Chapter forty-eight: A visible change of heart
Guy exhaled as he came down the castle steps to go to the courtyard and retrieve Thunder. The sheriff wanted him to go collect some more taxes, of course, Guy would return home and use his ill-gotten gains to pay off their debt.
The sounds of horse hooves caused him to look up and his heart stopped in his chest as he saw his wife's body, hanging limply over the lap of a soldier! Guy's blood boiled and he strode towards them, they both had their backs to him, and so they didn't notice him. One of the men hopped off his horse and grabbed Meg around her hips. Guy drew his sword when the man dared to make a comment about Meg's body, his hands groping Meg inappropriately.
Guy let out a roar of anger; the man looked up in horror as Guy and ran the man through! The man let out a dying grunt and he fell down; Guy grabbed Meg and eased her down to the ground, minding the soldier's who were staring at their comrades fallen body in shock.
Meg had a deep cut above her forehead that had bled down her nose. He didn't hesitate wiping the blood away from her face. Meg's face was pale and she looked as if she'd gotten sick, no wonder, from the way that idiotic soldier had her draped over his lap as if she was his latest kill.
Meg let out a moan and Guy exhaled deeply as he brushed the hair back from her face. "Meg? Megan can you hear me?"
Meg whimpered and nodded, only to wince in pain at the movement her head made. "It hurts." She reached up and touched the wound, looking down at her hand and made a face at the red stain on her fingers. "Blood."
"Shh," he said gently as he brushed her hair back from her face. "it's a minor cut, you're fine." He glanced at her, examining her body for any signs of abuse. If they'd gone beyond hitting her, he was going to kill the other man without hesitation.
"They're….going to kill me."
He stopped his examination of her and looked at her. "Who?" He'd been so concerned for her welfare that he hadn't even thought why she'd been brought in. Why had she been brought in? She couldn't have committed a grave felony in the hour he'd left her.
"The Sheriff….had me arrested on…stupid charges."
Guy felt the blood drain out of his face in disbelief as he lifted her up from the ground. "The sheriff? Why?"
"Don't know."
Guy looked around, not liking how the courtyard was slowly filling up with soldiers, even if they were moving at a casual pace. He moved towards Thunder, muttering, "I'm going to get you home."
But the moment he set Meg atop Thunder, that's when he heard the sheriff's voice. "Oh Gisbourne," Guy paused at the cold tone in his voice. This was unlike any tone he'd heard him use, well; he'd used it before, just not to him. It was usually before he ordered someone's death. He turned to see the sheriff walking down the palace steps, hands behind his back, tsking his tongue disapprovingly. "you disappoint me."
Guy fought to keep the snarl out of his mouth. "What is this? Why is she here?"
"A test of loyalty Gisbourne." The sheriff said as he stepped over the soldier's body, drumming his fingers together. Guy closed his eyes, realizing his mistake. "To see…who you were loyal to. Your new leper… or to me." The sheriff stepped forward, with a fake sympathetic look on his face. "And obviously….you chose your leper."
The sheriff was devious. Guy hadn't even thought about how his loyalty would appear to the sheriff. He was clever, but he didn't think he was so clever to figure out that Guy had a change of heart overnight due to his wife's influence. But he did, how he knew, was a curious thing. Guy had just given himself away. His wife had gotten dragged in and his first reaction had been to kill a guard, one of the men he'd worked with for months catching Robin Hood. He didn't even investigate the reason for her arrest, as he did with Marian. His reaction showed that his utmost loyalty was to her and anyone who was against her was against him. He'd shown that he'd fallen prey completely to Meg's charms and he was under her spell completely. Meg already showed to the sheriff that she was against him and now that Guy was with Meg, he was also against the sheriff.
"You see Gisbourne….you just….gave it all away…for her. You've been such a disappointment." With one yank on the slipknot, the reins were freed; Thunder shifted, but didn't move. If necessary, Meg would need to get out of here fast. He wasn't going to risk her life. "I've heard about you…helping the people of Locksley, paying their debts out of your own pocket." The sheriff shouted. "Did you think I wouldn't hear about it!?"
"No." Guy said, forcing himself to act as if he wasn't in a huge mess of trouble. He casually ran his hand along Thunder's neck. He pressed the rein into Meg's hand. The other rein was already draped over the saddle horn. Meg gazed down at him questioningly. "Go."
She shook her head slightly and whispered. "No."
"Meg," he didn't give her a chance to react. He slapped Thunder and shouted. "Go!"
Thunder reared up, protesting at the unfamiliar owner who was seated on him. Meg lost her balance and she fell, landing hard on her feet. She groaned and tried to stand up, only to fall back down to the ground. She looked up at him, her eyes wide. "My ankle."
He lunged for Thunder, but his unfaithful horse bolted and tore out of the courtyard. Guy groaned in vexation as the sheriff laughed. "Not good Gisbourne, even your own horse is against you." Guy stepped towards Meg and picked her up, cradling her in his arms as she wound her arms around his neck. "Tell me, Guy…was it worth it? Giving up all this…wealth, power and position for..this? A wild, crazy, treacherous woman! Didn't you learn your lesson with Marian?"
"She is nothing like Marian," Guy snapped at him. "she is everything Marian is not. And yes, she damn well was worth it!"
"No woman is worth anything!" He shouted as his face threatened to turn purple."
"Well, I see your opinions have changed Vaisey."
The sound of a woman's voice caused the words to freeze on the sheriff tongue. Guy watched as his body tensed before relaxing, then he turned towards the woman. The sheriff's eyes narrowed and a bittersweet smile was on his lips. "Maria Delarosa."
Guy turned and he stared at Meg's aunt, she was a different woman. She'd let her hair down, hanging below her waist and her hips moved sensually from side to side. Guy was a married man, so he wasn't mesmerized as easily. A quick glance at the soldiers, showed every man, regardless of their age was looking at her. He looked to the sheriff and to his shock; he actually looked like he was fighting back some sort of emotions.
Guy shifted Meg in his arms and she whispered. "Am I too heavy?"
"Meg, don't be silly, you're like a leaf."
Meg spoke up. "Do you know him aunt?"
"Aunt!" Vaisey's eyes darted back and forth between her and Meg. "Ahh, no wonder Gisbourne fell prey to her seduction."
"Meg is charming, not seductive." Her aunt smiled. "And yes, I'm the woman who broke Vaisey's heart all those years ago." She reached up and ran a finger over his stubbled chin. "Remember?" The sheriff shifted uncomfortably as everyone stared at the scene in shock. "You asked me to marry you."
