Guy felt the bile rising. More fool him. Betrothed, was she, or as good as that anyway? And the dog, he'd followed her here to be with her, to make sure that when the time came she would still be his. Guy didn't understand why he should not feel relieved; she would not be his problem if she married her swain. Instead he rather wanted to slit the man's throat and watch the life bleed out of him. Blue eyes smouldered, the full force of his stare directed towards the woman. She sat quietly on the tree roots as if waiting for a sentence.

God's eyes, he swore silently. Guy decided in that moment that he would not let her go. He did not examine his want too closely, unconcerned of it potential sway, not did he see fit think longer upon the matter at hand. What he wanted was to kiss her again, even in full view of others. But to do so was to ruin them both. Currently the Sheriff had need of her to please the Prince, and Guy could tell that his interference would not be seen kindly. After the pest left, he could have the Abbot marry them. It would take some time, and he needed to be discreet about the preparations, but he would not fail.

"What game are you playing?" His hand surreptitiously grabbed the heel of her shoe, satiny and red of colour. His hand was safely hidden by her skirts. Such boldness. He would not have expected it out of her, who blushed when so much as a stare was thrown her way. Fingers raised higher touching naked skin. He felt her tremble and smiled. "You tell me you shall marry, and yet here you are." Her ankle was in his possession. Should it suit him, Guy could pull her off and closer to him at any moment.

Ada, bright-cheeked, tried to shake his grip. "You say that as if I have a choice." She stared to I'Anson and the men for a brief spell. "I wake up when I'm told to, I eat when I'm told to, and I go to sleep when I'm told to. There is precious little I may decide for myself. Sir, I live in a cage, and it matters little to me whether the bars are gold or iron."

"So this is revenge?" The thought that he was being used made the muscles in his back tense and anger swam near to the surface. His grip on her leg tightened. "Is that it, little bird? You want vengeance?"

"Nay," Ada shook her head. "I would much prefer freedom of thought and action, but in lieu of that, as my dream are quite impossible, I should like to choose my own keeper. At least that I have the right to." She spoke not of love. Guy had to admire that. Love was terrible and fickle and unneeded. What she wanted was the power of choice. Guy knew how that was, there had been a time when he too had little choice but to obey.

A ray of light fell across her lap, making the dark material of her dress shimmer. Guy watched it contemplatively. "You want my protection, then?" How he longed to feel the rest of her underneath his fingertips. Her nod sent a thrill through him. Guy tugged on her heel gently, lazily, almost as if he were playing. Yet his eyes burned through her. "What do I have to gain from this?"

"A willing wife, I should say," Ada deadpanned, her face colouring. She glanced away, her eyes misting over. "Ah, of course. I had forgotten. My apologies. I talk to you of marriage not knowing if you do not have your heart set on another." Slipping her foot out of his grasp, she leaned in. "Still, do think about what I've told you."

Chuckling, Guy allowed her to escape. She could be amusing at times. "How soon would you like to be married?" He paid particular attention to a tendril of bone straight hair coming over her shoulder, tracing its descent with his eyes.

"The sooner the better," she replied. "I do believe I am ready to move on now, Sir. We've been taking in the fresh air for quite some time and I'm afraid I've forgotten all about that letter I was supposed to write home."

They rode swift to the castle. Ada had not understood the need for such a hurried pace, her own business not being that urgent. But she did not complain for it. It was nice to be back on one's two feet. She patted her mare's mane. It was not that she disliked riding, but she did not particularly like it either. She could never ride properly in a skirt, needing to sit sideways in the saddle. And charging atop the beast astride was out the question. She had no desire to treat the masses to a view of her naked legs if she could help it.

Not waiting to see her mare led into the stables, she began climbing the stairs. Prince John would leave, but only on the morrow. That meant she had to play entertainer at supper for him, since the last one had been ruined by Robin Hood. A change of gown was in order, and maybe a cleverly chosen piece of jewellery.

"My lady," she heard Guy calling from behind. Ada turned, her countenance questioning. "You have forgotten something other than that letter I'm afraid." They were near her rooms.

"Have I?" she wondered out loud. "I'm sure you are mistaken, Sir Guy." She had forgotten nothing. Ada smiled his way.

"As a matter of fact, I am not." He smoothed back a strand of her hair. "Is this any way to treat a man who will be your husband? You walk away without a word." One arm came to encircle her waist. "We can't have that, can we?"

"Very well," Ada acquiesced. "I wish you a good day, Sir Guy. I shall see you at supper, or not, depending on your attendance. There, you have had plenty of words now." Undeterred, he continued to grip her middle. "Sir, are we to play that game again?" Did he want to kiss her? Surely not.

