Held part 2

By Leah

Summary

After Marian's father dies, the lovely lady finds herself in deep trouble. Will Robin Hood rescue her or will Gisborne, once again, have that pleasure?

Chapters two/three of this ditty have been revised and combined with chapter one that has also been revised.

Disclaimer

Robin Hood does not belong to me at all.

Why not?

Sob!

Rated M for angst.

Nottingham town

The girl groaned, grasping her fathers face in her pale hands.

"S-Sorry," she whimpered. "I'm so sorry." She pressed her trembling pink lips to the dead mans cheek. "I love you," she choked out. "I love you father."

Something warm and hard touched her back, the girl flinched sharply.

"Go away!" she snapped, fiercely wiping at the offending hair and tears that persisted to distort her vision.

"Come away," a man's voice pleaded from behind her. "You must come away."

"Will you please just leave me alone?" she demanded, irritated beyond measure.

The hand returned to her back.

"I cannot. You must-"

She sprung to her feet and her voice rose to a wild scream.

"LEAVE ME ALONE!"

With a sob trapped in her throat, the former lady of Knighton Hall whirled around and bolted, long hair streaming behind her like a river of dark silk.

Outside Marian's chambers

"Stop! Stop!"

In her haste to get away from him, Marian tripped and fell hard onto the stone floor.

"Marian!"

"Get away from me!" she snarled glaring at her pursuer from over her shoulder.

"No," Gisborne stubbornly denied. "Not until you have listened to me."

"I am tired of listening to people!" Marian wailed, forcing herself to her feet. "I just want to be left alone!"

"And I will leave you alone," Gisborne promised. "But only when I am certain you are safe from the sheriff."

"I couldn't care less about the sheriff!" the maiden shouted, clenching her fists, ignoring the burning pain in her knees that had been caused from her fall. "I just want to be left alone!"

"Well you should care!" Guy shot back angrily.

Reaching into his doublet, he produced a dagger.

"This belongs to you I believe?" he asked, holding the object to her.

Marian said nothing. Her lips trembled in an effort to keep from hurling abuse at him. Her small fists clenched then relaxed, clenched and relaxed.

"When the sheriff learns that it was your dagger that killed his gaoler," Guy went on. "He will have you put to death."

"Then let him kill me!" Marian snarled. "Take me to your precious master! I don't care anymore! I want to die! I cannot go on without my father!"

"Do not speak of such things!" Guy yelled. "I will not stand by and watch him take you from me, Marian. I cannot!"

'Oh Guy of Gisborne you are a poor, mad fool,' the girl thought, plump crystal tears dribbling down her white cheeks.

God's teeth! She wanted to yell at him. She wanted to lunge forward and hurt him. But she couldn't. She couldn't. She was rendered mute and immobile.

Guy replaced the dagger and slowly edged towards her.

"Come here," he murmured.

"Do-don't," Marian whimpered trying to back away, soon giving up for he was already closing in on her.

"Easy," he soothed, "easy."

Gisborne slid an arm around her waist, drawing her to him, using the other to stroke her hair.

Marian clutched at his doublet. Her small nostrils widened and closed as she captured his familiar scent of wood smoke, leather, and horse.

"I want him back," she moaned against his chest. "Why did he have to die? Why did he have to leave me?"

"Shh."

He kissed her head. Marian did not seem to notice. She merely gulped hard and hugged him closer to her.
He kissed her again and again. Still Marian did notice. His kisses travelled lower and lower till his mouth was so close to her lips he could almost taste them.

"No!" Marian suddenly cried. She shoved him away from her. "No!"

She ran past him for her door. Embarrassed, Gisborne cursed himself for his folly and rushed after her.

"Marian, forgive me," he pleaded clumsily.

To his immense relief, the girl stopped in her flight, turning around to face him.

'What do you want?' her eyes demanded miserably.

"Forgive me!" Gisborne said again, looking at her like a pitiful mutt. "I-Marian … I-"

"Hold me," she interrupted.

Guy frowned as if the two words were foreign to his ears.

"Hold you?" he echoed, his question sounding so child like she would have laughed at him had the situation not been so horrible.

"Hold me," Marian repeated tiredly. "I want you to hold me."

So, quite tentatively, Gisborne approached and put his arms around her.

Marian sighed and re-settled in his embrace.

"Thank you," she murmured.

