The Sibling Returns

I was sat minding the children I had so foolishly bore for Guy of Gisborne. He had taken over my brother's house whilst Robin was out at war for the king… It was so stupid of me to let him impregnate me. He didn't even ask for my hand in marriage… I had committed a terrible crime. Sex before Marriage. How silly, to think that he would ask for my hand. No, he'd ask for fair Marian's hand. As if I'm not good enough for him… not good enough.

I put my two children into their cots, and let them fall asleep. I had no time to take care of them anymore. It's all his fault.

A woman from the village came in to my house, I would still be living in the manor…but Guy took everything that belonged to Robin after…after he brought back some news.

I looked at the woman 'Thank you so much, this means so much to me' I said grasping her hands thankfully. 'Take the money, I know you need it, the sheriff keeps making the tax higher. It's not fair' I motioned to the money I had left on the table.

'Oh you are too kind Miss.' she spoke, curtseying slightly. 'Just like your brother was.'

I smiled softly and picked up my cloak.

'Bye-Bye then' I kissed the sleeping babies both once then left.

I got onto my horse and galloped up to the castle. He wanted me. He always did. I tied up my horse and started up the stairs. He greeted me, hugging me and kissing my cheeks.

'Ahhh good to see you again' he bowed to me, I curtseyed in good honour. As if I had honour of being with him.

'You too… Sheriff' I sighed as he took my arm.

'You look as beautiful as ever' he commented.

'Thank you sir' I replied. Smiling in a way that wasn't really a smile, however, he didn't notice the cynical greeting.

'Shall we go in?' He said.

'Sure' I hung on his arm, as he led me into the castle.

'Emma' I heard a voice and looked up from the floor. The leather clad man was stood there. He bowed in respect.

I heard a voice in my head go "hm, so I get respect now, knowing what you did, knowing I was desperate for you, stupid low down dirty thing, how dare you take all that is my brothers to cherish"

Instead of that I said 'Guy' and Curtseyed then turned to the sheriff 'I hope everything is well for you in the kingdom?'

'Yes, yes it is my dear' he steered me away from Gisborne and up to his office. Where I had to sit and watch him count practically stolen money for a very long time, and to think, I could be taking care of my two children at this time, but no, the lovely sheriff of Nottingham decides I should stay. With him.

All day.

Guy came in. For once I was thankful as I was sent out of the room. I wondered the place alone. My peasant dress sweeped across the floor so I picked up the top of the skirt as I explored. I curtseyed to each soldier that passed me. I heard running footsteps. I sighed. My freedom lasted for a few precious minutes.

I turned around…and saw someone different to who I had expected.

He smiled, as if nothing happened between us. As if it was all us…all along… I felt a stabbing pain in my chest. I hated being like this.

'Emma, it is good to see you again' He embraced me, my head on his chest, breathing in the age old scent I knew.

He put a hand on my back and held me close…

'How are the babies?' He asked quietly.

'Fine… if only I could spend more time with them myself though…' I sighed as he began to stroke my light brown hair.

'I know' He sighed.

Why was he acting like this? For two years he had ignored me, only saying my name and bowing to me. Nether the less, I still held on tight to him. Not letting go.

'Why did you leave me…?' The words fell out of my mouth… much like the salty tears that were now rhythmically rolling down my cheeks.

He let go of me, and pushed me back. His hands firmly on my shoulders. I put my hands over my mouth as I choked on my sadness.

'I…' He struggled for an answer.

'I have to pretend I don't know who the father is to the village, I have to lie, I have to…' I paused 'They call me a whore behind my back. I hear them.'

Guy stared silently.

'You took everything of Robin's. Everything.' I continued, getting angrier, little by little. 'You stole his house, even though I was still there, and to get round that you got me pregnant, twice. Then decided you had enough of me so threw me out.'

I stared at him whilst wishing I was still in his arms.

'Emma…you've got it wrong'

'Have I? Really?'

'Stop it, why are you being like this?' He removed his hands from my shoulders. I stayed silent. He sighed loudly and turned to walk away.

'Don't go…' I whispered as he walked. 'Please…'

He kept going so I ran up to him, or rather, into him, and consequently knocked him over.

'I'm bitter because of what happened, I'm bitter because of what you did, and the worst thing is that I want you still…'

He looked at me. 'Get off me' he murmured. I crawled of him then stood up.

'I'm sorry'

Guy brushed dirt off him then looked back at me 'we need to talk, but the Sheriff wanted me to find you again, you had better go see him, and I have some business in your brothers old village, meet me at my house tomorrow' He bowed to me and left.

"You're still a complete idiot" I thought, but with a huge smile on my face.

