I don't own Robin Hood, sadly the BBC does. If it didn't things would turn out a lot differently but then life never is fair…………
Oh, Guy's horse ended up with a bird name too, I just like them.
Oh and too xxCCxx thanks for reviewing so much and yes, I agree her dad is an evil git!
Oh and another thing, sorry it is taking a while to update but I have important exams and revision and homework are a priority. xx
"Sir Guy! I believe you will have to canter a lot faster if you want to keep up with me."
Eve laughed at the man next to her. She drew Swallow to a leisurely trot beside Guy and his horse Hawk. Her eyes still showed the exhilaration of the gallop and both Swallow's and Hawk's flanks showed slight patches of sweat. Guy grinned.
"That would not be the case if Hawk was fitter for he hasn't been ridden as much as I'd like."
Eve eyed the horse's brilliant bay coat, wide roman nose and proud head.
"He certainly is a wonderful horse."
"He will only become more wonderful as he gets older and his muscle develops. Would you like to ride him tomorrow and I ride Swallow?"
Eve's eyes shot up to Guy's and she gawped.
"You would let me? I'd be honoured to, of course."
Guy's face broke into an even wider smile at her obvious reaction. It was the second time he had ridden with the young woman and he found her delightful to be around. Her hair was loose and flyaway. Her face flushed and her lips almost pouted. He licked his lips at the thought of her, them together. Pushing the thoughts away he nudged Hawk causing him to walk deeper into Sherwood and Eve followed, hurrying Swallow so she could ride next to him.
There was an almost ominous quiet that enveloped the pair. The horse's hooves made muffled thuds into the ground, which in places was still slightly wet from the torrent of rain that had recently passed. The swollen river roared precariously beside the track. Its waters swifter than a swallow in flight, the current tugged at the tree branches that overlapped the bank and hung into the water.
Eve was acutely aware of how closed in Guy and herself were, barely an arm's width apart. The trees crowded Guy's side of the track and the river swirled beside Eve. Their was just enough space to ride two abreast. The shadows moved through the trees beside them and Eve noticed Guy look about uneasily. Twigs cracked. Leaves whispered. Guy swallowed.
"Someone's following us." He whispered to Eve.
Eve's soft features glanced about nervously. Then everything happened at once. Eve's lips opened as she was about to speak. Guy unsheathed his sword. Figures darted from the trees. Hawk's premature experience caused him to spook. He reared and kicked out as Guy desperately tried to control him, one hand on the reins, the other grasped around his sword. Hawk's hooves flashed before Eve's eyes and Swallow bucked and reared and twisted as Hawk's hooves crashed into his quarters. Caught by surprise at the actions of her usually bombproof stallion Eve slid backwards out the saddle and tumbled downwards.
The water's cool grasp took a hold of her and she gasped. The current was too strong to swim against, not that she could manage anything other than a few strokes of dog paddle. She distantly heard two males calling her name. Guy, the other……Robin? She had barely time to think as she was carried away.
"I'll hang you if she's dead Hood!" Guy snarled menacingly to Robin.
He walked around in circles, running his hands through his soaked hair. He cast a quick glance at the limp form of the young woman lying on the ground. He could hardly bring himself to look at the pale face, with her simple brown dress clinging to every inch of her and her golden hair fanned behind her. She reminded him of an angel of heaven that had fallen from the skies and lived in the body of a human.
Robin lay crouched beside her, scanning her for any sign of life. He and Guy were both stripped to the waist and both soaked from their efforts to save her from the torrent. He cocked his ear over her mouth, then checked again with his sword, the surface gently misted. He sat back on his haunches, relieved.
"She's not dead but she'll need a physician and she needs to get warm and dry." The other men all cast relieved looks to each other and Guy physically relaxed.
"I'll take her now, Hood. I'll get her a physician. The best I can get."
The other men looked surprisingly at Guy for an instant. His ears turned slightly pink but no one noticed as he bent down to pick up Eve. Robin and his men quickly helped secure her body to Swallow's saddle. The poor horse had had to be chased by Allan and Much after he bolted. They had bought him back, shaking and looking rather sorry for himself.
Guy rode out of the forest, leading Swallow and without knowing why, he took the road to Locksley and not Nottingham. He questioned his decision but consoled himself with the facts that it would be warmer and easier for Eve to recover in the manor and not the draughty castle.
At the manor, he carried her seemingly lifeless body to the guest room where he ordered one of the maids to strip her of her wet clothes, as none of her items were at the manor she was then ordered to wrap Eve in blankets and tuck her into bed. He then sent a groom hastily towards an experienced, intelligent physician's house in the next village whilst simultaneously sending the carriage to Nottingham castle to collect Eve's belongings. She was to stay at the manor until she was well recovered from her ordeal. No doubt Vasey would question his motives but Guy shrugged the thought off, what mattered was getting the young woman better.