"Well, how is he?" the Sheriff demanded as he stepped into the house.
"As well as can be expected, my lord," Anna replied as she led him upstairs to Guy's room. "The injury was quite serious. He lost a great deal of blood, and it weakened him, but I believe he should be on his feet in a few weeks."
"He had better be," the Sheriff snapped as he stepped into the room ahead of her. "I still want Robin Hood to pay for this."
"Yes, my lord," she replied, her voice carefully neutral.
"Leave us," he ordered. "Gisburne and I have much to discuss."
"Yes, my lord," she repeated, closing the door quietly behind her as she left.
"Are you mad?" Little John demanded. "The entire city is looking for you, so you plan to stroll right into the midst of it."
"I have no choice," Robert explained. "I have to know he's recovering."
"A week ago you were trying to kill him. Now you're so concerned you'll risk capture?"
"It's the noose for you if they catch you," Will added.
"I know that and I know it sounds insane, but I must go. "Marion," he said, practically begging for support. "You understand, don't you?"
"Aye. And that's why I'm going with you."
"No," he replied vehemently. "You stay here with Tuck and Nasir, where it's safe."
"I think not. It seems to me that you need someone at your back, and I intend it should be me. You can't ask the others. It wouldn't be right. But I'm going."
"You're staying here."
"Oh? Really? You think I'd stay in safety while the man I love..." She paused a moment as she realized what she just admitted, then added more calmly, "While the man I love goes into danger?"
"Marion? I--thank you. I'll be glad of your company."
"Good morning. How are you feeling?" Anna asked softly, her head cradled against a hard shoulder.
"Wonderful, delirious. Ready to take on the world."
"The world," Anna repeated with a sigh, her smile dimming. "I wish it would go away and leave us alone."
"Is that what you want?" he asked, hugging her close with his good arm. "To shut out the world?"
"Aye, it is, especially the Sheriff. I know he is your friend, and I will tolerate him because of it. But I don't like him."
"Why not?"
"He frightens me," she said with a shudder. "I think he is a profoundly evil man, and a toady of the prince besides."
"And what do you think of me, then? Am I evil? Or am I a toady as well?"
"No, not you. Never you. I think perhaps you trust him too much, but you are loyal. I only wish..."
"What?" he asked curiously.
"I wish that you and Robert were still friends. It's a shame that you bear each other such ill will."
"I am not to blame for that," Guy said coldly.
"Nor is he," she stressed. "He cannot be responsible for something his father did before he was born."
"What do you know of it?" he demanded.
"I told you I visited your home a few years back. Your mother told me--she told me the truth. She told me that Lord Huntington visited her while his wife was carrying Robert. She loved him, you know. The marriage to your father was arranged by their parents."
"He was her husband."
"And he could give her no children. They tried, but were unsuccessful. She longed for a child, and he wanted a heir, so he agreed. After you were born, he was jealous of the attention she gave you. That's why he treated you so harshly, not because you belonged to another man."
"He hated me," Guy said grimly.
"He hated himself," she corrected. "There's nothing in you to hate. You teased me to distraction when we were children, but you could also be kind. You were kind to me, and Robert was your friend. Can you not put aside your animosity? For me?"
"Why does it concern you so?"
"He is still my friend, he and his people. They visit me sometimes and are welcome in my home."
"You associate with that--that wolf's head?"
"He is a good man. He does much to aid the poor."
"He is a traitor and a thief," Guy said firmly.
"He is my friend," Anna concluded, closing the subject. "And if he is a traitor, then I am one too."
"Robin Hood," Guy said without surprise. "Come to gloat?"
"No, Gisburne," Robert said, his voice troubled. "I came to see that you were well."
"Why do you care? It was your arrow she pulled out of me. You came close to killing me this time."
"That's why I'm here. I want a truce between us."
"A truce?" he repeated incredulously.
"Like it or not, we're brothers. I can't-I can't fight you anymore. I don't want to fight you anymore." Robert's voice was weary, and this was what convinced Guy of his sincerity.
"While I serve the Sheriff, it is my duty to hunt you. Move to another part of Sherwood and we won't have to be enemies."
"I can't. My friends are here, people I consider my family. They depend on me, and Herne..." Robert broke off uncertainly.
"Herne? Herne the Hunter?" Guy asked in disbelief. "You can't believe in such superstitious nonsense."
"Herne needs me as well. I know you don't believe in the old ways. I had trouble believing at first. But Herne called me. When the first Robin died - the real Robin - I was called to take his place. I can't take that obligation lightly."
