~xxvi~
Keep Me Near

"No!"

Eyes snapping open at hearing the yell from the next room, she lowered the knife she had reflexively drawn from behind her pillow and gave a quiet groan as she rubbed her eyes with the side of her left hand. Not again, she thought bitingly.

Slipping out of bed, she lit a candle and made her way to vacate her quiet bedroom to poke her head into his room to see him sitting at the edge of his bed with two fistfuls of his dark hair in his hands he had lifted to shield his eyes from whatever devils he had imagined… She shuffled into the room to place her candle on a small table by his bed and crouch on her knees before him, lifting a hand to gently grip his right knee with a patient and tired light in her blue irises that met his widened and somewhat bloodshot eyes that were a darker shade of blue when he lowered his fisted hands. "Guy, it's all right." She murmured quietly, letting him close his tired eyes only to give a shaky exhale and then open them even as they dropped to slowly focus on the pale grey color of her gown. "S' just a dream." She added in a vain attempt to ease his mind.

"Not even you could hope to help me out of this hell…" Guy mused grimly, looking into her paler blue eyes from under his brow.

Ella valiantly fought the urge to make him see reason as she knew he was only saying that because he was tired, and she glanced away to softly exhale. "Come on, let's try to get some sleep." She coaxed, straightening to then shuffle to the other side of his bed and join him. She gave a quiet sigh when he reluctantly joined her, gingerly and gently holding his hand as she sought sleep once again, looking at his hand in her grasp with fondness before she closed her eyes and allowed a small smile when feeling his longer fingers squeeze her hand before she slipped away into a dreamless darkness.

Air that clung to the thrown projectile made a whizzing sound, before a shallow 'thunk' hummed softly in the mid-morning air.

Looking on the knife she had thrown to see it had made a direct hit with the fixed point, she smiled a little; her aim hadn't lost its edge one bit. She broke away from where she had been standing to retrieve her knives, yanking them from the various points on her training dummy, before looking up at the manor and allowing a soft sigh to escape her.

It had been around five months or so since their venture to the Holy Land, and she would admit she was not in the greatest of moods since then, but if she were to be honest… He had it worse than her.

Their first month back he would startle awake, as if a nightmare had sought to drag him into the deepest depths of madness, and often she would be the one to bring him back to bed and into a dreamless slumber.

Both of their hands had been stained that day, and he was more haunted by it than she… It nearly broke her heart to watch him suffer, and she felt helpless because of it.

She almost did not want to return inside, and had entertained the thought of visiting her mare in the stables, but she cared too much for him to be cowardly. She made herself enter the front room through the main door, and she shook her head to air out her black hair, before trodding up the stairs to see if he had awakened yet.

Another night of dreamless sleep had given him cause to regain his sleep up in his room.

She knocked once on the open door, and at seeing he didn't stir she entered his room, pulling her hair free of the messy braid she had done it up in earlier for a bit of practice. She looked on his resting form and was reminded momentarily of the night she had patched him up after his skirmish with Hood, and a soft huff passed through her nostrils at seeing that he actually looked peaceful; she just hoped he had gotten the rest he needed.

Her slender fingers reached to gently brush through his black locks he had let grow within the last half-year, and her eyes softened even if for a moment, before she stiffened as just her light touch caused him to rouse; his blue eyes snapped open.

Before she could register what happened, she was yanked onto the bed and pinned by his larger body, and she froze for a moment as his small curved dagger was bared against her throat in threat. She met his sharpened and disgruntled blue glare, and blinked once to recognize the state she was in, before calming under him. "Suppose you didn't get much sleep after all." She breathed quietly.

Guy blinked a couple of times before recognizing it was not an assailant he had pinned but his lover, and he released a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding, drawing his knife away from her neck. "Is knocking not more suitable?" He returned with a catty edge to his low voice, letting her shy away so she sat before him and let her legs dangle a little over the edge.

Ella refrained from rolling her eyes and instead shook her head. "I did knock, because I thought you were still sleeping." She replied, watching him rub his hand over his face, and a soft frown tugged at the corners of her lips.

"Didn't knock hard enough, then…" Guy mused, catching her frown and the part of him that had softened because of her disliked that frown, and he glanced away, "I did not get as much sleep as you would think." Again.

Her frown faltered a smidge to make way for that warm manner she looked at him in her eyes, and she smiled with a wry and soft scoff. "You'll ruin your looks, you know, with those bags under your eyes. Can't expect me to look pretty for the both of us, can you?" She lightly jested.

