Chapter twenty-one: Rejection and Confirmation

A rustle from behind her curtains caused her to look up. She wasn't surprised to see Robin standing there. Marian shook her head. "Just go away."

"Now, Marian."

"No." she spun around and glowered at him. "I'm sick of this Robin!"

"I only offered-

"If I wanted to join your gang." Marian tossed her head. "That's maybe all you intended it to be but in view of your actions yesterday-

"What did I do yesterday?"

"Will you shut up and let me finish?" She demanded. "I'm tired of this! Robin, I want something different and you cannot understand it!"

"Marian-

"Will you just let me finish!" he exhaled and studied her. Marian, was probably being overtly rude about this but her whole argument with Meg mere moments ago had upset her. "I've told you why I don't want to join your gang, yet you keep at it! Yesterday, the sheriff ordered me to dress up and paint myself like a loose woman and you didn't even care!"

"Marian, I am sorry-

"But I have more than that, you know I have!" Her eyes blazed. "I bumped into Sarah, remember her?"

He shook his head. "No, should I?"

"You were supposed to be digging a ditch to help pay for a meal and you wound up fighting her father because he felt you dishonored her! And you did this on the road back home to me!" Robin closed his eyes and Marian's ire rose. "I knew it! I knew it was true! How many others Robin?" she demanded. "How many other women have there been while you were in the holy land? And I wouldn't dare to think about what you've been doing while I've not been with you in your gang!"

"I don't know!"

"Oh, so there have been that many?" Marian crossed her arms. "How could you?"

"I have no excuse whatsoever Marian except-

"That you thought I wouldn't find out?"

"No!"

"You must have! When Guy was pursuing me he never, ever went behind my back with other women."

"You've no way of knowing that!"

"I do!" She tossed her head. "Because when I was with him, no one else even existed."

"Well, if Gisbourne was so 'great' then," Robin asked her sarcastically. "why didn't you marry him?!"

"I should have!" She snapped and her words had the desired effect on him. His face grew serious and his tan seemed a little lighter than normal. He was finally, giving her his full attention. "I expected more from you Robin." She exhaled and shook her head. "It's over Robin between us."

He blinked and stared at her in surprise. "What? Marian, surely you don't mean that."

"I do. Now, go, before I call the guards."

"Marian."

"I'm serious Robin." She pointed towards the window.

"Look, Marian, don't shut me out." He begged. "Please, we need to talk."

"That's all we ever do Robin. Talk. Moreover, 90% of the conversation is always involving you. Leave."

A week later,

Meg exhaled deeply as she paid the courier for his pains of bringing the letter from Thomas to her. She opened the letter and her heart trembled as she read the contents.

My lady Meg,

I've found Isabella, wife of Squire Thornton and she is in a dire situation. Her husband is a monster and a villain. She has been made to suffer great humiliation and pain at his hands. I've heard her cry in pain at the night and seen him strike her during the day. By the time this letter will have reached you, hopefully, I will have gotten her out of that mad house and be on the road to Locksley from Shropshire. Pray that God is with me.

Your servant,

Thomas

Meg glanced around, her eyes fell on a village teen, Alex, and she called him over. "Alex! Come here please!"

He dropped his load of wood and ran up to her. "Yes Meg?"

She reached into her purse and handed him a good handful of coins. "I need you to go to the castle, find my maidservant Katherine and ask her to have my carriage readied at once. Tell her to send it on the road to Shropshire and to find Thomas. He will have a woman with him, probably injured, so she needs to bring her medicine chest. They need to hurry."

Alex nodded. "Right away, I will leave these with my mother and be on my way."

"Thank you!" Alex took off like a rabbit being pursued by a dozen starving hounds.

Meg shook her skirt off and turned back to Alice, who was studying her thoughtfully. "I'm sorry about that distraction." She pushed the letter into her apron pocket and put her hands in the dough. "I received a disturbing letter about Guy's sister."

Alice's brows rose. "He has a sister?"

"Yes. He hasn't seen her since she was thirteen."

