"There's a spy."

Elizabeth startled as soon as she saw Marian sneak up on her in the garden. She had been hanging more washing out to dry when Lady Marian had decided to call on her. Lizzie took a moment to drop her hands to her hips as she moved to stand in front of Marian.

"What?" Lizzie wondered from her.

"Robin thinks there is a spy in his ranks," Marian whispered, looking around.

She knew that there were ears all around, even when Gisborne wasn't at the Manor. She could never be too careful.

Marian grimaced. "He says that Gisborne is always in front of him. He's positive that there is someone working with Gisborne and the Sheriff."

Elizabeth shook her head, knowing what this would entail. She would have to follow Gisborne to find this spy. A spy wasn't someone who he would meet in public. He wouldn't bring him to the Manor for prying eyes to see. No, Gisborne would keep his affairs private. Elizabeth was sure about that.

"And you want me to find the spy?" Elizabeth hissed as soon as she saw the look on Marian's face. "He hasn't brought anyone to the Manor. Is Hood sure he has a spy?"

"Positive," Marian nodded. "I am doing my best to find out who it could be, but I can make no promises."

"Nor can I," Elizabeth groaned. She had to admit that she grew tired of constantly spying on Guy. She had found no new information in the past few weeks, keeping herself hidden inside the Manor and doing the jobs required of her.

She had listened to Guy's triumphs and complaints, but she didn't take too much information in which she thought could be useful. Nothing had happened which he had told her of and she had not been at liberty to discuss anything with Marian.

"So we can agree on this?" Marian checked.

Lizzie arched her brow. "Have we disagreed on anything before?"

"Not a lot," Marian replied, eyeing Elizabeth with caution before she finally cracked and hit her hand against her hip. "Robin told me how you threatened him. He said that you were growing closer to Gisborne. I just don't want to see you get hurt by him."

"He won't hurt me," Elizabeth confidently said. "I have faith in him where people don't. He can change."

"Everyone can change," Marian agreed, "I just don't think he will choose to."

Elizabeth said nothing. She had grown used to people speaking against Gisborne that it failed to bother her anymore. So long as he did not hear then she was happy about that.

"No one knows," Elizabeth replied. "I should go. I need to help Sarah in the kitchen."

She began to walk back towards the door, her hands laced in front of her. She kept her hands together, her palms sweating as she did so.

...

"Where are you going?" Elizabeth wondered from Gisborne that night as he shrugged into his coat and looked over to Elizabeth as she leant against the banister at the bottom of the stairs.

She had one elbow resting on the wooden handrail, her hand holding her head as she jutted a hip out and looked at him with wonder. Was he going to meet his spy? He rarely went out at night unless he had to. He spent most of his days in Nottingham and then his nights with Elizabeth as she read.

"I have business at Nottingham," Gisborne told her.

"In the Castle?" Lizzie wondered from him as he moved over to her, his chin tilted back as he groaned. He dropped his hands to hold her hips, drawing them against his as she moved her arms to dangle around his neck.

"No," he shook his head. "There are some guards who I have to see in the town."

"Oh," Elizabeth said, slightly shocked with his answer. Now she was convinced that there was something wrong. She didn't want to think anything, but his reluctance to reply to her gave her cause for concern.

Perhaps there was some spy? Perhaps there was someone against Hood?

"I should be back before late," Gisborne promised her. "I will come and find you when I return."

"Yes," Elizabeth agreed, kissing him swiftly on the lips before pulling back, refusing to let him take their actions further.

She wandered back into the kitchen, listening out for him as he left. It was only then when she took a deep breath and rushed to the stables, grabbing her cloak on the way. She found her horse and climbed onto it. She didn't care that there was no saddle as she straddled the creature. She forgot the etiquette of side saddle as she left the stable doors open.

She knew that Gisborne would be further in front of her as his horse had been tied to a post straight outside of the Manor. She could vaguely make out his shape in the darkness, but she was well aware that she had to keep a safe distance.

Her heart was in her mouth for the entirety of the journey as they passed through the town wall. She slid down from her horse as soon as she wandered through the town and saw Guy enter a tavern. It was only as soon as he had disappeared into the room did she notice that it was her parent's former tavern.

Someone had taken over it. She winced inwardly and gulped loudly.

She tied her horse down the alley at the side, running her hand down the creature's mane before she dared to move into the tavern, her hood covering her face as she went.

She walked through the men who were too drunk to take note of her. Her parents had always kept a private room off the bar, but no one went into it. They used it to store deliveries which they received, but it was used for nothing else. Elizabeth looked for any sign of Gisborne's black locks, but she could see nothing.

