Chapter 11,

Of Loves, And New Beginnings,

Tuck soon began to mix herbs and powders together at Jonathans request, once the shoulder wound was bandaged, they gently turned him over onto his stomach so they could see the damage done by the cat o' nine tails. It was a sight for sore eyes, the wounds were dirty and would probably induce an infection, the cuts were deep, and jagged, and were covered in drying sticky blood.

"It's a good things he's not awake to feel this, these wounds will need intensive care, and they will all need to be stitched together or the scars would be to horrific, that's where you come in." He hinted as he shot an upward glance at the monk,

Cloth and hot water was soon brought over and they both began the task of cleaning the deep wounds, there was no telling what covered the floor to the cell Guy was in and so they were careful to remove every last bit of grim before they placed the cloth to one side. After that they both took up a needle and began the slow and careful task of sewing the cuts back together, another lamp was brought in for extra light, because these stitches had to be neat.

Time passed by and the feast was drawing near it's end, people were returning home, and Madison and Isabella were taking their leave, as soon as Isabella was free from the Prince she and Madison ran to the stables and got a groom to saddle their horses. Before they raced off towards Isabella's camp, John waited for all his guests to leave before he got a few servants to open the hatch on the bull's back.

When it was opened he was horrified to see who was actually inside, it was Vaisey this was all a trick something was wrong, hood had gotten here he knew Gisborne had to be lying, about him being the only one in London. This was planned it had to have been it was to neat, that prisoner that Vaisey had so urgently gone to see it had to have been one of hood's gang, he had to see for himself.

He stormed down to the dungeons after ordering the servants to clean up the mess, "That new prisoner that's down here who is it?" He demanded,

"It was a woman sire, blonde hair, greenish-blue dress and a fire in her eyes." The guard explained,

"It was one of hood's gang why didn't anyone tell me about her?" He screamed,

"Well she had only stolen bread so I didn't want to trouble you with something as small as theft." The man replied,

"Hood penetrated my castle he planned Gisborne's escape and he sent one of his own into the dungeon to organize it, they also knew that Vaisey was still alive, no doubt he got another one to dress as a guard a feed information to and fro." Prince John speculated,

Meanwhile Isabella and Madison were just reining in their horses outside of the hospital tent; they quickly dismounted handing the reins to awaiting guards as they rushed in. Tuck and Jonathan were just finishing tying the bandage around Gisborne's chest when they walked in, tying a knot in the fabric Jonathan walked over to the ladies.

"How is he?" Isabella asked,

"He's unconscious for now, but he'll be just fine even though infection may be a possibility." Palmer explained, before Madison relaxed and left the tent to search for Justin guessing that was the reason she didn't see him guarding the door earlier,

Isabella walked over to Guy and took the hand that was hanging over the edge of the cot he was now lying on, and placed it on his chest he looked so pitiful now. He was not how he was when she had seen him last fighting with Robin, no he was strong then he was the tall dark man she knew as her brother, not the man he was now lying an inch from his death bed.

Tuck and Jonathan left the tent realizing that Isabella would probably want some time with her brother alone, and that they should probably tell Robin Guy's condition as well because he still in the dark. Madison and Justin had gone off a small way from the camp so that they could be alone, so it was no surprise to Palmer and Tuck when they didn't see any sign of the two when they entered the tent Robin and his gang were occupying.

Robin rose to his feet, "How's Guy?" He asked,

"Well you have seen his injuries as you were the one's who rescued him, and believe me when I say it looks quite horrific and infection might very well be a high risk, he will have to be bed ridden for quite a while, so that the stitched your friend and I have put in won't be in vain." He explained, and then paused for a moment, "However he is a strong man and I have confidence in his recovery." He added, to uplift the atmosphere that he could feel descending on the listeners,

"He's still unconscious but we have done everything that we can." Tuck said,

Robin gave an understanding nod, before Palmer left to return to his own tent and Tuck rejoined his friends, while Madison and Justin shared an intimate moment together not far from the camp, but out of view from the patrols. Justin held her close to his chest, and she snuggled into him to steal the body heat he emitted because the night air was cold, they looked into each others eyes before he finally spoke.

