angry guy is my favorite guy omf. look at that profile.

*****

If Allan wanted to go to Nottingham, it could wait. John didn't want to think about what he would say or do if he saw him like this, for it would probably be something cheeky and start with, "I'm not being funny, but..." and then he would ramble on.

As soon as Bertha made her grand entrance, a whole crowd gathered along the streets. While she was riding the carriage—John right next to her with a sword and a shield, along with the rag over his head—the children were running around and throwing ribbons everywhere, collecting money for bets, such and such. Walt was on Titus' shoulders, grinning madly.

"Bertha's Circus Maximus!" he cried out with glee. "Ladies and gentlemen, it's your lucky day! Bertha's Circus Maximus is in town! Place your bets here to add some extra excitement!"

"Whoa," Bertha said to the horses as she stopped them. Titus put Walt down on the ground. Bertha leaned down to talk to John. "The ladies love him."

While the kids plus Walt were collecting bets and Bertha was smiling at the crowd, none of them saw Vaisey and the Captain standing behind everyone.

"Bring her to see me," he ordered with a frown.

The Captain nodded and went to Bertha. Vaisey went back to the castle, waiting in the main room with a goblet in hand. A few minutes later, Bertha walked in accompanied by two guards. As soon as she walked in, she did a fancy bow.

"No need for that, Bertha," Vaisey said with a roll of his eyes. "I don't expect it from old acquaintances."

Bertha frowned and picked her head up at the mention of her name. She grinned. "Vaisey?"

"Sheriff Vaisey," he corrected. "Let's not dispense with all formalities."

"Where is your little girl? What was her name again? And Caralinda?"

"Linda is away. She's visiting my Master-at-Arms. As for Cara..." Vaisey shuddered and moved on. "Now, the last time we spoke, I told you if I ever saw you in Nottingham again that I would kill you, but here you are."

Bertha shrugged. "In my defense, I heard that you were no longer Sheriff."

Vaisey's expression grew dark. "Why shouldn't I be? Who told you that?"

Bertha dodged his question. "I was told you'd moved on to better things."

"Unfortunately for you, it was a lie," Vaisey said. He smirked and chuckled quietly. He turned around, and Bertha turned to go. He snapped his fingers, stopping her in her tracks. "Not so fast. I assume you're here to alleviate the locals of their purses."

"I go where the audiences are."

"No, you go where men are prepared to gamble on your fixed fights." He put down his cup and turned on his heel.

"Fixed?" she repeated with disgust. "My fights are for real." She took a step forward.

Vaisey chuckled once more and also took a step forward. "Let's not insult each other, Bertha."

"How much do you want?" Bertha huffed.

"Two-hundred crowns," he answered, holding up two fingers, and she paled. "Anything else you make, you can keep."

Bertha scoffed. "I can't make that in a day," she said. "There won't be anything over."

Vaisey sat on his table. "That's your problem."

"I can give you half."

"Then I shall only half hang you."

[the sheriff of sass ladies and gentlemen.]

The guards took a step forward to take her away. Sensing what was about to happen, she put her hand up.

"Wait." She went to Vaisey. "I could settle the debt with something better than money."

Vaisey frowned. "There's no such thing."

The guards proceeded to take Bertha away. Before they could drag her out of the room, she made one last comment. "What about one of Hood's outlaws?" she blurted.

Vaisey lifted his hand, thus stopping the guards. Now he was interested.

"What if I told you I could have him killed in your market square for all to see this afternoon?"

Vaisey put on a thoughtful look. "You can really do that?"

"Would it be worth one-hundred crowns to you?"

Vaisey grinned. "Yes."

*****

John was standing on a wall, the rag off his face but around his neck. Little Walt was sitting on the edge of arena while Gizmo and Titus was working on it. They were pulling the pole up, until someone ran into Gizmo's arm. He cried out and clutched his arm, making the pole fall. It was going to land on Walt. Realizing this, John lunged and pushed Walt out of the way. Walt landed on top of him with a sound of surprise. John sat up, same with Walt.

