Chapter nine: Only hope
So many thoughts rushed through Robin's dazed mind as he realized that this was the one moment where he might actually lose his life. He could move, but Guy's blade was already at his throat, the tip touching his life vein.
Alice had been right, he had underestimated Guy's affection for Meg, and his affection for her had made him into a stronger man, a more dangerous man. One move on Robin's part, and he was dead.
"No one move." Meg's hand closed over Guy's hand and he spun around to look at her, the blade still hadn't moved from Robin's throat, so he didn't dare make a move. "Guy," Meg's voice was calm. "let him go, now, please."
"Why?" Guy glowered at her, frustration dark in his voice. "This man…has made my life a living Hell! He kidnapped you…on our wedding night and held you for two days!" Guy's voice rose and Robin inhaled. "Why should I let him live? He's an outlaw and the sheriff has ordered him dead!"
Marian let out a whimper as the blade pricked Robin's throat. He wanted to look at her, but he couldn't.
"Because of Marian." Meg said softly, her soft words cooling Guy's volatile temper. He looked towards Marian and frowned as Meg took a hold of his arm."She's in love with him." something, in Guy's mind broke, good or bad, he couldn't tell. "She helped you find me Guy…don't hurt him in front of her."
After a moment of debate, Guy threw the knife, letting it fall inches beside Robin's head. Robin exhaled and laid there in stunned disbelief. Marian went towards him as Guy stood up, facing Meg. "You knew?" she nodded as Guy yanked her towards him. "You knew that she was with him all this time and you never told me!? Why!?"
Marian went towards him. "Are you hurt?"
"Don't move." He whispered as he turned his gaze back to Guy and Meg.
"You're hurting me." Meg whispered softly and he assumed Guy loosened his grip. Frankly, this whole moment was unbelievable to beheld. "She was my friend," she explained. "why would I wish her ill when she left me the most wonderful gift I could ever ask for?"
"She betrayed you." He said harshly to her.
"And I broke her nose, so, we're even." Meg's tone was soft and docile as she stepped a little closer to Guy. "You asked me, long ago, to reveal to you the name of the man she loved. I told you then that I'd be betraying her, but I would tell you if you asked again. It was your decision, not mine."
Guy glowered down darkly at her. Someone pounded on the door and Robin tensed, preparing to jump up from the floor and out the back window. Guy opened the door, but only enough so, he could see who was outside. "The sheriff has been looking for you and has asked us to fetch you, immediately." It was a guard. Robin started to stand up, but Meg shook her head at him, holding her hand at him, as if to keep him at bay.
He held his breath as Guy nodded. "I'll be out in a moment, having them saddle my horse." Guy shut the door and moved to go up the stairs without looking at any of them. "I've got to go."
"Guy." Meg said softly, but he moved past her without looking at her. Her uncle stopped her from coming up the stairs after her. Meg jerked free. "Let me go."
"You, will wait for him to leave." Her uncle snapped. "Men in dark moods like that are dangerous."
She rolled her eyes. "You don't know Guy and his moods like, I do. This is a lot for him to take in. he needs to be held and given some time. He'll be alright." She looked upwards. "I'm fairly certain that he won't reveal any of this to the sheriff for the time being."
"So you say." Robin says quietly. "You can't predict how he'll act."
"I believe I can." Meg shoots him a pointed look. "After all, you're still alive, aren't you, Robin?" He nodded reluctantly. "You can get up now."
Robin got up and Marian examined his throat. "He nicked you."
He swiped under his chin. "I'm fine Marian." He looked at his hand to see a small smear of blood on his hand. "However, it was rather close for comfort." Marian exhaled and pulled him into a hug. For a moment, he stiffened, but he relaxed and returned the hug. This hug, brought a calming sort of forgiveness, but they still needed to talk. As he heard Guy's footsteps, he pulled away from Marian. "I'm fine."
She smiled faintly up at him before turning towards the stairs where Guy was descending. He came down the stairs briskly, still avoiding eye contact with everyone as he moved towards the door. "I should be back later. Meg, your aunt and uncle are welcome to stay, I want Hood and his…accomplice out of my house." Robin felt as if he'd been struck a blow to his head. He really couldn't believe those words came from Gisbourne's mouth. "We shall discuss this later. I won't say anything to the sheriff this time, but don't bet on my generosity next time."
