Hey...back and with another update! i thank you all for the lovely reviews and comments of this story. I have really apprecaited all of your thoughts and suggestions hopefully this chapter will not disapoint you...Arria Rose...yes i used french again..i'll have to stop myself but its fun to try to use another language in a story..even if i dont understand it please read review enjoy

Chapter Nineteen Slowly Closing In

Vasey awoke the next morning dizzily. He sat up in the foreign bed and shook his head from side to side to wake himself up. He turned around expecting to find Edward beside him. But to his utter astonishment he found only empty air beside him. Vasey shook his head trying to think of logical explanations for his lackey's disappearance.

Could have decided to leave. The sheriff thought. When it came down to it, he just couldn't handle the thought of killing.

The sheriff shrugged off that idea. It was unlike the Edward Mann he knew to just leave without so much as a reason, or a goodbye.

Then the gears on the sheriff's brain began to tick like clockwork.

That girl, Gabriella, she must know something about this.

He was planning to go find her and confront her about this when she appeared at his doorway. She smiled at him kindly.

"Good morning," she said.

Vasey nodded. "Where is my grandson?"

Gabriella laughed and shook her head. "You do not need to worry about him anymore."

Vasey, still in character, took a deep breath and stood up. He took his cane and walked slowly to the doorway to face Gabriella. "Thank you."

Of course, the sheriff had no idea why he was thanking the strange woman, but nothing should seem out of the ordinary. If she believed that she was helping him by getting rid of Edward than he was going to subtly find out why before he revealed who he really was.

Gabriella took his free hand in her own and led him down the stairs carefully. She helped him sit down in a chair. "You must be hungry."

Vasey nodded. Gabriella went to work getting breakfast ready for him.

"I cannot believe you have put up with him for so long," said Gabriella.

Vasey nodded. "He did not leave me much of a choice."

What is she going on about?

"Using you as a pawn in his scheme," Gabriella paused and shivered, "just makes me sick."

"Had to go along with it," said the sheriff meekly, "threatened to kill most my family if I did not."

Gabriella shook her head sadly as she cooked. "And all to kill some poor innocent married man, I do not understand men like that."

Vasey shrugged innocently but his mind was buzzing with one thought.

What does she know?

He remained silent and let Gabriella rant safely.

"Coming into MY village with the intent of killing MY friends, the very thought of it makes me sick to my stomach."

Vasey raised an eyebrow. "You know them then?"

Gabriella nodded. "Of course I do."

Vasey wanted to make sure they were talking about the same people. "Sorry, he never told me why he wanted them dead. Do you know why?"

Gabriella smiled. "I got him to tell me why last night. Apparently he killed this Edward fellow's family. Edward wanted revenge."

So she knows Edward wanted to kill Guy! And she knows Guy! That means we have finally made it! This is too good.

"Where is Edward? I want to make sure that the rest of the world is safe from his cruelty," said the sheriff flatly.

"He is being held by the sheriff."

Vasey raised a brow. "The sheriff?"

Gabriella nodded. "The sheriff of Agincourt."

"He is in jail then?" the sheriff clarified.

"Right where he belongs."

Now the sheriff needed to do some serious thinking. He needed Edward out of jail and that was certain. Sure, he could do the entire operation on his own. But the sheriff did not like getting his hands dirty with all that blood. No. He needed Edward. He needed Edward out of jail. He could try to convince Gabriella to…

Wait one moment.

Why convince? He knew all that he needed to know from Gabriella. She was not needed anymore. And, since there was no further use for her…she did not need to exist anymore. That was how the sheriff worked out complicated problems.

Gabriella set down the sheriff's breakfast. He was saddened to find that it was breakfast he could eat with his hands. That meant there was no sharp knife. But then he realized that under his ragged clothing, he still had his sword.

Suddenly he stood up with great strength and gusto. Gabriella was speechless.

Vasey, drew his sword and pointed it at Gabriella. She fell out of her chair and onto the floor. She was breathing quickly and tried to back away from the sword.

"Why are you doing this?" she asked.

