Held part 4

By Leah

Summary

This is a lot shorter then I wanted, but it's ready for posting, I may take it down and re-write it later on. Please re-read chapters 1, 2, 3 before continuing on to this one otherwise you will be confused.

Guy will do whatever it takes to keep Marian alive, but here's the thing, does she want to stay alive?

Please note that this will not be a wholly happy chapter. Chapter 4 is going to be dark because it's easier and a lot more fun to write then fluff.

Disclaimer

Rated M for violence and lots of angst. I do not own Robin Hood, if I did, think on the lines of "The Tudors" and Guy would have gotten the girl in the end : )

In addition, this story has been written in Australian and British grammar.

Locksley Manor, Marian's chambers

As soon as the servants had left, Gisborne grabbed Marian and hurled her roughly into the bath.

"I want more food in here!" he roared, grabbing a cloth and brazenly scrubbing at the girl's neck, chest and arms. "Now!"

Marian made a small noise of protest and wriggled feebly beneath the merciless hands.

Gisborne paid no heed, he snatched a jug to the water and poured it over her head.

The maiden coughed and gasped, her hands reached up to wipe at her eyes.

Turning her over, Gisborne ripped the soiled skirt up and attacked her arse, scrubbing fervently at the slimy brown muck.

Marian squealed and bucked against his hand.

"Don't fight me," the lord of Locksley spat. "Don't you dare."

"The food, milord."

"Put it on the table!" the knight rasped, rising to his feet, setting the fouled cloth aside.

Marian panted heavily, her head was downcast, her eyes were full of rage and humiliation.

"Milord, won't the lady catch a chill?" the lad asked uneasily once having placed the meat, fruit and cheese on the oak table before him.

"Take her bed clothes and get out!" Gisborne thundered, eyes blazing.

The servant bowed and nearly fell over in his flighty departure.

Breathing heavily, Gisborne turned on the maiden.

Marian stared back at him, the stony mask had returned but it was not quite there, not anymore. She was too angry, too embarrassed to suppress her emotions now.

Using one hand, Guy yanked her out of the bath and dragged her toward the table.

"N… N-ooo!" she managed to gasp.

"Oh you're going to eat," he growled, thrusting her heavily into the seat. "I'll shove it down your neck if I have to."

The look in her eyes was a mixture of sarcasm and defiance.

He rolled his eyes.

OoO

Covered in food, stinking of faeces, Gisborne stared stonily at the defiant Marian.

He sniffed.

She glared.

"So …" he paused, choosing his words carefully. "This is what you really want?"

Marian said nothing.

He sighed, slumping his shoulders in defeat.

"Fine," he murmured. "Fine."

He rose from the chair.

"You can just sit there. I'll tell the servants to leave you be."

Marian's bright beacon of stubbornness withered for a brief moment.

She was confused.

Guy continued to make his way to the door. Keeping his eyes fixed on her.

"Just die, Marian," he told her sullenly. "It's what you want, isn't it?"

She blinked.

Raking a hand through his dirty, smelly hair, Gisborne left the maiden alone, closing the door softly behind him.

He was tired. He needed to bathe.

Guy's bedchambers

There was a whimper.

His eyes opened slowly.

At first, all he could see was the gentle stream of pale moonlight drifting through the window.

Should he reach for his sword?

Another whimper.

He opted against it.

He knew who it was.

There was the sound of bare feet gently slapping against wooden floorboards, soon muffled against the fur of the rug closest to his bed.

The mattress depressed.

Another whimper.

Indecision.

He did not move, nor did he speak.

He waited.

The pillow behind his head slumped. A cold, trembling mass snuggled against his back, spooning around him, like an animal seeking comfort.

He was tempted to move right then and there but fear of the creature fleeing hardened his resolve.

He waited, keeping still, ever so still.

Movement. A cool sensation of an arm sliding around his waist, a pallid hand touching his silk clad chest.

Reaching up, carefully, gently, he dared to cover the smaller limb with his larger one.

The hand stiffened instantly.

Guy held his breath, waiting for her to flee.

She stayed.

'Alright then,'

He rolled over, facing her.

She was clean. Her braided hair was cool from being washed. She smelt like flowers rather then her own shit and polluted food.

"Hello," he murmured.

She shivered, licking her dry, cracked lips.

"You-f-found-me," she mumbled, stumbling through the sentence … she was not used to speaking,

He frowned.

Found her?

"Sh-" she paused, frowning too.

She tried again.

"Sh-Sh … Shell."

"Shell," he repeated, trying to comprehend.

"I-I was …. Trapped. Shel-Saved … You saved me."

He curled his arms around her, pushing her into his warm body.

"You found your own way back," he whispered into her hair.

Warm liquid kissed his neck.

He sighed.

She was weeping.

"Marian," he breathed, fingers roaming over her hair and back.

She whimpered.

"Thank … you," she whispered, clinging to him.

His lips brushed against her head.

"It doesn't matter anymore," he told her. "You came back to me."

Three weeks later, Nottingham Castle

Quite irritated, Vasey hissed through his teeth as he broke the seal of the latest scroll from Durham.

Since expressing his interest in the Lady Marian, the sheriff had been receiving continuous communications inquiring after the leper's health.

God only knew why, the woman was a constant pain in the backside, manipulative and uglier then the puckered arse of a mastiff.

Still … Having the wretch out of the way would make it easier to control Gisborne.

