Apologies for the long delay. I just recently moved back into my dorm, so things have been a little hectic. I managed to steal a little time away from my classwork to update this story and yes, I will still be updating it as best I can throughout the semester. :) Do enjoy!

XVIII

Unintentional Evils

She lay upon the floor sobbing, her face pressing against the unyielding and rough wooden floorboards. She lay like a lame and submissive dog, of no more use to its owner. She could hear the whispers of the other servants standing around and gawking at the display before them. What had happened? The master had never abused Rebecca so violently and so publicly before. No one ever thought that he would dare to throw her from the manor. This was different. Rebecca hadn't transgressed in her duties, she had been proven a traitor. A traitor? They whispered, Rebecca? She was the master's pet. She condemned any who sought to do him harm. Rebecca? A traitor? It couldn't be.

She lifted her head off of the floor and remained sitting upon her knees. She had stopped screaming for the master. Some of the servants had been shocked at how casually she had used his name to cry out to him. Who did she think she was? Not even the oldest servants dared to call their master by his name. Perhaps it was not so bad an idea to throw her from the manor. She had been thinking she was a step above the other servants lately. It was somewhat satisfying to see her treated like the lowest scullery girl; dispensable.

The whispers must have eventually reached Rebecca's ears for she soon turned to face the small crowd. "Which one o' ya was it?" She croaked out, her voice raw from screaming. Her voice silenced the growing chatter.

She rose to her feet, approaching them like a creature of the dead struggling to walk on reanimated limbs. "Well? Who was it? I know one o' ya put that filthy outlaw's tag with my things...who was it?"

The few backed away from her. "No one touched your things." Someone said.

"I know one of ya did it!" She screamed, "Just...just go an' tell the master. Tell him I've done nothing wrong! Ya got what ya wanted right? Please don't let him send me away..."

No one volunteered to step forward. "Jenny?" Rebecca asked approaching the girl, but she backed away, "Tess?" The other girl turned away from her. "Thornton?" She looked to the elderly servant, but he only gave her a pitying look. What did she expect him to do for her? Once Gisborne gave an order only those with a death wish chose to defy it.

"Ya won't help me?" Rebecca realized with an overwhelming sense of betrayal. "You'll let him throw me from Locksley?" She looked about at the faces of the other servants.

There was nothing they could do; and it wasn't as if Rebecca had ever been truly one of their own. She had always kept herself apart from the rest. She was the one that had treated Locksley like a prison. Everyone knew that she wasn't asking to be kept in Locksley, she was asking to be kept with Guy. No one was going to help a woman who had made herself an outcast among people who would have been willing friends.

"Cowards!" Rebecca shouted, "Ya know I'm innocent! Ya know I couldn't turn a traitor on anyone! Why did ya just stand there? Why didn't ya say anything! Gutless, spineless..." They were walking away, a few of the younger girls looked back with sympathy in their eyes. The rest tried to drown her out. "Go t' hell!" She screamed at them.

"What is going on down there?!" Isabella's voice snapped through the fiery cries. She could see Rebecca standing alone in the hall as the other servants left her. She was clutching at the sides of her linen dress. Locks of her hair were falling down about her face as they came undone from their ribbon. For all of the sorrow apparent in the figure of the woman she emanated such a hellish fury. One could feel the heat of her anger sear at the skin.

Rebecca tried to curtsy as Isabella approached her. She quivered as she tried to formulate words. "My lady," she swallowed hard, her throat going dry. She tried to speak, but all she could manage was a few almost unintelligible gasps, "'Fraid I can't...won't be able...have t'...leave."

Isabella practically flew down the steps to the distressed woman's side. She placed an arm about Rebecca's shoulders, "Come back upstairs, Becca." she whispered, tilting her head up towards the retreated servants, "Don't give them the satisfaction of seeing you cry."

Rebecca nodded and allowed Isabella to lead her up the steps and back into her room. After closing the door she sat Rebecca down upon the bed. "What happened." She asked, sitting beside her and offering her a kerchief to dry her eyes with.

Rebecca took the kerchief, but did not dry her eyes with it. She clutched it in her shaking hand and brought it down to her lap. She toyed with a corner of it, wringing it around and around her fingers before unwinding it and beginning the process all over again. "He...let me go..." She hiccuped.

"What? Who did?"

"Guy." With trembling breath Rebecca explained that she had been called to speak to her master, that he had found an outlaw's tag among her belongings, that he had branded her as a traitor and that she must leave Locksley. Isabella listened with calm eyes, often making gasps of horror and outrage, or taking the woman in a comforting embrace. Rebecca sat as stiff and as unmoving as a heartless block of stone. Words came tumbling from her mouth, but she felt numb to her own voice. Was she really speaking, or was she dreaming? She suddenly felt so tired she could not be sure.

