Disclaimer: All original characters belong to BBC/Tiger Aspect.

A/N: Follow up to Traps of the Heart. What if at the end of S2 Marian had married Guy, thinking Robin dead. Marian still loves Robin, Guy is still in thrall to the Sheriff and Isabella is as mischievous as ever.

Now is also a good time to thank Jadey36 for all her encouragement to write and post my stories. Thank you Jadey x

Sins of the Heart

Locksley was hot and dry, there had been little rain for the whole of August. Marian was sweltering, even in her lightest dress. As she sat in her bedchamber, occasionally glancing out at the village below she thought she better make the most of being able to dress as she pleased, because in a few days Prince John would arrive in Nottingham and she would be expected at the castle in all her finery, no matter how hot and uncomfortable the heavy fabric was. She was feeling stifled enough as it was without physical discomfort to add to her feelings of oppression.

Guy had been more attentive than ever since the day he thought he'd rescued her and Isabella from the clutches of Robin Hood. She had only just persuaded him that she didn't need two guards with her every time she set foot outside Locksley Manor. Then there had been the gifts: a new dress, new jewellery, new perfume, a new summer cloak. Each care and kindness tearing at her guilty heart.

But Marian also felt annoyance, anger even, at her husband and his constant attentions, that she should have to endure them at all. The heat reminded her of Acre, of her hasty wedding. She remembered his promises that should she marry him he would leave Vaisey's employ. She cursed herself again for believing him. Perhaps he really had intended to kill or leave the Sheriff, perhaps not. In the end it made no difference, he wouldn't have been able to even if he had wanted to. Vaisey's hold over Guy was too long standing, too strong, to be broken by the word of a woman he didn't entirely trust, no matter how much he wanted to.

Maybe she shouldn't have offered herself like that, but chained in that hot, little room, feeling like caged animal waiting for slaughter, it had seemed a good idea. Marian had been certain Vaisey would kill her sooner or later. She wanted to live, as well as honour Robin's life by protecting her King. So, she had remembered Guy's kindnesses to her, his genuine feelings for her, his declarations of love. She had pushed out of her mind his lies; about trying to kill the King in the Holy Land, about the return of the King at their first, failed wedding. She pushed out the seemingly endless list of his crimes, of the faces of those he had killed or dispossessed, under the Sheriff's command. She pushed out the face of her beloved Robin, constantly in her thoughts and in her heart, the love of her life, now dead.

She shouldn't have pushed Robin away. He wasn't dead. How could she have believed that? After their long journey back from the Holy Land, Marian was beginning to accept her lot, her life as Lady Gisborne - with a husband who loved her despite the fact he was always going to be in thrall to the despotic and wicked Vaisey. Just as she was seeing chinks of light, how she might use her position to help the poor, find some good in her situation, Robin burst back into her life.

She sometimes wondered if Guy had lied to her about that too, he seemed more angry than surprised at finding Robin alive and well, but then Robin had always pulled off the impossible, maybe it was she who was wrong to be surprised. Marian was both elated and devastated by the revelation. Her initial euphoria was quickly quashed. The reality of her marriage finally hit her. She had given herself to Guy, not the man she loved. She should belong to Robin: brave, kind, heroic, charming, beautiful Robin.

She had tried to forget him, but how could she? Marian lived for those moments when she met Robin, those heady hours when she was his alone. They hadn't even made love at first, just kissed, talked, been together, tried to make sense of what had happened, grieved for the life they had lost. That had soon changed though. Now that maintaining her chastity was no longer an issue Marian had given into temptation. It was so different with Robin: frenzied, needy, desperate, she would never get enough. She wanted to devour him, wanted and loved him with every fibre of her being.

The guilt was terrible though, made her weep with anger and self recrimination. How could she? For all his faults Guy loved her. She knew that she humiliated him by her cold demeanour in public. Her way of punishing him. Guy never gave up though, he would wait until the last candle had been snuffed out, the last servant had fallen asleep and even the dogs' barks had been silenced by their slumber, then he would come to her. First an arm around her, then a hand: caressing, stroking, gentle. And Marian found she did want her husband and his masculine beauty, pleasing her, loving her, in the depths of the night. It was a salve for the hurts they inflicted on one another in daylight, a time when Guy could be the man she wanted him to be and she the woman that he wanted her to be.

Oh, there were certainly words for women like Marian.