"Are you hurt?" he asked, getting up from the ground.

"You saved my life," Walt said in awe.

John lost his balance and plopped down on the ground again. "What?" he asked confused. "I saved you from a sore head."

"No," said Walt. "I was nearly dead."

John chuckled. The boy did like to over exaggerate things quite a bit. Bertha arrived and called the children. Walt didn't hear her, so he stayed next to John.

"Now I have to save your life in return," Walt stated.

John shook his head. "No, no. There is no need." It was true, for John was in dangerous business. He couldn't risk Walt's safely, especially with everything that's going on.

"No. I have to," clarified Walt.

John sighed in defeat, but he couldn't keep the smile off of his face. "All right."

Walt and John shook hands. Finally realizing that everyone was gone, he ran off to find Bertha and his friends. When he found them, he got in the huddle and asked, "What did I miss?"

"Oh!" Bertha groaned. "We're riffing tonight's fight. So I want you to take as many bets as you can on our new gladiator."

Walt turned to see John helping with the arena. "Aw. Does that mean he's going to be a loser?"

Bertha gripped his shoulder. "Why don't you say that a bit louder?"

"Does he have to?"

"For heaven's sake, Walt!" Bertha exclaimed quietly. She put on a sour smile. "He can win next time." Bertha raised her voice. "Right, off you go. And make sure you give good odds. Go, go, go!" The kids ran off, and Bertha signaled Titus. "We've had a special request for tonight's fight," she whispered, not knowing that Walt had just came back. "Our new attraction appears for one night only. At the end of the fight, I want you to kill him."

"No," blurted Walt, taking Bertha completely by surprise.

Bertha grabbed Walt's ear, making his face contort with pain. "You know what they do to little pigs with big ears?" she growled.

"You're hurting me!"

"They take them to market!" she finished, and pulled him off.

*****

Gisborne's came was quite... too quite. And empty, but Robin knew that she was still in there, just not coming out. Tuck, Robin, and Isabella snuck over.

"Why is Gisborne after you?" Isabella asked quietly.

"Because I'm an outlaw," Robin responded, looking around to see if they were being followed.

"It's a long story," said Tuck.

They made it to the camp, the gate wide open. They hid behind the fence and looked around. Robin narrowed his eyes. "Looks like they've been here awhile," he whispered.

"'They?' You mean—"

"Yes," Robin answered, his voice cracking.

Tuck sighed in defeat, confused to why their friend was working with Gisborne. "And he could be here a lot longer. He's picked a good position. Only one way out. Easy to defend."

Robin frowned. "There's no one to defend it now. I mean, where's Linda? Where's Gisborne?"

Robin turned around, coming face-to-face with Guy. Isabella got behind Robin as Guy drew his sword.

"Where I've been all along," he answered in a dark voice. "One step ahead. And as for Linda, she's none of your concern."

"Right, she's your pet. Thought as much."

Guy circled Robin and growled as they insult made its way to him. He struck Robin, the outlaw parrying his attack with a tiny dagger. Robin swung his knife at Guy's head, then chest, missing both times. Guy swung wildly, and Robin ducked and moved to the side. Guy cast his sword down, but Robin caught his arm. Robin cast his knife down, but Guy grabbed his arm. The two men had a little competition of strength until Guy rammed his knee into Robin's stomach. Robin staggered and tried to punch Gisborne's stomach, yet Guy was able to grab him and trip him up. Robin fell to the ground. He was about to end Robin and cast his sword down, but it was deflected. Guy looked to his right, horror and recognition flooding on both their faces. She spoke French, and Guy's eyes widened.

"Isabella?"

Robin couldn't believe it. The Gisborne's stared at each other, and Robin took this advantage to kick Guy in the legs twice, he crumpled to the ground.

"Guy!" shouted a voice.

Robin looked back to the camp, seeing Linda running out of a tent and straight toward their area. She notched a bow on her arrow and stepped in front of Gisborne. When Linda saw the women that Guy said Robin dragged with him, she frowned.

Robin ignored her presence and looked back to Isabella. "He's my brother," she said.

