Just a quick note, don't look too much in to the ending, I just found that it would be way too long if i carried on.
CATHY'S POV
The next morning Cathy woke, it was still dark outside, but you could see he sun start to breach the horizon in the distance. She got up and started to dress when there was a knock on her door.
"Luke, I'm awake, I'll be out in a few minutes," She hissed though the door. Cathy hurriedly slipped her dress up further and opened the door for Luke to come in. He walked in, he looked tiered and drained. "Are you alright?" asked Cathy. Luke nodded, He nodded again more vigorously when Cathy looked at him sceptically. "Fine," she said and started to do up the strings which were in the front this time.
"Are you ready to go?" Cathy nodded as she tied off her dress.
"Hang on,' she said and stuffed her nightdress in to the chest along with her neatly folded dress which Charlie had done yesterday. She straightened sweeping the room one last time making she that she hadn't forgot anything. She glanced at Luke who was staring at her. "What?' she said combing her hand through her hair.
"I'm going to miss you wearing dresses," said Luke looking her up and down. Cathy laughed.
"How do I look today?" she asked spinning on the stop.
"Gorgeous, you're going to break Gisbourne's heart leaving today," said Luke still looking her up and down.
"I'm so glad that we're going today," said Cathy. "I can't wait for things to back to how they were before all this started."
"Kath, I need to talk to you. Tomorrow I'm going to Scarborough, to visit Auntie Annie."
"Oh…" said Cathy, her heart and brain flooded with emotion, She felt rather sad that Luke was leaving so soon, but then he did need to see his Aunt. "That's good Luke, You should have gone and seen her sooner." She felt tears prick her eyes. She forced her self to laugh as she wiped them away. "What's the matter with me? Hang on, you know this will be the first time we are apart for more then a day since we've known each other." Luke's face fell a bit.
"I know," he said quietly.
"Lets go," said Cathy swallowing her tears.
"You're still crying," said Luke reaching for her.
"It'll make it look believable," she said ducking away from his hand. She didn't know why she rejected him this time, she guessed she thought that he should've asked her to join him.
Ten minutes later she was saying goodbye to the 'gentlemen' of the castle as Luke patted the horses.
"Sheriff, thank you for you hospitality during my stay here," she said, fighting the urge to punch him. The sheriff only grunted, it was clear that he wanted nothing more then to retreat to his chambers.
"Mr Wentworth, I hope that we meet again," she said turning to Mr. Wentworth and genuinely smiling at him.
"We shall my dear, in time," he said placing his hands on her shoulders, A lot sooner then you think Cathy thought to her self as she turned to Gisbourne.
"Sir Guy, Thank you," she said thinking of nothing else to say.
"Catherine, I was hoping for a quick word, before you left."
"Yes, of course," said Cathy, dreading what was coming. Gisbourne lead the was to a distant corner of the courtyard.
He turned to her and looked straight in to her eyes, Cathy saw the sadness in them, and realized for the first time how unlucky in love he had been.
"During your stay here in Nottingham, I have come to care for you, more then I care for anyone else," started Gisbourne.
"Sir guy, I-" began Cathy.
"Please," said Gisbourne, "Let me finish," Cathy closed her mouth. "I have come to care for you and I know that you return these feelings and I an hoping that you take up my offer and come by Nottingham on you way back from Scotland."
"Sir Guy, I do not know when I shall be returning, I was given a open ended invitation."
"I doesn't matter," said Gisbourne and Cathy could see the desperation in his eyes.
"Thank you, Sir Guy, I shall be happy to return here," Gisbourne's face broke in to a smile. He took a step closer to her. He took hold of her upper arm, and Cathy couldn't help herself from tense up. His face was only inches from hers when Luke's voice drifted towards them.
"My lady, we really need to be going," she sighed in relief and hurried away from Gisbourne towards the carriage, she sent a look at Luke to tell him to hurry up, before taking Mr. Wentworth's hand and climbing in to the carriage. She leaned out of the window and gave one last wave before the carriage passed through the gates. She sat in the back of the carriage and sighed, only a few more minutes and then she'd be free. As the road got steadily bumpy Cathy started to feel steady sicker. Cathy gulped down air, trying to stop herself from being sick. AS soon as the carriage stopped she stumbled out.
"I hate riding in a carriage," she said gulping down air holding on to a tree to support herself.
"don't worry, you don't have ride in another one until you get married," said Luke patting her shoulder.
"Until I get married? You think I'm going to marry in to wealth?" asked her heats sinking oddly in her chest.
"Yes, You and Gisbourne are going to get married, then your going to move out of Locksley of course and in to... Clun. And you are then go to have so many jobs that need a carpenter that I am going become your full-time carpenter to support my wife and 10 children." Cathy laughed out right.
"Gisbourne! I'd rather kiss a pig," exclaimed Cathy.
"I'll hold you to that," said Luke as they approached the entrance of the camp.
"I know you would, just don't tell Allan, because he'll actually enforce it."
"And what make you think I Won't?" said Luke giving her a playful shove. "Robin," he called stopping Cathy from retorting, "What's the plan?"
"Alright you two?" asked Robin swinging down from the bunk. "Have a good stay in the castle?"
