Disclaimer: I own nothing you've seen in BBC, not one thing, so don't sue. I do own Aria though and you can't use her unless I give you permission!
Originally posted December 2016
Overhaul posted June 2018
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Chapter 14: Trust In You
"Truth is You know what tomorrow brings
There's not a day ahead You have not seen
So in all things be my life and breath
I want what You want Lord and nothing less"
-Lauren Daigle
Back at the castle (same morning)
Marian saw the sun creep through her window, spreading warm rays across the room that she did not feel, so heart broken was she. Her fireplace glowed ever so slightly as the wind blew across the remaining embers from the previous nights fire. She had not bothered adding more wood to the fire, as there was no point in keeping warm or for the light it provided. She had memorized Guys letter to her and therefore needed no light to cut through the darkness of the night. Her beloved was gone and she wasn't sure she wanted a life without him. She knew her father needed her still, as he was getting older his health declining, but a life without Gisborne? A fresh wave of tears started streaming down her already tear stained face at the mere thought of the man she had loved, just then a thought came to her. Guy had mentioned Robin's woman, Aria, and how The Sherriff had wanted to punish her before the festival.
"Aria!" Marian had forgotten all about getting more information on what exactly was going to happen to her and how she, Marian, was to also report to Robin this morning. The more Marian though about it there could only be one solution to all this. In order to save Aria and avenge Sir Guy, The Night Watchman would have to come out of retirement to make one final stand in the fight against The Sheriff. She would join forces with Robin, whether he liked it or not. With that thought she stood up and walked over to the foot of her bed and opened the chest that rested there. Carefully removing it's contents, she removed the false bottom, revealing her Night Watchman clothes, she then proceeded to put the false bottom back and all it's contents. Closing the lid she walked to her wardrobe. Opening the doors she pulled out her saddlebag, shoving her clothes inside, silently asking Guy to forgive her for breaking her promise to him. She had to avenge his death, consequences be damned, she thought! Without another thought Marian threw the saddle bag under some things in her dresser and left to meet up with Robin and his fellow outlaws.
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"Much, if you complain one more time I will gladly use you as live bait when The Sheriff sends his dogs after us." Robin groaned, he really did love his friend and loyal servant, but sometimes he was downright annoying. Honestly one would think with the way Much was complaining, that their plans never worked! Robin would be the first to admit that his plans ended up with the gang improvising at times, but when all was said and done everyone made it back to camp in one piece.
"But Master, I am simply pointing out the flaws in this plan. Maybe you should reconsider it? Besides you would never do such a thing to me, therefore I don't believe you." Much countered.
"Yea, but if he doesn't one of us will!" Allan said, growing just as tired of Much's complaining and arguing as the rest of the group.
"Well I never…Master you wouldn't let them do this would you? My master wouldn't let you do that…" Much stammered in reply to Allan's threat, looking to Robin for reassurance and upon receiving none, he huffed and crossed his arms over his chest. This caused Robin to smirk and making much look more like a two year old who hadn't gotten his way, rather than the adult that he was. The phrase "act your age" apparently wasn't applicable at this time.
"Alright enough fooling around. We need to head into the castle, remember we are to meet up with Marian just outside the stables. Once we get the latest information we will commence our rescue mission. Once we have Aria we exit the castle at once, I do not want to fight The Sheriff because we won't know what shape Aria will be in. Do not engage unless you have to, I cannot stress the importance of this being a rescue mission not a tactile mission. Does everyone understand?" Robin asked looking around at his gang, when it appeared no one had questions he lead them towards the castle.
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Marian paced back and forth like a caged animal. She couldn't help but wonder where Robin was, seeing as the sun had been up for several hours now and he was still nowhere to be found; thus creating a very anxious Marian. Just as she thought she was going to create a trench from all her pacing, a small pebble hit the back of her head.
