'There is something so invigorating about starting a new story - to know that anything can happen in the pages ahead... and the fates of [your characters] balance on a single stroke of your pen' - JMP
Obviously there is quite a bit of recap in this first chapter. Most of what is written herein belongs to the Robin Hood BBC episode 'Walkabout'. You will probably understand the story better if you have watched the Robin Hood series up to that episode, as there are many references to past episodes. :-)
I do not own any of the characters, and this is a Guy and Marian story - don't like, don't read. Please remember that this is my story and I am not going to change it because of any childish bullies, and do not leave rude or hateful reviews.
I hope that you enjoy this story! :-) Thanks for reading!
. . . .
Marian looked around at the people that filled the room; the type of people that, she was sure, had never before entered the castle in such numbers. Poor people, dirty people, scared people. The knowledge that Prince John's army was less than ten miles away was like the feeling of a noose drawing slowly closed around one's neck; there was little hope of escape, and the waiting was insufferable.
"There's no other way." Will's quiet voice broke through her thoughts.
"There has to be." she insisted, sounding more desperate than confident.
"Marian, there is a ring of steel around Nottingham!" a tone of exasperation became evident as he spoke; his promise to Robin to keep her safe no matter what was weighing on him more and more heavily as she continued to resist any suggestions that he made, "Even if we got beyond the walls we'd be cut down!"
"Than we will have to fight as best we can!" she turned to face him, wanting, needing reassurance, but he shook his head.
"Marian, you can't save these..." he glanced around and lowered his voice, "You can't save these people."
She took a deep breath as she turned away from him and made her way across the room, knowing that they were trapped but unable to say the words out loud.
"Look, much as I hate Gisborne," he followed her closely as he spoke the unwelcome words slowly, "You have to marry him."
"No." but her conviction was growing weaker as she met his eyes again, her fears more for the people around her rather than the thought of marrying Gisborne.
"Wherever you go, where ever you go Robin will move heaven and earth, he will find you," whatever conviction she lost he seemed to gain as he spoke, putting his hands on her shoulders as he put his rarely used persuasive powers to work; turning to follow her as she shrugged him off and continuing with a pleading sound in his voice, "Just stay alive!"
She shook her head with the lost look of one who does not know what to do as she walked away from him as fast as she could, trying to escape the feeling of helplessness; leaving him looking weary as he wished that Robin had not left him to do the job of keeping her alive alone.
"Marian, we're out of time; what's your decision?" Guy caught up with her as she walked out of the room and into the next.
"Well, I'm not walking out on these people." the feeling of constriction tightened in her chest as she repeated her resolve out loud.
"So you're going to stay?" Guy's face fell, the thought of her trapped inside of a burning castle was enough to make him want to forcibly remove her from the situation.
"Yes." she raised her chin in a slightly defiant movement, trying to hide her insecurity.
"Woman!" the hurt and fear in his eyes as he almost shouted the word almost made her reconsider, "Your willfulness will kill you!"
As he turned and almost ran out of the room, her eyes fell to the floor; his words had stung her more deeply than she would ever admit. Her father used to comment on her willfulness as well, and never in a very positive light.
At that moment she questioned her decision making abilities more than she ever had before. Part of her wanted to run after him and tell him that she had changed her mind, or at the very least beg him to stay and fight with her.
Shaking herself of the desire, she tightened up her jaw and raised her chin.
Resolving to make use of the Sheriff's absence she made her way towards his now unguarded room; if she survived this, she may as well have something to show Robin.
Walking slowly around his room she took in the mess of blankets on his bed, the shoes on the floor and the makeshift piles of parchment here and there. Making her way over towards the intriguing papers, she rustled through them curiously - picking up and scanning first one and then another.
Dropping the papers with a disappointed sigh she continued around the room, even stooping and peeking inside the Sheriff's forgotten shoes. Pursing her lips, she gave one last glance around the room - grimacing as her eyes came in contact with the skull that he used for extra teeth.
The door swung shut behind her as she left, feeling considerably deflated.
As she continued down the stairs, however, suddenly something came together in her mind and she turned around. Taking the steps two at a time, she raced back and flung the door open once more. Hurrying over to the skull, she shivered slightly as her fingers touched the unpleasant object; but as she lifted it she forgot about the symbol of death in her hands. A small piece of paper sat beneath - and the broken seal was the symbol of Prince John. An involuntary gasp escaped her lips as she quickly opened it and scanned the contents; now this would interest Robin!
