It's amazing how a plan can go wrong...please review!

Chapter 20

Guy

Trying to mold my face into an angry/sad expression I crossed the path to the castle at a furious pace – the villagers drew back from me in fear as I passed but that was their normal reaction and nothing to do with my theatrics. I sighed, when had things got so complicated? I was so engrossed in my thoughts that the Sheriff's shout took me by surprise.

"Gisbourne!" He was waving for me to join him and his smile was the biggest I had ever seen him sport – confused and wary I walked slowly to join him.

"Yes?" I said, making my voice despondent. He clapped me on the shoulder.

"I see you've heard the brilliant news!" He beamed and I looked at him warily.

"No. I've heard no news that I would call brilliant." I said bitterly, had he no humanity? Apparently not as he waved a hand condescendingly in my direction,

"Oh tush. This is the best thing that's happened in a while Gisbourne!" The Sheriff said, as if he was astonished that I didn't feel the same way.

"The death of my sister is the best thing that's happened in a while?" I clarified, nonplussed and the Sheriff nodded gleefully.

"Don't you see? She was killed on the outskirts of Sherwood forest – Hood's territory! It's already happening – rumors are starting to fly that Robin Hood murdered her and all we have to do is add fat to the fire." He exclaimed and my heart began to beat uncomfortably fast – this was not how things were meant to go.

"No...I have been informed that the deed was done by a band of robbers who -" I started to explain but the Sheriff interrupted impatiently.

"Nonsense – the truth of it doesn't matter, it's who the people think did it. Do you really think they will stand behind Hood as they did before, hide him and help him at their own expense, if they think he murdered an innocent girl? Of course not. They'll give him away – all they need is a little nudge." The Sheriff rubbed his hands together as he walked away, saying, "And you know how I love our little nudges, Gisbourne. See to it, will you?"

I leant against the wall and ran a hand through my hair. This was not good.

Robin

We had all assembled for the mid-afternoon meal fairly quickly and were eating in companionable silence, it had been a quiet, warm day and nothing much had happened, Will was due to return any minute from the Castle where he'd been distributing the money that Mr Richomme had 'donated' to the cause. Lizzie put her hand in mine when she finished her meal and smiled,

"I'd better go and meet Guy, you know he'll assume the worst if I'm even a tiny bit late."
"Oh let him assume what he wants." I grumbled, pulling her onto my lap and she sighed,

"Seriously, I should go. Don't you want to know how our little plan's getting along?" She pointed out and then it was my turn to sigh as I reluctantly let go of her.

"Alright, alright just come back quickly. And alone." I said. I refused to have unnecessary communication with Gisbourne even if he was Lizzie's sister.

Lizzie

Lazily, knowing that I was early, I made my way to the tree where I was supposed to meet Guy and was surprised to see him already there. What was even stranger was that as soon as he saw me he ran over and gripped me by the shoulders. Something had gone wrong.

"What? What is it?" I asked urgently.

"It's all gone wrong, the Sheriff is using this against Hood – saying that he's the one who killed you so the villagers will need less persuasion to turn him in. Prince John has just upped the reward on Hood's head and told the Sheriff that if Hood isn't dead by the end of the month then it'll be the Sheriff's head instead, so he's desperate. The word is already out – I couldn't stop him!" Guy stumbled over his words in his panic and I believed him. Thoughts raced through my head but not one of them was practical, we were in a worse mess than before.