Marian was disturbed by the slam of the front door downstairs. She expected it to be Guy, especially when she heard a chair being kicked over. She inwardly groaned, it was too hot for any more anger and high temper in this house. She sometimes felt as though she were cool water, always dousing her husband's fiery disposition.

'Marian!' it was not Guy, but Isabella. Marian's stomach clenched, Isabella had been making her life a misery ever since that day in the forest. Nasty little asides, hints about the good times she'd been having with Robin, veiled threats at what would happen to her should she divulge their secret to Guy. Marian reluctantly made her way downstairs.

'Marian, where are the servants?' Isabella snapped, pouring herself a cup of water from the jug on the table.

'I sent them to rest, I don't want people passing out in this heat.'

'Rest? Marian, don't be foolish, no-one will pass out.'

'What is so urgent?'

'I want my horse saddled.'

'Why, where are you going? Guy told us both to stay here today.'

'Do you know what Guy is doing today?'

'No,' Marian spoke the truth, she didn't know and as he was on a mission for the Sheriff, she didn't want to know. Turning a blind eye made her ashamed, it was cowardly, but how else could she reconcile herself to living with this man, to lying with him?

'He is in Nettlestone, draining their well dry to fill water barrels for the Sheriff's mercenaries. He has also visited Clun and taken the entire corn harvest for the castle.'

'What? No, surely not,' Marian sat at the table and put her head in her hands. Disappointment and anger engulfed her. How could he? It made her feel sick, the thought of her own husband, whose name she shared, causing so much suffering.

'Yes, but it's going to get fixed, I have been to see Robin,' Isabella sounded extremely smug when she said this. 'He is on his way to Nettlestone as we speak. I am going to take him the key to the grain store so he can return the food to the villagers.'

Marian sighed. 'Isabella, that is too risky. If Guy finds out what you have done you know what he'll do.'

'Oh, so we should let people starve?'

'No, we should stop and think.'

'Perhaps you want to take the key to Robin instead? Perhaps you're missing him?'

'Don't be ridiculous. Guy is my husband.'

'He's my brother, but I still hate him. But of course I don't get the favours that you do.'

'Guy has been very generous with you of late,' Marian countered, wondering why on earth she was bothering to defend Guy after hearing of his latest antics, but her sense of fairness was winning out. 'You have had a new wardrobe for the Prince's visit and he has brought you new jewellery, you had a new horse not so long ago too,'

'Marian, you are so easily won!' Isabella sounded exasperated. 'It flatters him to have a richly dressed family, and he probably only brought the horse because you told him to, so I don't tell him about Robin,'

Marian sighed, both these things were true. She wished they weren't. Still Guy was generous with both her and Isabella, she was sure it wasn't all self serving. He had once told her he liked making people happy. She had held on to that, a thread of hope. It didn't sound like he was making anyone happy today though; save the Sheriff perhaps.

'So, Robin has gone to Nettlestone?' Marian asked, business like again.

'Yes, and I am going to meet him there.'

'No you're not.'

'You can't give me orders.'

'As lady of this house I can. And I am telling you to stay here.'

'No!' Isabella was furious. 'How dare you? You have no right! You ought to remember what I know about you, Lady Gisborne.'

'And what is it that you know? That I told Robin there were hungry mouths to feed?'

'You can't let him go, can you? You are a faithless, lying-'

Marian had had enough. She leapt up and grabbed Isabella by the arm, with a strength that surprised her sister-in-law.

'I am sick of this,' she said darkly. 'You think you are so clever; outfoxing Guy, meeting Robin. Well I'll make this very clear for you: Robin isn't in love with you, he is a shameless flirt and he's using you. Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, if Guy ever finds out what you have done he will send you back to Shrewsbury so fast you'll think you're flying, that is if you're still alive. You have seen his temper, what he is capable of. Don't push it.'

Isabella was red in the face with anger. 'Those are wise words, sister, you would do well to remember them yourself. Now, let me go.'

Marian let go of Isabella's arm and stormed out the house, grabbing the set of keys Guy kept on the back of the door. She was close to hitting Isabella, she couldn't remember anyone ever making her feel such enmity, the Sheriff perhaps, but this was different. She was jealous too, enraged at the thought of her darling Robin in the arms of a woman she had come to loath. Marian hated that Isabella made her feel like this, all these angry emotions she stirred. There were few people who could make Marian lose control, Robin was one, Isabella was another.

