Picking up from where we left off. This Chapter is mostly dedicated to filling gaps that are missing and tieing up loose ends mentioned into the previous chapters, a calm before the storm is the best way to put it.

Amaranthe Athenais; Yeah there's definitely more to Guy's backstory here that I thought was missing in the actual series. In the episode, 'bad blood,' it vaguely touches on Guy's relationship with his father and how they both feel.

Robin Hood reader; Good question. I suppose it's because Guy is more handsome, more evil and more interesting than Robin. Don't get me wrong, I like Robin too and I think he's great, but I guess I will always pefer Guy.

Greenveilbride; I totally agree with you. Thanks

Chapter 8; Ghosts of the Past

Gareth of Gisborne sat there, on his horse, surrounded by soldiers. He was a living giant, well over six foot with a double-headed axe slung on his back. He was the spitting image of Guy, expect his hair was a lighter shade and his face covered with battle-scars. His body was burdened by a set of plated armour that screamed wealth and physical power. 'Why is he here? Hasn't he caused enough trouble?' Guy hissed to himself. The old hatred for the man who called himself his mother's brother never left him;

It was a miserable voyage across the channel, the wind howled like a banshee that had be burnt, and the rain constantly beat the life out of Guy and his younger sister, Isabella. The pair had just left the busy port and were wandering down a deserted road. "Are we there yet?" Isabella complained. "Does it look like we're there?" Guy snapped, tired of her constant nagging. "Well I don't know, I can't see through this mist." She snapped back. Guy rolled his eyes. They had been walking for just over an hour, or what felt like an hour. He had picked a bad time to come to France, but there again, he didn't have much of a choice. It was Autumn, soon giving in to winter, bringing rain and snow alike. "Aww, why couldn't we stay in England?" Isabella whined, breaking the silence. "Did you buy a house there without telling me?" Guy said sarcastically. "No-"

"So there you are, that's why we can't stay in England. Now if you'll please be quiet."

"But what about Robin! He'll take care of us, won't he?" Guy froze in his tracks. He turned around to face Isabella, going down on one knee so his eyes were level with her blue ones. "Listen to me, Isabella," Guy commanded, gripping her shoulders, "Robin could've taken us in, he could of stood up to Longthorn at least. But did he? No-"

"But he just lost his dad."

"WE JUST LOST EVERYTHING! EVERYTHING WE HAD!" Guy yelled, his patience snapping. "The only reason why we're not starving to death is because I have to steal from others. Now I'm only going to say this once, we are going to find our uncle to see if he will take us in. If you don't like it, then tough." Isabella said nothing, her eyes welling up with water. "Please don't cry." Guy begged. "I miss mummy and daddy." She sniffled. "Me too." Guy sighed. "Come on, we must keep moving if we're to get there before night." He said softly. "But my feet hurt." She grumbled. He sighed again, then knelt down for her to hop on his back.

The sun hadn't fully set when the pair arrived at their uncle's manor. It was a beautiful house, set on a hilltop overlooking a pleasant village. They used to come here in the summer, where the surrounding fields would be filled with wild flowers jewelled with butterflies. "Now, do you remember what I told you?" Guy asked. "Don't speak unless spoken to and keep my head down." Isabella mumbled. "Good. Keep telling yourself that and we'd be fine." Guy beamed. They walked up the steps, the guards eyed them carefully, muttering to each other in French. They approached the main door, made of thick dark wood. The whole design of manor was to intimidate people. A knight stood by the side of it, dressed in chain-mail with an axe by his side. "We're here to see the Lord of the Manor. I'm his nephew." The knight continued to tower over him, wordlessly. "Do you even speak English?!" Guy snapped impatiently. "I do. I'll get him. Wait here and learn some manners at the same time, if you want to keep that fast tounge of yours." He yelled with a heavy accent, before disappearing inside. After half an hour of waiting patiently at his door, the Lord of the Manor stepped out. "Well come on the, out with it." He demanded, his breath reeking of wine. "It's me, Guy and Isabella, you're niece and nephew. My lord." Guy added, remembering his manners just in time. "And? Where is your mother and father?" He inquiried. "Dead, my lord."

