Illusions 12

Tears welled up in her eyes, and she wiped them away hastily; it was no use and time and again she saw what was to come….

The King had insisted that she attended the execution and so she was sitting by Robin's side on the dais. The people clapped and jeered when a guard led Guy from the dungeons towards the gallows; he stumbled, his feet being shackled, and he was staring into space. His left arm was pressed to his side in an odd angle and his shirt hung in shreds. Lank curls hung over a blood crusted forehead and his lips were split.

Bad eggs and stones were cast, but Guy didn't even try to avoid them. He only winced when a stone hit him at his temple and blood trickled from the little wound. Brutally he was gragged forward. Louder and louder the people's shout resounded in her ears and then Guy was pushed to a little platform.

Suddenly she felt his gaze. It was as if he longed to see her in the last few moments of is life. She saw longing and regret. Motionless, he was standing on the scaffold while the crowd's murmur subsided. The hangman put the noose around his neck and fastened it. She was staring at Guy, heard her own heartbeat, heard how the verdict was read and the drums roared. Then two men pulled Guy up slowly. She heard his death-rattle, saw how he twitched and struggled in agony.

Then she fainted.

The darkness lifted, Marian blinked, looking up in Robin's concerned face. "What…?" She groaned and looked around, confused. She was lying on her bed, covered with a soft blanket. Her head hurt. Then she remembered – Guy….Marian stared at Robin and sat up carefully.

"Are you better?...Jane found you lying on the floor. You were unconscious and hurt your head."

Carefully Marian touched the back of her head, feeling a bump, and grimaced. How long had she lain there? She saw the red and yellow ball of the sun sinking on the horizon; it had been a while. "I think it's better now…perhaps…." She swallowed."…I'm not used to be indoors for such a long time."

Robin didn't seem to mind the fragile excuse; he nodded absentmindedly and took her hand, kissing it gently. "I'm glad that you are well again. The King is planning a feast in a few days in honour of his mother; Queen Eleanor will arrive tomorrow. If you look over there you will find something that will lighten your mood definitely. King Richard had a dress made for you as a special honour."

Carefully Marian turned her head, anger rising again. The yellow garment on the chest was precious and embroidered more artfully than she had ever seen a dress, but was this everything Robin was interested in? Why had the King made such a dress for her in the first place and why did Robin sound like King Richard's parrot again?

"But that's not the good news I wanted to give you. Marian, we've captured Gisborne and this time he will not be able to escape. He used a false name, pretending to be a relative of a knight in Brycgstow. He will hang for his treason and everything he did to us. And then…." He didn't continue, but Marian knew what he meant… then they would marry. Robin kissed her hand again and rose. „Rest and tomorrow we'll talk." Only a moment later he had left the room.

Marian laughed aloud and Jane, who had been standing near the bed without saying anything, looked at her, puzzled. Again, Robin had left her alone, probably to join the King. But then her smile faded. Guy….he would hang and she couldn't do anything.

"My lady, you should rest, as the Earl told you," Jane said alarmed when she saw Marian's pale face. "Please lie down." She put another soft pillow under Marian's head and covered her again with the blanket. Glad to be alone, Marian didn't contradict and only a short time later the door closed behind Jane.

For a while Marian lay on her bed without moving. What was the matter with her? Robin had told her that he would marry her soon and she could only think of Guy. Robin had kissed her hands and she had felt…nothing. Was it only exhaustion and her discontent in the palace? Tears welled up again and ran down her cheeks. Usually, she barely cried and now she seemed not to be able to stop.

When Guy had released her in the hut, she had been positive not to see him again. Grief about Robin's alleged death had overshadowed everything else for a while. She had blocked out thoughts about Guy and during the time she had hidden as a servant, she had been mostly too exhausted and tired to think. But eventually his face had appeared in her dreams, the pain in his gaze but also his contempt. Still, he had let her live and she had known that he loved her.

I don't want him to die. Marian sat up. I don't want him to die. He has tried to murder the King; he has betrayed England, he killed people…. I don't want him to die.

