A/N: Sorry for the long delay. Unfortunately with life in the way that's just how it's going to be. Hope everyone is having a good holiday/winter season!

This chapter takes place during Season 2x4 Angel of Death

Chapter 10

Sheriff for a Moment

I continued to remain still, trying to come up with the smoothest way out of this. If they found me, I would likely be captured and ransomed to Vaisey, who no doubt, would be furious with me. I still felt a bit dizzy.

Light on my feet, I stepped back. Just as I started to turn around, an arm snatched me around my waist while the hand covered my mouth. I was pulled away behind a much wider tree.

"What are you doing here?"

I squinted my eyes before they widened again. It was Allan A' Dale.

"You know you really shouldn't be here," he went on with a frown but tilted his head and asked, "Did Gis send you to me?"

I rubbed my head, trying to think as rapidly as possible but my mind still struggled to focus on individual thoughts. "Uh… yes. That's why I'm here…"

Allan stared at me blankly for a moment before asking, "Well, did he tell you what he wants from me?"

"Oh right… he wants to meet with you… so you better come with me."

He nodded and followed. For a moment, I thought he believed me, but he then said, "I'm not being funny, but you and Gis don't seem to like each other. It's hard to believe you'd risk yourself going into enemy territory on his account."

Damn, these outlaws are smarter than people give them credit for.

"Let's just say I owe him one," I grumbled. "Okay?"

"Or there's another reason you're out here alone?" he offered.

I whirled my body towards him, flinging my hand. "It doesn't matter the reason. You would do well to make sure I get back to Nottingham. Vaisey ruled that if something happened to either Guy or me, the other would be sent to the mines. So if you want to keep getting paid for whatever arrangement you and Guy have, you might want to help me out now."

Fortunately for me, he made no further objection. He pulled his hood up and led me back to town. People ran wild up the streets. I noticed guards blocking one street completely.

"What's going on?" I asked in a whisper.

Allan only offered a shrug.

I followed him to the back of the castle.

"Well, I think I can take it from here," I said, waving him off.

To my surprise he grabbed my arm. "Oh no, I think it would benefit me for Gisborne to know I brought you back here. Besides, I already made the signal. He'll meet us in our usual spot."

As the dizziness had just stopped, I knew I would not have the strength to fight him off. I rolled my eyes with a huff, and followed him to the same room where their alliance was revealed to me in the first place. I jerked my arm out of Allan's grip and sat down at the table. In the center, there was a plate of small pies. Unable to resist, I reached for one. I did not even realize how hungry I felt until I took that first bite. It tasted slightly cold, but I didn't care.

"Hey, let me get some of that," Allan said, reaching his hand.

I smacked him away. "You can go buy your own food with whatever coin Guy gives you."

Just as he opened his mouth to argue, the door flew open. A hooded figure whirled around gently reclosing it. When he pulled his hood down, I saw it was Guy himself.

"So it this how it usually goes for you two?" I asked with a chuckle, setting the pie down.

Without bothering to answer me, Guy turned to Allan and demanded, "Where did you find her?"

Allan shot a glance at me, before answering, "In the forest."

"Did anyone else see you with her?" he asked.

Allan shook his head. "No. We came straight here after."

Guy merely nodded and placed a tiny sack in Allan's hand. "That's all. Go and be sure no one sees you."

The moment the door shut behind him, Guy slammed his hands on the table, causing the plate to bounce up.

"Where have you been?" he fumed at me.

I picked up the pie to take another bite. "You knew I was with Lucinda. You saw us leave together. What's it to you anyway?"

He flung the pie out of my hand, causing it to smash against the wall.

"Was that really necessary?"

"Lucinda returned in the late hours last night, but you were nowhere to be found!" Guy raged. "The Sheriff somehow got in his mind I might have been responsible for your disappearance and said if you were not found by dawn I would be sent to the mines!"

