Gisburne slept better that night than he had done in years, though he was still awake before sunrise. It had been nice to close his eyes to the sound of wildlife rather than the noise of taverns or rowdy soldiers for once, and his heart was glad to have found his Lady again. They had talked plenty that evening before she had retired to bed, and it seemed that she had missed him almost as much as he had missed her, which gave him hope that her affections had not changed. Getting ready for the day, he put on a clean tunic before looking out of the window. No one else appeared to be awake, and the sky was a glorious hue of reds and oranges as the sun rose above Nettleworth. The sound of birds singing drifted from the trees, and he smiled at the stillness of it all. It was a stark contrast to the noisy camps of soldiers he had grown accustomed to, but he was not complaining. Stretching, he made his way through the manor with the intention of checking on Fury, but as he reached the main living area, he frowned. The Lady Alyss was sat at the table with her head in her hands, while various pieces of parchment surrounded her. Though he had limited experience with women, he knew from the way her shoulders were shaking that she was crying, and he hesitated, for he was unsure of what to do for the best. He felt the urge to comfort her, but he had no idea how to do so or if she would even be accepting of it.

"Sir Guy?" Alyss asked quietly, her voice hoarse. "I… I'm sorry if I woke you." She glanced upwards, and Guy sighed as he saw the dark rings around her eyes. Her cheeks were stained with tears and he wondered if she had even slept.

"I am used to the early starts." He explained. "Is there anything I can do my lady?"

"I…" She began as she dried her eyes with her sleeve, before clutching the blanket around her shoulders even tighter. "My father taught me much, but he never let me near the accounts. I have spent hours trying to make sense of them."

"You must miss him."

"I still can't believe he's gone." She gave a heartfelt sigh. "I wake up everyday hoping that it had all been a horrible nightmare, but…" she shook her head before getting to her feet. "I'm sorry. I'm not being a good host. Would you like some breakfast?" The knight smiled slightly, for it seemed that despite the years, Alyss was still the same woman she had always been.

"Only if it is not too much trouble."

"Not at all." She paused, before her face fell. "Except I don't have much in the kitchen. I thought I was leaving today so I let the stocks run low." Guy chuckled.

"Anything will do my lady." He paused. "I will help you with these once I have checked on Fury." Alyss blinked then tried to object. "It is the least I can do."

"Thank you." She turned towards the kitchen, then lingered in the doorway. "Wait, Fury still lives?"

"He does." He smiled. "I'll tell him you say hello." With that he headed outside.

—

The village was starting to wake up as Guy finished grooming his horse, and a couple of the residents shot glares in his direction as he walked past. He could not blame them. After all, he did have a reputation which he doubted had disappeared in his absence. He realised then that rumours must have spread about the manor's new owner, and his appearance may make them believe that he would be taking Alyss' home away from her. He hoped that this would soon be made right. Though it had cost him a small fortune and a lot of persuasion to get the deeds to Nettleworth, it had been worth it just to see the smile on Alyss' face. She had looked so lost and forlorn when he had first seen her yesterday, but by last night she seemed to be a bit more relaxed. He had only ever wanted to keep her safe, and it seemed he had managed to arrive just before it was too late. He just wished he had arrived earlier so he could have assured her that she did not have to worry about the future.

By the time he returned inside, Alyss was serving breakfast. She had tidied the parchment into a pile, and the fire was built back up in the hearth. The room seemed brighter, and Guy smiled slightly as she poured him a drink. Breakfast truly was not much, for it consisted of yesterdays bread and some cheese, but it was better than nothing.

"I'm sorry that it's probably not what you're used to, but I truly was not expecting visitors." She apologised as she tucked into her own meal.

"I take it your people still do not know that you are staying?"

"I…" Alyss frowned as she took a sip of her drink. "No, I guess not. Even Osric believes I leave today." She chuckled. "I suppose I ought to let them know that they won't be getting rid of me." Guy laughed.

