"Good afternoon, darling," Robin called as he walked over to the woman he loved and laid a kiss to her soft neck. "I see you are back in good time."
"Yes," Marian smiled, "John and I finished our rounds in no time. And you? How was your work in Clun?"
Robin turned her towards him so that she faced him. He grinned cheekily, "It was, well, to be honest, work." She slapped him lightly, "But it was well received and the people were grateful. But I have something more important I wish to discuss with you."
"Hm?" Marian raised her eyebrows as she wrapped her arms around Robin's neck, "And what might that be?"
Robin smiled as he inched his face closer to hers, "I want to talk about us." He placed his forehead against hers. "I love you, Marian, and you know it. I was wondering if we could pick a wedding date."
Marian was taken aback by the question and stared dumbfounded at him. She could not breathe. This question had been the last thing she had expected him to ask and the last thing that had been on her mind. And somehow the thought of their marriage did not seem to brighten up her heart as much as it had used to. Her thoughts instantly turned to Guy and how hurt he would be. But she also wondered if it would make her truly happy. She struggled for words to answer Robin.
But just then as she was about to speak, they heard the lever to their camp being pulled, "Sounds like the rest of the gang is back, eh? Much!" He called for his manservant who had conveniently slipped into his kitchen. He dutifully appeared, "It looks like everyone will be here in time for supper."
"Well," Much shrugged, "Well, that's good. As long as you all help. No, I mean it- I mean- ahhh who am I kidding?" He threw up his hands in despair and walked slowly back into his kitchen with a disdained air.
Marian and Robin could not contain their laughter but the very minute Allan and Tuck walked through the door, they realized something was wrong. Robin asked just as much.
"Well," Tuck began, "We were making our rounds in Nottingham Castle. And you never would guess who passed us."
"Mate, we do not have time for guessing games," Allan groaned before looking at Robin. "It's Gisborne. Isabella has him being held in the dungeon. He is scheduled to be executed tomorrow."
"What?!" Marian nearly shouted. She had not meant to seem so surprised, she was just so incredibly startled that she had been unable to contain her amazement. And she felt afraid, very afraid for Guy. "What must we do then?"
Robin shook his head, "We will do nothing. I hear there is some gold in Isabella's strongroom. Gisborne's execution will be the perfect distraction."
"But he is one of us!" Marian declared defiantly.
Robin sighed, "Not anymore. He left us, remember? He does not deserve our help, nor will we give it."
Marian was about to reply but Allan interrupted, "Look, it might not be as easy as all that."
"And why not?" Robin's eyes flashed with anger.
"Because," Tuck answered, "Isabella's husband, a man who goes by the name of Thorton, has returned and taken over as Sheriff of Nottingham."
"And why is that such a problem?" Marian asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Well, it's not a problem right now." Tuck replied, "But he has gone to Dead Man's Crossing in search of the hidden gold that we hid there inside of the dead man's crypt."
Robin nodded with a serious pout to his lips, "So he is stealing our gold. What is the catch?"
Allan spoke before Tuck was given the chance, "It is a girl. She has been imprisoned with Gisborne for speaking out against Thorton. I hear she is a real spitfire."
"Robin you cannot just let an innocent girl die for such a small crime!" Marian spoke as with triumph. "It goes against everything that Robin Hood stands for."
"I know! I know!" Robin cried, clearly frusterated. "And I suppose that you want me to free Gisborne too, then?" He eyed her quizzically.
Marian groaned, "Of course!" She then quickly added, a bit quieter, "You will be in the dungeons anyway. And he deserves our help for all he has done with us in the past months."
Robin stood in thought for a couple minutes before exhaling deeply, "No, we will not do this." At protests from Marian he raised his voice, "You heard Allan! The girl is imprisoned, not sentenced to death! She may yet get out of this alive! As for Gisborne," Robin frowned, "He can take care of himself. It would only be a blow to his pride. But I am not going to let Thorton get away with that gold. Much!"
Marian was so angry in that moment, that she stomped off to a room in the camp and slammed the door behind her. Robin rolled his eyes, "Why do women have to always be so dramatic?!"
When the ginger had appeared, Robin exhaled to calm himself before he began to give instructions, "We all make for Dead Man's Crossing now. Grab your weapons. Tomorrow may yet see us stealing that gold from Isabella." He winked mischievously, "Let's go take back some treasure." And with that they left the camp. Robin would just have to talk to Marian later.