"What happened to her?"

Meg exhaled. "I promised him I wouldn't relate personal details about his life, I'm sorry, otherwise I'd tell you. But, her husband's been abusing her, my manservant has helped her escape and they're on their way back here."

Alice's eyes widened slightly. "You cannot do that!"

Meg frowned. "Why not? It's done all the time in Ireland. In Ireland, if a woman shouts, 'I dismiss you' in public, their divorce is legal."

"It's not the same here. She's been married to that man and she will stay with that man until he dies."

Meg frowned. "You English are very unusual about some things."

"And you Irish are just as unusual." Meg smiled and laughed as began shaping her dough. "You have done a good job befriending Sir Guy. It shows. One of the villagers was short a coin and he paid it himself, but told the man he expected repayment next time around."

"He is a good man in a part of his heart; I'm just bringing it to light."

"It is good. All of us are amazed at how he's changed. Even if it's a little, to us, it's a lot."

"I'm hoping he'll change, be kinder but, I would still like some of the darkness there. I don't want him to change completely." Meg exhaled. "I miss him."

"That shows as well. You are also upset with the lady Marian." Meg froze and Alice nodded. "And you two argue constantly now."

Meg exhaled. "Marian and Robin broke up, I don't know why, she wouldn't tell me. Now, she wants to get back with Guy."

Alice frowned. "That is curious. And this worries you?"

"Yes."

"Why does it?"

Meg looked at her in amazement. "How could I not be worried? She was engaged to him once, and true, he does seem happy with me, I don't know how if he still has any feelings for her."

Alice smiled as she placed her hand on her shoulder. "I can assure you, even if you're unsure, by watching him interact with you, that he loves you. Has he told you?"

"No." Meg flushed slightly. "He did give me a replica of his mother's ring and we've kissed a few times, but, we've never said anything about…love."

Alice glanced towards the hall and smiled. "Well, maybe you could tell him now. He's back." Meg looked up and saw Guy galloping toward his hall with an entourage of men behind him. Meg's smile broadened and she wiped her hands on her apron. Alice laughed. "I'll finish the bread, you go on."

"Thank you!"

The blacksmith wasted no time getting back to work making that indestructible armor. The sheriff would be pleased to find that the rumors about this blacksmith were true. This armor would be a great addition to the Black Knights army. Now, for some reason, Guy was feeling some guilt about the whole proceedings. Meg, had begun to influence him without even discussing politics or anything like that. She made him want to change, without asking it of him.

The sound of a woman's screeching disrupted him from his thoughts and informed him that Meg was nearby. Guy shook his head, stepped out of the barn, and moved to where Meg was arguing with a guard about letting her pass. "Let her through." Guy ordered and Meg smiled brightly as she shoved her hair out of her face. "Or there'll be no peace for anyone."

"Guy!" Meg hurried towards him, her green skirts high. He smiled and waved at her. He noted that for once, she had her shoes on.

"Meg." She jumped up and launched herself into his arms. Guy was forced to catch her as she laughed merrily. He found himself laughing with her as well. "Whoa!"

"Oh, I missed you so very much!"

He pulled back and looked at her, her eyes shining and her hair a mess. "I can see that. I'd forgotten how modest and subtle you were." She snorts, but doesn't release him right away. "Meg, the sheriff is on his way here."

"Oh, who cares?" she leans forward. "Shut up and kiss me properly please."

"Meg." She covered her mouth with his and he decided since they were already kissing, he could make it a proper one. He shrugged and moved his mouth against hers, tasting her eager kiss against his lips. his hands wandered, wanting to feel every inch of the woman he'd left behind. However, the clang of the blacksmith's iron caused them both to separate and rest their foreheads against each other. Meg was blushing, yet smiling brightly."Well then."

"Admit it." Meg whispered.

He frowned. "Admit what?"

Meg responded by rubbing her nose with his. "That it feels wonderful…to have someone waiting for you who actually cares about you."

Against his will, he smiled as he leaned forward and kissed her on the nose. "It does."