Horray! In the midst of preparing for guests I have finished chapter 13! Beware: this has not been proof-read, but I figured that you'd rather have an update than wait for me to get it 'perfect'. :-)
. . . .
"There," he put his finger under her chin and tilted her face up towards him, "That wasn't so hard, was it?"
Confusion flooded her features and she looked at him blankly for a moment. "You knew all along, didn't you?" she questioned in a slightly accusatory tone, "Why did you want me to tell you if you already knew?"
"What happened to make you so ill right before our wedding?" he countered - a trifle sharply - obviously a little irritated by her tone.
"In for a penny in for a pound, I suppose," Marian took a deep breath, "I... my father... After the Sheriff replaced my father I started... helping people." Pausing, she was suddenly hit with the desire to deceive him again... to keep his good opinion... realizing that she would miss it acutely if she were to lose it again.
"You have always had a soft spot for the less fortunate," observing her face as he spoke, Guy thought he knew the subject that was responsible for her inner battle, "You got injured as a result of helping someone? Hood perhaps?"
"Not exactly. You see, I was uncomfortable with the idea that after I married you I would be unable to... help anymore." Making up her mind, Marian forged ahead bravely, "And I decided to go on one last fling before I retired. So, one night I put on my disguise and went to..." her voice faltered unexpectedly. To admit that she was the Night-Watchman (though, admittedly, she could be sealing her fate as she spoke) was one thing, to admit to the man that she had publicly jilted at the alter that she had chosen to steal from him as her last act as an unmarried woman was another thing entirely.
"Go on," he prodded, wondering if she was really intending to tell him the whole truth this time, "Where did you go?"
"Locksley," she admitted, her throat inconveniently tight, "I went to Locksley and stole from you as the Night-Watchman. You stabbed me with your dagger, Robin brought me back to his camp, Djaq treated me, and then they brought me back to my father. And that's the whole truth, whether you like it or not."
Hope surged through Guy; he had hardly expected her to admit all that she had so quickly.
"Now that you've told me," he leaned forwards slightly, "Let me answer your question as to why I hated you. When you showed me the necklace, it reassured me of your loyalty and honesty. That was why I did not expect your behaviour that day in church. I was embarrassed, yes, but as I picked up your ring from the ground suddenly the way that you had struck me unaccountably brought back my encounter with the Night-Watchman on the day of the archery tournament last year. Slowly everything began to make sense, and by the time that the Sheriff sent me to bring you to the castle, I had begun to hate you. I gladly destroyed your house, and every time you appeared as the Night-Watchman at the castle, I did my best to destroy you as well. But for some reason, I couldn't bring myself to hurt you when you were dressed as yourself, and I couldn't admit to the Sheriff once again that I had been mistaken in you. It was not until Winchester's visit that I realized how precious you still were to me. I've thought about this for a long time, and I can overlook the Night-Watchman, Marian, but I can not be happy without you." His voice became quieter as he finished, and his hand brushed hers, "So I ask you once again, will you marry me?"
. . . .