I leaned back in my chair. "Well, it's after dawn and you're still here, so he obviously didn't make good on that threat…"

"He had other matters to deal with," Guy muttered, sitting down across from me, and clenched his fists. "I almost lost everything I've worked for because you decided to take a stroll…"

"I didn't mean to wonder off…" I said, putting my hand to my head. I still could not recall the details of last night. "Lucinda must have left me there."

"She told me, you insisted on walking," he added with a sigh.

"And you believe her?" I challenged him. "If she left me behind either on purpose or accident, she wouldn't tell you the truth."

He remained quiet for a moment, but then said, "I don't think it would do you well to be in her company anyone."

I didn't argue with him there. After all, if anyone else in Robin's gang had found me, it was unlikely I would be sitting here right now. It still haunted me that I could not recall how I even ended up in the forest. And now that I'm back just after one night, something seemed to have erupted in our city streets.

"Do you know why the guards are blocking off that street?" I asked Guy.

"Pestilence," Guy answered, without meeting my eyes. "It's spreading… You should go talk to Vaisey. He'll fill you in on the details."

I eyed him and stood up. Something told me there was more to this than a disease. I felt a jolt in my stomach and lightheadedness. This felt different than before. My body began to feel weak. Every step I took seemed to take all my strength. I leaned on the door for a moment, hoping this would pass.

"Lacey," Guy said in a hushed tone. "You didn't eat any of these pies, did you?"

I slowly turned back to him, but struggled to focus my gaze at him.

"Just a little… why?"

I could not make out his expression, but something definitely felt wrong. My legs lost the strength to hoist me up as I collapsed to the ground.

xXx

I opened my eyes and found myself lying on a bed cornered in a small room. There was just one square window close to the ceiling for light. Everything appeared blurry. I tried to sit up but my limbs felt heavy. Slowly, I forced my back to an upright position. I felt like burning coal rested in my stomach. I leaned to the side and vomited in a basket someone had rested beside me.

I lay back down, too weak to move. The door was slightly cracked open. I could hear voices.

"No one is to know about this, do you understand?" This sounded like Guy to me.

"Yes, sir. I promise I'll be sure she's in the best care."

"I will be back later," Guy said, stiffly, before I heard his footprints fade out.

The door soon opened and a man in grey robes walked in.

I tried to sit up.

"Best not move too much, dear," he said, gently. "It'll only make it worse."

"What's happening…" I tried to say but could not find the words.

"You've become ill," he explained calmly. "Pestilence, I believe."

I shook my head. I could feel the sweat on my forehead. "That can't be… I wasn't even… I couldn't have…"

"This sickness spreads like wildfire," he said, shaking his head. "The streets are blocked but I fear that wasn't enough… but not to worry, I assure our best people in the castle are working on a cure."

"Where is Vaisey?" I demanded, trying to gather strength. "I need to see him."

"I'm afraid the Sheriff is busy at the moment," he replied. "But hopefully you will be well enough to go to him soon."

I continued to slip in and out of consciousness as time passed, though I could not tell just how much. I tried to think as best I could. There had to be something more to this than pestilence.

The door creaked open and a hooded figure emerged. I tried to sit up. My eyes widened. It was the Night Watchmen.

My breathing grew rapid as I pushed my body up. "No… please… leave me alone!"

"Lacey, it's okay."

I blinked and found Marian sitting on my bedside.

"But how…"

"I think you were hallucinating," she consoled. "You should lie back down."

I slowly sunk back down and looked up at her. "You shouldn't be here, Marian. You could get sick. It's spreading, apparently…"

She shook her head and said, "I don't think its pestilence. I believe the Sheriff is behind this somehow. Do you know anything about something like this he's been planning?"

I sighed and replied, "No, he hasn't mentioned anything…"

As my sentence trailed off, I leaned over to my side, feeling nauseous again.

"Lacey, have you eaten or drank anything since you came back to the castle?" she pressed on.

I had to think for a moment as I pieced together what I could from this day. "There were these pies leftover from… something. I don't think I ate anything else…"

"That's what the Watchman delivered…" Marian muttered, more to herself.

One word stung out. "The… Night Watchman… did this? Am I poisoned?"