Vasey shook his head. "Always the same asinine questions. Always the same pleas of mercy. Always the same—"

"She would not like this," said Gabriella.

Vasey's eyes flashed. "What did you say?"

Gabriella raised an eyebrow. "I asked again why are you doing this?"

Vasey shook his head. "No. You said, 'she would not like this.'"

"Who is she?" Gabriella asked.

I am hearing things. I am thinking of her too much.

You are not evil brother.

The sheriff shook his sword at Gabriella. "Now I know you said something."

"I did not say a word!"

"Enough of this!" Vasey screamed as he shoved his sword deep into Gabriella's belly. Vasey then pulled it out just as quickly. He put the sword back in his sheath and hid the sheath under his rags. He then ran out of the shop and left the dying woman inside.

Vasey took up his cane and began to slowly search for the village jail. When he found what he was searching for he slowly walked up to the door and knocked on it.

The sheriff of Agincourt answered the door.

Vasey smiled at the sheriff. The sheriff of Agincourt did not recognize the sheriff of Nottingham without the missing tooth and missing hair. He let Vasey in and asked him what he could do for such an elderly gentleman.

Vasey wanted to see the prison. He informed the sheriff of Agincourt that he was inspecting prisons all around this part of France for the king himself. The sheriff of Agincourt nodded and led Vasey to the jail cells.

Only two cells were in use.

In one cell a man was cowering in the corner and muttering to himself. His only crime was his insanity. The townspeople of Agincourt figured that the jail was the safest place for someone crazy. When this man saw the sheriff of Agincourt and the sheriff of Nottingham enter he began drooling.

Next to the drooling man's cell was Edward's cell. Edward was lying on the floor of his cell still knocked out from Gabriella's sharp blow.

The sheriff of Agincourt explained what Gabriella had done the night before when he noticed his guest's raised brow.

Vasey nodded.

The sheriff of Agincourt chuckled and as he swayed Vasey heard a clanging sound at the side of his body. Vasey casually looked down at the sheriff of Agincourt's belt to see a pair of keys. Vasey knew that these keys could lead to Edward's freedom. Now the question was, how to rid them from the sheriff's belt.

Why are you even bothering with this question? You know the answer!

Death. Two deaths within ten minutes.

Dear brother, what are you doing?

Vasey ignored her voice ringing in his head as he raised his sword and killed the sheriff of Agincourt. It was as simple as that.

Then he bent down and took the sheriff's keys. He went to the cells and looked from one to the other. First he opened the stranger's cell. If the man had looked at all sane, the sheriff would have considered using him as part of the plan. But he looked at the man's face. He looked at the man's eyes.

There was nothing behind his eyes. They were blank.

The sheriff wanted to cause the village further harm. He was sure that letting a crazy man loose again would do the trick.

He shooed the crazy man out of the cage.

The man looked back at him. "Libre?"

Vasey nodded. "Libre!"

The free man walked out of the jail and into the light of a new day. Meanwhile Vasey unlocked Edward's cell and sighed when he saw his unconscious comrade.

He bent over Edward and clapped his hands loudly.

"Wake up!" he yelled.

Then he shrugged his shoulders and spit at Edward's closed eyes.

The water and saliva made Edward get up and wipe the wetness from his eyes.

"This isn't water," he said.

"Bright boy."

Edward groaned and rubbed his head. "My head feels like a—"

"La-di-da-di-da," the sheriff did not care how his head felt.

Edward slowly stood up and gasped when he saw the dead man outside of his cell. He looked quizzically at the sheriff. The sheriff nodded and took full credit of the evil deed. "He is no concern of ours anymore."

"My lord," said Edward, "I apologize for ending up here. I was just trying to find out if she knew anything useful. She drugged my drink and…"

Vasey sighed. "Well, while you were sleeping like a baby I was working. I found out that Guy and his leper lover are here."

Edward nodded. The two villains walked casually out of the jail cell and out of the jail entirely. They ventured out into the sunlight. They were so close to their destination they could taste it. They could almost hear the sound of death and bitter cries in the air.

It felt good to Edward.

