So this little (okay, not little xD) idea sprouted when I watched this episode for the first time sometime last year in November or December, can't remember.
I'm a huge fan of what ifs and I wanted to see how these scenarios happened and what it would lead to.
What was originally planned to be a short sweet story is...well, a long one |D
Disclaimer: I own no one nor do I make a profit.
ABLAZE - Part I
The necklace that he had given to her was not on her person. She had said she treasured it and kept it safe at home so that it would not be damaged. Yet, when he saw the very necklace back on the women he had taken it from for her wedding blessings, the twist of betrayal was torture in his chest.
Even as he closed his eyes and gripped the carriage nearby after telling the trader to take it, saying it didn't mean anything to him, Guy could feel the pain as it spread throughout him. He was played as a fool!
He had went back to Nottingham, urging his horse into a gallop. Not even the loud thuds of the horses' hooves, or the fresh air of the forest, soothed the pain he felt.
The sheriff did not help either. He mocked Guy about Marian. But, he also pushed Guy to go to Knighton Hall. The familiarity of anger coursed through him, each step quick with anger as he made his way back to the stables. He barked at the stablehands to get his horse ready or they will hang at noontime.
Luckily, the stablehands kept their life and Guy was on his way to Knighton Hall. His horse breathed hard as Guy pushed him on and on in a breakneck gallop. When Guy eventually got near to his destination, he sharply turned the stallion, almost knocking down one of the villagers in the process. Not even bothering to slow the horse into a halt, Guy dismounted and landed hard on the grass. He did not even tether up his mount and walked straight up the door to bang it without mercy.
Impatient, he banged the door again with his gloved hand, and when the door opened, he glowered at Edward. "I have come to speak with Marian." His tone was hard and cold, enough to cause the old man before him to flinch.
"She isn't here," quickly responded her father.
"Then where is she?"
"I - I don't know, Sir Guy."
Guy gazed hard at the ex-sheriff. He seemed fearful of him. Wouldn't be the first time either to see the emotion in the old man's face. He clearly was afraid for his daughter. "Then, if you may, allow me to stay here until she is back from any errand she is doing?" His patience was wearing thin as he waited a reply.
Edward hesitated at first, but he eventually moved back to allow entry for Guy. He offered Guy a drink or some food as he waited. At the nod from the black leather clad man, Edward set out to fix him something while Guy sat down on the table and looked out the window.
When Edward served him a goblet and a plate of food, Guy continued to look out the window for a while before looking down. A fresh helping of meat matched with some vegetables and in the goblet seemed to be wine. Right now, Guy did not feel hungry, but he could tell Edward was starting to fidget near him. To calm the old man's nerves, he picked up the knife and fork. His leather squeaked softly as he cut the meat in one swift slice and it squeaked some more when he brought it up to his mouth.
"What do you want, Sir Guy?" Gone was the fear in the old man's face, but Guy did hear a quiver in his tone.
"Some salt would be nice," replied Guy as he chewed the meat slowly, his eyes looking at Edward with the same hard stare he had earlier. He watched the old man clenched his jaw and swallowed in fear. Fear, it was always on those who Guy confronted with only the gaze he worn.
You have to use fear, Gisbourne, because people are so much more fun to see squirming. Much like a rabbit in a trap. They wiggle and try to get free, but they can't. Know why? Because they're not thinking straight! If they were, they wouldn't be wiggling, causing their vision to be, shall we say, chaotic.
"What do you plan to do with her, Sir Guy? If - If you so much as to hurt her, I will - "
Guy smirked. "You'll what?"
Edward clenched his teeth harder, trying to keep bay of the words that he so wished to say to him, but before he and Guy could continue, Marian raced in.
"Speak of the devil," commented Guy, not even bothering to look at her.
Marian's eyes widened a little when she caught sight of Guy. "Sir Guy!" she said in surprise with a little smile. "We were not expecting you."
"I know." His tone seemed to be mocking her. "Sorry, Just popped in for a little chat."
She gave them her back as she tried to get herself to calm down.
"Where have you been?" Guy did not seem pleased at all, which was so different than the other times he had waited for her in the past.
Marian turned and walked toward the table. "At the hanging." Marian looked at her father, noticing that he was showing worry for her before she glanced down at Guy. "Could we get you something to drink?"
The way Guy was looking at her as he shook his head slowly frightened her. "I don't think so." He was more than not pleased, he was very angry, and Marian could not help to look back at her father again and then back to Guy.
The chair groaned while Guy's leather squeaked softly as he got up and walked to her slowly. His shoes hit the floor calmly but the way he was looking at her caused her throat to dry. Guy had always seemed intimidating and it wasn't until now that she felt the danger in his eyes.
She watched him as he looked down at her neck but he didn't look into her eyes as he commanded her to show her the necklace. Determined to get him out, she played the fool. "What necklace?"
Edward got up from the table and made his way to Gisbourne, having felt the tension in the air. "If I may say so, Sir Guy - "
Guy reacted on impatience and anger by smacking the man on his cheek with his gloved hand. He could hear Marian's cry next to him, but he paid no heed to it. The smack wasn't that fatal anyway since he had made sure to draw back on his strength. He stared at her hard, more fiercely than when he stared at her father. "Show me your necklace," he commanded harshly.
Marian stared at him, half in fear and half in disbelief. She was tip toeing the lines, even now, and she had to be careful. "You would have me prove my innocence?"
"Show me the necklace," he repeated, this time quicker, his patience growing thinner by the second she kept stalling him.
"Have I committed a crime?"
"Show me, the necklace," he bit out, emphasizing each word.
Marian, however, stood her ground. "I will not." She kept going so that he wouldn't command her again. "This is the end of our friendship. How could I be friends with somebody who demands proof of my innocence without stating my crime?"
That didn't deter him and Marian was starting to grow nervous. "You betrayed me. To Robin Hood." Guy leaned off the frame and walked toward her slowly. "You gave him the necklace and told him of my plan. And now, you will pay the price."
"You have no proof." Marian wanted to smack herself since it did not help the situation.
"You have no necklace."
"It's upstairs," she replied without hesitation as she caught sight of the stairs and the wood that separated the bottom and top floor.
"No it's not."
"It is in my bedchamber, I will fetch it for you - "
"Don't. Waste. My time."
"Please," whispered Marian. "Let me prove myself to you." Now she really had done it. Her mind raced to come up with an excuse since the necklace was given to Robin to give back to the woman that Guy took it from earlier that day.
The way he was looking at her now, to judge if she was telling the truth or not and deciding to give her this chance, tore Marian inside. This was too dangerous. Why hadn't she told him off before? Why use him this way?
When Guy finally stepped away, Marian was even more nervous than before. Probably more than in her entire life. She went passed Guy and up the stairs, and she didn't need to turn around to see her father's worried look that he was giving her.
Guy watched her as well, noticing how she was going up the stairs so calmly. Most people would have run to prove their innocence immediately. Filled with more suspicion, and anger, he set out after her. He could hear her as he went up searching through her room. She had told him she treasured it. She had told him that she did not wish to see it lost. And now, it seemed to be lost.
He leaned against the frame as he watched her push aside objects. He didn't fall for her scheme one bit. "Trying to make it look like a robbery?"