A likewise-wry smirk ghosted his lips at her attempt to be light, and he met her stare, blue meeting blue. "Doubt you're even trying, at this point." He returned, seeing her smile widen a degree as her cheeks colored a little.

She lifted a hand to brush her fingers through his black hair again, glad to see the slight softening in his eyes at her gesture; she thought to break the distance between them when suddenly hearing wind cling to a flying projectile that came from his window… "Get down!" She yanked him by his tunic to lay flat ontop of her as she covered his head with her arm.

He lifted his head as he heard the soft vibration that shortly followed the arrow that had been stuck into his headboard, looking down at her as she had saved him from nearly losing his head. "Ella…" He began to ask if she was unhurt.

"GISBORNE!"

She gave a wry bark of laughter at recognizing that bellowing voice, a bitter light formed in her blue stare as she looked up at the arrow. "Just when I thought it was safe to breathe free again…" She muttered.

Guy's brows drew together as he looked at the arrow again, before he rolled off the bed to yank his boots on. "It was only a matter of time, wasn't it?" He rumbled.

"I would ask for you to not try and kill each other, but that seems rather pointless, doesn't it?" Ella wondered blandly as he grabbed his sword from its place next to his bedpost, and she followed at his heels as he strode out of the room while fastening the belt at his waist. "Guy…" She began.

"I will handle him on my own, Ella." Guy stopped her as they neared the end of the stairwell that led to the side entrance, turning to look at her.

Opening her mouth for a moment to protest, she then closed it and exhaled shortly, fisting a hand in his tunic collar to press a quick and firm kiss to his lips; she drew away to nod her head. "Don't do anything too foolish, you big lug." She warned.

Internally shaking out of the mild surprise at sharing such a quick kiss with her, Guy acknowledged the worry she held in her stare before it fell away to be replaced with confidence, and he nodded back. "I'll remember that." He then turned to exit the hall with his archer shortly following.

Ella looked at the irate outlaw and briefly arched a brow at seeing he positively looked like hell warmed over, watching he and her lover clash as their respective swords screeched and sang with each blow before Robin sent a well-placed kick at Guy's belly and knocked him away and to the crowd that had come to watch the spectacle. She looked at two of his guards as they came running to the scene while Robin backed Guy farther away from the house and onto a platform in the center of the village used for hangings, and she placed an arm up for them to halt. "Wait… Now!" She ordered while keeping her keen eyes on both men, lowering her arm as both officers sprinted past her to intervene as Robin punted Guy away once again, looking away from the officers and the outlaw as he was caught between them to spot Guy as he scrambled away from the trio to snatch one of the children from the crowd.

"Damn… Guy!" She shouted as she ran to him and heard the girl yelp in fear while he carried her over his shoulder down to the ravine in the forest, willing her feet to go faster as Robin was in the lead and she then found herself running at his heels. "You do know this is your fault!" She said as she found herself at his right.

Robin ignored her as he was first to skid to a halt while Guy took a few dangerous steps closer to the ravine. "Let her go, Gisborne, and I'll drop the weapon." He said.

"You first, then." Guy drawled.

"Guy, come on, she's just a child…" Ella breathed as she looked at him with worry.

"Stay out of this, Isabella." Guy commanded, oblivious to the wince she exhibited at his tone, as he then hoisted the girl to threateningly let her dangle over the edge.

"Guy, please!" Ella declared exasperatedly as Robin then hastily removed his sword along with his bow and quiver from his person.

Guy then let the girl go, only for the girl to be ushered to her parents by Ella with a murmured apology, to face Robin as both men circled each other.

"The time's come for you to pay for what you did…" Robin growled.

Guy exclaimed, "It was you… you forced me to do it!"

"You murdered her! She never loved you, you couldn't have had her!" Robin shouted.

"She loved me!" Snapped Guy.

"She was my wife!" Snarled Robin before Guy lunged at him, and both men hit the ground in a mess of punches and kicks, before Guy knocked Robin down particularly hard on a flat stone. Robin started to see stars as he regained his breath, his head spinning as Guy loomed over him and yanked his talisman from his neck, hoisting him up from the ground to then carry him to the ravine and toss him over the edge so he fell into the river below.

Ella gave a shallow exhale as Guy gave a shout of triumph and she perked up when hearing a cry of 'I'll kill you' from behind, only to tackle Much as he had appeared from the back of the crowd to rush to avenge his friend, slapping the sword out of his grip and pinning him with the side of her left arm at his throat.