"How?"

"Our manor caught fire. It was burnt to the ground." Guy explained, sorrow in his voice. "So how on earth does this concern me?" He questioned. The pair were shocked by his lack of remorse, but it fail to affect Guy. "We would be eternally gratefully if we could stay the week here or at least get transport to my parent's land." It was really his mother's land originally, but became his father's land too after they married.

"Your parent's land? I don't recall your parents owning any land apart from that miserable little village in England."

"Yes they did-"

"Ooohhh wait, I remember now. Yes that little estate you owned is well, how can I say- my estate." Guy's anger was reaching boiling point. "That land is rightfully mine. The law says-"

"To hell with the law! How old are you? Fourteen, fifteen and not a penny to your name? You're far too young to run an estate."

Guy glowered at him, his hand gripping the hilt of the sword so tightly he thought he might crush it. His uncle saw the look he received, then whistled loudly. "Philip! Please escort these people away from here." The knight they saw from early came round the corner. With a grin on his face, he took them by the ears, and practically dragged them away from the manor.

Heavy footfalls brought Guy back to reality. His uncle was here, for some reason oblivious to him, and he needed a horse. "Another relative of yours, Gisborne?" Tuck whispered in his ear. "Why are you asking me if you know so much about the past?" Guy hissed back. He elbowed Tuck in the ribs, catching him by surprised, then pushed him down the small embankment. 'Fool.' He thought. Guy run through the forest, keeping one eye on the path, and the other on the army. He was grateful that they hadn't detected him already. He slowed his pace. He'd reached the end of the army. On man brought up the rear, holding a banner in his hand. 'Perfect.' Guy thought. He whistled loudly, to get his attention. The soldier looked around at the trees, thinking it was a bird. Guy whistled again, successfully capturing his attention. He stood his horse and stared at the figure cloaked in the tree's shadow. Guy approached him cautiously, then extended his hand. The baffled soldier shoke his hand, frowning in confusion. The more fool he was. Guy yanked him down off his horse before he realised it then finished him with his sword. Without wasting time, Guy mounted the stallion and rode off into the distance.

It was night time when he snuck into Locksley manor. Gisborne knew that this was the first place Robin would look for him, but it was raining heavily outside and didn't fancy sleeping in the forest. But he knew he would have to leave at first light. Guy walked over to a cupboard, after dumping a hare he caught earlier on the table, pulled out a candle and lit it. He sat down, took out his knife then skinned the animal. It was difficult with nothing but a candle to guide him, but he soon had the hare roasting over the dim fire. "Where's Thornton when you need him?" He muttered to himself, not used to cooking food himself. The manor was empty. A thin layer of dust told him that. But it won't be long till someone ransacked his home for valuables. Fortunately he had buried his precious heirlooms in a chest near the manor. He doubted anyone would find it.

The thin stench of burning pulled the knight out of his thoughts. 'Burning? The hare!' He immediately pulled it out of the fire. Guy sighed. Half of the rabbit was as black as night. Cooking clearly wasn't one of his strong points. He tried to eat as much of the hare as he could that wasn't blacked, before retiring for the night.

"Gisborne, Gisborne. Wake up!" His eyes shot open, alarmed. No sooner he realised a cold metal blade licking his throat. His hand slide to the side, trying to find his sword. He could have sworn he placed it at the side of him. Guy's attention turned to his murderer. Tuck gazed at him, a sword in one hand and a candle in the other, sending shadows dancing across their faces. "You..." Guy muttered. He should've known better. "What do you want now?" He hissed. "First night as an outlaw and your still sitting on the lap of luxury." Tuck stated. "Look, if you've come to kill me, then spare me the constant babble."

