Everyone - thanks so much for the reviews they are what keep me going with this story.

This chapter is more about Gisborne but don't worry there will be lots more outlaw interaction coming up in the next chapters!!

Part 08

It had been a year since he had been at Nottingham Castle. A year since they embarked on the fateful trip to the Holy Lands, with Allan in tow. And Marian.

Now he returned without them. And life was …. good, he supposed.

So much had changed since then, since he had – last seen her. Go on admit it to yourself Guy, since you killed her. Yes, he killed her, he had driven the sword through her in anguish. She deserved to die. The depth of her betrayal knew no limits, just like the depth of his bitterness. She had led him a merry dance for years and behind his back had laughed at him with Hood.

Now no-one was laughing. Everyone was bitter, including Hood. Especially Hood and he preferred it that way.

At first the guilt had eaten him up from the inside and he was lost in despair. Vaysey had left him alone for a few days during the voyage home, letting him wallow. Until one day he started whispering in his ear about betrayal, about loyalty, about power and about revenge. And as he whispered he realised that his mentor had been right all along, that women were not to be trusted, that power was everything, and that it would be his if he kept his focus.

Then they made their plans, and this time they hatched a plot that would take months to deliver. Sweet revenge will wait patiently and he would soon reap his reward. He smirked to himself in anticipation while he walked through the corridors of Nottingham Castle.

He had travelled round England, drumming up support for Prince John and against the absent King Richard. In York he had met the one who would action their plan to remove the King. It had been hard work and taken a great deal of negotiation, but now he knew he had him in the palm of his hand, the same hand that had taken the man's precious daughter.

"Aah, Gisborne" the dulcet tones of the Sheriff of Nottingham were instantly recognisable as he entered the Great Hall. "Welcome back. How is Mrs, oh I mean Lady Gisborne?"

It was as if he had never been away. The Sheriff was lounging in his chair with his bare feet on the table, which was laden with food, and he was sipping from a goblet of wine. His lack of reverence was just the same, but Sir Guy of Gisborne did not care any more. His marriage was to seal a business transaction, nothing more, and he felt no compunction to protect her honour in front of the Sheriff or anyone else, no matter who they were.

There were two men sitting at the long table to the left of the Sheriff and they both looked irritated by the Sheriff's remark.

"My Lord, thank-you she is well." He said in response, knowing that the Sheriff's companions would require the reassurance.

The older of the two men spoke.

"I trust she arrived safely at Locksley? There were no incidents in the forest?" his voice was deep and booming, reverberating round the Great Hall. He was a big man, barrel chested and obviously strong.

"None, my Lord. Lady Anne is safe and well I assure you."

"Good, I trust that it will remain that way. The safety and happiness of my daughter is of paramount importance. I did not offer you her hand lightly Gisborne, if I hear of her being mistreated I will withdraw my support to your plans." His great voice brooked no arguments.

The Sheriff of Nottingham feigned shock.

"Mistreat a woman – Sir Guy of Gisborne? Never. He stands before you a paragon of chivalry don't you Gisborne?"

Guy of Gisborne smiled in response.

"You have my word Sir Steven, your daughter will be treated with respect and honour. Just as we agreed." He affirmed.

The younger man then stood up bristling with anger. Smaller and lighter in build, he was as light as his companion was dark. Vaysey was surprised that the two could possibly be related, let alone father and son. He wondered at this and determined to investigate if there were any skeletons in the closet that he could use to his advantage later.

"Make sure that she is Gisborne. Or else you will have me to answer to. I love my sister. I heard things about you and a certain Lady Marian while I was in the Holy Lands. I hope that the rumours that I heard were untrue. I have done my part in your plan, now the rest is up to you."

Sir Steven of York raised his hand to placate his son.

"Peace Joseph. Sir Guy has given his word – that is good enough for me." Steven of York then looked meaningfully at Guy of Gisborne, who smiled and nodded in response, completely ignoring the outburst from the younger man.

Vaysey looked on with approval, oh yes Guy was playing his part well.

He clapped his hands together and rubbed them eagerly.

"So! Sir Steven, your men have reported that the two outlaws are back with Hood, and that he has taken the bait. So now we have Richard and Hood mistrusting each other. That idiot bishop is out of the way. That was a nice touch getting the peasant boy to actually kill him."

The young knight acknowledged the praise from the Sheriff with a slight nod.

"He got himself killed. I had little part to play there. But it fitted perfectly with the plan to blame the boy for his death."

"What do we do now?" this from his father.

"Do? Nothing. We wait. Hood will not sit back and see his good reputation with the King being destroyed. He will take action and if I was a betting man I would stake my vault that he will turn up here soon and play right into our hands."

His tooth of the day sparkled with a ruby, and it gleamed evilly while he grinned.

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At Locksley Manor, the dining table was a lonely place for the new Lady Anne of Gisborne. She sat staring at the table laden with food that was too much for twenty people let alone one small woman. At her home in York, she would always eat with her sisters and it had always been a lively affair. They had been raised to hate waste, there were too many poor folk in the country who were hungry and they always made sure that their servants were well treated and nourished. Now here she was alone and staring at a mountain of food and there were people in the village that looked hungry.

She decided that this would never do.

She got up and served herself a plate of food, poured a goblet of wine and then made her way to the kitchen.

"Do you mind if I join you?" she asked as she entered.

Thornton and the kitchen maid Margaret jumped up in shock.

"My Lady" he bowed. "Would you not prefer to eat in the hall?"

"I prefer not to eat alone, I am unused to it" she replied and sat down at the kitchen table.

They looked uncomfortable as they stood and watched her. She looked up at them.

"Please, sit and eat your meal" she said. "Join me"

Thornton shrugged and sat down, indicating to Margaret to do the same. She did so hesitantly. This was unheard of!

Anne looked over at their plates.

"Are you only having bread?"

"That is all Sir Guy permits my Lady"

"Really? That seems a shame, there is a feast of pork and venison on the table upstairs. Please there is too much for me and I would not like to see it wasted. You should take it to your families. Or distribute it through the village."

She looked up at the silence that greeted her statement, and noted their shocked expressions.

"Have I said something wrong?"

"My Lady, Sir Guy would not approve" whispered Margaret as if frightened that the very walls could hear and would tell on her.

"Oh."

They returned to their supper in silence.

Then Lady Anne of Gisborne smiled to herself. She looked up with mischief twinkling in her eyes.

"Sir Guy is not here…" she started.

"My Lady you play a dangerous game. If he should find out…." Thornton had found himself liking this young woman and her down to earth nature and he did not want her to come to harm.

"I won't tell him if you won't!" she declared. And she smiled at him as he reluctantly agreed.