Chapter seven: A new chapter


It was almost evening when Isabella finally rose from her bed. The night had been horrible for her. She'd been tormented with visions of her own wedding night, how horrible it had been. Part of her had expected Thornton to be kinder to her, since he'd taken her virginity, but she'd been wrong. She'd entered their bridal chambers to find his best man awaiting her. Vile and unpleasant memories had assaulted her mind of their brutal taking of her. It had been morning when she'd finally managed to sleep. A horrible and fitful sleep, but it was sleep nonetheless.

Isabella sat up in bed as the door to the cottage creaked open. She reached for the knife and pointed it at whoever was entering her sanctuary. To her relief, it was Alice, Meg's servant. "What do you want?" She demanded firmly.

Alice looked startled. "Begging your pardon milady, you've not been out this morning. I was concerned for your welfare."

"Touching, but thanks." She sheathed the knife. "I'd been unwell, but tis no concern. I'm sure you must attend my brother and his bride, that is, if they've deigned to show their faces this horrid day."

"Alas, Meg's been kidnapped." Those woeful words cheered Isabella's heart. "Sir Guy has gone after Robin Hood."

"Robin Hood kidnapped Meg?" Isabella couldn't believe it. "Since when does he go around stealing brides as opposed to coins?"

Alice shrugged. "I don't know milady, Sir Guy has been looking for her since early this morning. I fear the worst."

Isabella nodded. "Indeed. Thank you for informing me, be on your way."

"Yes milady." Alice curtsied. "Will you be requiring anything?"

"Just my privacy." She declared. "Good evening."

Isabella could barely keep the gleeful grin off her face until Alice closed the door. Once Alice closed the door, did she rejoice and grin as she flopped back onto the covers. Therefore, today hadn't been as horrible a day as she'd assumed. Guy had lost Meg already and it was a matter of hours before he would be alone again. True, some of her joy had vanished to know that she couldn't kill Meg, but, she'd be gone. That'd be better torture for him. Knowing that the love of his life was out there somewhere, but out of his reach.

However, that joy she felt turned to emptiness that gnawed at her soul. She'd never get to harm her brother. She'd lost her revenge. Robin Hood had taken away her victory. Hate and anger for this unknown man began to fill her soul. So, this Robin Hood would be next on her list.


At the camp,


Robin exhaled wearily as he looked back in the direction of his camp. He'd gone down to the river to cleanse his mind and had would up staying longer than intended. It was a long, hard day for him, more emotionally taxing that physically. Physical wounds were easily treated, but the emotional ones took forever.

The sound of horse hooves approaching caused him to grab his bow. "Robin?" he relaxed as he realized it was Will. He frowned as two strangers came around the corner behind him. "This is her aunt and uncle, I met them halfway. They'd already purchased horses and were riding here."

Robin frowned. "You both must be exhausted."

"Yes," the woman, Meg's aunt probably, replied calmly. "but since we're here to prevent our niece from making a mistake, exhaustion must be put on hold. Hold my horse, I need to dismount."

Robin did so obligingly. This woman was a firecracker. "Our camp is just over the hill." She swung down from the horse without any assistance from him.

"Good." she extended her hand. "I'm Lady Maria Delarosa."

He shook her hand and smiled. "An honor."

"I bet." She said dryly. "And this silent man is Meg's uncle, Thomas Bennett."

"Let's get this over with," he said rather brusquely. "I came to collect my damn niece. I trust she's in good health."

Robin exhaled and shrugged. "She's a little worse for the wear." They began walking over the hill. "She's refused food and has had little to say that didn't involve screaming. I did try to force her to eat but…the results weren't good." Robin's hand still stung from where she'd sunken her teeth into him.

"Stupid child." Her uncle swore before stating calmly. "I will, however, be indebted to you for life for keeping my niece safe."

"I did my best." He confessed. "I failed to stop the wedding ceremony," they froze. "but I did stop the consummation. An annulment won't be too difficult."

"Provided she hasn't given herself to the blackguard beforehand." her uncle stated. "Then, proving the marriage wasn't consummated will be nigh impossible."

"How little you know your niece." The aunt snorted. "Meg's not like me…no matter how charming the man appears, she'd have waited until they were married before giving herself to him."

"She should have married years ago. All this freedom and meeting with kings has made her take leave of her sense." Her uncle looked beaten down, Robin could only wonder how much of Meg's problems he'd had to straighten out. "Now…it's too late."