But Vasey was suddenly and ruthlessly plagued with thoughts of his sister. When he sister had been alive he was sure that she loved his evil ways. She was an honorary member of the black knights. She had helped Vasey kidnap Robin Hood. She was just as evil as her brother so why was she haunting him?

Are you off again dear brother?

Go away! The sheriff thought madly to his sister.

More innocent people need to die do they?

"I said go away!" screamed Vasey.

Edward looked at him curiously but did not say a word. He decided to change the subject.

"Do you know where they are?" he asked kindly.

Vasey rolled his eyes. "I did not think they would be hard to find."

Edward nodded. "Remember that bartender? He said that the Guy he knew had a manor. This means that we need to leave the market place and find a more rural place. A place with a lot of land for a manor."

Vasey smiled. "Good thinking Edward."

After a little while they reached the outskirts of the marketplace. Ahead of them stretched a vast landscape. In that vast landscape they were sure to find what they sought for. Vasey and Edward walked side by side through the thick trees and dense grass quietly.

"How will it feel do you think?" Edward asked thoughtfully.

"What?"

"Killing your greatest enemy? Killing Guy?"

Vasey shrugged his shoulders. "I've never killed him before."

Edward smiled. "But you have killed so many enemies. How does it feel? I imagine it should feel rather grand."

Vasey nodded. "Of course."

Do not pursue this. Her voice was back.

Vasey shook his head wildly trying to fight the voice that way.

"Are you well my lord?" asked Edward.

Vasey nodded.

Turn back if you wish to save yourself. She urged him sweetly.

Yet her brother pressed onwards.

"Gisborne!" he screamed with delight and madness. "Gisborne!"

**************************************************************************

Guy shot up sweating. He was still holding Clara in his arms.

He thought he had just heard a familiar voice calling to him. But he shook his head. It was nothing. Guy yawned and stood up holding Clara protectively in his arms. He went into the bedroom and found Marian asleep.

Obviously this meant that the voice was just in his head.

He kissed her forehead softly and she opened her eyes.

"Good morning," he said.

"Good morning," she mumbled. "Guy?"

"Yes?" he asked her sitting on the bed beside his lovely wife.

She bit her lip. "Did you hear a voice calling your name?"

Guy was silent.

"I thought it was part of my dream, but it was so loud and clear that I thought it might be real," she continued.

What was Guy to do? He did not want to believe that the voice they both heard was really real and was really his voice. He did not want to frighten her. Her energy was still drained after Clara's birth. She did not need to hear anything upsetting now.

Guy shook his head and kissed her lips. "I heard nothing."

Marian nodded and took Clara out of Guy's arms to feed her. "Perhaps I was just hearing things."

Guy nodded. Perhaps they were both merely hearing things.

Guy moved closer to Marian and put an arm around her. Guy watched as Clara ate her breakfast. Marian noticed Guy's eyes.

"Jealous?" she asked Guy.

Guy's face reddened and he shook his head. "What? No."

Marian shrugged and kissed little Clara gently on her forehead.

"Okay," admitted Guy, "a little bit."

"I knew it," said Marian with a smile.

Guy rolled his eyes. "Only because it has been a while since we have, uh, you know…joined together."

Marian did not answer. She did not want to have this conversation.

"I just want to feel close to you again," he said quietly.

Marian nodded. But as her head bobbed up and down she saw his eyes stare angrily at her.

The two sat together watching their daughter drink. When she was full Marian carried her back to her crib and set her down lovingly. Then she returned to the bedroom where Guy was waiting for her, and waiting for her answer.

Marian's answer was in the form of a kiss.

She kissed him passionately and he kissed her back with the same amount of passion and rage. He pinned her down on the bed. He started removing her dress when she moved away from him.

He stared at her quizzically.

"Tonight," she said.

Guy kissed her revealed neck and muttered. "You are cruel Marian. Too cruel."

***************************************************************************

"Fate would be too cruel," whispered Allan as he and the rest of the gang looked down at Robin's body. They realized early in the morning that he was not in bed. They had spent the rest of the morning searching for him. Now they found him on the ground, seeming dead.

"If he dies, I die," Much muttered.