She looked down at me, appearing slightly horrified for a moment, but said, "I think I know what he did… There has to be a cure. I will figure it out and come back. I promise."

Before I could say anything, she was gone. I rested my head and closed my eyes, hoping to escape this agony. Every muscle in my body ached, and I felt the constant urge to vomit.

All I could do was wait for Marian to come back. I knew I would not even have the strength to stand if I tried. Every time I closed my eyes, simply hoping for the pain to vanish, I feared they might not open again.

The room grew dark. At first, I thought the sun was setting until the shadow on the wall appeared to be moving. I tilted my head up towards the window and saw another hooded figure pop through. I could not even conjure up the strength for fear. If this was the real Night Watchmen, hoping he will just finish me off.

The hooded figure jumped down, landing on his feet beside the bed.

I simply rolled over on my side and tried to focus my eyes and whispered, "Just do it quickly, okay?"

He reached his hand over his head and pulled down his hood, while his other hand pulled out a small bottle from his pocket.

"It's okay, it's me."

"Allan?" I breathed squinting my eyes. "What are you…"

He knelt down beside me. "They figured it out… the gang, I mean."

"Figured what…"

Allan held up the bottle in front of the eye gaze. "The cure for the poison."

I could not be sure whether to trust him, but I supposed I did not have a choice. In my current state, I was completely helpless. Besides, I could not fathom how much worse he could make this. Either it was really a cure or simply another poison to put me to a final rest quicker. Whichever this bottle was, this would hopefully end.

Allan helped me to an upright position. I leaned on his side as he slowly poured the liquid in my mouth. As a few moments passed, I began to feel more alert.

"Is it working?" he asked, looking down to me.

I smiled and nodded. "This is the best I've felt all day."

"Good," he said. "You be back to normal in no time."

I turned my gaze up to him in awe. "You're like my hero, you know… coming to my rescue."

He let out a nervous chuckle. "I think you're still a bit delirious."

At the sound of the door, Allan swung his hood back over the head and used his arm to hoist himself back though the window. I sat up straighter and saw our physician.

"My Lady," he said, bowing his head. "I've come to see how you fare."

I slid my legs off the side of the bed and slowly stood up. I still felt a tinge of dizziness.

"Better," I muttered, straitening my gown. "Where is Vaisey? I want to know what's going on. I know he's planning something."

He appeared baffled by my sudden recovery, but still told me Vaisey was upstairs meeting with a guest, a guest I felt pretty sure was responsible for the poison. I recalled Marian's face when she realized I ate the pies, and Allan figured out the cure from his gang, who no doubt was caring for the people infected.

By the time I reached Vaisey, he was on the ground, clutching his belly. Another man I assumed to be our special guest, hung against the wall in sweats.

"Vaisey," I rushed over to him. "What happened?"

He gasped in pain, shaking his head. "Poison… that kid with Hood… he…"

"You got poisoned too," I concluded, trying to hold him up. "There's a cure. I got better…"

"What do you mean you got better?" he grunted. "Better from what?"

I let him go and scooted back on my knees, staring at him in disbelief. "You didn't even know I was sick, did you?"

Vaisey rolled on his back and stammered back, "I'm dying here and you seem perfectly fine to me!"

He was dying, right before my very eyes. I could try to locate Allan and get more of the cure but by the time I manage to locate him, it could very well be too late. Instead, another thought came to mind.

"You have to pick someone," I said in a whisper. "Who's going to be your successor, me or Guy?"

"There's not going to be a Nottingham if I die!" he roared at me.

"You never know," I persisted, "Maybe Prince John will change his mind or take me and Guy to another town. It would be better if you chose one of us, now. Who's it going to be?"

He shook his head. "I don't…"

I grabbed his closes and pulled him back up. "Come on, Vaisey. Guy's only been here for a short bit of time compared to me. I've been loyal to you my entire life. Think. Which one of us is here for you right now?"

"Fine!" he yanked off his Sheriff's medallion and thrashed it at me. "If I die now, you can be Sheriff!"

I gasped and held the silver engraved coin in my hand, and muttered, "Really?"

