Dawn came all too soon for Ivy. She found herself blinking awake with the rising of the sun. She sighed, not wanting to get out of bed. An hour must have past before she got up, dressing carefully and pulling her hair into a twist. She looked at herself in the mirror, blinking sleepily. It seemed as if ages had past since her frightful night in Leicestershire when her parents had been arrested and she had fled. Now she hardly recognized the face that stared back at her. Her eyes had hardened and her face no longer held the innocent glow that it had before when she had lived a life of luxury and safety. She turned away. She wasn't that girl anymore. Today she would do anything to fight for her parent's freedom, but she realized that she didn't want the same life anymore. She had changed.

She rode into Nottingham two hours before noon. As she rode through the city, she looked around for signs that something had changed, but everything was the same. No one seemed aware that her life hung by a thread and that her parents and her fate would be decided at noon. The guards admitted her to the castle where she walked down to the dungeons where she had been held before. No one tried to stop her when she entered, and when she saw her parents behind bars, she ran toward them, grabbing the bars.

"Ivy!" her mother called out to her. Her blonde hair hung in straggly curls around her shoulders. She looked pale and thin. Ivy's heart gave a jolt. Her father looked dejected as well, his usual regal demeanor gone.

"What have they done to you?" Ivy asked.

"Treated us like traitors," her father replied.

"That's not fair. You're innocent, and they know it!" Ivy's anger flared up, and she wanted to throw something.

"How did you get here, Ivy? Have they been treating you well? You're not a prisoner, are you?" her mother asked her.

"No. Well, I was, but not anymore. It's a long story. I was pardoned and inherited Aunt Martha's manor after she passed away." She saw a pained expression cross over her father's face. "I'm sorry. I don't think she suffered, but I also don't think she died naturally." She lowered her voice. "I'm not sure what's going on. The sheriff's right hand man has been treating me well, but I think he has other motives. The sheriff himself is in league with the sheriff of Leicestershire. I saw him yesterday…. He practically admitted to framing you because you wouldn't agree with his plan to build a casino. He said he would get me too."

"He always was a weasel," her father said dejectedly.

"I don't know what to do." Ivy looked at her parents, tears springing to her eyes. "Why are they doing this?"

"I don't know…." Her father looked away. "As long as your safe, Ivy. That's what counts."

"No, you deserve to be safe too," Ivy pleaded with him. "I'll find a way to insure your release. If it all goes wrong, Robin Hood and his men will be there to save us."

"Robin Hood? I thought he was just a legend," her father said sharply.

Ivy looked around and lowered her voice before continuing. "He saved my life a couple of times. He promised to help you. He won't fail us."

"We might not need saving," her mother said hopefully. "Perhaps someone will see our innocence." Ivy smiled sadly.

"I hope so."

"Ivy?" Ivy jumped as a familiar voice sounded behind her. Guy had entered the room without her knowing. He now stood awkwardly, looking from Ivy to her parents. Ivy stood straighter, glaring at him defiantly. "The sheriff wants to see you. He thought I might find you here. The trial is in an hour."

"I have to go," Ivy said turning back to her parents. "I'll get you out of here. I promise."

Her parents smiled sadly at her before she turned to follow Guy from the prison. Once they had left the depressing prison, Guy took Ivy's arm pulling her aside so they wouldn't be overheard. "Ivy, I'm doing all I can, but the sheriff isn't cooperating. He and the sheriff of Leicestershire seem to have something to gain by your parents being proven guilty. But there's still the council. The sheriff doesn't have absolute control in this."

"If you're the sheriff's right hand man, then why are you telling me this? Why are you helping me? And how do I know this isn't a trap?" Ivy was tired of games. "I'm sure the sheriff put you up to watching me. You don't have to pretend anymore."

Guy's eyes flickered for a moment with hurt. "Ivy, believe me, I don't wish you harm."

"Then you've changed your tune since we first met."

"Can't you give me a chance? I've been trying to make up for what happened to you when you first arrived here. I thought you'd be just like Hood, rebellious and corrupt, but you're not."

"Robin isn't corrupt, and I would consider myself at least partially rebellious," Ivy snapped.

