This might very well be the last chapter, my lovelies. I've got a wonderful way I want to finish this story, and I think I can put it into this right here. The journey of These Silent Words is about to be completed.
Apart of me is rejoicing and another is sad that it is ending. I started writing this story nearly a year ago. I can't believe it's been so long. But this story will always have a special place in my heart. It dared me to do something different. To create my very own original character that could be the believable love interest of Guy, someone who could make him change and who could redeem him far more than Marian ever could have.
This story, apart from what it has taught me, is also my most well-received fic, as well as being my most popular story. It is the one that has garnered the most response. I have had several of you following and reviewing from the very beginning. It is all of you who have kept me strong and motivated enough to finish this story. You wouldn't let me quit, even with all of the writer's block and the lack of motivation. That has been my greatest lesson, taught by all of you.
I am grateful to you, and I am very proud of this story.
Now begins the final chapter of These Silent Words.
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Guy had been asleep for two days. Two long days full of anxiety, pressure, and fear that the man in black would never wake up after all. Any time he became even minutely quieter, Valeria would hold her breath as she would check his pulse, pleading silent prayers at a rapid speed. He needed to be alright. He needed to be. For her. And for himself. There was still so much he could do with his newly revived soul. The world would lose something great if Guy of Gisborne did not fight the deadly poison flowing through his veins.
Every time Marian came to check on the pace of the poison, it seemed to have receded slightly, until there were very few black and spidery veins running across his bare abdomen. But, he still had yet to wake up. Marian had told Valeria that that was the most crucial thing. The poison may be gone, but if his body was too weak, then it would all be for naught. He would die anyway. If he didn't wake up soon.
Valeria heard a groan, what she would call an answer to prayer in later years. She turned her head to look down at the man who was indeed stirring, as if awakening from a mere slumber. She scooted closer to him, heart hammering in her chest, and grasped at his hand, offering her strength and her eternal support.
The moment his eyes opened, Valeria felt all new life spring forth through her body, along with an all new hope.
"Valeria?" He squinted hard. "What happened?"
She could barely contain a cry of jubilation as she explained. "The blade the Sheriff stabbed you with was covered in poison. You almost died."
He blinked again and this time, his vision was not blurred. He saw her sitting there, and the large grin of her lips gave him strength. "Even with all my past wrongs and guilt, I don't think I could be so unlucky." Guy placed his hand upon hers, the same one that was already gripping his other hand. "I don't want to die. I've got far too much to live for now."
"And would one of those things be me?" She asked sweetly.
"You know it," his voice was hoarse, whether or not because he was still weak, she did not know, but it made tremors run through her body. "We've wasted far too much time as it is. I want to spend the rest of my life with you."
Valeria leaned forward, so very close to him, and he felt her hot breath course across his lips as she muttered, "Then, I accept," before she covered his mouth with her own and gave into the love between them, the love that had been so evident from the very beginning. They had both been blind. But there was nowhere to hide now, and neither wanted to hide. They were eternally happy.
A creak of a floor board and Valeria had withdrawn to look behind her. She smiled at the new company before turning back to Guy. "Now, I think there's someone who wants to see you." Before he could say anything else, she gave him another smoldering kiss, short but filled with all the passion they could both summon. Then, Valeria stood up and exited the room, leaving in her wake, someone new.
She stepped forward and watched as the man's eyes became wide with shock, half glazed as if in a dream. His voice caught in his throat. How could she be standing there? Right there, before him? He would've thought this was just another dream, if Valeria hadn't also affirmed her presence. How...? He pushed past the dryness in his throat. "Marian?" His voice sounded so shaky and so weak to her ears, it nearly made her sick. Already, he looked close to heavy tears.
She swallowed down all apprehension and approached him, sitting down in the chair that Valeria had occupied only seconds ago. She hummed in agreement. "Yes, Guy, it's me."
"I don't believe you. I saw you die!" He was growing more and more hysterical by the second. "I killed you! You can't be here, you can't!"
"Guy," she spoke softly, but firmly, trying to calm him with her voice, "I know what you saw and I know what you did. But there is more to this story than you know."
He closed his eyes and groaned. "Why, Marian?" The man sounded so pathetic. He looked at her and she saw that his eyes were swimming with fresh tears. "Why did you have to come back? Why did you have to bring me this new guilt?"
"Just..." she sighed, "Listen, Guy, and all will be explained." He still looked apprehensive, but he was silent and she began her story. She told all that she had to Robin. She recounted of how he had nearly killed her, but how she had been granted grace enough to live. She told of how she had kept it all a secret so that she would no longer be a distraction to Robin and so that he could do the work he needed to do. She, lastly, concluded by telling Guy that it had been her dearest wish that an alliance could be built between the two men. "You needed to work together if England ever stood a chance."
