Not entirely sure what knowledge of wounds and blood and stuff people had back then, so it might not be entirely correct to the time. I'm also not sure if a spherical underground room is structurally possible, but let's just call it artistic license…;)

Robin's expression was nothing like the kind, worried expression that Tuck had worn – suspicion and hatred was etched across his face, a hand on his sword hilt as he surveyed the man he hated, a girl white and still, held in his arms.

"Killed someone else, Gisborne?" he asked, striding towards him. Guy's hands clenched into fists, he gritted his teeth together, hating Hood. If it wasn't for the girl in his arms, he would have killed him there and then "Trying to ruin someone else's life?"

Gisborne snarled, his eyes ablaze.

"You killed my wife!" Robin yelled "And I'm supposed to forgive you?"

"I never wanted or asked for your forgiveness." Guy spat back "I loved her as you did. I have regretted it since the day I killed her. Now I have the chance to save someone's life, and you, Hood, will not stop me."

"Why should I help you?"

"You don't have to."

Guy turned his back on Robin Hood, the very last thing he would have normally done. His instinct was to turn around and kill him, make him pay, in a tiny little way, for the pain he had caused him in past. But he thought of Meg, peering through the cell bars at him: "There must be some goodness in you…" Maybe, if he turned his back on Hood he could become the man she saw. Guy held her closer, stumbling through the forest after Tuck.

It was dark by now, and almost impossible to protect Meg from the low hanging branches; once or twice he nearly stumbled over a tree root, which would have sent them both tumbling to the ground. He looked down at her wound, and noticed, with a little stab of horror, that the dark stain on her dress had spread, her life just spilling away. He swallowed the lump in his throat, and increased his speed so that he was directly behind his guide.

"How much further?" he asked hoarsely, eyes on Meg. Tuck didn't turn.

"We're almost there."

The tunnel was small and dark. Guy could smell the earth, rich and damp, and the occasional water droplet suggested that outside, the weather had turned. Tree roots protruded from the walls, and his head brushed the ceiling. A buzz of small flies flitted into the darkness. Dampness was suddenly replaced by a warm flickering light, illuminating a large, almost spherical room. The fire was in the centre, and a thin trail of smoke wound upwards to a small hole in the ceiling, less than an inch round. It wasn't exactly homely, but someone had dragged some huge boulders down here, where they could be used as chairs, or maybe even for sleeping. A cloak was flung against one wall, as was a large bow. Some arrows were leaned against the earthy wall, clearly in the process of being made. The floor was solid soil, swept clean as far as possible. Guy only half took this in. His attention was still focussed on Meg in his arms. She had sustained her wound so long ago, and lost so much blood…

Mercifully, Tuck seemed just as anxious as he was to see to Meg's wound. He instructed Guy to lay her down, and set about cleaning it. Guy tried to keep the fear off his face as he watched – the wound was deeper than he thought, and he was completely helpless. Her fate lay in the hands of the man in front of him. He could see the vein in her neck, pulsing feverishly. Clinging to life by her fingertips.

Tuck bandaged it as tightly as possible, explaining as he did so that tighter bandages would stop the blood pumping out so fast, and that there was little else to do. All that was left to do was wait. He soon drifted into sleep, but Guy couldn't. If he closed his eyes, even for a moment, he could be missing the last minutes of her life. He could do that for her. Stay awake until he knew whether or not she would live or die.

The night was cold and Guy sat, shivering, sucking in a breath of frozen air, watching Meg. She seemed to be breathing now. He had draped the cloak against the wall over her when she started shivering, and he could see the rise and fall of her breathing. There was a little crease between her eyebrows, and he wondered vaguely what she was worried about. Was she in pain? The darkness seemed to swell, then disappeared as the morning broke, and the last embers of the fire winked and flashed hopefully.

Tuck begun stirring shortly after the light returned, and as he sat up, he glanced at Guy.

"How is she?"

"Better." His voice was gravely with tiredness, his hair was limp, and huge circles framed his pale eyes. His clothes hung loosely on him. However, the shadow of a smile passed across his face as he said this, looking down at the girl beside him. She was still pale, but a faint pink flush was creeping back into her cheeks, and she looked more peaceful than she had an hour or so ago. "Is she going to be alright?"

Tuck looked at Gisborne. He knew that Robin hated him, he knew about his innumerable crimes, but right now if he had just found out what he was capable of, Tuck would have never believed it. He looked so fragile, breakable almost, and hugely protective of the girl sleeping beside him. It was almost as if she had changed him somehow, in that short time they must have spent together, waiting for the execution. What she had done to alter him so completely Tuck couldn't imagine – he seemed a different person. He bade Guy goodbye, instructing him to fetch him immediately if there was any deterioration in her condition, and left in a swirl of his cloak.

Tuck had left hours ago, and Guy was half dozing, his body racked with tiredness, desperately trying to keep his eyes open in case Meg should wake. He wanted to be there when she did, to hear her voice, just to know that she was OK, and that this wasn't some hopeless dream, and he'd wake up, and she'd be gone. Eyelids drooping, he propped himself up on his elbows.

A faint moan awoke him from his stupor, and he sat up suddenly, heart hammering against his ribs, looking down at Meg. Her eyes were open, but she seemed not to see him – they were searching round the room, unfocused. He hovered, unsure of what to do. Then, her eyes focused properly, and she looked up at him. A smile flashed across her face.

"Guy?"

He smiled back, properly this time, not like the shadow of a smile he had worn earlier. Then he had had only hope, but now she was awake, and she was going to live.

"Meg!"

He dropped down next to her, stroking his fingers gently across her cheek, feeling as though he was going to burst with the joy of her being alive.

"I thought…"

She smiled again, almost amused. If she was stronger, he was sure she would have commented on his lack confidence in her. But she was still weak from her injury, and it wasn't long before her eyes closed, and her breathing became steady again. Guy sat there, completely stunned, a soft expression on his face as he watched her sleep.

End of chapter 2! Hope that lived up to expectations, and thankyou so much for all the lovely reviews people left last time. Feel free to leave some more…-hint- :D x