A/N: So yeah, summer time's over now, so unfortunately that means updates will be a lot slower again, but I'll try my best.

Just so you know, Lucinda is not a character in the show. I don't know if Sir Jasper has a family but in my reality here, he does.

This chapter takes place right before season 2 episode 4, 'Angel of Death.' I plan to have chapter 10 go directly into that episode. Warning, this chapter is really weird...

Chapter 9

Far From Home

Almost a week went by since our cook's murder scheme. A new cook was brought in a couple days later but her foods lacked flavors the old one's had. I supposed I should just be thankful this new one did not want me dead.

I still struggled to sleep, my body jerking awake at all hours of the night. Since then, I have not invited anyone to my chambers.

This morning when I saw the sun peeking though my curtains, I did not bother with sleep anymore. Instead I slipped on a gown and went to the garden. I immediately heard footsteps behind me.

Can I not just have a moment to myself? I thought in a huff.

"Lady Laceyna," a guard started, with a brief bow, "You have a visitor."

I sunk down on a stone and grumbled, "If they must see me now then tell them to come out here."

Without debate, he nodded, "Yes, my Lady."

I rolled my eyes and combed my fingers through my hair. If this happened to be a boy hoping to be my taken as my lover, I planned to dismiss him.

"Oh Lacey…"

I turned my head, recognizing the soft female voice.

"Lucinda? Is that you?"

She beamed, flipping her perfect blond locks behind her shoulder. "Indeed it is, old friend."

I stood up as she rushed to embrace me.

Lucinda had been a childhood friend of mine as her father was in ties with Vaisey. I remember first meeting her when I was around eight years old. I did not like her very much at the time but she was literally the only child for me to play with. Her father, Sir Jasper, would bring her along a couple times a year when he came to check up on Nottingham and meet with the Sheriff.

"So how have you been, Lacey?" she asked me, as we sat down on the stone next to the lilies.

"Well, just last week our cook here tried to kill me. As it turns out…"

"Yes, yes, that's all good," Lucinda said, waving her hand, briskly. "I have some news myself you see. My father has arranged for me to marry Prince John!"

My eyes widened. "Really? Wow, that's…"

"I know!" she squealed, taking my hands, enthusiastically. "I could not believe it myself… I mean, I always knew the prince fancied me."

I merely smiled and nodded, unsure of how much truth this claim had. After all, Lucinda had always been one of exaggerate or fantasize realities. When we were girls, she claimed to have French royal blood in her veins. Her father never backed that statement and I eventually figured out it was all a fib.

"Will you accompany me this evening?" she asked me.

"Where to?" I asked, apprehensively.

Another fact about Lucinda being in town was trouble always seemed to follow her. Sometimes I looked forward to the excitement. Other days, I dreaded it. As children, she insisted we ride our horses into the forest. Not only did we barely manage to escape bandits, but her horse ran away the moment she demounted it. We rode back to town on mine and she blamed the stable boy for losing the horse. He was flogged.

Lucinda shrugged. "It's a surprise. Are you in?"

After nearly dying last week, I felt unsure of taking on another possibly dangerous adventure, but I still managed a nod. At least it would be nice to get away from the castle.

xXx

At sundown, I walked down the hall, towards the front gate.

"Where are you going?"

I groaned recognizing the voice.

"No where that concerns you, Guy."

He leaned against the wall, as though he were expecting me to walk by.

"The Sheriff asked me to find you," he insisted, taking a step in front of me. "He has a plan he wants us both to be apart of. He's experimenting with a new substance tonight."

"Well, I have plans of my own," I stated, picking up my dress and strolling past him. "You can fill me in tomorrow."

Guy snatched my upper arm and turned me around. "What plans? I need something to report back to the Sheriff."

I rolled my eyes and jerked my arm out of his grasps. "Fine. If you must know I'm spending the evening with Lady Lucinda. She claims she is betrothed to Prince John so she is a good friend to keep close."

He actually chuckled at that. "Oh really, she's marrying Prince John now? I recall her last visit she was supposedly going off to marry the king of Spain even though he already had a queen at the time."

I huffed. "She was a young girl at the time. She probably just had wife and mistress confused… Look, we do know for a fact her father is close with Prince John so she could very well be telling the truth."

Guy opened but before he had the chance to retort, I heard the very devil we spoke of.

"Lacey! What is keeping you? I've had our carriage ready since sundown." Lucinda's expression softened the moment her sapphire eyes met with Guy's. "Oh, hello Guy. It's been quite some time…"

He merely nodded and muttered, "Lady Lucinda."

Lucinda smiled and stepped closer to him until the only space between them was the length of a small candlestick.

"I trust Lacey has told you the news of my betrothal," she asked, gazing up at him, stroking his cheek. "But don't worry. You'll always hold a special place in my heart."

I shot a horrified glance between the two of them. Lucinda placed her hand on Guy's chest. I could easily tell he was uncomfortable even if his face lacked the emotion.

Rolling my eyes, I grabbed Lucinda's arm. "Okay, can we leave now before I vomit? You said the carriage was ready, right?"