But he did, in fact, want to kiss her. "No games," he corrected her error. "It's all good and well to have your word on this agreement of ours. Yet this calls for a more formal seal, does it not?" His hand pressed against her lower back until there was no space between then. Lowering his forehead until it touched hers, Guy almost didn't notice that she had arched herself up to meet him. In reply he brushed his lips to hers, gentle and careful, so to better ease her.

Moist and soft, she tasted of sweet apples, probably from her breakfast. Lord, she felt so right against him, her small frame covered entirely by his. Pushing more insistently against her lips, Guy brought his other hand to her hair, claiming one of the locks for his own. He would have done more, but he knew their current position would not allow for it. "Until we are wed, I'll ask no more of you but this. I consider that you have made me a promise." Dark eyes resembling a storm caressed her face.

Rather impulsively Ada caught his face in her hands. "About William," she began, breathing heavily. At the confusion of his face, she promptly clarified, "William I'Anson." There was danger in his orbs now. How quick the man jumped from passion to anger and from rage to fervour. "Father sent him. It is his duty to stay and guard me."

It was a warning. Guy understood well enough. But that did not mean he had to like it. I'Anson would prove himself more difficult to remove it seemed. For the moment he was best left alone. "I'll see you later," Guy promised, giving her a light tug on the waist.

"Aye, Sir, later," she agreed. And yet his mouth took hers again as soon as those words were spoken. Was he trying to make her lose her wits? Ada knew her limits, and they were about to be exceeded. She was only human too, and as such as vulnerable to pleasure and pain like any other. Her fascination with the opposite of her gender hadn't been born with Guy, with him it took wings. No man before him had done to her what he was doing, and there was some mysterious quality to his actions.

William had always been gallant and careful of her, except that one time with the water bucket. He had never as much as touched her elbow if they were not in public. Only when others looked did he enjoy making a show out of his attentions. Strangely though, if it was just she and him, William preferred to keep a wide distance between them.

There had been other things Guy would have liked to say to her. He should have warned her to keep away from Prince John and not to dare flirt with that I'Anson again. He could do aught but kiss her. It was a wonder she had not started to fight him off, poor lass, she couldn't have had an easy time of breathing with his lips fused to hers as they were. Alas the man was not keen on relinquishing his claim.

However he had his duties. Guy pulled away gently, disappointment lodged in his stomach. Hood was not to make an appearance at supper, even if Guy had to bar the door once everyone was inside. He gave one last squeeze to Ada's hand and turned on his heel. Looking at her too long would only get him distracted and unfocused. He could have his fill of her later. With that though Guy climbed down the stair, a sureness to his step.

"Sir Guy," a feminine, well-known voice made his freeze. Marian of Knighton stood at the foot of the stairs, a smile spread across her face. "I am so pleased to see you." Those laughing bright eyes tore through him.

Making the decision of letting someone go, and actually letting them go were two very different matters. He had thought he would brush her aside easily when he saw her again. This woman whom he'd loved and decided to rip out of his heart, why could he not stop looking at her? "Lady Marian," he replied cautiously, "what brings you here?" She told him she was pleased to see him. Did she think him that dull-witted as to believe her? She could have seen him everyday for the rest of her life, but she chose to run away. She chose not to marry him. Did she wish to spin some more tales, get some information out of him? Guy thought he should resist, but when she smiled like that, her eyes gentle upon him, he felt his resolve crack.

Then what of Ada? She had implied that she would marry him willingly. She would choose him. And yet Marian stood before him and he could do naught but wait for her to speak again, hanging onto every words, rather like an old habit. If only Ada hadn't gone to her rooms. It was ever easier to ignore Marian's presence and the feelings she evoked with the young woman by his side. When would he ever learn? His heart urged him on, his mind pulled him back. Was it even possible to want two very different women at the same time?

"I wished to apologise once more to you." Wide eyes, damp and full of regret, begged him to understand. "I was hoping you would be willing to put the incident behind us."

"It is but a memory now," Guy assured her, not quite managing to dodge her hopeful smile. His hearth clenched painfully. "If there is anything else." It was hint enough that he had gotten weak in her presence. She could play him exactly as she wanted.

Marian lowered her eyes, taking a sudden special interest into the floors. "Thank you, Guy." Her words brought a knife to his gut, the innocent look of her propelling him to think of Ada. If he had her eyes on him would it be truly gratitude in her orbs, or a mockery of everything he had done for her. With Marian one could never be quite sure.

