Just over two years had passed since the Lady Alyss had been taken from Nettleworth, and the noblewoman could not be happier as she trailed after her people from the fields. She had been exceedingly grateful to be home where she belonged, and the villagers had all missed her terribly when she had been gone. She had been welcomed back with open arms, and Alyss never hesitated in joining in with any festivities. There had been a couple of births and marriages, and a few new people had moved to live in Nettleworth, but all were happy to help one another. Never had she known such a sense of community anywhere else, and she knew that she would not give up her life here for anything. She also knew that there was to be much celebrating tonight, for the last harvest had been finished, the crops having yielded more than enough to go around, and so everyone was in fine spirits as they transported the last cart to the village.

"There'll be many a sore head in the morning." Osric pointed out as he fell into step with her on the path.

"There will, but mine won't be one of them." Alyss smiled. "I have far too much to do tomorrow."

"That should not stop you from enjoying tonight." Osric said. "I am glad that everything is done though, and that I have two days before I…"

"You too should enjoy tonight then." Alyss told him. "Perhaps you should ask Eleanor for a dance."

"I…" Osric blushed, and Alyss chuckled.

"Don't even try to deny it. I've seen the way the pair of you look at each other." The noblewoman pointed out while Osric looked defeated. "You should ask her. The pair of you are well matched." She pointed to the young blonde woman who was talking to her friends in front of them.

"Now?" The soldier sounded very unsure, and Alyss gave him a reassuring smile.

"There's no better time." So Osric hurried on ahead, and Alyss grinned as she saw Eleanor's face light up as the soldier spoke to her. Alyss had been watching the pair act shyly and awkwardly around each other for months, and had been desperately waiting for one of them to make the first move. She truly hoped that they would make each other happy, for they certainly deserved to be together.

"My lady!" Alyss was disrupted from her thoughts by young Edward tugging at her sleeve. Letting the others carry on, she crouched down to be the same level as the boy, and smiled at him.

"I can't play any games right now, but later…" She began, but the boy shook his head.

"No games my lady. Horse!"

"A horse?" She asked, looking around, wondering if he meant the ones pulling the cart.

"Over by the trees." He pointed, and Alyss was rather curious as she looked across the paddock. Edward had not been lying, and the noblewoman tilted her head as she realised that the horse was not one of theirs. It did look familiar though, and she gulped nervously as she recognised it.

"The rider?"

"No sign."

"Run ahead and fetch some men. We need to find him." Alyss instructed before hitching up her skirts and leaping across the stream before hurrying across the empty paddock. Her heart was racing, and she felt an overwhelming mixture of emotions as she made her way to the trees. Slowing down to a walk as she neared the creature so as not to spook it, she prayed that the rider was still alive.

"Hello Fury, it's been a while hasn't it?" She spoke softly, and the horse whinnied in response. "Now, where's your master?" She asked as she stroked the horse's neck. Fury made no move, so Alyss mounted up and nudged the creature into a trot, all the while wondering what she was about to face. The horse instinctively moved, and Alyss tried to stay calm as she was taken into Sherwood Forest. She had done her best to avoid the woods since her return home, and it still made her feel nervous, so she focused her attention to finding the knight. She knew it was highly unlikely that Fury had thrown him, for he was an accomplished rider, so that led her to believe that he had been attacked. Was he dead? She truly hoped not. It had been over a year since she had seen him, and yet she still felt fond of him. Nettleworth had not suffered since her release, and Edgar had made sure that the taxes reached Nottingham ahead of time so there was no need for anyone to come to Nettleworth. Her father had also ensured that Alyss did not go too far away from home, and though she was glad to be here, a part of her yearned to visit Nottingham.

A few minutes later, Fury came to a halt by the side of the road and Alyss tied the reins to a sturdy branch before looking around for the rider. She knew she could not call his name too loudly in case it attracted unwanted attention, but she could not see any sign of him. Spotting a broken branch, she followed a small path through the shrubs and ferns, before stumbling across the fallen man.

"Sir Guy?" She asked as she knelt beside him. He was on his front, and so she rolled him over to find him unconscious. There were tears in his clothes, and a large patch of blood stained his tunic. Alyss panicked, and prayed that he was not dead as she tore part of her skirt. Within moments she had tied it around his chest in an attempt to stop the blood, but she knew that he needed help urgently. She also knew that she could not afford to wait for the search party to find them, but she could not carry him.

"Come on Sir Guy, wake up." She urged as she gently shook his shoulders. "I will not let you die in Sherwood Forest, and certainly not this close to Nettleworth." The knight groaned softly.

"Come on, I need you to help me so I can help you." She told him firmly as he blinked an eye open. She got to her feet and tried to help him up, but he struggled and she cursed.

