Another Chapter!!

I hope to get a lot done soon... coz i have a holiday!

Enjoy!

CATHY'S POV

She and Luke walked through the darkening forest. Cathy shivered. Even though you cold tell summer was on it way the nights were still cold. Luke slung an arm around her shoulders, she savored the feeling of the closeness of their bodies. She thought about what they were about to do. About how much danger they would both be in, even though she tried not to she wondered what would happen to them if they were caught.

"Luke," she said snuggling closer to him. "I'm scared."

"Me too," sighed Luke. He stop and pulled her in to him. Cathy buried her face in the crook of his neck. She took a deep breath taking in the smell of him, he smelled earthy, and of wood. She lost her self in his arm, she felt her breathing steady, and her face relax, although she didn't know that she was tensing it.

"What's going to happen to us, if we get caught?" she asked, she had just asked the question that no one seemed to want to think of, let alone hear. Luke didn't answer, just held her tighter.

About an hour later she and Luke arrived at the castle, they dismounted their Horses that they had stolen from Clun. She stopped and looked at Luke.

"Good luck," she whispered to Luke, as they hesitated outside the castle gates.

"You too," said Luke. Cathy stood up straighter, and held her shoulders back, and held her head high.

The gates swung open. They walked in to the castle courtyard. As they entered as manservant came hurrying towards them.

"My Lady, may I help you?"

"Yes, my carriage got stuck in some mud in Sherwood forest. And seeing as it was only my servant and I we could not think of moving it before nightfall. I was looking to stay here for tonight."

"Yes, my Lady, I shall just get my master." He hurried away. Cathy fell back next to Luke.

"How did I do?" she asked.

"Very well, my lady," replied Luke. It took all Cathy's will power not to turn around and clip him round the ear.

"My Lady," came a cool deep voice from on top of the stairs. Cathy took a deep breath and turned plastering a dazzling smile over her face.

"Sir, My name is Lady Catherine of Loughborough."

"I'm Sir Guy of Gisbourne," he said walking down the stairs.

"I know," said Cathy grinning at him.

"What may I help you with?"

"I was passing through Nottingham on my way to Scotland and my carriage go stuck in some mud in Sherwood Forest, and seeing as it is just my manservant and I, we could not move it."

"My Lady, it is not safe for a woman to travel through Sherwood Forest alone. There are vicious outlaws."

"Well then I count myself lucky that I didn't have the misfortune to come across any," Gisbourne bowed his head.

"I shall show you to your room, Lady Catherine, and I would like to ask you to join the Sheriff and I for dinner."

"It would be my pleasure," said Cathy beckoning Luke to follow her as Gisbourne started down the corridor. They made their way down a maze of corridors, so much so that Cathy could not remember the way out. Gisbourne stopped and opened a door. "I shall send a maid to collect you for dinner. And to give your manservant a room." He added as an after thought.

"Thank you sir Guy," Cathy said giving him a dazzling smile. Guy looked at her, then without returning the smile turned and walked out the room. Cathy let out the breath she didn't know she was holding in.

"I hate him," Cathy spat. Flopping on to the soft bed

"Don't say that," Luke dropping the chest full of her clothes at the foot of the bed. "You have to spend the next few days with him, and he'll be chasing you around like a dog."

"Oh… don't remind me Cathy said pushing her self up. They fell in to silence as Luke walked over to the window. "What do nobles do in their free time?" asked Cathy.

"You think I know," said Luke playfully, "I'm just the carpenters son."

"I hate it when you do that."

"Do what?"

"Make your self sound so worthless, your not Luke."

"I am in this world."

"Then so am I." said Cathy

"Not this time, Lady Catherine." Cathy grabbed the nearest thing to her, which happened to be a pillow, and hurled it at Luke. Luke grabbed it laughing.

"Like that's going to do a lot of damage." Cathy opened and closed her mouth furiously. She stood up, taking her 'posh stance' as Allan called it.

