Duchess

Part 2

I do not own Robin Hood

26/4/09

We meet again

Jane couldn't believe that Guy was an official member of Robin Hood's gang of outlaws. Granted when Prince John wanted his head, she had told him to run, but it wasn't quite what she had in mind. She thought back to when the carriage was raided and he opened the door and found her. She wanted to be pleased to see him, but she was shocked at what he had become, and could only imagine what he thought of her, The Duchess. When her father found out about the raid, Jane found herself heavily questioned.

"Those men in the infirmary, they claim they were injured by robbers, in Sherwood Forest. Did it slip your mind?" Asked The Sheriff.

"No." She replied.

"Was Gisborne there?" He asked.

"I didn't see them." She replied.

"Really? That's funny, your driver tells me one, rather dark haired fellow, pulled open the carriage door and saw you, then slammed it shut and told them not to bother." Challenged the Sheriff.

"The same driver, who was facing forwards, being threatened with swords, bows and arrows? His testimony is false. I saw no one." Replied Jane.

"Is that what Gisborne is to you now?" Asked The Sheriff.

"He's a memory, nothing more." Replied Jane.

"We'll see." Added The Sheriff.

"Will you? Let me tell you Sheriff, if I find one of your men within a mile of me, I shall report you straight to Prince John." Threatened Jane.

"I've known him longer!" Threatened he Sheriff.

"And I know him better." Added Jane with a tone.

The Sheriff pulled a face and didn't press the matter. Many unpleasant images appeared in his head, as he walked away he blinked and twitched nervously. Jane smirked at how easily she had won the argument, and decided to go out on market day, something she had missed greatly in London.

Guy went to Nottingham, with the wish and a prayer of just catching a glimps of Jane. He did not expect crowds to part for her as she had a look around on market day. He was within eye-sight of her, she was close but too far away for him to get to, without being noticed. He looked around and found a little brown haired boy around the age of seven. He knelt down and produced a coin and a ring.

"If I give you this, I want you to go up to the Duchess of London, give her this ring and tell her to meet me at the entrance of the Forest. Will you do that for me?" He asked.

"Too right! 'Fank you!" Replied the boy.

Guy ran to the entrance of the woods. Jane didn't suspect a thing when a little boy tugged at her dress. She bent forward and he held up a ring.

"A man told me to give you this, and he said to see him by the woods." He said.

"Thank you." She said.

Jane knew what it was as soon as the boy held it up. It was supposed to be her wedding ring. She clutched it to her chest and eventually managed to slip away to Sherwood Forest. Guy was waiting for her and she stopped as soon as she saw him. It was like a dream. As Jane finally got closer to him, he studied her and smirked. He lifted his head slightly.

"We meet again, Duchess." He mocked.

"We meet again, Outlaw." She Added.

Guy smiled at last. Jane had only changed her dresses, not herself. She put her hand on his face, still convinced that she would wake up, and it would all just be a dream.

"I missed you." She said.

"Really?" He asked.

Jane nodded.

"I missed you. I thought you were never coming back." He said.

"So did I. Prince John decided once he had given me a title to surprise my father. I think it was for his own amusement." She said.

"Is that all?" Asked Guy.

Jane looked at him innocently.

"All what?" She asked.

"Why are you here Jane? Why has Prince John sent you back really?" He asked.

"I had hoped you had guessed. This has to be the last time Guy. I won't see you hang." Replied Jane.

"And I won't see you alone. You belong to me." Said Guy.

"You're wrong Guy. I do not belong to you. That is what got us here." Corrected Jane.

"You were upset. I don't blame you." Added Guy.

"Much time has passed since then, we need to put it behind us." Said Jane.

She tried to give him his ring back. He turned away from it.

"Keep it. One day we'll use it. I promise." Said Guy.

Jane sighed sadly. Guy noticed doubt in her manner and put his finger under her chin.

"I'm not giving up. I'll never give up." He added.

When Guy kissed Jane, she had forgotten that she'd never pull away from him. The kiss stopped and they paused, before she found the strength to go.

"Goodbye." She said.

Jane returned to Nottingham Castle. True to his word, The Sheriff had kept Isabella safe from Thornton. When she saw Jane, she went to make a gesture, but Jane shook her head at her. Isabella smiled at her and Jane returned the smile back.

"You came back. Have you seen Guy?" She asked.

"Twice." Replied Jane, quietly.

Isabella gasped. Jane smirked secretively. The Duchess invited Isabella into her quarters and checked that the place was deserted.

"You still love him!" Exclaimed Isabella.

"Of course I do. I never stopped thinking about him." Said Jane.

"What about Prince John?" Asked Isabella.

Jane made it clear that he wasn't to be mentioned. She cleared her throat and quickly changed the subject.

"Has my father been treating you well?" She asked.

"He pretty much ignores me, unless Guy upsets him." Replied Isabella.

"Like a daughter, welcome to the family. That makes you highly protected, well you would have been anyway, but I had a sensitive moment." Added Jane.

"I had no idea it would cause this. I just thought you'd be someone he felt oblidged to marry. I didn't know you actually were, made for each other." Explained Isabella.

"I'd not go that far. God isn't exactly on our side at the moment is he? I'm at one end of the status pile and Guy at the other." Added Jane.

"You will wait for him won't you?" Asked Isabella.

"If I can I will." Replied Jane.

"You lost me?" Added Isabella.

"I'm tired. May I have a few moments?" Asked Jane.

When Jane was left, she realized she was letting on far too much and too soon. She pulled Guy's ring from her finger and placed it in a small wooden box, with regret. As far as she was concerned, she and Guy would never be together, unless the King returned from the Holy Land. Before she turned in for the night, Jane did something she had never done before. She knelt at her bedside and prayed.

"Let King Richard return, Lord, let him spare Guy and give him the wisdom to realize what Prince John has done to this country and it's people."