A steady drizzle had begun, misting from the pale clouds above.

Eric rode slowly, listening to the rhythmic sound of hooves on the cobblestones. He passed the guards and the gate, they didn't try to stop him, they knew him. Knew who he was.

He clenched his jaw, trying and failing to stop the churning in his stomach. A memory had been playing over and over in his head. Echoing.

After his betrayal, the Sheriff had tossed him a bag of silver, which he caught grimly, wishing he was anywhere but the present and out of view of Gisborne.

"Missed me?" The Sheriff chuckled. guards were filing in through the doorways, circling the captives, blades out.

Gisborne ignored the sheriff, instead glared at Eric, his eyes glinting. "You bastard!" He had growled. "I knew something was off about you, and I was right!"

Eric held his tongue , realising that he was still gripping his axe, in the hand that wasn't holding that filthy silver. There was only one man in the room who he wanted to use it on, one man who they all hated.

He was silent, but Hood was not, his anger unabated. "Very nice friend of yours, Gisborne," He sneered, crossing his arms, which caused the soldiers to draw in closer around him. "I congratulate you, you have finally found someone like yourself, a traitorous piece of scum!"

Gisborne didn't answer, perhaps, for once he agreed with his rival.

The Sheriff was taking all this in eagerly. "Now, now, I warned you Eric," He clapped him on the back, hard. "Don't get to close to the enemy, not that I'm complaining, a nice entertainment you have provided." He had next moved to stand next to Gisborne, his breath on the mans face, Eric could imagine it was not a pleasant feeling. "Something you could never do, my friend. You just weren't good enough, were you? And now! You are the one that got caught in the trap!" He laughed. "And Hood too! Two birds with one sto-"

"Will you shut up?!" Eric had roared, the man's gloating voice was setting him on the nerves. He regretted his betrayal, and wished that he could take it back, if only he had warned them sooner.

The Sheriff ignored him, clicking his fingers at the guards to shackle his captives, it seemed that he was in a too good mood to be put down just then.

Gisborne and Hood? Well, they didn't even look at him, and it made Eric uncomfortable. More uncomfortable, He corrected himself, than he already was. It wasn't a nice feeling to be an outsider. He felt like he was a ghost, looking, but unable to be seen or heard.

"At the first light of dawn," The Sheriff continued. "you shall hang! But please don't worry about the time flying, It will seem a very long time, I will make sure of that."

"Surprise, surprise." Hood had muttered, unafraid.

They were going to be tortured? He was told it would be quick! The choice he had made was more and more seeming like a mistake.

He voiced his disagreement, and the Sheriff had replied quickly, snapping a retort back that was very threatening. Not a ghost then.

"You can easily go the same way, if you're not careful, boy! Any relations are of no matter when your head is in the noose."

There was nothing for Eric to do, it was to late.

"I should have guessed." Gisborne had snorted. "What is it? Brother? Cousin? Nephew?" He had watched Eric's face for a sign, and found one, it seemed. "The latter then."

"Come, come, lets not fight shall we? Save you energy for the real pain." The Sheriff had motioned for his captives to be escorted away.

"Let Marian go!" Shouted Hood, struggling with his bonds, suddenly aware of what was going to happen. "I will get you back for this, Vasey!"

Eric's uncle had watched them dragged off, remarking to Hood earnestly. "Idle threats do not worry me, especially from a man about to die."

Eric had then taken a horse, leaving as quickly as as was possible, feeling anger bubbling steadily inside him. It was the safe thing to do, he didn't want to be also hanging in the gallows.

The mist was collecting on him on his horse, dripping, freezing down his hair. He was leaving. There was no going back.

So why did he, suddenly and surprising even himself, turn and speed the now sweating horse through the puddles and mud, and back to the danger again?

I was wrong, there is something I can do.