"Your dismissed," she said coolly. Luke pushed himself up from the wall; he bowed and walked brusquely towards the door. "Come on Luke," she said as he opened the door, "Luke, don't go. Luke I was joking." But Luke didn't look around, the door snapped shut behind him. Cathy smiled and got up from the bed. She walked over to the door and opened it. Luke stood just outside talking to some one who Cathy couldn't see. Cathy nudged him out the way and saw Charlie standing there.

"Charlie! Finally, some one who I like," Cathy cried pushing Luke further out the way. She grabbed Charlie's hand and pulled her in to the room.

"What on Earth is going on?" said Charlie as the door closed on Luke's amused face.

"Luke is bring so immature," Cathy shouted so that Luke who was still on the other side of the door could hear. Charlie laughed.

"I should have expected this. Allan did say…" Charlie drifted of. She bit her lip and looked at the floor. Cathy thought she saw tears in her eyes before she looked down.

"What's the matter?" she asked as Luke entered the room.

"Your bloody cousin, He's such a fool," said Charlie looking at Cathy, Cathy recognized the look in her eyes, she had worn it her self too many times before.

"We know," said Luke putting a hand him Charlie's shoulder. Charlie grinned, then seemed to remember something.

"Dinner. Cathy. Quick, they don't like waiting."

"Right,' said Cathy. "Do I need to change?"

"Yes," said Charlie "Your dress is filthy." Cathy nodded and tugged the ribbon that was keeping her dress up. She wriggled out of it as Luke closed the door behind himself. Charlie straightened up from leaning over Cathy's small chest. She was tugging a yellow dress out of the jumble of material with in. It was the one Cathy had found while she was going through Djaq's old clothes. Even though she a Djaq were the same size she had refused to wear her old clothes. Cathy already felt as if she had taken her place in the gang she didn't want to take her possessions as well. But as she was in dire need of dresses and fast, she had caved.

Charlie helped Cathy change and in a matter of minutes both women were hurrying down the maze of corridors with Luke hot on their heels. Charlie came to an abrupt holt.

"Ready?" Charlie asked, gesturing at a door to her right. Cathy nodded, and approached the door. "Luke, follow me," said Charlie as both she and Luke headed of further down the corridor.

"What?" said Cathy, Charlie and Luke turned to look at her. "You're not coming with me?"

"I'm just your servant, Kath." Then seeing how scared Cathy was Luke smiled reassuringly at her. "You'll be fine," Cathy forced herself to smile then opened the door.

"Ah… You must be Lady Catherine," said an old man with a crazed look in his eyes.

"Yes, it's an honor to meet you sheriff."

"Yes, it is, isn't it?"

"I would like to introduce you to William Wentworth, He is Prince John's adviser."

"Nice to meet you Lady Catherine," said the man who Gisbourne was indicating. He was much older the Gisbourne, but still younger then the sheriff, he had flecks of silver in his light brown hair and gray eyes.

'Likewise Mr. Wentworth," said Cathy.

"Now that we are all here, lets eat," said the Sheriff already tucking in to his soup.

They mostly ate in silence, making occasional small talk about the weather and Cathy's 'journey' here from Loughborough. Cathy was never comfortable in silences. When she was with the gang there was hardly a quietly moment. She, Allan and Luke were always joking around or else they were in deep discussion with the rest of the gang about one thing or another.

"So, Mr. Wentworth," Cathy began feeling every eye turn to her, "What brings you to Nottingham?" Cathy felt rather then saw Gisbourne and the Sheriff exchange glances across the table at each other.

"I'm on official business for the Prince," Mr. Wentworth said taking a sip of wine.

"That sound… boring," said Cathy her heart beating hard as she took the plunge. Mr. Wentworth laughed.

"Yes, I would much rather be home with my wife, but someone has to do it I suppose," he said. The group lapsed in to silence once again for the remainder of dinner.

"Lady Catherine, would you care to join us for a game of cards?" asked the sheriff. Although he made is obvious that he didn't want her their.

"Thank you Sheriff, but it has been a long day. I think I might turn in." the men rose as she stood.

"Lady Catherine, I would like to accompany you in your search for the carriage," said sir Guy, and Cathy saw the Sheriff roll his eyes.

