Sir Guy of Gisborne awoke with a splitting headache. He was tied over the back of his own horse like a corpse; worse yet, the horse was moving. His head pounded harder with each hoof beat, and his face burned with the humiliation of looking so ridiculous and being helpless to stop it. He caught glimpses of the legs of other horses and strained to think past his throbbing temples.
Hood. His memories of the previous night's events returned in a flood, and he began to struggle. His violent movements sent searing fireworks across his shoulder from the where the Sheriff had stabbed him, and Guy could not hold back a groan of pain. One of the outlaws must have noticed, because suddenly, all of the horses pulled to a stop. Guy heard the sound of Robin Hood chuckling and sliding easily out of his saddle. "Oh, the noble prisoner stirs."
Guy hated that arrogant ring to Hood's voice; the one he got whenever he was playing the people's hero. He was sure he would have to deal with the former lord of Locksley soon enough, but everything rode on Marian. If she failed to keep her word; if she had lied to him again... No, he couldn't bear to think on it. Even though his entire mind screamed that she was a hateful liar, the part of his heart that kept him sane still held to the belief that she could, and would, one day love him with the same passion he felt for her.
"I wonder, should he be allowed the privilege of sitting on the horse?" Guy could hear Robin slowly turning to look at each of his men and could just imagine his arms spread wide in mock anticipation of answers he wasn't really asking for. Hood laughed derisively.
"Robin..." Marian's voice betrayed her weariness.
"What?" Robin laughed again.
"Robin, let him sit up."
"And why should I?"
"You know full well he deserves at least that."
Sir Guy growled inwardly at his inability to defend himself, while Robin and Marian argued over what he deserved.
Eventually, Marian won, and Hood bent down close to Guy's ear, "Killing the Sheriff may have earned you Marian's trust, but a lifetime of treachery is not so easily forgotten by me."
He untied Sir Guy from the horse and helped him sit up. Too weak to put up a fight, Guy allowed Robin to retie his hands to the saddle horn.
Sir Guy slumped over and was close to falling off the horse when he felt a soft hand on his forearm. Marian stood before him holding a water skin to his dry lips. A chill surged through him at her touch, and he smiled at her, gratefully taking the water.
The ride resumed and soon they reached the king's camp. Guy once again came near to falling from his mount, but he caught himself. The pain in his shoulder was nearly overwhelmed by the anxiety creeping into his heart. Soon he would stand before the king and either be condemned or redeemed. Either Marian would keep her promise and speak for him to the king, or she would leave him to die. He deserved death; he knew that, but he still held to the hope that she could save him, that her love would change him. He would do anything for her.
Guy looked at Marian's beautiful face, her features sober with thought. She closed her eyes tightly, and sent her gaze skyward, then she glanced over and saw Guy staring at her. He quickly averted his eyes, but only for a second.
Marian caught Robin Hood's arm as he turned around to talk to his men, and he gave her a smile like he wanted to kiss her.
Rage twisted in Sir Guy's gut, but he was in no position to act.
Marian looked upset, and she pulled Robin away from the others, out of his line of sight.
Guy wondered what she was saying to him, and his constantly unanswered suspicions about their feelings for each other returned. He toyed with the idea of killing Robin Hood as well, but he would have to do it right. He could take no chance of Marian finding out. Even if she did not love Hood, killing a man in cold blood would not impress her.
Marian returned with Robin Hood in tow. Her face was marked with calm determination, and Robin followed, visibly angry but attempting to hide it. By the time he had gotten close enough to his men to talk, he had almost succeeded.
Robin Hood told his group to stay put while he and Marian brought Sir Guy before the king, then he untied Guy from his horse, and the three of them made their way to the king's tent.
After all the niceties had been observed, Robin launched into an explanation of the Black Knights' recent activities, ignoring Sir Guy, who stood off to the side with his arms tied and his head down. "...Sheriff Vaisey is dead now, but we must hunt down the remnant of those vile traitors. It's too dangerous to leave them alive."
The king had listened thoughtfully through Robin Hood's tale, and now he spoke. "Very well, Robin. I will send Carter back to England with you to seek out the Black Knights. What of this man you have brought to me? Who is he?"
"This man is Sir Guy of Gisborne. He is a criminal, Your Majesty. Several years ago, he traveled here to the Holy Land on the Sheriff's orders to kill you and has since been involved in many illegal actions against the people of England and you, my king."
Guy could hardly process Robin's words through the haze that surrounded his mind, but he brought up his head as Marian shot a wicked glare in Robin's direction. The king stood from his throne and glowered down at Guy with a deadly fury.