"Then we have no choice but to play it to the end," Guy replied, almost sadly. "One of us will die."
"Your death will not be on my head," Robert said firmly. "Not while I can avoid it."
"Nor yours on mine. But the day will come..."
"Aye, the day will come," Robert agreed. "I pray it will be far distant."
"As do I," Guy said, offering his hand. "As do I."
Robert took the proffered hand silently, his hopes and prayers for peace clear in his eyes.
* * * *
"What will you do, then? Swear friendship to him?" Will asked in disbelief.
"I'll leave Sherwood for a time, give things a chance to calm before I continue our work."
"Where will you go?" Marion asked quietly.
"I don't know," Robert admitted. "But I want you all to stay here. It's better if I leave alone. The people of Wickham still need your help, and I can travel more quickly without you."
"Robin?" Much asked slowly. "You will come back, won't you?"
"I promise you, Much, I will return to you. But don't you see? As long as the Sheriff has such a large bounty on my head, the rest of you are in danger. I can't risk it."
"You were right," Guy admitted when Anna had completed her work and returned to him. "He's-he's not my enemy. He never was."
"What shall you do?"
"As soon as I am able, I will go to the Sheriff and resign my post. I'll tell him I plan to move back to Gisburne with my wife. That is, if you'll have me."
"Aye, I'll have you," Anna cried, her voice quavering with happiness.
"I'll be unemployed."
"And I am glad of it," she replied, burying her face in his neck to hide her tears.
"It must be tonight," the Sheriff snarled. "Gisburne thinks to resign his commission and marry that chit. It must be tonight."
"Aye, my lord. It will be done."
"My lord, my lord, they've taken her," Gwenneth cried, rushing into the room Guy shared with her lady.
"Taken whom? They've taken whom?" he asked, gripping her shoulders to calm her.
"My Lady Anna," she wept. "They've taken her."
"Get a grip on yourself, woman," Guy said, shaking her. "Tell me slowly."
"My lady went this evening to the well. I watched her from the upper window. Men - hooded men - came from the forest and stole her away. I wasn't quick enough to save her." Gwenneth's voice shook, the words trailing away as she began to cry, great
wracking sobs.
"Was it Robin Hood?" Guy demanded, fear for his lady turning his soul to ice. "Was it?"
"It seemed so," she replied through her sobs. "They ran in the direction of Sherwood."
"Then, by the gods, I will make him pay."
* * * *
The heavy door clanged shut behind the Sheriff as he stalked across the cell to view his prisoner.
"Why am I brought here?" Anna asked, raising her tear-filled eyes to the face of her captor. "I have done nothing."
"You have become inconvenient," the Sheriff replied. "And I have a use for you. Gisburne thought to leave my service before bringing me the head of Robin Hood. I find that disloyal. He needs encouragement to fulfill his obligation, and you will be all the
incentive he needs. When he learns that you have been stolen away by Robin Hood it will make him mad with rage."
"You're insane."
"On the contrary, it is a perfect plan. He will bring me Robin Hood. Out of my deep concern for him, I will offer a trade: the outlaw in exchange for his pretty bride," he said, running a finger down her cheek. "They will refuse, of course, and when your
body is found in the forest, Robin Hood will hang. Gisburne will dedicate himself to destroying the people responsible for your death."
"And Guy will be your puppet again," Anna concluded for him. "You are insane."
"I am brilliant," he corrected her. "Now listen to me, bitch," the Sheriff hissed. "If you make one sound, one move to attract his attention, I will kill him. Is that clear?"
Anna nodded silently, fear for her betrothed sealing her lips.
"Good. Remain hidden," he ordered, pushing her down behind a hay bale as the cell door slammed open.
"Where is she?" Gisburne cried as he stalked across the room to where his half- brother hung in chains. "Where have you taken her?"
"I don't know what you're talking about."
The word had barely left his lips when Guy swung his arm, connecting with a sharp backhand that split Robert's lip and bloodied his nose.
"I don't know where she is. Gisburne, think! Would I be fool enough to steal her from you?"
"Tell me where she is, and I'll give you an easy death," Guy said coldly, swinging his fist again.
Any reply Robert would have made was cut short by the blow to his ribs that left him gasping.
Behind the bales, Anna crept silently across the hay, moving slowly to avoid attracting the Sheriff's attention. When she was behind him, her hand inched slowly forward, reaching for the ring of keys he had clipped to his belt.