"I thought that may be the case."

"I'll let them know when everyone is awake." She decided before finishing her breakfast. "Perhaps once these are done." She gestured to the pile and Guy smiled.

"It is a while since I had to do any accounts, but I am sure we will figure it out together."

—

It was close to midday by the time they had gone through the manor's accounts and other pieces of paperwork, and Alyss' head was aching. It did not help that she had not slept that night, for she had been terrified that yesterday had all been a dream and that she would wake to find herself in Kirklees. Stifling a yawn, she placed the parchment away and then frowned as she heard a knock at the door. Sir Guy was in the kitchen to take stock of the food stores, and so she answered the door to find the whole village waiting by the well. She looked at them and realised that they were all looking upset. Some were even crying, and the children were not their usual excitable selves. Alyss realised then that she still had not sent a message to Kirklees, and no one knew that she would be staying in Nettleworth.

"My lady, we wished to say goodbye before you leave us." Alfred explained as she stepped outside. It was a clear and crisp autumnal day, and Alyss smiled gently, touched by their efforts.

"I appreciate the gesture, but..." she began,

"Is it true that Gisburne is to be the new Lord?" The miller interrupted.

"No, it is not, though he is staying here as my guest, so I ask that you treat him with respect." There was much muttering and whispering, but Alyss knew that their love would outweigh their hatred for him.

"So he will be leaving soon?"

"I don't know." Alyss paused. "There is something you should know. I will not be leaving Nettleworth today, nor anytime in the foreseeable future." There were many confused faces. "The manor is mine, and mine alone. The king has decided to leave it in my family."

"So you're staying?" A tearful Eleanor asked, while Osric placed an arm round the woman's shoulder.

"I'm staying." Alyss confirmed. There was silence for all of a second, before everyone cheered and she was surrounded by children and friends, all rejoicing at the news. Alyss could scarcely believe that this was truly happening, and she glanced back at the manor to find Guy smiling widely as he stood by a window. By the time they let her go, the manor no longer looked abandoned. When she had returned inside, the sheets had been removed from the furnishings and the walls were no longer so bare. It felt more like home again, and she knew that the knight was responsible. With the message sent to Kirklees, Alyss felt truly happy for the first time since her father had passed away.

—-

Autumn soon turned to Winter, and Guy knew that he was not going to be leaving Nettleworth any time soon. It would have to be Spring at the earliest, and that was even if he wanted to move on. The past few months had given him a taste of domestic life, and he had been surprised to find that he rather enjoyed it. He gladly helped Alyss run the manor and taught her everything that her father had not, while she showed him a different way of life. She still played with the children and did what she could to solve the villagers problems. Nothing was ever too big or too small for her, and she was often found helping out where she could. More than once Guy had been stretching his legs and found Alyss helping to mend a house or build a fence. On one occasion he had even found her trying to round up an escaped pig with the help of some of the older children, and a pincer movement had soon returned the creature to its pen. He had been forced to stifle his laughter as she had returned inside covered head to toe in mud, having slipped over during the attempt. He had never seen her so content, though she was still grieving, and he knew he could never leave her willingly. He fell deeper in love with her each day, and yet he could not find the courage to tell her. He often thought of the kiss they had shared in Nottingham Castle, but he dared not ask if she thought of that time. After all, he did not want to do anything to risk the friendship they had rebuilt.

Certainly there were signs that she still cared for him, and as time passed they were growing closer to one another. He had never been able to be so honest or talk so freely with anyone else, and Alyss had gradually dropped her guard around him. She no longer felt quite so embarrassed to be found crying, and she seemed to be happy to have company. Gisburne definitely enjoyed the evenings where they sat by the fire with some mead and a game of chess while they told each other of their days. Alyss always had some form of news or rumour from her tenants, while Guy rarely had much to add. He had steadily integrated himself with the people here, and though they still regarded him with distrust, they were glad of his help. He frequently went for walks with Osric though, for he found it therapeutic to be able to talk with the man who had helped him in Normandy. They could swap stories and advice quite happily, and Guy was glad to see Osric's happiness. The soldier was deep in love with Eleanor, and it was obvious that it was returned. If it wasn't for the interdict then Gisburne was certain that the pair would have been married weeks ago.