They continued up the hill in complete silence. Everyone looked at him with a somber look before returning to his or her duties. "I take it your followers aren't pleased with holding her?" the aunt pointed out. "One can practically smell their disdain for us."

Robin exhaled. "Let us say that…they prefer that I not violate the wedding vows of letting no man put them asunder."

"And you didn't," the uncle said firmly. "if what I've heard of Gisbourne is true, then he doesn't deserve to be called a man. My niece is too precious a possession to be given to someone like that."

"I am pleased that you two understand, where they do not. You see it for the safety of your daughter, I see it for keeping England safe. God knows what misery he'd inflict on her and this land." Robin knelt beside Meg's sleeping figure and gently shook her. "Meg?"

"Guy?" Meg moaned as she stirred. Again, Robin almost felt a twinge of guilt for how plaintive she sounded. "Guy?" She opened her eyes to see him. She looked disappointed and turned on her side. "Go away."

"Meagan Bennett!" Her uncle snapped angrily at her. Meg sat up, looking lazily at her aunt and uncle through her hanging hair. They both froze as they looked at her in surprise as to her appearance.

Her aunt was the first to recover and she hurried up to Meg. "When was the last time she ate?" She demanded. "She looks awful."

Will spoke up, he'd moved closer to lean against the tree. "That would be the day before yesterday. We've tried getting her to eat, but she won't."

"Are these bonds necessary?" She asked as she examined Meg's hands. "Her wrists are bleeding."

"That's because," Robin explained patiently. "she wouldn't stop pulling at the ropes. She's the most difficult prisoner we've ever had to endure. Almost makes the sheriff seem friendly."

Much nodded. "Most ungrateful indeed." He looked at Meg in disdain. "We tried feeding her, and she's bitten everyone's hand, drew blood from Robin."

"She always bit when she was a child, even bit me." Her uncle shook his head, his weary brown eyes sparked in irritation. Meg rolled her eyes, a faint smile tugging at her lips for a brief second. "She takes after her father, always arguing over the most stupid, little things."

All traces of amusement left Meg's eyes and they flashed with a passion. "The fact that I wish to stay with my husband is not a stupid, little thing!"

"God, Meg! What has that man done to you?" He demanded. "You were never this way until you met that villain! Have you heard nothing they said?"

"Yes!" she snapped. "And I won't listen to it!"

"He's murdered, stolen and committed dozens of other crimes and you won't listen!"

Meg shouted back at her uncle. "He will tell me all I want to know."

"You can't get a man to confess emotions like that!" Her uncle's voice rose as he desperately tried to get her to see reason. Robin stepped aside to join Will by the tree. "You can't trust a man like him."

"Guy always talks to me about everything and he's never lied to me yet!"

"Control your emotions niece." Her aunt said firmly. "You never did learn to control your emotions."

Meg laughed sharply. "Are you saying that I have to have control over my emotions? My loving him is not a choice, it is who I am!" Tears filled Meg's eyes "All I've ever wanted to know was that some man needed me and he does!" Her speech touched him for a second. He now saw why she'd fallen for Guy. He needed love, he'd probably never had any. And Meg was too easy a victim offering to give him as much love as she could depart. "I'm all he has and you've no right to take me from him!"

"The fact that I am your uncle gives me every right." Her uncle's firm tone caused her to tremble slightly. "I swore on the day that your parents died that I would protect you, that includes men that you think you're in love with!"

"You're wrong." She shook her head. "He'd give away his soul to be with me."

"He sold his soul to the devil years ago." Robin said quietly. "He doesn't have one to give you."

Meg whipped her head and glowered at him. "You and Marian deserve each other! I hope she makes your life a living hell! You two will never, ever have what Guy and I had!" She whipped her head back towards her aunt and uncle. "You may not believe me, but he will find me and I will go back with him!"

Her uncle groaned and threw up his hands in dismay. "I don't have time for this! It's late, your aunt and I rode hard to get here!" He turned to Robin and reached into his pocket, pulling out a bundle of money. "I've heard of your deeds, so accept this as a small sum for taking care of her."

Robin nodded his appreciation as Meg snorted in disgust. "Guy's a villain, yet you pay a common thief and kidnapper!"

Her uncle glowered at her. "I owe this man a great deal to prevent you from making the biggest mistake of your life, even if you can't see it!"

