A Question of Loyalty

Chapter Three

Half past one, the next day, the Castle stables

Marian entered the castle stables, nervously adjusting her split riding skirt, wondering if she would find Guy already waiting for her. She was both apprehensive and extremely curious about what Guy wanted to discuss with her. Striding into the dim light of the stables, Marian felt slightly guilty for not meeting Robin at the market place earlier, but she had no way to send him a message. Marian knew Guy would not have let her go to the marketplace for even a short time because he was already taking her riding. What excuse could she use, he would just tell her that he had arranged for a guard to escort her the next day and Marian did not want to push her luck. She was far more interested in learning what Guy wanted to say to her and about the Sheriff's plans, which would benefit Robin and his gang in the long run. Robin would have to wait. Marian also could not deny the small butterflies she felt in her stomach when Guy had issued the invitation to go riding. The stables smelled earthy, of straw, dirt and horses. Marian waited, patting her braided and pinned up hair to make sure that her coil was securely set. Restless, Marian walked over to one of the stable stalls to stroke the Sheriff's white stallion and to offer him a carrot. The stallion accepted the carrot from her hand and then nosed at her red riding jacket for more treats.

"What a handsome boy you are," Marian cooed at the purebred, who was possessed of a much better temperament than his master.

"Referring to me, Marian?" a deep voice asked.

Marian whipped around, her color high on her cheeks as she heard Guy's voice. She saw Guy standing in the stable doors, appearing as a black apparition, blocking the light from the outside.

"You are late," Marian said breathlessly, "I was just acquainting myself with the stable inhabitants."

"Charming them you mean, be careful not to break his heart." Guy drawled. He filled Marian's vision; the light made him seem larger than life and emphasized his large, muscular build. He stepped further in, becoming an ordinary man again, looking at Marian, his dark hair falling across his brow. His normally hard, cold eyes were filled with unaccustomed warmth when he gazed, at Marian, who was nervously tucking her hair behind her ear and looking slightly embarrassed.

"Sorry to keep you waiting," Guy continued, "I have our horses saddled in the courtyard. Are you ready?" he asked and with an earnest, hopeful expression on his face he extended a bare hand to her.

"Yes," Marian returned and hesitantly grasped Guy's outstretched hand. His large hand was warm and calloused, and he grasped Marian's smaller one gently. He smiled at her and led her out into the courtyard where their horses stood, waiting and flicking their tales impatiently. Guy guided Marian over to her horse, the beautiful chestnut gelding that Guy had given her long ago. He assisted her in mounting her horse and waited patiently until she had adjusted her split skirt, settling herself. Then Guy took the reins from the stable boy and vaulted onto his black charger.

Guy glanced at Marian, perched on top of her mount, "I was thinking we could ride near the village of Nettlestone and perhaps on the way back you can distribute some relief to the poor within the village." Guy nodded to the purse at his hip and said. "Lady Bountiful is the role you like to play," he grinned. He seemed more light hearted today, as if for just today he had less cares weighing on his soul.

Marian refused to rise to the bait and clicked at her horse, who immediately responded, flying through the iron gates. Guy shook his head and nudged his horse to follow her.

Meanwhile, Nottingham market place

A cloaked young man stood in the public market space, casually leaning up against a wooden support beam outside a local tavern. He had been waiting there for some time and he again glanced at the position of the sun. A disappointed look on his face, he sighed and walked over to a small alley way in which his friends were hiding.

"She's not coming." Robin said defeated, speaking to Munch and Will.

"What! We need her." Munch complained, outraged.

"I know," Robin said annoyed, "but she is not here and we have to find out why Jasper has suddenly been invited to the castle by the Sheriff." Robin impatiently looked around, searching for any sign of Marian or the castle guards.

"Maybe Gisborne wouldn't let her out," Will ventured, "They don't trust her, you see."
"Yes, but she has Gisborne wrapped around her finger," Robin said and then muttered, "Or so she says." He raised his voice a little louder for the gang to hear, "she knows that she has to do whatever it takes." Robin insisted, "Let's leave. We can come again."