"I tried to warn you." Isabella shook her head as if blaming her self, "I knew he would do something like this, but I never thought that he...I should have done something..."

This declaration shocked Rebecca, she looked at Isabella curiously, "'S not your fault..." She said. "B-b-but ya believe me? Ya believe that the tag's not mine?"

"Of course I do! Utterly ridiculous to think you would ever try to hurt my brother."

"Then ya will speak t' him?!" Rebecca clutched at Isabella's shoulders, "Ya will tell him I'm innocent.? You're his sister, he'll believe ya."

"Oh, Becca, I would if I did not think Guy had planned this entire act." Isabella said mournfully.

Rebecca dropped her arms, sliding away from Isabella, "Why would ya say that?"

"Because he told me he had been wanting to rid himself of you...and for some time he has been acting very suspicious. He spent his time so often with you I knew he must be trying to get to you...I just couldn't be sure. I never thought he would sink so low as to brand you a traitor." Isabella said quickly.

"Why would ya say such things?" Rebecca's voice rose as she leapt to her feet, backing away from Isabella in horror. "Guy would never do that. It was one o' the servants. He...he was tricked. He...he wouldn't..."

"If he could sell his own sister off to a man who made her life into a living hell all for a couple of coins...what makes you think he wouldn't fake a simple betrayal." Isabella said.

Rebecca stood staring wildly at Isabella. She shook her head. She couldn't swallow this news. This was something she could never believe. Guy would never do such a thing. Or could he? For years he had cast her aside, only using her when he had a need of her. It had been strange that lately he had sought her out so frequently and had had such a want of her company. She had thought that maybe he had realized certain feelings for her. She had been such a fool.

Isabella walked over to her, "My poor friend," she sighed heavily, "You see how he has betrayed us? I am only sorry that we could not have been reunited sooner. I would have taken you far away from him. Do not worry, I will not let him send you away. From now on I will take responsibility for you. You will be my servant in name only. Together we could take him down."

"No..." Rebecca whispered, "No, I don't want to hurt him."

"But he has hurt you. Without care and without remorse." Isabella urged, "You should not have a care for him."

"He...he has been betrayed before." Rebecca said, "I need t' show him I never did. I don't need t' turn against him, Isabella. I can't."

Lord, she was pathetic. Isabella fumed quietly behind compassionate eyes. She could not lose her temper now. Rebecca was still a wild card. She had to be taken away from Guy. If she could not turn her away now, then any planning she had to destroy him would be wasted, because Rebecca would die for his undeserving soul. She wanted such loyalty to be turned towards her own cause. "I understand," she said soothingly, "but one day you will have to make a choice. My brother has abandoned you. I would never do such a thing."

Rebecca clutched at Isabella's hand, "Neither would I." she turned to look at her, tears were still falling from her dark eyes, but feeble resolve shone through. "Your brother can do what he wants with me, lord knows...he...he can't do much worse, but I would never let him hurt ya, Isabella."

Oh, perhaps she was not without hope after all. "Then you will accept my offer? You will let me protect you?"

Rebecca nodded and Isabella grinned. A firm hand upon her arm, stayed Isabella, "I will help ya t' get out o' your brother's an' your husband's clutches. I will do my best t' see ya safe from harm, but mark me Isabella, I will not help ya hurt Guy."

"Let us pray there will never be a need." Isabella said gruffly, a bit more impatient with the woman now that she had practically received the answer she had so waited for.

There was a divide within her that she felt she could not cross. Rebecca stared at the hard-eyed and compassionate woman before her. Isabella had just risked her life to make sure that she would not be abandoned. She did not have to do that and Rebecca could feel nothing but respect and friendship for her, it was all that was holding her broken heart together now. Yet for all of these virtues, Rebecca could not help but feel that she had just made a deal with the devil.

***

"The Prince is not yet here?"

"No, but he is due to arrive any moment. You know what you must do while he is here?"

"Keep out of sight. Listen for any news concerning whose t' be the new Sheriff."

"Good--lord, help me; it is as hot as hell!" Isabella paced from one side of the room to the other, tugging at the collar of her dress in agitation.

"Won't help rushing about as you are." Rebecca commented as she poured out a small cup of water from the pitcher atop the drawers. She handed it to her, "Drink it slowly, water's starting t' get precious."

Isabella downed half of the cup and handed Rebecca the rest, "You drink up too, Becca. Don't give me any excuses, can't afford to have you fainting on me, can I?"

