Robin Hood sighed. His sword settled softly on the dirt. "I bear you no personal ill-will, milady," he said.
I felt calmer. I was not dead. "You will not achieve your goal by killing me. He still loves only her."
"He killed her."
"He did! But what you must understand is that something awful came to life the moment he did, and it died in the same breath. The worst part of him choked on shame and regret. He would undo it if he could, and God willing, Sir Guy will never harm another innocent person again. When Marian died, she gave him a chance to be saved. If you kill me – though he loves me not – you only breathe life into the beast within him."
Robin sighed again. He looked very weary. "Then I will kill him and spare you."
"You would then punish me, and only me," I said softly. "He does not love life, either."
Robin crumpled to his heels and buried his face in his hands. The violence fled from him. "I miss her so much," he whispered.
We sat in silence for a time.
…
That very morning, before Guy and I took the ride that ended in our attack and capture, and the afternoon spent with my would-be executioner, he said to me, "I miss her so much."
I didn't ask who; there was no need. There had been more moments of stolen passion, broken off abruptly when the wrong name quivered on his lips. Times when he looked at me and saw her. No threats of violence, but occasional flashes of anger, anger I hoped I could tame with a devotion that was growing more slavish the more time I spent with him. He was my only companion here. I became obsessed with finding the good within him; our wedding was but three days away.
He sheltered me from the Sheriff and saw to my wants. He gave me affection, of a sort. He quickened my heart and my loins, and so what, I asked myself, if when he finally lays me down to complete the act of love, if he sees another woman lying there? I know the truth. I would give myself to him utterly if it would save him.
We rode a way they sometimes rode together; that is why, I suppose, Robin Hood found us so easily. He fell upon Guy from the trees, cracked him across the back of the head with the hilt of his sword, and brought us both to a hut so small and dark and musty that it felt like the mouth of some fallen giant. I thought I would die here, but it seemed I would be spared. I prayed that Robin listened and understood; that he would give me more time to save Guy, to help him become the good man I knew he was.
Guy awoke. He raised a hand and tangled it in my falling hair. "Where am I?" he asked blearily.
"Hush, dear," I said quietly. "Rest, Don't talk." But of course it was too late; Robin Hood looked up, alert.
Guy tried to move and winced with pain, but his eyes darted around the hut. They lighted on Robin Hood.
"Go!" he croaked to me, struggling to rise.
"I will not go," I said, pressing upon his shoulders to keep him still. "Hush. I will not leave you."
"Go," he said weakly, groping for a weapon. Robin had left Guy's sword far behind in the forest. I was the only defense he had.
"No," I said.
Robin rose. I encircled Guy's neck with my arms, shielding him with my body. Not roughly, Robin pushed me away. "Peace, villain," he said scornfully. "You do not die today, and neither does this lady."
As bold as I had acted, I could not prevent a sigh of relief. "Thank you," I murmured.
"But, monster –" Robin slapped him lightly on both sides of the face, making sure he was alert enough to understand. "I swear to you this: I will not harm this woman, but if you ever dare to love her, I will take her from you." He turned the full force of his blue-green gaze upon me. I swiftly and strongly realized his charm could be a dangerous weapon as well. Softly, he said, "There will always be shelter for you in the forest."
Then he tweaked Guy's nose, rose, spat disdainfully on the floor by Guy's hand, and strode from the hut into the concealment of the trees.
Guy groaned with pain at the slamming of the door. "Easy, darling!" I said, stroking his brow.
Guy looked at me. Suddenly, I felt he was looking at me, truly me, and seeing me for who I was. "You won't leave?" he asked, sounding afraid.
My heart swelled. "No, Guy, I won't leave."
With mingled exhilaration and fear, I thought for the first time that Robin might have to make good on his threat. Guy was gazing at me as a woman, not a ghost.
With a great effort he placed his hand on the back of my neck and drew my lips to his. "Good," he murmured.
When he kissed me instead of her, his lips tasted even sweeter.