So Lizzie's in trouble again but by no means defeated and the Sheriff is definitely a jerk, Robin's going beserk and there's someone in the castle who shouldn't be...Gosh! Well please review - that would be lovely :)

Chapter 24

Robin

"Spread out! They can't have got far!" I yelled, my heart thudding at an alarming rate, she had gone and so far we hadn't found her.

"I beg to differ! They could be anywhere!" Alan pointed out sarcastically and I groaned – he was right, why did I let her go with him?

"LIZZIE!" We all spun around and Much dropped his hands from his lips sheepishly "...Well it won't hurt will it!" He said defensively and Alan rolled his eyes, I, however, knew exactly how he felt – Goddamn frustrated.

"Well we know he's probably taken her to the castle." Will said and we all nodded in agreement.

"It's why that's the problem." Little John responded gruffly – he'd taken her loss almost as hard as me!

"Well...I think I probably know that too." Will said, not quite meeting anyone's eyes. "I heard something when I was in the castle the other day. The Sheriff was talking to someone, he said his plans would fall through if word got out she was alive – that he was depending on the people losing their trust in Hood." He finished in a rush.

I put my head in my hands, so I'd got her into trouble once again?

"That makes sense...the Sheriff wants the villagers to stop protecting Robin and they will if they think that he's murdered an innocent girl. Lizzie being alive ruins everything!" Alan said heatedly and I groaned, standing up and buckling my dagger to my belt.

"I have to go. I have to help her."

Lizzie

Every bone in my body ached. I had been tied to the same chair for a very long time and my arms were most definitely protesting, I wished someone would come – even the Sheriff, just anyone who could explain what was going on and when I'd be set loose. But no-one came. Just what was the point exactly of snatching me and bringing me here if only to tie me up in some obscure room for hours on end? Surely something should have happened.

Footsteps? And the Sheriff's voice,

"Stand down, I must speak with our guest privately."

Ugh, be careful what you wish for, right? Damn you whatever sadistic God was eavesdropping...

The sound of many bolts being unlocked made me shrink back into my chair which, of course, did nothing to stop the door opening and the Sheriff stepping into the room with a wolfish grin on his face and a piece of paper in his hand.

BANG. And the door was shut and we were alone and I was tied to a chair really not liking the look in his eyes. Fantastic.

"What a pleasure to see you again, dear girl!" The Sheriff crooned and I rolled my eyes,...give me a break. Unperturbed he sat down in a chair across from me and rested one elbow on the arm, his hand under his chin,

"What do you want? Does Guy know you've got me here? Why have you got me here?" I blurted out, unsettled by his staring, and his smile widened.

"You're here to prevent the unraveling of my plan – a plan that centered around you being dead which, most inconveniently, you are not. I take it you've seen these scattered around?" He asked, showing me the piece of paper – it was one of the wanted posters for my murder and Robin's face was in the middle of the page. I snarled at him and strained against the ropes but only succeeded in messing up my already messy hair and running out of breath.

"Let me go. Everyone thinks I'm dead anyway, surely that's all that matters." I said and he shook his head.

"Oh no. You see I can't run the risk, there's a very good chance that, were you still living in the forest, when I asked the villagers to turn Robin in or else their water supplies would be cut off completely and they did so readily as he is a murderer of innocent girls (or so they think) you would have likely ruined it."
"Damn right I would have -" I started furiously then bit my lip...oops.

"You see? You admit it." The Sheriff said slyly, spreading his hands and I groaned, furious at myself.

"You cannot do this. Robin is innocent! And involving the villagers is cruel, none of this is their fault – it is mine! Kill me!" I pleaded, my voice ringing out frantically through the silent room. How much more blood would be spilled in my name and stain my hands and heart? How many more had to die?

"Kill you?" He said softly, moving forward to lift my chin with one hand, "Well I may very well have to."

he searched my eyes for a minute longer then stood and strode towards the door and left the room, locking the bolts behind him. For a moment I was stunned but then I screamed, surprising even myself, and struggled against my bonds, I tried and tried until I had no strength left and all I had to show for my efforts were aching muscles and painful rope burns.

"Don't cry Lizzie. Don't you dare." I warned myself, "You've dealt with worse things haven't you?" I could have answered myself with a catty retort born of frustration and exhaustion but I had nothing left. My head nodded forward and I was between this world and the world of sleep when I heard the bolts being unlocked again and snapped my head up. Was he back? But the door opened and a man walked in with his head down and a tray of food in his hands, my spirits lifted slightly – maybe I could win him over...get him to help me! He set the tray on the ground and ran his hands through his unkempt, brown hair but still did not look up. There was something...

"Thank you." I offered, smiling my best smile but that quickly faded from my face as the man met my gaze and I found myself staring into the face of Alan.