Guy heard screams coming through the passage of the dungeons and he at first thought that someone had been tortured. But when he heard the high-pitched tone of a female, he only groaned and resumed to stare up at the cracks in the stone ceiling.
The screams came closer as the guards shoved a fiery redhead into the cell next to his, "You will pay for that you filthy brute!" She shouted as the guards threw her brusquely into her cell and then walked away.
"Men," the newcomer humphed angrily, "If I had my way they would all disappear in a puff of smoke and the world would be a better place." Seeming to finally notice that another presence was in the dungeons, and furthermore that he was staring straight at her, she stopped talking. Guy turned away, happy to find that the girl did in deed shut up.
But his joy was short lived. "You are him, aren't you?" She inquired as she came closer to his cell, "Isabella's brother? She is a friend of mine."
"Not very close by the look of it," Guy shot back impatiently.
"Her nasty husband did this to me, clever," she retorted.
Guy could not help but chuckle, which confused her deeply. "Thorton? He is here?" Perhaps he would be able to get out of this cell after all.
The girl visibly shuddered, "She is terrified of him."
"Well, she shouldn't have run off and left him, should she?"
The girl frowned, "You always were a bit pleased of yourself, weren't you? I remember seeing you once. The man in black upon his black horse. The big I Am." She scoffed, " Now look at you. Dirty, miserable, and small. And now you are going to be executed."
Guy fumed with anger and shot back, "And by the looks of it, you may not be far behind!"
She seemed taken aback but tried hard to keep the upper hand. "I hope you go to hell!" She retorted as she went away to sit on the cold stone floor.
"I am already there," Guy whispered just loud enough for her to hear. He scrunched up his eyes as thoughts and visions of Marian came into his mind. He should feel hatred and anger, but he found that he could not. All he still thought about was how much he had loved her. He even now was as in love with her. And now that he knew she had lied and was with Hood...well, it pained him terribly. It felt as if his own heart had been ripped away and fed to the dogs. He was in insufferable pain and torture which he felt was eternal and would still remain even after death. He desperately desired for his thoughts to go away and he figured that the only way to do so would be to hold a conversation. He sighed in his misery and bad fortune.
"What did you do to get in here anyway?" Guy asked curiously.
"Nothing," the girl frowned as she saw doubt clearly written on his face, "Well, nothing deserving of this wretched cell." She then smiled, "Isabella saved me, you know. I was on trial for disobeying my father's desire for marriage. But she rescued me. A kind lady she is."
Gisborne scoffed at her, "Oh, yes, she is kind. She even locks her own brother in this cell to await execution. And why disobey your father? Do you not wish to be married?"
The girl let out a cruel laugh, "As if I would! Men are stupid animals who only live for conquest and lust."
"I take it you despise them, then?" Guy asked softly.
She eyed him out of the corner of her eye and then turned her attention to the shackles that bound her wrists. "Of course I do. Didn't you hear me? A world without men would be a much better place." She began to shake the chains on her wrists until they made an awful clanking.
Guy tried to be patient and remain calm, but with a voice much harsher than he had intended, he demanded, "Stop that confound racket!"
The girl jumped at the sound of his voice, "But it hurts."
"That's why they do it. Deal with it." Guy was rapidly running out of patience.
His cellmate was quiet for only a couple seconds before she sighed and began to once again complain, "I am so thirsty." Her voice cracked.
"Then hold your breath and stop whining!"
"Nasty peace of work, aren't you. It is no wonder Isabella wants you dead. What did you do to her anyway?"
Guy suddenly threw his head back to look at the ceiling, exasperation clearly written on his face. "Oh give me strength! It is almost worth dying to be spared your endless chatter."
"Come on. You are here; I am here. What else are we going to do?" Her voice softened considerably as Guy found himself relaxing.
"I found her a husband, that is what I did." He avoided her penetrating glance, "Good price too."
"You sold her?" The girl cried out, absolutely dumbfounded. "Your own sister?"
"It was our best chance in life. It is not my fault she made a mess of it." Guy could not understand his own bitterness but he found himself hating himself for it.
"Yes it is! All if it! You sold her to a monster!" The girl spat out.
And the guilt disappeared again as Guy exhaled in anger, "You stupid girl. You know nothing about it."
"My name is not stupid girl. It is Meg." The girl sighed, "And I am still thirsty."
Guy's features became gentle as he glanced at her, "That stone around your neck." She looked down confused. "Suck it."
She obeyed him and instantly her mouth started to become moist. How did he notice my necklace? She asked herself. He barely even looked at me.