Marian rushed to the stables and hastily saddled her horse. She was going to see Robin herself, heedless of her own wise words in the house. It had been too long, she ached for him. She would also give him a piece of her mind about Isabella.

Nettlestone was as hot and dry as Locksley. Marian's horse kicked up dust as she rode along the brittle, hardened earth on the roads. Marian felt the heat scorching on her hair as she brushed it out of her face, the midday sun was relentless. Nettlestone was quiet, no sign of Guy or his soldiers. She drew her horse to a stop and scanned the village, there were a few peasants moving here and there, but no sign of Robin and his men. Marian dismounted and led her horse through the village. People stopped and bobbed their heads in a deferential greeting; she no longer received the warm welcome she had been used to as Marian of Knighton. She was Lady Gisborne now, another possession of their ill-tempered master.

'Psst! Marian!' A voice called from somewhere below her. 'Psst, down here!'

Marian spun round, Much was calling to her.

'Marian, are you alone?' Marian smiled as she saw Much, crouched under a water trough beside a stable. He had clearly hid himself hurriedly, his elbow rested in a pile of horse dung.

'Where's Robin?' Marian asked, still smiling the first real smile she had in weeks.

'In the barn.'

'Thank you, I'm alone, but keep a look out. Isabella may follow me,' Marian felt herself frown as she said her sister-in-law's name. Much nodded in assent. 'And, Much, you're leaning in something,' Marian giggled as he registered the dung and a grimace of disgust spread across his face.

Still smiling, Marian tied up her horse and made her way to the barn. As she turned the door she felt a shiver of anticipation. She had waited weeks and in a few moments he would be in front of her. Robin. Her wonderful, handsome, infuriating outlaw.

As she stepped through the door Marian saw the arrow, pointed right at her, then the Saracen bow in which it rested. She saw the green-brown hooded tunic, the light brown hair falling into his eyes. Those brilliant, blue eyes, shining at her, that delicious smile, spreading warmly as he saw who was entering the barn. The bow and arrow dropped to the floor. They began to walk, then run towards each other. Marian flung herself into his waiting arms and held on, as if for dear life, even as Robin held her so tight she felt the breath being squeezed out of her.

Marian was lost, she was kissing him, the scratch of his long stubble so welcome on her face, his warm tongue and soft lips dancing with hers. They fell onto the straw before they'd even exchanged words.

Marian lay back on the dusty hay, she was dishevelled and hotter than ever. She gladly took long gulps from the water skin Robin handed her before pulling her skirts back over her legs and running her hands through her messy hair, re-clipping it at the back of her head. As she was buckling the straps on the front of her dress she looked up at Robin, he was smiling at her.

'What?' she asked. 'You should get dressed,' she smiled as she spoke. He should get dressed, she didn't really want him to though, he looked gorgeous lying on top of the straw, stretched out and grinning at her.

'Don't be such a spoilsport, Marian,' he laughed grabbing her wrists and pulling her on top of him again.

'Robin! Stop it,' she giggled, making a half hearted attempt to get up, but relented and let him kiss her again. 'Robin, we have things to do.'

'I know,' he breathed, kissing her again.

'We've already done that,' she pushed his hands back and placed a firm hand on his chest, pushing him back as he sat up to follow her lips with his own. She let her finger tips toy with his chest hairs for a moment before standing and placing her hands on her hips.

'Get dressed, Robin,' she said firmly. Robin sighed and finally began to pull his clothes on.

'So, was this just a social visit, or is there another reason for you turning up here?' Robin asked as he finished dressing.

'Isabella told me you wanted the key for the food store at Locksley, I didn't trust her to bring it so I brought it myself,' Marian said this all quite lightly, as if they were discussing buying bread. She wasn't going to let Robin see how riled she was by her sister-in-law.

'I'm glad you came, obviously, but you can trust Isabella, she is on our side.'

'Urggh!' Marian exclaimed, her resolve to stay calm slipping away. 'You are just like Guy, can't you see what she is like? She hates me, Robin!' Marian sat on a pile of straw and put her head in her hands. She knew she was being childish, but she was sick of Guy's inability to see through Isabella and now Robin too.

'You're wrong about her, and please don't ever say I'm like Gisborne,' Robin warned her, his face darkening.

'You're more alike than you realise at times,' she retorted.

