Characters: Guy, Vaisey,
Disclaimer: All original characters belong to BBC/Tiger Aspect.
Notes: Set pre series, explores how Guy came to work for the Sheriff. I have taken used info from series 3, but ignored the fact Isabella and Vaisey didn't appear to have met before. I have also made Isabella older than she would have been at this point (without wanting to give too much away) as I felt uncomfortable writing what I wanted to write about a 13 year old.

Chapter 5

The South Coast of England

Guy stood outside the little church by the sea in the sunshine. It was a perfect day for a wedding. Isabella was resplendent in a golden-yellow dress, her hair and face covered by an intricately laced veil. The scene was only marred by her hand trembling as it lay on his arm. He looked at her beneath her veil. Sadness pervaded Isabella's features and Guy wished at that moment to whisk her away from the man who stood waiting at the altar. But the course was set. He lifted her veil and smiled softly at her.

'Good luck,' he whispered, 'I'm doing this because I love you.' He was pained by her expressionless stare and bowed his head. He was sure she now hated him and longed for his sister to look upon him with affection one last time. Guy bent down and kissed her cheek, placed her veil back in over her face and took a deep breath.

'Shall we?' he asked. Isabella made no response, but allowed him to begin to guide her up the short aisle to the man waiting to make her his wife.

The wedding had passed without incident, as they were still in Weymouth guests were few. Vaisey was the only guest on the Gisborne side, a few guards and servants on Thornton's. The wedding feast had been a subdued affair, Vaisey and Thornton the only ones who looked like they were enjoying themselves. Guy was polite, if quiet. Isabella was silent and looked terrified. Guy knew why. He knew she was dreading what would happen later.

He had tried to talk to her about that; suddenly panicked she wouldn't know what was expected of her in the marriage bed. It was the most excruciating conversation of his entire life. She had quickly and blushingly informed him she knew the technicalities – thank God for small mercies he'd thought. What he wanted to tell her was that it didn't have to be painful, that girls could enjoy it, but all he ended up telling her was that she would be expected to produce a blood stained bed sheet. She had looked at him with utter contempt before bursting into tears. She had probably thought he was questioning her virtue he realised afterwards, as he cursed himself for his clumsy tongue.

Isabella's eyes were fixed firmly on the floor as she was led upstairs that evening. Guy was left sitting with Vaisey who was chuckling.

'Ah, she'll be having the time of her life in a few minutes,' he smirked at Guy. Guy's face was like thunder.

'I don't find that funny,' he snarled.

'Oh be quiet, Gisborne, I'm not in the mood for your protective big brother act tonight. Have a drink and cheer up. You get paid in the morning.'

Guy snatched up the proffered cup and downed its contents. He picked up the jug and poured another, downing that too. Anything to drown out the thoughts of Isabella's wedding night. Vaisey rolled his eyes at Guy.

'For God's sake slow down, you idiot. I could do without dragging you to bed later.'

Guy had slowed down a bit, but still ended up horribly drunk and even more horribly hung over the next day. His head pounded and his stomach lurched at the smell of breakfast. He had gingerly made his way out of his room after Vaisey had roughly shook him awake, babbling something about gold and horses. He made his way into the tavern and saw Vaisey sharing his morning meal with Thornton, both seemed in good spirits. Guy's spirits were rock bottom. All he could think was that this was the last day he would see Isabella until God knows when.

It was an arrow through his heart; she had been the one constant in his life since she was born on a cool September evening seventeen years ago, her tiny lungs screaming down Locksley Manor all night keeping him awake. He had finally asked his mother to put her back in her belly so they could get some sleep. He remembered how she had held him as he stood forlornly beside Isabella's cradle, staring at the red faced little creature bawling inside it. His mother had smiled, then her tired face burst into laughter at her 'special little man', and his 'funny ideas.' Now Isabella was going to Shrewsbury with her husband and he to London with Vaisey. The last member of his family would be gone: he would be alone in the world.

Guy tried to push these thoughts out his mind as he joined Vaisey and his new brother-in-law; he sipped at some water trying very hard not to be sick.

'How is Isabella this morning?' he asked Thornton.

'She is resting,' Thornton informed him, 'she is tired after her wedding night,' Vaisey sniggered and Guy felt he was losing the battle with his stomach.

'Talking of which,' Vaisey said snatching a sheet from under the table. Guy was momentarily puzzled until he saw the spots of blood staining the sheet. Proof of her virtue. He nodded, thinking that if he opened his mouth to speak he would vomit. Vaisey then produced a small chest.

'This is your payment. I suggest you keep it close, Gisborne. It's gold not silver.'

Guy nodded again and snatched up the chest.

'Pleasure to do business with you,' Thornton smiled offering Guy his hand. Guys shook it wordlessly. 'She's quite a girl, I think we'll be very happy.'

'That is my dearest wish,' Guy said truthfully. 'Excuses me, Thornton, my Lord,' he nodded at each man. 'I must go to see my sister.'

He snatched up the chest of money and went back to his room. Opening the box he picked up a handful of coins and let them trickle through his fingers. This was more money than he'd seen in his entire life. He smiled as he picked up another handful. He then put both hands in the box and lifted them up, coins slipping through his hands, listening to the sound of them crashing into one another as he poured them back into the box. Guy was grinning from ear to ear. His nausea was rapidly receding and his heart lifted. This was what he wanted. Money. Lots and lots of money.

Guy was so engrossed in the money he had forgotten what he came upstairs for. With a start he remembered Isabella, he had come to say his goodbyes. Guy had no intention of a scene in front off Vaisey and Thornton. It was better that their parting was in private. He rooted around in his small travelling trunk for a spare purse and filled it. He was delighted this made no dent in the chest of coins. Picking up the purse he closed the chest, locked it and sought out his sister one last time.

