Chapter 10

Tough Love

Robin was infuriated with himself. Rayne had been stuck in Nottingham Castle for a week since he'd escaped. He would have gone sooner but he had duties to maintain for the poor. It was tax season, and coaches were making stops almost everywhere. So far he and his men had been kept busy raiding most of them for their gold. At night he and Tuck would devise a plan to retrieve Rayne. So far they had thought of charging the front gates, to having John stand under her window and yell 'Jump!.' He was distracted to say the least.

Even after the days that he'd been away from her, he still felt her lips on his. How soft and gentle they were in comparison to the rest of her. How flustered she looked when he had kissed her before she left with Gisborne. It was making him insane just thinking about it. She had given him the knife that had granted him escape. The same one he had refused to part with since them. He had every intention of giving it back. Yet he had to wonder if it had all be a lie to give her an excuse to hand it over. It would be like that, with his amount of luck with women.

The last though made him cringe. He hadn't thought about Marion this much since the day he'd tried to kill Gisborne. More proof that Rayne would be his undoing. It didn't matter if she was with him or not, she was still all he could focus on.

"Robin," the gentle voice of the Friar called. He looked up to see Tuck motioning him to go over. Robin did as he was asked, going over to where the other men couldn't hear him. The Friar gave Robin a sympathetic look.

"You love her," he stated. Robin, who had been eating a piece of rabbit jerky, chocked and swallowed painfully. The Friar laughed at the outlaw leader in good nature.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Robin said but his voice sounded weak even to him. Tuck gave him the knowing look he only used when the truth was patently obvious to everyone but Robin.

"I've only known her for a month, half a which she was either unconscious or in a dungeon!" Robin explained. "Plus she is the Sheriff's daughter!"

"Yet you sound as if you're trying to convince yourself of this, not me." Tuck stated, and Robin starred at the dark skinned Friar.

"Even if I did feel for her, I doubt she feels the same." Robin sighed in defeat.

"How would you know if you don't ask her?" Tuck asked, then left him to his thoughts. Robin shook his head. The Friar had helped him solve one thing at least. He needed to get Rayne now more than ever.

…...

Rayne hadn't gotten any sleep the previous night. She had been awake during the entirety of Gisborne's visit. He had kissed her on the cheek, and left without a word. Her mind was practically dead from all of the new worries concerning men and their affections. Robin had kissed her, but that was partially her fault. She was sure he had gotten the wrong message from what she had done. That couldn't be helped at the moment. Then Gisborne come and kisses her only because he believed she was asleep. He had been gaping at her since her first day, but she hadn't though about it other than him being a fun toy. Someone to manipulate to he liking. Now she wasn't sure she wanted to put him through that anymore.

A knock snapped her out of the daze she was in. Sitting up she waited for whoever was on the other side to come in. They did only seconds after the knock. Her eyes narrowed in mistrust. The Sheriff only looked at her with the innocence of a child. Behind him were a force of soldiers. The Sheriff gave her a cruel chuckle.

"The good doctor said that your wound was closing up nicely," he began, and Rayne immediately tensed. He wound had healed into a ruff and jagged surface of still developing scar tissue. It wouldn't take much for it to spit again in a painful manner. He would know that. Rayne prepared for the worst.

"So I thought it would be best to ask about my offer. Will you be willing to join me to hunt down Robin Hood?" the Sheriff asked. Ever the one to act first and then think, she couldn't hold her tongue.

"A clue, Sheriff: No!" she hissed. This got the Sheriff to laugh at her again.

"You say that an awful lot, dear girl. Do you realize that is my saying, don't you?" the Sheriff mocked. Rayne hadn't known, but somehow she wasn't surprised. She'd been saying it since she was a child. Then the Sheriff signaled to his men. They stormed into the room and grabbed Rayne. They forced a strip of cloth between her teeth before tightening the gag around her head. She was drug out into the hall along with her muffled cries. No matter how hard she thrashed and fought the men kept a good hold of her. The Sheriff walked by her with a look of regret plastered on his face.

