Elizabeth didn't know why she tried to sleep that night. She lay awake on the vast double bed, her eyes looking to the ceiling above her. She was covered in the sheets, holding tightly onto them as she rolled onto her side. Locksley was far quieter than Nottingham Castle's walls. The eeriness of her surroundings caused her to open her eyes every second at the sound of a slight creak.
She listened out for Sir Guy to retire to his chamber. She didn't know what time that was, nor did she bother to go and investigate. She decided it wasn't worth her time. She continuously thought about how he had treated her; from the way he had dared to intimidate to how he had protected her when she needed his help.
She couldn't comprehend his motives, nor could she fully understand why he would act in such a manner. She groaned out of frustration and moved to relight a candle, knowing that the darkness was doing nothing to ease her nerves. The cool night air chilled on her skin, her sheer white nightgown doing nothing to protect her. She watched as the flame flickered before pulling her hair over one shoulder.
It was only then she heard another creak come from the corridor outside. Her eyes snapped over to where the sound came from, but she shook her head. It was probably just the house settling down; that's what her mother said when she worried of noises from the tavern when she was just a girl. She took a moment to settle back down before she heard the sound again.
Gulping, she wondered if Sir Guy had moved from his bed in the middle of the night to find something. She shook her head back and forth and wandered out, pulling her door open and glancing down the corridor to the sight of nothing.
"Don't be silly, Elizabeth," she mumbled and proceeded down the corridor to look down the large staircase. She peered over the banister, standing on her tiptoes to look down into the space beneath her on the ground floor.
It was only then did she feel an arm slip around her waist and a hand covering her mouth, stopping her from screaming and disturbing the entire village. She was quickly turned around before she could scream anymore, the sight of Gisborne's face making her relax for once in her life. He looked at her and dared to release her waist and uncover her mouth.
She noted that he looked dishevelled, breeches covering his modesty and a thin shirt over his torso, loosely hanging into his bottoms. His hair was in his face as he lowered his gaze to meet hers and he pressed a finger to his lips, indicating for her to be silent. She nodded with a gulp and he tucked her hair behind her ear before he made his way down the stairs, his hand holding a small dagger.
Lizzie turned around, preparing to move back into her bedroom and hide until he came back. She twirled on her foot and noted a figure down the corridor. She was about to scream for Gisborne but failed miserably as another figure stood behind her and stopped her, pushing her back into the room on the right which she assumed was a guest bedroom.
The two men closed the door behind them, looking at Elizabeth with intent. One kept hold of her whilst the other spoke in a hushed tone.
"We don't intend to hurt you," he whispered. "If Much lets you go then promise you won't scream, okay? Otherwise we may have to do something we may regret."
Elizabeth took in his dishevelled appearance and the bow and arrow in his hands. A small amount of stubble form on his chin and his unruly appearance only added to his rueful looks. Elizabeth nodded in agreement with the man and he nodded at the one holding her called Much. Elizabeth slowly gasped for breath and glowered between the pair of them as she took a step back.
"You're Robin Hood," she commented bluntly.
"I am," he confirmed, a smug smirk on his face. "And who would you be? Don't tell me Gisborne's wooed you into his bed."
Elizabeth scoffed and shook her head. "I work for him. His old maid...well...she was unfit to serve him."
"Annie?" Robin said, folding his arms over his chest. "I did hear she was taken pregnant with his child and he cast her out. Do you think he will treat you any differently? You need to get out."
She laughed lightly then, the sound quiet and harsh in the darkness as her chin jutted out. "Do you think I want to be here? I have no choice. He gave me no option. My parents need the money. Nottingham is rotting and the taxes keep rising. Anyway, what are you doing here? He'll kill you if he finds you."
Robin looked over to Much who shook his head quickly. "We can't trust her. She shares a bed with Gisborne."
"I do not," Elizabeth growled back.
"Annie left her wages here. We are reclaiming what is hers and a little more. Gisborne has a trunk of coins in the Manor," Robin said. "You said it yourself; Nottingham is suffering."
"And you think stealing from one of the most powerful men will help things?" Elizabeth wondered. "You need to go before he kills you; I'm not joking."
Robin chuckled darkly before they heard footsteps approach the door. Hood looked to the door and then handed his bow and arrow over to Much, marching to the window and pushing the wood open to allow the cold night in.
"You need to go and find the trunk. I'll stall Gisborne"
"Master, I can't-"
"-Go," Robin interrupted him. "I will be with you momentarily."
Much nodded in agreement before Robin took hold of Elizabeth, a blade pressing to her throat as she stiffened.
"I'm sorry about this," Robin informed her. "I won't hurt you though; I promise. I need to do this for Nottingham."
"The people's saviour," Elizabeth spat out, her tone one of distaste as the door opened wide and Sir Guy stood there, his sword in his hand and his eyes dark and set firmly on the sight by the window. The only light came from the moonlight shining through the window. Elizabeth held her head high as the blade seemed to press against her skin.
"Hood," Gisborne drawled out at the sight of him. "What are you doing here?"
"I've come here to collect what you owe to Annie," Hood responded. "I'd consider that fair."
Guy circled into the room, looking to Elizabeth for a moment before he spoke; "And you're all about fairness, Hood."
Robin laughed once and nodded. "That I am. Now, how about you go and fetch that trunk of money you have hidden and I'll let your pretty little maid here go."
Gisborne grunted once as Elizabeth closed her eyes and winced at the pressure on her neck. She shook her head back and forth, unable to comprehend what was going through Gisborne's mind.
"I do not owe Annie anything other than her month's wages." Gisborne snarled out, the prospect of losing money the thing which angered him.
