Alyss woke just before noon the next day, with a sore head and a dry throat, and she sighed for she knew that this was the effects of the wine. Never had she drank so much before, and she wondered just how long she would feel like her head was being attacked with a hammer. Dragging herself from her bed, she forced herself to eat a little of the bread and cheese that had been brought in, and then washed her face in an attempt to feel more human. The fire had been built back up in the hearth, and she sat next to it, trying to work out just what had happened yesterday. After weeks of barely speaking, Gisburne had opened up to her and she had felt very comfortable in his company. Never had she dropped her guard so much around anyone who was not family, and she wondered just why she had done so. Was it because of the wine? Or was it because she wanted to let him see the other side of her? Sighing, she stoked the fire and watched the flames dance, all the while trying to work out just why Gisburne had forgiven her and just what his motivations were.

She was disturbed a little while later, and she half smiled as she found that the knight looked almost as bad as she felt. She had been part way through writing a reply to her father, but she placed the quill down on the table and got to her feet, for she was not going to refuse a change of scenery, even if her head still hurt. The knight did not have to speak, though he smiled as she grabbed her cloak, and so the pair wandered around the castle in relative silence, stopping every now and again to admire the scenery and allow Alyss to rest. The chill wind did make her chest ache, and she clutched her cloak tightly around her as they stopped on the balcony, but she had no wish to go back to her room. The fresh air was helping her headache, and she could tell that something had changed in her relationship with Gisburne. He looked different today, and she realised with some shock that he no longer had his guard up either. Perhaps he felt that he could also be himself around her when no one else was there to watch them? Sighing, she distracted herself with the view of Nottingham, for it almost looked magical with the dusting of snow which covered it. A group of children ran through the streets, shrieking and laughing with glee as they threw snowballs at one another, while the sound of familiar songs drifted through the air. Alyss could not help but smile sadly as she knew that Nettleworth would be missing her presence keenly, and hoped that she would soon be home.

"We should return inside soon, before it gets too cold." Gisburne advised as he shivered in the wind.

"A warm fire does sound tempting." She admitted, just as the snow began to fall again. "Just a moment longer?" The knight begrudgingly agreed, and Alyss surveyed the landscape before she turned to leave. Her wound throbbed, and she clutched her chest as she walked, hoping that the warmth would ease the pain. Thankfully it did not take long to reach Gisburne's chamber, and the pair sat by the fire to thaw out with some hot wine and warm bread.

Much of the festive period was spent the same way, with many walks and swapping stories by the fire over games of chess and drinks of wine and mead. Alyss was glad of the company, for she knew that she would otherwise have sank into misery at being away from her loved ones, and she hoped that the Sheriff would be kept away for just a little longer. She had seen an entirely different side to the knight with De Rainault absent, and she wondered just how much of himself Guy had been forced to keep hidden. She had certainly never believed that Gisburne could be so kind and thoughtful, and she was still in shock that he had forgiven her so quickly. If she thought too long on the subject, she would decide that he was trying to prove himself worthy of her, but she was never entirely convinced. After all, she was practically a destitute noblewoman with very little to offer in terms of land or titles, so why would he put so much effort in?

The spell was broken a few days after Epiphany. Alyss had been walking with Sir Guy in the courtyard, having visited the stables and aviary, when the sound of horses approaching filled the air. The knight had instantly turned around and Alyss watched him tense as he recognised the riders.

"You should go inside my lady." He urged her, but before she could do anything, a very familiar voice filled the air.

"Gisburne! What on earth are you doing with this… this harlot? Is she what distracted you from meeting me in Sherwood as my message stated? The wench should be in the dungeons, not parading around the…" De Rainault yelled, and both nobles bristled at the insults.

"My lord Sheriff, no such message was received." Gisburne interrupted just as loudly, distracting the man long enough for Alyss to escape. She hurried up the steps and smiled slightly as she heard the knight defending her.

"Hello my lady." She found Osric hovering near the Great Hall, and she smiled widely at the sight of her friend.

"When did you get back?"

"Twenty minutes ago." He told her. "You are unescorted?"

"Apparently so."

"Then shall we walk?" He offered, and she nodded.

"So long as we can get away from here quickly." They could both hear De Rainault yelling at the unfortunate knight, and Osric instantly started walking.

"Everyone sends their love." The soldier told her as they headed upstairs. "And I must say it is good to see you so recovered."

"I still have some way to go." She admitted. "But it is good to still be alive. How is Nettleworth?"

"It is faring well. Your father is back in full health and seems determined to have you home before the summer. Everyone missed you at Christmas though. It must have been hard for you being stuck here with no one for company."

"Well, it was at first." She sighed as they reached her room. "But I was soon distracted."

"Distracted?" He queried as he warmed his hands by the fire. "You spent Christmas trapped here alone. I cannot imagine…"

"I was not alone Osric." Alyss told him, and he looked confused. "Neither Gisburne nor I wished to spend the day alone."

"That cannot have been easy." He said, and Alyss sighed.

"He has forgiven me." She told him as she fiddled with her sleeve. Osric turned to face her and shook his head.

"The cost?"

"Nothing. Nettleworth is safe for now, and nothing has been added to the debt." She explained, trying to ignore the sounds of shouting echoing around the castle.

"Why would he…?"

"I am as clueless to that as you are." The pair were silent for a moment, before Osric reached for the pouch on his belt.

"While I remember, this is for you." He said as he handed her a small piece of folded fabric. Alyss took it curiously, a little uncertain as to whether she could accept the gift, but Osric just smiled at her.