"Your Majesty, if I may be allowed to speak." Marian's clear voice soothed the painfully quick thrumming of Sir Guy's heart. The moment of truth had come.
"You may." The king ground the words out of his mouth, eyes fixed on Sir Guy's face.
"My Lord, this man is the reason the Sheriff is dead. He saved your life today, risking his own life and position to do so. He must be allowed to go free."
The king's gaze now held Marian. "Is this true, Robin?"
"Yes, Your Majesty." Now it was Robin's turn to glare; he took care to not aim it at the king. "But he is still a traitor, he deserves to die!"
"If that is so, Marian also deserves death. For any who would defend treasonous criminals must not be truly loyal to their king."
"What? Your Majesty, Marian has done nothing." The shock in Robin Hood's voice reflected in his features, and Guy frantically searched the king's face for any sign that he was faking Robin out for some reason, but he saw only a hardened man who had spent too long at war. Suddenly, he was afraid for Marian's life as well as his own, and he launched an attempt in his hazy mind to formulate a plan of escape.
"Now you're defending them?"
Robin looked exasperated, and he was astonished at the king's hasty accusations. "Marian is confused and frightened, and she speaks of things she does not understand-"
"I don't understand? When have you ever spoken to him, Robin?" Marian turned her eyes back to the king and immediately dropped them to the ground, blushing at her outburst. "Forgive me, My Lord."
"Speak on, Lady Marian." The king seemed suddenly interested in hearing her side of the story, even though he had been ready to kill her not a minute before.
"I know this man, Your Majesty, and he has many honorable qualities, and I have seen the struggle within him. His mind had been poisoned by the Sheriff, but he has now seen reason. The struggle has ended and he has chosen the right path. He killed the Sheriff and saved not only your life, but mine as well. He was also wounded in his fight with the Sheriff. He deserves commendation for his actions, not destruction for his past."
Guy looked at Marian through grateful eyes, not sure how much longer he would be able to stay upright. He had thought it impossible to love her more than he already did, and she had just proven him wrong.
Robin stood staring at Marian, emptiness washed over his face as though she had betrayed him.
"You have been wounded doing me this service?" The king turned once again to Guy, but the lethal ferocity had left his eyes; the king simply wanted to hear from his savior.
Sir Guy remained dumbfounded for a moment as the words floated through his foggy mind and took on meaning. "Yes, Your Majesty.
"Well, Robin? What do you think? It seems this man has saved my life. I think the Lady Marian is right, he should be rewarded."
Robin Hood's mind returned to him, and he stammered indignantly and looked around for anyone to support him. "My Lord, I believe he is still dangerous. Maybe I don't talk to him, but I have seen his actions towards your people back in England, and he cannot be allowed freedom."
"Thank you for your input, Robin, but I believe that he has proven his loyalty today, and since we judge him by his actions, he may be forgiven of his former sins in light of his recent doings."
"But Your Majesty-"
"That is my decision Robin. I trust your judgment, my friend, but I must be fair in my rulings. This man has saved my life, and I cannot let that go unrewarded."
Having obviously made his final decision, the king turned to Guy, "Sir Guy of Gisborne, you are hereby pardoned by order of the monarchy of England; you may return home in peace. And for your honorable service to our name and self, you will be rewarded with ownership of Locksley manor, hereby renamed Gisborne, and the title 'Earl of Wrenshire.'
Guy simply stared at the king, positive that he had misheard. Locksley? Surely he hadn't meant Robin's Locksley?
It seemed that Robin Hood felt the same way; he sputtered, "Your Majesty, surely-"
"Silence Robin, I have not finished. It seems Nottingham will be needing a new sheriff, and who better than you, my most trusted friend and ally? Therefore, I now bestow upon you, Robin of Locksley, the position of sheriff, in the township of Nottingham; may you bear the responsibility well."
Robin stared at the king, completely taken aback, but in an instant his smooth manner returned. He stood up straighter and smiled at the king in what must have been meant as a humble way. "Thank you, Your Majesty. I will not disappoint you."
"I trust not, my friend."
Robin bowed, and the king turned his attention back to Guy, "And I trust that you will honestly and effectively protect the citizens of the village of Gisborne, in the name of the king. You are dismissed."
Sir Guy bowed low and exited the king's tent, trying to wrap his brain around the implications of what had just transpired. He felt sluggish, and the pain in his shoulder flared with every step he took. Only two thoughts could get through the oppressive fatigue clouding his mind; only the important ones: Marian kept her promise, and I'm going to have a home again.