"Thank you, Sir Guy, I really appreciate that." She smiled around at them all, then gave Gisbourne one more smile before turning and walking out the door.

Once outside Cathy breathed easy again. She lent against the cold stone wall and basked in her release. After a few moments she stood and made her way back to her room. As she opened the door she noticed that it wasn't empty. Charlie and Luke were both in their. Charlie was folding Cathy's clothes and Luke was once again at the window. They both looked up as Cathy waked in.

"How did it go?" Charlie asked momentarily forgetting the clothes.

"All right, all I found out was that his name's William Wentworth. Gisbourne has offered to help retrieve the carriage tomorrow," said Cathy sinking on to the edge of the bed.

"That's good, you have him hooked now, He'll be eating out of you hand in no time," said Charlie returning back to the clothes.

"Well at least something good came out of tonight then," said Cathy.

"I'd better go meet Allan then," said Luke holstering his axes again. Cathy was watching Charlie closely as Luke said this. As soon as Allan's name was mentioned Charlie went red and shifted uncomfortably.

"Be careful," called Cathy as Luke's back disappeared out of view.

She turned back to Charlie. She watched her work fro a bit the reached out and started to fold her under dress.

"Charlie?" Cathy asked, thinking about how she was going to approach this.

"Mm…" said Charlie glancing up from her folding. Cathy made a decision to go for the straight forwards approach.

"Do you love Allan?"

"What?!" said Charlie the dress slipping from her grasp.

"Do you love Allan?" Cathy repeated patiently.

"No… of course not, I mean it's Allan… no I couldn't…." Charlie stopped and looked Cathy in the eye. "No, I don't love Allan." Cathy shrugged although she was baffled by her response, she would have sworn on her mothers grave that she did, but she had looked so honest when she had said no. Charlie picked up Cathy's dirty dress and walked to the door.

"Well, at least not any more," she said, tears threatened to fall. "Good night Cathy," she said and closed the door.

Cathy slowly climbed in to bed. What on earth had Allan done to Charlie? All she knew was that she really wanted them to patch things up, before Charlie was snapped up by another bachelor.

--

ALLAN'S POV

He had been waiting in the Ale house for well over an hour. He had arrived there early remembering Luke's parting comment about not being able to wait around. Allan was starting to get slightly worried when a guard wearing a leather uniform walked in. Allan sighed in relief as he beckoned Luke over.

"What took you?" Allan asked as Luke took the seat on the other side of the table.

"Cathy had a nice cosy meal with Gisbourne, the sheriff and Mr. Wentworth."

"Wentworth? William Wentworth?"

"Yes, Do you know him?"

"He used to be in control of taxes in Rochdale," said Allan.

"Kath didn't say anything," said Luke thinking this over.

"Because Cathy is too young to remember. He was the one who used to dream up taxes."

"So do you think that's what he's here for, coming up with more taxes?" Luke asked.

"It's a possibility," said Allan absently rubbing the back of his hand over his forehead.

"Anything else happen?"

"Gisbourne offered to help retrieve the carriage, tomorrow."

"That's good, she has him hooked now," said Allan looking pleased.

"That's exactly what Charlie said."

"Charlie? You've seen her in the castle?" asked Allan trying to keep his cool.

"Yes, she's Cathy's maid. What did you do, mate?" Luke asked.

"What?" said Allan peering at Luke through the smoky darkness.

"She was nearly in tears when you were mentioned." Allan swore.

"Why do I screw up everything?"

"Because as you said, you're an A Dale," said Luke recalling the conversation they had when Cathy had joined the gang.

"But Cathy doesn't, why do I have to?"

"Mate, what ever you didn't can't be that bad, just apologise."

"Will that work?" asked Allan hopefully.

"It works for me," said Luke shrugging.

"Not being funny, but you've never had anyone angry at you, apart from Cathy, and she only gets angry because…" Allan caught himself just in time.

"Because… what?" asked Luke, But Allan bit his cheeks and shook his head.

"You'd better get back otherwise they won't let you back in," said Allan. They both stood. "Same time tomorrow?" Luke nodded. They exited the Ale House, "Good luck, look after her," said Allan as they parted ways.