"It's only a small bit of something, from Ruth and Eric. They wanted to send you something to remind you of home." Unfolding the fabric, she found a plaited thread with a small carved wooden phoenix attached to it. She felt tears well in her eyes as she held it tightly, while the soldier bowed his head.

"Thank them for me." She managed to say, and Osric smiled sadly.

"I will do. Would you like me to leave you?" She could only nod, and the moment he closed the door, Alyss allowed herself to break.

She did not see Gisburne for about a week, although she frequently heard the Sheriff yelling at him while she walked with Osric. The soldier had been keen to tell her about the festivities and just how much had changed, but though they discussed home frequently, neither mentioned what had happened while the Sheriff had been away. She still had no idea why Gisburne had been so forgiving, and she knew she would not have the opportunity to spend much time with the knight now that De Rainault had returned. According to Osric, the Sheriff had been in a foul mood from the moment he had arrived in Nottingham, and everyone was suffering. As a result she had decided to keep their walks inside the castle, steering as far away from the man as possible. She had no wish to be insulted further, nor did she wish to irritate him and cause the agreement to be torn up. After all, she knew that Gisburne would not be able to protect her from the Sheriff forever, and she needed Nettleworth to remain with her father.

Seven days after the Sheriff's return, Alyss sat by the window watching the rain pour down outside and sighed as she watched a sodden patrol return from the forest. The roads were still muddy and almost unfit for travel, but the Sheriff had insisted that patrols resume. It appeared that Robin Hood was responsible for his horse spooking, and De Rainault was more intent on catching the outlaws than he had been previously. Alyss could only be grateful that the same number of soldiers that had ridden out had returned, and none seemed to be harmed. She brushed her hair as she hummed a tune her brother had taught her years ago, and wondered whether she would be able to go for a walk today. It was still cold and she had no wish to get wet, but she longed for a change of scenery and to be able to talk to someone. It had been a little bit of a shock to find that she missed Gisburne's company, and she had forced herself to accept that she would not get to witness such a care free knight again. The Christmas period had been unusual and she had thought that perhaps they had grown closer, but the Sheriff's return had possibly undone all of that. Sighing, she set the brush down as she heard keys in the lock, and she turned in time to find a damp haired Gisburne standing in the doorframe.

"My lady, I must apologise that it has been so long, but I wondered if you would like to go for a walk?" He asked, while she smiled slightly.

"So long as we can remain dry." She pointed out as she reached for her cloak.

"As you wish." He smiled as he let her walk on to the corridor. "I must apologise for last week. The Sheriff's words were unforgivable, and you should not have been subject to them."

"I am well aware of that, and it is not you that needs to apologise." She told him. "I take it he has kept you busy?"

"He has been going through the last month's accounts and news with a fine toothcomb." He sighed as the came to their favourite balcony. Alyss sat down while the knight paced, and she knew he needed someone to listen to him. "It's as if he does not trust me to run Nottingham, even though I have been here for so many years…"

"If I know anything of the Sheriff, it is that he does not trust anybody, not even his family. I would not take it personally if I were you Sir Guy." She said softly, not knowing if she was overstepping a mark in speaking so freely. "Likewise, I know it is easy to blame others for mistakes, but if the Sheriff had listened to you months ago then…"

"Then the outlaws would not have returned to Sherwood and I would not have to deal with them." Gisburne sighed. "If he would just…"

"It is not worth dwelling on the past, but only on the future." Alyss told him, and the knight regarded her curiously. "It is what my mother always told me, and I think there's some wisdom in it…" She trailed off as she realised he was staring at her neck, and she froze.

"That necklace…" He began, and Alyss instantly wrapped her hand around the pendant. She had gotten so used to wearing it in her room that she had forgotten she had put it on. "Is it new?"

"I…" she hesitated, wondering if she could lie, and then cast her eyes downwards. "It is."

"From home?"

"Osric would not let me refuse it." She explained, noticing that the knight had moved to stand in front of her. For a moment she wondered if he would make her look at him, and his hand hovered near to her face, before he withdrew it. Instead she looked up and found that they were standing a little too close together.

"May I see it?" He asked, and she nodded as she untied the cord. She passed it to him, and he inspected it thoughtfully.

"My lord, I…" She tried to come up with an explanation as her heart beat rapidly in her chest, but he silenced her with just a look.

"A phoenix?" He questioned, and she nodded. "It is certainly some fine carving. I would suggest you keep it safe."

"You are not angry with me?" She asked, surprised, while he sighed.

"That is the only thing you were given?"

"It is."

"Then it is not worth getting angry over." He told her. "I take it one of your tenants…"

"Eric is a fine woodworker." She explained. "And the phoenix is somewhat important to my family."

"They are certainly fine creatures." Gisburne agreed as he handed the pendant back to her. The pair remained in silence for a little while, both simply content to listen to the rain hitting the cobbles outside, and Alyss wondered just what was going on with her. She was desperately resisting the urge to step closer to him, and she felt strange. Certainly, this was not a feeling she had ever had before, and yet she knew she could not fall for the knight. After all, he was Guy of Gisburne, well known for his cruelty and harsh treatment of all those below him, and she was Alyss of Nettleworth, known for her village and its debt. She was destined to be with someone else, and she could never…

"We should be returning before it gets too late." Gisburne said, snapping her from her thoughts.

"Of course." She bowed her head and followed him back to her room, feeling almost grateful to be allowed time to herself.

"Have you finished your letter yet my lady?" He asked as he hovered near the door.

"I have." She said as she reached for it.

"I will make sure your father gets it." He assured her as he took it. "I will see you in a few days."

"Stay safe Sir Guy." She wished, and he gave her a smile before leaving. The moment the door closed Alyss sank into her chair and tried to make sense of everything.