Somehow Louise and the staff at Knighton Hall survived the next couple of days. The first day that Louise was allowed out of bed she disappeared for 3 hours Marian saw her disappear on Jack with Seth running at her heels. When she returned, just before the council of nobles, her face was red with the cold, her hair was loose and hanging down her back having been blown back by the wind and her eyes were bright with life.

"We're going to be late." Marian told her friend when she next appeared from the Hall having returned and done the quickest change Marian had ever seen.

"I know, I know." Came the reply as she secured her cloak around her neck and whistled for Seth. Her hair was now, like Marian's, tied up at the back of head. Louise shot her a grin as she mounted Jack. "Anything I should know?" Louise asked

"The Sheriff was both annoyed and pleased with your sudden illness," Marian informed her and Louise shook her head " Umm The Shadow and the Nightwatchman have been spotted again. That's about it."

"That's not possible" Louise informed her and lowering her voice continued "We haven't been out" Marian just smiled.

"People lie." Marian informed "And this time in helps us."

"Why would they lie?" Louise asked

"I think they think it makes them important if they get a delivery from the Nightwatchman of the Shadow" Marian offered Louise just shrugged still confused at why people would want helped by them.

They somehow made it to the council of Nobles on time that included convincing Seth to stay outside the hall and not to come in which considering he was a dog normally took ages as, Louise and Marian figured out, he didn't like the idea of Louise being alone in a room with either the Sheriff or Gisborne. When they entered the hall the Sheriff sent Louise a look.

"My Lord Sheriff I apologize for my absence I was taken ill with a fever and ordered by my physician to stay on bed rest." Louise told Vasey bowing her head slightly but the Sheriff couldn't seem to care less as he just flicked his hand in her direction in dismissal. As Louise sat down in her chair she looked over at Marian who gave her a confused look. Louise's eyes roamed the room everyone was there except the Sheriff's lap dogs, Gisborne and DeFortnoy.

"Now" The Sheriff started his voice dangerously soft "Anyone care to explain why the Shadow and the Nightwatchman still remain undetected?" Everyone looked down not wanting to bear the front of the Sheriff's anger. Normally he took it out on Gisborne or DeFortnoy, his master at arms, but with the curious absence of both he obviously hadn't had the pleasure.

"No?" The Sheriff continued to sneer "I WANT THEM DEAD!" His voice bounced off of the stone walls echoing around the hall, luckily neither Marian or Louise gave away their slight amusement, along with horror, at the Sheriff's words. The meeting of the council continued for the best part of two hours, really it just consisted of the Sheriff screaming obscenities at the Lords who just sat there and took it, as after dealing with it for roughly four years they were more than used to it.

Finally the tedious meeting ended and Louise and Marian were happily riding through Sherwood forest.

"Have you noticed that these meetings are identical?" Louise asked Marian "Its always, I want more money and I want the Shadow and the Nightwatchman dead." At that she tried to do an impression of the Sheriff's whining voice.

"That was terrible." Marian informed the youngest of the Locksley children.

"I know but that's not the point."

"Then what is?" Louise shrugged not knowing the answer "On another note." Marian began again after a few moments of silence "Did you notice that Gisborne and DeFortnoy both weren't there?"

"Yeah." Louise agreed "Its odd. Where do you think they are?" Marian gave her a look.

"Worried about you lover?" Marian then asked

"Shut up." Louise growled "I'm not being courted by Guy of Gisborne." Marian just chuckled at getting a response out of her friend.

DeFortnoy turned back up again two days later but Sir Guy, nearly three days since the council meeting, still hadn't been seen by Louise or Marian either in Nottingham or in Kighton. They were on a ride in Sherwood when Louise sighed.

"Come on" She told Marian as she kicked her horse into a slightly different direction.

"Why are we going to Locksley?" Marian asked.

"Cause something not right."

Louse was right of course something was amiss in Locksley, the temporary Lord was taken severely ill and no one had seen him for a few days. The only person allowed to visit the sick Lord was his physician not even the house staff were allowed in as the physician had told them that Sir Guy's illness was severely contagious and needed to be prevented from spreading at all costs. Whilst in the town that evening, as the Shadow, Louise heard late night mutterings. From what she could tell most of the serfs of Locksley couldn't show less sympathy if they tried towards the temporary Lord of Locksley, some saying that it was a punishment from God which he brought upon himself and others saying that it was payback for the way he had treated them. Either way Louise had to admit as she rode silently through the forest that they might have a point and expelled the thought that something else was fishy about the sudden illness from her mind.


Hello people of the internet I apologise for the long delay of this chapter as I had to think about and consider what else had to put into the story before Robin's return and how the episodes would change with Louise in them so please don't kill me.

Review, Comment ect ect you know the drill

Rwar I'm a Cat