"The rest will be put to good use," Hood said. "You have my word on that front."
Gisborne seemed to consider it for a moment before a voice came from outside. Robin peered around to look out the window, the sight of Much and the trunk on the cart of the horse enough to make him chuckle and face Gisborne once more.
"It seems we have what we came for," Robin drawled out, removing the dagger from Elizabeth's throat and cupping her cheek tenderly. "Thank you, dear; you've been a fabulous hostage."
Elizabeth glowered before Guy's footsteps echoed through the room and he rushed to the window. Robin was quicker, jumping out the space after pushing Elizabeth into Guy's path. Gisborne dropped his sword to stop it from hitting Elizabeth and doing her damage. She grunted in pain as she collided with his taut chest.
He kept an arm around her waist before leaning out the window to look down onto the ground, the sight of Robin and his companion escaping with his money enough to make him sneer his upper lip in disgust. Gisborne's grip on Elizabeth increased before he moved back into the room.
"Did he hurt you?" he spat out to her and she shook her head, shaking in the cold of the night and the events of what had happened.
"No," she whispered. "I couldn't stop him, Sir Guy."
"I imagine not," Gisborne muttered out. "That thief has stole my money! I'll see him swing by the winter."
Elizabeth did not dare challenge Gisborne as he paced up and down the room, clearly angered by what had happened. It was only when he looked back did he see the indentation of the blades handle in Elizabeth's skin on her throat.
He moved over to her and she stepped back out of instinct. Gisborne's face was one of confusion as he bowed her head. Did she fear him that much? She had shown signs of cockiness towards him earlier. Had his previous actions shocked her that much? He suspected he had been forward with her. He had told her that he would have her if he wished. Lust was an emotion he often filled up with.
Gisborne coughed and moved to shut the window. "Come to the kitchen with me."
Elizabeth had no other option to pad along down the corridor and to the kitchen with him. He had picked up a blanket on his way which hung over the back of his chair.
"Sit down," he demanded Elizabeth.
She took a seat on the long bench at the table, assuming that the serving staff ate here whilst he dined in the dining room alone. He grabbed a jug of wine and two goblets which had been left on the side. Slowly he sat down next to her.
"Drink that," he demanded, thrusting the drink into her hands.
She took it in both hands and sipped on it. Sir Guy took the blanket he had thrown onto the table and handed it to her.
"I need to know what Hood said to you," he told her and she wrapped the material around her shoulders, pressing the wine to her lips once more. She shrugged again and continued to shiver as he refilled his goblet.
"I don't know," she spoke. "He just told me that he intended to help Nottingham...he said that he'd kill me if I screamed...it's all a blur..."
Gisborne chuckled darkly and Elizabeth peered out of the open window for a moment. Her eyes widened as the moonlight pierced through and Gisborne's hand tightened around the goblet. He was doing his best to control his anger at the situation he had just been put through, but he couldn't find appeasement. Hood needed to suffer for his actions. Gisborne had to make it happen.
"Threatening innocent women," Gisborne scoffed, "he really does have no self respect."
"I am sure he will not get away with it forever," Elizabeth whispered. All good things had to come to an end.
Gisborne kept quiet for a moment, downing his drink and refilling it after a moment. She was looking down onto her lap, the blanket helping to cover her form whilst Guy contemplated what he was about to say to her.
"My actions earlier left little to be desired," he mumbled out, his gaze set fully on the goblet he rested on the table before he realised the proximity between his thigh and Elizabeth's leg. He gulped after that moment, something rushing through his veins as he contemplated the bare skin underneath her shirt. When was the last time he had been with Annie? He was not a needless man.
"I meant not to intimidate you," Gisborne told her honestly. "I should not have been so forward, nor should I have scared you so."
Elizabeth didn't know what to say. Would it be wise to accept his apology? Would that be the clever thing to do? She kept quiet before she felt one of his fingers lift her chin to meet his gaze. It was only then what she realised his intention was. He kept eye contact as he slowly brought his head down towards her, his hot breath tickling her skin as she reacted hastily, lowering her head in time for his lips to rest just above her own.
Gisborne grew annoyed but did nothing, choosing to keep his kiss on her cold skin. His hand wormed its way to the back of her neck and her hair tickled against his skin, brushing his cheek with light touches.
"I'm sorry," Elizabeth told him. "I don't think it proper...well...if you want me to be honest; I do not want to be another Annie."
Gisborne peeled away from her, his eyes narrowed and his face scrunched up in slight confusion whilst he watched her. She shook her head and took his hand from her neck.
"I want more than to be a bed warmer," she responded. "You asked me here to work for you and that I will do, but I have no longing to do anything more."
Gisborne downed the remainder of his drink before Elizabeth stood and he remained silent. When had anyone denied him? When had anyone rejected him? Marian made a point of questioning him, but she had never said no. Annie had never said no to him, yet this girl thought she could get away with it. That wasn't the worst part; the worst part was that he was letting her get away with it.
He had no intention to force her to fulfil his needs. He did not want for that.
"You should go back to bed," Gisborne grunted out lowly.
Elizabeth knew better than to deny him, but she did something out of impulse at the sight of his rejected face. She dared to bend down again and peck him on the cheek, her lips warming his skin as Gisborne gained a generous view down the gapping of her nightshirt. She stood back up and walked away without another word, leaving Sir Guy to contemplate his new maid in the cold night.
...
A/N: Thank you to CuteSango07, EatYourFudge, Guest, NyanCatNatalie and CupcakesAndAlice for reviewing the previous chapter! Do let me know what you all think pretty please and if I do not update before then have a good Christmas!
