Chapter 8

Guy

how had I managed to mess up again? I had run after her of course but when I got there the door was locked and I was just in time to hear her scream – the sound chilled me and I desperately tried to open the door but the handle wouldn't even move. Furious I ran down the steps 3 at a time, I knew I had to find the Sheriff, and fast.

Lizzie

"No, please!" the first kick knocked the breath out of me and made me double over but he took no heed of my pleading and pulled me up by the sleeve of my dress. Looking into my eyes with his signature twisted lip he struck me with such force I flew backwards into the windowsill. The pain was horrible but I tried to crawl to the window – if I could just get the rope...too late, the next kick sent me sprawling across the room. I tried to draw breath to reason with him but my chest throbbed where he'd cut me and it felt like he'd crushed the breath out of me with the last kick. All I could manage was a whimper and I hated myself for it.

Crouching over me he ran his hands ever my body from my hips up to my shoulders, preventing me from moving as I writhed away from his loathsome touch. Sneering he grabbed the necklace that Robin had given me and inspected it. I couldn't stand him touching it, anger gave me strength and I grabbed onto his wrist, clawing at him to let go. He stood up with ease and wrenched my hand away, watching me as he threw the necklace out of the open window where it hit a rock and split on impact. I uttered a shuddering sob, I would never see Robin again. Either I would die here or he would take me back and I would live the half-life once again, days of pain and nights of mortification, tormented by the fact that I so nearly got away. There and then I made up my mind, rather death than that, rather anything, anything at all, but that. With this thought in my head I flew at him.

Guy

I burst into the Sheriff's room and he looked up, only mildly surprised as always.

"Gisbourne? What do you want?" I tried to catch my breath,

"The key to my sisters room, please it's important."

"Ah yes, the elusive sister you haven't introduced me to yet. Why?"

"Uh I've been busy and she's been somewhat reluctant to -"

"No. Why do you want the key? Whats so important?" I steeled myself,

"Her husband is here, Earl Robert of Emolin. He is cruel and beats her, he's in her room and I heard her scream. Please I must -"

"Oh tush, she probably screamed with joy and delight at seeing him again, you know what women are like."

"No it -"

"But Earl Robert of Emolin you say?"

"Yes, she ran away and he came to get her back but -"

"Well we know what that means, don't we?" The Sheriff smiled and his eyes flashed "Money."

"No you don't understand."

"Oh I think I understand more than you do, Gisbourne. I forbid you to interfere with our guest. He is her husband, he can do whatever he likes. Anyway since you sold her to him it's only right that he should buy her back – double whammy." Guy inhaled sharply

"How did you know about that?"

"You told me dear boy, when you first came to me, innocent and oh so cut up about it."

"Please I have to help her."

"You will do no such thing. Your job depends on it." Gisbourne looked at him and saw no trace of a joke in his eyes or voice and, fuming, he took his leave.

Robin

Robin so badly wanted to run but to do so would draw unwanted attention to the cloaked stranger so he contented himself with walking briskly. Feeling an arm on his shoulder he muttered

"Excuse me," and tried to keep walking but found himself pulled back into the shadows. Seeing Gisbourne before him Robin jerked his arm away and pulled his hood down

"I swear to God if you stop me," but Gisbourne was shaking his head.

"You're here for Lizzie, am I right?" Robin nodded, assessing the situation.

"Right, we don't have much time, he's hurt her already," Robin growled under his breath

"Then why haven't you done anything about it?"

"Believe me, I've tried. I know you have some way of getting in and I'm assuming it's through the window so I'll distract the guards and you go in." Seeing that Gisbourne was serious Robin nodded again. Gisbourne gripped his shoulders

"You cannot tell anyone of my involvement, are we clear?"

"Crystal, now get a move on!" Watching Gisbourne run towards the castle Robin shook his head in disbelief – this day just got weirder.

Lizzie

I couldn't move, couldn't breathe, couldn't think. His rage had been terrifying and painful as he'd punched and kicked every part of me he could reach, he was still now – sat watching me try to recover, a twisted smile on his face. I remembered when I'd first met him, for a split second I'd thought he was handsome but after a while all I could see were his cold, icy eyes devouring me and I simply felt fear. I couldn't explain my feelings to Guy well enough so I dismissed it but his cruelty took no time to rear its ugly head, the first night of our marriage had been hell. As if I'd called him with my fear he got to his feet, I curled into a ball in a last-ditch effort to protect myself from the blows I was sure were on their way, but instead he merely stood over me,

"Poor little Lizzie. Why don't you come home? It would make everything so much easier." His voice was silky smooth and compelling but I was not going back. I couldn't.

Silence.

Suddenly he snapped,

"Get to your feet, don't cower." Every bone in my body and fiber of my being protested as I raised myself from the floor and stood shakily. Steeling myself I looked him in the eye, trying and failing to prevent my bottom lip from trembling. He grabbed my arms, his fingers closing all the way round, and pulled me to him.

"Are you going to come with me or will you make me drag you?" I spat in his smug face, blinking back the tears threatening to spill, he was going to make me go back, he was going to force me to give in, I would never be rid of him. His lips pulled back in a feral growl and his hands moved to my neck but a noise at the window made him turn round. Craning my neck to see around him I saw Robin jump down into the room, sure of himself as always, never have I been so glad to see anyone.

"Feel like letting go of her?" He notched an arrow to his bow and aimed it steadily at Robert, I noticed my necklace wrapped around his wrist. Robert stared from him to me and then pulled me round in front of him, wrenching my arms painfully behind my bruised back.

"Hard shot to make without hurting her, Robin of Loxley. Care to take the chance?" Seeing Robins hesitation he pulled my arms further behind me causing me to cry out in pain. Robins eyes darkened as he noticed the cut on my chest and Robert laughed.

"My, we are protective, aren't we? I suggest you lower your bow." Robin did so, placing it carefully on the floor. Then he ran at Robert, pulling me out of his grasp and wrestling him to the floor. Pain had made me dizzy and I was zoning in and out of consciousness as my husband and my love fought each other tooth and nail. Robin had pulled out his dagger but Robert was evading it easily, being the bigger of the two, seeing his hand move to his boot I tensed and readied myself to cry out for I knew he kept a dagger in there at all times but Robin saw it coming and blocked as Robert aimed for his neck. I backed into a corner and watched in horrified fascination, willing Robin to be alright, praying that he won.

No!

Robert stamped on Robins hand and his dagger slid across the floor, landing next to me. Hot tears stung my eyes as Robert pinned him down and raised his dagger. He had his back to me so I could see Robins dear face, no fear showed. Making up my mind I gathered up the miniscule amount of strength I had left and got quietly to my feet, picking up Robins dagger. Both fighters were too engrossed to notice me as I crept forward and plunged the dagger into my husbands exposed back.