Epilogue... With selections from several episodes re-written with my twist on it. :-)
. . . .
"No, this isn't right." he clenched the letter in his fist.
"What do you mean?" Allen raised an eyebrow.
"Marian cannot take holy orders!" Guy's eyes studied the letter once more, "She has a life to lead. Saddle my horse!"
"Naw, you don't really think so, do you?" Allen wondered why his plans never turned out the way he wished.
"Do as you're told!"
"Sure. Where're we going then?" He hoped he was mistaken in Guy's intent, but his answer quickly confirmed his suspicions.
"Rippley Convent."
"Yeah? Hang on - doesn't she want to be on her own? Grieving and..."
Guy grabbed him by the collar and shouted at him, "GET MY HORSE!"
"Alright, alright." Allen shrugged and left for the stables.
Guy put a hand to his forehead and sat down on the nearby bench. He was so tired, Marian had only been gone for a short time, but he had been unable to sleep from the memory of his mistake when he had seen her last.
. . .
"Wait! Listen to me," He slid to a stop in front of her, "This place may not be safe for you now."
"Why?" the question came automatically - fresh from seeing her father's body, she didn't really care.
Guy swallowed and brought out a curved dagger with a jeweled handle, "This is yours, I believe. Your father's jailer was killed with it."
"I don't care!" she burst out - when would she be allowed to reach the privacy of her room where she could grieve her father without an audience?
"The Sheriff will care," he drew in his breath and licked his lips, not quite sure how to get this information through the fog of her distress, "And when he finds out that it was your dagger that killed his jailer," he paused before completing his sentence, "He will hang you!"
Not much could have caused her to care about anything, but she had been working hard to just survive for the past seven years since Robin had left for the Holy Land, and old habits die hard.
Marian started to tremble as the physical weight of fear combined with grief wore on her. Shaking her head, she barely managed to shiver out, "No."
"Let me look after you," he stepped forwards gently as he spoke - care evident in his eyes - she continued to shiver as he narrowed the gap between them and continued softly, "Protect you. I've always cared about you, Marian."
She looked up at him. His face was blurry through her tears, but it promised safety.
"My feelings for you," he drew her gently towards him and she gave in the the impulse to lay her head on his chest and close her weary eyes as he continued soothingly, "I thought they'd gone away, but they haven't."
She wasn't even paying attention anymore, the warmth under her cheek felt firm and safe, and she relaxed against him as he planted a gentle kiss on her forehead.
"They're stronger than ever." he smoothed her hair - and she felt the weariness seeping further into her body.
. . .
Guy groaned and clenched his fist. That moment... she finally accepted something, namely comfort, from him without an argument and he ruined it - why could he not have gone with his original plan of simply protecting her? Why did he always make a mistake that cost him all of his progress? If instead he had just continued offering her the comfort that she needed instead of reaching for the kiss that he had waited so long to get.
He raised his head and looked out of the window, a bright spot in the cold stone hallway. He had to find her and make it right.
"Horses are ready." Allen's face had it's usual closed, intentionally inexpressive look as he re-entered the hall.
Guy rose to his feet and headed out the main door, his pace increasing as he spotted the Sheriff's newest employee leading a pier bearing the dead body of none other than Robin Hood.
"What's this?" he asked briskly.
Carter looked at him coolly. "Robin Hood," he replied, "As promised."
"Dead?" he asked, not believing.
"Dead." Carter confirmed.
"Really." he looked at him with contempt in his eyes before glancing at the gate guard, "Did you check him?"
"Yes sir Guy."
He glanced back to Carter. "Well let's make doubly sure, shall we?" Walking closer he drew his sword, "Show me his neck."
The guard drew back the outlaw's shirt and Guy laid the blade of his sword on the pale skin now exposed. The triumph that he had expected to feel wasn't quite there, but he raised his arms, preparing to sever the head from the neck.
"Guy!" a woman's voice rang across the courtyard.
"Marian?" he could hardly believe his eyes as she walked swiftly over to the pier and looked at the dead outlaw in confusion.
"What's happening here?" she asked, glancing back up at him.
"Robin Hood," he forced a sneer onto his face, watching closely for her reaction, "Dead."
"Congratulations," her face showed only mild distaste for death, after a pause she continued, "I need speak with you. In private, please."
He looked at Carter, "Carry on."
. . .
Guy worked his jaw as he walked, fighting between the urges to 1. apologize for the kiss she did not wish to receive, 2. to scold her for leaving without telling him where she was going and then sending him a very impersonal letter by Allen of all people, 3. to grab her and hug her tightly enough to scare away the grief that was still evident in her eyes, and 4. the desire to not lose his head and do something that might scare her away again.
Marian followed Guy down the cold stone hallways, wondering frantically what she was going to talk to him about, never guessing the battle going on in front of her.
. . .
They reached the turret room and Guy motioned her inside before closing the door and facing her.
"I received your letter," he stated, not sure what to say, "I was about to come and visit you."
"I asked to be left alone and still you were coming to see me?"
He sighed and looked at her knowingly, "You knew I would.".