"I am sorry for this… Lads!" She grunted when he squirmed under her and threatened to punt her off, hurriedly getting away as another two officers descended on the blonde and hoisted him by his arms to his feet. "Take him to Nottingham!" She ordered sharply, rubbing her jaw with a hand as the protesting Much was dragged away from the ravine. She looked at the villagers as they soon dispersed without being told to do so, and exhaled only to turn to him as he had straightened to his feet with the talisman in hand. "Are you all right?" She asked as she approached his side.

Guy turned to her and nodded, "Loads better… I told you not to interfere." He breathed as a scowl began to adorn his brow.

Ella ignored his scowl as she lifted a hand to brush a few locks of hair from his handsome face and huffed. "You're welcome… Don't do that again, though; you had me worried. I thought you would actually drop the girl." She lightly slapped his cheek before retrieving her hand and turned away to return to Nottingham.

Guy rubbed his cheek before he followed her leave, "I still retained some measure of sanity." He remarked.

"And for God's sake, deal with Hood… He's become a royal pain in the prince's backside." Sir Jasper clipped.

"Not anymore is he." Guy declared as he looked between the Sheriff and Prince's messenger, adding with finality, "Hood is dead."

"Ah, Gisborne!" Sir Jasper nodded to the nobleman as he began to sit back down, watching him descend the stairs with the markswoman at his heels, "and the Lady Gisborne, tagging along as usual." He added.

Ella shot him a mild look before she folded her arms at her chest. "Lovely to see you as well, Sir Jasper."

"What do you mean by that, Gisborne?" Vaisey asked of the nobleman.

Guy repeated, "I'm the one who killed him… Hood is dead, by these hands; look!" He pulled the talisman he had yanked off the outlaw's neck to drop it onto the table between both men.

Vaisey snatched the talisman off the table to see he was indeed telling the truth, slightly gaping at the news. "Oh Gisborne… this is glorious news, for such a glorious day! What a good day indeed!" He exclaimed as he all-but embraced his employees and was oblivious to the wrinkled-nose expression on the archer's face as she was sandwiched between them.

"Not to nitpick, but we've been here before, haven't we? I believe celebrations should be held off until there is actual proof, don't you?" Sir Jasper pointed out as he stepped up to the odd trio.

Ella wormed her way out of being in Vaisey's grip and looked to the royal messenger bird, "I assure you, sir, that Guy killed him; ask the villagers of Locksley if you must, but he did rid Prince John of that outlaw!" She stated.

"That's all very well and good, my dearly deluded girl, but I am referring to physical evidence. Surely you know… a bit of blood splatter, a missing limb… a body?" Sir Jasper returned coolly.

Ella shot him a stinging look with her general dislike only intensifying as she looked at both Guy and Vaisey. "Well, it's actually a hilarious thing, really…" She began.

After getting a decent scolding from the Sheriff, both she and the nobleman set out to search for the evidence needed, scouring the forest as well as the river that cut through it like a long blade wound.

"One of the days you should've kept your mouth shut, jolly good job, Bells…" Ella muttered under her breath as she had left the soldiers to search one end of the river and she took to the far end, her bow and quiver slung over her shoulder while she kicked herself for having tried her hand at going toe to toe against Sir Jasper and his slippery tongue.

To say she disliked him would be a vast understatement!

She exhaled at coming up with nothing after looking for a solid two hours before lifting her head at hearing him speaking not far from where she was, and she followed the sound of his voice until she came upon the nobleman only to lower her bow at seeing a brunette man clothed in gray robes and the nobleman with his sword bared on reflex against the clergyman.

"… Can I offer you help, or a confession even?" The stranger asked as he attempted to place a placating hand on the other's shoulder.

The nobleman flinched away and eyed the monk as he replied, "No… I need to keep searching. That'll soothe my mind." He drew away to continue along the riverbank.

Clearing her throat, the archer stepped into the small open area and glanced over at her lover before she looked on the clergyman. "I don't suppose you've seen anything out of the ordinary around here, have you…?" She paused at hoping to get a name from the man.

Noticing the somewhat-indiscernible look the restless nobleman had for the woman, the stranger nodded to her, "Brother Tuck, milady. And no, I have not." He said.

"Thank you, Brother Tuck. Please forgive my husband's rudeness; we've had a bit of a rough day." Perhaps it was her sharp eyesight that led her to think this, but she could tell that he was being dishonest… Maybe he did know, and maybe he didn't.

"Yes, a rough day indeed; we must continue until the day is done…" Guy agreed as he reluctantly sheathed his sword and gestured she join him; "Come along, darling." He added.

Ella smiled at him and nodded her head to the clergyman as she joined her companion, letting him take her hand before they continued on.

