Deception

Chapter 4

"Esme!" I heard my father shout as I sighed, rolling my eyes, and fixing my black boots before I headed downstairs. Once he saw me, ready to go riding, my hair pulled away in a high bun, he sighed at me.

"You can't keep visiting Locksley" He informed as I shrugged.

"I have five years to catch up on father, I haven’t been there since Robin left to go to the Hol…" I began before my father cut me off.

"I know. But if you go there too much, people will start asking questions" He hissed afraid that he would be overheard. I sighed, I did know he was right as I walked over to him and pulled him into a tight hug.

"Then I'll say I wanted to visit Sir Guy" I smiled as he shook his head at me chuckling, knowing I would never do it. I kissed his forehead before I ran to the stables, where my father's horse had been prepared, as I mounted and rode off. The breeze against my soft skin as I smiled, I loved the feeling of being free. I was riding to Locksley, because I wanted to visit Dan and his sons.

As I rode in I stopped outside Dan's house, tying my horses reigns to the wooden fence as Dan came out smiling and overjoyed. I smiled and ran up to him as he gave me a tight hug laughing. I saw Luke walk out cautiously from his house as I frowned slightly, wondering where Will could have been. Luke looked ready as if to be leaving, which I guess if a very wise choice.

"Thank you" Dan kept whispering happily as we drew apart.

"You should be thanking Robin. I am glad that your boys are safe Dan" I smiled as I patted his shoulder, as he smiled and took me into their house. It was the same like I remembered five years ago, simple and yet comforting.

"You tried, that's enough for me to thank you for." Dan smiled as I saw Luke disappear somewhere as I turned to Dan.

"Your leaving?" I asked sadly as he just nodded.

"I must. Luke and I will return someday. But for now I guess it's safe for us to be far away from Locksley" He told me as I nodded sadly agreeing with him. The Sheriff would hang Luke again if he knew he was still here in Locksley. I suddenly heard the sound of hooves, as I gasped. I glanced out from the gaps in the wood to see the Sheriff, Guy and his men coming towards Locksley.

"You must leave. Now" I told Dan as he tried to protest but I ensured he got out safely.

"I have come to visit Robin of Locksley, but find him not at home. Perhaps one of you would like to inform me of his whereabouts. He and I need to have a little chat, a conversation. Nobody knows, nobody knows. Then, there is a reward. Shall we say…20 pounds? And then all of a sudden somebody does know." The Sheriff announced as I saw people being dragged into the square, and the Sheriff was waving a bag full of money.

"Loosen your tongues or lose your tongues." I heard Guy shout out as I flinched from where I was hiding, at his sudden forcefulness of words. I watched as Guy's gaze drew over the people of Locksley, I notice his eyes paused at where my horse was currently waiting. I held my breath before he looked back at the people. I hoped he didn't know it was mine.