Robin sat next to Marian and tilted her head to look at him. 'Do you know what your husband has spent this morning doing?' Marian didn't reply, but cast her eyes to the ground, too ashamed to meet Robin's.

'I'll tell you shall I? He turned up at Nettlestone with a squad of men and requisitioned all the water for the Sheriff, then after terrorising the people there – and they were terrorised, Marian, on his orders – he went to Clun. In Clun he requisitioned the corn harvest for the castle. If anyone resisted, or showed dissent, he ordered them to be flogged. Did you know that? So don't ever tell me I am like Gisborne.' Robin was angry, Marian knew he was both angry at what had been done to the villages and that the man who had carried out the Sheriff's cruel demands was married to her, the woman he loved.

'I'm sorry,' Marian said quietly. 'I do try with him you know, I try to get him to think for himself, but when the Sheriff . . .'

'Says jump, he asks how high.'

'He does have another side to him, he is not always so cruel.'

'You believe that, Marian, if it helps you sleep at night.'

'Well, I don't have much choice.'

'You once told me everything was a choice,'

'I was wrong,' Marian replied simply. Oh, she had been so very wrong, you had choices when you had control over your life. But Marian had had little control over her life recently, or her heart.

'So, what did Isabella tell you?' Robin asked, trying to get back to the matter in hand.

'Same as you, more or less. Here, the key for the store.' Marian handed Robin a large iron key from the bunch she had taken from the house.

'And if I steal the corn back, without breaking in, how will that look? It will look like I'm getting inside help, from Isabella or from you.' Marian paused, he was right. 'You knew that, you just wanted to see me,' Robin handed the key back to her and gave her a small smile. 'It was a big risk to take, Marian.'

'You're right, I wanted to see you. I've missed you,' Marian spoke quietly and sadly.

'I shouldn't be glad you took such a risk, but I am,' Robin was suddenly serious, the armour of humour and cockiness that he always wore, that so infuriated Marian at times, was gone. 'Marian, I'm afraid for you though, if he returns and finds you gone again he will suspect, especially after last time.'

'It'll be alright. I have been complaining for weeks about my guards, he will believe me if I say I wanted my freedom. Besides if you're so worried about me, why are you gallivanting around with Isabella?' There it was, that uncharacteristic resentment again.

'I'm not gallivanting, and meeting her is helping to keep you safe.'

'Robin, you have to listen to me. Robin!' Marian's voice was rising, as was her temper. 'Listen! She hates me, she is jealous of my place in Guy's affections, that I am the lady of the house, that I was once betrothed to you. She has a real . . . a real thing for you, which I'm sure you're doing nothing to discourage.'

'Marian! I love only you,' Robin was exasperated. 'How can you think anything else?'

'Easily, you are an incorrigible flirt, I've seen you, over the years and with her, kissing her, leading her on. You're an idiot, she is unstable and malicious and dangerous and . . . if she ever found out about us . . . she suspected, when we were stuck in your trap. She hates Guy and she hates me. She would love to bring us both down.'

'You're too harsh, Marian. She just wants to help the people of Nottingham.'

'No, she wants revenge, she wants to humiliate and punish Guy. She wants to get at me. She wants you.'

'Well, I'm taken.'

'Good. Because if I ever find out you have slept with her-'

'You won't, because I haven't and I wouldn't. Bit rich though isn't it, Marian?'

'What?' Marian was furious, her much anticipated reunion was turning sour. Isabella was poisoning her time with Robin, as well as the rest of her life. Marian stood up and walked a few paces from Robin, taking deep breaths and trying to regain her composure.

'I don't think it's unreasonable to ask you not to sleep with Isabella.'

'How can you stand there and say that, when every night I go to sleep knowing you are in his bed,' Robin spoke quietly, but there was deep resentment in his voice, a seriousness that betrayed bitter hurt. 'Don't pretend that Gisborne doesn't demand his marital rights. And I'm sure you give them willingly enough. You always were a little stirred by him.' Robin spat out the last words in disgust, his hatred for Gisborne penetrating every syllable.

'Robin, don't, please don't,' Marian pleaded, cheeks burning with embarrassment, shame and guilt. Robin was right, he could see into her soul.

