Chapter 22

Robin

After a minute of standing there, stupefied, I shook myself and went to look for her – sometimes I forgot how independent she'd become through a life of betrayal and treated her like any other girl, which she was not. I ran my hands through my unkempt hair, picked up her staff from where it had landed when she'd thrown it at me and set off. The two staffs came in useful for swatting branches out of the way and whatnot but no matter how far I went, she was nowhere. Cursing, I realized I had come full circle and was back at the camp so I flung both staffs down and stormed into the clearing, ready to bite some heads off.

Instead a white-faced Lizzie hurled herself at me and clung to my shoulders – not what I'd expected but who was I to complain? I hugged her tight and then held her at arms length, worried.

"What happened? Are you alright?" I asked slowly (choosing my words carefully this time) and she sniffed, wide-eyed.

"The Sheriff -" She started but a red haze descended over my eyes.

"What did he do?" I growled, my hand automatically going to the dagger at my side – if he'd hurt her...but she was shaking her head slowly with a frown.

"No. He was...sleepwalking...in the forest. I saw him! But then he woke up and...and he saw me, Robin – it's all useless, he knows I'm not dead." She hung her head and pushed her tangled curls out of her tired eyes. My own eyes were rolling before I could stop them.

"That's what's wrong?" I said incredulously "Liz, he'll think it was all a dream in the morning, of course he will. I'm sure he won't think a thing more of it – come on you're getting worked up over nothing." I said, placing a hand on her slumped shoulder. She raised her head,

"But -"

"No Liz! Please, trust me – it will be fine. I think we should all get some sleep." I interrupted and she nodded but I noticed her brow did not unknit as she settled down into her makeshift bed and closed her eyes.

Lizzie

I woke up in the morning feeling remarkably better – of course Robin was right, the Sheriff would write it off as a dream and think nothing more of it. I said as much to a bemused Robin when he was helping me wash some of my dresses in the lake. Then I pushed him in.

Hilarious.

Anyway, I was feeling bright as a button and quite content – so content that I agreed to let Will help me with my swordplay; something he'd been wanting to teach me for a ridiculously long time (I had always declined graciously, Will intimidated me slightly still.). The outlaws made an ominous circle around us as Will took a few steps away from me and I gulped nervously, trying to find a comfortable grip on the hilt of the sword. Will held his as if it were part of his hand and I attempted to copy him although not with quite the same effect...I have a feeling I looked faintly silly. Will locked eyes with me and grinned,

"Ready?" He said and I cleared my throat.

"Um...yes?" I replied in an unfamiliar, squeaky voice. I was not ready. At all.

Will closed in, swinging his sword expertly round his head and I dug my heels into the ground and parried his blow with difficulty, he was so much stronger than me that I had to find a certain angle to my grip to keep from collapsing under the weight he put on his sword. Swiftly he lifted his sword away and darted backwards, side-stepping deftly as I thrust my weapon in his vague direction, he feinted left but I had seen him do that a few time when practicing with Robin and I side-stepped quite smartly and brought my blade to meet his. A long rally of thrusts and parries, neatly blocked and returned on both sides ensued and I found myself driven backwards, my arms losing strength at a worrying pace until eventually I gave up and rolled to the side, planting my sword deep in the earth, hilt up, and sitting down cross-legged on the forest floor.

"That's enough...thank you!" I panted and Will laughed as the outlaws applauded.

"Not bad." Robin acknowledged and I doffed an imaginary hat sarcastically while secretly being quite pleased – praise indeed! Then a voice I didn't know spoke from the trees,

"Sorry to intrude but can any of you good folk tell me where to find Miss Elizabeth? I've a note for her from Guy of Gisbourne – he says it's mighty urgent." The speaker stepped forward and we saw the owner of the gruff voice for the first time. He had long hair and a rugged face – a jagged scar running down his left cheek like a tear stain, although he looked like he didn't know what it was to cry. His stature was quite impressive clad as he was in a loose white shirt and black trousers, he wasn't a peasant but definitely not a lord. As if he sensed our confusion he smirked,

"I'm a friend of his – just passing by. He wanted me to give her the note on my way through the forest." He said, shrugging. I got to my feet.

"Well I am Elizabeth so the note is for me." I said, holding out my hand warily but he shook his head.

"Er sorry Miss, he said I wasn't to give it you in front of him." He replied, jerking a thumb at Robin. "Says it's private, but it's just in my wagon back there some if you'd come and see. I gathered it was important." He finished and I straightened my shoulders, ignoring warning glares from the outlaws.

"Lead the way, then." I said and followed him out of the clearing leaving Robin to stew no doubt, but I was worried – what was so important to Guy?