The man and girl remained this way until-

"GISBORNE!"

Marian jumped in alarm. Guy swore furiously under his breath.

"Ah, Giz/"

Gisborne swung around to see Allan jogging towards them.

"Sorry," the squire apologised. "I tried to keep the big V preoccupied for as long as I could but he wants you to report to him right now."

Guy sniffed loudly and pinched his nose.

"GISBORNE!"

"I must go," he told Marian, "Go to your chambers and wait for me. Allan will wait outside your door should you need anything."

Marian said nothing; it seemed that she finally was starting to succumb to shock.

Guy grasped her shoulders, digging his fingers hard into the soft fabric of her tunic, demanding her attention.

"Will you wait for me?" he asked her forcefully.

"GISBORNE!"

"Guy I don't think-" Allan begun but was silenced by a fierce glare from his master.

"Will you?" Guy demanded again.

There was a long pause.

"Yes," Marian told him at last in a small, feeble voice. "I will wait for you."

"GISBORNE!"

Allan was having the best dream about positively scrummy meat pies and lovely, jolly fat bottomed milk maidens when he felt something pushing rather aggressively against his rib cage.

"Wake up!" a voice growled from above.

"I'm awake! I'm awake!" Allan mumbled, shaking the sleep from his head.

"How is Marian?" Guy asked as soon as his squire was on his feet.

"I think she cried herself to sleep," Allan replied frankly, scratching his large nose. "She hasn't made a noise for quite a while."

Gisborne felt a small prickle of unease go down his spine,

"Go to the stables," he told Allan, trying to ignore this ill feeling. "Tell the stable boys to have our horses and Marian's ready for our departure in two hours."

"Is the big V alright with this?" Allan asked with a doubtful frown. "I mean with her leaving."

"He is. Now go and do as you're told and be quick about it or I'll toss you into the pig pen when we get to Locksley."

"Will do."

Gisborne approached the door with the intention of opening it. He then stopped and scowled when he noticed that Allan was staring at him in a strange manner.

"What is it now?" he snapped irritably at his squire.

"What happened to your eye, Giz?"

Gisborne's right eye was fast becoming black, blue.

"I failed the sheriff," he replied, adding with much indifference. "So he punished me."

"Guy-"

"Get the horses."

Marian's bedchamber

"Marian?" Gisborne called out. When there was no reply to be heard he felt another chill go down his spine.

Had Marian decided to run away? Had Vasey changed his mind and taken her to the dungeons to await execution?

Gathering his wits, the master at arms cautiously walked over to the four-poster bed, once there, he carefully peeled the silk curtains aside …

He breathed a heavy sigh of relief.

The girl was curled up in a fetal position on the bed sound asleep.

'You did wait for me,' he thought.

Gratification making him weary, Guy sat on the edge of the bed and removed his boots, gloves, and doublet. Once that was done, he lay beside her, taking her sleeping form into his arms.

As soon as she felt him, Marian's eyes fluttered open.

"What are you doing?" she asked.

"Holding you," was the simple reply.

OoO

Sometime later Marian was rudely awoken by Guy.

"The sheriff has given me permission to take you to Locksley," he told her, helping the girl into a sitting position.

"To Locksley?" Marian asked bewilderedly, brushing a dark tress behind an ear. "But how-"

"I told the sheriff that you were not a danger to him," Guy explained, holding her arms. "At Locksley," he continued. "I can take care of you, protect you."

Marian gave a bitter laugh and pulled free of his grasp.

"I can protect myself."

"No you can't! No one is safe from him!" the dark haired man cut off fiercely, taking hold of her arms again. "Marian, you are not unassailable. The sheriff can break you!"

In his passionate statement, he squeezed her arms so hard the female noble almost winced.

"Guy-"

"I am not asking for your hand in marriage," Gisborne continued, tone holding a queer authenticity in its resonance. "All I ask of you … All I ask of you is that you stop resisting me and come to Locksley."

"As your prisoner?" Marian sneered.

"As my guest," he insisted promptly. "As my friend."

"You have never, ever seen me as your friend, Guy of Gisborne!" Marian spat. "All I have ever been to you is a trophy. A mare for you to stud!"

"True. You were once considered a prize and the ideal broodmare," Guy readily agreed.

Marian rolled her eyes.

"Typical!" she almost growled aloud.

