I do not own Robin Hood.

"Congratulations!" Said Thornton.

"Thank you my Lord." Said Rachael as Guy bowed his head.

"Though I can't help but wonder if you're simply trying to distress my wife further." He added.

The three of them were in Nottingham to inform Thornton that Rachael had accepted Guy as her future husband, also that she was willing to give him full control of Locksley as a wedding gift.

"Not so Sheriff. Though I really would do something about her. She wants Nottingham back and she only wants to do that one way, by ending your life." Added Guy.

"I know. She said as much this morning. Prince John won't allow this, Nottingham has been quiet and peaceful under my rule. I have more favour and it will stay that way. I'm sorry Gisborne. She has to go, for good." Said Thornton.

Guy looked as though he couldn't care less. He bowed and left the room. Rachael turned back to Thornton and hesitated slightly.

"There is one other thing, upon my marriage to Guy, I want him to have Locksley." She said.

"It goes without saying! My Lady Rachael, you marry Guy and he gets everything. Including your own favour with Prince John I shouldn't wonder. He speaks very highly of you. I dare say he might be a tad disappointed in your choice of husband." Said Thornton.

Rachael remembered Prince John well. The few days she spent in Nottingham as Isabella's right hand, had her spending half the time avoiding Prince John. He had indeed then taken a shine to her and Isabella had hated it as she noticed that she had been a lot more flirtatious.

To make matters worse Guy was pondering. Rachael noticed a very thoughtful and dark expression on his face. She looked at him questioningly and he tried to smile but his heart wasn't in it and she knew why.

"Isabella?" She asked.

"She is still my sister." He replied.

Rachael nodded. He expected her to remind him how many times she had tried to kill him, and tried to give him to Prince John, but she didn't.

"Guy I am on your side. You do what you think is right and I'll always be here for you." She said.

"Even if it could mean your life?" He asked.

Rachael's expression softened at Guy's concern. She put her hand upon his knee and knelt down to where he was sat. She smiled at him warmly.

"I said always." She replied.

"I want her out. I'd rather know she were an outlaw than dead." He said.

Rachael nodded in understanding and acceptance of the idea. Guy could not believe that she had even entertained the idea of helping Isabella.

"I don't understand..." He began.

"If it's important to you, it's important to me." She added.

"I don't deser..." He began.

Rachael put a finger on his lips before she replaced it with her own lips for a moment. It was her silencing tool and it appeared to work as Guy looked at her uncertainly.

"I'll be the judge of that, My Lord." She said.

"Oh My Lady..." He began.

Guy kissed Rachael more passionately than ever before, she was very acceptable of the fact as he was to be her husband but when his hands got too close for comfort she stopped him and looked at him sternly and warningly.

"Not until we're married." She said.

"You torture me." He said.

"You take advantage of my good nature, we're even." She added.

"You're not as good natured as you make out." He added, closing in on her again.

"This isn't saving..." She began.

That time, Guy silenced Rachael and she only momentarily tried to stop him. She forgot how strong he was and how little effort it took him to press against her into a wall, unknowing that they had an unwanted guest not too far away from them, so close that he was in the same room.

"I wouldn't let him do that if I were you." Said Robin Hood.

"Get out!" Ordered Guy.

"Err, no! It was my house first!" Added Robin.

Rachael could sense from the expressions of hatred, something was about to start. She wondered if in his own way Robin was trying to protect her.

"I already know. I'm not in any danger." She said.

"Stay away from him if you value your life." He said.

Guy knew there would be hell to pay if Robin managed to convince Rachael that he wasn't good for her. Luckily she shook her head at him.

"If he isn't with me, I do not have a life." She said.

"Spoken like a true wife." Added Guy.

"Spoken like a bloody idiot! Rachael honestly! He's dangerous..." Began Robin.

"We're all dangerous when we've been betrayed." She added.

"There will be more danger if I see Locksley in his hands once more, that will happen when you marry and you're aware of it. I will not hear of your marriage. There won't be one, not if I can help it." He added.

When Robin stormed away, Guy only wanted to see to it that he would be proved wrong. However Rachael followed Robin to every-one's surprise. Guy could not stop her and she walked too quickly for Robin to try and loose her.

"Robin!" She shouted.

He turned angrily to her, making it clear that he would not change his mind easily about stopping her marrying Guy and therefore giving him Locksley back.

"He's not the same person that he was." She added.

"No?" He asked in disbelief.

"No. He, he isn't as sure of himself as he used to be. Locksley will be different this time. Guy and I will have equal rule of it. Admit it, Locksley has been untroubled under my rule." She replied.

"Exactly, so why change that?" He asked.

"I can't help who I fall in love with. This time it's different. We return that love to each other, Marian didn't and Guy couldn't take that." She replied.

"You know I have always been fond of the eye for an eye expression? The woman I loved for his..." He began.

Robin took out a small dagger and pressed it to Rachael's neck. To his surprise it wasn't her life she was worried about. She was more concerned about the living that she would leave behind.

"Please, my death would kill him." She said.

"Tell me again that you love him." He threatened.

"You know I will." She said.

"Do it!" He shouted.

"I love Guy of Gisborne!" She added just as loudly.

Rachael felt more pressure on her neck, but Robin's hand was unsteady. He had a different justice system to Guy and to kill her would make him no better than he was. She noticed the hesitation and felt quite sorry for him. She put her hand around the wrist that held the dagger and it fell to the floor, unused.

"In some ways it makes you better than him. Know that." She said.

"I still can't see Locksley under his rule." He warned.

"Then let me see if I can keep Locksley. Thornton owes me his life. I'm sure he will listen to me." She said.

"He had better. Or you will never marry him. Not while I'm around." He added.

Rachael went back to Locksley Manor and Guy looked at her. He noticed that she was pale and frowned with concern and put his hand on her forehead.

"Rachael, you're not well." He said.

"I'm fine. I just need to get us out of this and Isabella free. I'll be in what could be a very long meeting. You need to get her out while he's distracted." She said.

"What are you planning?" He asked.

"Hood has given us an ultimatum. Either I keep Locksley or we don't get married." She replied.

"You promised me..." He began.

"I know..." She started.

"I thought you wanted to help me, not make things worse! He is an outlaw and he doesn't tell us what to do or how to live our lives!" Shouted Guy.

"He has beaten you countless times before. I won't let anything come between me and my wedding, that is assuming you still want to get married." Added Rachael.

"Of course I do, but I don't want to be told what I can and can't have. Not by him. If you must distract Thornton, it will be to ask him for maximum protection at our wedding." Ordered Guy.