"I'm your niece, uncle, not your daughter! You'd do well to remember that!" Her sharp words stung everyone. The level of disrespect she showed her uncle, the man who raised her, was shocking. "You cannot control me! If you expect me to stay in Ireland you shall have to chain me up, because I will not stop fighting you!"

"Why must you be so damn stubborn?" her uncle sighed, his voice and posture weary.

"Because I know I'm right!" She insisted. "I know Guy of Gisbourne! I may not know his favorite things yet, but I know his heart. I see its darkness, I'm not a fool, but I have seen and felt its strength and tenderness as well."

"No more Meg, no more." Her uncle stalked way, placing a hand on Robin's shoulder. "Follow me, I will have words with you without my niece hearing them."

Robin nodded and exhaled. "I apologize I was unable to stop the ceremony from continuing."

Her uncle shrugged. "I don't care as you said, getting an annulment will be easy. She'll return home and marry who I chose for her."

Robin felt a twinge of guilt. "Perhaps, give her time. She'll get over Gisbourne and maybe find the man she should marry."

Her uncle rolled his eyes. "I doubt it. Clearly, she's show that she's incapable of thinking rationally when it comes to choosing a husband." He exhaled. "My brother was like her, stupid when it came to love. He managed to persuade an engaged woman, on a boat ride over to her fiancée, to marry him within a week of meeting."

"And…was she Meg's mother?"

He nodded. "Yes, you couldn't trust her. She was a flirtatious trollop, even threw herself at me while pregnant with Meg." now that surprised Robin. "Two reckless sides of blood through that girl's body. I allowed her too much freedom, but, no more."

"HOOD!" Robin could have sworn he felt his heart stop in his chest at the sound of Gisbourne's voice. "COME OUT OF THERE!" Guy's came over the crest of the hill. The sight of Guy emerging struck terror in his heart, only because he had captured Djaq and Marian. Both were tied up severely and Djaq was gagged. Both women were bleeding from deep cuts on their mouths. "AND YOU BETTER BRING MY WIFE OR I WILL RUN MARIAN AND YOUR LITTLE SARACEN FRIEND THROUGH!"

He turned to her uncle. "My lord-

"Go." He said bitterly. "I don't want those two women slaughtered."

"But if he gets her-

"She's been kidnapped. I'll doubt he'll consummate the marriage tonight."

Robin glowered at Guy. "You can't guarantee that."

"It's a gamble I'm willing to take." He pushed Robin back towards Meg. "Go."

He hurried back to Meg who had tears running down her eyes. "He found me." Robin he knelt and undid the ropes at her feet. He didn't say a word as he pulled her up from the ground, towards the sound of Guy's voice, with her aunt behind her. "I told you, he'd find me."

"He found you," he reminded her, fighting the contempt. "that doesn't mean he has you."

Meg let out a brief laugh. "You're wrong. He's found me…he's not letting me go."

Robin was stiff as he led her towards the edge of the camp. The sight of Guy holding Marian and Djaq at the end of a rope did little for his racing heart and head. Off hand, he couldn't come up with a plan to rescue them without surrendering me. Guy's appearance suggested he'd been looking for Meg all night without any sleep or substance, so he was a very dangerous man at the moment.

Guy made direct eye contact, with Marian, causing his grip to grow tighter on the dagger he had pressed against Marian's throat. "I want my wife Hood, now!"

"You wouldn't hurt her." Robin said calmly, attempting to call Guy's bluff. "You loved her once."

Guy arched his brow as he spat at him. "Don't test me Hood. You took my wife; I'm capable of doing anything." Marian let out a cry as Guy pressed the blade closer against her. "If I have to kill the Saracen first, I'll do it, and then you'll know I'm on the level."

Marian began crying. "Please Robin! Just hand her over! Please!"

Robin looked at her aunt and uncle apologetically. "I'm sorry. I've got to, he'll hurt them."

"As I told you before," her uncle nodded. "you don't have a choice in this instance."

Robin released Meg and she moved towards Guy. She appeared oblivious to the rocks and twigs that snapped under her bare feet.. Guy reached her for her and pulled her into his embrace. "Watch them!" He ordered his servant, who still held a blade to Marian's back. Meg couldn't have cared less that her childhood friend, Marian, was being threatened. Guy brushed Meg's hair back from her face and kissed her briefly on the lips. The passion appeared to be real on Meg's part.