Linda lowered her bow. "Bella?" Her eyes moved to glare at Robin, the outlaw confused as ever. Though, he soon flinched under Linda's glare.

Tuck sprinted off and grabbed Robin, he of which was staring at Linda. Guy shot up from the ground, Linda frozen in place. Isabella and Linda stared at each other, confused and somewhat relieved to see each other, although they knew what Isabelle's husband was like. Guy broke the silence.

"Get after them!" he screamed.

"No," muttered Isabella.

"Guy, let him go," Linda whispered, grabbing his arm. "He's gone for now."

Guy looked to the two women. Growling, he made his way back to the camp. Linda and Isabella shared a look before following him.

*****

"I had him!" Guy yelled as he walked in his tent.

"Why? Just tell me," Isabella asked.

"Point of my sword. I had him!" Guy flipped over a table.

"Very mature, Gisborne. Keep raging and you'll never get him," said Linda with her arms crossed.

"That is not helping," he spat, pointing a finger at her. Guy looked to his sister. "Why are you here, Isabella?"

"I could not endure another day," she answered, stepping inside.

"So, what, you just walked away?" Linda asked in confusion. Two bad reunions were enough, she didn't think things between the Gisborne's would go any better.

"You were joined in Holy Matrimony!" yelled Guy, pointing a finger at his sister.

"I was only a thirteen-year-old girl," Isabella countered. "If you have any idea what he has done to me—"

"Guy," interrupted Linda, stepping in front of Isabella so she wouldn't have to endure the look of death Guy was sending at his sister. "She's your sister. All she's asking for is protection, and your stubborn attitude isn't making things better. Calm down."

Guy sighed and ran his hands through his hair. "Well, it seems she's already received that from Robin Hood."

"She knew nothing of his true nature," Linda defended. She looked to her friend. "Please tell me you didn't know."

"I didn't," Isabella promised. "I was in need of help."

"The help she's asking from you now," Linda finished.

"Really?" Guy said unconvinced, taking a step forward. "And what if I were to send you back to your husband?" He looked over Linda's shoulder to see his sister, she of which was just standing there.

"The you'd be condemning me to a life of misery for a second time," Isabella answered. "Only this time you'd be doing it knowingly."

Isabella stepped out from behind her friend and approached her brother. "Guy, I don't believe you knew the damage you were doing when you sent me to Squire Thornton."

Guy rolled his eyes and walked away, but Isabella continued.

"Surely you may feel some obligation towards me," she said.

"Like a sense of loyalty, duty," Linda listed.

"Exactly."

"Loyalty?" Guy snapped, spinning around on his heel. "How can you speak of loyalty when you have twice aided and abetted Robin Hood."

"It was a mistake," Linda said gently. She went to Guy and put a hand on his shoulder. "She won't make it again." Her eyes softened. "Give her a chance, and she will earn back your trust and respect, but don't send her back to her husband." Linda squeezed his shoulder. "If you won't do it because of Bella, then do it for me. Please."

Guy sighed and nodded his head. Linda smiled and removed her hand. Guy walked to his sister. "Very well," he said finally. "You may stay."

"Thank you," his sister breathed, looking down at the ground.

Guy lifted her chin with his fingers so she could meet his eyes. "But if I find you in Hood's company again, I will drag you back to Shrewsbury myself."

"You have my word."

Guy left the tent. Isabella stood there motionless, her back to the entrance. Linda approached her and put two hands on Isabelle's shoulders. The Gisborne looked at her with sad eyes. Linda sighed and pulled Isabella close, circling her torso. Isabella clung on to Linda's neck, crying softly.

"Thank you," she whispered. "Thank you so much."

"Any time," Linda responded quietly.

While Isabella let her tears spill, Linda's eyes met with Guy. He stared at her for a few moments, and she could see the tiniest bit of softness in his eyes. But then his expression grew cold again and he walked off.

*****

im so sorry this chapter is terrible and the reunion was a little confusing to me omg. isabella be thankful while you can bc when i find you I'm gonna—