Marian whirled around, frightened that he had come up here. She hadn't planned on him doing that and it made the situation far more dangerous than before. It was over. The fire she had kept poking and playing with was now turning into an inferno.
Guy looked down at the floor as he walked towards her, his arms still crossed against his chest before glancing up at her. "Oh, my... Robin Hood's broken in and stolen - " He kicked aside something on the floor out of his way. It was both to show how angry he was and to emphasize the word 'stolen'. "- the necklace?"
He watched her carefully as he walked closer to her, noticing the fear she had in her eyes. "I thought we were friends," he said softly.
"So did I," she replied back softly. What was she going to do? There was no way out of it this.
He closed his eyes a little to push back his temper before opening them again. "The only reason you paid me any attention was to feed information to my enemy." His voice quivered a little with emotion.
"That's not true." It was true and yet, it was not. She wanted to help the poor, but she did not want to hurt Guy either.
"Why persist with lies?" he half whispered. "You're dead anyway."
Marian didn't trust herself to say anything else. She decided to walk past him but that didn't stop him from lecturing her. The courage to tell him the truth! He wanted for her to tell him that that she had helped Robin. Closing her eyes, she pushed the tears back before turning back around, noticing that he had sat down. She licked her lips before he glanced over at her. "I do have the courage to tell you the truth, but it is not what you have assumed, Sir Guy."
"You are going to give me an excuse then? Just like you did with your room to make it seem like a robbery?" His last words were like venom and Marian couldn't blame him for that. Still, she was quite angry at him.
"If you do not want to hear the truth, then do not lecture about it to me, Sir Guy."
Guy watched her, contemplating on whether or not he should hear her out.
"Please," begged Marian as she went up to him and didn't notice the necklace that was set upon the thick window sill. Outside, Robin was listening in. but it was only muffled since the walls were a bit too thick and the window was not open. He had run so fast to get back here with the necklace, but it seemed as if Marian was going to tell the truth. Even he knew what would have happened to her if she did so. Quickly, without even thinking that she would not include him in her confession of true, Robin banged his hand against the wall hard.
Marian flinched and looked at the wall while Guy got up and quickly brushed past to go to the window to see what was wrong.
Realizing his mistake by hearing Gisbourne's heavy footsteps, Robin quickly padded away, thankful that he had soft shoes on this time. He got out of sight just in time when Gisbourne opened the window.
"Sir Guy, please, allow me to tell you the truth." Marian didn't really like to beg, but the situation was very dire, and if that was Robin that had banged against the wall, he would have been caught. However, it was mostly to tell Guy the truth. Without waiting for him to reply, and nervousness getting to her, the words flew out from her. "I had found out that the necklace you gifted me belonged to a woman who had come to you to receive a blessing for her wedding and I just...I just couldn't keep it since it was her family's heirloom."
Guy tore his gaze to her, completely not seeing the necklace on the window sill yet. "You...what?" His voice rose up, both in surprise and anger.
Marian looked to the side before glancing back at him. "I know you had gifted it to me, but I - "
"You said you treasured it," he said darkly as he walked away from the window to her.
"And I did by wearing it on a ride out one morning. When I found out that it was her heirloom, I just couldn't keep it, even if it was a gift from you." She took in a calming breath. "I would prefer if you did not give me gifts like that again, please."
He crossed his arms again, still looking at her suspiciously. "And how did you come to find this information?"
Don't lie, don't lie, she said to herself. "Sir Guy, it doesn't matter how I - "
"Tell me how you received the information," threatened Guy as he walked closer to her.
"Fine," she said in a low whisper that held its own venom. "I heard from Robin Hood." Marian could practically feel her room grow cold as Guy's blue eyes and facial expression darkened. "He spoke about the necklace since he had seen it before and asked about it."
"What else did you two talk about?" His tone was darker now and it held cold anger.
"I told him to let me pass after I gave him the necklace to take back to the daughter that was getting married."
Guy was silent but he was still looking at her, seeing any hint of emotion that would give herself away. "Is that all?" He had to know. He just had to know for sure before taking her back to Nottingham.
Marian wanted to swallow, but the way he was looking at her, expecting her to show any signs that she was holding back anything, was going to seal her fate. She did promise to tell the truth. Either way, he would find out now since she had gotten too detailed with her explanation. "No, that is not all we talked about."
He stepped closer to her. "Did you tell him of my plans?"
She couldn't take it anymore. "Yes," she whispered softly. "Because the poor people are still being cheated out of their money by the sheriff. Why must they suffer when he showers himself in money? They're the ones working day and night while the sheriff is doing nothing and being greedy. Hang me if you must, I will not regret what I have done to help the people."
"And by doing so you betrayed me Marian," hissed out Guy. "You used me." He had meant to say it harshly but his voice was quivering.
"You wanted the truth. I did not want to tell you this, but I could not bare keeping it from you any longer. I did not mean to betray or use you, Guy, I only wanted to help the poor."
"That is exactly what using someone is," Guy pointed out harshly with anger this time and gripped her arms. "You were there each time and had told Robin Hood about it."
"Even if Robin Hood was not in the picture, I would have told anyone capable to help the poor."
"You used me, Marian. You laughed at me when you smiled. You made me into a fool. That is what I'm more angry about, Marian. You have used and misled me."
Marian shook her head. "No."
"Stop denying it," he demanded. "You will hang tomorrow morning."
Edward barged into the room, having heard what they were saying down below and could not take it any longer. "No! Release my daughter at once, Sir Guy!"
"Father, please, no!"
"I will not have my daughter hanged for such drama!"
Guy turned his head to Edward. "She has betrayed me and the sheriff!" His grip tightened as he looked back at her. "Me especially."
"Sir Guy - "
"LEAVE!" Guy didn't even bother to look at Marian's father.
Edward scurried off, fearing for his and his daughter's life if he didn't obey Gisbourne.
"Guy - "
"I don't want to hear anymore from you, Marian. You have used me, betrayed me and the sheriff, and you are to hang tomorrow."
Marian shook her head as she moved her arms up to clutch at his own leather clad ones. "No. No. Please."
"I cannot forgive you for this." He had meant to say it harshly but his voice was broken. The thought of Marian hanging was bringing him sadness even if she did use him and betray him and the sheriff.
Marian tore her eyes away from his, unable to stand seeing the hurt inside their blue depths anymore, and looked down at their feet. "I know," she whispered as she gripped his arms tight. "I...know." Tears that she was holding back earlier flowed down her cheeks slowly.
Guy couldn't stand it and pulled her to him, crushing her in his arms. The action confused him more than it did to her. His gloved fingers moved through her hair as his other hand was respectfully on her back despite his wish to push her away and drag her out of the house.
Why was he not doing that?
The answer was simple. He loved her too much. No matter the pain of being used and betrayal, his feelings for her were too great. Even as he rode out here, he had calmed down, but when he got near Knighton Hall, anger flared once again inside him. He had wished it wasn't the truth, but when she told him the beginning of the reason why she did not have the necklace, his need to find out if he had been used had won out. And to find out that she had indeed used him? It angered him so much that it matched with the pain it caused upon him.
But the thought of her hanging! To be killed in front of the masses like some peasant! She would be gone too. Gone out of his life that had been without color ever since that time his mother had disgraced herself. He would not allow it.
"I did not mean to use you, Sir Guy. My only intentions were to help the poor," she said to him softly as they pulled apart. "Please, believe me."