Marian hated herself at that moment, hated herself more than she hated Isabella, the Sheriff or the devil himself. An image flashed into her mind's eye; Guy's hands touching her, his body pleasuring her, their lovemaking: passionate, intense, frequent. She was no better than the whores who plied their trade in the seamier inns of Nottingham – worse in fact, at least they were honest about what they did and who they were. She was hypocrite, a lying, cheating hypocrite. The worst thing was she didn't know if she felt worse about lying to Robin, who she truly loved, or to her husband, to whom she had promised herself before God and for whom she cared for more than she was prepared to admit.

Marian and Robin fell into silence, resentful and melancholy. There was no way out of this, no way to heal the bitter hurt of her marriage, fixed and undoable as it was.

Marian was saved from further dwelling on her deceit by shouts from outside. She heard the coded warning cry from Allan, followed by squeals from children and cries from their parents to come inside. Then the hooves arrived, thundering into the dusty, summer stillness of Nettlestone. Marian's heart was racing, she could not be caught with Robin again. Damn her weakness, she should have given Robin the key and left – no, she should never have come. She should have ignored Isabella and stayed at home, obeyed her husband, only leaving her home to repent her sins in the church. Maybe it was her fault Guy behaved as he did, maybe if she were a faithful and loving wife he wouldn't be so in thrall to the Sheriff, he would find the strength to resist him, find the humanity that she knew he possessed.

She had no time for further self recrimination however. Robin was squinting through the gaps in the wooden door, trying to see who it was and how many he faced.

'It's Gisborne,' he said grimly confirming Marian's worst fears. 'He's after me, he must've heard we were here.'

'If I leave now, I can speak to him, he will not know you are here, I will distract him and you can escape.' Marian was thinking and speaking fast.

'No, it's too dangerous.'

'No, staying here is dangerous, staying here together, getting caught in a barn together. Come on, Robin, let me out.' She laid her hand on his arm, Robin gazed at her intently, raising his thumb to stroke her cheek tenderly. 'Robin?'

'Alright, go, but be careful and if you need me, call. I will not let him harm you, my love.'

'He won't harm me. And, Robin, promise me, promise me you'll stay away from Isabella.'

'Marian, now is not the time!' Robin was exasperated.

'Just promise me, she is trouble: for you, me, everyone. Do you love me? Respect me?'

'Of course I do.'

'Then promise me you will stay away from her!' Marian was furious again, why was it so hard for him to do this, was there something there, or was he playing with her, to pay her back for belonging to Guy?

'Alright,' Robin conceded, grudgingly. Marian nodded and gave him a small smile. Robin leant down to kiss her and she felt her anger over Isabella ebb away, she closed her eyes and cherished the kiss. It was over too soon, it always was. She reluctantly turned her back on Robin and walked out into the bright sunlight.

Guy was with a small band of soldiers. He drew his horse to a standstill in the middle of the village.

'Hood!' He bellowed, looking around, sword drawn, his face contorted in anger. 'Hood, show yourself!'

Guy's men had bows, drawn and ready, all were jumpy, worried that the outlaw would spring some kind of trap.

Suddenly their attention was diverted by a small figure running across the dusty earth. A figure in a light green dress. Marian.

'Guy,' she called. Guy nearly dropped his sword, his face was one of surprise and concern. 'Guy, oh thank God,' Marian was now before him. Guy dismounted swiftly, handing the horse's reins to his sergeant.

'Marian, what are you doing here?' Guy's raised voice was part way between anger and fear.

'I was worried,' she said meekly, deciding now was not the time to start berating her husband. 'I heard that Robin was after you and I wanted to warn you.'

'And where did you hear that?' Guy said in a low, dangerous voice.

'I overheard some villagers,' Marian blurted, not wanting to implicate Isabella, but then realised this could be dangerous too, 'I don't know who,' she added quickly. 'I was afraid for you, Guy.'

Guy looked at her, Marian could tell he was weighing up whether to believe her story. Perhaps he was recalling the last occasion she had run off to a village in order to accost him; the day he had discovered she was the Nightwatchman.

'Marian, that was foolish. You could have been attacked, kidnapped or worse. You know what that man is capable of.' Guy sounded harsh, but to Marian's relief he seemed to believe her. 'I will escort you home immediately.'

'I am sorry, I just wanted to warn you.' Marian hung her head, both to appear respectful and because she felt too ashamed to look him in the eye. Guy put a hand on her shoulder, she noticed he was wearing his leather gloves, despite the searing heat. He looked down at her, his hair falling forwards, brushing his eyelashes as it did so. He gave her a small smile and piercing gaze, she looked up and met his blue eyes for a moment. He looked happy, happy that she had come, that she cared enough to warn him. Marian wished the ground to swallow her up.

