Chapter Three
Bloody Bonding
Last Time:
"My heart belongs to Robin, and now I will go to him." Marian stated firmly before racing down the hall to her room.
"No you will not, I will make sure of that." Guy whispered smirking from his hiding place beside a suit of armor. No, she wouldn't be making it to the forest tonight; he would be on guard this time!
Sir Guy returned to supper shortly after his spat with Marian. He had a rather evil smirk on his face as he sat beside Vasey. The Sheriff noticed this immediately and though he was curious, said nothing. No other interesting events occurred that evening as Tempest retired to her room early along with many of the other lords and ladies of the court. It was then in the lonely silence that Sir Guy and Vasey plotted and planned.
"I'll be on guard all night, I want to catch her in the act." Guy stated almost gleefully.
"You realize that if what she says is true that she will have to die." The Sheriff mused solemnly.
"Cousin, I am not beyond forgiveness. Neither are you." Guy informed in a cocky tone.
"I believe you have me confused with someone else." Vasey chuckled darkly hoping that his captain had not gone insane.
"Marian, when she is caught, will be stripped of all title and degree. She will be a commoner after tonight, her hair shall forever be cut short showing her shame, or she shall hang. She can never be married, and shall remain as a servant in the castle so she can always see what she could have." Guy stated philosophically.
"You've really been thinking about this, haven't you?" Vasey smirked secretly proud and inspired by the ingenuity.
"Yes I have, she tore out my heart and I shall not let it go lightly." Guy grumbled.
"Very well then, go out and have fun. I expect you not to alarm our guest though." Vasey reminded a look of concern flashing over his features.
"No, she will sleep peacefully, blissfully unaware of the goings on tonight." Guy smiled.
"Good, very good." The Sheriff nodded returning Sir Guy's wicked smile.
Tempest bolted upright in her bed, wide-awake. She slowly looked around the room. Her heart was beating frantically in her chest and her breathing was erratic. A glance outside and Tempest knew it was well past midnight, so why was she suddenly awake? Nothing was happening. Nothing was wrong. So, why the sudden awakening, it didn't make sense? Tempest got out of bed and walked to the door. She didn't know why, she just did. Then the strangest thing happened. She with one swift move kicked the door down.
'I can't believe I just did that!' Tempest thought to herself in mute horror. Then she realized why. Foot stuck beneath the fallen door was a strangely dressed figure.
"The night watchman, I presume? How interesting, picking my lock I'll bet." Tempest murmured noticing the tools discarded on the floor. "What are you going to do now, I wonder."
The figured finally pulled free of the door and stood in a fighting stance.
"You can't be serious." Tempest chuckled crossing her arms over her chest. She was wearing a mere white shift being to tired to unpack her clothes. "I'm not going to get blood on my dress." She said dismissively.
The dark figure unsheathed a small dagger and Tempest's eyes lit with a dangerous intensity. The person moved forward slicing at the air threateningly.
"All I wanted was a little sleep." Tempest growled.
Marian smirked behind the mask of the night watchman as the noble woman moved out of her room and into the hallway. She'd come here to investigate this new visitor so she would have information for Robin, but it seemed that a fight was in order. Besides, the female had insulted her far to many times not to get what she deserved!
Marian leapt forward swinging the blade closer to the female as Tempest merely jumped to the side. Tempest watched her new opponent, waiting for an opening. When the night watchman thrust the blade forward, Tempest twisted backwards and kicked out. The blow landed in Marian's solar plexus and knocked all the air from her lungs.
"I fought in the Holy War, don't think this will be easy." Tempest stated with a dark smile.
Marian got up off the floor and hurled her body at Tempest. Tempest was surprised by the gutsy move but swiftly dodged the possibly fatal lunge. Marian hit the wall and groaned.
"I know you. Your scent it's like ivy and bulrushes. Where have I smelled that before?" Tempest murmured aloud as Marian stood once again. "Almost like-" Tempest didn't finish the sentence; to lost in thought to notice the night watchman as she surged forward, tackling her to the ground.
