Chapter Seven: Making You See Is Hard To Do
Guy decided it was right for him to hold a celebration announcing that Cathy and he were to be married; all the villagers were invited to the bash as were some of the nobles from the sheriff's court. He had made sure that it was of little pressure on his wife to be.
Cathy came downstairs, and smiled when she saw that Guy was trying to make sure that there would be enough food for the entire guest list and this was only to announce the engagement, Cathy laughed what he was going to be like at the wedding.
'Good morning my love, I was not aware you had awoken, did you sleep well?'
'I did thank you Guy, and how did you sleep?' Cathy blushed.
'Quite well, now everything seems to be in order, I am sure there will be enough food' he moved closer to her and took her hands.
'Guy you do not have to do so much, it is only the engagement, what will you be like when we are married?'
'It will be one of the best marriages that the town has ever seen' he smiled.
Cathy smiled to him, and touched his cheek, 'Have I told you how much I love you'
'Not recently' Guy replied.
'I love you, Sir Guy of Gisborne; I never thought I could be so happy' Cathy whispered.
'I understand, I never thought I deserved someone like you' Guy replied.
'Guy, do not be so silly' Cathy teased.
oOOoOOo
Guy began to welcome the guests a few hours later, the sheriff being the first to arrive, Guy was his charming self when it came to the sheriff telling him to come and help himself to whatever he wanted but he remembered what the sheriff had said to him not two days before when he had told him he was going to be married to Cathy.
Flashback.
Guy entered the castle, the day after he had asked Cathy to be his wife, with a huge smile on his face, he opened the door to the sheriff quarters.
'Ahhh Gizzy, you seem in a good mood, did you and Cathy finally kiss and make up or did she give you some more?' the sheriff mused
'My Lord Sheriff, the Lady Catherine and I are to be married, I asked her for her hand and she accepted it' Guy replied a little sharply, he was annoyed that the sheriff thought that Cathy was a cheap tavern girl, she was a lady.
'Ohh a wedding how romantic so glad that you have sorted out your differences and now she is to be your wife you can teach her some obedience, because a strong willed woman is not one that you take as a wife, lepers Gisborne remember that'
'Of Course My lord, I will never forget that' He smiled, Guy left not sure what to say any further, how dare the sheriff think that he would harm his wife to teach her obedience he knew that this was something the sheriff would do if he had bothered to take a wife, but Guy would never do that to Cathy, it would only play her into her brothers hand's.
End of flashback.
Cathy took her position next to Guy as the manor began to fill up more, he took her hand and squeezed it reassuringly, his eyes locked on hers and she knew that everything was going to be fine. He and she were going to be able to get through this day.
oOOoOOo
Two days earlier
Cathy was walking through Locksley village, with her ring, it was the first time she had ever been nervous about walking into the village, when they found out about the engagement she was sure that they would not be pleased. Guy had gone to tell the sheriff about the impending marriage between the two of them.
It was unusually hot today, Cathy noted as she walk around, then she spotted him, her older brother Archer was by the church he beckoned her to come closer to her. She looked to see if no one was looking at her, because she knew that even being anywhere near him she could be imprisoned again.
She looked at him as she approached the back of the church.
'I hear congratulations are in order'
'How I only got engaged last night?' Cathy raised an eyebrow.
'You think we do not have our ways?' Archer smiled
'Oh I know you have your ways' she replied.
'Why are you getting married to him, little sister?'
'Because I love him, older brother, I love him with all my heart and he loves me' she explained.
'If he loves you so much then why did you end up in prison a week ago?' Archer challenged.
'I was in the dungeons because of you and Robin, Guy had nothing to do with it, he did not want me in them, and if you cared so much, where were you to come and help me?' Cathy replied angrily, 'I am marrying Guy and you can either support me, or again I will say goodbye' she began to walk away.
Archer grabbed her arm, 'I am happy that you are getting married, I just do not like whom it is'
'The heart cannot help what it wants' she replied simply and carried on walking.
oOOoOOo
Back at the party.
'Ladies and Gentleman, I thank you all for coming here to my home to celebrate my engagement to Lady Catherine of Locksley, whom was kind of enough to accept the proposal, I am sure that she and I will spend a time being happy, so please may you raise your glasses to my Bride to be, Lady Catherine of Locksley' Guy raised his glass to her and smiled.
'Lady Catherine of Locksley' the guest cheered.
'Ahhh yes Lady Catherine of Locksley here, here, sorry it seems my invitation was lost in the forest' Cathy's head looked up like she did not know who it was, her brother Robin.
'Indeed it did Hood' Guy nodded, 'So what are you doing here?'