"Gisburne! You will get up!" She ordered, and he stood up, wincing in pain. She wrapped his arm around her shoulders and let him lean on her as they made their way back to the road, hoping that she did not have to go too far. She was doing her best to remain calm, although he was breathing raggedly and she knew that his chances of survival were dwindling by the minute. Thankfully Fury was not far away, and then Alyss realised that she had another hurdle.

"Mount up!" She told him, having realised that he would listen to orders, regardless of his injuries. She felt cruel speaking so harshly to him, but she had no other option. He struggled to get his feet in the stirrups, but made it, and Alyss quickly mounted up behind him. Taking the reins, she turned Fury around and took them back to Nettleworth as quickly as she dared, all the while hoping that she had found him in time.

"No!" Lord Edgar stated firmly with his arms folded as Alyss stood in the courtyard. "He is not coming in this house and that is final!"

"Father…" Alyss protested, though she had half expected such a reaction.

"You should have left him where he fell." She did her best not to wince.

"But…"

"He has brought nothing but misery to this place Alyss." He pointed out. "He took you away from me, and nearly…"

"Father!" She snapped, for she was incredibly aware of how quickly the knight was deteriorating. "If he dies on or near our lands without anyone helping then we will be held accountable, and the fine…"

"Alyss, have you forgotten what he has done?" He asked softly, and she sighed.

"I have not." She told him. "But regardless of what he has done, I cannot in good conscience let him die." She stared defiantly at her father, and Edgar gave a resigned sigh, knowing that there was no changing her mind.

"Where will he stay?"

"My chamber."

"And the physician? You know we cannot afford…"

"I will tend him." Alyss said. "Please father, I…"

"Very well." Edgar relented. "But he is to leave the moment he is recovered, and you are to sleep in my chamber."

"Thank you father." Alyss smiled slightly, before a couple of men stepped forwards and carried Gisburne inside. The noblewoman followed and gathered the things that she would need before dismissing the villagers. The knight looked incredibly pale, and a thin sheen of sweat covered his forehead, while the makeshift bandage was soaked with blood. Knowing what she had to do, she ran to her window and called out to Osric, who did not hesitate to come to her aid. He was there in an instant, and he tutted as he saw the state of the man.

"His chainmail needs taking off." She said, and Osric nodded.

"You are going to cauterise it?"

"I don't see another option…" Alyss gulped nervously, for she was not looking forward to inflicting such pain on the man. Her old wound flared in sympathy, and yet she knew it was the only chance he had of survival.

"We will need to hold him down."

"Can you…?" She asked as she heated a poker. Osric nodded, before placing the mail shirt on the floor. He then proceeded to lift the man's undershirt, while Alyss tried her best to stay calm. She had spent many an hour dreaming about meeting the knight again, but never had she thought that it would be in these circumstances. She had no idea what he was doing so close to Nettleworth, nor what had caused him to be so grievously wounded, and she prayed that her efforts would not be in vain. Seeing that the metal was hot enough, she took a deep breath and focused on steadying her hands, before placing the poker to the wound. A horrible hissing sound followed by the smell of burnt flesh filled the air, while Osric struggled to keep the knight lying down. Satisfied that the bleeding had stopped, Alyss placed the poker back in the fire before running out to the back of the house and retching.

"It worked." Osric assured her when she returned ten minutes later. She was shaking, and her throat stung from the bile, but she had to know if he was alive. The soldier took one look at her and made her sit down, before handing her a drink.

"I…" she tried to speak, but he shook his head.

"I know. It is not pleasant." He agreed. Alyss downed the mead, thankful for its warmth and sweet taste, before turning to look at the unconscious knight in her bed.

"What did it?"

"I think a knife or a dagger. Considering he has no purse or weapons, I believe he was robbed."

"Who would dare to rob Sir Guy of Gisburne?" Alyss questioned, and Osric sighed. "How would they even…?"

"I don't know my lady, but there are gangs of cutthroats roaming the woods, and a lone rider is an easy target." Osric pointed out, and she knew he was right.

"Then why did they not take Fury? He is surely worth…"

"He is also very recognisable." Osric pointed out, and Alyss sighed.

"Well, I guess we can only hope that we were quick enough."

"I take it you will not be at the festivities later?" He guessed, and the noblewoman nodded.

"I cannot leave him."

"I will give your apologies." He turned to leave. "Is there anything you need?"

"I think I have everything." He bowed his head, and left her with the unconscious man. Alyss could only sigh, and hope that Sir Guy would survive. After all, she had much to tell him, and she had very much missed him these past months.

"You will recover Gisburne, because I don't know what I will do if you don't…" She told him, but got no response. Sighing, all she could do was sit beside him and pray that he would live, for Nettleworth's sake.