"Don't start," mumbled Cathy walking over to her bed and rummaging through her junk looking for her trousers and top.
"Was it that bad?" asked Robin worry lines forming on his face. Cathy realized that it wasn't just her and Luke that Robin was worried about, it was Marian. "It wasn't hell, but I would much rather have been here," Cathy said climbing on to her bunk and untying her curtains so that they fell over her bed.
"What about you Luke? Have a good time?" asked Much.
"It was better then Cathy's time, I was in the stables most of the time, fixing that carriage that you ruined. I said broken so that you couldn't use it, not destroyed."
"Come off it Luke, you can fix anything," came Allan voice from close to Cathy's bunk. Cathy imagined Luke blush and stare down at the floor like he always did when he got a compliment.
"So Robin," said Little John as Cathy managed to get out of her dress, "Do we have a plan?"
"I have half a plan, Cathy what more can you tell us about Mr. Wentworth."
"Well…" said Cathy pulling up her pants, she threw back the curtain and stood up tying her trousers as she did so. "He's a good man, but in a bad job. A job which he only does to support his wife, who's pregnant." She flicked her hair out of her top.
"Alright, alright, we could use that to our advantage." Cathy pulled on her boots as Robin mulled these new facts around in his head. Cathy glanced around the camp. Much was swinging his sword slowly against a beam holding up the roof. Little John was drawing circles in the dirt wit the end of his shaft. Luke who had changed out of his leather tunic was folding up guards suit. Allan was sitting next to her but on the floor and leaning against her bunk rather then on it. Cathy shifted slightly, she leaned down and dangled her arms around Allan shoulders, He cairned his neck to look at her.
"I missed you," she whispered lowering her head so that her chin was on his shoulder.
"I missed you too," he whispered back, he took her hand which hung just above his stomach and entwined his fingers with hers.
"I'm glad you and Charlie worked things out," she said squeezing his hand.
"Was she really upset?" Allan asked.
"Yes, she was almost crying when we mentioned you." Allan didn't reply, "Don't wait Allan," she whispered right in to his ear.
"Don't wait for what?" he asked.
"Don't wait to tell her that you love her," she said wrapping her arms more firmly around Allan.
"I could say the same to you," said Allan. Cathy opened her mouth and was about to ask what he meant when Robin started to speak.
"Right, here is the Plan."
Half an hour later Cathy found herself standing behind a particularly large tree with John.
"What did you get up to as camp while me and Luke were at the castle?" she asked in an undertone.
"Nothing much," John growled back, "Rounds, a bit of ambushing, not as interesting as what you were doing." Cathy laughed.
"I would much rather have been doing round rather then being chased around by Gisbourne."
"Did he… he didn't…" stuttered John.
"No, he tried to, but Luke stopped him. My knight in shining armor," she joked, John smiled. Cathy really liked John, he was like the father that she never had, but she always felt guilty about thinking of him like that when he actually had a son who he couldn't be a father to. "I wonder if Much and Allan have killed each other yet," Cathy thought aloud.
"I wouldn't be surprised, Much has been really restless theses past few days. And extra annoying."
"I bet your glad we were put together then," said Cathy picturing what Much and Allan must be doing now.
"Your just as bad," said John.
"You don't mean that, you love me really," she said lying her head on his shoulder. John laughed.
"You can read me like a book," he said placing his heavy arms protectively around her shoulders.
"Actually, I can't read," stated Cathy but snuggling close to him non the less. After a few moments Cathy felt John deep voice rumble through his chest.
"Here he is," They both twisted their body to get a better view from the road. Mr Wentworth was riding down the road on a palomino stallion, flanked by about 10 guards. "Today is a good day," Cathy herd John mumble under his breath.
"A good day for what?" she whispered.
"A good day to die," replied John as an arrow flew and landed just in front of the first guard. Cathy's heart sank, she had herd he story from Much about the Kalila Dimna night, and it sent shivers to her bones thinking about Johns confession. But she didn't have time to say anything because as soon as the arrow was embedded in the soft earth they were off.
Cathy and John ran down the hill towards the guards who were drawing their swords and closing in protectively around Mr Wentworth. Cathy engaged in a fight with a young guard who seemed reluctant to want to fight a girl. She swung and knocked him out with the hilt of her sword. One of the bigger guards advanced, obviously not having any reservations about fighting a girl. Cathy ducked as he swung stupidly. She kicked out catching his knee with her solid boot, he howled in pain swinging his sword madly. This time Cathy wasn't quick enough, his sword caught her wrist causing her to drop one of her swords. She attacked blocking his defensive swings, she swung he swords making contact with his upper leg. He staggered back. Again Cathy advanced and slashed his arm which held his sword causing him to drop it. Cathy took him out by stooping and picking up a rock with she threw at his head . She looked around and saw Luke and Allan fighting three guards between them. John taking down a guard, Robin doing the same. She took a step towards a guard fighting with Much and rammed the hilt of her sword in to the back of his head.
"Thanks," said Much picking up his shield which lay a few feet away. "Cathy," he said looking at her wrist. "Your bleeding." Cathy looked down, and she was indeed bleeding. She pulled up her sleeve and started to wipe away some of the blood. She glanced up and saw Allan and Luke taking out the last guard by punching him in the face.