"I'm sorry it had to come to thins, Rayne." the Sheriff said sadly. "If you would have accepted my offer in the first place, we wouldn't have to resort to this." As they continued down the corridor Rayne watched as Gisborne turned a corner and his eyes met hers. He froze in confusion. The Sheriff saw him.

"Ah, Gisborne," he cooed, "just in time to see the spectacle known as tough love. Just the thing a parent does with their stubborn children." Gisborne looked uncomfortable, but he was caught in the Sheriff's scheme now. Rayne began to recognize that they were going in the direction of the dungeons. She began to thrash once more. It still didn't do any good.

Soon she found herself beneath Nottingham Castle. She was standing against a wall, her arms shackled above her head and the only thing keeping her up. Her feet were off the ground by her own will as hot coals were placed on the ground beneath them. They had taken her boots long ago. One of the soldiers had a whip that was waiting for the order. Gisborne stood behind the Sheriff so the others couldn't see the worry he failed to hide. Rayne gritted her teeth. She could hang there all day but not if she was getting lashed too. At the Sheriff's signal her gag was removed.

"Have you changed your mind?" her father asked. She refused to speak again, and he shrugged.

"Start with five," he told the soldier with the whip. With a nod he snapped the bound leather forward to attack her body. She wore only a tunic and trousers now, the rest of her armor having been stripped and sent back to her room. The whip cut into her flesh and she bit back a cry of pain. Her eyes teared up on the third lash, and she was gasping after the fifth. Her arms still held strong, and she showed no signs of submitting.

"Make it ten," the Sheriff said, and the strikes began again.

…...

Robin had his eyes on a window of Nottingham Castle. He had made it his mission to sneak into Nottingham every day to see her sitting at that window. She almost never left it. He'd been standing in the crowd for hours with the hood of his cloak pulled up in disguise. She still hadn't shown her face. It started out a nagging at the back of his mind after the first hour. Now it was a knot in his gut that screamed something was very wrong inside Nottingham Castle. He needed to go an get the others.

…...

Guy was sick. Torture didn't bother him in the slightest. He conducted it often enough. He didn't enjoy it when women or children were tortured in a brutal manner, but he could live with it. Seeing Rayne pulling herself up to keep from touching coals under her feet made him weak in the knees. It was out of his character to care. She was different.

The torture had gone on for hours, the Sheriff having gotten bored long ago. He'd ordered Gisborne to keep watch while he went about his business as Sheriff. He'd said that he would return shortly. That the soldier whipping his daughter could stop when he got tired. Then hand the whip off to the next man. He'd said that after the twentieth lash. It had been hours, and they'd had to replace the coals twice. Rayne's arms had started to shake. Her bare soles slipping closer to the burning rocks beneath her. She still hadn't screamed.

The Sheriff came back with a plate of food. He offered some to Guy but he refused. With a shrug the father of the woman hanging inches from unbearable pain began tearing into a drumstick. Rayne glared at the man in contempt as her torture never ceased. Finally, right when Guy was sure she would fall, the Sheriff called off the soldier currently whipping her. He wiped off his hands using Guy's shirt, then took the bound leather himself. It took one last swing and Rayne slipped. The woman screamed in agony.

Guy tried to block it out but it grated against his ears despite his efforts. She tried to pull herself back up only to slip back down. Her feet were burned and couldn't be pressed against the wall for purchase anymore. She couldn't do anything but cause more pain. Another soldier came with a bucket of water and doused the coals. Steam and sizzling filled the air and Rayne stopped screaming. She just shook as silent sobs wracked her frame. Guy had never felt so disgusted before.