"I haven't come to kill you nor on Hood's orders. There is important information I need to tell you." Tuck explained. "Let me guess... are you going to boast about how much you know about my father." Guy snarled. "Quiet the opposite. I met him in the Holy land," Tuck started without invitation, "I was staying in a monastery before travelling back to Rome. However, it was raided by thieves and bandits before being burnt to the ground. I was held as prisoner. But thankfully, it wasn't long before they came across your father and his battalion. The thieves were slaughtered, those who weren't shot down immediately fled for their lives. So anyway, his soldiers turned their attention to me. They were about to kill me on the spot but your father stepped in just in time and dismissed them. I was eternally grateful to him. He saved my life not once, but twice in the same night. He could've killed me, tortured me, forced me into slavery, even try to hold me for ransom. But he didn't. Instead, he just told me to go my own way. So, I travelled with him for some time. Helped rebuild villages that had been destroyed, cook for the army and whatnot. But he never asked me to fight, not once."

Tuck lowered his sword, his eyes infested with the ghosts of the past. "We talked of many things in the time we travelled, he often sought council from me. Your father even invited me to go to England. He often spoke of you."

"Of me?" Guy repeated, trying not to fall asleep. "Aye, he said his biggest regret was going to the Holy Land. He wasted his time perusing land he didn't need when he should've been home teaching you how to fight and hunt and joust. He wanted to be a better father to you-"

"Shut up." Guy growled, his mood turning sour. "Pardon?" Tuck asked, not sure if he had heard correctly. "I said shut up." Guy reiterated. He realised he didn't want to know who his father was anymore. His father was dead, burnt to ashes by him. To think that he murderer a good man, and not someone who abandoned him made his burden even more unbearable.

"I haven't finished yet." Tuck protested. "I don't care." He replied, getting up. Tuck was on him in an instant, putting the icy blade to his throat. "If you move again then so help me God, I'll have to kill you." Guy didn't move. "That's better. There is a purpose I came here tonight, and not just to rant on about the past. Your father loved you very much and was a great man who did great things and saved many people." Guy wanted to tear his own ears off. "Anyway, it wasn't long till we were ordered to capture a Saracen fortress with a few other battalions. It was at that time that I spotted his... affliction. It was lucky I spotted it early. I told him he should've gone home but he didn't want to abandon his men. So, together we came up with a cunning plan, to create a distraction to flee the battlefield and return to England. I made what you call here a mustard bomb, but stronger. In the chaos of the battlefield the bomb would explode creating a distraction for him to flee. The plan worked to perfection, by the time anyone found out in the Holy land, it would be too late."

"Right, so if that's all you came here for, can I now get some sleep?" Guy nagged. "You know, your father was as impatient as you." Tuck said. Guy rolled over, then felt the sword on his neck again. "Like I said, there's a reason why I came here. Before the battle, your father was scared he wouldn't make the journey back to England. So in case he failed, he gave me this, to give to you;" Tuck picked up a sack and pulled out the most magnificent weapon Guy had ever seen. It was a crossbow; made of sturdy Saracen wood engraved with patterns that had then been painted gold. Metal ran through the core of it, also engraved. It was a beautiful weapon. 'It must have cost a fortune.' Guy thought, his jaw hitting the floor. "You see that barrel." Tuck pointed out. There was a small barrel, near the trigger with six holes in it. "You load the bolts in there and you can fire them faster. This bit here," Tuck demonstrated, sliding another peice of fine wood back, "let's you pull the bow back more easily. It was your father's favourite weapon and he was the last person to fire a bolt from it." Tuck handed Guy the weapon carefully. He stared at it with disbelief, and held it as though it was made of solid gold. Tuck got up to leave. Before he opened the door, he said, "use it wisely."

Not such if the crossbow is 100% historically accurate, but hey it's Christmas time. I wish you all a lovely Christmas and a happy New year.