Hi everybody! Sorry I've been gone for so long! Moving is REALLY hard work when you have two little ones! Here's a nice hulking five chapters as an apology, and hopefully they'll be fluid; I've been writing in snippets since we moved and have had to play connect the dots with them. Enjoy! Love you guys!

...

"So what's your plan then?" Guy asked Faelyn after she'd helped him to his feet. He was still sore but managed to hide his discomfort.

"I'm going to sneak across to the stable. Quick, keep a look out for me and tell me if anyone's coming from the front."

He raised a dark eyebrow at her. "Uh huh." He said sceptically. Without bothering to keep a low profile, Guy sauntered over to the side of the house and glanced around. "You're fine."

Faelyn bent low and scurried across the lawn to the stables. Guy followed after casually. She was saddling the old grey when he entered. He leaned against the wooden wall and crossed his arms over his chest. "And where will you go?"

"I'm not sure yet, but I've had a taste of adventure and now I want more!"

Guy shook his head but she didn't notice. "Won't your father miss you? And what of your fiance?"

Faelyn paused. "I supposed my father will get used to it. As for Sir Ethan, well, I only hope I haven't damaged his reputation."

"And Cherry?"

Faelyn flinched. "She is happy here. I pray she forgives me."

"How much money do you have?"

Faelyn stopped completely. She hadn't even thought of money. "Uhhhm..."

"That's what I thought. Come one Fae, you must talk to your father." He grabbed her by the arm firmly and marched her back to her house. Faelyn didn't struggle. His grip wasn't painful, but she felt like a naughty child being forced to face a punishment.

Guy led her straight through the house, completely ignoring the stares and whispers of the guests and deposited her back in her room. He knew it would only be moments before her father was informed, so he leaned back against the wall and once again crossed his arms. Faelyn sat at the foot of her bed and stared down at her feet.

Sure enough, Sir Rupert appeared totally breathless but a moment later. "Faelyn! There you are! You scared me! Child, what are you doing? What is the matter? Why are you acting this way?"

Faelyn gathered her courage and stood. "Father, I cannot marry Sir Ethan as you wish. I have had so many experiences just by traveling to Nottingham. I desire more! I wish to see the world! Er, or at least England." She stopped shyly.

Her father was confused and at a loss for words. "But my dear, why? What happened to make you feel this way? You always told me you wanted a strong husband to care for you and protect you!"

So Faelyn told her father of all she'd hidden, about the bandits, her carriage falling, nearly drowning in the mud, nearly freezing to death, shopping for the first time, and making a bosom friend of Marian. "I owe Sir Guy my life, Father." She motioned to Guy. Her father hadn't known anyone else was present and jumped. When he turned and saw the tall, dark, leather clad man frowning at him he shivered.

"I-I thank you graciously Sir Guy. How can I ever repay you?" He held out his hand, but Guy looked away.

"It was nothing." He grumbled.

Sir Rupert gulped. What a scary man. He'd seen him lurking about but hadn't dreamed of the knight being of such importance to his daughter.

"Faelyn, dearest. What is it you desire?"

Faelyn thought for a moment. "I wish to return to Nottingham, Father, with Marian." She doubted her father would accept the main reason she wanted to return.

Her father was speechless. "Eh...For how long?"

"I'm not sure. A while."

Rupert shook his head furiously. "This is just...I'm so...But..." His shoulders slumped in defeat and Faelyn's heart lept. "Very well."

She threw her arms around her father's neck and kissed his cheek. "Thank you!"

Rupert held his daughter close, then cleared his throat. "I will write the necessary letters." He turned to go and threw a wary glance at Guy. The knight was watching Faelyn through narrow eyes. Rupert shivered again and hurried out.

Once her father was gone Faelyn twirled happily. "He said yes!"

"This is not a good idea Fae. The sheriff will be furious."

"Oh, bully the sheriff. I'll encourage my father to give him a sizeable donation and I'm sure he'll accept my presence."

Guy sighed. No wonder she thought she could do whatever she wanted. Her father had spoiled her rotten.

...

"Gisborne you have got to be the most stupid, worthless, idiotic oaf I have ever had the misfortune to meet. I tell you to make nice with the man and the fiance and you destroy the wedding and bring back the girl that causes me untold stress. A girl, Gisborne. A girl."

Vaisey was so infuriated his entire body shook. His face was bloodshot. "A bloody girl!" He grabbed a book from his desk and hurled it at Guy. Guy dodged nimbly, causing Vaisey to become more enraged. He flung everything from his desk at Guy-parchments, books, quills, ink wells, and even a small golden statue of a horse. Guy was unable to dodge the entire onslaught, and Vaisey only stopped when a trickle of blood ran down from deep cut in Guy's temple.

"I needed gold, Gisborne! What am I to do with a bloody girl?!"

"Her father wishes her to experience the world, my lord. He sends two chests of gold in gratitude for caring for his daughter." Guy didn't dare wipe the blood away.

Vaisey bellowed for a soldier and ordered the chests brought in. Sir Rupert hadn't spared any expense. The chests were quite large and stuffed with gold coins. Vaisey's greedy eyes lit up. This would more than pay for his plans, but he could not let Gisborne's constant disobedience go unscathed. "Bring in the girl." He whispered in a deadly voice.

Guy summoned Faelyn in from outside. She curtsied politely.

"Because you two can't seem to get enough of one another, you will never leave the other's sight. You will room together, you will travel together, you will work together."

Guy started to protest, but Vaisey cut him off. "Those are my terms!" He roared. "Accept them or get out!"

Guy clenched his jaw and bowed stifly. Faelyn followed him out of Vaisey's office. She had to run to keep up with his long, angry strides. "Guy, Guy wait!"

He ignored her and strode out to the courtyard. Her things hadn't been unpacked yet because he'd assumed Vaisey would refuse. He motioned for some soldiers to unload the carriages and bring the items to his quarters. He stormed through the castle ahead of everyone, and Fae had to pick up her skirts and run after him. "Guy! Please wait!"

He continued to ignore her as he entered his chambers and directed the soldiers where to discard her possessions. After the soldiers left and it was just the two of them together in his room, he whirled on her, blue eyes glinting.

"I'm sorry." She said. But she didn't look it. Sure she appeared a bit nervous, but they had slept in the same room before. The same bed even.

"I can't be rid of you can I?" He growled.

"Do you want to be?"

He made a noise somewhere between a snort and a snarl. "It doesn't matter now. For the duration of your stay I must put up with you."

Faelyn put her hands on her hips. "You don't have to be so mean about it."

"Mean? Mean?! You don't get it, do you? If you stay your reputation is destroyed. Word will get out of us rooming together, of always being in each other's presence! You will have to see the world through the eyes of a man. You will see what I must do to serve the sheriff. You will be in danger every time we step out beyond the castle walls."

Faelyn realized what he was saying. They would be seen as lovers. She would not be able to marry as high as her station allowed when she returned home. Here she would see Guy doing bad things, like when he tortured that poor prisoner. He would have to do whatever Vaisey said and she couldn't stop him. Would it be worth it? What would make it worth it? She knew, but of course she couldn't say it aloud. "We have been through so much together I wonder if anyone thinks otherwise when they see us now."

Guy let out a sound of angry disbelief.

...

Haha, I had fun picturing the scene with Guy all dark in the shadows glaring around at Fae and her father!