Marian took the long red strands of hair in her hand and twisted them painfully around her gloved hand. With the strong hold, she used it as leverage and smashed Tempest's face into the stone floor. Tempest groaned with the force of the blow. Her senses were dulling with each slam and Tempest knew better than to loose consciousness. The taste of blood filled her mouth and she felt weightless. Her pupils dilated, her breathing sped up, her heart rate doubled and her muscles twisted tighter, playtime was over. Tempest flipped the night watchman off her back and managed another kick to the stomach as the figure went rolling down the steps to the next level of hallways.
"Blood, the rush, ah! I need to calm down, just breathe!" Tempest murmured to herself her eyes black as pitch as she tried to slow her breathing while she walked down the steps.
Marian slowly rolled over trying to find the energy to move. She'd had her! She'd been slamming that prissy noble's face into the floor! What had happened? She stood quickly as she heard the pat of bare feet on the stone. Drawing one of her daggers, she threw it at Tempest.
"Losing your nerve?" Tempest questioned dodging the blade as blood trickled down the side of her face. There was a large gash that followed her cheekbone blood dripping from it. A longer slice lay on her jawbone on the same left side of her face. There was gravel and grime in the smaller cuts and purple coloring was making its way on to her pale skin as she stepped forwards into the moonlight.
Marian drew another dagger this one a foot and a half in size, her last one. Tempest glanced at the moon and Marian took the opportunity to throw it. The blade buried itself into Tempest's upper thigh and the female growled in pain.
"And we're normal again." Tempest sighed painfully her eyes shading to emerald green again. "You know what they say, first cut's the deepest." Tempest managed a short laugh as she took the dagger and pulled it from her leg. Taking the blade, she threw it at the night watchman and was pleased to see it slice open the upper arm of the masked fighter.
Marian gasped in shock as blood seeped form the wound. It was definitely time to leave!
Tempest sat at the base of the steps, resting her head against one of the large pillars, watching in irritation as the night watchman raced out of sight. "I could have had you." She grumbled watching as her thin white dress began to turn red. The sound of racing footsteps met her ears and Tempest growled annoyed. "Now who's going to show up, I thought I'd met everyone." She muttered.
Sir Guy appeared around the corner his sword drawn yet he looked as if he'd just awoken. His hair was mussed, he was only wearing the black cotton leggings that he slept in and used under his armor, his pale muscled chest exposed to the night air.
"You're late." Tempest stated as Guy turned to see her sitting against the pillar, not noticing her eyes wandering over his body.
"What happened?" Guy exclaimed in shock as he rushed over.
"I think I met the night watchman, I believe we hit it off quite nicely." She stated obstinately.
Guy sheathed his sword and knelt beside her. "Your face!" He whispered in worry. He gently brushed away the dirt and grime with two bare fingers only causing the blood to smear. "Bloody hell you're a mess." He murmured trying to be gentle.
"It happens." Tempest sighed wincing at the pain.
"I'll take you to my room, I have medicines there." Guy stated firmly.
"Is that appropriate, I don't even have a chaperone." Tempest said sarcastically.
"I suppose you couldn't just let the night watchman take what he wanted and leave?" Guy asked as he stood.
"He might have tried to take my virtue, and what's a lady without her virtue?" Tempest said in mock fear as Guy bent down and scooped her up suddenly.
"I'm not sure I would call you a lady." Guy smirked as Tempest wrapped her arms around his neck tightly, clinging her body to his.
"Don't drop me, please." Tempest begged meekly.
"Afraid of heights are we?" Guy murmured into her ear as she turned frightened green eyes on him.
"You drop me and I'll kill you." She whispered frightened.
"Well, when you put it that way, how can I let you go?" Guy smirked as he held her tighter.
"I mean it. It's bad enough I'm bleeding all over the place but now you've got to threaten my security." Tempest huffed her eyes still huge and wary.
"Trust me." Guy whispered his hot breath caressing her skin as he carried her into his room.
"Not like I have much of a choice." Tempest murmured as he laid her down on the bed, it was still warm from where he had been perhaps only moments before.
