AN: Ok, so it's been a long time and this has been stewing. It may be a little AU and takes place instead of that disastrous wedding episode, but I hope it's still a bit of fun! Read and Review for more if you want it!
Guy of Gisborne was not a patient man. Nor was he in the mood to be for the words that the Sheriff spewed forth with sadistic delight.
"Gizzy, I thought you'd be happy," Vasey mocked, a wicked grin on his face. "You're getting what you always wanted in this deal."
"Why does Her Majesty want this?" Guy demanded, "why not leave this petty business to you, or me?"
"She is acting in the stead of the King, of course," Vasey spoke as if he was scolding a child, "with her sons practically at war and this…business with Edward of Locksley, it is only logical."
"Yes, logical," Guy ground out, "but ill-considered. How do you think Marian will respond to this? Do you think she will lay down and take it?"
"Well, that's an interesting turn of phrase," Vasey chuckled, "I was rather expecting her to lay on her back and take it."
Guy shook his head, forcing himself to breathe through the anger.
"I cannot abide this," Guy announced, crossing his arms.
"See, here's the funny thing about royals," Vasey crossed his own arms, "You cannot say no. I would imagine that Her Majesty would take your lands, and hang the old blighter for good measure. If you want to keep your lands, and Marian hers, plus her father's life, she will do this. Somehow, God knows, Eleanor found out about us in this stinking shithole and thinks it would be advantageous if we, trusted men of the king, protect their interests by dampening the spirits of any rebellious nobles. We don't want another Stephen and Matilda do we?"
Of course Vasey would mention the brutal and bloody conflict between the mother and uncle of William the Conqueror. People still spoke of the senseless brutality, something that Gisborne was sure Prince John would not mind repeating given half the chance.
"So what then?" Guy challenged, "When we are forced to wed, am I to keep her under house arrest? You know as well as I that she will only run back to Hood." It hurt to say, but deep in his heart Gisborne knew it was true. Marian was deeply in love with Robin, so much so that she would risk nearly anything to be with him, even her own safety. But perhaps this could change?
"Well you'll have to stop her then." Vasey stood from his chair and flashed an emerald-encrusted canine. "Someone will have been by to give her the good news by now, and she no doubt be at the castle by nightfall. When she is, you two will be wed."
"So soon?" Guy balked. He had just barely come to grips what Vasey was saying, let alone the idea of marriage that night.
"Oh yes, Gizzy," Vasey laughed humorlessly. "We wouldn't want Hood showing up and spoiling the show!" With that, the hated man swept from the room, whistling like a madman.
Guy swore silently and watched Vasey leave with as much restraint as he could. When the Sherriff was gone however, he kicked over a chair and reached for his sword. He was not sure what he would do with it, and slowly released the pommel, going to back to his chambers in a furious temper. It was easy enough for Eleanor to decree such a thing, but usually it came with an opportunity to protest, or at least a more lenient timeline for the parties involved. She could not have known about Guy and Marian's tumultuous relationship, and if she did she was a cruel old witch to declare the match acceptable. All he had needed was a little more time to convince Marian to marry him, to make her see sense. But now, he feared, she never would. She would blame him, and he would lose forever his chance with her.
Lost in his thoughts and ready to fight the next man who bothered him, he almost swung at Alan, who peaked his head nervously in just as night was falling.
"Sir Guy?" he asked.
"Yes?" Guy glared up from his seat.
"She's here. The Sherriff asked you to come to the Great Hall."
Almost mechanically, Guy stood and followed Alan out. At the hall doors Alan was stopped from entering, and gave Guy a quizzical look. So, Guy thought, no one had told him what this was about.
Pushing open the heavy oak doors, his chest tightened with anxiety, and it only got worse when Marian, dressed in a simple green gown and wearing her hair very prettily, scowled at him, her eyes accusing. A small gold gilt locket hung on her neck, and when she noticed him looking she covered it and scowled.
He met her gaze only for a moment before looking at the Sherriff. Vasey grinned and clapped his hands.
"Good, good! All parties are in attendance," He said. "Now, to get down to business."
"I cannot speak to her?" Guy asked, "Before?"
"No, no. You have the rest of your lives to talk. I, however, am a busy man," Vasey said.
"You bastard," Marian spat as Guy edged closer to the Sherriff, "you planned this." Tear tracks were visible on her delicately rounded cheeks, but she was no longer crying.
For a moment Guy was taken aback by her aggressive demeanour, so used to that sweet, false voice she used when trying to placate him. He quickly recovered, however.
"What? Do you think this was my idea?" he hissed. Marian turned away, her cheeks flushed.
With a quick glance between the two, Vasey cleared his throat. Guy caught movement out of the corner of his eye and reaching for his sword, but lowered his hand when he saw Edward standing nearby, all but a shadow in the darkened room. Guy shot a pleading glance at the man that would be his father-in-law, but the old man only shook his head, stress shining keenly on his face. Beside him stood a bailiff, and the closer Guy looked, the more visible the shackles on his wrists became.
"Good, now the pleasantries are over," Vasey said. "The bride's dowry will consist of her house, lands and a pardon for her treasonous father, as decreed by His Majesty Prince John." Marian glanced at Sir Edward, and tears began to form in her eyes. Guy studied his shoes. They were dirty and scuffed from riding. "You, Guy of Gisborne, do understand that you are marrying Marian of Locksley this night?"
"Yes," Guy closed his eyes, refusing to look at his coerced bride.
"And you, Marian of Locksley, do you take Guy of Gisborne to wed, considering that a refusal means the loss of all your worldly property and the execution of a dear father?" Guy could almost feel her venomous glare.
"Y...yes," she stammered.
Guy could not help but open his eyes in shock. She had agreed? It was incredible, and he found himself frowning. Robin had not burst in, saving her and Edward? Something had to be wrong, but the longer he stood there, the more concrete, and horrible it all seemed. He has always wanted to marry her, but not like this, and certainly not by the Sherriff of Nottingham. Dumbly, he took the offered wedding bands Vasey pulled from his pocket, and slipped the smaller one on Marian's finger. She would not look at him, and he put his own on with a vague sense of unreality. The only thing that brought him back to the present was Vasey.
"Cheer up, you two!" He practically shouted, "You look like you're at a funeral, not a wedding!"
Guy wished he was dead, and from the look on his bride's face, so did she.