Meg hurried towards Gisbourne. "Guy!" He stopped and turned around to face Meg as she grabbed a hold of his shoulders. He didn't shrug away as Meg whispered something to him.
He frowned. "How can I believe you?"
Meg pulled him towards her and kissed her. After a moment's hesitation, Guy's arms wound around her shoulder and he watched as Guy's countenance relaxed and the anger that had filled the room moments ago seemed to dissipate for that moment. Moments later, they pulled away, their faces close by. Again, Meg whispered something to Guy that caused him to briefly kiss her again. He then stepped away, rubbing her chin with his hand. "I'll talk with you tonight, alright?" Meg nodded as he pressed yet another kiss to her forehead. "I love you."
She smiled as she whispered. "I love you."
Guy closed the door and everyone stood there, senses reeling over what they'd just witnessed. Marian, seemed the least surprised of the group. Meg was so calm that one might almost believe that she was in a different world. A world that was free of this torment.
Meg's uncle was the first to find his tongue. "Do you like abuse Meg?" Meg exhaled wearily and turned back towards them. "Is that why you married him? If I hit you…could it persuade you to come back home?"
Meg shook her head. "No, it wouldn't and if you laid a hand on me, I couldn't guarantee what he'd do to you."
"Do you appreciate being manhandled then?' he demanded.
"He let me go, when I asked him to." She said as she crossed her arms.
"You cannot promise that he'll always do as you asked. One night," her uncle stated. "he'll want you and you'll tell him no and he'll change his mind about being gentle with you. You can't tame a wild beast."
"In Guy's defense," Marian said slowly. "I've never seen him bend to anyone's will except for Meg's. She's gotten him to….spare lives, pay people's debts when they're short of money out of his own pocket. At their wedding, the whole village turned up, several of them went looking for Robin to intercede on Guy's behalf for her return, and the villagers turned up when he returned to see if she was well. And last night," Marian shook her head in disbelief. "they sat around the building last night, making sure they weren't interrupted. And this is after he's been cruel to them; they can see the change in him."
Robin nodded begrudgingly. "I hate to admit it but, I should be dead right now. Your niece must have some kind of hold over him."
"Are you on his side?" Her uncle demanded, his weary eyes charged with anger. "You were quick to tell me all of his injustices in the woods, and yet now, you seem to change your tune!"
"No, I haven't." Robin said firmly. "I am against Gisbourne always but….this is definitely…a new side he's displaying. I was simply admitting that…maybe, and I do mean maybe, she does hold some power over him. But how much of him is actually genuine at this moment, I don't know."
Meg shook her head sadly. "He's always been this way Robin; you just have a way of getting under his skin. One day, hopefully soon, the two of you will just let the past go, allow the bad blood to be dissolved."
"This is a fine mess you've gotten yourself into niece." Her uncle sighed. "Can't you even comprehend the danger you're in?"
"If you're referring to the sheriff, I assure you, I am and I'd appreciate if you and Aunt Maria made an appearance, making a suggestive hint to him that if something were to happen to me that the repercussions from Ireland and Spain would be very great." Her aunt nodded in agreement. "And for my sake, if you care anything about me, don't let him know that you cannot stand Guy."
"No, I cannot stand him and is that wrong of me? Is it wrong of me to furious because I swore to your parents that I would make sure you were always happy?" His voice rose. "Is it too much to see that after years of praying for God to send you a good, honest, honorable and kind Christian man that you wed a villain?! Meg, I cannot understand this." He exhaled and sat down, his hand rubbing his forehead. "Maybe you can explain it to me?"
"Oh, uncle," Meg shook her head as she approached him and knelt beside him, placing her hand on his knee. "how can I make you understand why I do what I do when I can barely explain it myself? Once, I was content to be with you and aunt forever. But, who could see that I'd meet Guy and he'd change the shape of my dreams? I know you wanted a good man for me, and I'm sorry that Guy didn't live up to your expectations. I know you wanted better for me but… I cannot help how I feel about him anymore than he can help the way he feels about me. Believe me; it causes him more grief than he'd like to admit."