"Ouch!" Marin hissed as she rubbed where the pebble hit her. She looked towards the direction where the pebble had come from and saw a cloaked figure standing there. Once they made eye contact with each other, the clocked figure moved behind a small grove of trees in the horse pasture. Figuring it was finally Robin, she grabbed an apple that was sitting on the railing and walked towards the grove she had last seen the cloaked figure. This way if anyone were to ask her where she was going, she could tell them she was going to go give her mare; a gift from Gisborne, a treat. Marian had figured this was a good plan with all the heightened security due to today's event. As Marian walked behind a hedge she was greeted by a hooded figure with their back towards her. Marian spoke to the figure "I am here, what did you want?" She had to be certain it was Robin before she divulged any information.
The hooded figure turned around to face her and lowered their hood, "You Marian, it has always been you my heart aches for!" Robin said laughing and making dramatic gestures.
"I am in no mood for your jokes, Robin!" Marian replied in a clipped tone. She wondered sometimes if her best friend would ever stop acting so childish.
"If you aren't going to take rescuing Aria seriously then I will have to take matters into my own hands, seeing as someone ought to care!" Marian's voice faltered as a guilty conscience snuck up on her.
' You should have shown Sir Guy that you truly cared more for him. You could have saved him if you had tried, if you really cared about him. Instead you failed him in his darkest hour.' A snide voice whispered in her ear.
"Marian what's wrong, what's happened?" Robin immediately became concerned for her, walking towards her and putting a hand on her shoulder and the other under her chin, gently lifting it up to meet his eyes. What he saw broke his heart, the normally calm and levelheaded one of the friendship looked dejected, almost defeated. There were tears in her eyes and her lips were quivering, her voice full of sorrow as she quietly spoke, her eyes filling up with tears.
"Sir Guy is dead Robin. I should have been there for him, but instead I pushed him out my door in his hour of need. Now, because of me, he is dead!"
All Robin heard was "Sir Guy. Dead." could it really be true, his enemy of so many years be gone? If what Marian was saying was true, then everyone's lives just got a whole lot easier, well most everyone's.
"Marian, what happened, how do you know Guy is dead?" Robin asked.
"I found a letter in Aria's empty cell when I arrived back at the castle last night, it was his suicide note. Here, I've already memorized every word." Marian said, reaching into her dress to procure the letter, handing it to Robin.
Robin took a few moments to read the letter. His concern for Aria grew when he came to the part about The Sheriff wanting Aria to be punished further by Guy. He handed the letter back to Marian and wrapped her in a hug and planted a gentle kiss on her forehead.
"I am sorry Marian; I know how you cared for him. There will be a time to grieve, but for now I need you to help us rescue Aria." he finished, letting go of her.
"I plan on joining you in the fight, I have to avenge Guy's death. I have decided that The Night Watchman will make one final show, come what may of it. I cannot and will not let The Sheriff win this one, not if it's the last thing I do! You can either let me assist you, or I will go after The Sheriff alone and make him pay for what he caused Guy to do." Marian replied defiantly, daring Robin to tell her no.
Robin sighed in frustration, he wanted Marian to stay away from all the fighting so she would remain safe and they could still use her to get information from The Sheriff. He knew though, that once she put her mind to something, she was as stubborn as a mule when it came to changing it. The only way he figured he could keep his best friend safe was to include her in his plan, that way he could keep an eye on her and possibly keep her out of trouble.
"Fine, you win Marian. But please promise me you will stick to the plan? I can't afford for anyone else to be captured. Go and grab your things and meet us by the hounds, we move out as soon as you are ready." Robin said.
"I will Robin, together we will get Aria back." Marian replied, and gave Robin a quick kiss on his cheek, before turning on her heel to go and gather what she needed.
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Hi everyone! I know it's been awhile, sorry, life tends to happen. I was working 65hrs between 3 jobs, but now I'm down to two jobs and seem to have a little bit more time on my hand. It's been one year ago to the day that I started this story. I can't believe how far I've come with this story, and the fact that it is almost done.
Somethings to note:
1. As always if the formatting is funky don't blame me, fanfiction has a habit of messing it up for whatever reason
2. There is a music video to go with this chapter, check it out under my wordpress account FFAMasquearde2005
3. As always, a huge thank you to all that have left reviews, favorited my story, became followers ect
4. We are nearing the end of story!
5. Please rate/review I always love hearing from everyone.
6. EVEN THOUGH THE STORY IS COMPLETE I'D STILL LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU DEAR READER