'I am here to wish my little sister congratulations on her impending marriage although her choice in husband has a lot to be desired'
Cathy glared at him, 'I think you gave up that right to denote who I am allowed to marry when you left me for your war'
Guy looked at her, she was the woman he loved and still her brother had come to tell her she was making a mistake and still she refused to listen, 'I think you should leave'
'No not just yet Gisborne, did you think I would not want to come and take something from all your wealthy friends?'
'Robin No' Cathy shook her head.
'I will start with you, I think'
'I have no money on me' she replied, 'I learnt that from you if you remember brother'
'I do, and a wise decision, you never know who will be about?'
'People like you obviously' she replied.
'Then I guess will have to take this pretty ring'
'Robin, No, Please it's my engagement ring'
'I think it's pretty cheap' Robin removed it from her hand.
This made Guy very angry how he dare take her ring, her own brother.
Cathy however, stepped in front of Guy, she could see that they were about to fight over her ring.
'Robin, Give me my Ring back'
'A clue no?' Robin replied, grinning to Guy and the sheriff.
Cathy would have hit him if Guy had not lunged in front of her. Drawing his sword and directly meeting Robin's, Cathy moved out of the way. She heard Guy shout in pain as Robin stuck him to the door, with his sword.
'No' Robin whispered. As if he had seen something.
'Robin we must go, the guards are arriving' Archer shouted.
'Master come on' Much shouted.
Robin left. Cathy rushed straight to Guy.
'Are you hurt?' as she pulled the sword away from his clothing.
'I must go and get your Ring back'
'Guy, please be careful, He is angry' Cathy pleaded following get on a horse that had not even been saddled.
The sheriff looked at her and said, 'always a drama with you isn't there missy' the sheriff then got into his carriage and was gone.
Cathy turned to the rest of the Guests as she went in, 'I am terribly sorry, but we will have to do this another time'
Cathy knew she had to get to Guy and soon, because if she did not he was likely to kill Robin or he was likely to kill Guy.
oOOoOOo
Cathy had requested for her horse to be saddled as soon as the last person at the party had left, she had never galloped so fast in her life, into the forest. Then it dawned on her that she had no idea where they would be, the forest was a huge place, and knowing her brother, he could be anywhere.
She continued to ride, and then she spotted Guy's horse. She would know that horse anywhere. She tied her horse up next to his. She began to walk the area; she then saw them both Guy and Robin fighting each other.
'Stop, stop now!' she bellowed.
Both Robin and Guy turned to her; she made her way next to Guy. 'What are you doing here?' he asked.
'I am making sure you two do not kill each other' she replied, 'Now please can we stop this'
'You are not marrying him Cathy'
'I am marrying him' Cathy stated.
'Cathy, why can you not see that he is not right for you?' Robin replied.
'And why can you not see I am not the little girl you left to go to the Holy Land, I am a grown woman who loves Guy'
Guy looked at her pride swelling in his eyes. He was so proud of her.
'You cannot trust him' Robin stated.
'And let me guess I can trust you' Cathy replied.
'He's been to the Holy Land; he tried to kill the king'
'When?' Cathy turned her anger rising.
'About two years ago, he was there, look at his tattoo'
'You are wrong, Guy was ill then, very ill' Cathy replied, 'I saw him before and after the illness'
'He has you fooled too'
'Robin, why can you not accept it? I am marrying Guy and there is nothing you can do about it'
Then Archer joined them in the forest.
'Cathy' Archer smiled, 'We do not want you to get hurt we want to protect you'
'Protect me! Protect me, you were not there when I needed it, when you went away, the only one to protect me was Guy not my brothers, so I am sorry if I think that I value his word a little more than yours, now give me my ring back and we can pretend that this never occurred' Cathy spat.
Robin chucked the ring at Guy, 'I hope you are happy together, you two deserve each other, both of you are worthless'
'Now, you can insult me, but do not speak about your sister like that' Guy challenged.
'Guy, leave it please' Cathy pulled his arm back to the horses, 'Please leave it'
Guy looked at Cathy seeing the pain in her eyes, he nodded.
oOOoOOo
The ride back to Locksley manor was a hard one, Guy was feeling a little weak from the fight he had had with Robin, he was bruised and his lip was bleeding. Cathy wanted to help him; she would have to make sure he was alright when they got back.
Cathy handed the reins to the stable hand, she supported Guy as he sunk off his horse.
'Guy, are you alright?'
'I am fine my love' He smiled.
'I do not believe you, let me get you cleaned up' she replied.
She saw Thornton and asked him to bring some water so that she could clean him up. Thornton came back with the water.