"I had it sorted."

"Of course, and you didn't look like you'd just survived a fall down the Thames."

"… Least I didn't open my big mouth earlier."

Ella started to open her mouth to rebut only to then instinctively slug his shoulder.

Guy winced, as it had felt like years since she had hit him, and he looked down at her to notice her lips were pursed. "What, pray, was that for?" He asked with an arched brow.

"To remind you that you're not eternally damned as you've been led to think…" Ella huffed as she met his stare for a moment, before she looked away and added as an afterthought, "Not to me." She glanced up at him before turning to return to Locksley with her bow on hand.

Guy watched her go for a moment with his eyes digging into her back as her words left a resounding air in their wake before he rubbed his hand over his face again before following her leave.

"Mum, there's a man who says he's here to see Sir Guy." The servant girl said.

Her brows drew together into a slight frown, and the archer looked up from scrubbing the mud off her boots from the day's events. "Send him in, then." She said, earning a nod from the girl before she left the doorway of the side room to shortly return, reappearing with a familiar clergyman at her side.

"Oh, Brother Tuck… This is a surprise indeed. What brings you here?" She straightened to smile politely at the brunette, gesturing he enter to take a seat at the table she sat by.

"I can't stay long, I'm afraid, but I have some news that might be interesting to you and your husband." Tuck said as a frown slightly tugged at his brow.

Ella raised a brow in return, "Suppose you should know my name as well, as it seems I failed to give it to you earlier when we met, my apologies. My name is Ella… And if I may, what sort of news do you have?" She asked.

"I have this." Tuck withdrew something small from his robes, presenting it to the archer to reveal a finely crafted silver ring with a gem in the center. "Found it along the river bank, along with Robin Hood's body… He was buried last night." He said, seeing her brows rise almost into her hairline as her blue eyes drifted between he and the ring. "His friends will meet today, at Dead Man's Crossing. You and your husband can arrest the remaining outlaws there." He finished.

Ella silently gulped as the news processed, and she nodded, looking at his brown eyes as her brow slightly crinkled. "I don't mean to be rude, but how do I know you aren't lying?" She asked quietly.

"I am a simple friar, traveling about England… It is only fair to be on the side of justice, is it not?" Tuck replied, acknowledging the analytical light that came to life in her piercing stare, and seeing that she was not merely a pretty face.

If anything, this woman was not one to have the wool pulled over her eyes.

"And I am a simple marksman commissioned by Sir Guy of Gisborne and the Sheriff of Nottingham to help instill justice… But I digress." Ella folded her arms at her chest before the analytical light faltered a smidge in her stare and she nodded slightly at the rest of the house. "If you want to speak with the lord of the house, I can fetch him for you." She proposed.

Tuck followed her nod before he sported a polite smile and then straightened from his chair, "No, thank you, I believe I've taken up enough of your time." He said, adding, "Good day, milady." He left the room to be on his way.

Ella watched him go before she stood from her chair to relay the news to her 'husband'. At locating him in one of the upper side rooms sprawled on a bench with his eyes closed, she knocked on the doorway. "Brother Tuck was just in." She said.

"You sent him away, I hope; we've no money to give to the Church…" Guy said as he looked at the nearby wall at an upside-down angle, listening to the floorboards softly creak as she slipped into the room and approached him, until he was looking at her legs covered by her black breeches she never wore save for the house.

"Hood is dead, Guy… Tuck said he was buried in secret the night before, and he gave us a gracious tip: the remaining outlaws will be at Dead Man's Crossing at midday today." Ella answered with her arms folded at her chest and raised a brow as he snapped to and straightened from his position with a fluidity she blamed on his long legs, stiffening when he then pinned her so the fabric of her tunic was the only surface between her back and the wood, and slightly wincing before lifting her gaze to meet his to find hope having flickered to life behind the veil of doubt that shadowed his blue irises.

Guy ignored the shiver that raced down her arms at their proximity as he breathed, "You're sure of it, every word?"

Ella nodded. "It's the truth," she murmured, watching his eyes slowly brighten with hope, and her heart ached at his brightened blue eyes. She smiled fondly before shuffling away as he slackened his grasp to let her go, exhaling, "It's best to get some rest, love…" She added as she began to leave to retire.

"Ella." His larger hand caught her right sleeve, making her stop and look up at him with surprise in her blue eyes, before he briefly recalled her words near the river and he gave a squeeze on the green fabric of her tunic. "I must apologize, for what I said today… You only meant to help." He looked on his lover and momentarily noted her wavy mane of black hair that framed her face in that flattering way.

