Marian stared distastefully at Robin and his men noisily celebrating Will's report of Guy of Gisbourne languishing in a dungeon cell, awaiting execution. It seemed incomprehensible that the sheriff would execute his closest friend and ally! What could have happened to Guy, to so drastically change his circumstances?
"Why, Will?" Marian asked. "Why would the sheriff execute Gisbourne?"
She did not miss the change in Robin her question wrought. His face went pale, then flushed in anger, his eyes narrowed, and he gritted his teeth. Will had seen it, too, and hesitated to answer Marian.
"Well go on, Will," Robin said in the charmingly vicious tone he used when jealous, the tone loaded with barbs. "Tell the lady what her anxious heart needs to hear! After all, Gisbourne is such a gallant gentleman, so deserving of our regard, not to mention our affection."
"He is a human being, that is all," Marian shot back. "I hate to think of the sheriff executing anyone."
"Especially one so tall and broad shouldered as your Sir Guy. After all, were he dead, who would terrorize my people, or bring you gifts?"
"Grow up! Aren't you even curious about what he's accused of, or are you so arrogant you just don't care?"
"I don't care, so long as he dies, freeing my people from slavery. He's committed more than his share of crimes, Marian. Even you, with your sudden regard and concern for him, have to admit that. Or has your sympathy for him shortened your memory?"
Marian fumed inwardly. Why was Robin being so difficult? She didn't care for Gisbourne, and she hadn't forgotten a single one of his atrocities. She had just found it in bad taste for Robin to shout out loud at the news of another man's impending death under Sheriff Vaisey's "justice."
Will cleared his throat. It appeared Robin and Marian had called a temporary truce, or at least a cease fire, allowing him the opportunity to speak.
"Word is, the sheriff's furious that Gisbourne stood up for you, milady, against Lady Lusignan," Will told her. "People are saying Lady Lusignan tried to harm you, by pushing you from a castle tower, and Gisbourne saved you, and accused her of treachery. Guy de Lusignan wouldn't stand for the insult, so he took his wife and is heading south, for Poitiers. The sheriff's alliance with him has ended, and the sheriff blames Gisbourne, and wants him dead."
The ensuing silence was broken by Much crying, "That is revolting! Gisbourne's taking credit for saving you, Marian, when it was Robin who did it? Unbelievable! I hope you won't fall for that!"
"I won't fall for anything," Marian huffed angrily,"and I didn't fall before. Whoever's been spreading those stories about me being pushed from the castle tower must be a better liar than Allan a Dale."
"Not bein' funny," Allan interjected, "but I resent that."
"Do you deny it?" Marian asked.
"Naw," Allan admitted. "I just resent it."
Robin continued looking furious but triumphant. Marian's concern for the monster set a blazing inferno raging inside him, but he needed to remind himself that Gisbourne would soon be dead, and his people's problems ended, at least until the sheriff could install some other brutal beast to oversee Locksley. But no one, he was certain, could ever top Gisbourne for cruelty and ineptitude.
His thoughts were interrupted by Marian coldly demanding him to take her back to Nottingham.
"What?" he cried, louder than he intended.
"Take me back to the castle. Or, if you won't, at least lead me to a familiar part of the forest, so I can find my own way there. You said, after all, the only reason you were keeping me here was to protect me from my so called enemy, Lady Lusignan. Since Will reports her gone, you have no reason to keep me with you any longer. Take me back."
Robin stared silently at her, anger coursing through his veins. His anger slowly gave way to sorrow, realizing she wouldn't believe him, and did not wish to be anywhere near him. Her sole desire seemed to be to return to the castle, and why? He was sure she wanted to plead for Guy of Gisbourne's life.
Well, he wasn't going to let her do that. Right or wrong, he would keep her here with him, and make her fall in love with him again. It would be a challenge, but how he loved a challenge!