"Are you all right?" Gisbourne asked as he studied her face. "Did they hurt you?"

"No."

Guy pulled his dagger from his boot to cut the ropes around her wrists. His eyes narrowed as he looked at her bloody wrists. His eyes flashed and he shouted at Robin. "You tied her up so tightly that her wrists bled?!"

"Guy." Meg placed her hand on his chest, attempting to soothe Guy.

"It was necessary Gisbourne." Robin taunted him, hoping to goad Guy into coming at him. "Hope you realize what a wild animal you married!"

Guy let out a roar and moved towards him but Meg grabbed his arm. "Guy! No!" He stopped short and looked at her, breathing heavily. "Please," she begged. "take me home. I'm tired, cold, hungry and I don't want to remain in these woods a moment longer." She leaned forward and whispered something in Guy's ear, causing him to exhale and stroke her face with his hand.

He whispered something to her before turning back to Robin to threaten him. "If you dare show your face again, or even touch my wife, I will kill you!"

"For God's sake Meg," her uncle shouted. "will you look at him? See him for what he is! How can you honestly wish to make your bed with him?"

Guy glowered at him. "You must be her uncle I presume. We'll say no more tonight and discuss this in the morning." Guy lifted Meg up in his arms and began to move towards his black horse. "My wife is tired, she's had enough."

"You will not touch her until we've talked." Her uncle ordered. "I am in charge of her and I do not approve of you, nor your actions here these evening."

"I did what any man would do who loved his wife," he spat at her uncle, not even bothering to hide the contempt in his voice. "I rescued her. Moreover, when we meet again tomorrow, I assure you," Guy's voice was dark as he stated. "I will have laid claim to her."

"You will not!" Guy set Meg on the horse and climbed up behind her. Both of them seemed oblivious to her uncle's shouting as they embraced. "Do you hear me?!"

Guy didn't even bother looking at the group as he reached for the reins. "I hear you Sir, but as Meg may have told you," he turned and smirked. "I don't do as I'm told." He nodded to the servant. "Let them go."

"I will Sir," the servant said. "as soon as you and the lady are away."

Guy kicked his horse into a gallop and turned back to the manor. Everyone held their breath as the servant cut their bonds. "There we are ladies." He sheathed the knife. "Apologies for the discomfort but…what God hath joined together-

"Be gone!" he shouted at the servant as he hurried up to Marian, touching her mouth gently. "Are you alright?"

Djaq removed her gag before stating darkly. "It was a trick Robin. We weren't hurt."

Robin stared at them in shock as Marian sighed. "I've a confession to make Robin; I helped Guy get Meg out. I helped them capture Djaq to use her as extra leverage."

The blood drained out of his face. Marian had shocked him. She'd actually helped his enemy. "What?!"

"I told you," she repeated calmly. "it wasn't right. I tried to reason with you, but you wouldn't listen."

"Damn you Marian!" he shouted as he fought the urge to shake her back to her senses. "Don't you realize what you've done?!"

"I realize what I've done. The question is, have you realized what you did?"

"None of what you've said Marian, has made sense! I am Robin Hood, not Gisbourne! I don't do things to inflict pain! I do them to help keep people safe!"

"And this time….you were inflicting pain." She stepped towards him. "Don't you realize what Guy would have become without Meg? He'd become a dark monster."

"That man…already is a monster!" he shouted. "Of the worse kind! And you, you, helped him!"

"I had to do what I could live with Robin, just like you do." She placed a hand on his chest. "We all have to live with our decisions."

He jerked away from her. "Indeed we do Marian. I hope you'll realize the gravity of what you've done."

"You'll thank me later Robin. I did it for us as much as I did it for them."

"There is no us Marian!" he spat. "You killed the 'us' that was going to happen! It's over!"

"Robin!" Marian called after him.

However, he didn't heed her as he stomped away and fortunately, she didn't follow him. He wanted to lose himself in these woods and forget everything that had just happened. The last time he'd felt feelings like that was the day he'd lost his father.

Today, it'd be a new chapter, a new resolution for him. Things had to end, even if he had to kill Gisbourne tonight. The moment that thought hit him, Robin knew what he had to do. It was for England. He told himself. He had no way of knowing whom the sheriff would pick as his deputy, but they could never be as dark as Gisbourne had been.


A nice long chapter for everyone! Almost 4,000 words!