"Oh yes, that's right," she said, letting out a giggle. "Farewell, Guy of Gisborne."

Instead of acknowledging her, he ordered me, "Be sure to report to the Sheriff the moment you get back to the castle."

"Fine."

xXx

Lucinda's carriage took us out of Nottingham to a town that appeared much bigger. I pushed the veil aside and found people laughing and dancing cheerfully.

"Welcome to York," Lucinda said, cheerfully.

I have heard a great deal about this city but I have never been. Vaisey rarely took me out of Nottingham.

Lucinda's men escorted us out of the carriage. The moment my feet touched the ground, she waved her hand to dismiss them.

"Trust me, we will have much more fun without them tailing us," she insisted.

I shrugged, having no issues with that.

She took my arm and the two of us walked towards what appeared to be a tavern. I took a glance down a nearby street. A woman was lying on her side with a child no more than four years of age, sitting beside her. An old man struggled down the dirt road, relying only on a stick for support. I slowly started to step towards that road.

"Lacey, where are you going?" Lucinda demanded, yanking my arm towards her. "You don't want to go that way. That's where all the poor people live."

I sighed and followed her, commenting, "I never realized there was such poverty here in York."

She shrugged. "It's everywhere, but what can you do?"

I did not reply but instead just let her lead me into the tavern. The inside of appeared much more bright and cheerful than the darkness outside. People laughed and danced gleefully. Some clasped their mugs together and I saw the ale splash out like raindrops.

"Wait here," Lucinda instructed, stopping us by a small round table. "I'll get us some drinks."

She picked up her ivory gown and marched up to the man behind the counter, demanding, "Two ales… oh and do you have some whiskey back there too?"

I giggled nervously. This will sure be an interesting night, as it usually was with Lucinda.

"Well, hello there, ma-lady," a voice slurred behind me.

I turned around. A young man, wearing a hat stood behind me. He appeared slightly older than me. When he grinned, I saw his right tooth slightly popped out. Other than that, he appeared fairly handsome with his thick blonde locks streaming under his hat.

"Hi," I replied, flipping my hair in front of my shoulder.

"What's a pretty young thing like you doing here by yourself?"

"I'm actually here with a friend," I said, nodding my head back towards Lucinda, who still chatted with the man serving drinks.

"I see," he said, taking a step closer to me. "How would you like to make another friend?"

He leaned in to kiss me, but I stopped him by slamming my hand on his chest.

"One question," I interjected. "Do you have a wife?"

He shrugged. "Yes, but she's not here now."

I chuckled and shoved him away. "Okay, you can go now."

He stared at me, bewildered, but stepped back towards me. "Are you serious? What's it matter if I've got a wife? Like I said, she's not here."

This man continued to advance towards me, and I once again pushed him with both hands and drew my knife.

"I said, go away," I gritted, clasping the knife.

Still, he stepped forward.

"Hey!" Lucinda's voice shrilled from behind me. "I believe my friend said to leave her alone. You best listen or I'll have my father throw you in Prince John's deepest dungeons."

He held up both hands and started to turn, muttering, "Fine."

Lucinda laughed as we sat down at our small round table, handing me my mug of ale. "What was wrong with him? Was it the tooth? I can see how that might be a bother."

I shook my head, taking a sip of ale. "He told me he had a wife. Believe me, I don't want to deal with that again."

She continued to giggle and remarked, "I guess that would become a nuisance after a while."

Lucinda poured some whiskey into two smaller cups. "Drink this one quickly."

I grinned and obliged to her demand and almost choked on it. Within moments, I could already feel the fizzle slither up to my head.

"That's good, right?" she asked with a chuckle.

I nodded, coughing a bit. "At little harsh, but still good."

"Splendid!" she exclaimed, pouring some more. "Let's have another."

And so we did have another, and some more after that. After a while, the room appeared brighter. I actually wanted to sing along with the people across the room, with their arms around each other's shoulders, tilting their hats in joy.

"So…" Lucinda drawled, the slur elevating in her tone, "Sir Guy… he's, uh… rather dreamy, don't you think?"

I took a sip of ale and stared at her for a moment. My mind spun softly, unable to think of an immediate response. I burst out in laughter.

She leaned back, taking offense. "What? Even you have to admit, he's quite handsome… right?"

"Well… sure, I guess," I admitted, taking another slurp from my mug, "but he's, uh… he's really… mean."

Lucinda laughed and flung her hand, "Oh you're just saying that because he was brought in to serve the Sheriff while you were still a girl. He's kind of like… he's like a brother to you."

I leaned back in attempt to calm the whirlpool spinning in my head and considered her words. Growing up, all I knew was Vaisey's care. He never told me who my real parents were, or whether or not I have any siblings.

"Is that what having a brother is like?" I asked her.

"More or less," she replied with a shrug, and then sloppily leaned forward. "Anyway, I know I am to marry Prince John… but, I thought perhaps I could still take Guy as my lover."

"Lover…" I repeated, tilting my head, before my eyes lit up like firewood. "If he were your… lover, he would come live with you, right?

