Okay so it's been a looongg time since i posted the last chapter so to make up for it this is a long chapter and lots happens so i hope you like it! PLEASE REVIEW! pleasepleaseplease :) :) :) K

Chapter 30

Robin

"'Scuse me." I said, pushing through the bustling crowd with difficulty. I'd never seen the village this crowded before, it was practically teeming and it was making my life very hard.

"If you could just – sorry Madam. Look can I -" Will wasn't finding it any easier and was too polite to push. I pulled my hood further over my face and braced myself but it was no good and Will and I found ourselves borne by the crowd to wherever they were going.

"Excuse me!" I shouted to a man nearby. "Where's everyone going?"

"The Sheriff's summoned us ain't he? Word is there's gonna be an 'anging!" He shouted back excitedly, flecks of spit flying from his blubbery mouth.

"Great." I heard Will mutter sarcastically and I rolled my eyes.

"We'll see what we can do for the poor sod, whoever he is." I promised and the tension in his face eased slightly.

People packed us in from each side as we came to a standstill in front of the castle, the hangman's stand about ten paces away.

"How have we ended up at the front?" I asked Will through my teeth and he shrugged, his eyes fixed on the noose with dread.

"I think we should leave." He whispered.

"Yeah me too but we can't. Leaving now would draw to much attention." I said exasperatedly but he shook his head vehemently.

"No we need to go, now. The people will help us – they have before!"

"Yeah back when they didn't think I was a murderer." I pointed out but before he could reply the castle door opened and the Sheriff strode out to take his place on the platform, as if prompted by his entrance the wind (already strong) picked up and everyone staggered backwards with the force of it, including Will and I. I put a hand up to shield my face and my hood was blown back, Will gasped and I cursed as people around me started to mutter, their narrowed eyes fixed upon my face. I managed to pull my hood back up but the damage was done and the wall of people was thicker than ever – there was no way out.

Lizzie

"You have to let me OUT." I said for the millionth time and for the millionth time William answered:

"I can't."

That same stupid answer every time!

"Yes you bloody well can!" I screamed, losing my patience and he stepped back, startled.

"N-no I can't."

"Are you stupid?" I asked, advancing. "The keys are in your belt of course you can open the door. It's not hard. What you mean is you won't."

He stumbled backwards, shaking his head.

"You won't help a poor, helpless girl escape her cruel captors." I said putting on my best damsel face. "If you only knew of my ordeal I'm sure you wouldn't be so cold...so heartless."

The poor man looked stricken and I inwardly applauded myself – it was working! Playing to my advantage I took another step forward but this time he didn't back away, making myself think of sad things I put a hand to my head and managed to work up a few tears.

"Please." I sobbed, "He'll kill me."

"Oh please don't cry!" He said obviously panicking.

"I can't help it, I'm so afraid. I know you would be braver because you are so strong and clever but I'm only a girl and I -I don't want to die. Don't let them kill me!" I finished with a wail and a renewed spurt of tears and I believe it was a mixture of that and the flattery I'd worked in that made him put his arms around me.

"There there, it'll be alright." He said and I nodded into his chest, all the while searching his belt for his keys.

"Thank you. You are so kind, sorry for being so silly." I said sweetly, making my shoulders shake as if I was holding in sobs.

"Shh, you're not silly!" He said and I rolled my eyes – there! There were the keys to the door! I had to try very hard to contain myself from shouting with happiness and instead turned it into a strangled sob which made him draw me in all the tighter.

Slowly I worked the keys free from his belt, sobbing all the while to hide the jingling noise.

I had them, slipping them into my sleeve I pulled away and smiled at him.

"Thank you." I said again, taking his hand and he smiled at me, I felt a twinge of regret, he was really quite nice, but that was soon overcome. Pulling his hand sharply I caught him off guard and he tumbled towards me and I kicked him swiftly in the groin.

"Sorry!" I said over my shoulder as I took out the keys and turned them quickly in the lock and shutting the door behind me.

There was no time for regret, only for running.

Robin

"People of Nottingham!" The Sheriff shouted, spreading his hands and smiling, "I know you must be wondering why I brought you here today but the reason, my friends, is before your very eyes!" He gestured to the hangman and a cheer went up from the people, they hadn't heard it was one of them and so had nothing to fear.

"The person who will meet his end today is known by all of you and he deserves to DIE for the crime he has committed."

Another cheer, Will leaned in.

"Robin we need to go – I've got a bad feeling about this." He hissed. The crowd was buzzing but a gesture from the Sheriff brought silence again.

"Murder." He pronounced into the silence and the word was passed around like a ripple.

Murder...

"Of an innocent..." He continued slowly.

Innocent...

"Girl." He said and the whispering became shouting then stamping as the crowd thirsted for this persons downfall.

"I have this awful feeling he's talking about me." I muttered to Will and he tugged at my cloak, desperately trying to move away but the writhing crowd stopped any hope of escape.

"Oh really?" He said sarcastically, his eyes flicking around.

The Sheriff was speaking again.

"That person." He shouted, "That man is ROBIN HOOD and he is amongst you AS. WE. SPEAK!"

My heart flipped with fear, these people were no longer my allies, they would give up my position.

"Robin what do we do?" Will asked, his voice high and panicked, but I was at a loss...this was nothing like any situation I'd been in before. Always the people had been on my side and now, with them against me, I hadn't a hope in hell.

"Pray." I answered.

"THAT'S HIM! THAT'S ROBIN HOOD!" The man next to me roared, pointing at me.