He shouldn't believe her, but the sincerity in her voice and eyes could not be faked, not even by the most skilled entertainers. They were going in circles though, and it was giving him a headache. "Enough," he said as he caressed her cheek with his gloved hand. He felt her grip his arms in response to his tender affection and it made him smile.
Still, he needed to go back to the sheriff and... Reality smashed into him again and he looked at her with worry. "I have already told the sheriff that you betrayed him."
Marian didn't bother to hide her horrified expression since he knew the truth. "What - what will I do?" It was the first time she had stuttered in his presence.
"You need to prove your loyalty - and you must - " Guy looked up and closed his eyes for a while before looking back at her. "You won't stop helping the poor even if I told you not to."
"I will not since they have nothing but their lives now, which is decided by that - that disgusting - why do you work for that awful sheriff?"
Her question surprised him. She had never asked anything about him. His arms tightened around her, pleased that she wanted to know him more, even if it did involve that crazy man that he reported to that loved to be sadistic towards people. "He gave me this work for if I did not take it up, I would not have the chance to meet you, Marian." His want to get back his family's land did not come close to how much he wanted Marian.
"But he cannot continue. He is killing innocents, has made you also kill innocents in the process and - He must be stopped, Guy. For the good of all of us."
Guy shook his head. "No, Nottingham will fall if he is dead."
"Then move everyone out. We'll get help and - "
"And where would we go? Where...would you go? If you are using me again to end the sheriff and run off then I will not go through with it."
"So you have been thinking about it."
"Of course I have."
"Then why...?"
Guy looked away. He had no real allies to help him so he could not do it. "Doing the deed alone, I cannot - I..." Speaking of the sheriff, he needed to start heading back. "Marian, I need to head back to Nottingham, else the sheriff will think something has gone wrong here. He will be expecting your arrest."
Marian bit her bottom lip before thinking up an idea. She wanted to help the people escape from the sheriff's hands. And, she realized, she wanted to help him escape too. "Let me help you, Guy."
"Are you saying...you wish to come and help me?"
Marian finally smiled at him. "Not just me."
"Can I trust you to do this?" Guy hesitated for a while, something that Marian found surprising. "Can I...trust you that you won't run off after this?" He leaned down slowly then. "Can we have a future together?"
He was going to kiss her and yet, Marian couldn't move. Marian wanted to, but the emotion in his eyes were far stronger than the anger and hurt she had witnessed in them before. It...awed her. Touched her. Robin had never looked at her like that. Robin would wink and tell a joke, insulting or no, before forcing his lips on her since he expected her to accept all kisses he was going to give her.
But Guy... He was actually waiting for her to meet up with his. Her damned heart betrayed her at his respectful action by fluttering in her chest. She breathed in sharply at the contact of his lips on her own as she went on her toes to meet him halfway. The bristle of his stubble scraped against her chin, reminding her she was kissing a man. A man that was willing to give her a second chance despite what she had done.
Gisbourne kissed her passionately yet gently at the same time. It was their first kiss and it was far better than what he had imagined. His feelings were poured into it. All of it, so that she would not have to wonder if his feelings for her were pure. He felt her hands in his hair and moaned at her soft touch upon his scalp. One of his arms moved around her waist while the other stayed near her hair, brushing his gloved hand at the back of her neck.
Marian needed to stop the kiss because if she didn't, she would lose all sense. She pulled away to break the kiss but Guy followed after her. "Guy, we need - " How could she talk when he was - "Guy, please, we need to - Guy - Guy!" She finally gave him a hard shove. It managed to do the trick, but his grip on her was strong. That didn't bother her, but the way he was kissing her...
She noticed too that the two of them were breathing hard. Marian could feel each breath he took since her hands were on the upper part of his chest since she had shoved him away. But what bothered her more was the thudding of her heart. It still would not calm down! She had to ignore it as she looked up from Guy's neck to his face. Marian wished she hadn't since the way he was looking at her now.. His eyes were completely unguarded while his bangs had fallen down near his eyes in an unruly mess. She soon noticed it was her hands doing!
"Marian...," he whispered roughly.
What was she going to say again?
"You have not answered my question pertaining to us," he continued as he tilted his head a little as he moved it down.
"...What question? I'm afraid I don't remember." It was true too. She didn't even know what she was going to say!
He stared at her before a smug grin once more crept up on his lips. "I'm pleased to see that my feelings have affected you during our kiss."
Marian swallowed as she turned her head away, but a soft guidance of his gloved fingers turned her attention back to him.
"You really do like to stall." The feel of his gloved fingers caressing up and down her cheek was distracting. However, she wasn't easily won over by a mere kiss, despite how...strong it was. That was exactly why she pulled back and was surprised that Guy allowed her. He had teased her! She glared at him when she heard him chuckle at her realization.
"Brute," she muttered without thinking. He was definitely not one and she couldn't help but laugh at herself mentally, but a smile did appear onto her mouth.
"I must be going. However, I need to know if I can trust you this time around, Marian. I want the truth. No lies nor betrayal."
"Can I trust you as well to kill the sheriff?"
"Believe me, Marian, that is second to what I want more than anything."
Marian blinked and looked at him curiously. "Second?"
Guy swallowed, unsure if he should tell her. But, if he didn't say it, he would miss the chance to be with her. "What I want...more than anything, Marian, is for you to be...my wife."
"But the lands of Locks - "
"I don't care," he interrupted. He was now completely invulnerable to her. "I don't want lands or a title or even money, Marian. To have you as my wife is enough."
"You would be poor."
"Yes."
"No title and no land."
"Yes," Guy whispered softly. "Surely you know my feelings to you?"
"Before you wanted me hanged."
"I did not. The law, however, does."
"And you're willing to go against it?" Marian could tell he was getting frustrated but it was her only way to point out what he was really saying to himself.
"Yes, Marian. I'm willing to go against the law."
"You do realize what you're saying, Guy? After this, you'll become an outlaw."
"Not if they find out who killed the sheriff."
"But what if you do become an outlaw?"
"Marian, I do not care of any rank besides being a husband. To you, and to you alone."
This was too much now for Marian. She needed time to think. Guy wanted to be with her no matter what would happen and the way he was looking at her was destroying her defenses. She did love Robin, but...
But? Where had that come from?
"Look at me, Marian."
No, she would be gone. Far gone.
"Marian." He guided her face that had turned away as she was in thoughts to him but her eyes steered clear from him. "Marian, please."
He...was begging! Him, of all people, was - Oh... the way he was looking at her made her so shy that she looked down, her cheeks heating up. She really was a maiden and he had been holding back whenever he looked at her until that second. "That...is not fair, Sir Guy." Robin had never, ever, looked at her that way. Not once.
"There is no questions now of how I feel about you, Marian," he whispered to her, his mouth close to her eyes. He gave her forehead a soft kiss before taking her in his arms again to embrace her. The leather jacket he wore was cold against her still heated cheeks from what she had seen. She hardly blushed. And even though she blushed at Robin a couple of times, it was only to his words. Never did he cause her to blush by a single gaze. Sure, a wink maybe, but never what Guy had done.
Needing time to think still over her emotions, silly heart of hers was beating fast again, she pulled free. "I will go and find Robin and his friends to help." She saw Guy's jaw clench at the mention of Robin's name. "Would you rather find hired help?" A look from him then told her that he did not appreciate her teasing right now.