She nodded, clasping her mug. "But of course, he would serve Prince John directly."

I sat up straighter. "That… is… BRILIANT! Then… he would be away from Nottingham, and no one would stand in my way of…"

Her eyes brightened as she leaned in closer to me. "Do you really think Guy will want… will maybe want to…"

My arm rested on the table, with my hand still around my mug. Suddenly, it felt difficult to even hold my head up.

"Well, he might… maybe he…" I slurred, trying to sit up straighter. "He wouldn't have a choice… if you were to order him… right?"

She gawked at me for a moment and then giggled. "But of course! How could I not think of that? I will be… a princess after all."

"Well, if it isn't the Lady Lucinda," a young man walked behind her, putting his hand on her shoulder.

She gazed up sloppily and beamed, "Thomas! What a delight! I was so hoping you would be here." She pointed her finger way off to the left and said, "This is my friend, Lacey, uh… Lacey of Nottingham."

He took his hat off, revealing his short black curls, and nodded. "Pleasure."

They continued to chat. I felt my conscious drifting in and out. If I closed my eyes for too long I may just fall asleep right here at this table.

Thomas leaned over Lucinda's shoulder and whispered something in her ear. Her eyes brightened like a flaming candle and she clapped her hands together.

"Oh, that does sound marvelous," she declared. "Shall we go now?"

I raised my mug, having a thought of what the two of them planned to do next. "Go on then. I'll be here with my drink."

"Oh Lacey, you must join us!" Lucinda insisted, standing up.

I raised my eyebrow. "What?"

She grabbed my hand, forcing me to my feet. "Come! I promise this will be the best adventure we've ever had!"

Lucinda did not even wait for me to answer as she dragged me behind her, following her friend, Thomas.

Thomas took the two of us to his carriage, leading us to his grand manor. When the wheels stopped, I peered out and squinted my eyes at this home. It appeared to be moving. I put my hand on my head, wiping the sweat as my mind continued its never ending whirlpool.

Lucinda and I followed Thomas to a small candlelight room, filled with red cushions surrounded by wool blankets. My body collapsed down on one drawing comfort from the soft material. Lucinda slumped down right next to me and giggled. Thomas picked up a pitcher on the small table in the corner and poured out three drinks. He then pulled a tiny bag from the inside of his shirt and dropped what looked like some sort of powder in each cup.

"What is that?" I asked Lucinda in a whisper.

She grinned and answered, "Something that will make you feel the most splendid you've ever felt in your life."

Before I could react, Thomas had giver her two of the cups and she started shoving one in my face, insisting I drink it. I grabbed it just to get her off of me. We clicked our cups together and we drank. It tasted just as normal wine. Whatever he put in it did not seem to affect that. For a moment, I felt nothing, then my body felt suddenly heavy. I had difficulty moving even my arm up. I slowly leaned my head to the right. The walls seemed to be getting bigger.

"So, Lacey, how do you feel?" Thomas asked me, while Lucinda kept switching between giggling and leaning her head back in awe.

"I feel…" I tilted my own head up, trying to come up with a word, any word for this moment. "I feel… everything."

I saw him smile, or I think he smiled. My eyes slowly twirled around the room. The candles appeared to be moving up and down. One single flame burned blighter than all the others. It looked as though it might just swallow up this whole room.

"Come," Lucinda said, grabbing my arm, "Let's go out to the garden. I feel in need of some flesh air."

I slowly stumbled up and followed her, feeling a numbness where she had touched my arm.

We walked outside, observing a black sky shimmering with starlight. I turned my head, "Where's…" I could not think of his name.

Lucinda just laughed. "Oh don't worry about… uh, him. We can have fun… just us."

She grabbed my hands and spun me around. I felt if my feet could lift from the ground I would fly away. My hands slipped away and I feel to the ground, laughing. Lucinda reached down to help me up, but instead I pulled her down. She twittered and grabbed both my hands, pinning me to the ground. Slowly, Lucinda drew her head down to mine and touched her soft lips on mine. She caressed my lips to hers, while holding my hands. I tried to push her off but could not move my body. For a moment, her warmth brought me comfort.

"Lucinda," I made a second attempt to push her off.

She only cackled. "What's the matter, Lacey? No one is here."

I let her kiss me again. My body grew numb and I closed my eyes. Lucinda moved one down, tracing my laced up dress. Her fingers crawled up my chest, softly… at first. Lucinda clasped one hand around my throat and then the other and pressed. I could feel my airway thin as I gasped for breath.

"Lu… stop…"

She tilted her head and offered a sly grin. "You will not get in my way."

xXx

My head jerked up, my skin sticky with sweat. I grabbed a nearby tree and used it to stumble to a stand. I glanced around my new surroundings. My eyes felt like they had been drained of any liquid. I do not think I could cry if I wanted to.

When I looked around, all I saw was trees so tall they blocked the sunlight. Something seemed familiar.

"Much!" a voice hollered, sounding exasperated. "We're going this way, Much!"

My body froze as I clung to the tree. I knew that voice. Somehow I wound up in Sherwood Forest, home of Robin Hood.