"Yes," she dropped her eyes, and then raised them as she finally figured out the reason to give for her visit, "And that's why I came. To ask you to please leave me be." she felt a strange regret as she said the words, but brushed it aside and waited for his answer.
He chuckled mirthlessly and shook his head as he moved towards her, "Marian. Do you really expect me to believe that you have given yourself to God?"
"Trust me, I haven't given myself to anyone," she felt slightly embarrassed by his gaze and suddenly found herself wishing that she could once again experience the safe feeling of being held in his arms. She swallowed and glanced up at him, "Not yet."
He reached out and took her arm as she turned away to escape his scrutiny. "Good," he spoke sincerely, "Because until you do, I will always believe that there was a chance for you and me."
"I need to think." outwardly calm she turned away, this open statement from Guy had instantly caused turmoil within her.
"Stop thinking," he felt as though his heart must be open to her view and worked to close the windows of his eyes, but his desire found words before he could do so, "Come home to me."
She turned, speaking the only excuse that she could think of and one that she had long forgiven him for in her heart, "You burned my home to the ground."
He looked away to hide the raw vulnerability on his face. "Marian," he spoke quietly, not looking at her, "If I could take that back... If I could show you the side of me that wants to build a home, not burn it down." the side that is wounded and hiding because the sheriff keeps cutting it back, he almost added.
"I have seen it."
"Than why do you reject it?" The question burst out of him with more emotion than he intended.
"My father is dead," she avoided the question, not sure if she had an answer, "I need time. To grieve."
A look of compassion and love flashed across his face, but unsure of what to say he spoke the first thing in his mind, "What better way to grieve than to create new life?"
He walked over to her where she stood, neither retreating nor advancing.
"Marian!" he took her by the arms gently, "I thought that I might never see you again."
She was shocked to see a shimmer in his eyes.
"I thought that I might never..."
"What?" she spoke as distantly as she could, afraid that she might give into the urge to reach out for him and never let go.
"Kiss you." he finished gently, leaning forwards slowly, watching carefully for signs of distaste.
Marian moved the tiniest bit back, then slightly forwards and then back again, unable to decide what to do. She was startled when the door opened suddenly and Guy turned away.
"Oh, sorry," Allan wasn't sure if Marian appreciated the intrusion or not, though he had timed it as well as he could, he shifted his weight, "Uh, the Sheriff wants you. He's gonna put Robin's head on a spike."
Guy glanced at her and then strode to the door, suddenly and irrelevantly feeling as though he were stuck in quick sand and wishing to shake himself of the sheriff. As he reached the door he turned back to Marian, gentleness evident on his face.
"We must continue this conversation soon." he gave her an almost smile, trying to be sensitive to her grief while still communicating his wish to see her again soon, before turning.
"Guy!" Spying Much over his shoulder, Marian acted quickly to prevent Guy from seeing what she did and putting two and two together. Without really thinking, she grabbed his arm and pulled him into a kiss.
Stunned for a moment, he quickly recovered and responded in kind. A moment later she broke off the kiss and hid her face in his shoulder, beginning to be very concerned about her decision making skills, which seemed to be off today. Guy held her tight, determined to give her the hug that she seemed to be asking for without interrupting it with any unwanted contact.
Marian sighed and stepped back after enjoying the feeling of safety for a few more seconds. She smiled at him weakly and made a mental note to do some serious thinking when she got back to the camp. He looked at her uncertainly for a moment before stooping to kiss her cheek.
Over his shoulder she saw the now revived Robin Hood staring at her in shock and disgust. His face brought her to her senses.
"Guy," she said, feeling a surge of loss when he stepped back and looked at her, "I have to go."
"Go?" confusion, followed by a look as though he were slipping from a dream to a nightmare, blanketed his features, "You can't go."
"I can and I must," Her conscience pricked her harshly as she looked at him, that hope that still flickered in his eyes was a stern reproof. She had to remove his hope - she belonged with Robin, "This was a mistake."
"Marian this wasn't a mistake; this was the most perfect thing that has ever happened." warmth flooded his eyes as he looked at her, warmth mixed with something else.
"I am grieving, Guy. I mislead you, I'm sorry." suddenly she felt sick, and inwardly cursed herself as she looked down - not strong enough to look into his eyes.
Guy watched compassionately as she began to walk away and gently took her arm. "You're misleading yourself," he told her gently, he knew the signs, "I know. I've done it. I told myself that I didn't need you, that other things would satisfy me. Politics, power, yet here we are."
By now, between her heart, her brain, and her conscience Marian was enduring inner agony. She was glad that Guy couldn't see her face; she was certain that he would be able to read her like a book and recognize her lies for what they were. And even she wasn't ready to truly find that out yet.
"I have to get back," she licked her lips, needing to be alone with her thoughts and yet dreading the idea, "Before they realize I'm missing!"
"Back to the convent?" An incredulous smile played across his face.
"Yes."
He chuckled slightly, knowing that she was making a decision she would regret. "Marian no," he let go of her arm but decided to try something, "I forbid you to go."
That clinched it, Marian's natural rebellion against rules got the better of her and she straightened her shoulders and walked away, towards Robin, without looking back.
. . . . .
Okay, from now on it's all my story... with the characters belonging to someone else of course.