"Alright Gisborne, take the thing back to its room." the Sheriff said with a dismissive wave of his hand. It was like he had forgotten he had just ruined his daughter at all. The other soldiers followed to leave Guy alone with Rayne. He released her but didn't catch her in time. Her feet hit the dungeon floor and she screamed again as she collapsed. Her clothes were torn and soaked with blood. He was sure that the wound he'd inflicted some time ago had reopened at least somewhat. Quickly he stooped down and pulled her into his arms bridal style. She leaned into his chest and sobbed. No more sound came from her as he took her back to her room. Guy gently placed the woman on her bed and went back to the door. He looked at one of the soldiers and glared at him.

"You," he said, "get a bowl of cold water, a rag, bandages, and salves from the doctor." The soldier scurried off with his orders.

"The rest of you are dismissed!" Guy snarled, rounding on the others. They too scurried away from the enraged man before them. A whimper had Guy rushing back into Rayne's room. She was trying to stand. His temper flared at her stubbornness. Then left as he realized that she was trying her best to make sure her father didn't win. It was a stupid idea, but took a strong will to attempt. He moved forward and laid her back down on the bed.

"You need to stay off of them," he scolded lightly. She only glared at him. Her green eyes didn't look as bright as they had before. Tears were falling freely down her face in silver streams from the pain. He doubted she noticed them. Guy sat beside her and cupped one pale cheek. He used his thumb to wipe away the tears with a gentle touch. She met his eyes and they watched each other for a moment. Guy started to lean towards her unaware of his actions.

"I've got the supplies," came the high voice of the soldier he'd sent away/ With a growl Guy stormed over to the door, grabbed the things he needed, and slammed the door in the man's face. He felt better when he returned to the bed. He tenderly began dripping cold water onto the burns on her feet. She hissed but eventually quieted down as the coolness soothed some of the pain. Then he massaged some salve onto them as well. Carefully he bandaged the bottoms of her feet, as well as the hundreds of marks from the whipping. Only her back had remained lash free. The Sheriff obviously wanted that prize to remain untouched. By the time he finished Rayne was fighting back sleep. Guy cleared away what was left of his supplies. Satisfied he turned to leave. Her frantic voice stopped him in his tracks.

"Don't leave me," she pleaded and Guy turned on his heel. He took in a breath at the sight of her wide pleading eyes. The Sheriff had done more damage than he'd thought. Guy didn't want to leave her, but if he stayed the Sheriff would grow suspicious. He would just have to come back a little later.

"I promise," Guy said, going to her side and crouching next to her. "I will come back, I won't let anything happen to you." Rayne starred at him and Guy regretted having to leave her even more. So in a rash move of unthinking stupidity, Guy leaned down and kissed her properly. Rayne didn't react at first and he feared the worst. Then slowly and hesitantly she kissed him back. Guy broke away from her with a smirk adorning his feature, and he left the room with a spring in his step.

…...

Rayne was surrounded by pain. She couldn't sleep as much as her body wanted to. Darkness had consumed Nottingham some time ago. Gisborne hadn't returned yet, but she wasn't as desperate as she had been earlier that day. The pain had clouded her sense of everything. The only thing she had heard was his voice attempting to sooth her. Then his lips connecting with hers in a passionate kiss. Not as rough as the one she had shared with Robin. They hadn't had time. Gisborne had all the time in the world. Now she was sure the Gisborne had fallen for her. If Robin felt the same she could only imagine the chaos that would ensue.

A thud outside her window made Rayne jump. She wished she could get up to see what was going on. Then the window opened, and a shadow slipped inside. It came up next to her, and she could barely make out the face with her green eyes. They widened in disbelief. The mischievous grin confirmed the shadow's identity.

"Hello darling," Robin Hood said.

OHHHHHHHHHHH! How is she going to explain what happened with her wounds to Robin? How will Robin confess his feelings? Will he? Will they even make it back to Sherwood? And most importantly, if they do how will Guy react? Shout out again to livangerl16 and mariangisborne for their reviews!

I haven't chosen who wins Rayne, or if anyone wins her at all yet! So no one get mad if you she happily sways back and forth between the two, you never know who she'll stick with! Keep reviewing! -DODV