Prove It (Robin Hood BBC)

Leaving Home

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Chapter 24

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Guy did change, for the better. He was no longer staying up all night and yelling. I brought Grace back home and we were a happy family again. Guy even started opening up more, telling me everything he did at work, oh, he's back at work now. He's being a wonderful father to Grace. She's now four months old and was getting crazy big. Guy is always spoiling her with new clothes and toys. Though she doesn't know she's getting spoiled.

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One day Guy didn't come home, so I rushed to Nottingham and demanded the Sheriff where he was. Turns out that the Sheriff gave Guy to Prince John to explain why he didn't get his money. Which is certain death. I was so angry that the Sheriff would do such a thing. I screamed at him as loud as I could, so he ordered the guards to remove me.

From the first time I met the Sheriff, I hated him. I was right to for he is a traitor, a liar, and a thief. With Gisborne gone, the Sheriff brought in a new tax collator. He was tall, but Guy was taller. Handsome, but Guy was also better looking. He was also very rough with me. Since it was still my manor, the new guy let me stay, only if Grace kept quiet. Good thing Grace didn't cry so much anymore.

After laying her down for a nap, Rufus ordered me downstairs. Standing in front of the fireplace, he circled me.

"I feel like some entertainment," he whispered in my ear. "Can you dance?"

I swallowed the lump in my throat and prayed for Guy to come home. "Of course."

"Good," Rufus purred. "Edmund, sit. Watch a girl dance!" He yelled at his son.

His son threw his sword on the table. "I have to see the horses."

Rufus's son doesn't seem to like the lifestyle of his father. So Rufus sat himself down and ordered me to dance for him.

I did as he said. Rufus came up to me and played with my hair. He pushed me against a pillar, ready to do more than just play when Robin busted through the window.

"Robin!" I yelled out of surprise.

Allan followed along, busting through a different window. Rufus knocked Allan's sword away and punched him, causing him to fall in my arms. Robin held his bow up, throwing Edmund to the ground at Rufus's feet.

"You hurt my son again and you will suffer for it!" Rufus gritted his teeth.

Robin laughed. "And who's going to make me suffer? You? A man who bullies young girls? Now, you ask nicely, you say please, and I won't kill you."

Rufus gave a story about how his father used to be pushed around which is why he takes what he wants. He didn't care if Robin killed him. While Rufus was talking, Allan snuck upstairs are grabbed Grace.

"The girl comes with me," Robin ordered.

"Take her. A pretty face is worth this much trouble. Oh, I am going to tell the Sheriff who your new friends are. So you best keep yourself hidden. You've just made it on to Nottingham's most wanted list," Rufus growled with a glare.

Robin rushed me out of there while Allan followed. I quickly took my baby from his arms.

"Now where to?" I questioned. "You want me to live in the forest with a baby?"

"We were only trying to help," Allan explained, running up next to me.

I groaned. "Yes, thank you for making me leave my house and the only home my daughter knew."

Allan rolled his eyes. "We saved you from that man."

"Allan, that's enough!" Robin shouted. 

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The rest of the troop joined us as we walked into the forest. Little John strolled up next to me.

"Awe, let's see the little one," he smiled.

Grace was strapped to my chest in her carrier. I moved the cloth to show him her resting face.

"Isn't she just precious! I remember seeing my daughter for the first time, and it was one of the greatest moments of my life," he replied with a calm tone.

I smiled. "Yeah, after all the pain, I was glad that something wonderful came out of it."

Robin walked up next to John. "So, Eve, if you don't mind me asking... where is Guy?"

I sighed and held Grace closer to me. "Sheriff sent him with Prince John's men, so there is a good chance he is dead." I could feel my eyes swelling with salty tears.

Robin looked at me with sad eyes. "I'm so sorry, cous. He was a good man to you."

I chuckled, wiping a tear from my eye. "For the most part."

"What do you mean?" He looked at me crooked.

"I mean, before me... well, Guy really did love Marian. Killing her almost destroyed him and you return after I just settled him down and you mess up everything. Guy was consumed with guilt when he saw you. It turned him into a monster. But he snapped out of it when the Sheriff tried killing your lot," I explained pointing to Allan and Much. "Robin, I know you didn't like him. But I was happy after we got things straight. Now he's gone and my baby is going be fatherless. I lost Marian because of the jealousy I felt and now I lost my husband."

Robin awkwardly put his hand on my shoulder. "Evelyn, I am truly sorry about that. But things will get better, I promise."

I looked away from him. "I know things will be okay. I just don't understand how I keep losing my love. First, it was Allan and now Guy."

"Hey, Allan is right there. You didn't lose him. Every night he asks to go check on you. Eve, I don't think he's stopped loving you." His words were sweet as they roll into my ears.

Gazing over at Allan, I smiled when he caught my eye and waved. "Robin, what if Guy is okay?"

Robin shrugged. "Then you explain what happened. How Allan took care of his family while he was away."

I leaned in and hugged Robin. "Thank you," I whispered.