No sooner had Robin spoke than he caught a glimpse of two figures on horseback riding through the iron gates of the castle.

"Why is Marian riding with Gisborne? Where are they going?" Robin asked darkly. No one answered.

A short while later, a hilltop overlooking Nettlestone village

Reaching the crest of the grassy knoll overlooking Nettlestone village, Marian slowed her horse and stopped to catch her breath. It was a gorgeous summer day and Marian relished the feeling of being outside Nottingham castle and in the countryside. The ride to Nettlestone was lovely and Marian enjoyed riding again although her muscles would probably protest the next day after not riding for so long. Marian let the summer breeze flow across her face and tangle up in her hair. She lifted her face up to the sun and closed her eyes to feel the sunshine. Soon she heard Guy ride up to her side, his horse snorting with the exertion. She opened her eyes and found him looking at her, the open naked longing written all over his face. Swallowing quickly, she averted her eyes.

"I thought here might be a good place to stop and chat. You can tie the horses over there." Marian pointed to a gnarled old tree. "You did have something you wished to speak to me about?" Marian smiled encouragingly.

Guy too, cleared his throat and looked away. "Yes, of course," he mumbled and quickly dismounted. Marian also alighted from her horse and handed the reins to Guy's waiting hands. While he walked over to tie off the horses and to let them graze, Marian wandered around the hill, finally plopping down on the soft heather.

Marian wondered what their conversation would entail. Guy said he was going to tell her what the Sheriff and Jasper were planning. It had seemed odd for Jasper to come on an official visit to meet with Vasey. Jasper normally just visited the Sheriff once a week at dawn in his apartments. Maybe the rule had changed now, since the Sheriff had gone missing. A horrified thought occurred to Marian; what if Jasper was here to stay? If there was any funny business concerning the Sheriff, Nottingham would immediately be razed to the ground. Marian fretted; maybe she should have met with Robin today, to warn him against trying anything mischievous with the Sheriff. Innocent lives were at stake! Her own feelings of anger at Robin's actions should not take precedence over the villagers.

Guy had finished tying off the horse and approached her. He stood looming over Marian, seated on the ground.

"Please sit Sir Guy," Marian invited her hand over her eyes and she tilted her head to look up at him. "You are too tall, even when standing I have to strain my neck to look up at you."

Guy awkwardly sat on the ground, looking distinctly uncomfortable. Marian giggled inwardly, surprised by the lighthearted sentiment. They sat silently for a couple of minutes.

Marian soon broke the silence, "I love the countryside, even when I was a little girl I hated staying in the overnight in the castle. My mother and I would remain at Knighton while my father had business in Nottingham." Marian hugged her knees to her chest at the fond memories.

Guy who had remained silent suddenly said, "I grew up in the countryside too, a long time ago." His face was stern and unyielding. "I am sorry that you must be imprisoned in the castle," Guy said abruptly.

Marian inclined her head in acknowledgment. "Thank you Guy, but maybe we should talk about the Sheriff's plans?" she guided.

"Marian," Guy began, "I brought you here to talk to you about Knighton and the Sheriff's wishes for the estate." Marian sat, hands folded in her lap, waiting. "Knighton is falling into shambles without proper management and does not turn a profit. There is no agricultural production and the peasants are unable to pay taxes." Guy paused.

"But my father must have left someone in charge to oversee the estate!" Marian protested. "Our steward, Hamilton, is he overlooking the farms still?" Marian asked, gravely upset by this turn of events.

"When your father was imprisoned, he was unable to pay Hamilton his wage any longer and Hamilton left to find more work. "I am sorry Marian." he said awkwardly, wanting to reach out and comfort her.

Marian shook off his attempt to touch her, "Guy, you were the one who burnt down my home! Knighton had fallen into disorder because of you! You have caused me to lose my home." Marian almost choked on her tears and fury, "Innocent peasants are now starving because of your actions!" Marian cried.