Sighing, Guy paced his chamber and tried to work out what to do. The residents were all busy preparing for the Midwinter festivities, and he had felt a little out of place. Though he had been used to organising events in the castle, it seemed that the villagers had their own way of doing things and he had retreated after realising he had been getting in the way. Alyss was busy with a few of the women in one of the cottages, and Guy wondered when he should tell her the real reason he had bought Nettleworth Manor for her. He knew she was suspicious, though she rarely raised the subject anymore, and he wondered if she ever thought of the kiss they had shared. He had tried to ask on more than one occasion, but Alyss had always changed the subject, and he had no idea if that was a good sign. Certainly he had found her looking at him on more than one occasion, and she always had a smile for him. She would stop whatever she was doing to talk to him, and he was certain that she enjoyed their time together almost as much as he did. But he had no idea how to ask such a delicate question. He knew too that he could not propose, no matter how much he wanted to. After all, he had given her the freedom to choose a husband, and he was not going to take that away from her, regardless of how much he...

"I thought I may find you here." Sir Guy was disturbed from his thoughts as Alyss appeared in the doorway, her arms full of holly, ivy and mistletoe.

"I thought it best to get out of the way before Hilda told me to." Alyss chuckled, for the older woman could be quite formidable.

"Well, if you wish to be useful, then Osric could do with a hand. He's been tasked with finding us firewood." The noblewoman explained. Her cheeks were flushed from the cold, but her eyes were sparkling with an enthusiasm he had not seen before. He guessed that it was because of the Midwinter celebrations, for he knew that it was one of her favourite times of year.

"Where is he?"

"Waiting outside." Alyss smiled. "Just be careful. It's rather cold out there."

"It's just an excuse to have some hot wine later." He shrugged, and the pair laughed before the knight headed outside.

—-

"When are you going to tell her?" Osric asked once they were out of earshot of the other villagers. The forest was looking a little sparse without its leaves, but it still had some beauty, and Guy idly wondered if Hood was still somewhere in Sherwood. He had not heard anything of them since his return, but he did wonder if Alyss deliberately did not mention them. It was rather odd though that in his time abroad he had scarcely thought of the wolfs-heads considering he had spent much of his younger years trying to capture them. He made a note to find out what had happened to them, then noticed that Osric was waiting for a response.

"What do you mean?" Guy asked as they entered the copse that belonged to the estate. Osric gave the knight a pointed look.

"It is obvious to everyone but Alyss. I think she should know the real reason why you have not yet left." The ex-soldier said, while Gisburne sighed.

"How can I? I cannot and will not risk our friendship by telling her that I…"

"You have both suffered enough. Both of you deserve to be happy." The soldier interrupted, and the knight turned his attention to finding suitable kindling.

"And if she says no?" Guy asked as they started to gather firewood.

"She won't reject you." Osric assured him, and Guy was surprised. "It is obvious that you both care for each other. I have known it since she was in Nottingham."

"That was a long time ago." The knight warned. "A lot has changed since then."

"She hasn't." Osric smiled. "I have known Alyss since she was a child. She may not always speak her mind and she does not wear her heart on her sleeve, but… well, don't give up hope."

"You truly believe she cares for me, even though she has done nothing to show her affection?" Guy asked, somewhat sceptical.

"She is probably torn. She is still grieving for the loss of her father, and it has been a number of years since we were in Nottingham. She is also probably trying to work out what is best for Nettleworth as against what she wants for herself. Yet from what you and Eleanor have told me, she wishes to be happy. I mean she is certainly in no rush to see you leave, and she rarely accepts anyone else's offers of help." Osric paused. "And I have never seen her defend anyone so fiercely as she does you."

