KNIGHTON
Marian was stood on the edge of the forest, atop the large hill that looked down over Knighton. She watched as a carriage rolled up, and the man she knew to be Thornton climbed out with Vaisey.
He paraded round the growing number of villagers, flaunting himself, his guards and those from the castle standing firm around it.
The manor, newly re-constructed, stood more like a fortress than the home it had once been.
She had had to watch it be built up from the ground, exactly as her old had looked.
It stung in her chest, burned with painful images of her father and early days of courtship with Robin.
It burnt within her just as her home had done, licked with flames.
Reduced to ash.
She had known that this would happen one day.
Knighton was to-larger land to be left unoccupied.
She just had not been prepared for it.
She sat down in the grass, her knees pulled up towards her chest. Her sword lay on the floor at her side, and her arms wrapped around them. Her chin rested on her knees, and the tall grass shielded her from sight of the people below, all staring at their new lord.
Robin exited the forest to see her put her face against her knees, trying not to cry.
"Marian?" He called gently.
Her head snapped up and she wiped her face with one hand hurriedly.
"Oh my love…" He moved to sit beside her and wrapped his arms around her.
"Shush…" He rocked her gently and at first she resisted his attempts to comfort her.
"Don't fuss, "I am fine…" She swallowed, "I am sorry…"
"Never apologise, least of all to me." He was firm and looked down at Thornton, who was flaunting himself.
Marian rested her head against his shoulder, his arm tight around her as they stared down at the village.
Both of their faces hardened as a man stop a black horse road into the village, a woman in gold behind him.
Guisborne dismounted.
"Ah Guisborne!" Vaisey crowed and Thornton smiled, and it was a sickening twist on his face.
"Good of you to join us…"
Isabella was pushed towards Guy who caught her.
Thornton's eyes hardened.
He wrenched the rope form her wrists, before hurling her at Thornton with one push. before pulling her back against his chest.
She cried out in pain.
He held her securely in his arms before holding her tighter.
"People of Knighton!" He shouted and the villagers fell silent.
"Allow me to introduce my wife." He stressed and grabbed her face in one hand, holding it so they all could see.
"Lady Isabella."
KNIGHTON HALL
Isabella was hurled into the manor. She stumbled and only managed to stop herself from tripping when she grabbed onto the mantel piece.
"You ran away from me, your own husband." Thornton shouted and crashed his hand against her face.
"How dare you, breaking man's law and gods!"
Isabella shrieked and cowered away as he raised his hand to beat her again.
"Please…" She gasped.
"Temper Temper." Vaisey walked into the manor with Guisborne behind him. He lounged in one of the chairs and looked around.
"Well Thornton, is it all to your satisfaction?"
Thornton sneered at Isabella, his hand squeezing her arm as he held her.
"Not everything…"
"Oh well I assume you will beat that out of her." Vaisey chuckle and stood.
"Come along Guisborne, back to Nottingham, I need my rest before the party tonight."
Vaisey stood and waved one hand over his shoulder as he walked out to mount his horse.
"Guy…" Isabella gasped; Thornton's hand's pushing blood in different directions throughout her arm.
Guy glanced at her, but his eyes were cold, as if he saw right through her.
Her eyes pleaded help.
He ignored her, "Thornton."
Thornton ducked his head, "Guisborne."
Isabella watched as Guy walked out ot his horse.
She was pushed away from Thornton, who walked across the room to the large back doors that lead out to Knighton paddock.
"Come here." He snapped and she obeyed.
She rubbed her wrists and stood beside him.
He grabbed her once again, forcing her to face the landscape.
"All of this is ours… but if you ever, run away from me again." He spat in her face.
"I will make sure that this place is the last you ever see." He warned and shoved her away.
She gasped in pain and surprise.
He stormed away and up the stairs towards their chamber.
She swallowed and sunk to sit on the floor, resting against the door frame.
THE CAMP
"As the new lord of Knighton Thornton plans to make it clear that it is his to anyone who would object to it." Robin told them where they sat all around camp, resting on various chests and bunks, watching him as he stood from his own place.
"Thornton has invited every lord in the shire to a banquet at his house tonight in honour of their new small holdings." Robin walked towards Alan, "I have no doubt that they are plotting something, and we are going as spies."
Much nearly swallowed his own head, "spies, master surely… Robin… we will be spotted immediately."
"Not with this." Robin pulled a black mask from the trunk he was stood by and held it up.
Marian raised one eyebrow, "Masquerade?"
"Indeed." Robin stared at her, "it seems to be that the black knights aren't even confident enough to show their faces to each other, let alone people who are not them."
"But even with that, the sheriff and Guisborne would spot you immediately Robin." Djac said.
"Indeed." Robin looked to Alan, "But I will be keeping them busy playing a servant with a wine jug…."
He trailed off and Alan held his hands up,
"I see where this is going, you want me to wear that and pretend to be a lord, get into the inner circle, under the cover of that mask?" He raised one eyebrow.
Robin threw it at him, "precisely."
Alan laughed, "No way, I have to pretend to be a lord while you lot get to be servants, they will see right through it."
"Yes they will." Robin folded his arms and the gang stared at him from their places around their lose circle which had formed across camp.
"To enter Thornton and the black knight's world I have to teach you something which is completely beyond your reach."
The man frowned and the rest of them smiled secretly.
"Oh, and what is that?" Alan muttered.
Robin held his arms out and bowed with his grin.
"Charm."
The gang laughed as Robin stood and crossed the camp to produce another mask from the box and held it in both his hands.
He looked at Alan, "If you convince Thornton that you are a gentlemen of stature and nobility, he will let you into his circle."
He glanced to his right before continuing.
"And to help you, as well as all of us being there as your secret entourage, you will have someone who knows how to play this game far better than any of us." Robin said.
The gang watched as Robin crossed the camp to Marian.
He stood by her side and handed her the mask.
She stared at him in surprise as he turned back to Alan.
"For one night Alan I will condone you flirting with my wife… for one knight… she is to be yours."
Alan whistled loudly and Robin took Marian's hand and helped her gallantly to her feet.
"My love, prepare to become Countess of Rutland, lady from the French court…" He glanced to the man who was grinning broadest.
"Alan's wife."