"Marian, I wish I could, even if I could…" Guy closed his eyes, "you have no home to go back to. Knighton manor is gone, burnt to the ground because of my actions." Guy grasped her hands even as she turned her head away from his beseeching gaze. "I wish I could change what had happened that night and what I did, but we can only move on from here." He said earnestly.

Marian snatched her hand back, tears of hurt springing to her eyes as she was reminded of that painful night.

"I am deeply sorry Marian." Guy said again, full of remorse.

"That house held of my happy memories of my family and my childhood, and it is now gone because of you!" Marian said fiercely, filled with sad longing "You don't understand; you can never understand what I have lost." Marian cried. She struggle to her feet, hampered by her skirts to escape him.

Guy also surged to his feet, "I don't understand?" Guy shouted angrily, and grabbed Marian's shoulders; his finger's boring into her skin. "What about you?" he spit out.

"You burnt my home!" Marian yelled.

"What about all the sneaky things you have done Marian?" Guy asked heatedly, "Could possibly understand me? Understand what it is like at nine years old to watch you father be condemned as a traitor and hanged, to watch your mother die of grief a week later. Do you know how it feels to have all of you family lands taken away from you? Everything you had been given at birth, privilege, rank, family, land, wealth all taken from you." Guy stopped his breathing harsh and irregular. Suddenly his grip softened on Marian's shoulders and he gathered her closer speaking softly, desperately, "Did you even understand for one moment how I felt when you walked out of the Church that day. You left me bleeding and humiliated on the Church floor." Guy released Marian and stepped back, spreading his arms wide in mute appeal. "How could I?" he asked, "How could you? You have used me, manipulated me, and I am still here, waiting for you to have me." Guy ended his speech and just stood there looking at Marian.

Marian was shocked out of her tears, for once without any prepared lie ready to spring to her lips. "Guy…" Marian felt her anger ebbing, "We have both wronged each other," she stated. "Sometimes… sometimes I wish I could take back things I have done, things that may have hurt you. It is so hard sometimes…" Marian stopped and recollected herself. She smiled weakly and then ventured, "I never knew that about your family, I have never heard you talk about your family."

"Well you never cared to ask," Guy said harshly. "You were too busy pumping me for information." Guy turned away from Marian.

Marian's spine stiffened, "Maybe if you had offered more of yourself, if I had seen the Guy I have come to know in these past few weeks, without the Sheriff, I would not have run away; if you had not lied to me." Marian shot back, hands on her hips.

Guy shoulders slumped in defeat as he turned around, back towards Marian. He sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose, "Oh Marian, I didn't know at the time that it was a lie. Only after the wedding preparations had begun did the Sheriff tell me the truth about the King's return. I know it was not right, but I wanted you too much to jeopardize our wedding, Can you see?" Guy asked.

Marian found that she did not know what to say. His actions were wrong and she was right to not have gone through with the wedding. For the first time however, Marian could see his side clearly and she found she could not hate him, not one bit.

Both stood awkwardly apart from one another on the grassy hill over Nettlestone village. In their silence a strong breeze picked up blowing Marian's skirts and hair across her body. The air seemed to clear a little bit; they had both hurt one another and it was time to move past this.

"Look Marian," Guy began, taking a step closer and holding out his hands in a sign of peace. "I brought you here to tell you that the Sheriff has given Knighton to me as a project." Guy said.

"Knighton, as a project?" Marian repeated distractedly. She was busy trying to wipe away her tears with the tips of her fingers until a square of white cloth was thrust into her hands.

"Here," Guy said roughly, "Take this," he said as if the sight of Marian's tears upset him.

"Thank you," Marian sniffed, blowing her nose.

"Yes, Knighton is to become my project" Guy said, bravely forging on, knowing he may have more to face of Marian's wrath or tears. "I am to take over estate management for a month. I am to rebuild the manor and try to rejuvenate the agriculture in order to start producing crops. I wanted you to hear this from me and not the Sheriff. I know how difficult this is." Guy said, reaching out to her with an arm.

Marian evaded him yet again. "The Sheriff cannot trade estates at will. Knighton is my inheritance. How can he do this?" she demanded.

