I'm getting better at updateing regularly. :) however i've just started my A levels so i have piles of work to do but i will try to keep updating regularly. anyway i hope u enjoy this chapter. as always look forward to any reviews and comments.

25

"Hey Leo."

Frankie had just descended the steps to the dungeons and spotted Leo standing guard. She made her way over to him with a smile. He smiled back at her, but the smile soon turned to confusion as Leo wondered what she was doing here.

"How are you? Your leg is looking much better." Frankie said warmly.

"What are you doing here Frankie?" Leo asked suspiciously.

A hurt look appeared on her face.

"What? I can't come see if my old friend is better? Now you're training the guards you're too good for me, is that it?" She asked hurt.

"Sorry." He said sheepishly, "I'm feeling much better thank you Frankie."

A smile lit her face again.

"Hey you've stopped calling me 'My Lady'. Felix still does it's really annoying. And I've given up correcting the guards at this castle, they're too stubborn."

"Hmm. Who does that remind me off?"

"Me, stubborn? What are you talking about?" She said pulling a face at him, "Anyway as I'm here you could let me look round couldn't you?"

Leo inspected her face. The look of pure innocence on it was suspicious enough. He had a feeling that she had more than looking around in mind.

"No you can't talk to the outlaw we just caught."

"What makes you think I want to do that?" She said sweetly.

"Felix told me all about it." Leo said simply.

Frankie sighed. Felix and his big mouth. Leo had been like a father to her since she was very young. He always seemed to be trying to stop her from having fun or causing mischief. Although sometimes he could be right, not that it usually stopped her.

"Look I'll be quick, I just need to have a quick chat with him. You can stand guard and tell me if anyone's coming."

Leo looked at her carefully. He knew this was probably a stupid thing to do but a couple of minutes couldn't hurt. Anyway, if he didn't, she'd probably come back later, once he'd gone, and charm one of the other guards into letting her in, and they might not put her safety before theirs as he would. He sighed resigned.

"Fine, but make it quick. And if you get us in trouble I'll kill you." He said, "That is if the Sheriff doesn't get there first."

Frankie squealed with delight and rushed towards him. She flung her arms round his neck and gave him a quick peck on the cheek.

"Which cells he's in?" She asked.

Leo pointed at the large cell at the end of the corridor. Frankie blew him a kiss then made her way to it.

As she drew closer she saw a figure huddled in the corner of the cell. Relief washed over her as she saw it was Much, not Allan. She instantly felt guilty as she saw what a terrible state he was in. His clothes were ripped and bloody and his face was purple and swollen as if he had suffered a dreadful beating. Which, she reflected, he probably had. His eyes were shut and she hoped he wasn't asleep.

"Much! Much!" She hissed at him.

She saw him stir slightly.

"Much!" She repeated slightly louder.

He sat bolt upright, instantly alert, expecting another beating. When he saw it wasn't coming he sagged in relief and his eyelids drooped shut.

"Much don't go back to sleep. Much!" She snapped.

He opened his eyes again and fixed them on Frankie. Recognition flickered in his eyes as he realised who was there.

"Frankie?" He muttered weakly.

"Much, are you okay?" She asked worried.

Much managed to drag himself over to the bars and Frankie knelt down so they were on the same level. She gasped. He looked much worse up close. His face was a mixture of blues and purples and was swollen so badly that he could hardly open one eye.

"What happened to you?" She whispered.

"I was .... kidnapped when we ... ambushed the carriage ... The gold ... is still here ... failed." He said brokenly, closing his eyes again after the last word.

"Much stay with me." She said and he opened his eyes again, "So the gold is still at the castle. Well first things first, we have to find a way to get you out of here."

Just then there were footsteps on the stairs behind them.

"Frankie the Sheriff and Sir Gisborne are coming. You need to go." Leo whispered at her.

"Robin." Much groaned, "Go to ... Robin."

"I will." Frankie whispered, grasping his arm through the bars reassuringly, "We're going to get you out of here."

She stood up and made her way swiftly over to the stairs. But there was no way out that way as the Sheriff and Gisborne were almost at the bottom. Frankie looked panicked at Leo who jerked his head at the other end of the corridor. Frankie hurried down the dungeon corridor and hid behind a protruding wall. She held her breath as the Sheriff and Gisborne arrived in the dungeons.

"Ahh Leo my man. We'd like to see our new guest if you please." The Sheriff said.

Frankie peeked out from her hiding place to see her uncle and Gisborne's retreating backs. She waited till they were right by Much's cell. Leo gestured to her. She moved out of her hiding place slowly, careful not to make any noise.

"Go." Leo whispered urgently at her, "And be careful!"

"I always am." She replied with a cheeky smile, then ran swiftly up the stairs out of the dungeons.