of places to hide.
The next morning, Sir Guy opened his eyes and winced with pain. His head was painful, yet the floor behind it was soft. It was then he realized that someone had put a pillow under him, after he had been knocked out and he bet mountains of gold that it wasn't The Sheriff. To his surprise, the door was unlocked before it opened. Jane entered the room slowly. He glared at her. She knew he wouldn't be happy about the previous night.
"I'm sorry Sir Guy. But I didn't want my father finding you when you couldn't defend yourself. How is your head this morning? Has it left a mark?" She asked.
Sir Guy felt the back of his head and appeared uncertain. Jane stepped forward and went to investigate, but he moved. Jane remined patient with him.
"Can I see? Please?" She asked.
"My head will be the last of my worries." He replied.
"You are not the only one in danger. I might as well be of some use." She said.
Sir Guy remained still. Jane checked under layers of black hair. She tried to be as gentle as she could, but it didn't seem to make a difference. Sir Guy winced and moved away again.
"Forgive me. I think the physitian should see that. If we get that far." She said.
"Your his daughter." Said Sir Guy.
"Shockingly that doesn't fill me with confidence. My plan failed. I too failed to kill him. I think I managed to injure his shoulder but that was all." Said Jane.
"Better than I." He said.
"I think we're equal. You injured his nose." She said.
"I'm guessing you were responsible for the pillow." He added.
Jane looked uncertain. A few hours ago it had been a possible murder weapon. Plus she knew tha Sir Guy hadn't been fond of any of her kindness. Sir Guy took her silence as confirmation. He smiled slightly.
"Thank you." He said.
He got up and noticed Jane step back as he did so. Nothing more was said at that moment. Sir Guy led the way to the main hall. He stopped at the doors, followed by Jane. She stood by him and took his hand. He looked at her for a moment and very briefly returned her affections. His hand slipped out of hers and he entered the main hall. Jane waited a few moments, before she too followed him.