SO here's the long story, hopefully Guy can keep up! Please review, if you're reading this :)

Chapter 19

Lizzie

Guy grudgingly sat down with his back against the tree and watched me as if he still couldn't quite believe I was alive – to be expected really, he must have had quite a shock! Suddenly I was very conscious that I was only wearing Robin's shirt and pulled my skirt over my legs as a blanket from where I'd discarded it earlier, ignoring Robin as he watched me with a knowing smile.

"It was all Andrew's idea really -" I began but Guy held up a hand.

"Andrew Richomme? The wealthy man?" He said slowly, looking from Robin to me. I sighed,

"Well actually I suppose it started with the Sheriff really -" But again I was cut off by Guy's outraged exclamation,

"THE SHERIFF? How?"

"Well if you'd let me finish my sentences maybe you'd find out idiot!" I snapped and he closed his mouth with an effort and nodded for me to continue.

"Thank you. So, the Sheriff blackmailed me into helping him swindle Andrew of his money (he said he would tell the court that I was guilty if I didn't help him) and said that I had to seduce Andrew so that he would lose a bet on the likelihood of him bedding me with the Sheriff. Obviously I agreed as I value my life and possess a little integrity. So I did seduce him, to a point, but apparently he's not as much of an idiot as he makes out and had actually known what was going on from the start, he nearly killed me but I managed to make him listen to my side of the story and when he'd heard it he was very pro-active! The night I told him he said that the only way out of this seemed to be for me to be out of the picture, otherwise he had no options but winning the bet which would condemn me, losing the bet knowingly which would ruin him as the Sheriff would certainly take ALL his money or calling the Sheriff out which would STILL result in my death so we were at a moot point. So anyway we talked all of that through and he suggested I fake my own death...

"Fake my own death? Are you crazy?" I hissed, truly questioning his sanity as he regarded me with raised eyebrows as if I had failed to grasp some simple point about flower arranging or something.

"Not at all, my dear – it's perfect! The Sheriff can not kill you OR blackmail if you are dead, and then there is the added bonus of you not actually being dead which is always good." He said and I sat back and thought about it...it kind of made sense. Making up my mind I grabbed his hand.

"Come on, we're going to see someone who'll help us."

"...So then I took him to see Robin, which didn't go down well at first but eventually we decided on a plan of action, albeit a slightly mad one..."

"Robin?" I called softly, "Are you there?" As I knew he would he emerged holding his bow and arrow ready and staring at Andrew suspiciously.

"Who have you brought, Liz?" He asked warily and Andrew looked from me to Robin.

"What is the meaning of this, Elizabeth?" He asked dryly, placing one hand on his hip and flicking his hair back, I sighed as I saw Robin roll his eyes. Gingerly I stepped between them.

"This is Robin of Loxley," I began, wincing as I saw recognition of the wanted outlaw leap into Andrews eyes, "And this..." I took a deep breath, "Is Andrew Richomme, Robin." Again as I knew he would Robin raised his bow to point at Andrew's chest and glared angrily at me.

"Why did you bring him here? What were you thinking?" He spat and I closed my eyes for patience.

"It was necessary, you know I wouldn't have brought him if it wasn't urgent!" I said, exasperated but Andrew cut in just as Robin was about to reply,

"Excuse me! If you've finished having your little domestic I would like very much if you remembered I am, in fact, here and not another tree or some such part of this lovely but insignificant landscape!" He huffed, full swing into his pompous idiot act.

"Look." I said flatly, "Both of you just listen. Andrew has had an idea to get us out of our current mess – he knew all along what the Sheriff was making me do." Robin scoffed,

"Well it took him long enough to tell you that didn't it?" He moved closer to Andrew and pushed him in the chest, "Enjoying yourself were you?" Andrew straightened his cuffs,

"Well I wouldn't call having a beautiful girl seducing me unpleasant..." He said and Robin growled under his breath as I hastily moved between them again.

"Stop it! I'm going to feign my death." Robin spluttered and I ignored him, "And then I am going to live with you, Robin, until Guy has dealt with my case and the Sheriff has nothing to hold over my head, after which I will reappear to act as your spy saying that I was abducted by robbers and left for dead but miraculously survived. They will have no choice but to believe me and all will be well again, me keeping my life and Andrew his money. Understand?"

"...Then it was all simple. The chef had been planning on making black pudding so I just had to go and get the bowl of pigs blood from the larder and smear it over my dress, leaving it near the forest. Then Andrew ensured that his servant would find the dress the next morning, before the Sheriff made the bet, which he did. Apparently it was al very dramatic! He ran in carrying my bloodied dress at breakfast and all the lords and ladies ooh-ed and aah-ed about how terrible it was, a lady even fainted! Anyway I was happily living with Robin here in the forest." I finished and Guy cast an annoyed glance at my attire.

"Yes very happily, I see." He said sarcastically and I blushed, shifting uncomfortably as Robin cleared his throat beside me.

"Well, yes...um well it all worked out!" I said brightly changing the subject,

"So now all you have to do is go back to the castle and say there were rumors of a band of terrifying robbers in the area and mourn Lizzie and it will all be fine, okay?" Robin added and I sat back and prayed that he would play along.

"You know you're both mad?" Guy said, rolling his eyes.

"Yes." Robin and I chorused in unison and Guy actually chuckled!

"Fine. But I'll be checking up on her Loxley." He threatened, getting to his feet. "I'll say I am trying to find the robbers to...to get revenge or something." He said, putting his knife back in his belt and pulling me to my feet. "I'll bring some changes of clothes for you Liz." He said pointedly and I laughed nervously as I watched him walk back into the trees.

Robins noisy exhale made me smile,

"Oh was someone nervous?" I asked playfully and he batted me away, protesting.

"No! I could take him any day." He said puffing up his chest, I rolled my eyes,

"You know...I haven't hurt you in the longest time!" I joked, thinking back to how many times I'd slapped him in the short time we'd known each other. He laughed and clasped me to him,

"Well I must be doing something right then." He said and I laughed,

"...Or I'm going easy on you." I countered and he laughed with me, pulling me down onto the forest floor and rolled us over so that he pinned me down.

"Liz...there has been nothing easy about my life since you came into it!"