"I know that some of the residents have not taken kindly to my presence."

"They probably believe you will take Alyss away again." Guy was silent for a moment as he considered this.

"You think I should tell her the truth?"

"You know that she will never truly settle until she understands exactly why you saved her." Osric stated, and the knight reluctantly agreed. "And you deserve to know how she feels about you. We both know that life is short and it is about time we..." Gisburne rolled his eyes, having heard this speech numerous times and not really in the mood to hear it again.

"Fine. I will talk to her."

"When?" Osric asked, and the knight sighed. "I suggest tonight. I mean, what's the worst that could happen? She's hardly going to kick you out of the manor."

"And if you're wrong?"

"I'll be mucking out the stables and polishing your armour for a year."

They returned to the manor a short while later with enough firewood to last a few days. Alyss was happily humming a tune as she hung up the evergreens inside with Eleanor's help, and the men smiled as they felt the warmth of the fire. The house truly looked festive, and Guy smiled as he thought of the Christmas spent in Nottingham with Alyss. He had personally ensured that the castle had been decorated that year, and it had been the only happy one he'd had since he had been a small boy. He wondered if this would be just as good, but then he did not truly care so long as he spent it with the woman he loved.

"Thank you." Alyss said as she finished hanging the garlands, while Eleanor poured the drinks. The men drank eagerly, grateful for the warmth that spread through them, before Osric made his excuses. Eleanor went with him, and Guy wondered if now was the right opportunity to ask Alyss how she felt. The lady offered him a smile as she stoked the fire and warmed her hands, while he finished his drink and looked around.

"I'm aware that this Christmas is nothing like you are used to, but I hope you will enjoy it." Alyss said, and the knight bowed his head.

"It is already better than the last one, and I am rather looking forward to learning about the customs your village has." He told her.

"It is certainly a strange one." Alyss sighed. "I never truly appreciated how much was involved in organising everything. My father usually made all the decisions and…" She trailed off as a wave of sorrow enveloped her.

"Is there much left to be done today?" Guy asked, deciding to distract her.

"No. I believe it is all sorted."

"Then how about a game of chess?" Alyss smiled gratefully, and the pair were soon seated by the fire with the board set up. The knight was prepared to be beaten quickly, but he won the first round. He was only a little surprised at this, but then he won another two games as Alyss made some mistakes. He wondered if it was done purposely, but as he looked at her he realised that she was very much distracted. Though he desperately wanted to know where he stood with her, he knew that this was not the right time.

"What is it that is bothering you my lady?" The knight asked, deciding that he may as well try to help her deal with whatever was distracting her.

"Nothing." She told him, a little too quickly for his liking.

"I never win at chess, especially against you, but three games tells me that something is wrong. Is there anything I can do to help?" He pointed out, and Alyss frowned as she stood up and stoked the fire.

"There is nothing you can do Guy. You have already done enough." She replied, her tone somewhat accusing. She seemed cold and distant all of a sudden, and the knight wondered what he had done to upset her.

"My lady, if I have done anything to cause you grief then it was not intended…"

"I'm sure, but yet you still do not tell me why you bought my lands and freedom. You show no signs of planning for the future and I am left to wonder why this is." She told him coldly, and Guy frowned. "I… I need to know Sir Guy. Just exactly why did you save me from leaving my ancestral home?"

"I…" He began, but the words caught in his throat as he tried to work out just exactly what to say. Alyss looked at him, waiting on an answer, and Gisburne realised he had not seen her look so furious in a long time. He had no idea what he had done to anger her, and she frowned while he tried to work out what to do. As much as he wanted to tell her the truth, he knew that this was not the right moment.

"I shall say goodnight then if you do not have an answer." She said curtly, before storming out of the room. Guy wondered if he should follow her, then realised that he had no idea what to say. Sighing, he stared at the fire and hoped that he could make things right in the morning.