Becca took the cup reluctantly before sipping at it. "Suppose not."

There came a swift knock at the door before the handle was turned and it was opened rudely. Guy stood in the doorway, "The Prince is here. Get yourself downstairs."

Isabella dipped her head, "I was just on my way down, brother. How interesting you should have come up to fetch me." She made her way gracefully towards the hall beyond, but not before pausing to give directions to her maid, "Becca, you will finish straightening out this room, and then I suggest you make yourself useful helping the servants gather up any remaining water supplies."

Rebecca curtsied clumsily in her haste. "Yes, m'lady." She mumbled.

She kept her head down even as Isbella left the room. She could feel Guy's eyes upon her and she could not summon up enough to courage to look her former master in the eye. "Well?" He growled, "Your mistress gave you your orders. Get to them you worthless whore."

Rebecca winced, "I'm not worthless." She whispered under her breath.

"What was that?" Guy snapped.

"I said...I'm not worthless." She raised her head, glaring at him with all the indignity she could manage.

Guy seemed hardly disturbed at this display of courage, "You are if I say you are, now get on with it." He placed a hand upon the knob of the door, pulling it shut behind him.

"You're not my master anymore, I don't have t' take your orders." Rebecca shouted, feeling her heart blister and burn at the hatred Guy was finally showing towards her. Isabella had been right all along. He had always disregarded her. He had always despised her. "Just 'cause ya thought I was worthless doesn't mean I am."

"Take care, Rebecca. I let you remain here at the whim of my sister. I do not forget the traitor you have proven yourself to be even if she has chosen to ignore it." Guy's voice carried with it the sickly gentle undercurrent of restrained violence.

"She has chosen t' see the truth an' accept me. Don't ya dare try t' threaten me or Isabella."

"Or you'll do what?" Guy smirked, "Cry to Robin Hood?"

The pitcher smashed into the wall beside the door. Guy had to pull back away as the pieces of pottery shattered everywhere. The little water that had been residing in the pitcher stained the wooden floor below. Guy stared at the wreckage and then at the quivering, wretched woman who had caused the destruction. He had not been expecting such a retaliation as that.

"I...hate ya." Rebecca said succinctly, but with a stuttering taste of dishonesty. "I should have always hated ya!"

They both stared at one another in bitter silence. The wrath in Guy's eyes fell. He only heard Rebecca's words, he did not bother to search out whether or not they had been true or false. Her hatred did not surprise him, it was the declaration of it; the violent way it had sprung up. What was a surprise was how much it pained him to finally know what had been hiding in her heart. Guy left her without another word, and this was perhaps more jarring to Rebecca than any vengeful action or bitter word could have ever been. The door shut, and like a spell being left, she moved from her frozen position.

She got down on her knees to gather up the remains of the pitcher. Not but three days ago she would never have said such a thing to him. The thought would have turned her stomach, but Guy had proven what he had really thought of her. He had proven how easily disposable she was. Isabella was showing her what she truly deserved, a friend, not the false memory of one. So she would not take back her hateful words, not even to herself. If she did not truly hate Guy yet she would. She would learn to. She was worthless to him, so he would become worthless to her as well.

1191

"I'm so glad you're here." Rebecca sighed, her voice lilting with tired laughter. Water sponged out between her fingers as she twirled a wet rag round the centre of the plate. She glanced over at the woman drying dishes beside her and the two shared a private smile.

Rebecca handed off the wet plate and selected another plate. "And why is that?" her companion asked.

Rebecca shrugged, "'Cause you're not like the others. Something about ya. You're nice."

The woman giggled as she pushed back a lock of her light brown hair, "Well, thank you. I try to be; not all the time of course." Rebecca let out a little snicker at that.

"Don't really make a lot o' friends." Rebecca admitted bluntly as she handed off the last of the plates.

"Ridiculous." The woman replied, "You've made one just now."

Rebecca smiled, "That means a lot." She said sheepishly, "Ya really don't know."

"I do. I heard how your mum passed on a few weeks ago—sorry! I didn't mean to sound..."

"Nah, don't fret over that." Rebecca said with a wave of her hand, "No harm taken."

"Good. Hate to think that on my first week here I'd already offended someone." The woman laughed, the blush cooling from her cheeks.

"It'd take more than that t' offend me." Rebecca said.

"I'll go and put this away, shall I?" The woman asked.

"I'll help." Rebecca said, taking half of the stack of clean dishes.

"Thanks, Rebecca." The woman said gratefully.

"Anytime, Annie."

