"Guy!" Elizabeth roared as soon as she saw Marian being dragged away down the street. She looked out of the window, peering onto the street as Marian was ushered onto a horse, a man in white stood by her side as the Sheriff went about climbing onto his own horse.
Elizabeth stood on her tiptoes before she felt Guy's hands clasp hold of her hips, drawing her back into the room.
"Do not stand so close to the edge woman," he demanded from her. "You gave me a fright! I thought you were about to fall to your death."
"No," Elizabeth shook her head back and forth. "Where is the Sheriff taking Marian? Why are you still here?"
The morning had been warm and there had been no movement until that moment. Guy turned Elizabeth around in his hold, looking at her with a vacant expression. It tended to be the expression he wore when he did his best to hide something from her. It just so happened Elizabeth was not someone to hide secrets from with ease.
She took a second to run her hands down his shoulders, doing her best to ease him into telling her what was wrong so far. He kept quiet, taking a deep breath before he moved his own hands to cup the back of her neck, tenderly holding her in place.
"The Sheriff discovered what Marian had asked of me," Guy informed his wife. "He has sent her to the desert."
"Why?" Elizabeth responded, shaking her head back and forth as she tried to make sense of what he was telling her. "What is in the desert? Does he intend to kill her?"
"He intends to leave her in the desert and allow her to die, yes," Gisborne spoke back. "I have been with him this morning. He believes it to be necessary to lure Hood out from his hiding spot by leaving Marian in the desert. It is an ambush because of the plot which I foiled."
"No," Elizabeth snapped at Guy, taking hold of his hands and holding them tightly in hers. "We cannot let him do this, Guy."
"I told you last night that I have done all that I am willing to do, Elizabeth," Gisborne spoke hastily, pushing his hands from hers before running one through his dark black hair. "I can risk no more. Marian should never have been so reckless. She should have kept quiet. I have done what I could. I have done what you think to be the right thing."
"It is the right thing." Elizabeth said through gritted teeth. "Opinion does not matter. This is the correct thing to do. We need to help Marian. We cannot let the Sheriff kill her."
"And Hood?"
"To hell with Hood," Elizabeth threw out, knowing that Gisborne cared less for him than anyone could ever know. "We need to do the right thing. You know it as well as I do, Guy. Please, you have to see that."
"No," Guy shook his head back and forth. "I will do what I can, but I am not risking my life for Hood's life. I make you no promises, Elizabeth."
Elizabeth didn't know if he thought that would soothe her, but he had not done a very good job. She kept quiet and nodded her head slowly, pretending to be happy with his words, regardless of how much she detested them. Gisborne bent down to kiss her on the lips, his hand stroking her cheek as he did so.
"You are to stay here," he whispered softly to her, his breath tickling her cheek as he did so. "I am serious, Elizabeth. You are not to run off and attempt to play the hero. The Sheriff does not need another reason to have your life and take you from me."
"I promise," Elizabeth lied to him and Guy raked a hand gently through her blonde hair, parting the locks under his roaming fingers as he pushed them behind her shoulders.
"There are guards downstairs who will see to anything you need," Gisborne replied. "I should not be gone for long."
"Where will you be?"
"Wherever the Sheriff commands me to be," Gisborne told her. "I shall not kill the King willingly...but...if it...I will not risk my own life or your life for him. I am not willing to do that for anymore, regardless of whether he is the King or not."
Elizabeth knew that there was no point in trying to change his mind. She knew that he wouldn't listen to her. She would go and do what she could once his watchful gaze left her.
"I love you," Elizabeth whispered, her voice truthful as Gisborne kissed her again, smirking as he did so. She smiled gently and winced inwardly as his lips left hers and the warmth of his body had disappeared from her. She watched him leave the room and only then did she plot of a way to escape the guards who kept the house protected.
...
Elizabeth inwardly cursed as she kept the white cloak close around her body. She was sweating more than she thought possible in the heat as she wandered aimlessly through the streets, keeping her face covered in her hood and her eyes on the ground. She had managed to follow Gisborne so far, watching as he bought a horse and then made his escape. She cursed herself for being so slow.
Her knees were covered in dust after she had fallen from the short distance between the window and the ground. She had managed to get down to the first floor and climb down onto a ledge before facing the jump. She had locked the door to her chamber, claiming that she had been in need of rest and had developed a headache.
"Dear God," Elizabeth complained as she came to the edge of the town.
She wandered around the walls, noting how the streets had grown quiet in comparison to how they had been. She looked around multiple times, doing her best to find someone she vaguely recognised. She could scarcely wander out into the desert in an attempt to find Marian.
She had to hope that Guy had done that. Elizabeth wasn't one percent sure why she had decided to run away.
She was useless where she was. She was serving no purpose to anyone. How did she think she could help? How did she think she could save Marian in the middle of the desert with no means of finding a horse or finding her way?
She had been foolish.
It was only as she looked out into the vast desert did she see the sight of horses galloping towards her. She narrowed her eyes, noting a tall man clad in black leather on one of the creatures. She cursed under her breath and hid around the corner, drawing a deep breath before realising why this area of the city was deserted. She closed her eyes as the horses moved past her, no one noticing her sudden appearance. She slipped along the wall, hiding around the corner before peering out to see Guy and the Sheriff along with another man.
