Hi, so here is another chapter and I hope you enjoy. I was hoping I could get two out before Christmas so I am glad to bring you this chapter.

Disclaimer-Nothing here is mine just this chapter and the character as always of Erin (and Laura)

TRIGGER WARNINGS-for discussions of sexual violence and for snakes and snake bites.

Please Read and Review and let me know what you think.

Internal Displacements

Chapter 2-If You Don't Know Me By Now.

Allan get's captured. Erin makes a decision to save the man she loves, there are snakes in the castle (in more ways than one) and the Nightwatchman makes her return.

The next day brought about sunshine streaming into the palace windows and Erin for the same amount of time each day awoke to simply marvel she was asleep on clean (ish) sheets, curled up underneath a warm blanket and in the light. So many mornings of waking up in utter darkness, so many mornings when she woke up not even sure if it was morning and the fact that she was here, safe and sound under warm covers was enough to send her tumbling straight back to sleep.

That being said she never did. Sleep when it came was not without nightmares and besides she had a job to do. Regardless as to what Marian said about her doing a lot of things herself Erin agreed with Robin as to the fact that suspicion had not been cleared of either one of them. The best thing to do, indeed the only thing to do was to act as if they were the Maid and the Mistress and therefore Erin got up when the sun did in order to lay a fire (mundane tasks such as these she knew about from her time in captivity where when she wasn't chained to a wall she was keeping house) and set the water boiling so Marian could have hot water to wash.

Marian preferred to sleep in especially on the nights that Robin was with her and so Erin had the early hours of the morning to herself. Stripping out of her nightdress and putting it to the side she ran the rag in the hot water all over herself revelling in being clean. It was steeped in lavender and rosemary and some peppermint and she liked the soothing, cooling extra's. The laundry maids had done wonders on her gown and she slipped the dark blue dress over head and clinching it with one of her sturdy brown leather belts as she took the hairbrush to her hair.

Unlike most of the maids in the castle who tended to wear their hair up out of the way, Erin liked to leave hers loose. She liked the choice of it and so she pulled back some of the golden strands so it was out of her face and pined back with a bone hair pin and then found she was ready for her day as Laura the night maid appeared with the food that was made for breakfast.

"Hello Laura" she said brightly opening the door and Laura smiled. Most maids worked in the castle for the free room and the pittance of pay to send back to their families and Laura was no exception. Anything and everything she earned went to her widowed mother and her two older brothers and sometimes she traded shifts with Kate the potter's girl (who Erin was yet to meet) whenever she was needed at home. Most of the girls she found out liked waiting on Lady Marian and Laura was often to be found by a fire in the kitchen with some embroidery and cup of warm milk whenever Erin found she needed to escape the memories with some fresh air and company.

(Also and although she felt terrible for abusing such trust with this, the fact of the matter was Laura was a great source of castle gossip and Erin did not forget that any information no matter how small was something that Robin could use at a later date)

"Morning Erin. Got the Lady Marian's breakfast here. The usual cold meat, cheese and bread but I made sure that the ale is fresh brewed"

"Thanks Laura. Did you spend the night?"

"Didn't have much of a choice" Laura said shaking her head. "You must have been in bed before it happened but between the rain and the wind some woman appeared dressed all in black and was took immediately into the Sherriff's chambers. Had a private dinner with her an all…hey reckon he's got a fancy woman?"

Instinctively Erin pulled a face. The idea of the Sherriff having a 'fancy woman' was both hysterical and horrifying all at the same time. Laura burst out laughing and Erin soon was compelled to giggle. They stood there for a time sniggering until there was the sound of movement from the other side of the corridor.

"That be her" Laura muttered. "See you tonight if you want. Were going to have a few drinks and sit around the fire with our needlework. See if her Ladyship's got anything that needs mending and come and join us"

And then she was gone and Erin shut the door on her feeling uncommonly cold. She did not know who was hiding behind the end door on the opposite end of the palace but she knew that she didn't want her to look at her.

Marian was already up and dressed. The bruises on both of them had faded and Marian was adapt at pulling on her brown dress. Erin moved to tie the laces and told her in an undertone what the rumour were. Marian listened in silence.

"The Sherriff…a fancy woman? Ugh"

Shaking her had so the dark curls jumped around her back Marian then took herself off to the little prie-dieu that was set to the side. She made the sign of the cross and began to pray. It was how Marian had spent most of her mornings growing up and she had prayed more now she'd lost her father and though kneeling hurt still Erin too copied the motion sending her prayers to peace for Robin and for England and a happy ending for all that she know considered family. She remembered the man she had killed and sent prayers up to the girl's family he'd killed. The young woman whose only crime was that she'd been in the wrong place at the wrong time and Erin offered up her prayers for her soul and for peace to come to her family.