***

Guy caught Rebecca by surprise one afternoon as she was coming in from carrying the laundry. He startled both her and her companion, Annie. He smirked, his amusement tangible in the shocked stillness. Rebecca eyed the man warily, a part of her wondering if he had purposefully waited at the back door thinking to catch her off guard. The more rational part of her brain knew this could not be.

"Becca." He said charmingly, his smirk growing into a brief but tempting grin. "How unusual that I should find you here."

"Master." Rebecca said curtly. He was playing games with her again. How often it was that he could transform from the dark and unreachable statue with no heart to speak of, to the taunting and enticing man she was inexplicably attracted to. "Why would it be so unusual?"

"Because," Guy said, blocking the door, "Usually I find you upstairs in my room sweeping away the dust at this time. Imagine my surprise when I discovered you were not there." This last sentence was said with a rippling undercurrent of honeyed darkness that Rebecca felt her arms grow slightly slack and a hot and cold chill race down her spine. Beside her, she could hear Annie let out a small nervous giggle.

"Ya were looking for me, master?" Rebecca asked, raising her eyebrow.

"Not looking, no. Curious as to why you were not at your post, yes." Guy corrected. "Are you purposefully attempting to disobey your master?"

"I'd never do that, master." Rebecca said calmly as she met his gaze, her dark eyes secretly glowing with happiness at the chance to play this game with him. "I have merely been showing the new servant her way about the manor, master."

Guy's gaze immediately switched over to the blushing Annie. "And does this new servant have a name?" He asked darkly.

"Annie, my lord." She said, almost breathless, "Annie Miller."

"And do you find Becca to be a suitable guide around my manor, Annie Miller?" Guy asked in that tone he so often used when he found a naïve and pretty girl he could trick into his bed later.

"I do, my lord." Annie said.

"And with your permission, we can get back t' work, master." Rebecca said hastily.

She was surprised to see that he actually stepped aside to finally let them pass. Rebecca hesitated for just a moment, unsure if she was being dismissed or not. Eventually she decided it was best to leave when she could. She stepped inside, Annie following close behind her. "Becca," The sound of Guy's voice halted her stride immediately. She turned to look back at him, "Since it pleases you to neglect your orders so easily, consider them permanently removed."

"Pardon, master?" What was he playing at? The tone was as low and as serious as ever, but his eyes were still flashing with humour. If he wasn't joking then what was he doing?

"Annie, Rebecca has decided that her work is not worth her time, therefore you can take over for her. After she is done directing you about the manor you may direct her to give you a list of her daily chores."

"Master!" Rebecca exclaimed. He was going too far with this.

"Don't whine, Becca, I'm not banishing you from my services just yet." Guy retorted, diverting his attention from Annie back to her. He glanced to Annie once more, "Is that understood?"

"Y-yes, my lord." Annie said with a thin curtsey, unsure of the proper etiquette for a situation like this.

Guy nodded, "Very well, Becca, see to it." He could see her glaring at him in confusion as he strode roughly passed her.

Annie was all in a flutter. She went immediately to Rebecca's side as they walked. "I...I didn't..." she tried to stammer helplessly, "I would never have wanted to--"

Rebecca shook her head, "Wouldn't fret over it, Annie. The master is one for the games. In a few days time, when he tires o' it he'll give me back my chores. In the meantime, I don't mind the break." She said with a thin and unconvincing laugh.

"Does the master always treat you that way?" Annie asked as the two of them set their burden down.

"Oh no," Rebecca scoffed, "Sometimes he's worse!"

Annie giggled, "He's very handsome." She pointed out slyly, nudging her friend lightly in the ribs.

"The other maids think so too." Rebecca grunted.

"D'you fancy him? You must do; the way you two talk to one another."

"Don't be silly, Annie." Rebecca said.

Annie sighed, "Well, I could take a liking to him. Maybe he's not as bad as everyone thinks."

"Annie, can I give ya some sound advice?" Rebecca said curtly. Seeing Annie nod her head she went on, "Keep your heart about ya. The master'll may play the part o' a lover, but we're servants, Annie, he'll never love the likes o' us."

"Well, he has yet to know this servant." Annie said with a blush growing on her cheeks and her eyes sparkling.

"Just be wary. I tell ya this 'cause I think o' ya as a friend." Rebecca warned, knowing the signs of a woman about to let a fancy run away with her.

"I'll be wary, Rebecca." Annie said half-heartedly in her distraction.

"Ya promise?"

"Promise."

A/N: I'm fairly certain we all remember who Annie is? Thought it would be interesting to throw her in the mix.

Be prepared, the next few chapters will throw you all for a major curve. If you manage to guess the twist I'll be very impressed with your sleuthing skills.