Disclaimer: I don't own BBC Robin Hood, just my original character, Daisy.

AN: I haven't abandoned this story - as people would like to believe - I have just been busy with other work. I will endeavour to post on a semi-regular bases but I make no promises. It all depends on how quickly I can write and what gets in my way ~ Hannah

DAISY

After Marion's almost hateful words and her less than happy 'adventures' the day before yesterday, she'd been more than a little reluctant to venture out into Nottingham once more. However her Uncle had been persistent, despite the fact that it was more a job for the household staff, he Uncle had sent her to Nottingham with a short list of food to buy.

She'd taken a horse and not a carriage, she didn't want to draw unnecessary attention to herself. A lack of recognition towards who she was and her title afforded a different insight into the poverty around her and it was a more damming one. How others could live while the general health and living of more than half the people around them was so poor, was beyond her. She wanted to give them a little money but also didn't want to be mobbed or be separated from her horse. She'd have to talk to Robin Hood about it if she ever did see him again.

Leaving her horse at the stables, she made her way to the market and began buying the required items. On foot it was much easier to tell her status and see her wealth, it afforded her with a level of respect and safety – respect from the villagers, safety from the soldiers. She had been expecting to have a stress free outing but she should have known she'd seal her fate as soon as she uttered those thoughts.

A commotion up ahead caught her attention, she moved – not too quickly – to the scene, hoping she could help before the situation became too dire. She thought it looked like a simple misunderstanding but upon closer inspection realised she recognised one of the men involved. Thinking nothing of what she was about to di, she sprinted forward before her brain had realised what had happened.

"Excuse me, but what seems to be the problem?" she asked politely.

The solider present looked her up and down with a sneer before bowing formally and returning to a stiff upright position.

"Caught this hooligan causing trouble at the market. He looks suspiciously familiar, probably one of Robin Hood's men, thought I'd take him to be questioned."

"Questioned by whom?"

"The Sheriff M'Lady."

Daisy laughed loudly and mockingly. The solider blushed in embarrassment while the 'hooligan' looked on in confusion.

"I'm afraid to say you've got it wrong. This man here is my servant, I sent him up ahead because I hear the fish man is notoriously hard to deal with and I didn't want the hassle. I'm sorry if he caused you any trouble but I will be needing him back now."

The solider and his sneer – which seemed a permanent fixture – glared at her as if contemplating the truth of her words.

"Of course if you'd prefer we could always take this matter to the Sheriff. I know him personally – though not that well – but I doubt he'll be happy to be bothered with something so…unimportant."

The solider seemed to sense her seriousness, his life was worth more than his need to inform the Sheriff. It would end in death if he was wrong anyway.

"He's yours?" asked the solider.

"I'm sorry has he been causing trouble? He's new and is proving more difficult to break" she said as she glared disgustedly at Much.

"No harm My Lady but you best finish up your tasks and remove him from Nottingham before he causes more harm" said the guard.

"Of course, I only have one more stop to make then I shall be leaving. Rest assure he'll receive his punishment later" she said.

"Of course My Lady" said the guards.

Daisy watched as the guards bid her a good day and walked off. She was amazed that her small bit of acting had actually worked. She turned to face Much and saw him open his mouth to speak. She quickly covered his mouth with her hand.

"No, no talking. I have to pick up some cheese, then we will leave Nottingham and then you can talk" she said sternly.

Much nodded in consent and they walked in silence to fetch some cheese. The crowd cheering the jester was still going but the noise level was much quieter suggesting that people had tired of his acts or he was tidying up to leave.

On the return from Nottingham, things got a little less tense.

"What were you doing Much? You could have been caught!"

"Sorry, it was just a retrieval mission, should have been easy, I got held up and I'm most grateful that you arrived to save me. How can I repay you?"

"By being more careful, you're a good man Much, the world would be a harsher place if you were to leave it."

Much scarpered off sometime later and Daisy was left to her own devices. She should have gone straight home, she shouldn't have lingered with the flowers and the wildlife but she couldn't help herself. When she did return it was to a less than happy surprise. Guards stood outside the house, a dark black carriage was parked before them and her Uncle stood outside with a raging expression on his face.

"Where have you been Daisy?" asked Gisborne as he appeared from behind the carriage.

"To the market, Uncle sent me," she replied as she gestured to the basket she carried. She wished she hadn't dismounted her horse before coming to the front of the house.

"It took you all morning to visit the market? What were you doing with yourself?"

"I was daydreaming Sir, the flowers out were too pretty to be ignored."

"I have word that you stopped a thief in Nottingham, claimed he was your servant and yet I see no sign of him here," said Gisborne.

"I simply saw someone in need and I helped."

"You weren't in a position to help! I have it on good authority that that thief is one of Robin Hood's men! Are you seeing Hood? Are you in cohorts with them? Tell me girl or I'll see you hang."

"I have no idea what you're talking about. I haven't met the person you're referring to. I helped someone in need, I didn't think it was a big deal and I paid the street seller what was owed to him."

"I didn't know you were a liar. Perhaps you need to be taught how to toe the line. Marion will tell you, we take crimes very seriously. Marion's punishment was humiliation, but we have something special in mind for you."

"What do you mean?"

Daisy struggled as the two guards clamped their hands down on her arms and dragged her into the carriage. She called out to her Uncle but he did nothing other than watch her be taken away. He didn't even look guilty for not helping her.

"Women need to be taught their place, if they don't listen then the only way is through pain…" Gisborne eyed her dangerously, a sneer upon his face and a blackened cruelty in his eyes.