Irascible and obstinate, she was as likely to be up to her old tricks, despite her proclamation of peace. "Nay, think nothing of it." What he needed was to find Ada once more and feast upon her image and being, cling to her and hope she would not let go. Guy did not fancy falling back into the pit that was his interest in Marian of Knighton. "I'm afraid I must take my leave of you, my lady, I am waited upon."

"Oh," she breathed out, apparently disappointed. "Well, I shall see you at the Sheriff's feast, will I not?" Nodding her own answer, Marian curtsied, and gave him one last smile before excusing herself from his company.

Relief filled him to the brim when he saw her thus removed. Closing his eyes, Guy tried to shake away the lingering doubts. It was she that did not want him. Time and again, Guy had protected her from the Sheriff's wrath, hidden her missteps to the best of his abilities. That had not warmed her to him, not at all. Only when she needed something of him did she seek him out. So, why then did he feel the need to aid her still?

"Interesting, that." The drawls brought Guy out of his thoughts. His head swerved to the side, eyes meeting the grinning face of William. "Pretty lady, is she your sweetheart?"

"That is of no matter to you," he replied acidly. The challenging stare he received put him on edge. Guy tensed, his hands curling into fists.

"But it is, Gisbourne," the other man protested lightly. "I know you and she were to be married. I know you felt, or even now feel, for her. Unlike my lady, I pay attention." Green eyes flickered, a dangerous light to them. "Whatever game you are playing here, leave the Lady Carlisle out of it."

"Do not presume to order me," hissed an agitated Guy. "If anyone should step away then it is you, I'Anson. You have no business here."

The damned man actually had the nerve to laugh at that, a deep bark from within his throat. "Ah, but I do." His stare became cold, colder than winter's chilly bite. William levelled a derisive smile to an already irked Guy. "So long as I have my lady to care for, wherever she is, is my business. Again, keep your distance."

"Or what?" This he could deal with. Threats and truths, Guy could take. "You think you can stop me?"

"I would never presume," William answered, making a mockery of Guy's earlier words. "But where I dare not venture, other have no problem in doing so. " He leaned against the wall, lips moving in a minute sign of amusement. "You and I, we both know that there are men out there that won't need to think twice about obliterating us. We are expendable, Gisbourne."

"All the same keep away from me, or you shall find yourself a head shorter." Guy would have left then, if not for the urge to further put the man in his place. "Lady Carlisle needs not make the object of your thought and worries any longer."

"You know nothing," William snapped, his features becoming stony.

"On the contrary, I know." And because of that knowledge he refused to allow this man to waggle his tongue needlessly. It all boiled down to Ada, he knew. I'Anson would have probably liked nothing more than to trap her in his clutches.

"Gisbourne!" the Sheriff's shrill cry called to Guy from outside. Grunting, the knight threw I'Anson one last glare before ambling to the high window. He looked outside, and sure enough Vaisey stood there, a peasant at his feet. It was a woman by the looks of her, covered in dirt and grime.

Making a sound of disgust, Guy ignored the fact that William had lagged behind to watch the unfolding scene. If the Sheriff wanted him, then he had to go. God, he hoped it was not a loss of his time. Peasant got arrested all the time, for not paying taxes, for aiding outlaws, for being filthy and a waste of space. It took mere moments to get into the yard, and it the Sheriff's line of sight.

"There you are, Gisbourne." Vaisey looked to the woman at his feet with an especially cruel look on his face. "This wretch is in need of accommodations."

Nodding to the guards, Guy knew she would be taken to the dungeons. Possibly due to boredom the Sheriff had decided to torture some people. Seeing as the prisoners had been scarce these last few days, he had expected something like this to happen. No doubt Price John had encouraged this entertainment. "She is to hang?"

"Hang?" Vaisey presented an offended front. "Nay, Gisbourne. That would be boring. Do I want to be bored?" The disdain dripping from his voice was akin to venom poured on a wound. "Clue-no. She will provide entertainment at the feast. I must show all those that come that I shan't be crossed, my will is absolute." Rubbing his hands together, he murmured something so quietly that Guy did not understand. Not that he would care either way.

For a moment he looked to the wench on the floor. She couldn't be very old, barely a woman. Underneath all that dirt was a comely face. It was a pity really that she would only be fit to be thrown to the dogs after the Sheriff was done with her. Blue eyes, darker than his own, widened in fright as she was grabbed by her hair and hauled up. Vaisey seemed amused by her struggle.

"Do get the peasant to shut up," Prince John requested in that cultured voice of his. "She'll lose her voice before we can beat it our of her. And where would that leave us?"

"Gag her," Guy ordered. He coolly ignored the horrified look on Marian's face when he noticed her in the crowd that had formed. Turning away, he fixed his stare on the still struggling woman. "Don't damage her too badly."