I've copied the unfriendly author's note here, because I think it's important people read it before they consider complaining about the pairing.

"I am not averse to critiques, if they are constructive. But when I get complaints about this being a Guy-centric story or about Robin Hood not being in it enough or about whether or not Robin will die, then I get a little peeved. The most recent review, from Guest, was the last straw for me. If you are looking for a Robin Hood-centric fic, that's fine, this website has plenty. But this IS NOT and WILL NOT BE a Robin-centric fic, no matter how many borderline bitchy reviews I receive. This is the BBC's Robin Hood fandom, meaning the fandom for the entire show, not just for Robin Hood-the character. Thus, the show and therefore the fandom include Guy of Gisborne, so I am allowed to write about him.

To quote the charming Guest reviewer, if you want a Robin-centric fanfic, "go create for yourself!" and leave those writer alone who prefer Guy of Gisborne."

Now that I've got that out of the way, I have a lot of people to respond to. I cannot thank you enough for your support. xo

CarrieLaadan: I know, it was a very unkind thing I did, updating but not with a chapter. I'm sorry for that, but I hope that this update will make up for it. And it's true, Robin Hood wouldn't be half the hero without Gisborne as a foil. Though of course, I'm biased.

lrobinson99: Thank you, dear!

Hope4thehopeless: I would totally block the person, but they don't have an account, and the site doesn't let you block guest reviewers. I've written my piece, so I will henceforth ignore him/her. Hopefully the person will go away now.

Jayne DLM: Thank you! :)

aliena wyvern: I really do wish I could have responded to the person in a PM. I'm generally against airing dirty laundry in public, but by then, I'd really had enough. If you look on Archive of Our Own (AO3), there are more Guy-centric fics than Robin-centric ones, so I think that speaks for itself. (Dunno what the ratio is on this site, though.)

Just4Me: When I saw your name, I got ridiculously happy. Hi! And yes, I always try to make the pairings and the pace clear in the summary and the first chapter. Ah well.

Sesshomaru's Babydoll: *tackles* Thanks, it's so lovely to see you again!

Sajean: *hugs* Thank you! What I'm really curious about, though, is did the person not read the story summary? Not necessarily for the pairing, but to decide if the plot is even interesting to him/her. I mean, I get not liking a pairing (I don't like Robin/OC pairings, so I don't read them or review them), but then to comment just because of that...it seems a waste of time and effort. *shrugs*

Dulinneth Elennaur: Thank you! I hope the wait was worth it!

Okay, there's no Guy in this chapter (*ducks the projectiles thrown at her*), but an old friend makes an appearance, which I really, really hope you'll like. I loved writing it, because the character is just so much fun.

Chapter 12: Damsel in Distress

Vaisey watched Ajsa over the rim of his goblet, his keen gaze taking in her stiff demeanor. A tendril of glee unfurled at the sight of her obvious discomfort. He had offered her some wine, which she hadn't touched, in an effort to paint a veneer of civility over the interrogation.

"Well, my dear, will you answer me now?"

She stared at her hands that were folded her lap.

"Who I was before is no longer important," she replied. "But I can assure you that I held no sway with the king."

"Oh, come now, don't be modest," he said encouragingly. "Your English is better than that idiot Thomas', which leads me to believe you learned it prior to your capture. That means you're educated. Of course, I'm not very familiar with social customs in Hungary, but I doubt the lower-classes are so refined as to receive an education."

Ajsa didn't reply. If she answered his questions truthfully, the repercussions could be dire indeed. But Vaisey was not deterred.

"Still won't talk, huh?" He sighed and motioned for more wine. "Then let's just have an innocent conversation. What is the Hungarian king's name?"

She looked at him, baffled at the change of subject.

"His name is Béla III."

"Mmm, no wonder I couldn't remember it," the Sheriff murmured. "And he has lots of gold and silver, yes?"

"Do not all kings?"

Vaisey grinned. "Touché, pretty one. But Baila or whoever has lots and lots of it." He held up an index finger, gazing pensively into the distance. "I've heard he receives 23 tons of silver annually. That's more than what the French king gets and double what King Richard gets." He fixed Ajsa with an amused glance. "I should know."

"And you want King Béla to give you some of that," she stated.

"Well, yes," Vaisey replied. "I mean, what's he going to do with it? Distribute it among his peasants?"

"He might," Ajsa said. "That would be a better use for it than what you have planned."

Vaisey looked shocked. "You wound me, Ajsa. My motives could be noble." Then he paused and grinned. "Very well, perhaps not as noble as your king's, but that's no concern of yours. All you have to worry about is procuring the money."

"Send your diplomats. That is what they are for, are they not?"

"They're useless," Vaisey said curtly, dismissing her suggestion with a wave of his hand. "No, I need someone who speaks the language, a high-born native. That's you, Ajsa."

She was growing uneasy again. If she refused, he might lock her in the dungeons until she changed her mind. But if she agreed, the attempt would end in failure and probably in her imprisonment, as well. Ajsa was backed into a corner, with no viable options. However, it wouldn't hurt to try to dissuade him one last time.

"I am telling you, I cannot do it."

Something flashed in Vaisey's eyes. His patience was wearing thin.

"Shall I reunite you with Thomas? I'm sure he'd like to see you again now that you have some flesh on your bones. Or perhaps I should lend you to the guards. They're always in need of pretty women, and you're the prettiest of the lot."

Ajsa paled and swallowed hard to clear the lump in her throat. The dungeons were preferable to being whored out to that vile slaver and the soldiers.