Carefully she did not think of Allan as she prayed for what she thought and felt for Allan was not something she was sure should be prayed on. He had not come to see her and she felt his loss like an ache that never went away. She was not sure if it was because she had come to stay here, because she had confessed her love for him or because he had come to the realisation that he could do better than her but either way it hurt more than the blows that had once been reigned down on her body and she knew that she could not think upon such feelings while she was trying to pray for people who needed it more than she did.

Marian once completed turned her task to breakfast and Erin followed suit.

"I should go and see what I can find out" Marian said carefully. "And…and I think if needs be the Nightwatchman can make a return"

Erin took a mouthful of butter and smeared it on some bread chewing it thoughtfully. "Well I have to finish repairing the break in your shirt but other than that your clothes are already…and…do you think your ready?"

"No" Marian said picking apart a piece of bread with her long fingers. "But I have to do it at some point and it may as well be now we know someone close to the Sherriff is in the castle."

"Does Robin know?"

"No. And don't tell him Erin. The last thing that Robin needs is to be worrying about me. There'll be in town today finding out what they can and he needs to keep his wits about him. The Sherriff is going to use everything and anything he can to gain a reaction"

Erin said nothing. She thought that it was clear that Robin was going to respond to Marian becoming the Nightwatchman again but instead she nodded and took a slab of cheese with her knife.

"I can try and be in the market if you want?"

"No" Marian said shaking her head. "Don't…I'll go down and see if I can see something. Perhaps the Sherriff will show his face"

Erin turned back to breakfast and didn't say anything else.

In terms of stupid things to do this was arguably one of the worst.

And that was Allan admitting it to himself. He was in deep shit.

Being captured was not beyond reason for an Outlaw, but being captured at the same time Robin was attempting to do a one man rescue was also not helpful because rescuing Robin would be the priority. And as he was dragged along a corridor to the dungeons and then strapped up to some kind of machine for Gisbourne to do God only knows what, Allan had to admit that he was in deep shit indeed.

And that was when he still had coherent thought.

Before he started.

Guy.

Erin had agreed to help Laura clean out the woman's bedroom. The Laundry Mistress a woman by the name of Mrs Twiste usually sent both maids to clean out rooms partly to stop any accusations of theft and also to prevent any bad treatment as she had the rather dim view of the average castle guard.

"It seems almost sinful to wear things such as this" Laura muttered picking up some black and silver corset that looked like it was more for show than for comfort. Erin giggled stripping the pillow cases and taking note of what looked like something wet on the corner. She didn't touch it instead stripping the bed carefully.

"Oh…Erin did you feel something move past your foot?"

"No why—"

Laura screamed before she could finish and then she fell backwards. Erin ran around the side of the bed dropping the pillowcase and then rapidly backed into the dresser.

It was a snake. A huge fucking snake and it hissed and spat at her. Laura staggered backwards and Erin moaned moving backwards edging her way towards the door. Laura fell and Erin saw what looked like a large welt on her leg and then she found the door handle and managed to make it out just as the damn thing lunged again.

She shut the door and her whole body gave an involuntary shudder. For once she didn't care who she ran into friend or foe but she needed someone.

She needed Allan he was always the one she ran too when there was danger but he was not here and she did not know how to find him.

But she ran anyway.

Guy was midway through picking up a rather wicked looking instrument (Allan was already bleeding considerably from a wound in his ribs and bruises all along his stomach and face) when there was the sound of running footsteps. Guy turned around and Allan looked up at roughly the same time as Erin came skidding through the dungeons catching herself on the edge of the table making her knee buckle dangerously and half the instruments scatter.

Allan felt his hands instinctually flex in the cuffs as if straining to help her up even from this distance. The blue eyes took in the room and him and he tried to tell her not to get involved without words. He was sure this was not Robin, if Guy was telling the truth Robin was not going to be an issue much longer and he was sure that Marian would be distracted by whatever rescue she was trying to organise. Erin right now was the only one who could get word to the others that he was here and she was not going to die on a one woman rescue mission trying to save him. Allan was not going to watch her die in front of him.

Perhaps that was the reason he was here. He'd mouthed off in front of people who could have and had reported him and he was here with half his left eye swollen shut staring at her like she was the sun and the moon. He should have come and seen her.

But damn it he was so fucking angry with her sometimes it stole his breath away. She had gone willingly into danger again and again and this time he couldn't follow her, couldn't protect her, could do nothing but sit there and watch as she'd looked up at Gisbourne with those big blue eyes and watch as he'd fallen for them.

However angry he felt, however helpless he felt it did nothing for the way his heart beat steadily for her. He just didn't know how to cope with it. How to deal with her in constant danger. Except for the burst of manic energy and that got him here.

Erin looked at him once and then her gaze slid back to Gisbourne who was looking at her in a way that made Allan bit back a snarl. Erin in her blue dress with her blonde hair flying down her back and her wide blue eyes looked like something that had fallen from heaven and Allan drank in the sight of her healthy and whole, still with bruises, still with her injured leg but looking…alive.