Taking a deep breath, she replaced it and turned to go back to where Will continued to hand out weapons to the men and boys who filled the large room.
. . .
As he rode out of the gates, Guy's alone-ness weighed on him like a heavy blanket, and at that moment he would have traded the Sheriff, Locksley, and all of his possessions to have Marian riding beside him. In fact - if it meant that she would love him and that they could have a real life together - he would have given up just about anything.
Shaking his head to rid himself of such thoughts, Guy raised his chin as he reigned in his horse to meet the man who was going to raze Nottingham to the ground.
"And the woman?" Jasper - the messenger from Prince John who had caused all of this havoc - asked, raising an eyebrow.
Guy's eyes dropped for a moment.
"Marian," he clarified, studying the nobleman carefully, "Is she leaving with you?"
"She will not abandon Nottingham." Guy said quietly, raising his chin and his gaze once more to meet that of the man who held the power to destroy everything he loved.
A mirthless chuckle proceeded out of the other man's mouth, "Imbecile."
Guy suddenly knew what he had to do. "And without her," his conviction grew as he spoke, "My world might as well turn to ash."
The soldiers watched in disbelief as he turned his horse around and rode back through the gates that shut behind him; going back to certain death for the one person that had managed to unwittingly warm his heart for the first time since he had lost both of his parents and his sister more than fifteen years before.
Her betrayal at the alter had almost stamped out his high opinion of her, but had failed to quench his love. Now he was once more risking his life and defying the prince that he and the Sheriff had worked so hard to place on the throne; throwing away all of his dreams of grandeur and power, for the slight chance that she might - with his help - be able to survive the day.
Spurring his horse on faster and faster as he heard the large gates swing shut and knew that he was out of eye-shot, he made his way toward the castle - toward Marian - as fast as he could. Reaching the courtyard he swung himself out of the saddle, leaving his horse to fend for itself as he sprinted up the stairs towards the grand hall where the people stood ready to fight with her.
. . .
Finished making sure that everyone able to carry a weapon was armed, Marian went in search of Will. As the sun continued to swing lower in the sky, a desperate need not to be alone began to consume her and the quiet man was the only logical comfort.
After spotting him, Marian was making her way through the peasants crowding the room when they were all arrested by the sound of running feet. Glancing out the window, her heart shivered as she saw the last rays of the setting sun filtering through the window.
. . .
"Marian!" Guy yelled, bursting the doors open - scaring everyone inside nearly to death - and not stopping until he reached the railing and was able to see her upturned face brightening as she saw him.
"You came back." saying the unbelievable words warmed her heart, and the smile that graced her face was open and welcoming in stark contrast to her usual civil coolness.
"If I'm going to die," he had eyes only for her as he spoke the words aloud, "I'm going to die by your side."
At that moment her regard for him grew in leaps and bounds, and a feeling that was usually unrelated to him welled up in her heart.
His eyes crinkled up in an answering smile for a split second before he drew his sword fiercely, "To arms!"
Needing to be near him, she climbed the steps and solemnly took his arm - showing her thanks without speaking a word. As her hand touched him, he knew what he had to ask - the direness of the circumstances doing away with the pride that would have kept him from repeating the question.
"Marry me now," he whispered hoarsely, keeping his eyes on the doorway where they would soon be charging the enemy, "And make it the last thing we do? Let's steal that from them at least."
He turned and met her eyes with a new boldness born of the knowledge that these were their last minutes on earth. The words did not come as a surprise to her, but what astonished her was that she almost welcomed the sound of them. A non-committal smile came across her face and then she nodded, the smile becoming warmer and more genuine. As the shadow of impending doom drew closer, her objections to him seemed to fade into the past; she didn't want to - couldn't - be alone when she died.
"Very well," she nodded, her eyes solemn in spite of her smile - showing that she had accepted the fact that this day would be the end of her story, "But we should hurry; we haven't got much time."
Momentary disbelief that flashed across his face, followed closely by a warmth and love that shocked her with it's strength.
. . . .
Well? If you enjoyed it, please let me know. :-) Next installment coming up soon...