Wow...this next chapter came out pretty quick, for me anyway. Please review, for everyone knows that my BBQ Sauce bottles will devour your pretzels or any other armies you may have by you.
skrblr: When you say spirals down, do you mean as in its not as good or it spirals down a way you didn't see it going? And thanks for reviewing, since no one else is:(
And if I by accident write that Marian has black or aubrun hair here, please correct me. She has brown, the other Marian in the other book has aburn and none of them have black 'cept Robin
Blah blah blah...hope you like this chapter. What is going to happen to Marian? Will some random outlaw guy come to her rescue or will the evil Gisbourne get his way with her? Or will she bite of his other hand? Read on too see...
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As I turned the corner I found myself at a dead end, a small tapestry hung on one wall. Opposite it was a door that most likely lead into a bedroom. I paused for a moment and wondered whether to go inside or go back and find Marian. Gisbourne had chased us up the stairs, but when we separated, Gisbourne followed her. He was after Marian, not me. I turned my back on the door but before I had taken more than a few steps towards the staircase, I heard a noise coming from behind the it. It sounded as if something expensive had fallen inside, or someone had thrown it. My eyes widened as I raced towards the door and pulled it open. Surprisingly it was not locked. I stepped into the room, ready to attack Gisbourne or whoever might have been there. But there was no one. The room was utterly silent, only my ragged breathing disturbing the silence. But I had heard something. I was sure of it.
Quietly I crept across the room, alert for any sound or movement. I checked in the wardrobes, even under the bed. Nothing. Finally, when I was satisfied there was no one in the room, I heard another crashing sound coming from outside. Only then did I realize that there was a small balcony leading out from the bedroom. With my sword held high (I had found it outside the guard room), I slowly made my way to the balcony. With one sudden fling of the hand I pushed open the door to find...a cat. A small tabby cat sat on the floor, eyeing my suspiciously. Two broken vases on either side of her. I sighed, shook my head and sheathed my sword. The cat, now sure that I was not going to slice her in to two, turned back to licking her paws clean. I checked the whole balcony and found no one there. For a few moments I studied my surroundings; above me, some few feet up, was another balcony, most probably in the east wing; I heard some voices but though nothing of it. There was nothing there for me to use so I turned and left the room, leaving the balcony and the cat in peace.
I retraced my steps back to where Marian and I had been separated and hesitated, wondering which way to go. There were two stairways, one leading to the west wing and the other to the east wing. On a spur of the moment decision, I decided to go down the west staircase, and pray that this was the right way. But before I had taken no more than half a dozen steps, I heard a faint cry for help echo down the dismal stairway. I was sure it was Marian. Without another thought, I rushed back down the corridor and took the east stairs. I did not know what Gisbourne would do to Marian, but I knew he would do no good. And so I took the stairs, two at a time 'til I reached the landing. Just down the corridor, a few feet away, stood three soldiers guarding a door. The cries for help were coming from inside. They were in there.
I charged at the soldiers, catching them off guard. The one closest to me was dead before he could even draw his sword, but the other two had more time to react. They drew their swords and attacked me. I was a good swordsman, but this was two against one, and I was tired, wounded. I slashed and parried in equal turns, fighting off one of the soldiers. But his partner, an older and more experienced man was behind me; with a quick strike of his sword he sliced at my knee. I cried out, falling backwards against the tapestries. They both turned to me, blades drawn. From inside the room I heard what sounded like something breaking, and a cry of pain. The cry belonged to Marian. Anger and rage filled me, and in that one moment nothing would stop me getting into that room.
I pushed myself off the ground, using the tapestries to help me balance. The older soldier was already after me- I scrambled for my sword which had fallen just a few feet away. With a quick roll, I was out of the soldier's reach and close enough to grab my sword. As he charged at me, I raised my sword and thrust it into his chest. The soldier froze, a look of surprise stretched across his face. I pulled my sword and jumped out of the way of his body. The other soldier took one look at his dead comrade, and fled. I slammed all my weight against the heavy oak door, but it was unlocked and swung open easily. Gisbourne had obviously not expected me to get past his guards so easily.
In the far corner of the room, Marian was cowering away from the huge bulk that was Guy of Gisbourne. She was trembling, the look on her face was one of pure terror. Her bright, emerald eyes widened as she noticed me, standing in the doorway. Gisbourne turned his head slowly towards me, like a hunter sniffing out its prey. Only then, as Gisbourne turned his body in my direction, did I see the full extent of the damage Marian had suffered. Her forest green dress was torn at the left shoulder, and sliced all the way down to her hip. Marian held her dress together with one bloody hand, while Gisbourne held her against the wall. A sword lay at Gisbourne's feet, one I recognized as Marian's, and the tip was covered with droplets of blood.
