Robin sighed and rubbed his hands over his eyes. "It's her history, and I am not sure if I should be the one to tell someone, much less, you." He looked at Guy who was sitting directly across from him. Robin sighed again, apparently defeated, "Alright, I will tell you, but her story has not been a pleasant one. That girl has seen a lot of heartbreak and terror. I knew her parents, a most beautiful family, before I went to the Holy Land. Their daughter was fourteen when I went to war, in perfect health and a happy thing, absolutely beautiful young lass. I remember a lot of the young men of Nottingham village absolutely clinging to her like bees to honey." Robin chuckled, "She had the highest of spirits, always a very positive young lady, and a great help to her parents. Her father was lame in one leg and so could find very little work. Her mother was busy at home with a little brother named Seth. And so, Valeria would spin wool and sell it to the other women in the village. You have probably been able to tell how calloused her hands are."

Guy shook his head, "Her hands have always appeared to be very soft."

Robin smirked, "I suppose they would.. to you." Guy raised an eyebrow but Robin would not explain his meaning. "Anyway, I left for the Holy Land. Upon returning, I did notice the absence of Valeria and her family but I became incredibly busy and thought nothing more of it. I had asked a few questions around, but everyone refused to speak to me of it and so it quietly slipped out of my mind, Slipped out of my mind until I found the woman who knew everything about the young girl. You may remember her. Her name was Matilda, accused of sorcery and Vasey tried to drown her?" Guy nodded and Robin continued, "Well, she helped birth me as well as Valeria and was like a second mother to the girl. I knew that if I could ask anyone about the disappearance of the girl and her family, it would be her. So, when I became united under strange circumstances with Matilda, I did ask her and that is when I found out the horrendous tale." Robin stopped and Guy looked up at the outlaw.

"And?" He asked impatiently.

Robin shook his head, "I have said too much already."

"Robin..." Guy replied in warning as he crossed his arms.

"I am serious. The young lass has been through a lot, and at the suspense of those in authority." Robin took an intake of breath and looked at his enemy. A strange expression was on Guy's face. That expression slowly turned to recognition and then regret.

"You mean the Sheriff and I, don't you?" Robin nodded and Guy closed his eyes and bowed his head, pain racking his countenance. "Just tell me." He pleaded. Did he really want to know? Probably not, but he had to.

Robin sighed once again. "Very well. Matilda told me that one year after I had left, Vasey took over the position as Sheriff, and along with that, his tyrannic rule began. Valeria's father, Tom, could no longer pay the steep taxes and the family sunk into terrible debt. They were to lose their small farm and all that they had. One night, you and a group of your soldiers came to the house and demanded that the money be paid or the family would have to leave the following morning. Tom refused. In response, you lit the home aflame and left." Guy shuddered at the thought as he felt the tears coming to his eyes. How had he ever done such a thing? "Valeria was away that night at a meeting held by the young people of the village. She returned shortly after you had left the home and saw her farm on fire. Men and women had already rushed to put out the flames. But it was too late. Tom and Bethany were already dead, having been trapped when a beam from the ceiling had fallen."

Guy could not believe it. How similar was this story to the way Valeria's own hut had burnt down just two days ago? He turned his attention back to Robin who was still speaking.

"- rescued the body of her baby brother from the flames. He died of the burns the next morning. Matilda offered to take in the girl and let her live with her daughter. Valeria did so, but after Matilda was condemned to drowning, Matilda had no choice but to leave with her daughter. Valeria would not go with her, she would not leave the place where her parents had died. She hated the very town but could not bear the thought of leaving everything she knew behind. Matilda tried to convince her not to stay, but the young girl would not listen. She was nineteen at that time. I promised Matilda that I would look after the young girl and I knew where she was living. She remained in Matilda's hut close to the outskirts of Sherwood Forest, and I suppose that is where she brought you. I tried to help her for three months but she would not listen. She refused to let me into her home and insisted on being alone. I decided to give up, poor lass."