"If any harm comes to her, I will kill you slowly," Guy promised, his voice filled with rage.
"Come, Gisburne," the Sheriff said with mock gentleness. "You are distraught. We will make a deal with the outlaws. I will trade them Robin Hood for your Anna, an offer they cannot refuse. We will give them until noon tomorrow. If she is not returned safely to you, we will hang him in full view of Sherwood."
"You would do that for me?" Guy asked, almost overcome with gratitude.
"You are my friend. Of course I would. Go now and send word to the outlaws. If she is returned safely, we will let their leader go free. If not..." He let the threat hang.
"Thank you, my lord," Guy said gratefully. "I will take word to Sherwood now."
"Good man. I will remain with our guest a while longer, try to convince him of the error of his ways."
"Thank you," Guy repeated as he hurried out of the cell.
The Sheriff waited a few minutes, ensuring his deputy was gone before speaking to his newest prisoner.
"Robin Hood," he remarked with satisfaction. "This time there will be no escape for you. Gisburne will carry word to your friends but, of course, they cannot help you this time."
"We don't have Lady Anna," Robert said firmly.
"Of course you don't," the Sheriff agreed cheerfully. "I have her. But Gisburne doesn't know that. When her body is found, his anguish will be terrible. After you hang, he will hunt down and destroy all of your people. In the meantime, I shall enjoy watching him squirm."
"You're the very devil," Robert said, appalled.
"Perhaps I am, but I get what I want. Guards!" the Sheriff called, then waited for his men to arrive. "There is a female prisoner here. I thought perhaps you could take turns enjoying her. When you're off watch, pass her on to your relief."
"Aye, my lord, thank you," the first guard replied with a leer. "We'll give 'er a proper workout."
"Aye," the other agreed. "A proper workout indeed."
"Just keep her alive until morning," the Sheriff ordered as he left the cell. "And make sure one of you remains on watch."
"Well my pretty thing," the guard leered as he stepped around the hay bale to study her. "I hope you're ready for old Tom, for he's sure ready for you."
"Please," Anna said, backing away from him. "Please don't do this."
"Aw, don't be giving us tears," he chided her. "It isn't at all becoming."
His hands tore at her bodice, revealing her creamy bosom. She brought her hands up to cover herself, but he forced them away as he pinned her to the floor. His greater body weight was more than she could fight, and she began to beg.
"Please, please don't, please," she repeated over and over until her words were cut off by a sharp scream of pain.
Robert was forced to listen as they took her, rutting like beasts. He fought the chains that held him to no avail. He listened to her pleas and then her cries of pain and shame as they beat her and left her there to weep, alone.
He slept for a time, blocking out her sobs with blessed silence. When he woke, it was to a strong hand covering his mouth to quiet him. The dark eyes that studied him were set in a face filled with pain and a fierce, burning anger. He nodded, acknowledging the need for silence, and her hand slipped away.
A light jangle of keys was quickly muffled as she worked the locks that held him and, in a moment, he was free.
"Keep silent," she whispered. "They will be changing the watch soon. One of the new guards will be here to check on us, then we can make our escape."
"Are you all right?" he whispered back.
"I'll survive as long as I have to," she replied before returning to her place in the straw. "Whatever you do, don't let them know you are free."
"What are we to do?" Marion cried. "We don't have the woman. How can we return her to Gisburne?"
"We can't, Little Flower," Tuck said gently, trying to calm her. "We will try to reason with them and, if that fails, we will steal him back."
"Reason? With Gisburne?" Little John fairly exploded. "There is no reasoning with the man."
"They're going to kill him, aren't they?" Much asked, his slow mind grasping the facts at last.
"Yes," Marion agreed sadly. "They're going to kill him."
"He promised," Much said, visibly distraught. "He said he'd come back. He promised."
"Much," Marion said gently. "He doesn't have a choice. If he did, he would come back to us. He would," she repeated before breaking into tears.
"Gisburne, you need sleep," the Sheriff said as he watched his man pacing the length of the hall for the fiftieth time.
"I can't rest, my lord. Not while Anna is missing. If they have harmed her..."
"I know. I know, Guy. But this pacing about does her no good, and wastes your energy. You've barely recovered from your wounds. You should rest."
"That sounds like something she would say," Guy said sadly.
Giving in to the Sheriff's urgings, he sat, putting his head on the table to rest while he waited for word of his beloved Anna.
