Disclaimer: I do not own BBC Robin Hood; only my original character Lady Sofia

AN: This chapter is really short (I know) didn't realise until I wrote it but, but I'll be posting chapter 12 today as well :) ~Zyii

ELEVEN

The Sheriff had not been having a good week. First and foremost was the vicious expression on Lady Sofia's face when he'd timidly explained that they could find no sign of Gisbourne anywhere. Secondly important documents and other items were disappearing in times when he greatly needed them only to reappear when he'd been completely humiliated. He understood that he was losing favour in court and knew that without a quick rise his head would be quickly chopped from his shoulders.

After the situation with Hood stealing the taxes and Lady Sofia getting injured the last of Nottingham's guards were replaced with Lady Sofia's own loyal guard. The Sheriff couldn't help but feel nervous as he walked the halls of his own castle and felt the eyes of her guards boring into his back as he passed.

One fateful morning he had screamed like a little girl as he found a trail of animal intestines leaking a trail from the floor to his bed where the mess lay. To add to the gruesome sight the words 'watch your step' had been written on his bed sheets in the same animal blood. His girlish screams had bought the guards running thinking it to be Lady Sofia that was in trouble. The Sheriff was most put out when the guards chortled at his expense. When he demanded that they go look for the culprit, one of them laughingly explained that it was probably some joke to get under his skin and should they start looking for someone the person responsible would have the satisfaction of knowing they'd succeeded.

The Sheriff relented and asked them not to search but he did avoid his chambers for the rest of the day, making sure the servants knew to clean the room three times over.

The Sheriff was becoming increasingly paranoid and jumpy. Following the intestine incident anonymous letters detailing all his heinous deeds started to arrive and often when he was walking around the castle he'd hear something suspicious or suddenly something would jump at him from around the corner and he would clutch his heart in fear.

Needless to say that the combination of searching daily for Gisbourne and sleepless nights were getting to the Sheriff if the bags under his eyes were anything to go by! Had the Sheriff been a normal person people might have actually felt sorry for the turn of events he was now experiencing. As it was they all thought he deserved every bit of it.

Sofia was definitely having a hard time controlling her facial features when half the time she just wanted to bust out laughing. At first she'd wanted to keep things low key and slow but after seeing his face after the first couple of schemes she realised that he was already tipping towards paranoia and all she had to do was push him further. So…she upped her game dramatically and had fun doing it.

She didn't feel remotely guilty or evil in her actions, after all she had been through much worse and it wasn't like she was inflicting physical pain onto the Sheriff.

As the Sheriff panicked about the things that were happening to him, Sofia was busy carrying out other plans. After receiving a letter that put a smile on her face and warmth in her heart, she proceeded to make a secret trip to Locksley. Although she knew she'd have to talk to Robin about the letter she'd received, what she was doing in Locksley would remain a secret. She wasn't doing anything bad, she just wanted it to be a surprise.

As she left Locksley she was in high spirits and was confident that her request would be followed through. She knew Robin and the others were busy offering aid to a nearby village that had suffered greatly in the harsh winter but she hoped she'd get to see him soon.