"You look lovely." He praised,

"I have you to thank for that." She explained,

"I have decided that I am going to stay and work for your brother." He informed,

"Why?" She questioned,

"Because if I moved to Nottingham again with Isabella, I would no longer be able to see you." He replied,

"You are sweet" She cooed, before he took her in a kiss,

The night soon slid into the next day, Justin and Madison had returned to the castle and Guy was still unconscious and unresponsive, he didn't even move when he had a nightmare that would usually have merited some kind of movement.

That day soon slipped into the next, and Guy's mind was active although his body lacked activity, he tried to find Marian he searched feverishly but she was nowhere to be found. His mind raced through a lit corridor. Only every door he came to when opened was the familiar darkness of nothingness, which only made him search with more of an intense obsession.

He knew she was gone and that he would never see her again, but he didn't want to admit it to himself he was afraid that if he did admit it she would be dead from here on until eternity. And while his mind raced madly, his body began to show signs of distress and misery, his face building up with sweat as he continued to search through the lit corridor for an opening that would take him to her.

As the day slipped into the next once again, Guy's wounds were fast healing, his lack of movement and constant sleeping was applying all the medicine he needed, although everyone was starting to worry about his lack of movement. But at the noon of the same day, he finally opened his eyes, slowly but surely he opened them giving himself time to readjust to the spectrum of light that was the sun.

The first thing that hit him was the pain that radiated from his back and shoulder, and although it wasn't as intense because of the salve Tuck applied it still hurt enough to notice. He looked around as much as he could without moving, he knew he was in a tent, he couldn't be back in Sherwood because they didn't live in a tent so where was he?

He knew Isabella said she was helping Robin rescue him, and so he must bee in her custody, but that was also peculiar because she lived in the castle or the Loxley manor which didn't explain why he was in a tent. Where they still close to London? Where they camped just outside of London waiting for him to recover before they made any plans to move back to Nottingham.

Isabella then walked in and so he quickly closed his eyes again, only allowing them to part enough so he could see her, she didn't suspect that he was awake yet, and so she sat down next to the cot. If there was one thing that was clear to him now it was that they were camped somewhere and Isabella was telling the truth when she said she was sorry for trying to kill him, but he wanted to make sure.

"I know you probably can't here me brother, but you need to wake up we're all concerned that you'll be like this forever, and I don't want that because if you stay like this forever I will never get to tell you how truly sorry I am for all the pain I have caused you, including what happened to Meg. Robin's worried too, so is Allen it appears he has a liking for you maybe even a sense of respect…by the way he talks he thinks you have more loyalty than most in the camp…seeing's how you have sustained so much and said nothing." She said to herself mainly, as she tried to brush away a tear,

"You are forgiven already sister." Came a whispered voice, as Guy opened his eyes slightly wider,

She was startled, by his voice but overjoyed when he placed his large hand over her smaller one, and attempted to smile warmly at her though he was hardly comfortable enough to even appear happy.

"I hope you heard all that because I am not about to repeat myself." She warned,

"I heard every last word." He assured, as he used his thumb to lightly brush her hand,

"How do you feel?" She asked,

"Like I've been to hell and back how does it look from your end?" He asked, trying a form of sarcasm,

"Tuck and Palmer say that you will be fine as long as he get enough rest." She answered,

"Would you tell Robin that I want a word with him?" He asked,

"Sure, he'll want to know that you're awake anyway, he's worried." She agreed, as she got up, smiling softly before she left,

Minutes later and Robin had entered the tent.

"So where did you go that morning?" Guy asked, after an eerie silence passed over them,

"I went for a walk, I had no idea that they would consider you betrayed them." He admitted,

"Everyone else seemed okay with what Tuck had said about you going for a walk…but Kate wouldn't hear any of it…they tied me to a tree before she beat me." He explained,

"I'm sorry I should never have left without telling you guys where I was going, I just wanted to be alone with my thoughts." He apologized,

"You're right you shouldn't have do you see where it has landed me?" Guy sneered,

"I said I was sorry what more do you want?" Robin demanded,

"You remember when I came to you for help when Madison was our enemy and how you tortured me when it suited you, and how I told you that I was afraid I would end up tied to another tree but this time I wouldn't have Much to bail me out?" He asked,

"Yes."

