Dancing with the Devil;

The story is a version on how things would have gone differently if Guy had escaped Princes John's men and what would have he done after it. It also try to capture what's running through Guy's head and how he struggles after he murdered Marian. I like Guy more than Robin, but for those of you who do prefer Robin, there will be no character bashing.

Chapter 1; Escaping Hell

The ropes dug tightly into Guy's wrists as the horse tugged him along the hard-beaten path. He was tired, footsore and thirsty. He had been walking all day while his captors trotted on their horses ahead of him- four men, Prince John's elite, each with armour and arms on fine steeds, making the guards in Nottingham look like beggars. Guy knew he couldn't win a fight against them, even at his best.

The sun had been relentless on its attack on Guy and the wind seemed to be pushing him closer to his death. His death. He was glad it wasn't in Nottingham. God knows what the peasants would have done with his body. In fact, he was glad no one (apart from the guards) saw him go. Guy could almost picture the smirks on their faces. But word travels faster than a fire in the shire and he was sure half the people already knew about his impending death.

But Guy didn't care what the people thought of him, so long as they respected or feared him, either one, he was content.

'But now they won't fear you.' His demon whispered in his head. 'You've lost everything. Your landless, poor and have no power. You'll never be a man.' Another demon whispered. 'Shut up.' He growled to himself even though it was pointless. But his demons were right- everything he had worked and killed for was washed away in a blink of an eye.

The old Guy would have never done such stupid and reckless things. But ever since he killed Marian in the holy land, Guy had no fear of Vaisey, or Prince John, or king Richard anymore. Not even death itself, for death would be a blessing to Guy. He knew he would go straight to hell. But it couldn't be worse than working for Vaisey, right? Vaisey. The very thought of his name made his blood boil.

Then Guy found the thing he desired most of all, more than his death- Vaisey's death. It was a stupid thing Hood would probably think of but it seemed to satisfy Guy's demons. 'Yes, his death.' He wanted the soulless devil who had took away everything from him, who had turned him into the monster that killed Marian and countless others, to lay face down in a pool of his own blood. But killing the cunning the sheriff of Nottingham was no easy task but he didn't care anymore, not about his own life. 'I must kill the sheriff. I must avenge Marian.' Guy had nothing left to lose now and everything to gain by Vaisey's death. He wasn't seeking eternal glory and love like Hood. Guy just wanted to be at peace with himself, to be rid of his demons forever more.

"Wake up dream-boy, we're settin' in for the night." One of the guards grunted at Guy, pulling him out of his fantasy. A year ago if someone had addressed him like that they would have their tongues cut out. But now, Guy was nothing now, nothing but a man waiting for death to claim him. The guard untied the rope to the horse then tugged him along to a flat-ish piece of land by the side of the road. The sun was beginning to set and soon night would fall. The guards made quick work of binding Guy to the tree, then leaving him, thinking he wouldn't escape, to get firewood and water. As soon as the sound of footsteps crunching leaves as gone Guy set to work on the ropes. He tugged and pulled at them but it was no use. Then he remembered, he tied an outlaw in a similar way to this. He rubbed the rope against the tree, wearing it down till it snapped. Guy watched him from the trees, then had one of his archers to shoot him down. So he began rubbing the ropes against the rough bark of the oak tree. His arms began to ache and there were no signs of the rope giving in just yet. He cursed aloud, then he could hear leaves crunching under boots stealthy. He knew that the guards were watching him, so he decided to sit there, showing the guards that he wasn't going to escape, fooling them into letting their guard down. Guy sighed out loud then rested his head against the tree, watching a small spider scuttle up it. The four guards began to drop down, two of them carrying wood, one with two hares across his shoulder and the other with waterskins dripping with water. Water. Guy's mouth was as dry as a rock and he didn't need reminding. "What are you staring at dream-boy?" Snapped the guard. They called him a boy, but Guy was older than most of the guards here. Guy was about to retaliate but his mind remained him that he had better play nice. But Guy was sick to death of being pushed around and told what to do. "They didn't tell me you were a mute." The other guards laughed. Putting on his best act, Guy replied, "I am thirsty, that's all."

"There's a stream not far from here, you can have a drink there." The guards laughed more. Guy's patience was wearing thin. "Then aren't you going to untie me?"

"You can untie yourself, I saw you rubbin' the rope back and forth."

"Yes, if you hadn't noticed by now the ropes are thick, hence why I'm still here." Guy growled getting more and more annoyed. "Alright then. You can have a drop of water- when we reach London." That sent the guards howling with laughter. "But he'd be dead by then."

"Oh aren't you a fast one, Sam." Snapped another guard, making them roar with laughter again. "Fine by me. I'd rather die of thirst than listen to your constant babbling, anyway." That earned him a punch in the face, leaving a purple bruise to bloom. "Got quite a sharp tounge hadn't you? We'd better cut that out before you cut yourself free with it, eh?" The guard spat, grabbing him by the lapels. 'Serves you right.' His demon stated. 'Look at you. You're pathetic.' Guy tried his best to push his demons to the back of his mind. He rested his against the tree again, trying to find to most comfortable piece if bark to rest his head against. The was a loud crack of fire burning wood. Guy's captors had managed to lit a fire. But, it was small, too small to cook anything on it so they chucked some more wood on it, letting it grow. Within no time at all, there were two rabbits roasting on it, the brightness stun Guy's eyes a little but he got use to it. Luckily the wind wasn't blowing in his direction otherwise he'd have a face full of smoke. The fire spat again, sending half a dozen of little flares into the air. From the distance they covered, Guy assumed that they were close to the southern most border of Nottinghamshire.