"But I no longer see you in that light," he went on. "You mean so much more to me now," he squeezed her hands. "Let me prove myself to you. Give me a chance."

Outside Marian's chamber

Marian and Guy were heading for the castle exit when Vasey appeared from around a corner with a very apprehensive Allan A Dale at his side.

"Ah, Lady Marian!" the little grey haired man exclaimed, approaching them. "So you really are leaving my humble domicile for Locksley?"

"Yes, my lord."

"Well, I have a farewell present for you," he told her, all the while grinning broadly and rubbing his palms together.

"A farewell present?" Marian echoed, tone laced with wariness.

"Yes, I'm sure you'll either love it or loathe it."

"My lord-" Guy cut in. "I-"

Before the master at arms could finish, Vasey cocked his fist back, punching Marian in the face, sending her falling heavily to the floor.

"Let's go!" the man ordered, reaching out to grab Marian by the hair.

"Guy-"

"Keep quiet!" Guy hissed.

"But it's Maz. We can't-"

"If you know what's good for you, you'll keep your mouth shut!" the taller man growled whilst marching behind Marian and the sheriff. "We can do nothing for her now."

OoO

"You're a little good for nothing little slut!" Vasey told Marian under his breath whilst striding purposefully along the corridor. "Good for nothing! Nothing at all!"

'How much more can she take?" Guy wondered. He glanced back at Allan and saw that his squire seemed to be thinking exactly the same thing.

To their amazement, Marian had not uttered one single cry during Vasey's abusive tirade. Her reaction to this torment had Guy confused. He did not know whether to think her very brave or just plain ill in the mind for not screaming in agony.

Guy's blood became cold with dread as he realised they were fast approaching the entrance for the castle dungeons.

Was this Vasey's gift? A dank, dark cell? Surely such captivity would either kill or drive Marian to madness?

"My lord, remember our agreement!" he reminded, trotting beside the sheriff. "You promised to release Marian into my care."

"Oh I will! I will!" Vasey growled savagely, "But first, Gisborne, I need to present the little Lady Marian with my gift!"

"Out of our way you repugnant pack of twats!" Vasey bellowed at the two men guarding the dungeon entrance.

"Yes milord," they replied in faultless unanimity.

Having reached the edge of the steps, Vasey yanked Marian up till she was facing him.

"See you at the bottom," he told her gleefully, giving her a merry wave.

Before the girl could comprehend what he was talking about, Vasey planted his booted foot into her stomach, sending her stumbling backwards then falling down the stairs.

"No!" Allan cried, starting forward.

Gisborne pushed him back.

"Don't!" he snarled at his companion.

"Come along my boys!" Vasey ordered, failing to notice Allan's out burst. "You can come and see Marian's present to!"

By the time the three men had reached the bottom of the stairs, Marian was being helped to her feet by two gaolers.

She looked a fright! Her glorious dark hair was filthy and matted. Blood dribbled leisurely from her nose. To top it all off there was a malicious cut on her forehead.

"Oh, look! She's still alive!" Vasey cooed sweetly before adding sourly. "Pity I didn't break her neck, eh Gisborne!"

Guy bowed his head to stare at the floor.

"C'mere you!" the sheriff growled.

Shoving the gaolers out-of-the-way, he grabbed Marian roughly by the hair, dragging the maiden forward.

The poor girl cried out in pain and raised her hands in an effort to free herself from the maddened sheriff's grip.

Her sudden cry caused Gisborne to worry that she had sustained an injury during her tumble and could no longer bear the monstrous vindictiveness Vasey insisted upon bestowing her.

Taking a deep breath, Guy made a move to intervene.

"My lord, please!" he protested urgently. "Marian is injured. Let me-"

Vasey whirled around, glaring at his lieutenant through wintry beady eyes.

"Remember your place," he seethed forebodingly. "Or you and your leper can stay in my dungeon to rot! Do you understand?"

"My lord," Guy croaked, backing away till side by side with Allan.

The door to a cell swung open.

Vasey, still in the lead, still dragging Marian, marched straight into it.

In the very centre of the cell was a wooden post, attached to that was something large, shrouded in white silk.

"Uncover it!" Vasey barked at one of the gaolers who had followed them.

"Sir!" the man replied, moving in a speedy fashion to do his masters bidding.

Guy felt his guts twist into tight painfully knots.

What was going to happen?

The shroud came off.