"Well you wouldn't even begin to imagine what happened to me when I was in Vaisey's hands, not to mention the Prince." He explained,

"Okay I'll say it; it was all my fault, happy now?" He asked,

"No but why would you care." He replied,

"What's wrong with you Gisborne…why are you so angry?" Robin demanded,

"You wouldn't even begin to understand…so why don't you start practicing how shut the hell up and get lost." He said cruelly,

"Alright I'll go but don't you dare forget who it was that saved your life."

"How could I possibly forget I now have a constant reminder with your name labeled on it." He retorted,

Robin walked out of the tent puzzled and angered, puzzled because he couldn't understand why Guy was so uptight he should have been grateful that a rescue came before he was killed. Angered that Guy was blaming him for what happened and wouldn't accept his apology, he was sorry for what he basically got Guy into, leaving early before anyone got up unaware that they would be so alarmed.

One the way back to the tent he occupied Isabella stopped him from going any further, his countenance perked up when he saw her, he loved her Kate was merely a distraction. She pulled him into the forest away from everyone else so that they could be alone, because there were some things that she wanted to get off her chest.

"So what is it you want to ask me?" He quizzed,

"Well I remember what you said when we escaped the trap my brother set up, and you're right I'm not her, and I could never take her place…so marriage might be out of the question, does it mean we have to stay distant?" She asked,

"Perhaps not." He offered,

"Perhaps well what does that mean?" She asked, before he kissed her,

"Did you hear that?" He asked,

"Hear what?" She asked, in return,

"That kiss it spoke volumes." He explained,

'Really what did it say?" She asked,

"It said we can be so much more than friends." He replied, as his hands took her by the waist and her hands took him by the shoulders,

Guy was angry and explaining why it wouldn't make any sense to anyone but him, he was angry at Marian he was angry at her because she foolishly stepped out of line and was now punished for her crime. He would never see her again and it upset him because he loved her, he had never held back his feelings, and she knew that so why did she step out of line?

After a while he was angry at himself for being angry at Marian, how could he be angry at her, he had no right she acted out of love towards him and most of the time he acted out of hate a resentment towards her. How he could kick himself now, the whole point of his being angry at Robin earlier was because he was pining over Marian and how he had lost her a second time.

When he first lost her he was sad heart broken and miserable, but now he was angry hardened and was shutting himself out from anyone else, he refused to let himself show feeling anymore. Where had it gotten him in the past, a heartbreak caused by his actions in the holy land regarding Marian, and another sorrow filled moment caused by Meg when she sacrificed her life for him.

He didn't really like her any more than at least a friends, but somehow he still managed to shed a tear over her death, but that could have been because of what had happened in the last few days all the added stress finally tearing it's own walls down. He wasn't sorry for what he said to Robin in fact he needed to be yelled at, Robin had nearly completely forgotten about Marian, he had fallen in love with Kate.

He knew their relationship wouldn't last long because he soon fell in love with Isabella again, he didn't mind now because they were on the same side, but he was angry that he was the only one who still carried a torch for the first woman he loved. He and Robin had a fight because they both were supposed to have loved her so much, but now that wasn't true Robin had fallen for others and now Marian had no more room in his cluttered heart.

He didn't even care how long he had to be bed ridden for, because what was the point in life now Marian was completely gone and she would no longer be in his heart, she would only be in his head. He closed his eyes and turned his mind back to the intimate memories that he and Marian had shared together, all the times they had kissed each other, and all the time he found her in his embrace.

Over the course of several days he had pushed everyone away he was uptight and cruel, the only person who seemed to still be in the good books with him was his sister. And even then she was worried he would snap at her for simply stepping into his line of sight, because of all the stories she heard circulating from Robin's men about him being a big grouch.

