Sorry for the hiatus folks! The hubby and I went to see the third 'Hobbit' last night. Only one chapter again, but it's a good one. Enjoy!

...

The next day dawned bright and beautiful. The sky was an endless royal blue with great poofs of perfect, white clouds. The sun couldn't be happier and shone with bright warmth upon the vast plains of emerald grasses. It broke through the thick boughs of Sherwood Forest and splashed to the ground in golden puddles.

Guy woke first as a cool breeze tickled his dark hair. Even though he'd been braced against a tree the entire night, he couldn't remember ever sleeping so soundly. Faelyn hadn't moved an inch, and the sun poured across her face, illuminating her with an almost magical glow. She was resting peacefully, her fever broken, and he was surprised at how very relieved he felt.

"Good morning." He said softly. Faelyn stirred.

"Mmmmm...Mmm? Oh! Oh, Sir Guy! I apologize! I'm so sorry, I was not myself last night! I do beg your pardon, this is completely inappropriate!" She scuttled backwards, almost into the fire embers.

Guy's hardness returned in a flash. "It's alright," he said sternly, donning his duster. "But we need to be moving on."

"What about breakfast?"

Guy stared at her with stony eyes. That's what she was thinking of? Food? He moved to his saddle bag wordlessly and tossed her the last of the bread and an apple. She scarfed it down and dusted the crumbs from her face.

"Mm, that was good. Do you have any water?"

"No."

"Oh...Oh, well! I bet Cherry's going out of her mind with worry." She sucked some juice from her finger.

"Who?"

"Oh, you know, my lady-in-waiting. I assumed that's how you knew to find me; she came to you for help, right?" She tipped her head inquisitively.

"No, I haven't seen her." Guy held out a hand. "Now come on, we need to get going."

"But...But she wasn't in the carriage with me when it fell. She went out to see why we'd stopped." Faelyn was beginning to feel concerned.

"I sent everyone to Devonshire, she's probably there. Now come, we need to go."

Faelyn didn't move. "I need to go to her. If she didn't come find you she must be going crazy."

Guy ground his teeth. "I need to get back to Nottingham. You need medical attention. We are leaving now. When she is able she will return with my wounded guards."

"No, you don't understand, she would never leave me alone in the forest! Which means she would have to be injured herself and carried away! I must go to her!"

Guy resisted the urge to smack Faelyn. "We are going back to Nottingham. Now."

Faelyn looked at him defiantly. "No." She promptly walked off, back the way they'd come the night before.

Guy was torn. Half of him wanted to just leave her to the bandits. The other half wanted to knock her out and drag her back. He stood still, undecided. Finally, with a snarl of frustration he followed after, leading his horse by its reins.

He walked behind her silently, fuming, glaring at her back. The sheriff was going to tear him a new one. There would be no talking his way out of this now. Maybe if he'd made it back last night Vaisey would have just sneered and belittled him for saving the girl. Had he made it back this morning he would have been screamed at, had things thrown at him. But now...Who knew? The sheriff had executed people for less. Much less.

"Oh stop pouting Sir Guy. It's a beautiful day, enjoy it." Faelyn called back.

"We should be quiet. There are bandits about." He snapped.

"I'm not worried. You'll protect me." She turned and grinned cheekily, then continued on her way whistling loudly.

Guy was taken aback. She remembered him saying that? She was nearly dead and she remembered? And now she was holding it over his head. He had refused her advances, then said something like that and now she was gloating. Well let her. It had meant nothing.

But something deep inside him was amused.

Faelyn swayed back and forth in time to her whistling. The birds overhead sang back joyously and she giggled.

Guy watched her pensively. She was so different from anyone he'd ever met. She took joy in the little things. But why? He greatly desired things like title, land, status, and here she was coated in mud after nearly dying, singing to the birds. Other ladies would be in bed for a week recovering, even if it was not necessary.

"Mm, maybe I better stop. I'm feeling dizzy."

Guy noticed she was walking more slowly and he stepped up his pace. "You should ride my horse, you're still recovering." She agreed without a fight let him help her up.

"Just promise you'll take me to Devonshire, and not back to Nottingham."

Guy was surprised to find the thought hadn't even crossed his mind. "I will take you to Devonshire." He pulled the reins and walked on.

...

"What do you want with me?" Cherry asked the one called Much. He looked hurt.

"We're taking care of you. You were kicked in the head by a horse. Nasty bruise, but you'll be okay. We'll take you back when you're healed, don't worry."

"If I was kicked in the head by horse it was your fault! Attacking us like that! Filthy, greedy bandits!" Cherry knew her words would anger them but she didn't care. She was furious.

