Chapter twenty-eight
Honor that vow
Guy pushed the door open and it slammed behind him. It wasn't a surprise that Meg had gone running to Robin Hood. Meg, Marian, Djaq, Robin, Will and John all jumped.
He stomped up to Meg and gripped her arm. "Meg, you're coming home with me now."
Meg swung madly at him. "You let me go!"
"Meg!" He shouted. "Our son is dead! Stop torturing me!"
"Gisbourne, he isn't dead!" Robin shouted. "Meg was right."
Guy blinked as the words sank in. Meg sniffled and she pulled away and turned her back to him. He stared at them. "What…are you….saying?"
"She's right." Marian said. "I helped with the babies many times. This is not Robert."
Guy stared. "But how-"
Djaq cleared her throat. "It looks like the baby was dropped and his neck snapped."
"From what I can tell," Robin said. "someone, has a huge grudge against you. They switched your baby with theirs. Mr. Bennett was killed by accident."
"How do you know that?"
"They would have killed Hugh. Or killed both boys. Who would change out a baby for another and not harm the twin?" Robin's eyes narrowed. "My men and I will start making inquiries."
"I'll go too."
Robin shook his head. "You can't Gisbourne. It might be dangerous. People don't trust you."
"He's my son."
"Since when?" Meg snapped. "When you saw him for the second time in your life this morning? Just do what Robin says and maybe I'll get to see my son again."
Meg kept her back to Guy as he approached. "Meg?" He placed his hand on her shoulder, she spun around and pushed his hand off her.
"Don't…you touch me!" She said. "This…is all your fault!"
"Mine?"
"Yes! If you had been here for us, no one would have dared to set a foot in our house or to lay a finger on our son!" She was angry and scared. "Now, someone has my baby and I don't know if he's all right! Has he been fed? Is he safe?"
"Meg stop it!" He shouted. "Don't you know how this is for me?"
"You haven't been around! So why should you care?"
"Because I love you and I love my children!"
"But you'd rather leave us unprotected. Guy," she spun around as her voice cracked. She hated him seeing her weak. "my father was an old man. He tried his best to protect us. If you had been here," she sniffled. "none of this would have happened."
"I'm here now and you won't let me go!"
She spun around. "Because Guy, do you think it's wise? Unfortunately, your face is the most hated face in Locksley! The minute you were seen coming who knows what they'd do to Robert! You can't Guy! You can't!"
Guy stared into the fireplace. Meg hadn't spoken to him since Robin and his gang had left yesterday afternoon. She sat opposite him, holding a sleeping Hugh close. Meg was right, if he'd stayed with his family no one would have dared to step in to his house. But he couldn't stay, he owed the king and the world far too great a debt.
The door opened and Djaq came in holding a bundle. Meg jumped up and hurried over. Marian took Hugh as Meg reached for the bundle. He stood up and hurried over to Meg. Meg started crying as she held the bundle. "Oh thank god! He's all right!"
Guy came up behind Meg and held his wife as she began examining every inch of Robert. As near as he could see, the boy was all right. He reached out to touch Robert's head, Meg moved out of reach.
"You were fortunate this time Gisbourne." Robin said sensing the tension already. "The man didn't want to harm the boy. He handed him over without a fight."
"What happened?" Meg sniffled. "Why'd he-"
Eobin exhaled. "Well, his wife died when Prince John burnt the church of Locksley. She had weak lungs and the smoke was too much for her. He's been raising his child alone since then."
Djaq cleared her throat. "He fell carrying the child and the child fell striking a rock, breaking his back. It was one of those….unfortunate things that…just happen."
"Oh, the poor man." Meg said.
"He's sick with grief." Marian said.
"So he figured, with all the wrongs I'd done, I owed him one? Right?"
Robin shifted. "That's about it. You see, you also had the misfortune to….kill several of his friends and family."
"I'm going upstairs to change Robert." Meg said. "Marian, can you bring Hugh up Marian?"
Guy held out his arms out for Hugh and Marian handed him over. "Thank you." He said. "I can't thank any of you enough for restoring Robert to us."
"Wasy." Robin said. "return the favor sometime. We all look after our own." He glanced up towards the stairs. "Now, you've got some business to take care of. So, we'll take our leave. Goodnight. We'll show ourselves out."
"Goodnight."
"Thank you." Guy turned to follow Meg up the stairs. He nudged the door to the nursery open. Meg looked up from Robert and her eyes narrowed, but she turned back to Robert without a word.
"Meg?"
She exhaled. "Will you be desiring my services tonight husband?"
His blood rose in his cheeks. "Meg." She knew exactly what to say to make him mad.
"Or am I free to stay here with my children tonight?"
He set Hugh in the crib and walked up to her. "They're my children too Meg."
"You've had them for three days!" She snapped. "What right do you have to them?"
"I created them Meg. Don't think you did this on your own!"
"I'm aware of that!"
"Meg, you cannot push me away!"
"Why can't I?" Her voice broke. "You're leaving in a week and I don't know what I'm going to do! Dear God, we almost lost our baby!" She started hitting his chest and crying. "I …almost…lost Robert!"
"Shh, Meg," he pulled her close and rocked her. "it's over."
She pushed away and shook her head. "No Guy, its not over! It's only the beginning! There'll be more things like this. And will you be here for us? As a husband you're supposed to protect your wife and children! What's it going to be Guy?" she demanded. "Are you going to protect us or go gallivanting off around the country?"
"Meg, I must right my wrongs."
"Right your wrongs here! People need help here too!" Her eyes narrowed. "You're going to have to choose Guy. For all you know, next time, it could be me who you find gone, kidnapped, bleeding or dead. Then, you'll have no choice but to watch the boys. I don't want it to come down to this. But if I have to Guy, I will leave you. If only to protect my children."
Guy stared at her. "Meg, I made a vow to the king."
"You made a vow to me the minute we wed. You made it before God! Honor that vow Guy. Six months and one week out of a two-year marriage isn't enough for me. You need to choose."