"I will come with you."
"No, I...don't think that's a good idea."
"Why?"
"As you said, you two are enemies. You two will face each other off and waste valuable time."
She did make a point. Guy let out a sigh before nodding at her. "Very well. I will be heading to Nottingham. Have one of them inform me of a plan somehow."
"Of course." She followed him out of her room and downstairs. Edward was there looking at them worriedly since he hadn't heard a word.
"I apologize for the way I acted," said Guy as he paused near the doorway. He managed to shock Marian and her father.
"Nothing fatal, Sir Guy," informed Edward before glancing at Marian. "Where are you two going?"
"I am seeing Sir Guy out," explained Marian and was thankful Guy opened the door for the two of them to walk out. He walked over to his grazing horse and Marian couldn't help but notice how well-bred the black steed was. Strong body with matching legs and neck. A slightly pronounced head. Clearly a horse that could endure a long run. And the way Guy pulled himself up into the saddle - Marian smiled at him as he put his hand up in farewell before grabbing the reins and turned the horse around to gallop away.
Without a moment to lose, she went to her own horse and prepared it for her to ride upon with a saddle and reins before leading it out. She mounted quickly, knowing her father would see her, and pushed the white steed onward toward the forest.
It took a while to find Robin and his friends and she wasn't sure if they would go with it or not. Her helping Guy as The Night Watchman was out of the question since she would be caught too easily. And if she were to be found out...
"Ah, Marian, so glad of you to join us, my lady."
Marian watched him bow mockingly at her as she stayed on the saddle. "I have news and it is urgent. You must listen."
"I bet you a hundred pounds it revolves around Nottingham."
"You don't even have that much, Much," pointed out Allan. The entire gang, except Djaq, laughed.
"I do too!"
"You do not," teased Robin.
"Will all of you please listen?" Marian said loudly as she dismounted and led her horse to their camp.
"I'm listening," said Will.
"Me too," followed Djaq.
"Let's have it," said Robin as he tore off a piece of cooked rabbit he held in his hands.
Marian rolled her eyes at him. "Before I begin, I want no interruptions at all. Not a single one until I am done."
Everyone looked at Much, who stopped mid eating and was puzzled. "What? What did I do?"
"You hear that?" asked Allan. "Keep your mouth closed while this lady speaks."
"I have!"
"When she explains why she is here, Much," chuckled Robin before giving a wink at Marian. "Do continue, my lady."
Marian shifted her gaze away to gather her thoughts before glancing back at them. "There is a plan to kill the sheriff." She paused to see their reactions and Much, thankfully, was eating too much to even speak. All of them were surprised with wide eyes. "The one who is going to kill the sheriff is Sir Guy, but he needs all of your help since he cannot do it alone."
Much choked on his food while Robin laughed. John and Allan joined in the laughing while Djaq and Will were silent.
"Gisbourne?" Robin laughed hard. "Kill the sheriff? Needs our help?" He leaned back and laughed even harder.
Marian, however, was not amused. "This is the truth, Robin! I have spoken with Sir Guy and he has admitted that he wanted to do it in the past but he could not since he needed help."
"A man who knows his own weaknesses is a wise man," commented Will.
"What else did you two speak about, eh Marian?" asked Robin still chuckling softly.
"He knows what I have done and has...forgiven me.."
Robin's amusement died quickly. "You didn't find the necklace I put on the window?" By the look of Marian's face, he raked his hair with his hand. "And he didn't even arrest you?"
Marian gestured to herself. "As you see."
"We must go help him," Djaq said standing up. "Even to what he has done, he has finally seen reason."
"He wants one of you to go to him to tell him the plan. I cannot go since the sheriff will be expecting me arrested."
"See? I told you," said Much. "Nottingham once again."
"I just want to know one thing Marian," said Robin as he sat down the rabbit near the fire and walked up to her. "Can we trust Gisbourne to follow through?"
"You have my word, and his, that he will when he receives the help since the people of Nottingham need to get out of the castle."
Robin sighed before putting his hands on his hips, looking down in thought and to come up with a plan at the same time. "I have an idea, but when we go and find out he doesn't want to go through with it, we're leaving."
"Robin. He is going to go through with it."
"He has lied before."
"All because of the sheriff, Robin. He went against the law to arrest me for my betrayal."
At that, Robin whipped his head to her. "He went again the law? Gisbourne?"
Marian wanted to strangle Robin. "Yes."
Robin was silent for a while. Gisbourne had went against the law. Knowing the man was the sheriff's right hand, and the Master of Arms, Robin knew that this was no game. It was real. "Men, get ready! We have someone who needs our help!"
Marian rolled her eyes while smiling before mounting on her horse. "I will be going back to my father since I cannot go."
"John," Robin said looking at the elder of them all.
"You don't need to tell me twice," replied John as he stood up with his slender stick in hand.
Robin nodded at him with a smile as he walked up to his horse and mounted quickly. Much and Allan went on their own horses while Djaq and Will shared one.
"Let's go!" called out Robin before leading the group away from camp. Marian went the other way with John following behind with the extra horse.
Guy arrived at Nottingham. During the whole way back, he couldn't stop thinking if this will go well or bad. But most of all, he couldn't stop thinking of Marian. She had responded to his kiss and the way he had looked at her. Unlike men who looked at women lecherously, he had looked at her with a heated gaze of passion. And in doing so had caused her to look down shyly and blush.
As he handed the stablehand his horse, he headed straight up the stairs to the sheriff's room and knocked.
"Gisbourne?! It's about time!"
He took that at his permission to enter and closed the door before walking up to him. As he walked, his clothing clinked and squeaked and he immediately put an angered mask on.
The sheriff looked up and when he saw Guy's face, he felt a little frightened and covered it up with a laugh. "Did you make her pay?"
"More ways than one," responded Guy coldly as he leaned on the table.
"I heard no screaming outside," singsonged the sheriff.
"I gagged her," Guy replied with a dark smirk. "Her shouting were hurting my ears after dragging her the entire way here."
The sheriff tilted his head and lifted an eyebrow, wondering if he heard right. "Dragging?"
"I used a rope."
The sheriff laughed and clapped his hands. "Very good, very good! You see?" He pointed at Gisbourne. "After all of her disobedience of talking in court with a strong voice and you made her so humiliated!" He let out an insane giggle as he fell back against his large chair, his work entirely forgotten.
"She is to be hanged tomorrow morning."
"Yes, yes! Isn't revenge so very amusing! To be hung like a peasant!" The sheriff guffawed as he clapped his hands once more.
"Indeed." Guy gripped the edge of the table hard with his gloved hands.
At the tone of Guy's voice, the sheriff got up and walked up to him. "Tsk, tsk, Gisbourne. Do lighten up. Tomorrow is going to be the biggest entertainment yet! Too bad I can't go down and have some amusement with that leper." The sheriff looked over at the documents and glared at them. "I need to finish these else Prince John will not be happy," he said as he jogged around the table and sat down on the chair.
The door behind Guy opened and he and the sheriff looked to see who it was. "Sir, there are new recruits waiting for you," said the guard to Guy.
Guy pushed off the table and walked toward the guard, not even glancing back at the sheriff since he was still giggling over the news of Marian.