Stephan bent down towards his brother. "Robin?"

There was no reply.

"Robin!?" he asked a little louder.

In Robin's cluttered mind there was darkness. Suddenly he saw a pair of bright eyes and a beautiful face shining at him.

You do not want to be dead.

He smiled at her. It means that I shall have no more pain. I shall be with you.

But I will remain with him in the real world. You will not have me in the next, just the illusion of me.

Must I? he asked the image bitterly.

She nodded. If you love me, then yes.

And suddenly Robin blinked his eyes. He had accepted life and refused death. He looked up into the eyes of the gang and his brother.

"Robin!" they all screamed in unison.

He tried sitting up but his head hurt too much.

Stephan helped him sit up. "We have been worried sick about you."

Robin shook his head from side to side. "Sorry I left."

Stephan nodded. "We understand. Actually, you have gotten closer to our destination in your drunken like walk."

Robin, with Stephan's help, stood up and faced his gang. "I owe you an apology. I should not have left you. I was not thinking."

Much crossed his arms. "Do not do that again!"

Robin chuckled. "I am sorry my friend. I promise from now on I shall inform you of my every move."

The gang, apart from Much, broke into laughter.

"You know what I mean."

Robin nodded. "So, we march on?"

And the gang marched on. Each member was filled with newfound confidence at the miraculous recovery of their leader.

Much was still sore from Robin's words and his almost death. Eve tried to sooth him.

"He was just teasing you," she said kindly.

Much nodded.

"But you are still angry," she guessed.

"He could die," said Much bitterly, "he could die at any minute. But he does not realize how serious it is. He does not realize how…"

"How it will hurt you?" Eve asked stroking his arm.

Much was silent.

"He is living," she said, "he does not fear death, instead he fights death the only way he can, by living every minute. Maybe Much, you should let him."

Much raised an eyebrow. "You think I should just let him walk to his death?"

Eve chuckled. "Maybe not to that extreme, but if you let him live, then you can live too."

"There is so much for one man to worry about," muttered Much.

Eve stopped walking and pulled Much aside. She took his face in her hands so that he was forced to look into her eyes. "Then let me worry too. Maybe give some of your worry to a strong woman for a change?"

Much shook his head. "The things I have seen…the things I have done…all these fears are not meant for you my Eve."

Eve smiled. "I am with you now. I am not afraid. There are things I have done, and there are things I have seen too Much. Maybe I have not seen wars fought, and men die in battle but…"

Much took her hands in his. "I do not want to bring fear to your eyes."

"You could never do that Much," said Eve. "You bring light to my eyes, and hope."

He looked down at the woman he loved with sadness. "Really?"

She nodded. "Let me protect you once and a while. Let me worry for a change."

He kissed her lips and smiled at her. "It feels good not to worry."

Eve was about to reply when Allan came from behind Much and poked him. Much jumped and instinctively grabbed Eve and stood beside her. When he found Allan laughing at him he blushed.

"What?"

"Sorry Much," said Allan, "hate to interrupt but we are at a village. Robin needs Eve to translate for us uncultured Englishmen."

Eve smiled at Much and hurried to Robin's side.

Much watched her run off sadly. Allan was still laughing at him.

"What is it Allan?"

"You are blushing," he said.

Much shrugged. "What of it?"

"You love her," said Allan.

Much walked away from him avoiding an answer.

"Admit it," said Allan teasingly. "You love her."

"Fine," said Much raising his hands in the air. "Fine! Alright! I do love her. I love Eve!"

Allan danced a gig and poked Much in the stomach.

"Oi! What was that for?" Much rubbed his belly soothingly.

"I never thought it possible," said Allan bursting with happiness. "First Will and Djaq, now you found someone to spend your life with too." He lowered his voice, "Did you…make her your own?"

"Oh stop it," said Much.

"Come on, did you?"

Much nodded. Allan jumped up and down and crossed his arms. "So proud Much."

Much rolled his eyes and joined Robin and the rest of the gang in the village. Eve and Stephan were trying to find villagers to interrogate but everyone seemed on guard. They did not answer or even acknowledge the newcomers' presence.