Guy breathed out heavily and looked at Robin, tears were in his eyes. He swallowed hard and closed his eyes before asking, "When did she lose her voice?"

"Matilda said that that happened within two days after the fire occurred. Matilda said the girl never spoke after that, and she never saw the girl laugh or smile either, like she had used to."

"So it was the incident that caused her to lose her ability at speech? That must mean that she still can talk, she just refuses not to."

Robin shrugged, "I do not know. I suppose that if she wanted to speak, she would. But it has been seven years since it happened. You think that she would have talked by then. But then again, perhaps she just needs to find something to live for. She needs happiness again, if someone would be willing to give it to her, perhaps it would make her see the hope in this world and she she would let go of her grief at last." He looked at Guy in a way that Guy did not understand.

"I suppose so. Perhaps when she has a new life established in Nottingham, she will find happiness again."

"Or maybe," Robin replied, "What she has to be happy is right in front of her."

Guy raised an eyebrow, "What are you talking about?"

Robin chuckled, "Come on. Do not tell me you have not developed feelings for Valeria?"

Guy's mouth fell open, "Absolutely n-. That is, of course I haven-. I mean—mean-" Guy was stuttering and he knew it. He blushed when he saw Robin looking at him with that annoying grin. Guy shook his head. Did he really have feelings for the girl? He supposed that he had formed some kind of affection for her over the past week, but what it was he had not really known. Until know. Somewhere over the short course of time, he had come to have feelings for Valeria. But was it only because she had been the one to save him and bring him to redemption? Guy sighed, "Even if I had, it would be of no use. She despises me completely."

Robin grunted, "I do not believe that. I see how she listens to you whenever you speak, how she trusts you."

"That is only because she is in a place that she does not know."

"She knows me." Robin added, his grin returning as he noticed Guy's blush was becoming deeper. But then the blush was gone and replaced with stormy eyes and a haggard face. "Besides, it could never be. Not now when I know that truth about the depth of pain I have caused her. I will see that she is well, and then I will leave her life...forever. And she will never see me again. I cannot bear to bring her more pain than I already have."

Robin frowned, "So you would deprive her of happiness, just because of your guilt?"

Guy was becoming angry with this conversation and his voice was rising, "She will not find happiness with me!" He stood up and pointed hard at his chest. "You may not have noticed, but I am not a happy person! Misery follows me everywhere I go! I killed Marian! I kill everything I love!"

Robin stood up too and began to shout, "Stop being so selfish! Can you not see that that girl has feelings for you?"

"Me?" Guy screamed in wrath, "I destroyed everything she loves and took away her voice! No matter how much I love her, she will never return that love!"
Robin's voice softened as his eyes became calm again, "Then you love her?"

The outlaw may have settled down but Guy hadn't and he replied in rage, "Fine, do you want the truth! I love that woman! I love Valeria and I love her more than I can express in words! I love her!" The realization of Guy's words finally hit him and he became quiet, "I love her." He whispered and allowed himself a small smile before his expression became hard and unreadable once again, "But it does not matter." He looked at Robin, "It does not matter, because she does not love me. And never will. I am a monster."

"She saved you, Guy." Robin strode up to the man who only moments before had been his enemy. The man in black looked shocked at Robin's use of his first name. Robin placed his hand on Guy's broad shoulder and smiled slightly, "She must have seen, no matter how small, a tiny glint of hope in you. Run with that. I see a change in you, Guy. There is something different. She may redeem you yet." Robin released his shoulder, "Perhaps you should see her now."

Guy nodded and turned to walk into the room where Valeria was. Little did he know, that his shouting had been heard by the young girl. She smiled softly. Guy loved her. But then, an image of Guy's anger and his knocking over the candle that had burned down her home flashed into her mind. And then, she cast up a wall around her heart, prepared to not let any such love enter.