As the door shut, the sheriff giggled loudly before leaning back again to laugh crazily. Oh the news of the woman Guy so loved that betrayed him was to be hanged was too funny!
Guy followed the guard to the small arena of new recruits in the barracks. One of them winked at him, telling him that it was Robin. Stupid fool, but he and his outlaws did manage to get in. The one next to him leaned toward him to whisper. "We're all here," explained Allan. "Well, except for Marian since she went back to her father and John went with her to provide help. Djaq is outside in case anyone gets wounded."
With a nod, Guy surveyed the other recruits. "All of you will show me your skill with the sword and dagger," Guy said with authority as he signaled to one of his real guardsman to hand out the weapons. When they were all given weapons, he continued on with instruction. "You are not to strike each other down. You are to attack and defend yourself. Those who show greater skill will be recruited entirely. Those who do not, will leave."
"Master, I don't think this is a good idea for me," whispered Much.
"You'll be fine."
"What are you all waiting for?" barked out Guy. "I said show me your skills!"
As the men fought each other, Guy walked around them, taking note of their fighting style. It was not too hard to figure out which one was Robin since he was flashy with his sword fighting even if his forte was with a bow. After several more minutes, Guy had had enough, especially when one of the real recruitment was getting angry and reckless.
"No more," he commanded and when one of the men didn't stop, he took out his own sword from his sheath and knocked the man down. "Do well to follow my command," he said harshly as he kept the sword out. It gleamed in the sunlight as he walked back to the front. "On second thought, leave. I will have no one who is deaf to an order of mine."
The man grumbled before giving a threatening look at Guy as he went to pass him out the arena. Not liking his attitude, Guy smacked the hilt of his sword into the man's back. He went down from the attack, coughing and yelling in pain. The dent on his armor, while it wasn't very deep, showed that Guy didn't hold back.
"Learn to take a dismissal without behaving like a child," Guy said to the man, who was getting up from the ground. He soon stumbled away while trying to soothe the wound but it ended up being a comedic scene instead.
"As for the rest of you, you have shown fine swordsmanship, though I do wish to see more use of the dagger when being attacked too close." He signaled to another guardsman of his as he walked to the far end of the group. The first three men were assigned patrol duties while Robin and his gang of outlaws to be stationed in Nottingham.
As Guy and Allan went in the castle, Allan did his best to explain the plan. They had, instead of their original plan, hired someone, who was dressed as a guardsman as well, act as the killer. "We of course made sure he had skill with Robin testing him. Robin promised him work at Locksley."
Guy looked at Allan sharply as he stopped walking down the corridor.
"He wouldn't bloody well take the job unless something was in it for him," Allan added quickly. His answer was met by Guy's leave with a series of clicks and he went to catch up with him.
"Fine. Tell me the rest quickly."
Allan did as commanded and managed to say it all before the other guardsman up ahead heard him. Guy barked an order at him to go to the barracks. With a salute and a "yes sir!", Allan took his leave.
Guy entered in the sheriff's room, relieved to see that he was still at his desk working. His mask slipped on again and all he had to do was focus on Marian's betrayal and lies. He still had doubts with her but so far, she had kept her word.
"Ah, good. I needed some amusement since these documents are soooo boring," whined the sheriff. An idea came to the insane man and he shot his head up. "Ideaaaaaaa, let's go have some fun with sweet ol' to-be-hanged, Marian." He cackled as he set down the quill and got up from his chair. He looked at Guy to see his reaction but Guy merely looked at him angrily as he entered. "Bah, no fun at all you are Gisbourne."
As the door pulled open, the sheriff had no time to respond to a sword impaling his chest. The sheriff cried out in agony as the sickening sound of skin and blood filled the air. Guy was also surprised since he had heard the man was waiting, but it seemed that the real plan was that the man was one of the guards near the door and next to him was one of Robin's men. Such clever outlaws they were.
"Gisbourne, get me to the phys - alck!" The hired killer twisted the sword in his chest before stabbing a dagger into his throat. "You..." The sheriff coughed and tried to breathe as Gisbourne attacked the killer with his sword, slashing his arm fatally.
The sheriff was dead on the floor of Nottingham Castle, his blood pooling on the stone, contrasting it against it.
"Guards, seize the killer of the sheriff!" called out Gisbourne as the attacker fled finally. Robin's outlaw member had helped attack as well and followed Guy as they ran after the hired killer. Just as promised, the hired help was quick, but he did trail blood from his arm. Guy went straight to the stables and went on one of the horses that were already prepared to ride and urged the horse to go after them. People dived away from him as he followed the killer. The entire place was going ballistic.
While Guy went after the hired help into the forest, Robin and his gang helped evacuate the people. It wasn't until lunch time that Guy came back, having a wound on his chin and right arm since he had to fight against the hired killer unless some of his guards followed him. Thankfully, none did in the end, but he did gain wounds. Nothing fatal though yet the one on his chin did sting.
He saw Robin, still in a disguise, signal to him on the other side of the forest and Guy urged his steed toward Robin's. When he got closer, he made his horse parallel to Robin's. "Is everyone out of Nottingham?"
"Wasn't really hard. Some of your guardsman high tailed out of there once they found out the sheriff is dead."
"I need three of you to come with me when I go to inform Prince John of the sheriff's death since he is expected to see me if anything goes wrong in Nottingham," pointed out Guy as he gripped the reins tight. "He will put two and two together if I do not go."
"I'll go with you," offered Allan.
"I would rather stay here," said Much.
"Yes, you should," pointed out Allan. "You'll break and tell everything that happened."
"Well it's not my fault that I am truthful."
Robin chuckled before turning to Guy. "So, did you like our little plan?"
"You did not think I would follow through with it?" asked Guy with a sneer.
Robin lifted a brow. "Were you going to do it?"
"Yes."
"Next time be quicker," replied Robin with a grin. Guy punched Robin in the face, causing Robin to almost fall off his mount. His outlaw friends didn't laugh but Much did cry out "Master!"
"Next time think to who you are talking to, guardsman." Without letting Robin Hood respond, Guy moved his horse to the direction of where Prince John was staying and rode on.
"You really need to stop goading him," advised Allan.
"I'm going after him. Who knows what he'll do," said Robin as he took after him.
Allan followed after Robin since he needed to be sure Robin didn't say anything stupid, or did anything for that matter, to mess up Guy's plan.
"Am I going to be left here all alone?" asked Much as he dismounted.
"I better go in case something happens," said Djaq while she mounted on top of Much's horse and went after the others.
"We should go to Marian's," said Will.
"I have no horse," complained Much.
Will just stared at him. Much frowned, but finally mounted behind Will anyway and complained about everything that happened so far all the way to Knighton.
The castle that Prince John was staying at was so huge that it made Robin feel a little uneasy before pushing the feeling away. Djaq decided to stay in the forest while Guy, Robin, and Allan continued forward. At the gate, the three of them were allowed entry without stopping.
When they came near the entrance of the castle, they dismounted and walked up the large stairway that guided them inside the castle. Guy led them to the room before telling them to stand outside since there hadn't been enough guards to be stationed outside the Prince John's doors.
He knocked on the door and when he was given permission to enter, he opened it.
"Gisbourne, I trust new recruits are on the way soon?" asked the Prince.