When Guy was well enough to travel they had made their way back to Nottingham and ultimately the forest again, inside he was happy to be home but it would no longer be home to him anymore. On a bright morning's day he wandered through the forest alone to think and to skulk, to let himself release all thoughts of worry and wander over the extra time he was granted with Marian, the love of his life.

He leaned his shoulder against a large tree, his arms crossed over his chest, he wasn't sure what it was he was fighting for anymore, before he had been fight for Marian but now…nothing. As he stood there a small breeze picked up, and he soon heard the familiar sound that he thought he would never hear again, it was the sound of her voice on the wind calling his name.

But then his heart sank again, it was just the wind playing tricks with his mind, she wasn't going to be near him again, she was gone, and now he was lost he had no reason to keep on walking. He sighed a deep breath before he heard his name being called by her again, it pulled at his heart strings he wanted so badly to see her again to touch her again.

A hand stretched out and touched him on the shoulder, no doubt it was hood, but had he ever been so gentle and kind? He turned around to face who he thought was Robin but it turned out to be the one person he would never have expected. There before him was Marian smiling as sweetly as she ever could, but this couldn't be she was an angel before and now she was here it must be a hallucination because he wanted her so badly.

"Guy."

"Marian is it really you?" He asked,

"Yes Guy only I am human again…when they punished me the punishment was regain mortality again, they have given me a second chance with you, perhaps it was not such a terrible punishment after all." She explained,

Just then he couldn't stop himself, he grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her close, their lips met in what was now a passionate kiss, it was long and deep, and he loved it immensely. They broke apart and he righted himself.

"Oh Marian I thought that I would never see you again, I was afraid that I had lost you again." He said nearly crying,

"And I thought that I would no longer see you as well." She admitted,

"You killed him didn't you that was what you did wrong, you killed Vaisey?" He asked and stated,

"Yes but I enjoyed every minute of it." She answered,

"Oh Marian you don't know how happy I am." He confessed,

"Yes I do you were in despair and turmoil, you were questioning your own importance in the world you were wandering what you had left to fight for." She protested,

"If you still possess the power to read my heart and mind though you are mortal again you have to promise you will try not to." He said,

"And if it isn't too late…would you please grace me with betrothal."

"You want to marry me…what about Robin?" He asked,

"He has fallen for another but you have remained faithful you never gave up on me even when I asked you to…and that was only a test to see how much you really did love me." She replied,

"But you married Robin in the Holy Land."

"No that was not a marriage, it is not a marriage in the eyes of the law or God's." She assured,

"Then yes…yes I will marry you." He exclaimed, as he took her by the waist and spun her in a full circle her dress skirts flying in the breeze,

"But if I am to marry you then we must tell Robin and the others, because if I was to suddenly show up with you how would it look?" He asked, realizing that he would probably scare everyone out of their wits, and they would think he cohered with a necromancer to bring her back to life,

"You believe that they would think you hired a necromancer to bring me back to life?" She asked,

"Marian." He warned, "But yes I do, because I have been told stories that there was a mask once in this forest and everyone thought it was the forces of darkness." He explained,

"Yes I do remember something about that; Robin showed it to me he said that John was worried about it and refused to leave the forest." Marian admitted,

"If we are to explain things to Robin, promise me that you will go through with our marriage…because I still remember what happened the first time I tried to marry you." He begged,

"I know I was wrong I should have married you long ago so none of this would ever have happened, but this is a second chance, this is our second chance and we should do over what we always wished we could…but you will not lose me a third time" She explained,

"You are right I will live everyday as it comes…by your side, and fight by your side if you will join the gang." He agreed,

"I would love to fight for England again as your wife." She confessed, "At least now I have a free will on this earth…without being punished." She added,

"I wouldn't count on that." Guy said as he smiled cheekily,

"Well do you think now is a good time as any other to tell them?" She asked,

"You can read my mind what am I thinking?" He asked,

"Well we'll see." She dismissed, as she took his hand entwining her fingers with his as they walked back towards the camp,

Guy got her to wait just around the corner while he went in to explain a few things before introducing his soon to be bride, his only concern was what Robin would end up doing about the situation. He walked in unable to hide the immense pleasure that graced his usually hard features, everyone was skeptical about his happiness due to how many time he had barked at them before but nevertheless gathered around.