"I wanted to see you married to someone who wouldn't break your spirit." The brokenness in his voice couldn't be denied. I just watched you….you just….had to lose your ground instead of firmly reasoning with him. This is not the girl I know."
"If I shout at him when he's angry, I'll make it worse. I know him," she stated. "far better than you think. I'm aware that I appear rather helpless as I stand by him, but I assure you, I know him very well, far more than I could know any other man I've ever known in my life."
Her uncle placed his hand on top of her head. "Couldn't you have just waited a little while longer? What if you made a mistake?"
Meg shook her head. "Uncle, I am twenty-three. I've met dozens of men in Spain and Ireland; I've had the crown prince of Spain propose to me. If any of those men were the right one for me, I would have known. I'm happy with him," Meg shook her head as she attempts to fight back a smile. "I-I can't describe it. It's….so strong, that…sometimes I think I could pass out when he simply looks at me. Or," again, her eyes took on that dreamy look again. "if he touches my arm, even just to guide me down the steps…. I feel warm all over. If I'm upset, his silence can be as great a comfort as his words."
Robin, had to be curious about Meg's words. She accurately described an intimate, passionate love. A love he'd held for Marian, not as strong or volatile as hers and Guy's, but, it was still a love nonetheless.
"Did you see his face during that confrontation?" Her aunt asked she approached them. "Black as thunder, until Meg started talking to him and the storm faded. There clearly is a strong bond between them that we're not meant to understand." She placed her hand on her uncle's shoulder. "We didn't understand the connection with her parents. How can we understand with her? They look at things differently than us." She exhaled. "For her sake, we shall have to adjust to her decision, however unpleasant it is. We did it once, and we shall have to do so again." Her aunt handed her a small, green bound journal. "I was going to give you this on your wedding day; it was your mother's journal. Read it, maybe, it will shed some insight into what you're up against."
Meg smiled. "I thank you." she held the book close to her chest. "I shall treasure this."
Marian cleared her throat. "We'll be heading off Meg. thank you, very much," she held out her hand to her. "and, I'm so sorry about all this."
Meg ignored her hand and reached out to hug Marian. "I don't like what you did, but, from your point of view, I can see why. Let's just, forget about all this."
Marian returned the hug. "Yes, I'll stay out of your personal life from now own. I promise."
"Thank you." Meg turned to Robin, her eyes expectant. "I trust since I saved your life, that you'll stay out of our personal life as well."
Robin nodded begrudgingly. "I will."
She rubbed his shoulder. "I don't expect it'll be an easy journey for you to accept us, but believe me, you'll see that I'm right."
"You're too good for him," Robin stated. "too kind."
"And hasn't that man had enough darkness in his life?" she questioned softly. "He is redeemable, in spite of what you think."
Marian reached for him. "Robin, let's go." He sidestepped her touch and moved to the door. "Thank you again." Robin stepped outside and Marian closed the door behind him. "Are we going to talk about this Robin?"
"What is there to talk about?" He asked. "You betrayed me."
"You convinced me to betray my friend." She stated softly. "I had to help her. what God hath joined, let no man put asunder."
"Gisbourne is more devil than man." he turned to her. "You, I thought I could trust with my soul."
"We both made decisions that we thought we could live with." She held his gaze. "I understand and accept why you did, but can you do the same for me?"
Robin was silent for a moment before answering honestly. "I don't know Marian. I really don't."
She nodded. "I see. Then maybe…you and I don't know each other as well as we think we do."
"We know each other Marian, the problem is, we both do things that the other won't accept and then do it anyway. Neither of us have any consideration for the outcome. We just do what we want."
She nods. "I agree. We're both headstrong and stubborn. So, what do we do about it?"
He sighs. "I don't know."
"Maybe," She bit her lip. "we need some time apart."
Her words, ordinarily would have jarred him to his soul, but this time he agreed. As ne nodded his agreement, his heart told him that he'd probably just kissed away all hopes for a possible future together. But his hope that this brief separation would make their bond and hope for the future stronger than before.