"Yes, your majesty," replied Guy as he closed the door behind him and walked towards the center. His mask was already in place but instead of anger like it been with the now dead sheriff, it was calm. "Nottingham's sheriff has been murdered moments ago and we will need a new one to oversee the collections of tax."
"Ah, he finally got murdered?" asked the Prince without looking up from his paperwork. "Stupid fool had it coming to him." He waited for a reply from Guy but received none. "I'm surprised that you are not saddened by his death." Again, Guy was silent, not taking the bait as usual. Prince John put the quill back in the ink pot before leaning back his chair and finally looked at Guy. "I am not saddened either. His sadistic nature was very unpleasant to deal with." A wry grin appeared on the his face as he tapped his chin in thought. "As for a new sheriff in Nottingham, I believe I have stated that I will tear down the entire castle if he is dead. However, since that was before I knew of his...true and disgusting colors, I will reinstate another." The Prince paused as he put his hands together in thought. "In fact, how would you like to be the new sheriff?"
"I would rather be the Master of Arms."
"Yes...you are quite skilled with the weaponry. Hmmm." He waved his hand at Guy as he looked down at his paperwork. "No matter, I will find someone capable of the job. Be off with you."
Guy bowed before turning on his heel to walk out of the room and spoke without a word to Robin and Allan as they headed down the hallway. He didn't need to since he had seen them move back to their positions on the sides of the door. As the three of them went to the stables and received their mounts, they headed back into the forest and Allan breathed out in relief but didn't say a word. Djaq joined them later on, the four of them now traveling back to Knighton since Robin pointed out that Much and Will would have mostly likely gone to Knighton, just in case any trouble were to fall upon there.
It took them until supper time to arrive and thankfully there was no one to see them arrive. When they all dismounted and walked inside, they were met with an empty house. Guy went cold with dread and immediately searched upstairs. Alas, there was no one up there either. The others went outside to look for clues but were met with none.
"What are we to do?" asked Djaq. "They could have been captured."
"Or they could have gone somewhere, just in case the plan backfired," pointed out Allan. When everyone turned to him, he put up his hands in defense. "Our plans have gone wrong, you know."
"Split up," ordered Guy as he went to his horse and mounted it. With a snap of his reins and a hard squeeze on the horse's sides, he rode off in a gallop.
"It's going to be dark soon, there's no way we can - " Allan stopped talking as he watched Robin and Djaq mount their horses too. "Oh come on!"
"You're not afraid of the dark, are you Allan?" teased Robin with a grin.
"It's not the dark that I am afraid of."
Robin chuckled while shaking his head and let out a "ha!", sending the horse underneath him into a gallop towards a different direction that Guy took. Djaq followed after him, leaving Allan alone with his horse.
Shaking his head, he looked over at his steed. "We'll just stay here in case someone comes back."
Meanwhile, Guy headed towards some of the villages that were located nearby, but the others were nowhere to be found. After the fifth one of no luck, he started to get frustrated and worried, especially for Marian. He knew she had taken lessons from her father to defend herself, having seen her practice on accident, and she was also with the others, he did still worry about her person.
It wasn't until night time that he had come upon a camp. There were lit posts and some cloth acting as tents. Guy slowed the stallion down to a trot so that he could see if the camp consisted of those he was searching for. The camp seemed to be bigger up close but Guy was still cautious.
"Sir Guy!"
Thankfully, his horse did not spook, but Guy did a little before whipping his head towards the voice that came to his far left. He saw someone running up to him and he gripped the reins out of habit.
"Sir Guy," breathed out the person as they caught their breath as they got closer. "I am sorry we -" Wait, he knew that voice!
"...Marian?" He dismounted and went to her as his stallion bent down to graze to gather some energy.
"Come," beckoned Marian and led him to the camp. Guy didn't bother to guide his horse with him since he followed them after a sharp whistle was given. He could not stop watching her as they walked through the wild grass towards the camp that was surrounded by wood. She had come to greet him. It wasn't exactly what he pictured when they were wed but honestly, he didn't care. The fact that it happened caused him to be quite happy.
"The sheriff is dead now, Marian," Guy told her finally.
She turned to him shock, her expression easy seen now thanks to the fire posts. She did not expect the subject to be brought up immediately.
"I did not kill him since Robin Hood and his band of outlaws had hired someone to do it." He still found it insulting that they thought he would not do his part.
"I know that you would have done it anyway, Guy. You are not a bad man. You were trapped with that vile sheriff's command."
"Let me hold you," Guy said softly as he went closer to her, finding it unbearable to not embrace her after all that had happened recently.
Marian's eyes went to his lips before glancing back up at his eyes quickly. She noticed the grin he was sporting, telling her that he had seen her slight eye shift to his mouth. He was very cunning and observant. "I'm sure you're hungry after today's work," she finally said before stepping away to lead toward a bigger tent that he had seen earlier while studying the camp grounds from afar.
Guy sighed in defeat and frustration before following her. The aroma of freshly baked food made him realize how hungry and exhausted he was. As the cook served them, Guy tried to keep his eyes from closing from a long day. He didn't really care which table he sat down since he just wanted to eat and get rid of the headache he suddenly had. His tastebuds tingled at the delicious meat mixed in vegetables with some corn. When he was done, he wiped his mouth with a napkin he had somehow picked up while following Marian earlier.
Not bothering with the plate, he went to take a goblet that was set out and put his head back as he drank all of it.
Marian, who had been watching him while helping the cook, smiled as she watched him greedily drink down two more goblets. She went up to him as he finished another, and when he saw her as he put the goblet back down, a smile was once again on her mouth in greeting.
Guy wiped his mouth with his gloved hands, feeling the cool material brush against his skin that was now warming up. He moved his gaze to the cook and gave them a compliment before turning his attention back to Marian as he put his hand back down to his side. "Marian, a word in private, if you will?"
"Of course." She led him away from the tent, away from prying ears near the arena that horses were being kept in. Marian had no idea what to speak of but being near the horses gave her a sense of comfort. She knew that Guy would not do something terrible to her yet she still felt uneasy around him and aloof to him. Marian did not wish to be like that anymore to him but, just some part of her enjoyed putting their conversations on different subjects. "I am sorry we did not send word where we were going," she started to break the silence as she turned to him. "But we had to move unless something went wrong."
Guy gave her a nod. "Yes. I was quite...worried where you had gone." He stepped toward her some more and Marian had to shift her eyes up to keep eye contact with him. "I had thought... I had thought that I lost you."
When had he gotten so close to her? Marian felt his right hand slide up her left arm, causing her to look down at the tender touch. Her breath caught a little while her heart started to beat a little faster. She shivered slightly and Guy didn't take notice since he was watching her as he leaned his head down closer to hers. She felt his other hand slid on her waist but he didn't pull her to him.
"Marian." His voice was gentle, almost like a whisper, but it was also rough in that deep tone of his. It was like the time back at her home, in her room, after she had told him the truth. It had hurt him, she knew, but his love for her was -
Oh...God. Marian looked up at him and felt her nose brush against his, surprising the two of them at once. It was a very sensitive area and to have it brushed... She could smell the rich, sweet wine on his breath and when she looked into his eyes, the dim light nearby showed her the same look he was giving her. "Guy... This is not what I - "
"Marian."
