So Robin and Elizabeth join forces, can any good come of this?

Chapter 6

Robin

Should have set a time. Stupid. What was he thinking – 'after everyone's asleep'? How vague can you get? She'd just looked so adorable in her kittenish fury that he had sort of forgotten what he'd been going to say and now he was sat waiting for her. Had been for the last 2 hours in fact. Robin smacked himself lightly on the top of his head and ran his fingers through his hair. Well there was nothing he could do about it now – he'd just have to wait for her.

…

Surely everyone had to be asleep by now! And how hard could it be to find the tree? It was a straight path from the mouth of the forest for God's sake! And 5 minutes at most. Women.

Footsteps...had he called her with his derogatory thoughts? Well whatever, he scrambled to his feet and leaned nonchalantly against the tree as she emerged from the darkness. She'd changed from the dark green dress she'd been wearing yesterday into a simple light blue one that showed off her eyes and her tiny waist far more. She wasn't just pretty, Robin realized, she was-

"Beautiful here isn't it?" Robin started

"Uh, yes. Um it's alright." Pull yourself together Robin! "You took your time, didn't you?" There we go, that's more like it! She laughed

"Did you not specify wait til everyone's asleep? Which is what I did, after all no use getting caught, wouldn't you agree?" She had him there so he shrugged and sat down, pulling her down with him.

"So. My proposition." She raised an eyebrow and her eyes sparkled

"Ah yes, I'm intrigued – intrigued enough to risk coming alone to meet a dangerous outlaw at night in the middle of a forest in fact, now that's pretty intrigued!" Robin smiled,

"It seems what I'm about to ask will be tame in comparison to your imagination." Lizzie pouted

"Alright then, let me hear it." Robin cleared his throat.

"We want you to help us. You don't like Gisbourne any more than we do, possibly less, for some unknown reason" He grinned as he saw her warning look "which I shall not press you to reveal. And believe me, when you see what the sheriff's like – he's ten thousand times worse, it's all corrupt! Now we're working for the good of the people, trying to set some things to rights and to ultimately rid Nottingham and England of his tyranny in the absence of King Richard. We have good on our side, and strength. What we do not have, however -" He glanced at her "-is a spy inside the castle. Now you are staying inside the castle so naturally, as you seem to want what we want, I thought -"

"Yes."

"What?"

"I'll do it. Tyranny of any sort is not to be borne. We must fight if we want to survive. I will help you at any cost Robin, just name it!" Robin smiled and they sat in silence for several minutes, eyes closed.

Robin opened one eye and dug Lizzie in the ribs,

"So I'm a dangerous outlaw am I?" he said waggling his eyebrows. Lizzie laughed

"I just said that for effect. You're about as dangerous as, well, as this leaf." She picked up a leaf from the ground and stood, letting it fall gently to the ground.

"Oh really?" I pushed myself to my feet and moved closer to her until her back was against the tree, I placed my hands deliberately on either side of her shoulders and watched her as she tried to judge whether I was joking or not. Seriously I withdrew one hand and slowly drew my dagger from my belt, flipping it in my hand, still staring at her. Her dazzling eyes darted from me to the blade and back again and her chest heaved as she saw no laughter in my eyes. We remained motionless for a few heartbeats then I lunged and stabbed my dagger into the tree just next to her head and she screamed and tried to dive away, held back by my restraining arm she struggled until she heard me laughing. Shaking she lifted her eyes to mine and slapped me without warning, I was used to it by now and carried on chuckling while she advanced, emphasizing her words with slaps to any part of my body she could reach.

"How (hit) could (hit) you? (slap) I thought (hit) you (hit) were going to (hit) KILL me! (push)." I stumbled backwards and shielded my face with my hands, my laughter subsiding to a few chuckles.

"Your fault! 'As dangerous as a leaf' indeed!" Lizzie looked away and when she looked back a smile was playing round the corners of her full lips. Robin opened his arms

"Come on, friends?" He said with what he knew was his most disarming smile.

"I don't know that we ever were friends Robin!" She said but she hugged him all the same, she smelt like dew or something, freshness and life, Robin breathed her in then swept her into his arms, ignoring her squeak of protest.

"May I escort you back to castle Milady?" He asked setting off.

"It doesn't seem like I have much choice." She responded "But yes, you may."