"And that's why I don't believe in God." I muttered, then all hell broke loose.

Will tried to fend people off but was shoved aside and the same people I had given money and food to were closing in on me, shouting and shoving me towards the stand. I strained against their hold but there were to many of them even for me.

"No!" I shouted, panting as I tried to get myself free. "I didn't do it! She's -"

"Murderer!" A woman screamed and that was it, I was on the hangman's stand, held by four men.

"No you have to believe him!" Will shouted from the crowd where two guards were holding him back.

The Sheriff was watching me gleefully and I raised my head and stopped struggling; I was damned if he'd see me afraid.

"Long time no see Vaisey." I said instead and annoyance flickered in his eyes – he'd wanted more of a show.

"So this is it Robin of Loxley." He replied as two guards replaced the villagers that had been holding me. The Sheriff moved closer, watching me closely.

"How does it feel to know they gave you in willingly, those people you've done so much for?" He asked, laughing. My fists clenched but I forced myself to keep calm.

"They have been told a lie. I don't blame them." I said and the Sheriff rolled his eyes.

"Oh how noble." He sneered, "Guards, put him into position, the hangman will be here soon."

Lizzie

Panting, I stopped to catch my breath at a window overlooking the village. Pressing a hand to my chest I looked out and screamed as I saw Robin being forced onto the hangman's block.

"NO!"

I ran faster than I ever thought I could, my dress billowing behind me, I saw no other soul until I got to the door and then it was a man dressed all in black.

The hangman.

Right.

Guy

Alan and I exchanged glances beneath the helmet of the guard's uniform we both wore, Will was putting up a good fight and we had enough space now so no-one would hear us.

"Will stop struggling it's Guy and Alan." I muttered and his whole body tensed.

"And why the hell is that a reason to stop struggling?" He asked incredulously.

"Don't be stupid we're trying to help Robin and Lizzie." Alan hissed and Will calmed a little bit.

"You have to believe us. Do you have your bow on you?" I asked and he nodded once.

"Give it to me."

"No!"

"Look if I have it it won't look suspicious and then when the time comes I can give it to you more quickly." I explained and he nodded again, handing the bow over with real reluctance.

"Right now when I give you it back Alan will let go of you and you need to shoot the hangman, got it?" I said. Another nod.

"There he is." Alan muttered and we all turned to see the hangman walking out of the castle doors.

"Not yet." I said, watching his progress onto the platform. As he climbed the steps something caught my eye and I looked disbelievingly at his feet. Why would a hangman be wearing an anklet?

Robin

I could see that Will had given his bow to the two guards surprisingly easily and on looking closer at them relaxed quite a lot – I had seen Alan's outlaw tag and guessed the other was Guy from the way he was standing and the boots. I had a hope then.

The hangman was on the platform now, dressed in the standard black hood and cloak, and the cheer from the crowd was turning into a chant.

"HANG THE MURDERER! HANG THE MURDERER!"

I winced, an unpleasant end but at least I knew I was innocent. This thought enabled me to hold my head up as the hangman came near and stood behind me.

An eerie hush ensued and the Sheriff sat forward in his chair, his eyes eager.

I felt the thick, rough rope scratch against my skin as the noose was placed around my neck and then by contrast soft fingers stroke the skin under my jaw...decidedly weird...but then again you can't be expected to be normal when killing people's your job.

Then a quiet voice was at my ear.

"Robin." It came from beneath the hood and I knew that voice.

"Lizzie?" I whispered and she shushed me.

"What are you waiting for?" The Sheriff called and the crowd roared in agreement. I heard her take a deep breath at the same time I saw Will notch an arrow into his bow and point it straight at her.

He didn't know it was her! I opened my mouth to shout at the same time Lizzie swept her hood and cloak off and Will froze with surprise.

"No!" The Sheriff growled and she gave a mocking curtsy in his direction as Will, Alan and Guy sprang onto the platform. Guy walked straight to the Sheriff and placed his knife at his throat.

"I won't let you hurt her." He said calmly and the Sheriff turned an interesting shade of puce.

Alan and Will flanked the guards, Will with a bow and Alan a sword.

Lizzie meanwhile had taken her cloak off as well and was standing bravely before the whole of Nottingham, her head held high and her beautiful hair streaming in the wind.

"I am the girl you thought to be murdered!" She shouted and muttering began anew by the shocked crowd. Lizzie turned to me and tenderly took the noose from my neck.

"And this is the man I love." She said, quieter this time.

"This man who gave up his life and all he knew for YOU! Because he is just and fair, this man you love too as the hero of your people. He did not commit the crime that you believed him guilty of, that was a vicious lie spread by THIS MAN." She pointed at the Sheriff. "And isn't he at the root of every problem in this town? He is a wicked man!" The crowd was angry again but this time they were glaring at the Sheriff and he...he was looking petrified.

Alan cut the ropes binding my hands and I stepped down from the block to stand next to Lizzie.

"This tyrant is the man that is the murderer." I stated simply and the crowd shouted, this time with me and not against me and I smiled and jerked my head towards him.

"So go get him!"

In a surge the people were running after him, Guy let go of Vaisey and stood back and he ran faster than I'd ever seen him run to take refuge inside the castle walls, his guards fleeing with him.

Lizzie and I exchanged amused looks and found we could not look away.

"Thank you." I said sincerely and, amidst the roar of the crowd and the racket of their pounding fists upon the castle doors, Lizzie and I shared the first kiss we'd had in far too long.