"It doesn't make any sense," his bitter voice shot back. How dare this woman make him think that he had killed her! Did she even know what pain and grief she had caused him?!
Marian shook her head. "It does though, Guy. You and Robin would have never joined together if I was there. The jealousy and the fighting over me was going to destroy you both eventually, and it was going to bring down the whole of England with you." She gently took his hand and he startled. It had been so long since she had touched him. Freely. Willingly. "You see, Guy, England needs its Robin Hood. But it also needs its Guy of Gisborne. You are both needed. And look. Together, you have succeeded in killing the Sheriff. So many good things can happen now. The people of Nottingham can be free."
Guy couldn't help but smirk. "Even in death, you deceive me."
"Guy, I-"
"What did you expect Marian? You to come back into my life and me to turn back into that love-sick puppy I was before?"
"Of course not. I just wanted you to know the truth."
"And now I do. And I understand why you did it, I really do. But do you have any idea what you put me through?! I thought I had-" he couldn't finish because then he broke down. Any will power he had crumbled and his emotions came crashing down upon him. "I thought I had killed you. I thought-!"
Marian jumped into action and quickly wrapped her arms around his body and buried her face into his neck. She shushed him quietly. "I know," she chanted soothingly, "I know and I'm sorry."
"Why do you apologize? I tried to murder you!"
She pulled back just far enough that she could look into his eyes. "Because just as you can forgive me for lying and deceiving and manipulating you over and over and over again...I can forgive you for giving into your anger at my deceit. You are a good man, Guy. I see that now. Any woman, including myself, would have been very lucky." She kissed his cheek and then sat back down in the chair. "Valeria is a very lucky young woman."
"It is I who am lucky. She's extraordinary. She is the one I want to live out the rest of my days with," he responded fervently. "I will make her proud of me."
"You don't have to," Marian smiled as she shook her head, "She already is. You can see it in her eyes. I'm very happy for you. Truly."
Guy smiled, for the first time in what seemed like an eternity, towards her. "And what of you and Robin?" For the first moment in his life, asking that question did not fill Guy with spite or envy.
She shrugged but blushed prettily. "We haven't discussed it."
"Will you stay here?"
"I don't know. Robin loves England; I don't think he could ever really leave it. And I will go wherever he leads me." Marian stood up to leave then and Guy watched her go. The surprise had nearly left him, but he still could barely process it all. She was still alive!
"What are you thinking about?" Valeria asked him as she reentered the room and sat down on the bed beside him.
He chuckled softly. "Nothing really, my dear."
She smiled. "I could just get used to the sound of that." He smiled too before his face fell serious again.
"I love you," he said yet again, his eyes were tender for her and only her.
"And I love you." She leaned down to kiss him and then she rested her head upon his chest, over his steady, and very alive, heart beat.
Guy wrapped an arm around her and cherished the feel of having her near. "When I am healed and able to travel, we will leave. Back to England."
"And what then?"
He smirked against her hair. "A home would be nice. A little cottage just outside of Nottingham."
"With curtains in the windows and flowers along the pathway," she smiled as the image deepened in vibrancy.
"And the sound of little feet pattering around the house and running in the yard."
"Three."
Guy chuckled. "Three? Why exactly three?"
Valeria didn't answer his question exactly, she just continued, "Two girls and a boy." She sighed and then turned her head to look up at him. "Sound alright?"
"Whatever you want, my love. So long as we can call the boy after me?"
"You?" She sat up straight. "Why you?"
"Because the Gisborne name must continue."
She chuckled at their banter and then pouted. "I was rather hoping to call him Seth." He frowned and she held up her hands in surrender. "Alright, we'll call the boy Guy, but only if one of the girls is named Grinhilda."
He wrinkled his nose in disgust. "Why such an awful name?"
"Because I really want to name our son Seth," she argued playfully.
"How about we make a new deal," Guy suggested as he tightened his grip around her waist and pulled her closer. "How about we have as many children as are given to us?"
Valeria smiled and laid her head contentedly on his chest.
"Deal."
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It's all finished, guys! I hope you all loved it...let me know what your thoughts were! And I hope to see you on my other stories!
Future projects:
Only Human: A Sherlock/OC story about a young woman with an intellect that rivals our very own favorite consulting detective. We're working on the fourth chapter now. It's under the collaboration account TheBeautyWithinTheBeasts
Try To Remember: A Rumbelle fic, the third and final installment of my "Almost Lover" trilogy. The first chapter is being put up this Tuesday (11/04/14).
Someone I Lost: A Ben Linus/Annie story, which is still in the first stages of development and which does not have a set date for release yet.
Thank you all, guys! Love you!
~Lady Gisborne 15