So i realize things jump around a bit here but all shall be explained in the next chapter - bless Guy's overprotective little heart...anyway please review!

Chapter 18

Guy

Finally it was all sorted! The court had found Lizzie innocent and I was packing my bags to return to Nottingham. I could feel the bags under my eyes and rubbed them sleepily, these last few days had been busy and tiring, but the idea of home spurred me to continue packing so I hastily scooped the papers off of my desk and into a bag. As I was buckling my dagger onto my belt someone knocked frantically on the door and I straightened,

"Who's there?" I asked, my hand automatically going to the hilt of my dagger, but a nervous voice replied,

"On – Only a servant sir, with news." The voice faltered and I crossed the room, opening the door I was surprised to see the Sheriff's servant standing there looking petrified – why had he come all he way from Nottingham?

"Well?" I said, crossing my arms impatiently. The servant jumped and ran shaking hands over his balding head.

"It' – it's your..." He gulped and smoothed his hands down his smock.

"Well? My what, imbecile?" I snapped, losing my patience.

"Your sister sir, Miss Elizabeth." He said, looking down. I rolled my eyes,

"What's she done now?" I asked, kneading my forehead. The servant did not reply but scuffed his feet, twisting his hands nervously, I began to worry.

"What is it? For god's sake spit it out man!" I shouted and he drew in a shuddering breath.

"She – she's dead sir, I'm right sorry, I am." He said quietly and my breath stopped. Dead? My mind couldn't comprehend...surely he was lying.

"You lying wretch!" I thundered, feeling my face turn black as a storm cloud as I pinned him to the wall. "How dare you say such a thing?" I spat. He had turned a sickly shade of white.

"No, I beg you sir, it's true!" He whimpered and I let go of him, turning around so he couldn't see the tears that had sprang without warning into my eyes, Lizzie couldn't be dead – not after everything. Once I had furiously blinked the tears back into my eyes I turned to face him.

"Tell me." I said, my voice monotonous.

"Everyone was at breakfast, sir, and the Sheriff was just talking to Master Richomme – the wealthy guest, he took quite a liking to Miss Elizabeth so he did, but who could not? - and the doors burst open. Master Richomme's servant came in all white like and carrying Miss Elizabeth's green dress, well everyone stopped talking and their mouths dropped right open – it was covered in blood so it was! Said he'd found it on the edge of Sherwood Forest that morning but no body, said the deed had probably been done last night he said. Well I'm awful sorry to have to tell you sir, I am ,but that's the way of it and ain't it an awful shame." I was shaking, I realized, uncontrollably, and every word had been like a slash of a knife to my body – Lizzie was gone.

"Are you alright sir? You look awful pale." the servant said but I just gestured for him to leave, pressing a few coins into his hand and slamming the door in his concerned face. Once alone I sank to the floor and put my hands to my face, my one consolation was that I knew who'd done it – Loxley, he must have, if her dress was found on the edge of Sherwood forest and this wealthy man had taken an interest in her...Loxley must have gotten jealous. I clenched my fists, he would pay. Without bothering to pack the rest of my things I stormed outside and saddled up my horse, I rode faster than I'd ever ridden before, fueled my my fury and grief and soon I was at Sherwood Forest and dismounted, leaving my horse tied to a tree I ran into the forest, keeping my dagger drawn. Eventually the sound of laughing made me grind my teeth – I knew that voice, it was him. My anger flared at his lack of guilt and I stalked out into the clearing where he was leaning against a tree, his eyes widened when he saw me and the laughter faded out of them.

"Loxley." My voice didn't sound human, it was a growl. He raised his eyebrows.

"Yes?" He replied as if nothing was wrong, that was all it took for me to run at him. He drew his knife too and managed to fend mine off at the last minute as I went for his throat, with a grunt he toppled me and we rolled round the forest floor,

"Are you crazy, Gisbourne?" He shouted but I merely snarled and jolted so I was in a position to use my knife. Seeing my intention he rolled away and stood up, notching an arrow to his bow and pointing it at me, I was panting with anger as I got to my feet and glared at him.

"How could you, Loxley?" I asked quietly, not bothering to hide the threat in my voice – however many arrows he put in me I would not die until I knew I'd got him too.

"Are you going to enlighten me as to what I've done anytime soon?" Robin asked and my heart blackened with hate.

"YOU KILLED HER YOU CRETIN, ADMIT IT!" I yelled and he actually backed away even though he was the one holding the bow.

"What are you talking about?" He said incredulously and the first hint of doubt crept into my mind.

"My sister." I said through clenched teeth as I waited for his response. "Well?" I said when he didn't reply – just stared at me. Still nothing and I lost my temper, I ran at him and pinned him to the tree with my knife to his neck. "WELL DID YOU OR DIDN'T YOU?" I shouted and just as he was about to reply I heard a shocked voice speak from behind me.

"Guy? What are you doing?" I knew that voice but I didn't dare believe it was Lizzie. Slowly I turned round and stared in disbelief as I saw my sister, fully alive and well with dripping hair, dressed only in what was obviously one of Robin's shirts which was just long enough to be decent. The blood rushed to my face dangerously fast, this was too much for one day!
"What – Lizzie! What's the meaning of this? I thought, well I was told that you – well...what's going on here?" I managed to splutter out as she grinned, I couldn't help it – I smiled back, then Loxley went to stand next to her and put his hand protectively on the small of her back – that wiped the smile off of my face.

"Would someone care to tell me what's going on?" I asked and Lizzie grinned,

"You'd better sit down brother mine – it's a long story!"