Alyss spent much of the next few days drifting in and out of consciousness, and she could not tell the difference between dreams and reality, although she was aware that there was always someone with her. She dreamed of home, of happier times when her mother and brother were alive, and of care free days chasing children around the village. She dreamed of play fighting with her brother, and learning to sew and heal with her mother. She remembered summer days spent wandering the edges of Sherwood and picking berries for picnics, and the festivities that came with the harvest. But these dreams soon turned to nightmares, and the onslaught was never-ending. She constantly watched her mother die, and her brother killed by Saracens. She kept losing herself in Sherwood, and the happier picnics became ambushes where she did not escape. She saw her father die, and the Manor burned. All of these were incredibly intense, and after a particularly bad dream which involved the rogues which had attacked her, she started awake. Tears filled her eyes and she breathed erratically as she tried to sit up. A calming hand on her shoulder pushed her back into the pillows, and she was too weak to fight them.

"Hush now my lady. You are safe here with me. I promise that no more harm will come to you." A familiar voice soothed as they helped her to drink. She swallowed the bitter tasting liquid, and soon fell into a deep sleep.

Five days after her failed attempt to see her father, Alyss woke and blinked the sleep from her eyes. Bright sunlight streamed through the windows, while a fire blazed in the hearth and she smiled slightly as she felt rather cosy. Letting her eyes adjust to the light, she tried to sit up and immediately swore as agonizing pain shot through her.

"Now that's not very lady like." Osric chuckled as he poured her a drink.

"What happened?" She asked through gritted teeth before he helped her to take a sip.

"I'm not entirely sure. You collapsed upon our return to the castle." He explained. Alyss blinked as she took the information in, then tried to sit up again and cursed.

"My father?" She asked, panicked.

"He lives." Osric assured her. "It seems he is recovering very well from what Edmund tells me."

"Oh…" Alyss paused, feeling rather weak as her actions came flooding back to her. "The manor?" She asked with dread.

"As far as I know, it still belongs to your father, although it is Gisburne who you will have to ask." Alyss groaned before taking another drink of mead. "What did happen to you in Sherwood?"

"Cut throats." She admitted, feeling rather ashamed of her actions. "I was saved by Robin Hood."

"I take it you explained your situation to them?"

"They would have had me stay with them overnight." Alyss admitted, and Osric smiled slightly.

"You must have been tempted."

"Perhaps." She said. "But I chose Nottingham. I knew that our people would suffer horrifically if…" she sighed. "Well, I suppose it is too late. Nettleworth is…"

"All is not lost yet Alyss." Osric assured her, while she yawned. "Rest now. Save your strength." Closing her eyes, she did just that.

Sir Guy of Gisburne sat in the Great Hall of Nottingham Castle as he listened to a peasant witter on about an issue to do with their neighbour's chickens. He despised the morning petitions, but it was the duty of every Sheriff, and so he half listened while trying to work out what else he had to do that day. There was still no news of the Sheriff's return, for which he was glad, and the snow had continued to build up outside, meaning there would be few visitors to the castle. Yawning as he took a drink, he blinked the tiredness from his eyes. He had barely slept in the ten days that had passed since that day in Sherwood, and though he was convinced that it was out of concern for the debt to be paid, he knew that really it was because he was worried about Alyss. The good thing was that she had survived the first night, and since then her condition had improved by the day. He had left Edmund and Osric with her to act as nursemaid and guard, and had visited every now and again. She was usually sleeping when he appeared, but he was glad of it, for he had no idea what he would say to her. He was still angry with her for being so foolish, and yet…

"My lord, I am sorry to disturb you, but…" Osric interrupted, but Guy was glad of it. Getting to his feet, he followed the soldier out to the corridor, and hoped that it was good news.

"She's woken?"

"She wishes to speak with you my lord." Osric told him.

"Did she mention what happened?"

"She was attacked by cut throats in Sherwood." Guy felt his blood boil at this. He hated the fact that there were people who would attack an unarmed woman, and that he had been unable to stop them.

"I'll see them hanged for this!" He stated, and Osric looked a little uncomfortable.

"They're most likely already dead." The soldier explained as he shifted his feet, and Guy sighed.

"Hood?" He guessed and Osric nodded. They were most of the way to Alyss' room now, and Gisburne still wasn't sure how to act around the woman, even though it had been ten days since she had run off into the forest. Leaving the soldier outside, he knocked on the door and walked inside.

Alyss was sat up in bed and looked far more recovered than she had the last time he saw her. She gave him a smile as he entered, and he stood at the foot of the bed, not quite sure what to say. She watched him in silence, obviously preparing herself for what she was about to say, and he did his best to remain guarded, although every inch of him wanted to soften and smile at her. He was so relieved to see her look so well, and yet he could not allow himself to relax. He was still angry with her after all, for she had very nearly gotten herself and his horse killed, and had caused him no end of trouble since.

"My lord Gisburne, I wished to thank you for your help in saving my life and allowing me to remain here, and to apologise for what I did. I have no doubt that had you not acted then I would be…" she hesitated, before sighing deeply. She was resting a hand over the wound, and he could tell that she was in pain. "Well, I am sorry for breaking your trust. It was not Osric's fault. I guessed, and then ran. I was worried and I only wished to see my father again. I thought that if he… if he died, then the agreement would be broken anyway, and the urge to see him and my home again overwhelmed me." She looked at him then, and she grew disheartened when she received no reaction. Gisburne was listening attentively, though he knew already what she was trying to do, and so he remained silent.

"My lord, I… My actions were foolish. I see that now. I broke the agreement by running in to Sherwood, and I risked your horse too. I never intended to put Fury in harm's way. My love for my father blinded me to everything else. I did not intend to meet Robin Hood either. I know the punishment for horse theft and for consorting with outlaws, and I can only ask for mercy my lord." A tear fell down her cheek and her voice wavered as she spoke. For a moment he pitied her, and desperately wanted to make her smile.

"I… I am so sorry for what I have done. Please forgive me." She begged. He met her gaze for a moment, trying to find some semblance of a lie or deceit, but found nothing. She was being honest with him, and just for a moment he was tempted to speak, but he could only sigh. He could not show weakness and let her believe that she could change his mind with such a display.

"Please my lord…" she pleaded, but he said nothing as he turned and left the room.