Gisbourne grinned lazily as we stood facing each other. His hand held Marian's wrist easily, even though she was struggling with all her might. I realized that she was too weak, she had lost to much blood, that her legs could barely support her weight. But there were other obvious signs that Marian had fought back, one being the three long scratches Gisbourne had running across his face. One coming dangerously close to his right eye. But they did not seem too deep. 'Twas a shame.
"Step away Gisbourne," I spoke softly, anger filling into my every word. Then he laughed. A cold, cruel laugh that sent shivers down my spine and made my hair stand on end. I could not stand it, not one more moment in his presence, not one more moment of watching Marian tremble in his clutches. I lunged at him with my naked blade, aiming for the neck, but alas, with a flick of his blade, Gisbourne easily parried my lunge.
"Dose thou really think a mere boy, like the likes of thee could best me? If so, you were gravely mistaken." With that he dropped Marian and attacked me. For a few moments I managed to hold him off; I thrust at his left arm, the weaker one, so that droplets of blood sprayed over my blade, but he did not stop. Slowly but surely, he was driving me towards the door. I could only dodge and parry his blows. I tried as hard as I could, battling fiercely. I swung at his weak side, and he moved to defend it, but I had only feinted. I changed the direction of my blow and aimed it at his right hip, and using the force of the blow I propelled myself away from Gisbourne and towards Marian. My blow had not hurt Gisbourne as badly as I could have wished, for I hit him with the side of my sword, but he was severely winded and gasping for breath.
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I leaned against the cold stone walls, feeing faint as my chestnut locks swung over my face. The whole of my left side had gone numb. The pain had been agonizing, but this numbness that had spread from my shoulder, down my waist and across my stomach to my right hip was even more horrific. I started to tremble as panic rose swiftly through me. I watched Robin and Gisbourne battle each other with concern, but there was no more I could do. I felt so weak that I could barely stand. A deep puddle of dark liquid had settled around me. As I keeled over, I felt the blood rush over me as I half-lay, half-knelt it a pool of my own blood.
Robin swung towards me, kneeling over me as he checked my wound. I saw him grimace and stare worriedly at me. He quickly took of his cloak and wrapped it round me before helping me up. I leant, almost completely helpless, in his arms. We turned and Robin led me to the balcony that led of from Gisbourne's room. A sudden wave of chilled winter air hit us as he closed the door firmly behind us. But it would not hold Gisbourne for long. Somewhere below, a cat yowled as a bird flew by.
"Marian," Robin murmured to me softly. "I have an idea. But you may not like it. Just bear with me for a few more minutes." I nodded faintly as he led me to the very edge of the balcony. Suddenly behind us the door flew wide open and Gisbourne stepped out, his eyes filled with a mad rage. With one last desperate move, Robin held me tightly in his right arm and with the other he swung us over the low edge of the balcony. This sudden action jarred all my senses, and as I felt cold air fly past me, darkness started to invade my vision, then everything went black.
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I swung my left hand out and felt the cold touch of stone greet my eager fingers; I gripped the lowest ridge of the balcony and used it to push Marian and myself onto the balcony below. The tabby cat screeched at us as she scampered inside. The shock of the fall had sent Marian into a deep faint. Considering the pain she must have been in, I considered it a blessing. As I adjusted her body in my arms I heard a voice above me. I glanced upwards and saw Gisbourne looking over, his eyes flaming. In my arms, Marian coughed but remained unconscious. I glanced at her for a moment then back at Gisbourne. And in that one moment his whole face changed. His eyes were calmer and his features were back to their normal, relaxed posture.
"You cannot trust her, Robin," he cackled. "You think that you can trust her, but you know, deep inside you cannot. She is in league with me, from the day she joined your merry camp in the forest. The lady in your arms is a traitor, and would betray you and your pitiful kind without hesitating." With that he disappeared back into his room. I did not know what to think of his words, they sounded like the words of a man using his last, desperate roll of a dice to win a game. But there was something there, something in his voice that made me want to pause and think. But of course, I could not. Gisbourne was no doubt on his way to our balcony as I stood there, pondering. I turned and ran out of the room, past the tabby cat and down the corridors. Within minutes I had made my way into the main entrance hall. The servants, maids, cooks and others quickly made way for me to come through, then came back together so I was lost in the crowd. An unexpected hand on my shoulder startled me, I whirled round and came face to face with Fawne.
"Quick, come with me," she muttered then disappeared into the crowd of people. I followed her as best as I could and soon we were standing in the stables of some inn.
"Robin! Thank goodness you're safe!" I heard a familiar voice call out. Lara strode through, a horse behind her. But when she caught sight of Marian's limp body in my arms, she became somber. "Is she...?" she asked tensely. I shook my head as Rosa and Will took her from me.
"We have to get out of here," I spoke quickly.
"We cannot escape unnoticed, Robin," Rosa spoke fearfully. "'Twould be better if we were to stay here, there are people we can stay with who would keep us safe-" I cut her off with a wave of my hand.
