Apologies for the gap, I've been insanely busy! But yes, hope you enjoy this chapter and please review to tell me your thoughts! :-)

Chapter 28

Guy

"Lizzie?" I said urgently, the sight of her disturbed me – she was soot-blackened and still. An image flashed through my head of another who had met her end in a fire...I remembered her so well and the day she had died. My mother. In a fire that was my fault.

I shuddered violently and gripped the chair back tightly.

"Lizzie?" I tried again and Alan shot a worried glance at me.

"I think she needs a doctor." He said, slowly and quietly as if he was talking to a maddened animal of some kind.

I supposed I must look mad – I could feel myself shaking, my eyes stretching with fear and memories.

"No." I snapped, "the Sheriff will have us both if he know we let her go."

"But -"

"No!" I cut Alan off sharply as I tried to control the tremors racking my spine.

Kneeling down I wiped the ash from her gently to take my mind off of how she had to gasp to breathe. Alan handed me a glass of water and I nodded my thanks before trickling a sip onto her lips.

She spluttered once then appeared to taste the water and I rearranged the pillow under her head.

"Lizzie?" I tried again and stood as her eyelids flickered, I heard Alan's sigh of relief and forced myself not to show my happiness.

But then she opened her eyes and I couldn't prevent myself from smiling – what was more I couldn't seem to stop.

Lizzie

"Guy?" I asked blearily – was it his face swimming before my eyes?

"What were you thinking?" He snapped (definitely him then).

"Give her a break, she -" That was Alan! But Guy cut him off with a withering glare.

"I thought...I was going to die..." I didn't realise I'd spoken aloud till I saw them staring at me, Guy ran a hand through his hair – it was much longer than I remembered.

"You very nearly did you foolish girl." He said shortly and I winced.

"Well I don't see why you should care now all of a sudden." I pointed out bitterly, my anger and hurt at his betrayal rushing back to me, " And as for you Alan! Well don't get me started."

"I could have let the Sheriff kill you!" Guy fumed and I rolled my eyes derisively,

"I wish you had." I snapped and Guy's eyes bulged worryingly.

"You...were you – did you -" He spluttered in what certainly looked like horror, I stared at him in perplexity for a while and then understanding dawned.

"I wasn't trying to kill myself, Guy!" I shouted, outraged. My brother uttered a short bark-like laugh and turned away.

I tried to scramble to my feet and found myself helped by Alan, I walked to Guy as quickly as I could and walked round till I was staring him in the face.

"I was just trying to get the guard to open the door." I explained flatly and Guy looked at me searchingly, a muscle jumping in his jaw.

After a while he let his breath out in a whoosh and put a hand to his temple,

"Fine. Alan escort Elizabeth to another chamber." He ordered and both Alan and I looked at him in disbelief.

"What? No!" I said hotly.

"Don't argue just do it." Guy snapped. Alan scowled and walked over to me looking apologetic. I backed away but Guy grabbed my shoulders and pushed me towards Alan who held my arm in a grip that, although it didn't hurt, I wouldn't be getting free from.

We were nearly at the door when the door flew open, making us jump backwards before standing stock still as we stared into the Sheriff's livid face.

"What new idiocy is this?" He fumed and slammed the door, moving towards Guy.

"You can't do the simplest things Gisbourne." He expostulated. Guy held up a hand,

" No, it was -" He started to explain but the Sheriff smacked him across the face with no warning.

Silence rang through the room and then I flung myself at the Sheriff, punching and clawing.

"How dare you?" I screamed, beside myself with hate for this tyrannous, evil man. Despite his shock he managed to hold me at bay annoyingly easily and soon had me pinned against a wall disregarding my violent struggles. Alan looked furious but obviously didn't dare interfere and Guy had his fists clenched painfully tight and was almost snarling.

"You know I'm starting to think you might be more trouble than you're worth." The Sheriff hissed, his vile breath on my cheek. Mustering up every ounce of defiance I had left I spat in his face and he let out a roar that made me shrink back against the wall as he wiped his face roughly with his sleeve.