Slowly, she moved over to the door and pressed her ear against the wood, trying to listen in.

"Can I help you, dear?"

Elizabeth startled and turned her head over her shoulder to see a blonde woman with a hand on her hip, her eyes narrowed as she glowered at Elizabeth.

"No," Elizabeth responded. "I just...well..."

"So why are you loitering near that door?" the tavern girl wondered from her, knowing that there was something odd going on. "Are you trying to spy?"

"Is there anything to spy on?" Elizabeth responded, doing her best to keep her face hidden from the woman. The woman looked at her with distain before she moved away and left Elizabeth alone. Lizzie slowly moved over to a table and took a seat, waiting to see if Gisborne left the room with anyone.

She sat by the fire, her hand holding her chin as the darkness shrouded her. She looked around for a while until he finally emerged. Keeping one hand on her hood and the other in her lap, she only peered over at Gisborne through her lashes.

It was only then when she saw him speaking with the blonde tavern woman. Elizabeth wanted to continue looking at the pair of them, only to find herself distracted by the hooded man who left behind Gisborne, rushing to the doorway and making his escape. Lizzie tried to catch a good glance at him, but he was keeping his face firmly hidden, stopping her from finding out who he was.

Lizzie was about to move and follow him. She stood up only to find a tall body blocking her way. She bumped against the leather clad man and she knew that she had to think up a good lie this time. She gulped and looked up to Gisborne, her face emotionless as he looked back at her with the same wonder.

"Elizabeth," he whispered her name. "What are you doing here?"

"I...I..."

Guy kept silent, sinking down in the seat which was next to her vacant one. He folded his arms over his chest before he motioned to the chair which she had been sat in. He watched her as she delicately rested her hands on her lap and looked down at them.

"Speak," he urged her, leaning forwards and resting his hand on her thigh, his grip tight as he did so.

"I followed you," Elizabeth admitted to him. "I...I was worried..."

"And why were you worried?" Gisborne wondered.

Elizabeth inwardly cursed as she did her best to think of a good excuse. She knew she was running out of time. He would catch her out eventually, but she couldn't let that happen.

"I was worried," Elizabeth admitted to him quickly. "Ever since I saw the Sheriff...ever since Hood tried to kill you...I knew that there was no one who...who would care for you. I want to be there for you, Guy."

Gisborne's upper lip curled and he wondered if he could believe what she was saying. She needed to make her story more believable if he was to stop questioning her. She slowly leaned forwards, her own hands moving to his chest. She doubted anyone would pay them any attention as alcohol remained in full flow.

"I worry constantly," she said. "When I see you go wandering off in the middle of the night...only to say that you are meeting with some men...well...I worry what could happen if those men turn against you like Hood has done."

"Hood has just a band of outlaws," Gisborne reminded her.

She shook her head and ran her hands up to his cheeks, bringing her chair closer to his. "And the Sheriff would have let him kill you. You do not have the Sheriff and his protection. You may be an excellent swordsman, but...well..."

Elizabeth allowed him to make his own mind up on the matter. "And then I saw the tavern. I had no idea you were in here," she lied. "I just came in..."

Gisborne inwardly inhaled and shook his head. "It was your parent's tavern," he recalled. How could he have forgotten?

Elizabeth openly allowed her eyes to water as she nodded weakly in agreement with him. She rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand, slowly standing up and looking down at Robin. She didn't know how much more she could handle. How much more spying could she go through to no prevail?

"I've lost them and sitting here reminds me of them," Elizabeth spoke clearly. "I cannot lose anyone else."

Her eyes bore down into his and Gisborne couldn't help but fall for her story. He stood up and took hold of her hand, holding it tightly in his own before he kissed the back of her hand tenderly. She smiled up at him, grateful that he had not caught her.

"I cannot lose you," she added on and Gisborne looked shocked at her words.

He smirked and nodded.

"I will not lose you," Gisborne promised her weakly. "But you are not to follow me anymore. I can handle myself, Elizabeth. I do not need you to fight my battles."

Elizabeth was hasty to agree, kissing him on the cheek before she allowed him to lead her from the tavern. It was only once she was outside did she see the hooded figure who had been with Gisborne as he spoke with another man. She took in his face as he looked at Gisborne and then to her.

She did not know his name, but she could remember his boyish grin and the gleam in his eyes as he thought her to be nothing but Gisborne's latest conquest.

...

A/N: Thank you to everyone reading and reviewing! Sorry that the updates aren't coming as fast but I hope you'll stick with me