Duchess

Part 4

I do not own Robin Hood

27/4/09

What's the story? The whole story?

Jane had no idea that anyone knew about Prince John's visit to Nottingham other than herself. Yet it had unnerved her, she wasn't as safe as she thought. At first she was biding her time. Now that she knew that walls had ears, she had to be a little more active but not as obvious. Prince John wanted Vasey in the dark as much as possible, yet at the same time, he wanted him to know that there was something going on. Yet there was so much on Jane's mind, to share it would confuse almost anyone.

Isabella walked passed her in the corridor and slipped a note into her hand. Jane made sure she was alone when she read it, a time and place to see Guy. It forced her to go into her quarters and but the ring on a gold chain. He had to know she still cared.
"Be careful." Said Isabella.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Asked Jane.

"Nothing, just make sure you and he don't get caught." Replied Isabella.

"You read the letter?" Asked Jane.

"Was I not meant to?" Asked Isabella.

Jane only had one friend and she wasn't about to change that over a letter. She ignored the problem instead and went out to meet Guy. He stood against a tree, he had been waiting for her to come for many minutes. When she arrived, she didn't see him at first and jumped slightly when she heard his voice.

"You came." He said.

"What are you doing Guy?" Asked Jane.

Guy stood up straight and went up to her.

"Funny, I was going to ask you the same thing." He replied.

"You asked to meet me. What's wrong?" She asked.

"You were seen with Prince John the other day, he was in Nottingham. Why?" He asked.

Jane didn't expect that. She knew someone had seen, yet it wasn't all over the village. She knew exactly who had seen them, the only reason she did not see Isabella, was because she was keeping an eye on Prince John. Jane struggled. She didn't want to lie to him and she couldn't tell him.

"The truth." He added.

"I'm sorry." She said.

"The story, the whole story. What is it Jane? I can't help you..." he began.

"You can't anyway. It doesn't matter. Prince John is clever. No matter what I do, I can't win." Added Jane.

"What's the story?" He asked.

"Guy, please." Begged Jane.

"The whole story?" He added.

"GUY!" She shouted.

"You promised me! No lies you told me! Or was that a lie too? I don't need protecting Jane!" Shouted Guy.

"You have no idea. You think I earned and chose the title Duchess? You think it his way of upsetting my father and you? That is his bonus. Guy I can't protect you either way." Said Jane.

"I was told..." he began.

"Isabella told you what? Spare me the anonymity." She added.

"She told me that he invaded your personal space. Is that true?" He asked.

Jane glared at him. In reply to his question, Guy found himself on the receiving end of a slap in the face, so strong it made his head turn. He made it clear it hurt, as Jane walked away from him. Guy went after her anyway and took hold of both her hands, only to receive verbal abuse.

"You! How dare you accuse me of being that man's mistress? How dare you Guy of Gisborne?" She asked loudly.

"I wasn't accusing you, I was asking if he was taking advantage. Just tell me what's got you so spooked you would react so?" He asked.

"He wants me to plan either your or Robin's death." Replied Jane.

Guy let her go in shock. It all started to come together, why she told him goodbye, to stay away. She had come close to killing Robin once before, he knew if not for him, she would have succeeded. He also knew that Jane couldn't kill him, she had tried that once before also.

"You will?" He asked.

"I have no choice." Replied Jane.

"You do, you know you do." Corrected Guy.

"No I do not. He's made it clear he doesn't quite trust me." Replied Jane.

"Then why make you a Duchess? Encouragement?" Asked Guy.

"No. Guy this isn't easy for me. He's sent me the impossible. Prince John expects me to kill you or use you. I can do neither. Yet I know you won't want Robin Hood dead either. But if something isn't done, I really will be in trouble, as will you." Replied Jane.

"Why? What will happen if you fail?" Asked Guy.

"I shouldn't be here. I've told you too much." Replied Jane.

"Jane! Don't walk away from me!" Ordered Guy.

Jane had but taken three steps away from him. He walked up to her and turned her to him. There was unspoken terror in her eyes. He had once feared the past, now Jane was scared of the future.

"Leave. Live with me." He said.

"Prince John would burn the entire forest in search of me. He's cut off every exit for me. I'm trapped. I'm trapped in a room, with a sword and you and Hood are in it too. He's had enough of mistakes. All I can tell you, is if I don't do this, he'll have us both to make up for it." She said.

"You can't do this. Jane there has to be another way." Said Guy.

"Then tell me! Tell me what to do Guy!" Cried Jane.

Guy was numb with choices. Jane was as she said, trapped. Prince John had indeed made it difficult. He held Jane in his arms as she cried without hope.

"If Robin Hood dies, I'll be to blame one way or another. Tell Prince John you refuse the murder. We can't let him kill him and I know you won't kill me." He said.

Jane looked up and wept even more so than before. He put a little more pressure on his arms than usual.

"You can't! He'll kill you for certain!" She cried.

"Maybe. But I can't see you like this and he has to live. Trust me Jane. Unless there is something else I have to know?" He asked.

Jane paused and shook her head. Guy sighed, but Jane hadn't meant what he thought she had. She looked up and explained.

"I honestly can't tell you anymore or he will kill me." She replied.

"Then don't. Let me take your place." Ordered Guy.

Jane simply wept the word 'No', over and over, along with some incoherent things that Guy did not understand. It was as though in her grief she tried to tell him, but he simply didn't understand. With a heavy heart, and her hand shaking as she wrote, Duchess of London, Jane, wrote to Prince John, to explain the situation that she and Gut had decided. As the message left Nottingham, Jane dried her eyes and Isabella noticed that she wasn't happy as she entered the room.

"Jane?" She asked.

She turned to her angrily.

"If you'd have carried on walking, none of this would have happened. You betrayed me Isabella when you told Guy what you saw. You've hurt us both. I care not if you live with it." She said coldly.

"What are you talking about?" Asked Isabella.

"Thanks to you, your brother will end up dead, and in some way, so will I. Now do you think you were doing the right thing?" Asked Jane.

"I was trying to help." Replied Isabella.

"You didn't." Added Jane.

She stormed off, in foul temper and deep sadness. Jane entered a very dark place suddenly, although the summer sky was bright on Nottingham. She looked at the ring on her chain, around her neck. She covered her mouth to stop herself sobbing aloud and tears fell on to it.

*********************************

"Leaving? Why?" Asked Robin.

Guy had in his own way, told the outlaws that it was time for him to move on, without any explanation of where he was going or why he was going.

"Someone needs my help." Replied Guy.

"Is it Jane? What is it? What happened?" Asked Robin

"Don't. Just leave it with me, and don't expect me back." Replied Guy.

"You're scaring me. Now tell me, what the hell is going on?" Asked Robin.

"We're saving you. Jane was ordered to kill one of us. If not something is going to happen to us both. It's better if we just go." Replied Guy.

"Ey?" Asked Munch.

"What?" Asked John.

"Can't she just join us? That way no one gets killed." Suggested Robin.

"No. If she comes here, Prince John will burn the whole forest. He's changed the rules. Once it was just the Sheriff, now it's both him and his daughter." Corrected Guy.

"This is bloody madness!" Exclaimed Munch.

"It soon will be. Guy, I don't know what to say. Help me." Said Robin.

"A bloody thank you would be a start." Said Guy, smirking.

Robin saw that Guy was a man ready to die and deep down he admired that. Once he killed the one he loved, now he was going to die for her. Guy had changed for the better. Robin shook his hand, unable to speak. Guy left and surrended to Nottingham castle.