"You would not risk tarnishing my virtue," she argued. "If my king learns that an unclean woman requests an audience with him, he will surely not grant it."

"Oh, my dear," said Vaisey, walking slowly towards her. He stood behind her and leaned forward, his cheek brushing against hers. "You are definitely no virginal maiden." His glance dropped to her décolletage, before he straightened and reclaimed his seat. "But that doesn't mean you'd enjoy the men's attentions. Must I break you first, or will you comply now?"

She met his expectant gaze with a glare, the same fire burning in her eyes that Guy had seen in the slave market.

"I comply."

Vaisey smiled. "I knew you would."

#

Three days later, Ajsa was nearly ready to depart for Hungary. The Sheriff had insisted she remain as his guest at the castle, though she knew the invitation was yet another pleasantry concealing his true purpose-to be aware of her actions at all times. He had provided her with a chamber maid, who no doubt reported to him at the end of the day, and two guards, who escorted her everywhere inside and outside the castle.

"For your protection, Ajsa," Vaisey had said. "We wouldn't want you to be accosted or abducted on the eve of your departure, now would we?"

Ajsa had merely scowled in response. The men were respectful enough, but they were dirty and stupid. In her wildest imaginations, she had never expected she would miss Gisborne, but now, as Vaisey's unwashed minions trailed her, she found herself longing for Guy's company. He, at least, had bathed.

Apart from what Will, one of the guards who had brought her to Nottingham, told her, she still had no idea what had happened to Gisborne. He could be dead, for all she knew. Ajsa felt a pang of sorrow at the possibility, not only for his fate, but also for her own. Was she doomed to do the Sheriff's bidding? Or would the truth about her past come out and be her undoing? She shuddered. Neither scenario was uplifting.

A sudden clamor diverted her attention, and that of her guards, as well. Shouts intermixed with the clang of steel, coming from the east side of the castle. Matthew, the brighter of her escorts, grasped her arm and led her towards the stairs.

"It's time to get back to yer room, my lady."

"I can find my own way back, thank you," she said, pulling away from him. "From the sounds of it, there is a fight. I am sure your comrades would appreciate your blades."

The two men exchanged a glance.

"We can't leave ya alone."

"Aye, our or'ers are ta remain wi' ya at all times when not in yer quar'ers."

Ajsa smiled sweetly at them. "And you have performed your duties most skillfully, but I think the Sheriff would agree that stopping a potential threat is more important than walking me to my door."

The guards still looked hesitant, but a loud crash seemed to convince them.

"Very well," said Matthew. "Hurry upstairs. The Sheriff'll 'ave our 'eads if somethin' 'appens to ya."

Ajsa moved towards the spiral staircase, as if to scale it, but when Matthew and Tom turned the corner, she waited a couple minutes, then followed them. If her suspicions proved correct, there may yet be a way to escape Vaisey's clutches. She just needed to find an old friend first.

The noises grew increasingly louder the farther east she went, and once she could make out specific words, she stopped and hid behind the corner. Peeking around it, Ajsa saw about two dozen castle guards engaged in a scuffle with a small, ragtag group of men and one woman. Her heart leapt when she recognized an auburn-haired man.

Allan looked up just in time to see a flash of brown at the intersection of two corridors. He punched a soldier and knocked out another one with the butt of his sword as he made his way towards the mystery person. When he turned the corner, his eyes widened.

"Ajsa, lass, what're ya doin' 'ere?"

"Long story," she replied, glancing nervously behind him. "I can explain if we go somewhere quieter."

Allan nodded. "There's a part of the castle nearby that won't be used now. We can go there."

The safe location turned out to be one of the storerooms. Ajsa eyed a barrel of apples. Allan chuckled and grabbed two of the bright red fruits, handing her one and biting into the other.

"So, I take it you're not 'ere of your own volition."

"I cannot imagine why anyone would be," she said dryly. "The Sheriff ordered me to be brought here after Gisborne was taken by Prince John's men. He wants me to ask the Hungarian king to help fund whatever scheme he is plotting."

Allan's brows rose. "Can ya do that?"

"Of course not, but Vaisey seems to think I can." She paused, looking up at Allan with a hint of fear on her face. "As much as I want to return home, I cannot under these circumstances. They are too...ostentatious. And if I fail, which I am sure to do, I am afraid of the consequences."

"Ajsa, love, what aren't ya tellin' me?" Allan asked, growing slightly concerned.

"That is not important," she said quickly. "Can you convince Robin Hood to waylay the carriage before it reaches Dartmouth harbor?"

"To save a damsel in distress, 'course I can," said Allan cheerfully. "But I'm not bein' funny, love, there's somethin' you're keepin' from me, and Robin'll notice it, too."

A noise outside the storeroom startled Ajsa. Allan pulled her behind a row of barrels, but it was just a servant running past with a bundle of bandages, most likely to treat the wounded soldiers. The battle, it appeared, had ended.

That seemed to remind Allan of something.

"How'd ya know I'd be 'ere?"

"Intuition," she quipped, with a twitch of her lips. "You should go, before your friends leave you."

"Aye. When's the carriage leavin'?"

"Tomorrow at dawn."

"Righ'," he nodded. "We'll be there."

Ajsa stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek.

"Thank you, Allan. I am in your debt."

He grinned. "Nah, I'll take that kiss as my reward." Then his blue eyes twinkled mischievously. "But if ya wanna give me another, I won' say no."

"Tomorrow," she laughed, "once I am free of Vaisey."