The door opened and Robin Hood and his men entered. I clasped the medallion in my hand, and looked down, avoiding eye contact with Allan. Robin rushed over to Vaisey, who was now unconscious and poured something in his mouth.

"Is that the cure?" I asked him.

"Yes," he said in stiff breaths, "but it might be too late."

It seemed strange watching Hood and his gang so desperately trying to save Sheriff Vaisey, their sworn enemy. But I knew why. If he dies Prince John declared he would burn Nottingham to the ground.

"If he dies, everyone will believe its pestilence, right?" I whispered, kneeling next to Hood.

He shook his head and huffed. "We had had him confess to the poison just now."

I slowly stood up and stepped back. My heart suddenly felt heavy as I watched Vaisey's stiff body.

Robin Hood placed his hand on his head and said, quietly, "It's not working."

"What do we do now?" Much stammered in a panic. "Is that it? Are we all going to die?"

I looked down at the medallion and clenched it. "No. Not today. No one has to know what really happened."

"I'm not being funny, but this is going to be a bit hard to keep quiet," Allan muttered.

"I know we can't keep his death a secret but nobody has to know how he really died," I said, turning to Hood. "You said Vaisey confessed to the poison, right? What if after that, he was so distraught from his failure and the fact the people realized his true schemes, he took the poison himself?"

Robin folded his arms and raised his eyebrow. "What difference does that make? He's still dead."

"It's a matter of how he died," I pointed out. "Prince John did say he would burn our town to the ground if Vaisey was murdered, but if he takes his own life, that's not our fault." I glanced around the room and added, "But when people find him, none of you can be anywhere near this place."

"And why should we trust you?" Hood demanded. "You'll probably get escorted to safety anyway if this town burns."

"Trust me, Nottingham is definitely worth saving to me," I said with a slight smirk, fumbling with the coin.

When Robin Hood only appeared more apprehensive, I held up the medallion and declared, "There's a new sheriff in town."

"He chose you?" Much asked with a gasp.

"Over Gisborne?" Allan added more quietly.

I smiled at him and repeated, "Over Guy of Gisborne." You picked the wrong person to work for.

I shook my head and said more firmly, "Look, we don't have time to argue. You all need to leave right now before someone like Guy shows up!"

"I don't think we have another choice," Allan said, shifting his gaze from me to Hood. "We have to trust her. Besides, she can't be worse than the other sheriff, right?"

Robin huffed, but nodded towards his men. They started to move, but before they could get far, Vaisey's body shot up.

"Ha… and you thought you could get rid of me that easy?" he roared with a laugh.

Another man hobbled from the corner. The sweats told me he had been poisoned too. Robin tried to convince him to drink the cure but he refused, declaring there was no cure to his perfect poison.

"You," I said darkly, taking a step closer to him. "You're the reason we almost died."

Before he could react I shoved him in the chest with both hands.

"Lacey, wait!" Hood yelled rushing over but it was too late. The man had already fallen through the window to his death. Now Robin Hood stood in front of that same window.

"Lacey, what did you do?" Vaisey demanded.

"He failed," I replied, trying to sound calm. "Sometimes if you want something done, you've just got to do it yourself."

With that I pushed Hood through that very same window. Honestly, I did not necessarily want to kill him, but I had to assure Vaisey I was still on his side.

The Sheriff rushed over to the window but found Hood had managed to grab on to a banner. Vaisey dove after him as Robin escaped after falling himself, but Guy showed up at that very moment to save him.

"NO!" Vaisey raged. "Why does he always get away?"

He flung his hands in the air, circling around the room, until his eyes fell on me. Vaisey snatched the sheriff's medallion out of my hand. "Give that back to me!"

That was it. He stormed out, without a word of me plotting with Robin Hood. Maybe he was really unconscious the whole time. I desperately hoped that were true or who knows what he would do to me.

The only moment of relief I felt was meeting Guy's eyes, seeing the look of shook and fury he had when he realized Vaisey had chosen me. However, even that feeling passed like a blown out candle.