"Split up," said Robin. "Try finding anyone you can. Whistle if you find someone."

The gang obeyed and each went in their own separate directions.

Robin ran towards an alleyway. He stopped abruptly as he found a man sitting in the darkness of the alley hugging his knees and muttering to himself.

Robin felt bad for the man. He bent down to him and offered him a few coins. The man heard the clang of the coins and he looked up at Robin. There was happiness in his eyes. This was odd for his eyes were normally blank and filled with nothing. This man was the same man who the sheriff had released from jail.

"Merci," whispered the man.

Then the man saw Robin's sheath and his sword. The man remembered seeing another sword earlier and he had watched as that sword killed a man. He backed away with fear. Robin raised an eyebrow. He did not understand what was going on.

"LIBRE!" screamed the man.

Libre? Free? What is he talking about?

"Libre," repeated Robin for lack of a better word.

The man pointed to the sword Robin at Robin's side. Robin followed the man's gaze and suddenly he understood.

He looked at the man and smiled. He pointed to his sword then he pointed to the man and then he shook his head. He hoped that this would show to the man that Robin did not want to do him any harm.

The man's breathing calmed. He crawled back to Robin.

"Who gave you this fear?" Robin asked.

The man stood up and walked out of the alley. He told Robin to follow him. Robin did as he was told and the man led him to the jail. The man did not need to point to the dead man on the floor for Robin to get the picture. Robin bent down to the dead man and examined the wound. He was completely dead whoever he was.

"Shérif de Agincourt," said the man.

Robin's eyes widened. They were in Agincourt. But the death around him lessened his happiness. Who would do something this evil? He saw the two cell doors opened and the keys lying on the floor. Still things were not adding up.

Robin and the man left the jail and the sheriff of Agincourt and began walking through the village. Robin came to a shop and opened the door. He was going to ask anyone in there what the bloody hell was going on in this village.

But he found another body on the ground. This was the body of a woman and she was still breathing. Though it was very slight.

Robin bent down to the woman.

"Who did this to you?" he asked her kindly.

She smiled at him. "Who are you handsome?"

"Who did this to you?" he repeated urgently.

The woman with long white hair shook her head. "Honor the request of a dying woman."

"My name is Robin."

The woman's eyes widened. "Not her Robin by any chance?"

Robin raised an eyebrow. "Whose?"

Gabriella chuckled softly through the pain. "She still loves you. She told me about you once. Her description did not do you justice boy."

Then Robin's heart leapt. "Marian! You know Marian!?"

Gabriella raised an eyebrow. "I thought you wanted to know who did this to me."

Robin did not care who did what to her. He cared about finding Marian. If this woman knew where Marian was…

"Where is she?!" he asked anxiously.

"With him," replied Gabriella, "in his manor, in the countryside."

Robin closed his eyes and groaned.

Gabriella smiled at him. "I am glad I finally got to see you before…" She groaned through the pain and Robin took her hand in his.

"Robin Hood…" Gabriella said softly, "Marian's Robin Hood." Then suddenly she did not say anything else. She closed her eyes and stopped breathing. Robin looked at the dead figure before him for a while and suddenly he found the strange man from before kneeling next to him.

Robin was about to find a resting place for the body when the man held a hand up to stop him. The man smiled and began lifting the woman up himself. He nodded at Robin as if to tell him that out of gratitude for Robin's kindness he would take care of burying the body.

Robin raced out of the shop and whistled with all his might.

Within moments the gang was by his side.

"What is it?"

"What now?"

"What's the plan?"

Robin nodded to all of their questions. "Marian is here. She is with Gisborne at his manor here in Agincourt. Soon we shall find her."

Robin was about to start walking onwards when Stephan took his shoulder.

"Are you sure about this?"

Robin nodded and looked at his older brother. "I have never been more sure of anything in my life."

The gang set off through the town towards the countryside. Little did they know that the sheriff was just a couple of steps ahead of them.

Guess whats coming next chapter??? thats right time for confruntation!!!! retaliation!!! revenge!! vengence!!! who will prevail??

love you all!!!