"Look at it! Look at it!" Vasey howled at Marian grasping her cheek, stubby fingers digging into her skin. "Look at your farewell present, Lady Marian! I hope you like it because it's your father!"

What was left of Marian's father was not beautiful, the old man had been stripped of his clothes and hacked into by, what Guy felt it fair to assume, a blunt sword.

"Say thank you!" Vasey hissed into Marian's ear. "We don't want your father to think you've forgotten your manners, do we?"

Marian said nothing.

Her eyes were fixated on the corpse; lips parted in a silent scream of horror.

"Oh, what an ungrateful little bitch you are!" Vasey sneered. "After all I've done for you, I should have let you share your father's fate."

He knelt down beside Marian, putting an arm snugly around her, pressing his stubbled cheek against her own.

"Listen to me, girlie," the sheriff muttered in her ear. "I am allowing you to go to Locksley with Gisborne. How very gracious of me! Anyway. Any sign of treachery on your part and it won't just be you who'll get a punishment. Oh no." Vasey tugged Marian closer to him. "You see," he continued, "if I find out that you've been a naughty girl I will personally slit Guy's throat right in front of you and then watch as you feast on his rare flesh. Do you understand me, little lady?"

Marian spoke, her voice a stuttering mumble.

"Y-yes … m-my …. My lord."

Vasey grinned.

"Good girl!" he praised thumping her on the back. "Now say thank you."

"Tha-thank you … my-my l-lo-lord."

The sheriff rose to his feet, casually brushing himself off.

"You can take her now, Gizzy!" he told his master at arms jovially. "She's all yours. You can even marry her."

Smirking unctuously at the wretched maiden, Vasey added silently. "If she lives,'

With that, the short sheriff whirled around to leave them.

"Oh," he added as he strutted for the dungeon doorway. "Do take that carcass with you. It's beginning to stink something vile!"

OoO

As soon as Vasey and the gaolers were gone, Guy sprung into action.

"Help me!"

"You're helping her now?" the former outlaw asked incredulously.

"Time is of the essence, Allan," Gisborne growled, picking Marian up. "We need to take her to a physician."

Allan folded his arms across his chest, chuckling softly.

"You're incredible," he told the older man.

Guy, not thinking this a compliment, stopped in mid stride.

"What are you talking about?" he demanded angrily. "We have to go now!"

"While the big V was dragging her down here you scarcely raised a finger in her defence. Now he's gone you're suddenly all over her!"

Gisborne had to remind himself that his arms were full of Marian for he was suddenly livid with fury.

Clutching the girl to his chest, he took a deep breath and began to speak.

"Look at what the sheriff did to her," he whispered. "Had I not remained silent he would have slaughtered all three of us with a song in his heart! I was protecting you, Marian and myself by keeping my mouth shut!"

"Robin would have-"

"I am not Robin Hood!" Guy yelled thus making the younger man jump. "I am your master and I am ordering you to help me take Marian to a physician!"

Nottingham town, physician's house

"Well, surprisingly, the lady will live," the physician told Gisborne and Allan. "She'll need to remain in bed for two or three weeks. However, if I visit her regularly, there is no reason why she should not make a full recovery. She is quite healthy."

"Have a carriage prepared to take the Lady Marian to Locksley," Guy told Allan. "Then go to the markets, I want you to purchase furs, blankets and a heavy cloak. After you've done that, return here."

Allan nodded taking the purse.

"Will do," he murmured.

"My lord this is not wise!" the physician protested franticly whilst Allan left his house at a run. "Your lady friend ought to be taken back to her chambers in the castle! I-"

"The castle is no longer safe for her," Guy snapped, bristling with annoyance. "Do what ever you can to make her fit for travel. You have an hour."

The small grey haired man gulped then nodded. "Very well, Sir Guy. Very well."

OoO

In the courtyard, Gisborne was busily wrapping Marian securely in recently purchased furs and blankets.

"You should be warm enough," he told her, pulling the hood of her cloak over her head.

Marian's only response was to stare back at him through monotonous, inert eyes.

Licking his lips, Guy sighed heavily and closed the carriage door. After giving the driver the go ahead, he walked past the moving carriage to where Allan stood with their mounts.

Guy's tall dark brown mare tossed her elegant head in greeting whilst Allan's bay nag waited patiently beside her, chomping indolently on her bit.

"You need a new horse," the knight remarked.