Locksley Manor, Marian's chambers

"You have to eat."

"Why?"

"Because a cold front is coming in and the sheriff needs me. I won't be back till late afternoon."

Marian rolled her eyes, glancing toward the window.

"Always when he calls," she muttered under her breath.

"Marian, if I do not do his bidding we all stand to suffer. Stop behaving like a child and see sense!"

"Maybe you should stop pandering to his every whim and stand up for yourself for once!"

Guy glared at Marian, fighting the urge to storm off in a huff.

Walking away, he had finally learnt, never actually achieved anything in this situation other than making the maiden even more determined to keep the bit between her teeth.

Since pulling herself out of her miserable state, Marian was growing healthier by the day. Her hair and eyes shone brightly, the hollowness in her face became round full.

Her hatred for Vasey, Guy noted, had blossomed into a raging fire.

He had managed to keep the flames out of the sheriff's path, but the knight knew it would not be long before Marian said, or did something, that would doom them all.

That was why he planned to wed her.

As soon as it was safe, he would take her as his wife, consummate their union, distracting her till she was officially, more importantly safely, with child.

He had discussed the plan with Allan and had not been pleased with the turncoat's half-hearted agreement to his scheme.

Did Allan still see Marian as the girl whose heart belonged to Robin Hood?

He softened his features, trying to be beguiling rather than intemperate.

"Eat," he entreated softly. "I'll return to you later on, Marian."

Scowling balefully at his parting figure, Marian obeyed.

Nottingham Castle, the great hall

"Blast it!" the sheriff snarled, glaring down at the scroll of parchment lying on his table.

Durham was being insufferable. His continuous communications about the leprous wench's health were ruining Vasey's appetite and costing him an arm and a leg in physician fees!

The headaches the messages caused! Oh! Would he ever see the end of them?

OoO

"Ah, Gisborne!" Vasey greeted, wiping his brow. "How's the leper going? Hmmm? Is she dead yet?"

Guy folded his arms across his chest.

"Lady Marian is on the way to recovery, the physician has seen her and deems her fit for me to take her as my wife,"

Vasey's blood went cold.

This would not please Patrick.

"How very unfortunate for you," he sneered, recovering himself before the master at arms could notice anything amiss. "So when is the unhappy event, you stupid man?"

Guy bridled at the insults but refused to revolt.

"I would give her a spring wedding," he told the sheriff briskly. "It gives the servants time to prepare and Marian will grow in strength. If all goes well, she will be giving me an heir nine months afterwards."

"Oh goody!"

Guy raised his head heavenwards, trying not to show his exasperation.

"Is there anything else, my lord?" he asked wearily.

"The sight of you sickens me. Get out!"

Relieved to be allowed to take his leave of his patron, the tall knight nodded to Vasey and marched out of the hall.

Locksley manor, the main chamber

"Something's up," Guy muttered to Allan, staring into the open fireplace, watching the flames dance.

"What do you mean?" the younger man asked, brow furrowed.

"The sheriff has been inquiring about Marian's health. He's asked on more then one occasion."

The knight paused, eyes darting here and there, twas as if he were searching for anyone who would be foolish enough to listen in on their conversation.

"This is disconcerting," Gisborne added. "It is perplexing. Marian cannot go through another encounter with the sheriff, she is not strong enough."

"Do you really think he's looking at belting her up again?" Allan asked, frown deepening. "Giz, he had his fun. Why-"

"How the Hell would I know, Clapa?" Guy snarled, smacking the flat of his palm against the wooden post before him.

"Then I guess there's really only one thing you can do now, Giz," Allan surmised, stroking his chin.

"And what might that be?" his master inquired darkly.

Marian's bedchambers

Marian was hardly surprised when Guy entered into her chamber that evening.

"Good evening," she greeted, a small smile gracing her soft, pink mouth.

"Marian, there is something I would discuss with you before you retire," the knight told her, folding his arms across his broad chest. "Would you oblige me?"

The girl shrugged.

"Have a seat," she replied.

Gisborne opted to stand instead.

"As your guardian, it is my right to be concerned about your welfare," he told Marian sagely.

"Yes."

""I have made a decision that will benefit us both," Guy continued. "I would have preferred the circumstances to be different, but they are what they are."

He paused, gathering himself.

"On the first day of autumn, Allan will escort you to Kirklees's Abbey. It is there, before the eyes of God, you will become my wife."

End of part 4

Authors note

There you have it. Durham wants Marian and he was responsible for poor Isabella's demise!-Can you tell I'm a huge Isabella fan?

Part 4 has taken quite some time to get ready. I had intended to upload it a lot earlier but I kept on producing rubbish chappies so I walked away from the story for a while. I cannot, will not, say when part 5 will be ready. I am studying and writing other fics so please do not nag me, I am begging here. If you nag me, I will be will and truly put off.

Will this have a happy ending at all? I'm not sure yet. Depends on what mood I'm in when I write the last chapter.

I have more than one idea for the ending. Two involve major character deaths, the other is a bit bright and shiny but with character deaths.

So … If this does end in utter despair, please do not use me as your punching bag. You, dearest reader, made the choice to read this. I gave you the warnings. If you can't handle unhappy stories, you shouldn't have read it.

You are not children and I am not going to mother you. I am sorry I seem too harsh, but I am bloody well sick and tired of people whining at me because I didn't keep characters alive or together.

Thank you for reading this chapter. If you liked it, good. If not, that's fine.

Leah.