I walked up to the sheriff's office place and curtseyed to him upon my entry 'Guy found me and told me to come back up here.'

'Ahhh yes' he put away the tax money and stood up. 'Come with me.'

We went through the halls to his room. A woman was stood there.

'She will fit you out with some new clothes, better than these ones' he said looking at my current attire. 'I will see you after.' He kissed my hand then left.

I turned and looked at the woman 'shall we start?'

'Yes ma'am' she curtseyed. 'Please take off your gown.'

I went behind a screen to take of my gown. She came through to do the measurements and to see what colours would suit my hair colour and other aspects of my looks.

'Blues, Lilacs, Whites, Greens' the woman wrote down 'you may get back into your clothes now, your new ones will be ready in a week' she said kindly.

I put my dress back on and waited for the sheriff to return, he returned then paid me for my Trouble…then said I could leave.

I left the castle and went back to Locksley village. I visited old places. I even went back to the manor. Our old servants were there. I curtseyed to them as they did to me.

I was talking to them, when two men entered.

One of the men greeted the servants, like they knew each other. Thornton even called him master.

'Robin?' I exclaimed as I watched and realised.

He turned to me 'Emma!' we embraced.

'I thought you were in the holy lands…dead?' I asked, bewildered.

'Ah, but I'm back. Who told you I was dead?' he smiled and we embraced again.

Ignoring his question I clutched my dead brother. I was overcome by the happenings of today, with Guy embracing me to my brother returning it was full of surprises.

That was when Gisborne came into the house. I moved back, behind my brother and clung onto his arm. Hoping they would not fight. They exchanged a few harsh words. Then bid each other goodbye. Guy took my hand and kissed it before he went.

Robin looked at me with utter disbelief. 'You will explain everything later, yes?' he asked.

I nodded and wondered how he would react when I told him that he was the uncle of Gisborne's children. I dismissed the horrible vision of his react quickly.

'And you will explain in thorough detail the men you killed' I replied. 'I have to go sort something out, ask the villagers for me and they will point you to my new abode' I said, leaving the manor.

Guy saw me 'I shall have to find another meeting place for us' he said mounting his horse.

'Yes, you will, I noticed how you acted towards me with Robin there, suave, not like normal.' I said back to him, scowling.

'I see you forgot our little talk earlier, was that not being suave?' he chuckled.

'I'll let you off' I smiled then began to walk to my hut.

'Wait, Emma, I'll take you there.' He said, moving closer towards me.

'Well…' I looked to the village.

'Come on, the Sheriff will be mad if I don't' he taunted.

I laughed 'go on, just this once' I got onto the horse and held onto Guy's hips as he rode up to my house.

The villagers saw me as I got off his horse, I gave them a look that said, "I'll explain later" and they all disbanded.

He also came off his horse 'you don't have to come you know…' I told him walking into my hut.

'I want to see my offspring' he retaliated.

'That'll be a first in two years. You didn't even come when I was giving birth.' I said, the lady looked at me worried 'It's fine Marie' I smiled 'you can leave now, thank you' she took the money I had left for her then left my hut, bowing on her way out.

My two babies were in separate cots. Guy went up to them and they reached their hands up to his face. He looked uncomfortable.

'Not a baby person?' I asked, as I picked up the youngest, James.

'Not really' he said nervously as I rocked little James.

'This is James' I said softly, showing him to Guy. 'Would you like to hold him?' I asked.

'Urm… I can try…' he said as I transferred baby James to Guy. He held him perfectly. I smiled as I picked up my eldest baby.

'This is Annie' I told him.

It felt odd, having him hold the children that I had raised with difficulty; it was only recently I decided to get people from the village to help me raise them. I felt happy, but sad at the same time.

I let him hold Annie as I fed and put back James into his cot.

'They're beautiful' He commented as I fed and put back Annie.

'Yes they are' I said, sitting down. 'What did you want to discuss?' I asked quietly.

He looked up at me through his dark eyes. 'Ah…yes' he knitted his fingers together and smiled softly 'I didn't mean for what I did to seem…as sinister as you saw it, I kept looking at you and seeing that ten year old girl. Making me feel disgusting inside.'

'I disgust you?' I raised my eyebrows.

'No, no' he sighed 'I felt…dirty, if that makes sense'

I bit my lip 'So you 'used' me because you didn't like being reminded of me when I was younger?'

'Used is a bit strong don't you think? I left you those times because I felt wrong about being in a relationship with you in that way…' he sighed, getting up 'I should go, feel like we got nowhere though' he came up to me 'I shall see you tomorrow' he told me embracing my frame then kissed my cheek. 'Goodbye' he left. A cold chill ran over me as I curled up into my chair and let more tears fall…