"Gisborne, you're with me!" The Sheriff bellowed to Guy and Elizabeth saw them advance towards where she stood.
Guy groaned as the Sheriff gave the instruction, briefly looking over to where they were intending to hide. It was only when he thought he saw a swish of blonde hair run down the alleyway did he shake his head. Her image haunted him wherever he went. Elizabeth had that effect on him. He stood by the Sheriff around the corner, a bow and arrow being handed to him as they noted the sight of the King and Hood approach.
Elizabeth wandered down the alleyways, her hood falling down to her shoulders as she did so. She snuck out around, constantly checking around each corner as she did so. She scarcely noted the man who stood on the building across from her. She inhaled sharply and turned another corner, the sight of a flowing cloak causing her to jump and her breathing faltered.
"Elizabeth."
She winced as soon as she heard his voice. She turned her head over her shoulder, looking over to where Gisborne stood. His sword was held in his hand as he advanced towards her. It was only when he shouted her name did the archer on top of the roof release his arrow.
Gisborne continued moving closer to her, his eyes narrow and his hands balled into fists as anger coursed through his veins at the sight of his wife in the midst of the battle. But all of that evaporated as soon as he saw the arrow pierce through her skin. Gisborne's sword cluttered down to the floor as Elizabeth felt the sharp pain through her side. She looked down slowly, her eyes moving from Guy's to the arrow which was protruding from her stomach.
"No!" Gisborne roared as soon as he could find his voice. He was behind Elizabeth as she stumbled backwards, his arms encircling her waist as he helped lower her down to the ground, cradling her in his lap and against his chest.
She moved her hands to her stomach, her body filling with pain as Guy held her upright, his breath hitting her cheek as he looked up to the roof, the archer who had been stood there gone without a sighting.
"Guy...it..."
"Sh," Guy soothed his wife quickly, pushing her hair from her face and pressing his lips against her forehead. He knew that he had to get her away from the battlefield. He knew that he had to find somewhere safe for her to hide.
"You're going to be fine," he promised her.
"I can't feel anything," Elizabeth suddenly said, her body going into a state of shock as Gisborne shook his head back and forth, failing to notice Hood round the corner and move towards them with haste. Robin looked down at Elizabeth as a small tear fell down Gisborne's cheek.
"I have to move you," Gisborne told her. "I need to find help."
"You cannot move her," Hood suddenly snapped at Guy and Gisborne looked up, his glare returning at the sight of Robin Hood knelt besides Elizabeth. "You will aggravate the wound further. Your best bet is to pull the arrow out."
"She will bleed," Gisborne snapped, Elizabeth's body vibrating against his as he snarled. "Do you want her to die?"
"No," Robin snapped back. "But your game is over now, Gisborne. You're not getting out of this mess. I'll help save her life, but not for you."
"And how do you suggest you will do that?" Gisborne wondered, sniffing loudly before he heard the Sheriff yell.
"Gisborne! We need to go!"
Guy shook his head, refusing to leave without Elizabeth. His wife looked up, her eyes shimmering and fear radiating through her as Guy laid a hand on her cheek, scarcely noticing the outlaws who stood behind Robin.
"I won't leave you," Guy promised her. "I swear to you, Lizzie."
"Gisborne!" The Sheriff roared once more and Guy ignored him again. Elizabeth was his main concern. She always would be.
"Djaq," Robin suddenly shouted her name and a woman stepped forwards, kneeling on the ground and looking to Elizabeth's wound, nodding quickly before she wrapped her hands around the end of the arrow. Guy looked at her and shook his head.
"What are you doing?" Gisborne hissed.
"She will die if the arrow is left in," Djaq responded. "You need to hold something on the wound to stem the bleeding. Only then can we move her and treat the wound."
"Robin," a stern voice called over from the side and Guy turned his head over his shoulder, the sight of the King entering his vision as he did so. Gisborne took a deep breath, knowing that he was now in trouble.
He should never have come. He should have left Elizabeth in England. He should have stayed with her and ran somewhere. Anywhere. He would do anything to remove himself from this mess.
Elizabeth saw the fear in his eyes and she was about to soothe him before she yelled out in pain, the arrow being pulled from her stomach as she closed her eyes and Gisborne's eyes watered further as Marian appeared behind the King, her hands over her mouth as she did so.
"Elizabeth...stay with me...wake up..."
"We need to move her." Djaq said. "I need pain relievers...herbs to disinfect the bleeding..."
"Sir Guy of Gisborne," the King spoke Guy's name as Robin prised Elizabeth from his arms, gently picking her up whilst Much kept his disregarded fabric on her wound, pressing down tightly on it. "You attempted to take my life. You and the Sheriff."
Guy shook his head back and forth. He did not need this right now. He was an emotional wreck, anyone could see that.
"My King," Marian suddenly spoke. "Perhaps this is a conversation best saved for when Sir Guy's wife has been tended to?"