She smiled softly and shrugged a little, "There's nothing to forgive, Guy…" She trailed off when he slightly leaned in and crushed her lips with his, to which she swallowed her surprise and inhaled sharply before reciprocating as he pulled her close as her slender hands lifted to gingerly knot her fingers in his hair. She tasted his apology and his fears in each kiss, and she thought to draw away to verbally assure him that he would prevail and they would survive this, only to gasp slightly when he pinned her again and lifted her legs to drape over his hips with his longer fingers greedily clawing her thighs, receiving a reflexive moan from her. "G-Guy…!" She breathed before voicing another moan when he turned his attention to her neck.

He was not condemned in her mind; no he was confident, and strong, and wonderful… He was not damned.

Not to her.

Of course it wasn't surprising… why should it be?

First the execution of the remaining outlaws was 'conveniently' interrupted by the solar eclipse, Robin Hood miraculously arose when the moon passed away from shielding the sun… She recalled Tuck's words condemning the godless tyranny of Vaisey and Prince John as they went against God and England herself seemed to be enough of an indication that Hood had been spared for a reason.

Maybe it was never meant for them to prevail against Hood from the start…

"Don't just stand there, fire!" Sir Jasper commanded nearby, yanking her from her thoughts.

Ella drew the bowstring back, only to stop as Tuck shoved Jasper away to get the gold in his carriage and proceeded to chuck the bag up at the returned outlaw who loosed an arrow and made the bag rip open so gold coins scattered in the courtyard before he made his way down from the causeway. "You're not my superior, I'm so sorry." She said coolly as Sir Jasper picked himself up, and she wiggled her fingers in a wave at him.

Robin then rushed past her, causing her to turn and look at him as he drew a knife against Guy who was pinned to the door by a few arrows. "Guy!" She exclaimed.

"…I'm in hell." Guy said lamely as he met the outlaw's cold stare.

Robin replied stiffly, "then stay there!" He nicked the other's left cheek before turning away to leave the castle.

Ella watched him go before she jogged to her lover's side, yanking an arrow out before doing the same for the remaining three that had pinned him to the door, looking at him with worry, "Guy, are you all right…?" She asked.

"You pathetic mess." Vaisey said coldly, and the archer blinked a couple of times before recognizing she could relax again as Sir Jasper just left to return to London; she looked between Guy and Vaisey as the latter continued, "You're teetering towards the edge of failure, Gisborne, and I would suggest you don't fall off… If you value your worthless life, that is."

Guy inhaled, looking up at his employer from beneath his brow and his blue eyes were just as cold as he replied, "You know… I've finally come to the conclusion that I really don't like you."

"Well that's too bad, isn't it? What happened, did mean Robin Hood hurt our dear little Gizzy; can't have that, can we, Ella dear…?" Vaisey taunted.

Before she could react, Guy flipped the Sheriff onto his back with the scruff of his coat in a fisted hand as both men's stares were locked in a deadly hold.

"Atta boy, Gisborne, show some backbone; you'll need it! Hood spared your life so you could take his." Vaisey stated bitingly as the nobleman drew away to straighten.

Guy glowered at him for a moment longer before he approached the stairs and took her hand in his so both lovers left the hall in silence.

Ella looked up at him as one of the guards gave her the reins for Gem and she paused to ask, "Are you all right?" She met his stare that fell on hers and momentarily searched his gaze with concern.

"I've had worse…" Guy exhaled and glanced away to the gates, letting her mount her steed before he shortly joined her and held onto her hips as Gem cantered away from Nottingham. "You worry too much." He commented once they were approaching the forest.

Ella looked back at him with a slightly indignant expression, "Well forgive me for showing compassion…" She started to rebut.

"Isabella." Guy ignored the hunch in her shoulders at his interruption, and he squeezed her hips. "I'm sorry for worrying you… Again." Guy stated quietly, feeling her stiffen a smidge before she glanced up at him.

She closed her eyes and exhaled before smiling softly. "You do know I'm going to have to treat that cut." She reminded as she urged Gem onward.

"It doesn't hurt that bad…" He protested.

"Honestly…" She chuckled.

an: so season three started out a bit rocky, didn't it? i'm overall happy with this chap now that i edited a few things, per an anonymous request on tumblr mind you, and if you lot honestly feel like something else needs to be worked on in the other chapters then by all means message me. also i would like to point out that i don't regret the smut, you're welcome. and i'm also taking this moment to give a s/o to aliena wyvern and others who have been so supportive and left reviews in this story, thanks and lates! :)