Out of the corner of his eye, Guy saw a silhouette of a man on horseback riding this way, kicking up some dust on the horizon. He turned his head more to get a better look- it was sir Jasper. He groaned inside. That was the last thing Guy needed. He rode his horse close to the little camp, then dismounted, giving his horse to the guards. "Still withering in filth, Sir Guy?" He boomed, full of arrogance and himself. "Still licking the prince's boots, Sir Jasper?" Guy snarled. Guy had expected Jasper to retaliate but instead he laughed then his face turned serious. "Just look where it has gotten me." He muttered so the guards wouldn't hear. "You don't scare me, Guy. You've lost everything... Again." Sir Jasper added with a smirk on his face, leaving Guy to wonder how Jasper had learnt such things. "But it doesn't matter now, soon you'll be dead. Your body will be hanging from London bridge for all to laugh at." He gloated. "I suppose it could have been worse, I mean having to listen to child-minded Prince all day is a fate worse than death." Guy snapped back, surprised at his own words. Sir Jasper turned bright red as the sky behind him. "I'll tell him you said that! Perhaps we could teach you what really is a fate worse than death." An infuriated Sir Jasper responded. "What? Having to listen to you all day?" Guy smirked with the guards trying to conceal their laughs too in the background. Jasper hit him hard in the stomach, forcing Guy to bite his tongue to stop him from crying out. "We'll see who gets the last laugh because from what I've heard is working for the devil, I mean sheriff is far worse than death. Yes, we've heard how the pair of you manage to muck things up in the holy land. Some girl got murdered there too, didn't you hear."

Guy was left speechless, winded from both his punch and his words. If he was untied he would probably be trying to kill that man. "You were always a man of few words. Prince John says he's really looking forward to meeting you." Then he turned to his guards. "Keep him in 'adequate' condition. I want to see his head roll from his shoulders." He laughed again the mounted his horse and sent it galloping into the fading light leaving Guy shaking with rage. 'He will be next on my death list, second to Vaisey.' Guy thought to himself. But before he could take action, he remembered where he was- bound to a tree watching some guards roast two hares over a small fire. He needed to get back to Nottingham and plot his revenge. But how? Guy did not possess the charms Allan A Dale had nor the luck of Hood or the strength of Little John. He would have wait for the opportunity to arise, then snatch it without hesitation. But for now, Guy would have to learn to control his unpredictable temper and play it nice if he wanted to survive. He watched the guards sit around the fire, basking in its warmth. Guy was too far away to share the fires heat and he was still thirsty plus hunger staring clawing at his stomach. "He's going to be like a stick by the time we reach London." Stated one of the guards, taking his helmet off. "How long do you think he'll last?" Asked another, acting as though Guy didn't exist. "I bet you five pounds we'll be dragging him by the end of tomorrow, Sam."

"You don't even have five pounds, Lee. You spend all your coin on ale."

"I bet he has five pounds." Lee suggested looking at Guy with greedy eyes. "You'd be surprised how little the sheriff pays me." Guy said, trying to engage in the conversation. "You know what else surprises me? How you live with yourself." Sneered Lee. "Aye, we've all heard of your misdeeds. When we reach London, your ears will be bleeding from the sound of your own screaming." Snarled Sam with hatred and venom on his voice. "That's an awful lot of big words coming from someone as small as you." Spat Guy, not used to being talked at like that. A vein started to throb on the side of Sam's head. Too angry for words, He got up and sent another punch flying to Guy's head, sending him into the void.

It must have been just past midnight when Guy's demons woke him with the usual nightmares. His rapid breath was the only thing that could be heard in the darkness. The fire had burnt far too low to give off any real warmth. The guards lay asleep, having eaten well and their horses lay quietly, hobbled. Guy's head was pounding like a thousand drums playing behind his eyes and it felt as though his throat was made of sand. To add to his list of troubles his stomach started complaining too. On the brighter side, the guards were asleep and Guy had the rest of the night to work at the ropes. The opportunity had finally arisen! He set to work at them as he once before, rubbing them back and forth, slowly but surely wearing it down.

After half an hour or so Guy stopped to catch his breath, his arms felt like lead. The rope must have been thicker than he thought because his Labour had seemed to get him nowhere. He shut his weary eyes and tried to remember how the outlaw had done it. He rubbed the rope quickly, consuming a lot of energy. Guy, strong as he was, didn't have a lot of energy, at least not in that point of time. So he waited, propping his head against the tree in a slightly awkward position to stop him from falling asleep. After an hour, or what felt like an hour, Guy set to work on the ropes once again, using the outlaws tactics this time.

And it worked. Guy cut through the rope, moving his sore arms as fast as he could until... snap!

The wild beast was unbound!

Immediately, he got up and stretched his sore limbs then looked around for a sword. Guy hadn't planned to get this far and was debating what to do with the guards. Guy was considering to let them live if they had been more fair to him, but Guy couldn't have people knowing he was alive... yet. So quietly as he could, he drew a sword hanging from Sam's waist, clamped his hand over Sam's mouth then slit his throat. The guards still lay asleep, snoring loudly. Guy did that with the second and third guard, spilling crimson blood over their uniforms and the ground. Finally, he turned to Lee, who had his body slumped up against a tree. This time, he wanted to see the light fade from his eyes, so he plunged his sword into his chest until he could feel the tip of it hit the tree behind him. "You..." Lee gasped, his blue eyes wide with shock and his face twisted into an expression of pain and pure hatred. He tried to draw his sword with a shaking hand but them Guy tore his sword from Lee's body, then he fell limp and dead.

"Yes, me."

Ok, so this is my first fanfic so far, so please review, keep it nice but everyone's entitled to an opinion and improvements are welcome. I will probably add another chapter by or within the week. Thanks