"Under English law the estate passes to the crown upon if there are no males heirs. Knighton now belongs to the crown because your father had no heirs and you are unwed." Guy explained reluctantly. "Marian this is not so terrible." Guy moved closer to her and grasped one of her hands. "I am going to look after Knighton for you, going to build you a home and make the farm profitable again. I want to look after you, please let me." Guy's calloused thumb stroked her palm.

Marian's throat went dry. "I can look after myself." She protested weakly. She was beginning to shiver from his closeness and the effects of his sheer magnetism.

"I know you can see after yourself, but Knighton cannot continue without management." Guy murmured, continually moving his thumb in slow circles, making Marian feel very odd indeed. "I promise I will confer with you on every detail regarding the manor house. I am soldier and I do not know how to build a home by myself. I will need you. I will consult with you about every decision." Guy vowed, stopping his caresses and gripping her hand. "Knighton will always be your home."

Marian looked up at Guy in wonder, "You will consult me about rebuilding the manor?" she asked incredulously. "I had not thought that my opinions would matter," she said, pleasantly surprised. "Thank you." She felt the sincerity in his promise though his steady grip. "Shall we start towards the village?" she asked. She began walking and stopped short when Guy did not move. He was still holding her hand.

"One more thing Marian," Guy said, "Vasey is looking for any excuse to kick you out of the castle, either by marriage, the nunnery or a treasonous act on your part." Marian gasped and her hand flew to her throat. "Please," Guy said intensely, "please do not do anything that would endanger your welfare. If you are planning anything to help the poor, come to me and I will see it done. I would do anything to prevent you from being sent away or worse." Guy raised her hand to his lips and pressed his warm mouth to her smooth skin in a kiss. "Promise me," he murmured, his lips brushing her skin.

Marian was floored, "I promise," she said haltingly, utterly stunned and confused by his generosity and his gallantry.

Guy straightened and smiled, his locks of hair falling into his eyes. "Shall we continue down the hill to the village?" he asked, "I have not forgotten my promise to you." Marian nodded and they began walking. She expected that he would let go of her hand, but he seemed to gain a new confidence from their conversation and instead laced his fingers through hers. What surprised her more, however, was her sudden wish that he should not let go.

As they walked down towards the village, Guy felt slightly guilty that he had not told Marian the entire truth of his conversation with the Sheriff. Marian and Knighton were being used as a bargaining chip, and Guy was to accompany the Sheriff to kill the King in Acre. Guy, however, did not know how much he could trust Marian, if she would tell Hood and his gang, and he did not know how much contact she had had with Hood as the Nightwatchman. If he told Marian the Sheriff's plans she would concoct some scheme and get herself hanged for treason. He was protecting her, Guy told himself.

As they approached the village, Guy reluctantly parted with Marian's hand and reached into his coat to hand her the money bag he had brought. "Here," he said smiling, "go help those in need." Marian flashed a brilliant, devastating smile at Guy and then left his side to go greet the villagers.

At this moment, Guy was still planning to go through with the Sheriff's scheme; what had King Richard ever done for him? The Sheriff had promised him Knighton and the Gisborne lands; Guy was so close to achieving everything he had worked for in the past nineteen years, he could not stop now. What was a little more blood on his hands and then he could retire to the Gisborne lands with Marian. She would be the answer to his search for peace; her goodness would wash away his sins.

Guy decided not to tell Marian about her estate and her person being handed over to him as a tantalizing bribe for Guy's services in the Holy Land. He would tell her eventually the true situation, but hopefully after giving her time to understand him and trust him. She would then grow accustomed to the idea and accept his proposal of marriage. Marian could not be forced into anything, but Guy knew that in time that she would be his wife. Marian would see Guy's willingness to involve her in his life and his respect for her while they worked on rebuilding Knighton hall together. He also hoped to show her his passion and love for her.

Even under the pain of death Guy would not at this moment reveal everything the Sheriff had planned to Marian, for Marian had allowed Guy to hold her hand, and had not resisted his advances. Guy would not give that up for anything.

