Caught

Why the hell did my head hurt so badly? It felt like Pookah used it for kicking practice. I opened my eyes, but quickly shut them again as bright light hit them and blinded me for a moment. I slowly opened them again and took in my surroundings; I was in a small bedroom that was sparsely furnished, a small table and chair in the far left corner of the room by the window, a wooden wardrobe closet on the other side of the room. The bed I was in didn't seem to be too ornate as I looked at the four posters from my position.

As my head began to stop pounding I decided to further check out my surroundings. I sat up and pulled the covers off of me and swung my feet over the edge and onto the floor. In doing so I noticed that I was no longer in my own clothes, which meant someone had changed me. I walked over to the window to see if I could maybe get a better idea as to where I was, sadly no such luck. Everything looked the same around this part of England, the farms, the houses, and the forest. 'Forest!' my mind replaying the last events that had happened to me.

I had been in a hand-to-hand combat with Guy of Gisborne and the Sheriff of Nottingham, along side Robin of Locksley and his men. We had been won the scuffle but instead of being offered warm welcome and sincere thanks, I was met with suspicion and chased down like a criminal. Robin, who had always been portrayed as someone who was understanding and gave people chances, had been the one to raise the alarm and set of the chase. I remember being able to outride him for a while and then flying out of my saddle and slamming into the ground on top of rocks. I remember struggling to breath, and Robin bending over me, seeing his mouth move but not being able to hear any sounds, then everything went black.

Why had he chased me, hadn't I proved my self to be on their side when I helped them fight the Sheriff and Guy? I had given them no reason to think I was their enemy; I just couldn't wrap my head around that thought. As I stood there trying to process everything I came back to reality, I still didn't know where I was or where my clothes were. I couldn't exactly ride out of here in a nightgown, my clothes had to be somewhere near by. I went over to the closet and pulled open the doors, big mistake, that movement set wave of pain up and down my sides, enough to bring me to my knees. Before I could catch my breath I heard voices downstairs shouting at each other and getting closer to the room I was in, I decided I needed to hide, and quickly.

"Marian, it's my job as the sheriffs deputy to make sure everyone is kept safe, especially you! There is a murderer on the loose and I am checking the surrounding area's for signs of her."

"Gisborne, this is not necessary! No one has been out here expect you in the past few days. If there was someone who seemed out of character I would have alerted you, so you can just move on."

'Shit! Guy's here, and I'm in Marian's house? This is not good. If Guy finds me, I'm dead.' I thought to me self as I tried to move a little more quickly into my hiding spot as Marian and Guys voices crept closer to the room I was in.

"Gisborne! Do not tell me that you plan on entering my private chambers? That is highly inappropriate and unnecessary…"

"Marian, I will do what I want when I want, I do not have to explain my self to you. Your father shouldn't have raised you so much like a son, you must learn to curb your tongue in a mans presence. I have had men jailed for less before keep that in mind. If it had been anyone else Marian, I would not have been so linnet. Now move aside and allow me access to your room".

I heard Gisborne open the door and walk into the room, he paused briefly and then walked over to the wooden wardrobe closet and opened the doors and start moving things around in there, he slammed the door apparently frustrated that he didn't find me hiding in there. He came towards the bed, and I held my breath thinking 'Please don't look under the bed, please don't look under the bed'. Then he knelt down and looked under the bed, thankfully he only glanced under the bed and did not take the time to look fully under the bed; if he had he would have seen that the bed had planks underneath it with just enough room for me to fit there.

Guy got up and I heard him brush off his hands on his pants, and as he walked away towards the door I heard him say to Marian "Well it appears no one is in the house, however I will be back in a few days and if I find the murderer, both you and she will hang. Then who will take care of your father? Think carefully Marian, now would be the time to say something if you know anything."

'Gee what a nice guy. Not even going to give her the benefit of the doubt that me, the so called murderer, might simply be hiding on her property and she had nothing to do with it. He's trying to guilt trip her as well, "Who will take care of your father?" No wonder he never got the girl. I decided that as soon as they left the room I would come out from my hiding spot and resume my search for my clothes and get the heck out of dodge.

I decided that since my clothes were nowhere to be found I would just have to borrow something of Marian's, by the looks of it she had enough to spare, I would take just enough to last me a few days and then if I ever came around again I would give them back to her. I decided on two plain dresses and some crude looking pants, some shirts and shoes. I had become so caught up in trying to find clothes that I didn't hear anyone come up the stairs or into the room, until a voice from behind me spoke.

"You're lucky it wasn't Guy who came back up the stairs". I jumped at least several feet in the air and swore under my breath, I turned around and was face to face with Marian. She was beautiful, no wonder Robin fell in love with her. She was on the tall side for people back then, maybe around 5'5" with dark chocolate colored wavy hair framing her slightly square like face, with dark blue eyes peering out at you.

"Marian, the least you could do was make a little noise! It's rude to sneak up on people and scare them like that" I replied.

"Not as rude as stealing someone's clothes after they've helped heal you" she answered with a smirk and crossing her arms over her chest.

"Touché. Now are you just going to stand there or are you going to tell me where MY clothes are so I can leave?" I replied to her remark.

"You are in no shape to leave this house, let alone ride off to where ever it is you are in such a hurry to get to. Your wounds are still healing, and by the looks of it, you've ripped a few stitches out. Now sit down before you further hurt your self while I go and grab the needle and thread" Marian commanded as she pushed me back on to the bed. This was not a suggestion, it was an order, and it seemed that Marian wasn't used to not being obeyed, so I had to acquiesce to her request to avoid the wrath I cold see lurking underneath those blue eyes of hers.

Ok so my research said that during the early middle ages people were around the same height that we are today. I have the article saved if anyone would like to read it. Fanfiction is smart and wont let me put the link in, no matter how crafty I get with the link name...

Not happy with this chapter, but it's needed in order to move along. I should be updating at least once a day for the next few weeks.

Reviews and/or suggestions are always welcome!