Actually now he looked more closely she was looking terrified.

"Sir Guy" she said breathing heavily. "You have to come quick. There's a snake in the castle"

Gisbourne opened his mouth thought about what he was going to say—no doubt a comment about Marian if Allan knew how the bitter feeling of rejection was—and then clearly thought better of it.

"What do you mean?" he said flatly.

"I mean, Laura a maid and I were cleaning out the rooms in the castle where the Sherriff was keeping his fan—I mean his guest and there's a snake under the bed and it's thrashing around and it's bit Laura and I think she might be dead and Sir Guy you have to come"

Allan watched as Guy seemed to be having an internal debate over weather or not to believe her. However looking at her Allan couldn't help but think that Erin was being utterly truthful and her breathing was coming out in shallow pants her whole body heaving. Guy opened his mouth to answer and then there was a shout coming from three floors upwards.

"SNAKE!"

"For the love of—"

"Lord's name Sir Guy" Erin said quietly.

Guy corrected himself and then nodded and then he was gone Erin following and Allan allowed himself a moment of complete and utter, all consuming hurt because she had not so much as looked at him for more than once and she was going to leave him here to die all alone.

God he was pathetic.

Gisbourne to his credit took one look at the snake (being held back by a rather brave guard holding a chair Erin thought) at half of the castle staff gathered around and then at the dead body.

It was Laura. Erin knew she was dead by the sight of her and she felt her stomach heave again. Whatever poison was in that snake must have been fast and deadly and the girl she had once been chatting with not ten minutes ago was dead. After Marian and Djaq, Laura had been the first friend she'd had.

And now she was dead.

She leaned a little against the cold wall and the snake struck again. Sir Guy with an oath that could have set the roof alight leapt backwards and he half crushed Erin against the wall which was exactly what she needed to happen. He leapt forwards sword out without a backwards glance and she pushed backwards her hands clasped in front of her desperate to get away from the body and desperate to find Allan.

She saw Marian in her Nightwatchman trousers and jacket hiding behind the door and she let her pull her through the corridors until they came to the part that overlooked the courtyard.

"They've got Robin. It's the Sherriff's sister. The woman who came in the night. It's his sister" Marian muttered in an undertone and Erin watched as she pulled her mask up to cover her lower face and knew that Marian was going to do her best to get to the man she loved and she had to do her best to get to the one she loved.

"And she's got snakes, poisonous ones Marian. They've already killed a girl and Guy's got Allan. I'm going to get him back to our room. He's injured"

Marian nodded once pulling her mask on so that only the brown eyes were visible. And then she was gone.

Uncurling her fist Erin took in the key she'd taken from the belt of Sir Guy of Gisbourne and she waited. There was another set of screams from the corridor and she took that to mean that the snake has reared again and she took off in the opposite direction having to stop a couple of times as her knee began to protest again.

Allan was still where she'd left him hanging like a fish. There were a couple of guards waiting and she ran around the corner playing the part of the silly maid.

"Sir Guy request help. Now!"

Both of them took off at a run and then it was just her and him alone.

Allan watched her through the one eye he had left open as she found a stool and managed to cut him loose. He fell half into her his head finding her shoulder and she wrapped one arm around him as if they were embracing.

Cupping his face in her hand she forced his eyes to meet hers and then as God as her witness if the Sherriff, Gisbourne, Robin and even the bloody King came into the dungeon at that moment she wouldn't have cared in the slightest.

"God I've missed you" Allan said quietly. Erin smiled though she found that she was close to tears again and she didn't know why. Allan leaned forwards so that their noses were brushing and he was close to kissing her she could feel it and she felt her mouth part desperately for him to slip his tongue in…

BANG!

Then suddenly in the tone of Guy of Gisbourne who spoke in a way that left Erin in no doubt who it was and what she was doing. And God bless Erin had never loved Marian more than she had ever done so in this moment.

"The Nightwatchman!"

They broke apart and Allan let out a low moan as she pressed no doubt a little too close to his wounds. Erin wrapped her arm around him tighter and moved so that he was leaning against her body as they staggered out of the room and up the stairs.

"Don't worry Allan" she said as they managed to get onto the corridor. Allan was dragging his feet and Erin knew they had seconds to get him to the room before someone noticed he was missing. "I'll get some water and we can clean those wounds and—"

"I'm not worried Erin" Allan said as they made it to the door and though his feet were dragging his words were perfectly sound.

"I'm with you"

And there you are, I hope you enjoy. Let me know what you think and I will do my best to bring you the next chapter sooner rather than later.

And if I don't get a chance to update before the new year, I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Safe New Year.

Next Chapter-Allan and Erin finally talk through their issues as Robin and Marian come to an impasse about her activates as the Nightwatchman and someone is watching Djaq and Will (though mostly Djaq)