"Alright Guy are you going to tell us what has you so gay?" Allen asked,

"Well first I would like to apologize for the way I have treated all of you recently, it was wrong I should have been thanking you for saving my life…and especially you Robin when I wrongly accused you." He apologized,

"No, you had your reasons for yelling at me and I understand, nearly dying at the hands of Vaisey is a lot to handle." He dismissed,

"You understand one half of the story while the other is yet to be revealed." He stated,

"What do you mean?" He asked puzzlingly,

"Well true I was angry for what Vaisey did to me, but also because of Marian." He explained,

"What about Marian?"

"You could say…I have been thinking about her a lot in the past few days." He answered,

"What are you trying to say?" Robin asked,

"She visited me while I was in the dungeon…don't jump to conclusions about my state of mind or my well being, because she has come to me long before this, when I was recovering in your camp after Madison nearly killed me, it was the first time she came to me." He explained,

"Are you saying that you saw her in your mind?" Allen asked,

"At first yes, when I was recovering I found myself standing next to her we talked and I decided to join your gang, because I had something worth fighting for, because the battle for England may be a reason for most but not for me." He replied,

"And then you saw her as a whole?" Much asked warily,

"Yes she appeared to me as an angel, while I was in the dungeon she gave me a rose, and I still have it." He said,

He then walked over to his bunk and retrieved a ball of cloth, he unwrapped it and showed them the rose that was as white as snow and was still fresh and whole, it hadn't even begun to wilt.

"And you got this from her when?" Robin asked,

"In the Prince's dungeon, and it has been stepped on after that but look at it does it look like an ordinary rose to you?" Guy asked,

"This still doesn't explain why you are not angry with us anymore, did she visit you again?" Kate asked, not believing a word of what he said though she tried not to let it show,

"Yes but not as an angel." He said with a large smile,

He then walked out of the camp and to where he had Marian, she then walked into full view, as he followed closely behind, leaving everyone with their jaws dropped, they couldn't believe it she was alive.

"It is good to see all of you again, even you Much." She said,

"Marian is that really you?" Robin asked,

"Yes Robin I'm really here and what Guy says is true, I did come to him in his sleep, I needed him to open up before I could come to him as an angel…I am the one who killed Vaisey which is why I am mortal again, it is against the rules to interfere with life once you have passed from it." She explained,

Robin walked over and took her into his embrace, while unable to fight back the tears that threatened; Marian also shed a tear, while everyone else just stood back and watched on in disbelief. When they separated they looked at each other fondly,

"I have something that I have to tell you Robin that you might not want to hear." She said,

"What is it?" He asked,

"When I was dying in the holy lands, that was not a wedding in the eyes of the law or God, and so I have made a decision…I am going to marry Guy." She explained,

"I don't understand." He confessed,

"Your heart lies with another now, but Guy has never stopped thinking about me ever since that fatal moment in the desert sun of a foreign land." She said,

"But…" Robin stuttered,

"I am sorry Robin, I really am but I must be with the one my heart desires…and my heart lies with Guy, now is the time to do over what we wished we could long ago…but if you will have me I wish to fight for England once again as a part of your gang." She said,

"We'd be glad to have you back." Much exclaimed, before Robin could say a word,

"Good then after Guy and I are married we will help save England." She stated, as she rested her body against Guy's, as he held her by the waist with his arm,

Robin knew deep down that Marian was right, he had indeed fallen in love with someone else, and at that moment he remembered a rendezvous he had arranged in the forest so silently he slipped out of camp while the others swarmed Marian.

The End

Hi, I figured you all would forgive me for ending the story if I made the last chapter really large, so there you have it, Guy get's Marian, Robin get's Isabella, and the happy family in Sherwood goes on.

Special thanks to all those who inspired me to keep writing, such are the following:

saramagician

SophieSaulie

Joyce013

calmingbreez

But Especially:

saramagician

Cookies for you of the Choc Chip variety!