'Do you have a horse?' he asked gently, his hand was still on her shoulder, she was suddenly afraid that by touching her he would know of her betrayal, she shrugged him off, then instantly regretted it as a familiar sadness flickered across his eyes.

'Yes,' she said reaching for his arm, her guilt getting the better of her resolve to be distant wife. 'It is by the blacksmith's. Guy, I'm glad you are alright. Can you come home with me?'

'Get Lady Marian's horse,' Guy snapped at one of his men. He then turned to her again. 'I will escort you home.' Guy gave her another tiny glimpse of a smile, he obviously believed she had come here because she cared. Cared about him. Marian's earlier anger at the news of his brutality was swallowed up by her own wretched feelings of guilt and self loathing.

Their ride back to Locksley was quiet, they kept their horses at a steady trot, the heat was taking its toll on both man and beast. When they entered the house Marian was glad of the shade and coolness. She noticed the servants were back. Isabella must have roused them. Marian waited until Guy was occupied issuing instructions to his man servant before quickly popping the keys back on the hook behind the door.

Finally the servants melted away and Guy turned to her. 'Marian, why did you come to Nettlestone?' he asked her evenly.

'I told you, I was worried, I overheard villagers and I came to warn you,' she smiled at Guy, hoping he was going to buy her story. He arched an eyebrow at her.

'Really?' he growled, she was unsure if he was threatening her or not. She stiffened. He frightened her when he was like this, he was so unpredictable.

'Ok,' she smiled at him, in mock defeat. 'I wanted to get out as well, I feel so restricted here, you know I like my freedom.'

'Marian, I only had you guarded for your own safety, you know that. You know how much I care about you,' he hesitated and glanced around the room to check that they were alone. 'You know how much I love you,' he continued.

Marian nodded and let him take her hand in both of his, he had shed his gloves, his hands were warm and always softer than she expected them to be.

'Marian, I had almost given up hope that you could ever care for me as I do for you,' he spoke hesitantly, softly, the man who was so commanding and cold to the outside world, gentle and diffident. 'I am touched that you took such a risk.' He smiled now, his whole face softening and changing as he did so. The way he was looking at her, the intensity of those eyes, Marian could hardly bear. It was so honest, so open, he was showing her a part of him no-one else saw. Yet she was deceiving him so profoundly. She tried to think of the villagers, the cruel deeds Guy had carried out that day, but at that moment she could only see the man in front of her and the wickedness of her own heart.

'Guy,' she murmured, unable to think of anything else to say.

'Will you do something for me?'

'That depends on what you ask.'

'Will you be a loving wife to me, in public, not just after the sun sets. I am so proud of you, of us. I would like you to feel the same.' His words were sincere, heartfelt. Marian was pained, tears welled in her eyes. How could this be the same man who casually ordered floggings and took people's crops? If he were always like this maybe she could do what he wanted, show him affection, love him even.

'How can I be proud to be married to a man who steals people's water, who orders people to be flogged for nothing, who does everything this evil Sheriff asks? Guy, I know you are a man who is capable of compassion, of love and good deeds. I have seen it, I know what you feel for me is real, this side of you is real.'

'Marian!' Guy grasped her hand tighter, his face looked both agonised and exasperated. 'You have no idea! Do you think I enjoy it? Do you think it gives me pleasure? I have to do what the Sheriff orders.'

'Why? Why do you? When you know it is wrong, you know what suffering you will cause.' Marian was almost shouting at him, she tried to wrest her hand from his, but he held her firm.

'If I go against the Sheriff I will lose everything, we will lose everything, you, I and Isabella. I cannot allow that. Do you think he would let me walk away? Do you think after everything I have done, everything that I know he will let me leave and forget about us? That we can merrily tend our crops and raise a family, turn up to the Council of Nobles once a month and smile at him over banquets?' Guy finally let go of her hand, he paced back and forth, his face screwed up in frustration and badly concealed temper. He turned back to face her, grabbing her arms and lowering his head so that their eyes were level.