Marian handed out coins to the villagers; she greeted old friends and listened to all of the new gossip and woes. On the outside she was smiling and chatting, but inside her thoughts were in complete disarray because of one man: Sir Guy. While talking to him she had felt such different, conflicting emotions regarding her true feelings toward him. She had felt angry, guilty, sorry, happy, confused and completely overwhelmed. She may pretend indifference to his charms on the outside, but inside she felt like a mass of gooey pudding.

Marian was upset about Knighton and the loss of her childhood home. She was also angered by the cavalier way the Sheriff had given Guy control of her estate, but she was a woman and had no right to own property. She was then surprised and pleased by Guy's offer to include her in the rebuilding of her home. Suddenly she was glad, very glad that it was Guy taking over management of her estate; it was a good thing that he would not let the farm fall into ruin and the peasants die of starvation.

While talking to a woman about the coming harvest that autumn Marian unconsciously began to search for Guy in the crowd. She smiled when she spotted him standing on the fringes of the crowd, tentatively smiling at a young girl. The girl was looking at Guy curiously and ignored frantic motions from her mother to stop bothering him. She stepped closer, thumb in her mouth and clutching a doll. Guy smiled wider. The girl came closer and handed Guy her doll. He accepted the doll and gravely thanked the girl. Patting his pockets he pulled a handkerchief and tied it around the doll. He handed the doll back to the girl who accepted his token with equal gravity, and then ran back to her mother. Guy straightened and resumed his dark scowl as if pretending that nothing had occurred, but Marian had seen.

Marian's heart ached at witnessing the tender scene. Who could have imagined that Guy would be so gentle with a young girl, a peasant girl! Visions of Guy with a dark haired child swam in her mind and a longing filled her. She was growing older and her chances for having a family of her own were becoming slimmer. More and more, Marian began to understand inside that she could never marry Robin. Would Richard ever return from the Holy Land? More likely Robin would leave to go fight and serve his country and King. She would never see him again, never marry Robin. She imagined that Guy would be a good father, strong, silent and watchful. He would protect his wife and children from harm. Marian shook these thoughts out of her head and excusing herself from the peasant woman, walked over towards Guy.

He saw her approaching and raised an eyebrow "Are you ready to leave?" he asked, uncrossing his arms.

"Yes," Marian said simply, "I am ready to leave with you now." She slipped her small hand into Guy's warm, larger one. He looked down at their hands and glanced at her quickly; she smiled sweetly in reply. Guy drew her closer and gave her a lopsided, rogue grin. They walked quickly towards their horses and rode back towards Nottingham.

They arrived much later in the courtyard of the castle near the stable yard. Guy tossed the reins to a groom and dismounted quickly to help Marian from her saddle. Marian, smiling softly, allowed Guy to reach up and firmly grasp her waist. He lifted her down from the saddle in one fluid motion, and Marian felt the strength in his biceps as he slowly lowered her to the ground. Guy's hands lingered on her waist and Marian's hands slowly slid down from his broad shoulders. Guy's eyes were dark with unexplored feeling and his breathing had quickened. Marian felt lightheaded, but she dismissed it as an aftereffect of the long ride. Marian stepped back.

"Guy, tomorrow I must go into the market to find a dress for the banquet in a couple of days. May I go at noon tomorrow with my chambermaid?" Marian asked rather breathlessly.

Guy took a moment to compose his answer. "Yes I will send a guard at noon to your room to accompany you." He said, collecting himself. "Marian, may I come to your rooms soon to discuss my plans for Knighton?" he asked hesitantly, his expression hopeful.

Marian smiled warmly, blushing slightly. "Yes, I will look forward to your visit." She said sincerely.

Guy face lit up with pleasure. "Good day then Marian. I enjoyed our ride." He nodded at her, "until next we meet," he said and left the stables to go report to the Sheriff.

End Chapter Three.

Thank you to my wonderful Beta whatthefracus and to everyone who reviewed. I love when you all ask questions, it really helps me to think where to take the story next even though I have a hazy outline. Please enjoy, this chapter took me a long time to write with the confrontation scene. Please read and review.