"No Rosa. I must get her home. And besides, Gisbourne will be searching every house and building in Nottingham." Fawne nodded grimly as she glanced over at Marian. Rosa had stopped the bleeding as much as she could have, and Will now held her in his arms.
"You take the horse and ride straight out the gates," Will told me in a firm voice. "We'll take care of the distraction and everything else. The people of Nottingham will fight for you." I hesitated for a moment, wondering whether I could leave my friends here, in the midst of the lion's den. But I had no choice but to agree. As I mounted one of the horses, Will came up and lifted Marian up so she sat in front of me. I wrapped one protective arm around her slim waist, and with the other held the horses reigns.
"Take care of my girl, and get her home safe," Rosa murmured to me. I said nothing but smiled comfortingly, then urged my horse forward. We rode towards the gates. The serfs parted for us and then mingled back together, stopping the soldiers from reaching us. A few arrows sped towards us, but missed us by several feet. The guards at the gate did not stop us as we rode through the huge archways. And only after we were well on our way did they half-heartedly call for the Sheriff.
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I rode into the forest camp a few hours later. Carefully I dismounted, making sure that I did not hurt Marian. Much hurried forward to greet me, his eyes shining with relief. But then he saw what I held in my arms, and he stopped, silent. Without a word I strode forward, towards the Healer's Hut. As I approached the ladder that led up to the Healer's, a group of ragged children gathered round. And it was not only them but others as well. Women paused from skinning a hare to watch, men peered from under bundles of clothing their wives had forced them to wash, all of them watching. As I reached the dais around the Healers, John and Lottie appeared at the entrance. Both gasped as they saw Marian. John ushered us inside as Lottie took Marian from my arms. As the curtain closed behind me, a wave of heat rushed over me. I sat myself down on a roughly made, four-legged stool next to Lottie and watched silently as she set about cleaning Marian's wounds.
"Robin..." John hesitated as he watched me. "Can you tell us what happened?" For a moment I did not reply and he did not press the subject.
"I'll tell thee everything I know, but later. When she wakes." After that I said no more and simply sat there, watching her.
A scatter of weak rays of sunlight peered through the windows and doorway of the Healer's Hut as I sat next to the sleeping figure that was Marian. She had slept the whole night, not once had she woken. In fact, she had barely stirred at all, even when Lottie had cleaned her wounds. I had not moved much either, the whole night I sat watching; hoping, praying that she would wake. John sat by the hearth some feet away, poking the fire with a stick. He had said but a few words the whole night, yet I knew something was bothering him. He stood up abruptly and start pacing the floor again. Finally he stopped and turned to me.
"Listen Rob, I know you do not wish to talk, but I have to ask..." His voice trailed off into silence. I looked up at him, focusing my attention on him. He looked tired, concerned and older than he had any right to be.
"She's fine, her and Fawne. Will and Lara as well. They'll be back soon. Do not worry yourself." John nodded, satisfied and sat back down. Moments later Lottie entered the room, a look of excitement on her worn face.
"They're back!" she cried. "All of them, back safe and sound." John jumped up from his seat and rushed towards the doorway, but then he paused and looked back at me. I nodded and watched, slightly amused, as Lottie ushered him out to see them. As they left I ran my fingers through my black locks of hair and returned to what I had been pondering a few minutes ago.
I know I cannot trust Gisbourne, I thought. Yet something kept nagging me, something I could not quite place my finger on. Far below I could hear the cheers for their return. I started to wonder whether the outlaws would ever cheer for Marian like that. Would they ever grow to accept her as one of them? Rosa had, John trusted her, Will, even Lara believed in her now. And Allan. If it was not for Marian, I would be dead right now. I owed her my life.
Suddenly a low moan startled me from my thoughts, I turned to see Marian tossing in her sleep. She murmured something under her breath. I strained my ear to hear what she was saying and realized she was calling out a name, my name. "Robin..." she murmured faintly.
"Marian? Can you hear me?" I asked tentatively. For a moment nothing happened, then she opened her eyes and looked straight at me. I could do nothing but gaze at her, taking in how beautiful she was. Long brunette locks of hair spilled across the pillow, her emerald eyes stared up at me, sparkling with joy, a small smile on her soft lips. She struggled to sit up. I went forward to help her. As I helped her upright, Marian hesitated, as if taken by a sudden thought. Then she leaned forward into my arms. I held her as close as I could, stroking her dark hair as it spilled through my fingers like water. I sat there, content to simply hold her in my arms, thankful that we were both alive. Glossy tears fell from her bright eyes, and I knew why. When I had been captured, all I could think about was that I would never get to hold her again, to lie in her arms.
Finally she drew away, and then kissed me. Her lips were so soft against mine, inviting and warm. I returned the kiss passionately. Holding her in my arms, I forgot everything Gisbourne had said, any doubts I had felt. I knew from that moment, that I would love her to the very depths of my soul, forever.