The King blinked profusely, looking down at the blonde woman Robin was holding. He looked Robin evenly in the eye and the outlaw nodded in agreement with his King. Robin detested Gisborne. He detested everything which he stood for, but he could relate to what he was feeling at that moment in time. Elizabeth was Gisborne's everything, much like Marian was Robin's everything.
"You can punish him once he has seen to his wife," Robin promised the King. "He has no intention of escaping."
The King nodded reluctantly and Guy took Elizabeth back from Hood, silently urging for her to open her eyes and look at him again like she used to.
...
Sir Guy of Gisborne was not a stranger to prisons. He had been in the dungeon of Nottingham Castle more times than he cared to admit. He knew what they were like, but never before did he think he would find himself stood in a chamber acting as a cell. Guards had been posted outside the doors and Hood continuously checked up on him.
Each time Robin moved into the room he would find the same thing; Gisborne laid on the bed with Elizabeth cradled against his chest. And each time Robin would keep silent, looking at the sight and then moving away.
Gisborne's execution was imminent as soon as his wife woke up. He was to be left in the desert for his traitorous behaviour. The thought of death did not scare Gisborne. It was the thought of leaving Elizabeth behind which scared him. The King still lived and continued his fight in the Holy Land. Gisborne was trapped.
It wasn't until Elizabeth awoke one morning did he feel relief flood through his veins. He smiled gently to her as her eyes fluttered open and she tried to find her surroundings, her grip increasing on Guy.
"You are safe," Guy promised her. "You've been sleeping for hours on end, only briefly opening your eyes and drinking water. The wound has knocked you back."
Elizabeth groaned; a slight pain in her stomach as she tried to sit up but failed. Guy shook his head, holding her tightly against him, his lips pressing into her hair as he did so. She winced and took deep breaths, trying to calm herself.
"Where are we?" she managed to ask and Guy reluctantly leant over her body to grab the goblet of water on the table next to her.
"We are in the King's residence," Gisborne said in a whisper.
"He lives?"
"Yes," Guy responded. "He is alive and so are you. Drink this."
He pressed the goblet to her throat and watched her drain the liquid with haste, her throat tightening as she did so. It was only when her brow furrowed did Gisborne see the confusion inside of her. She did her best to rest on her side, her hand pressing against his leather clad chest.
"The Sheriff?"
"Fled," Gisborne said. "He returned to the protection of Prince John. Marian is safe too. You need not worry for anyone."
"And you?" she wondered back. "Did you explain everything to the King? Did you tell him that you had no intention to kill him?"
"I did." Gisborne said.
Elizabeth could hear the tone to his voice. She could hear the reluctance which his words held. She shook her head as Gisborne's eyes widened and he then closed them, trying to stop himself from tearing up again. He never cried. He refused to cry in front of her. But it was too late. A tear trickled down his cheek and Elizabeth cupped his cheek, shaking her head back and forth in haste.
"No," she said. "He cannot...not you..."
"I am a traitor," he responded. "Elizabeth, I worked with the Sheriff."
"No!" she snapped loudly, paining herself as she did it and coughed lightly. "You did not...not you...Guy..."
"Hush," Gisborne urged her, not wanting anyone to know that she had awoken just yet. He needed more time with her. "I tried to explain but it did no good. The King gave me mercy and allowed me to stay alive for you."
"I have to tell him," Elizabeth protested. "He has to see, Guy. He has to know."
"He does," Gisborne promised, "and he has made his decision."
"No," Elizabeth said, sobs pouring out of her as she rested her head in the crook of his neck, clutching onto his collar. "He cannot kill you. I cannot lose you...not you...please..."
Guy gulped loudly, unsure of what to say to her as he held her to him and she continued her incoherent rambles. She sniffed loudly before looking up to him again, her hands clasping his cheeks and bringing his forehead to press against hers.
"Flee," she urged him. "Follow the Sheriff and flee."
"I cannot leave you," Guy replied, shaking his head back and forth. "You are my wife, Elizabeth."
"And you my husband," she replied softly. "Please, Guy...please...just go...return to England...wherever...I will follow you when I can..."
"You ask me to abandon you?" Gisborne checked with her.
"I ask you to stay alive for me," she replied gently. "You cannot stay here where it is too dangerous. Please, Guy. Just go...try to sneak away..."
"There are guards," he said.
"Then go in the dead of the night. You are competent enough. You are clever enough. I beg of you to do this for me. I love you more than you know. I cannot lose you...not now...not after everything..."
Guy took a few moments to stare at her before he nodded in agreement with her. Elizabeth took a deep breath of relief and pressed her lips against his, allowing him to hold her as she pretended to sleep so not to raise suspicion. It was only when she genuinely did fall to sleep did night come and Guy found himself peering out the window into the moonlight.
Silently, he rested his wife on the bed before bending down and kissing her on the cheek.
"I love you, Lady Gisborne," he whispered hotly into her ear, tucking her hair behind her ear.
Guy stood tall and turned away from her, knowing that she had Hood and Marian to protect her. They would bring her back to Nottingham and he would look after her. He did not want to die, not while he still had a wife to live for.