"Gisbourne." He seethed and Guy gave a mechanical nod.

"Today is THE day and you let her escape. You'll answer for this but first – she will." The Sheriff said and pulled me from the room to the accompaniment of my brothers yell.

Robin

"Here." I whispered, dropping a purse full of coins into Sally's hand and putting a finger to my lips – she was the butcher's wife, a decent lady despite her boorish husband. But as I went to walk away I felt a blow to my back and heard the jingling of coins, shocked I turned around to see Sally glaring at me, her hand empty, and the full purse lying on the ground – she must have thrown it at me.

"We don't want none of your blood money, murderer!" She hissed and I put up my hands in disbelief,

"No! Sally -" But she was gone and I was left at the mercy of a village of equally judgmental eyes and similar responses.

Everywhere I went I received the same treatment, they honestly believed I had killed Lizzie! No matter how many times I tried to explain I was met with slammed doors and narrowed eyes, it seemed hopeless.

"Come away Robin." Will said, "They'll know the truth soon enough." He put a consoling hand on my arm but I pulled away angrily.

"But how could they think that? After all we've done for them!" I fumed, jerking my hood further over my head, "I've lost Lizzie – now am I to lose the very people I fight for as well?"

"You haven't lost Lizzie." Will reprimanded quietly and I kicked some dust off of the street.

"Well it certainly feels like it." I muttered darkly as we began to walk.

Lizzie

"Get off of me!" I screamed. I tried to wrench my arm away but the Sheriff held my arm fast, pulling me strongly away from Guy and Alan.

"Quiet." He snapped, twisting his hand to send a searing streak of pain down my arm and ignoring my corresponding shout.

"Get in." He ordered brusquely and I saw with horror that we were at the door to his chamber. I upped my struggles, trying anything and everything to get loose but he merely pushed me into the room and locked the door behind him.

My vision started to blur as he glared at me and I found I couldn't quite get my breath. The Sheriff started to advance and I uttered a short, sharp scream and grasped the nearest thing to me – a jug.

I was aware of how laughable I must have looked, standing there in my chemise grasping a jug and trying to stop my hands from shaking – you see, I could see it in his eyes. He was going to kill me.

Gisbourne

I stood in the middle of the room, still holding the blanket, dazed. Alan and I looked at each other and in our fearful expressions lurked the memory of the murderous look in the Sheriff's eyes as he'd hauled her from the room.

"She's gone too far, hasn't she?" Alan croaked.

"She's just in the way now." I agreed, cursing the tremor in my voice. "WELL COME ON THEN!" I screamed, losing my temper and running from the room, picking up my sword as I did so.

I heard Alan follow me and increased my pace, time was running out.

Lizzie

The wall stopped my efforts to back away any further – I was trapped and he was still coming towards me with a twisted snarl corrupting his face.

Suddenly he unhooked a long dagger from his belt and yelled, running towards me until his face was an inch from mine, he held me against the wall with one hand, the other pressing the blade to my throat.

I shrank back – his eyes were crazed – I couldn't breathe. Gasping I tried to wrench the dagger away but he was far too strong and only pressed it more firmly against the tender skin at my throat.

"Stop!" I croaked, my eyes filling with tears of pain and fear.

"I will end this." He growled, applying still more pressure, I felt my head swim.

"Please..." I tried again feebly but he merely smiled a horrible, triumphant smile.

"Today you and your beloved outlaw will meet your end by my doing – isn't that terrific? And Robin Hood will die a double death, knowing that the people he gave everything for were the very people that willingly partook in his demise as retribution for his supposed murder that I am about to commit." He laughed exultantly, his mouth gaping as if come unhinged like – I suspected – his mind had.

I tried yet again to push him away but he shook his head mockingly and drew back the hand holding the dagger so it was poised in the space above my heart.

I could see the reflection of my fear in his eyes as he began the swift movement that would snuff out my life like a candle.