"Right, you have a soft spot for Hood." Guy's eyes narrowed for a moment.

"I have no reason to hold anything against him. He helped me after all. Much more than you have."

"The sheriff did want me to spy on you, but you're much to smart for that to work. You weren't going to give anything away. I can see that all you want is your parents' freedom."

"So you're admitting to spying on me then."

"Yes, I am, but it's not like that anymore…."

"Oh, did he tell you to stop?" Ivy's voice rose with her anger.

"No, but I'm not going to spy on you anymore. I don't see what we can gain from it."

"Well, thank you. I'm so grateful you see it that way." Ivy turned to walk away.

"Wait, Ivy, I didn't mean it that way." He grabbed her arm.

"Then what did you mean because I'm having a hard time seeing anything kind in your words," Ivy said hotly, turning back to glare at him.

"Just give me a chance. That's all I'm asking for. Let me make it up to you." His eyes were pleading, and Ivy felt her resolve flicker for a moment.

"Why should I? Why do you even want another chance? What's it to you if I like you or hate you?"

"I want another chance because there is another side to me. I think you know that. You've seen it. And of course I care whether you hate me or not. I don't want you to hate me." Ivy could tell that he was struggling with the words.

"Then help me save my parents."

"I'll try. Come on, the sheriff will be getting impatient." He started down the corridor, and Ivy followed.

"Why does he want to see me?"

"I don't know."

"Really?"

Guy turned to her. "Really," he insisted, his eyes honest. "I don't know what he wants."

"Why do you really want to help me? Why do you even like me? I would have thought you'd hate me for all the trouble I've put you through," Ivy asked after a moment.

"I don't hate you. And yes, you do try my patience. But I can see the good side to you too. You're willing to put your life at risk to help others. I guess you remind me of someone."

"Marian?" Ivy guessed.

Guy looked surprised. "How did you know that?"

"Just a guess. You like her don't you?" Ivy watched as Guy's eyes narrowed. She could see that he was already rebuilding the defensive walls around him that she had broken down moments before.

"I admire Lady Marian. I don't think she returns the feelings though." They had reached the set of doors leading into the main hall. Guy paused at the door. "I'll leave you here."

"You're not coming in with me?" Ivy asked, feeling intimidated at the thought of confronting the sheriff alone.

"Sheriff's orders. I'll see you at the trial."

"Right." Ivy took a deep breath and pushed the doors open. The sheriff sat behind a table, his eyes set on her as she shut the door behind her.

"Finally, I was beginning to think you'd forgotten all about the trial." Ivy glared at him, not bothering to conceal her dislike for him. "La-de-da. Won't this be fun? Your poor parents. I do hope you'll put on a good show of weeping for them." His eyes were cold as he surveyed her. "Now sit down, I want to discuss something with you."

Ivy sat stiffly in the seat before him. "What do you want from me?"

"Why do you jump straight to the conclusion that I want something from you? No, you want something from me."

"Do I?" Ivy cocked an eyebrow.

"Your parents' freedom. Your freedom. I can give you that."

"At what cost? You're not just going to let them go free with nothing in return."

"You are a clever one. Gisbourne was right about you."

"Reporting back to you, is he?"

"Give me Hood, and you and your parents can go free."

"You've got to be kidding? You think I'll just hand Robin right over to you? As if I could even do that!" Ivy said angrily. "You know that my parents are innocent. You've been planning something with the sheriff of Leicestershire. You want them framed."

"You seem to underestimate me. I haven't been working with anyone. That sheriff from Leicester is a fool. He thinks we have a deal. I hired him to arrest your parents because I needed someone to take the blame."

"I don't follow."

"Oh, come on. You're supposed to be clever. I want the sheriff of Leicestershire dead! With him gone, I can appoint someone more persuasive to be sheriff. Your parents take the blame for the plotting, Leicester ends up dead, your parents take the blame. And then has anyone got a clue? No."

"Why are you telling me all this?"

"Because I plan on see you hang with your parents. Guards!" Two guards rushed into the room, each of them grabbing one of Ivy's arms before she could protest. She glared at the sheriff. "You see, my dear, you're going to bring me Hood with or without your consent."