'I don't know, Guy. But how can you-'

'Because it is the only way to keep you safe, I would do anything to keep you safe.' Guy spoke desperately. 'Please, Marian, you have to believe me, I hate having to do this, I hate having to do everything that man asks, you are right about him. I should have listened to you years ago. I didn't and I'm sorry. But if I go against the Sheriff now he will punish me. And he will use you and Isabella to do so, I have shown him my weakness and he will take any excuse to hurt you after what you did to him. I have to keep you safe, at all costs.'

'Am I really worth that?' Marian asked. 'No one person is worth that.' This was killing her, her heart felt as though it was being slowly torn into a thousand pieces, it was her punishment for her adultery, that all this suffering was for her, to keep her, who least deserved it, from harm. Guy's face was so honest, he was bearing his soul and the truth was that she was to blame. No – she couldn't believe that – he had worked for the Sheriff long before he had met her.

'Marian, there is nothing I wouldn't do for you,' he was pleading with her, pleading with her to love him.

'I do not want you to do this for me. I would rather take my punishment than see villagers, innocent people, children, starve to keep me safe.'

'How can you say that? If you were to . . . if the Sheriff were to harm you . . . my life would not be worth living without you.' Guy spoke unusually quietly, but desperately, he drew her to his chest, held her and stroked her hair. 'I will protect you, I promise that nobody will harm you: not the Sheriff, not Hood, not the King himself. I would die before I let that happen.'

There was a finality to Guy's words that prevented Marian from answering. What could she say? That she was a worthless liar, who was cuckolding him and didn't deserve a thing from him, nevermind his life for her. Could she say that if he left the Sheriff and ran away with her that she would love him and be true to him even if they were beggars? Not whilst Robin lived and breathed. Perhaps she did love Guy, loved part of him anyway. Perhaps she was a romantic fool who chased dreams and ideals instead of enjoying a comfortable life with a man who adored her and kept her purse full enough to feed as many peasants as she liked. It's good to dream – her father had said that, as he lay dying. Would her dreams cost another life? Guy's? Robin's? Her own?

'Marian,' Guy eased her away from his chest, Marian realised as the air hit her face she was in tears. Hot, bitter tears were streaming down her face. She hadn't cried like this since her father died. She couldn't stop and sank back against his warm, solid body.

'It's alright, I will take care of you. You do not need to fear the Sheriff,' Guy's voice was soothing, deep, strong and loving.

'I do not fear what he will do to me, I fear what he has already done to you, what he will make you do next time. I can't Guy, I can't live like this.' Guy's mouth fell open, he looked so distressed, like he would've said or done anything to sooth her. But Marian didn't give him the chance, she tore out of Locksley Manor and ran towards the woods. She didn't know where she was going, only that she wanted to escape: from Guy's unrelenting and unrequited love; from Robin, her heart's temptation and desire; from Isabella and her spite; but most of all from herself, her guilt, her lies, her double life.

Marian collapsed to her knees as soon as she reached the cover of the trees, still sobbing, choked with tears. She wished to disappear, to vanish into the clouds and be rid of all the hurt, no longer a cause of misery to those she loved, to those she didn't and to those she didn't even know. As she cried more tears, she became aware of arms around her, strong, kind, familiar arms, lifting her from the ground, holding her, rocking her. She clung on, burying her face in his shoulder as they both knelt on the forest floor.

Finally Marian stilled somewhat, enough to feel a measure of embarrassment at her outburst and wipe her still weeping eyes on his shirt. She felt her hair being gently brushed back from her forehead and met the concerned, blue eyes with her own.

'This has to stop,' she said, desperately, shaking her head with sadness. 'Robin, I will love you until my dying day, but I am another man's wife. This has to end.'

'I know,' she saw that there were tears in his eyes too, one was falling slowly down his cheek until it disappeared into his beard. 'I love you, Marian, I have always loved you and I always will. I'm so sorry, I should never have left you.'

They held each other again, kissed passionately, desperately, for the last time – they both knew if had to be that now – then broke apart. Marian stood up shakily, it was now Robin who knelt in the dirt, too grieved to stand. She turned and wiped her palms across her face, resolving not to turn around, but to walk back to the house; to her husband, her future.

But when Marian took her hands away and opened her eyes she saw a figure standing beside the large oak tree in front of her, a person who had seen and heard everything that had just passed between her and Robin, a person who's face showed malevolence and hatred, but also a satisfaction that sent a shiver down Marian's spine.

Isabella.

To be continued . . .