A/N: Okay I haven't wrote a story in a long time, so very rusty.. But I hope you enjoy it. I'll be posting the second chapter straight away.
Disclaimer: As always, I dont own Robin hood, yada yada yada.
Rating ; T
Please R&R, would be much appreciated.
Crimes of the Heart
Chapter One ;
Marian gazed out her bedroom window unto the country-side. It looked so beautiful in autumn. The forest canopy a mosaic of vibrant reds, yellows and orange. The surrounding field's golden, with crops ready to be harvested. The one place she longed to be, was the one place she could not go.
She was trapped in this castle, a prisoner. She couldn't breathe; the walls closed in around her, smothering her.
Marian pushed herself away from the window, collapsing on her bed, hand clutched around her throat as if she were struggling for air.
"I need to get out of this damn castle, for my sanity's sake!" she gasped, still struggling for air. Her thoughts strayed to Sir Guy. Perhaps she could persuade him to let her out for an hour or two, even if it were just to the market? Marian sighed as she felt the all too familiar feeling of guilt wash over her. She had thoroughly abused her relationship with Sir Guy of late, using a simple touch of his arm or a warm smile, charming him to get what she desired. Every time she could see the hope in his eyes and every time she had crushed it.
"I am no better than he.." Dropping her face into her hands Marian began to cry. Tears she had held back for so long streamed down her face. The past few weeks had been too much, even for her.
"What am I doing? I am stronger than this! Pitying myself.." she mumbled, snorting at her audacious behaviour.
After cleaning her face making sure there was no trace of her tears, she made her way to the hall for dinner. She was famished! On queue her stomach rumbled as the smell of freshly baked bread filled her nose.
She descended the stairs to the kitchen, not able to wait a moment longer for the deliciously fresh, warm bread.
"Robin Hood? I don't believe you!" One of the kitchen staff laughed.
Marian froze and listened intently.
"I swear to you, I tell the truth!" the servant girl said holding up her hands.
"Wow.. Has he come to you before? Tell me everything!" The two servant girls giggled wildly.
"He has, twice before. He is a selfish lover, but I do not care, I mean it is Robin Hood!" Her voice was riddled with smugness.
Marian felt heat build in her, like someone had lit a fire within her chest. "Lover.. This cannot be true? How could Robin do this to me? I am his love! To go off with a kitchen maid!" A lump was stuck in her throat. Her whole body shook with the intensity of her heart pounding within her chest.
"It has to be someone imposing, pretending to be Robin, it has to be.. How could Robin hurt me like this? But, I'm sure I was never meant to find out.." she realised sadly.
"What time will he come at tonight?" The servant asked eagerly.
"He usually comes close to mid night.. Robin Hood.. THE Robin Hood! Can you believe it?" She laughed in amazement.
"I was never too fond of Robin Hood, not looks wise anyway, too boy-ish." The other servant girl announced. "Now, Sir Guy, he is a man I would love to take a roll in the hay with!" The two laughed. "What a man.. But he refuses any advances towards him! Lady Marian has thoroughly broken him" The servant girl tutted.
"Oh, Lady Marian, I wonder how she would feel if she knew her beloved Robin Hood, was not true to her? And it has not just been me, there are others.."
Marian could take no more, she bounded up the stairs, holding back her sobs and wiping the tears that fell from her eyes as she ran back to her chamber. She slammed the door behind her and began pacing her room, letting her sobs finally rip from her throat. Her body shuddered with their force.
"It just can't be true!" She sobbed loudly, walking to her bed and punching her bedpost with all her strength. She yelled in pain as her skin split over her knuckles, she grabbed a cloth to stop the bleeding. It might need stitches, she didn't care. She had to find out if it was true. She would go tonight and see for herself.
Later that night, around midnight
Clad as the night-watchman, Marian waited in the shadows across from the servant girl, Laura she learned was her name, house. Her hood covered her, casting a dark shadow across her face. It was an eerily calm night, the sky was perfectly clear, millions of little lights lit up the night. But there was a deep chill in the air, winter was well and truly on its way.
Marian was snapped out of her thoughts when she heard footsteps approaching. Before he even came fully into view she knew it was Robin. That over confident way he walked, he was too smug. He climbed up the side of the house and entered Laura's bed chamber.
Marian felt herself stiffen. It was true. He is betraying her, and it's happened more than once, many more times! She thought she would feel jealous, but all she felt was rage. A fiery anger burned under her skin waiting to escape. She felt she may explode!