Much frowned sadly. "I am sorry it happened."

"You need to let me go. My mistresses' carriage fell over the side of the hill. She could be gravely injured! I must go to her! I need to help her!"

Much looked alarmed and ran off. "Robin, Robin! The lady says her carriage fell and there was someone inside!"

The apparent leader stood up immediately. "John, Allen, Will, come with me. Much, Djaq, stay here with her."

...

"Is this where I fell from?"

"Yes. You're very lucky to have survived."

By midmorning Guy and Faelyn had retraced their steps back to the ambush site. Guy's temper had cooled but Faelyn was looking pale again.

"Thank you. For helping me. I should have thanked you earlier. It was a very brave thing to do." Faelyn said quietly.

Guy looked at her. "I didn't know it was you until I went down there."

Faelyn didn't know what to say to that. "Well, thank you anyways. For checking. If you hadn't I most certainly would have died."

"You're welcome."

They stared at one another for a moment. Guy felt something stir when he looked at her. She looked so lost, so lacking in spirit just then. So small. He cleared his throat and broke the eye contact. "I should ride too, it's a long way and we need to move faster. If you're able."

She nodded but did not speak. Guy pulled himself up behind her and set his horse into a trot.

"Why did you say she would not leave you in the forest? Why not just say she would not leave you? What's so different about the forest?" Guy had been wondering about this for a while.

Faelyn felt comforted by his close presence. His leather garb creaked with every step of the horse and she found it reassuring. "I...I had an incident when I was a child. That's all."

"Oh, get lost?"

"Not exactly..." She stared off into the trees.

When it was clear she wasn't going to continue with the story, Guy pushed for more information. "Yes?"

"I...I was kidnapped." Faelyn bit her lip. This was private, personal. He was going to think even less of her when he found out. Found out just how afraid she had been. How it still haunted her today.

Guy didn't respond right away, and when he did Faelyn was thrown off guard by his gentle tone. "How old were you?"

"Seven. Just seven."

"They took you to the forest?"

"Yes. But they never intended on returning me when they got their ransom. They..." She stopped. She didn't want to talk about it anymore.

But Guy was relentless. "What did they do? Tie you up?"

Fae nodded. "And buried me." She clenched her eyes shut against the oncoming tears. She didn't even talk about it with Cherry. They just referred to it as "the incident". What would he think of her now? Would he blame her? Make fun of her? He was so strong he would never let anything like that happen to him!

Guy didn't speak for several minutes. So that's it then. That's why she was so different. She must have been closely guarded and sheltered after that happened. She had never been away from her home before. Of course she didn't know the proper way to act around her peers. And the first time she ventured out into the world something else had to happen.

"I am truly sorry you had to endure that." His voice came out harder than he meant, but he was angry. Angry she'd been used as a pawn and then so easily discarded. As a child! He had even more respect for her now, knowing the agonizing terror she must have felt when she was clinging to that carriage, watching that water rise closer and closer to death. "First that, now this. You have terrible luck."

"I wouldn't say that." Faelyn whispered.

...

Cherry had only ever been this afraid once before. Both times involved bandits and her beloved friend. She should be out there searching! The two that remained behind, Much and the boy, Jack? They whispered together in a corner. Cherry wondered if she could escape without them noticing. Just as she got her nerve up, the others came rushing in.

The leader, Finch or Crow or something, came directly over to her. "Your mistress. Describe her."

Cherry felt the blood drain from her face. There was one occasion when a description was necessary. "Long reddish brown hair, small figure, green eyes. She was wearing her traveling clothes, a dark green dress and corset with a high collar."

The leader turned to his mates and nodded knowingly. "It's her."

Cherry's heart fluttered. "Sh-she isn't...dead?"

He turned back to her. "She's with Guy of Gisborne. They're riding towards Devonshire." He studied her expression carefully.

Cherry breathed an enormous sigh of relief and laughed out loud. "Oh thank goodness!"

"Why do you rejoice? Gisborne is a black-hearted fiend."

Cherry laughed again. "Oh, I don't deny it, but she'll be safe with him for the time being. You will release me now so I can go to her."

Her captor sighed and ran his hand through his hair. He whistled Much over and whispered with him. The boy Jack looked alarmed he was even considering letting her go. "Robin you cannot trust her! If she is in league with Gisborne she will lead him straight here!"

Robin shook his head. "I will not take prisoners Djaq. We blindfold her when she is ready to leave and lead her away."

Cherry sat up, ignoring the flash of pain in her head. "I am ready now."