"You make it sound like I enjoy causing pain." Guy chuckled rummaging through a drawer.
"Would it disturb you if I said that would attract me even more?" Tempest questioned innocently.
Guy straightened and turned giving her a curious look. "You certainly are interesting, I'll give you that." He said as he sat down beside her stretched out form.
"Interesting, we can start with that." Tempest shrugged as Guy began pushing the hem of her dress up. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" She snapped suddenly sitting up and pushing away.
"Your leg, its bled through onto your shift." Guy pointed out.
"So?" Tempest growled.
"There's obviously a wound." Guy explained.
"I know there's a wound! Next time you try lifting my dress, you would be best to ask." Tempest stated with a glare as she pulled the hem up keeping herself covered while exposing the injured upper thigh.
"I'll try to keep that in mind." Guy smirked as he took a piece of cloth and dipped it in a sterile solution.
"What's that?" Tempest asked curiously as Guy dabbed at the wound. No sooner had the words left her mouth than the concoction began sizzling. "Ouch. Ouch! OUCH!" Tempest growled in increasing volume.
"Stop whining, it'll only hurt for a second or so." Guy chastised.
"I'll show you whining." Tempest muttered causing Guy to look up at her with an 'I dare you' look.
"You aren't going to win." Guy stated seriously as he gently stroked the rather large cut with an ointment.
"What are you talking about?" Tempest asked wincing slightly at the feel of his fingers over the raw skin.
"I've had my heart ripped out once, it won't happen again. I don't trust women." Guy stated accidentally rubbing the wound the wrong way causing Tempest to yelp. "Sorry." Guy apologized sincerity in his voice.
"It's alright, I understand your pain. It's difficult getting over betrayal. You have to though, move on and whatnot." Tempest said wistfully looking away as if seeing memories of a different time.
Guy finished wrapping the wound and looked at her for a moment. He didn't see the cold she-wolf that had chased Marian from the table with such civilized ferocity, he saw a confused and hurt young maiden.
"Let me see your face." Guy commanded quietly.
Tempest obediently turned to face him. Guy sighed dipping the cloth back into the clear solution. Tempest didn't wince when he touched it to her face her gaze never left his. He was careful, his eyes never straying as his face shifted to that of schooled concentration. Soon the grime and blood were cleaned away revealing small cuts that would heal quickly.
"What exactly happened?" Guy asked brushing his finger along her face.
"The night watchman held my hair and was able to use it to restrain me while he slammed my face into the floor." Tempest sighed knowing that he had been finished helping her for a good while now.
Guy visibly winced, his face contorting into a mask of outrage and fury. "He'll pay." He whispered vehemently tucking a strand of hair behind her ear gently.
"Believe you me, he'll do more than pay once I find him." Tempest said darkly looking away in thought.
"Marian was suppose to sneak out tonight, but it never happened. I foolishly fell asleep. I should have gone to check on you and make sure you were well!" Guy berated himself looking at the floor ashamed.
Tempest gently ran a bandaged hand over his face, taking his chin and turning it so she could see him. Her eyes were soothing pools of green and Guy found himself lost in them. "It was not your fault, Sir Gisborne." She said calmly.
"Please, call me Guy." He said putting his hand over her own.
"Tempest, I believe we know each other well enough to set formalities aside." She smiled.
"I had hoped so also, Tempest." Guy said not able to hide the smile that appeared on his face.
"You may have healed me tonight Guy, but you also need to heal. One day I can help you further the process, but first you have to start." Tempest said as she stood from the bed.
"This is goodnight then?" Guy asked his voice wistful.
"Yes, until morning." Tempest nodded walking to the door.
"I'll see you at breakfast." Guy said taking her undamaged hand and gently kissing the knuckle.
"Goodnight, Guy." Tempest said softly slipping out of the room.
"Goodnight, Tempest." Guy whispered leaning against the door as she walked out of sight.
He sighed at the sudden absence he felt. Guy walked over to his bed and lay down, inhaling her scent as he drifted off to sleep. It would be his first rest free of nightmares since he was twelve.