She stormed back to the castle, easily avoiding the guards. She was ready to kill that rat. She needed to contain herself before she did something she may regret, may.. Marian tore off her night watchman outfit and tossed it under her bed. Fists clenched, she paced her room. No matter how hard she tried she could not calm herself. Filling her goblet full of wine she downed it in one gulp. The warm liquid burnt her throat but soothed her senses; the ache in her hand was fading, but the ache in her heart would not.
"This will do quite well" laughing pitifully to herself she tossed away the goblet and drank from the decanter.
"I am done with that forest rat! I shall help him only when it comes to matters of the King. Other than that, he can burn in hell for all I care!" She spat, downing more wine.
Marian finally collapsed on her bed, senses thoroughly numbed, she would sleep tonight.
The next morning, at breakfast
Guy watched Marian from across the dining table at breakfast. She was picking at her food, always keeping one hand under the table. Guy was worried about her, she had dark circles under her eyes, her expression was undeniably sad and she was very pale. Her time in the castle was not doing her any good. Guy felt dreadfully guilty, no matter how much she has hurt him, he could not stand seeing her like this.
"Well aren't you two exciting?" The sheriff blurted. "I'd have more fun with corpses! They'd be better to look at too!" He laughed, spraying his food across the table.
Guy scowled at him in disgust. How he hated that man. He looked over at Marian expecting to see her holding back her comments, but she hadn't even lifted her head, just continued picking at her food. Something was definitely wrong.
The Sheriff looked from Guy to Marian. "Oh for Gods sake! Never mind having to worry about Hood killing me, you two will bore me to death!" He exclaimed, stomping out of the room.
Marian got up to leave, still keeping her head down. Guy ran after her.
"Marian! Please wait" Guy called.
She stiffened and turned to meet him. "Yes, Sir Guy?" she said, her voice sounding sad even to her ears.
"Marian, what is the mat.. what happened to your hand?" He exclaimed, gently taking her hand in his own. He was surprised when she did not flinch away from his touch.
"I got in a fight with my bed post…" she said sheepishly
"Marian, you are worrying me." Guy whispered, stroking her bruised hand gently with his thumb.
"Guy.." Marian sighed, dropping her head to her chest and sliding into his arms.
Guy froze, taken aback by her actions, but quickly wrapped his arms around her. "Now, now what's this?" He whispered, tightening his arms around her as he heard her begin to cry.
"Guy, I feel so alone" she cried against his chest, clinging onto him as if her life depended on it. "And it's this damn castle, its killing me, I can't breathe!"
"What am I doing?" Marian scolded herself. "This will only give him the wrong impression again. But dammit, I really need this, I really need him right now…I need to feel wanted."
"Marian" Guy held Marian's face between his hands, wiping away her tears with his thumbs. "You are not alone. You will always have me, not matter what. If ever you need me, I am here for you.." He said sweetly, kissing her forehead, and bringing her back into a hug.
"Guy you are too kind to me, and I do not deserve it." She sighed in shame.
Marian finally understood how he felt after she betrayed him at their wedding. Guilt ripped through her body. How could she have willingly hurt him like this? "I must make amends with him.." she promised herself.
She buried her head deeper into the curve of Guys neck, enjoying the feel of his arms around her. She felt so safe. Couldn't she allow herself this indulgence, just this once? After all it may help to mend what she had broken in him. It may help mend herself…
"It does not matter anymore, I can't stand seeing you sad. Tell me how I can help? Please?" He pleaded kissing her head. Guy couldn't believe she was allowing this! His heart began to soar with hope. But his head reminded him to be wary. Could she really be trusted?
"I just need to get out of the castle, Guy. I'm going crazy" She laughed half-heartedly.
"Well then, my lady I think you will like the proposition I have for you." Marian listened intently. "I must deliver a letter for the Sheriff. It is a one day journey to the village I must rendezvous at, with an overnight stay." He explained. "I was wondering if you'd like to join me? We can ride on horseback instead of in a carriage. Would yo.." Before he could finish, Marian leaped into his arms again, kissing his cheek.
"When can we leave?" She exclaimed excitedly. Guy laughed, smiling widely " Wow, is that a laugh I hear, Sir Guy? " Marian gasped in fake shock.
"I am just happy to see you smile again, my lady" he admitted.
"You should smile, more. You are very handsome when you do" she said softly, blushing slightly at her admittance.
"I shall smile only for you, Marian." He told her sweetly. "Would you be ready in an hour?" he asked taking her sore hand in his again. "You should wrap this up as well before we ride" he said, brushing a kiss over the bruised skin.
Marian heard herself sigh before she realised it escaped her lips. A deep blush warmed her cheeks.
"Erm, I'll go get ready, I'll meet you in the courtyard" She ducked away quickly, practically running to her room.
Hope you like it so far..