She realized that she didn't title his name! "Sir Guy, I - "
"There you are Robin!"
The two of them froze from the shout from afar. Guilt knotted in her stomach but even if she did tear her gaze away from Guy, she pulled him with her into the shadows. She had no idea what had possessed her and she could tell that Guy was surprised since he didn't do anything for several seconds.
She tried to listen to the voices, but it was no use since they were speaking too softly. Well, unless you counted Much. She started to realize that Guy was nuzzling her neck and left cheek. The stubble he had scratched her skin a little, causing her to jerk her head away. "Sir Guy, please stop. You wished to talk to me privately and - " Marian noticed someone come near the gate of the horse pen so she pulled Guy with her deeper into the shadows. In doing so, she had crowded herself against the wooden fence made out of fallen trees with Guy being in front of her. She swallowed softly, finally noticing the situation she had just dragged the two of them in.
Thankfully, Guy did not take the chance to start kissing her. Instead, he listened to the nearby voices as they led two horses into the pen. They chatted a little before closing the gate and headed back to the main area of the camp.
Marian brushed passed him but Guy stopped her gently. "Sir Guy, I must be heading back to my - "
"Why must you reject me, Marian? Even now?"
His question felt like a heavy cart, causing her to stop mid-step and quickly turn to face him. As she did so, some of her skirt caught with her boot and she teetered a little. She immediately corrected her balance but did feel the helping hands on her arms. Why must he be so - so - so kind! He hadn't even laughed, unlike Robin who would have chuckled at her but no, Guy had to be - Marian sighed, pushing away such thoughts.
"Are you all right?"
She gave him a nod, not trusting herself to speak.
"Marian..." He pulled her to him slowly. "...Please. I need to know if we have a chance together."
She could smell the wine, leather, and wildlife on him as she was pulled fully against him. Her body meshed with his easily. His was so much taller than Robin's. Far more stronger and broader. It was purely a man's body. And in the shadows, where no one could see them, Marian felt herself respond without even a thought: Her hands were exploring his chest, waist, and back without permission from her brain. The muscles underneath the leather moved while she heard Guy let out a sound that told her that he was enjoying it.
Marian went up on her tiptoes to run her hands through his hair, her hands brushing against his neck and leather collar on the way. Guy breathed out heavily, shaking a little at her touch. He gripped her fully against him now, his arms around her waist and part of her back.
His breath was hot on her as he leaned down to kiss her jawline, gradually going down to her neck. The action caused her to shiver a little since she could feel the hot breath on her skin as he kept moving his mouth. And just when she thought he was staying there, he finally took her lips with his own and she felt herself falling into a never-ending hole.
As before, the kiss was passionate and tender, with a graze of a his stubble upon her chin. Her hands shifted up on the top of his hair, disheveling it even further. She kissed him back and each time he responded, the kiss became deeper. The two of them were pulled into the abyss of passion, the darkness of it granting them shelter from reality. They breathed and moved together as if they were one. Marian gripped his hair tight as she nicked a part of his lip with her teeth, causing him to groan.
Time seemed to freeze as they continued and when they finally pulled apart, both of them were panting. Guy's hair was completely disheveled while Marian's lips were puffy and red. Her chose rose and fell against his as they breathed for air.
"Oh Marian." Guy felt happy throughout his entire being, radiating with the light she provided to him.
When he moved his head down to kiss her again, she didn't reject him. She stared into his eyes as she continued to catch her breath. Her eyes half-closed as his mouth got closer before pulling his head down to initiate the kiss this time herself. The two of them moaned at the contact.
It didn't last very long since they heard someone's whistling getting louder.
They pulled apart abruptly, both saddened that they had to stop. Marian moved her hand into Guy's slowly, testing to see what it would be like, and when his large hand closed around hers gently, she smiled. When she looked up, she could partly see the smile he was giving her too before lifting it up to his mouth to kiss her knuckles. His stubble brushed harshly on her skin but it didn't bother her. What did bother her was the tender, loving action he just did to her. Marian shifted her eyes away, nervous and shy at the same time before slowly looking back at him.
"I love you," whispered Guy.
Marian didn't need to hear the words since she knew. She would have to be a complete and utter fool not to. He truly loved her. He didn't care for her status and he forgave her, no matter what she had done to help Robin. There was only one more truth to tell him and she wondered if she should tell him.
Wanting to have no more situations like the one she had in her room where he looked so hurt, Marian reached down with her free hand and unwrapped the cloth that acted as bandages. She waited for the patrol to move away before speaking. "Remember when I said I cut myself with the knife?" The wraps fell free from her arm and she took his glove off to guide his bare hand over the wound, allowing him to feel it. "I... I am The Night Watchman."
Guy sucked in a breath of surprise and anger. Anger towards himself that he almost killed her and towards her at the same time. "I could have killed you, Marian."
"But you did not kill me."
"I could have!" Guy said with a wavering voice as he latched her shoulders. "I could have killed you and I would have never forgiven myself!"
Marian felt him grip her shoulders tightly, hearing how much he meant it. Of course he meant it. She just...could not let this continue. Yet, she wanted it to. No one, besides her father, had so much emotion like this. Even when Robin found out accidentally, he had tried to stop her but to no avail. He hadn't gripped her tight like Guy was doing now as if testing to see if she was real.
"Does Robin know?" Marian almost winced from his tone.
"He does. Only because he found out about it."
"Why wait till now to tell me?"
"Because I still did not know if I could trust you. You wanted to find The Night Watchman and kill them. And I am not going to stop being The Night Watchman since I have been helping the people three years before Robin."
"Marian - "
"It's part of me. Part of who I am. And if you cannot accept it, then there will be no chance of us being togeth - "
"And if I do accept it?" he asked softly as he ran a hand softly through her hair.
It was then she realized what she had said. Once again, she had given him hope. But was it false hope? The more she thought, and compared, Robin and Guy, the more she realized she - Oh, but she knew Robin far more and hardly knew Guy, but that didn't mean she couldn't give him a chance. And, he wasn't going to stop her from being The Night Watchman!
She knew now. She knew who she should be with. Even if there was only a part of her that cared about Guy, the approval of her other identity made it grow. And the more she thought about it, the more she realized that Guy was accepting all of her. He loved her for her.
"Then I...am willing to be with you," she breathed out. Before she could say anything else, Guy embraced her so tightly. Marian could feel it, his joy of her words of acceptance. Her arms felt like lead as she reached them up to hug him back, and when she did, they felt so light.
Guy had never felt such joy in his life. Not once. Nothing compared to this very moment he was having. And nothing would ruin it, not even that Robin Hood. With strong arms, he picked her up and kissed her square on the mouth. He could feel her move against him, her hands running once again through his hair that definitely needed grooming after this. There was no need for words for the two of them. They understood each other right now by actions.
"So, where is Gisbourne?" asked Robin as he looked around.
"He must still be looking for Marian," replied Djaq. "He had looked so worried about her when he was searching the house."
Robin chuckled. "I would have loved to see that." At the looks of others, he narrowed his eyes at them, wondering why they were looking at him like that. "What?"
"You really are like a child," noted John as he bit off a big chunk of meat.
"Oh please, this is Gisbourne we're talking about here."
"The same one that helped us get in, allowed the sheriff to die, and is now searching still for Marian while you're eating," said John as he got up from the table angry.