Guy knocked softly on the bedroom door, he heard Isabella shuffling around inside and waiting a few moments before calling her. Only then did she finally open the door. She was in nothing but her shift dress and a blanket, which she had draped over her shoulders. Her hair was loose and uncombed, her face pale, eyes red, bloodshot and tired.

'Guy,' she said as he entered. 'What do you want?' she was cold and detached.

'I came to see if you were alright,' he said gently.

'And what would you do if I wasn't?' she gave him a hard look before she turned away and looked out of the small window. 'My husband has seen you I take it? Shown you the evidence that I was a maid, I think you had some doubt.' She sounded satisfied at this small victory over him.

'No, I never thought . . . I never doubted you. That wasn't what I meant. I didn't know if you knew about how these things went, that was all. I'm sorry, I'm not good at explaining things.' Guy was desperately sad at her words, sad and furious with himself for letting her think that.

'Well I certainly know now. So, what was it you wanted?'

'Isabella, please, let us part as friends. I do not know when we will see each other again.'

'Well it's you who won't visit me.'

'Isabella, please. I will visit you as soon as I have our lands back. Here, this is for you.' He handed her the purse filled with coins and tried to put his arms around her. She took the purse and pushed him away.

'What's this? Your conscience? You already spent a fortune on my dress.'

'I have money to spend now. Now I have patronage and position. I would not see my sister wed in anything but the best I could buy. Come on, Isabella, I have always given you as much as I could.'

'Does your master know or are you being a naughty boy?' Isabella laughed humourlessly at him. 'I heard him carrying on at you about my dress.'

Guy inwardly winced as he remembered the humiliation. Vaisey had opened the bill for the dress; Guy wasn't intending to tell him how much it cost. Vaisey had shouted loudly, in a full tavern, about Guy's foolishness, mocked him for being tricked by his sister into spending half his money and warned him he'd never get his lands back if he was so proliferate.

'I can do what I like with my own money,' Guy said evenly answering Isabella's question, 'and I want to give it to you. Please, remember me fondly,' Guy said this in hope more than expectation.

'Thank you,' she turned her back on him and looked out the window. 'So, is this goodbye?'

'Yes.'

'Goodbye, Guy,' she turned and looked at him. There was a hardness in her eyes he hadn't seen before. He crossed the room and stood beside her. She defiantly met his gaze, refusing to show her emotions. Guy wasn't so restrained however. He put his arms around her and drew her into a right embrace.

Guy held her for a few moments. He wanted to say so many things to her; tell her that he loved her, that he was sorry for hurting her, that he would miss her more than she would ever know. But he didn't speak. He blinked away the tears welling up in his eyes and sighed. Isabella pushed him away and didn't respond when he gently kissed her cheek.

'Good luck,' he whispered before she turned from him and with a heavy heart he walked towards the door. As soon as the door was closed Isabella let her tears fall.

Guy's body felt like lead as he walked back downstairs. He wanted to turn back, to cry, to undo what had been done. He felt a sob bubbling in his throat. But he would not give in. He squeezed his eyes shut and massaged his throbbing forehead. He would overcome this, getting emotional was no way for a man of his standing to behave. Guy swallowed down the sob, along with his sadness, guilt and pain. He thought of the money in the chest, winning the tournament, the promise of power to come until tightness in his chest began to lift and he once again went to face the world.

Thornton and Isabella had left as soon as their carriage was packed after breakfast. Guy had not seen them off. He had been tasked with organising Vaisey's carriage and a small group of guards who were to escort them to London and now under Guy's charge. Expecting him to see his sister off Vaisey had been surprised to find Guy in the stables shouting angrily at the stable lad.

'You are useless! I could have done this in half the time myself. You expect guests, nobles no less, to groom their own horses?' He cuffed the boy round the head and roared: 'get out of my sight!' The lad scurried away as fast as he could, keen to escape Guy and his temper.

'Ah, winning friends and influence I see, Gisborne.' Vaisey drawled as he watched Guy take several deep breaths in an attempt to calm down.

'My Lord, the foolish boy has completely messed up the saddling of the horses.'

'Well never mind, I'm sure you've put it right. Is the carriage ready?'

'Yes, my Lord.'

'And have you organised my guards?'

'Yes, we will ride at the front, four guards will flank the carriage and two will take up the rear. The rear guards are armed with bows as is the driver. I hold the lock to the carriage and the outriders have horns to alert us if we should fall out of sight. Only a fool would attempt to rob us.'

'Indeed. Well done, Gisborne.' Vaisey stared at Guy, appraising him. 'Guy, your sister is well provided for. You need not worry about her anymore.'

'I'm sorry, my Lord, I am a little out of sorts, she seemed upset this morning.'

'Well I'm not surprised, look at you, Gisborne. You're lucky I already like you or I'd think you quite pathetic. She was probably worried how you would cope without her. Really quite selfish of you.'

'Do you think, my Lord?' Guy's brow was furrowed.

'Yes. She seemed quite happy when I saw her off with Thornton. Quite in love in fact. So there is no need for you to sulk all the way to London. I've had quite enough hysterics in the last few weeks with her.'

'Yes, my Lord.'

'Oh and, Gisborne, do try and control yourself a little more with servants. I have told you there will be plenty of time to exercise this anger of yours, but I really don't want dead bodies on my hands, they do make an awful mess. Now is that horse ready?' Guy nodded, chastened by Vaisey's warning.

'Good. Let's be on our way. You and me have business to attend to, my boy.'

With that Guy led the two horses out of the stable and they began the journey to London. To his future.