Cathy patted his lip, Guy winced. 'Do not be a baby' she smiled.
'I am sorry but it hurt' Guy mumbled.
'Guy, Sssshh' Cathy kissed the bruise above his eye, 'Better'
'Exceedingly'
'I am sorry again for the behaviour of my brothers'
'It is not your fault, you are not the boss of them' Guy touched her hand, realising that she did not have her ring, 'Here you are, please wear it'
'Always, as you know' she nodded.
'I am sorry that your engagement party was ruined' Guy replied.
'Not to worry, I am sorry that they came and thought that I would run off with them' Cathy replied.
'I am glad you did not, I would miss you terribly' Guy grinned, 'I am sorry that you had to tell them how you felt about them leaving'
'It needed to be said' Cathy replied, 'I have held it in for too long, it may make them think about what is going on'
'I know they think I am a bad person, but all I want to do is to love you'
'Guy, I do not care what they think, not anymore. I know you are a good man and I have seen it, you helped me with so much when they were away and for that I will be eternally grateful'
FLASHBACK ABOUT 1188
Cathy wanted to go out riding, she felt bad that her horse had not been getting the correct exercise but with the winter snow being resolute over the last few months, Cathy knew that she had been unable to go out and ride, it was Guy's orders. Cathy wondered if in the Holy Land they ever had snow, did her brother's know that the season's changed in the war?
She looked out her window, the air felt warmer and she could feel the first tinge of the spring coming in to the air, she smiled. She may be able to go and ride her horse today. Although she loved her horse as she went down to the stables. She was to see that Guy's horse was still there, but she had not seen him this morning.
'Hello' she smiled as she stroked Guy's horse, 'so where is your master?'
The horse snorted, 'Is he not here?' she smiled; she took some food and began to feed him. Her own horse began to come impatient nudging her softly, 'All right, I am going to feed you too' she laughed, 'we are going to go out today' she stroked her horse, 'Come on Thunder, you know I have not been able to come here for a while'
She asked the stable hand to saddle Thunder up so that she could get ready for her ride. She got up on her horse and kicking of felt the wind run through her hair.
Guy had been walking through Sherwood when he saw that Cathy had gone with her horse, he was worried, the weather was still not great, he followed her but not on his horse he hoped she had not gone too far away.
Cathy felt the wind, get up but at the moment she did not care, she was not sure what it was but all of a sudden Thunder, reared backwards causing her to fall backwards, 'Sssshh come on, there it's alright'
Thunder threw her off his back, Cathy fell to the ground then Thunder bolted. Cathy tried to get up with little success she felt a pain in her leg. She sank to the bark of the tree, again she was alone.
Guy walked around calling out Cathy's name, he then spotted the Horse, her horse walking around.
'Hey Boy, where is she?' he stroked it. He got on the horses back and shouted again.
'Cathy' he was beginning to get worried where could she be? Was she hurt? His heart clenched when he thought of the possibility that she could be injured.
He spotted something leaning up against a tree a little while later; he got of Thunder and tied him up. He knew before he got to the tree that it was, Cathy.
She looked hurt, and tired. She stirred slightly, 'What has happened to you?' He whispered.
'Hurt, leg' she muttered, but her eyes did not open. He pulled his thick cloak off him and wrapped it around her.
'It is alright, I got you' he sighed. He slowly picked her up and positioned her in front of him on her horse, she snuggled in to him, but she was still not conscious, as Guy kicked off the horse, he looked down at the girl who now had draped her arms around his neck, that was the moment he knew he was fully in love with the Young lady of Locksley.
End of flashback
oOOoOOo
If Cathy was honest to herself, she would admit she had always loved Guy, she had her first crush on the young Guy of Gisborne when he was in her life when she was a child although those feelings had now grown to love, she knew when he left her, after their parents death that she was not the same, the world seemed a little duller with him not there to tease.
She was not sure why her brother, was so hell bent in trying to destroy her happiness, by spreading ruthless lies about her husband to be. She knew that Guy and Robin were not the same they were different and did not see eye to eye.
She shook her head, no more time to waste in thinking of her brother.
'Cathy, what is wrong you look as if you are deep in thought and it is driving me mad' Guy asked worriedly.
'I was just thinking how I cannot wait to be Lady Gisborne and to be your wife in every sense of the word' she replied.
'Soon, my love we will be' he purred.
'I know, but I am impatient' she smiled.
I am going to leave it there, I am sorry I am a few days later than I said I have been working and am going back to Uni next week, but I hope it was alright, I have no idea if anyone is still reading this, but let me know what you think.
Until next time
Emma