"It's dark out."
"Really?" John pointed to one of the posts. "We have ways to see."
"Going into the forest with a torch is - "
"Something that you would not do for the woman you love," interrupted John and walked away, leaving the group alone while he limped back to his tent.
Robin stared after him while the others ate in silence. He bit off another piece of meat before looking away, seeing the edge of the forest. If Gisbourne was out there searching for Marian, then...did that mean she had gone into the forest to find something? Robin got up from the table and raced to the horse pen, taking out a random horse, and readied it for a ride. After he mounted, he went to pull up one of the lit posts nearby that was small enough to carry. With a loud "ha!", horse and rider were off, jumping over the fence and went into the forest.
"The jump Master did really was not necessary," muttered Much as he bit into a leg.
Marian and Guy had frozen against each other when they heard someone come near the horse pen once more. She had caught sight of who it was and oddly didn't want to tear herself away from Guy. In fact, she moved to the left, pulling Guy with her so that he would shield her. She watched Robin making his horse jump over the fence when there was a clear opening to exit. He really was a show off, just as he was when he was a boy. And, as a girl, she had no thoughts against it. Now, she did. To do such reckless and redundant actions...
"Still have feelings for him?" asked Guy as he held her to him, his arms fastened around her waist while he nuzzled her right cheek.
"Guy, I have already chosen. It is you who I wish to be with. I have seen his true behavior, still acting like a boy needing to show off and relishing glory. He wants to be loved by all."
"Mostly you."
"But not just me the most. He's childish, reckless, and does not accept me being as The Night Watchman - I just cannot stand it. I was betrothed to him once, but I was just a girl, too blind of who he was. Much has even told me of him kissing another woman on the way home from the Holy Land. I...I do not see myself with him. I've found my feelings for him to shift as well. To that of a brother." She moved her hands slowly up Guy, trying to find his face to hold his cheeks. "I am sorry that I was aloof to you all this time and you are right, I should let kindness - mph." Marian was so thankful he had kissed her because she found herself to be rambling on and on. She arched a little against him, pushing her head forward as she kissed him without pulling back. Her feelings weren't as strong as his, but in time, they could be.
Guy pulled away, knowing that he had to escort her back to her father or that man would go in a panic wondering where Marian had gone off to. "Allow me to escort you, my lady," he said to her with a grin as he offered his arm to her.
Marian smiled, despite not seeing his grin, and took his arm. "Thank you, Sir Guy."
When the two of them walked into the light, they saw how disheveled their appearances were and quickly adjusted it. Guy helped with her hair with his bare hand before putting back his glove on. Marian had to help a little too, making sure his hair wasn't so messy as usual before they went together to her father's tent.
Thankfully, they didn't run into Robin's friends since they were on the opposite side of camp. But her father sure was shocked when he heard of the news.
"Marian, are you...sure?" Edward went up to her to see if she had been bewitched, taking her shoulders softly and stared her into her eyes. "Before you did not want him to be your husband."
Guy grinned and chuckled softly as he waited near the entrance.
"That was before, father, that I saw that he is a decent man. I already told you earlier of the sheriff."
"I know that he can provide for you, but you do not have to do marry him to keep the land and the title - "
"Father, I don't want a title or land."
"Does he know of your...other identity?"
"Yes, father," she replied happily. "And he knows that he cannot stop it."
"Then...do you love him?"
Marian smiled slowly at her father. "A little. Even a little spark can lead to a fire." She had remembered she compared the situation in her room as dangerous fire. But now, it was a different sort of fire.
Edward looked at Guy, noticing how Guy was looking at his daughter after hearing those words. Before, he had been suspicious of Guy's attention on Marian, finding that he wanted Knighton and the title it bestowed upon him. Now that had been shoved away with the truth seen before him: Guy truly loved her, his little Marian who was now grown up. He had known of her and Robin but this...this was greater.
"Then you two have my blessing." It was, once again, a rare moment to be hugged by Marian of his approval. He knew that he made the right decision, just as he accepted her being The Night Watchman. As he hugged her back, he saw Guy smiling. It wasn't a dark one, or a smirk, that he usually saw on the man. It was a genuine smile that could not be faked and to see it on Guy was surprising.
As father and daughter pulled away, Guy shifted his gaze over to Edward, his smile vanishing but his eyes weren't guarded as they usually were. He soon took his leave, explaining that he needed to send over guardsmen in the morning to Prince John's location.
Just as he was halfway back to Nottingham, carrying a torch of his own carefully, he saw Robin coming up fast. Despite not wanting a confrontation, and he did wish to provoke him about his marriage to Marian, Guy needed to get back to Nottingham immediately.
Robin urged his horse faster and when he saw that the light he saw from afar was from Gisbourne he slowed his horse to a canter. But before he could shout out at the man, the Master of Arms went past him without even giving him notice. It was as if Gisbourne didn't even see him! More importantly, Gisbourne had come from the direction of the camp and the man was forgotten from Robin's mind as he urged his horse into action.
Meanwhile, Edward was watching Marian with a keen eye. She was reading one of her books on a cushioned chair nearby that they had brought here. Marian seemed...content, and let out a small chuckle from time to time as she read the words on the pages. She always seemed to be pulled into the stories and would usually need a louder voice or strong shake to break the trance the books had on her.
It wasn't until he took a bath to tell her good night and headed to bed behind a long cloth that acted as a divider when Robin Hood called out for Marian after putting his horse away. Edward was a heavy sleeper and Marian was too drowned into her book, so the two of them couldn't hear them, but the other occupants did and told him to either "shut yer mouth" or "quiet!"
Robin, of course, did not listen and continued to call out for her. When he got near the tent, Marian finally blinked out of trance. She put a piece of paper that stuck out of the book at the top to hold her place before setting it down and quickly stood up and walked to the front of the tent. She and Robin walked into each other, causing the two of them to jump back a little.
"Marian, there you - "
"What are you doing calling out my name louder than a bear?" Marian asked quickly with a sharp whisper.
"I was searching the entire forest for you and then I saw Gisbourne - " Robin stopped talking and started to look over her. "He did not hurt you, did he?"
Marian slapped his hand away gently as he tried to turn her around. "I am perfectly well, thank you. And why are you acting like he was here just to harm me?"
"Because he was racing back to Nottingham - why was he anyway? Is he not free?"
Marian frowned. "No, he is not free. He is back there to send more guardsmen in the morning for Prince John."
Robin blinked before nodding. "Ah, right. I remember now that the Prince ordered him to do it when we went to the castle."
"Then please do not assume that he was here to harm me." Marian was wondering why he was acting so...well, like this. "You look uneasy."
"I don't know, I just... It seems like the worst is not over yet. The new sheriff could be far worse, King Richard may not be back, and Prince John will continue sucking this country dry till everyone is poor."
Marian shifted her eyes away. "I must retire now for the evening."
"Must you?" asked Robin with a boyish grin, the one he knew that affected her. Only, it didn't. At least, not as much as it used to.
"I'm afraid I must," replied Marian and turned to go inside. She found herself being pulled to Robin and immediately jerked herself free. "I am not playing games with you, Robin." And with that, she went into her tent, leaving a dumbfounded, and rejected, Robin in her wake.
The next part will be up soon right after I finish reading over it.