Allan leaned over to pat the rouncys neck affectionately.

"Nellie's got a few more years left in her," he contradicted with a laugh. "I reckon she'd still best your girl any day."

Gisborne snorted.

"We'll see," he muttered darkly and squeezed the dark browns sides, urging it into a light trot.

OoO

Meanwhile in a dark corner, Robin Hood watched miserably as the carriage containing Marian rolled past him.

Gisborne was taking her away from him again.

Locksley Manor, Marian's chambers

Guy placed the maiden onto the freshly made bed then removed her shoes. After covering her in blankets and furs, he sat beside her, running his naked hand over her forehead.

A lump grew in his throat, he swallowed hard, willing it to go away.

"You're safe now," he told the girl when feeling brave enough to speak. "He cannot touch you here. I won't let him."

The girl stared back at him, eyes utterly devoid of life.

"Do you understand me, Marian?" Guy asked, the faintest trace of stress in his voice. "I promise he will never hurt you again. Locksley is your home now."

"Sir Guy?"

Gisborne looked over his shoulder to see the physician and aid standing in the doorway.

"Yes?" he asked tetchily, almost blushing from being seen in such a moment. "What do you want?"

"I should like to check on the Lady Marian. Would you be so kind to permit the three of us some privacy?"

"You examined her several hours ago. Why must you do so again? Can it not wait till the morrow? She needs to rest!"

"She has been through a traumatic ordeal, Sir Guy," the man explained patiently. "I must check for signs of danger as often as I can."

Guy hesitated for several moments then nodded.

"I'll have a servant girl help you," he muttered, taking leave of Marian's side. "If anything happens, you will send her directly to me, understand?"

"Of course, Sir Guy."

"You had better pray that nothing does."

OoO

"Well, how is she?" Allan asked as soon as he saw Gisborne trotting down the staircase.

"How should I know?" Guy snapped. "I'm not a medicine man!"

"Oi calm down!" the squire cried. "I'm just as concerned as you are about Maz. She's a lovely girl."

Gisborne was silent for a long time, arms folded across his chest, blue eyes unfathomable.

"I don't know," he said at last, voice thick with an emotion Allan had never thought him capable of displaying. "She's like a shell. I can't-"

He took a shuddering breath. "I can't see her."

Allan thought about Gisborne's revelation for a moment then came up with this.

"She's in shock. Just give her time, yeah? This is Maz we're talking about. She's a strong girl; she'll bounce back in no time."

OoO

Time went by. At last, it could be said that the Lady Marian had completely recovered from her injuries. This made the physician quite relieved for he was now able to tell the lord of Locksley good news rather then have his own life extinguished.

Gisborne engaged extra servants to tend to his guests needs since the sheriff was fretting over the lack of attention he was receiving and needed Guy and Allan to stroke his ego when things did not go as precisely as he planned.

This, much to Gisborne's annoyance, was quite often now that the pact was now out of Vasey's grasp, thanks to Robin Hood and Sir Edward.

OoO

After the funeral of Marian's father, everything changed. Gisborne could not help but feel on edge during that dreary day in Knighton's churchyard and he was well within his rights to feel so.

After the shocking confrontation at the castle with Vasey, Marian had stopped speaking. She ate very little and kept to her chamber.

This behaviour was to be expected, the physician explained to Gisborne. The poor creature was grieving.

Now it seemed that the once lively, passionate girl was succumbing further and further into her grief every passing hour. She was always seated by her window, slowly rocking back and forth in her little chair, a plate of undisturbed food and goblet of wine always situated on the floor beside her.

For a week, Gisborne was greeted by the same scene whenever he paid Marian a visit. He tried his best to ignore her state till the gut wrenching fear of her dying of starvation took control of him and he could suffer it no longer.

Lady Marian's chambers, Locksley

"Sir?" the physician's aid said, noting the grieved expression upon his master's face.

"Send for Sir Guy."

The aid nodded and hastened to find the master at arms.

OoO

"My lord-"

"How is she?" Guy demanded as soon as he saw the physician. "What can be done for her? How much-"

"My lord, I am so very sorry," the man cut off gently. "I think it is time for you to consider sending for a priest. The lady … I do not think she will live to see another month."

Guy stared at the man, mouth gaping slightly.

The physician sighed sadly.

"Again, I am very sorry, my lord. Very sorry indeed."

End of part 2