But what could she do? And suddenly she knew; there was a possibility, but it might cost her everthing. Although…if she was honest…was it that much? Slowly she got up and walked over to the chest where the pale yellow dress was lying. I a few days the King would make a feast for Queen Eleanor and then she would ask for the reward the King had promised her. She already saw Robin's furious and bewildered face and probably he would break off the engagement, but there was no other way to save Guy's life…..And she didn't even know whether she cared about marriage to Robin any longer.

Robin examined the new stallion the King had given to him. It was a wonderful animal, a three year old sorrel. A servant approached him. "My lord, Sir Osgood of Gringstow and his wife want to talk to you."

Robin turned around, surprised. He had not expected to meet the people again, where Gisborne had hidden. He had realised at once that they were not in cahoots with the traitor but had been deceived. Probably they wanted to see Gisborne hand and he could very well understand that. He nodded. "Accompany them to my quarters and serve them something to eat and wine. It will be only a few minutes and I'll be with them."

Shortly thereafter, he entered his chambers and welcomed the Gringstows. "If I had known that you wanted to attend the execution, you could have ridden with us. I will tell the servants to prepare a room for you."

"We…have to thank you. There are…still some questions, which have not been answered yet, about this man we mistook for our nephew. Roger is dead as we know now, but we don't know exactly what happened. Roger was our last relative and we wanted to ask this Guy of Gisborne some questions. And please tell us about this man, who will hang.

"This I will do!" Robin said grimly.

The guard closed the heavy door behind them. "Please knock, when you're ready." Robin had ordered him to lead the Gringstows to the dungeons.

"Roger," Anne whispered as she descended the dark staircases. A rat scurried past them when the light of a torch lit the dark room, but Anne didn't even notice it. "Wife, you know as good as I do that this is not Roger," Osgood said softly. "Wait, I'll lead on and you hold fast to me. The stairs are slippery." Carefully they descended. At the other end of the room, chained to the wall, they saw the man they had taken for their nephew and had loved like a son. In the dim light of the torch they saw the chain leading to the jougs. Guy's head leaned at the wall; his eyes were closed and he didn't move. Anne took a hesitant step towards him.

A door opened and then he heard footfall…They were coming to fetch him. An air draught and the shine of a torch – Guy cracked an eyelid, but he was too weak and only groaned slightly; then his eyes closed again. He didn't care any more whether it was now or in a few days….The footfall came near….silence…His eyes opened again, but his vision was blurred and he saw the face of a woman, dark hair… "Marian," he whispered. ""Marian…"

Then he felt something touch his lips…a cup. "Drink," a voice said, a voice he had known in another life only a few days ago. Greedily he swallowed. "More…more please…"

"This is all I have….Guy." Anne wiped Guy's brow and felt his grateful gaze. Osgood was standing behind his wife, undecided what to do. He harrumphed. "We'd like a few answers. It was not much what the Earl of Huntington told us when he arrested you. You told us that you didn't kill Roger and we want to know what happened and if it's true that you tried to kill the King."

Guy's faze was weary, but he looked into Osgood's face. "I have tried to kill King Richard," he said hoarsely. "And I would do it again, not for the Sheriff of Nottingham, not for the Black Knights, but for me….Your nephew, he was a good man. I met him in Bordeaux…He was ill and he dies in my arms….I….I'm sorry that I decei…." Guy became silent; the words had exhausted him. Osgood flinched when Guy confirmed his assassination and looked down at him gloomily while he caressed Anne's shoulder. "I don't understand. I thought I knew you. All these things we heard about you, are they true?"

"Yes, it's true, Osgood….I would have liked to be another man and I….It was good to know you….you were the best that happened to me….If you try to remember this time with you in Brycgstow, I'm glad."

"And you were good for us," Anne said, who had remained silent so far, with a firm voice. "You are not a bad person….and I don't understand, but you are like a son to me." Tears streamed down her face when she touched Guy's face.

Guy felt as if someone had placed a rock on his chest, when he saw the weeping woman and noticed the mix of emotions in Osgood's face, but at the same time he felt a joy he didn't understand himself. These were people, who loved him and who would miss him.

"We have to go, Anne," Osgood murmured and then he felt how the old knight squeezed his hand. "Adieu, son."

Anne got up carefully; she was swaying and was going to say something, but Osgood shook his head. Guy looked after them when the ascended the stairs; he heard the voices at the door and then….silence…..