Lizzie may have Robin twisted round her little finger for now but can she win over the gang?

Chapter 3

Lizzie

We walked in stony silence through the forest. Well, mine was stony, his was more amused if anything which was annoying. I looked at my companion speculatively,

"So, what if Guy had called your bluff? Would you have killed me?" He laughed shortly

"Wouldn't come to that, he wanted you enough to come get you from my territory so he obviously didn't want you dead. Anyway I figured you were lovers or something, turns out there was even less chance of me having to hurt you – Big Brother and all...protecting his ickle sister." I moved away from his hands as they attempted to pinch my cheek.

"Well he's been fairly non-committal in that respect for a long time so frankly I wouldn't get your hopes up." I muttered, shrugging off the anger I always felt when I thought about what my 'big brother' had done.

"Oh really?" Robin was looking at me in a way that made me feel like he wanted to pinch more than just my cheeks, I looked away from him and saw him shrug out of the corner of my eye.

"We're nearly at the camp." He said flicking his hair out of his eyes and pointing straight ahead.

Sure enough voices could soon be heard and shortly we were standing before a smallish fire around which sat the roughest looking men I'd ever seen up close. One, with a bandana wrapped around his head stared at me,

"Who's this then?"

"I am Elizabeth. Pleased to meet you, um well all of you!" I said waving nervously to the silent group of gawping men. As if snapping out of a trance they all got to their feet and stuttered various forms of hello and I nodded politely to each of them in turn. Robin was watching all of this with a grin and now he stepped forwards, his eyes sparkling in the firelight.

"This, lads is our dear friend Gisbourne's sister, she's with us for the night until we get some money for her in the morning." At his words general uproar ensued and I backed away several paces, a tall man started forward and pointed to me

"His Sister Robin? And you showed her the way to the camp?" He moved closer to me, still glaring at Robin and I backed away until I bumped into a very large man who, from his stance and the look on his face, had no intention whatsoever of letting me pass. The angry, tall man continued

"This girl could wreck everything we've worked for, Robin." Robin moved to put a hand on his shoulder,

"Will. It's fine, she won't say a thing. She's alright." I felt I should reassure him so I tried to move closer but was stopped by a large hand on my shoulder. I craned my neck to look up at my companion and attempted a winning smile which faded when he drew himself up to his full height and glared at me.

"Gosh," I said, my voice shooting up several octaves "You really are rather big aren't you?" He grunted. I addressed Will,

"I will not tell of this place. Even if I wanted to how could I? I was running away, I wasn't paying attention to the route I came and on the way here it seemed all we passed were trees."

A skinny man who I hadn't noticed before snorted,

"It's a forest, what do you expect?"

"Yes, so how could I give anybody directions even if I wanted to? Which, by the way I don't. I came to my brother because I have nobody else, he has wronged me and I have not by any means forgiven him but he owes me and I intend to see that he keeps me safe. But believe me it is not by choice that I go to him. It is by necessity."

As I spoke the tension between the group eased and the man holding me let me go. The skinny man who had scoffed at me before jerked his head in my direction,

"Reckon she's telling the truth, actually." He said and I was relieved to hear the general murmur of consent. Robin walked towards me and I crossed my arms

"You didn't tell me I'd have some explaining to do." I accused. He laughed and pushed me lightly,

"You held your own didn't you? It's fine." I shifted from foot to foot and he started,

"Oh uh you must be tired. Um, well we just sleep on the floor but, um we have blankets? It's not very – well..." He began gathering blankets from around the camp, making a pillow with one and a bed with the rest. I stifled a smile to see him fussing.

"Well there we go – it's not much but I hope that, well -" I stopped him with a kiss on the cheek.

"Thank you," I laughed "You wouldn't have hurt me." He rolled his eyes but his blush didn't go unnoticed. I smiled as I cocooned myself in the blankets and closed me eyes. As I heard him begin to walk away I called

"Oh, and Robin?" His footsteps stopped. I turned onto my side,

"You need a shave."

His light laughter was the last thing I heard before I was sound asleep.