Chapter forty-nine: A day of surprises and decisions
Isabella spat out the mud from her mouth as she got up from the lake her horse had tossed her into. Stupid beast had been frightened by something and just thrown her into the lake. She grabbed her heavy skirts and began to climb up of the lake. Once on land, she stripped off one of her petticoats, so she could move faster. As she pulled her skirt down around her knees, she looked up to notice a man, leaning against a tree and grinning at her.
She glowered frostily at him. "How long have you been standing there?"
He smirked. "Long enough."
She rolled her eyes. "I don't have time for this." She stomped past him, ignoring the sounds of her shoes squishing. "A friend of mine is in trouble and I need to find Robin Hood."
"I'm Robin Hood."
The seriousness in his tone caused Isabella stop and turned to look at him. He wasn't as tall as she'd imagined, but, he was handsome with dancing brown eyes. Still, she wasn't about to let him know that she thought so, so she cocked her brow and shook her head in disbelief. "You're kidding me."
He laughed shortly at her in amazement. He obviously didn't seem to buy her distaste. "I'm not. What do you need me for?"
"My sister-in-law was arrested by the sheriff, it's a plot to goad my brother into killing the sheriff." Robin's eyes flashed with concern. "And since he's so protective of her, he will more than likely kill the sheriff."
"Who is your brother?"
"Guy of Gisbourne."
He shook his head. "No way."
"I assure you, he is my brother!"
"No! I mean there is no way the sheriff would arrest Gisbourne's wife, not after he's shown an explosive temper towards anyone who even looks at his wife." He chuckled and shook his head. "Sorry, the sheriff wouldn't arrest Gisbourne's wife, he's his best henchman."
"Fine, don't believe me, but don't be surprised when the hills are ringing with the news that the sheriff is dead. Because he will kill him!"
"He wouldn't. Gisbourne wouldn't endanger all of Locksley."
"Unless…he's willing to face the consequences of his actions." Isabella held his gaze. "My brother and his wife saved me from a life of misery! I will not sit back and watch them lose what they have together. If you don't help….then I'll kill the sheriff myself!"
Maria smirked as the Sherriff shifted uncomfortably before spitting out. "Yes, and you thankfully turned me down!" The bitterness he felt towards Maria could not be disguised. "You would have made my life a living Hell!"
She laughed gaily. "Oh, I could not have made your life a living Hell; you've done a fine job of building your own personal hell!"
"Oh, shut up Maria!"
"No," she crossed her arms and smirked at Vaisey. "you see, I'm the king of France's mistress. He wouldn't take kindly to me being hurt."
"You and your female parts have probably poisoned his mind."
"They have, quite well, I assure you. After all, you were my first lover, so I had you to practice on." The sheriff's face reddened as she patted his chest, before swirling a finger on his chest. She didn't have an ounce of shame in her body. Frankly, everyone was so shocked that they could only gaze at the unfolding scene in front of them. "I can still remember you begging me to marry you, I'm glad I didn't. Still, I probably should have married you anyway, all those years ago."
"Speak English!" The sheriff snapped as he pushed her hand off his chest. "You always spoke in riddles."
Maria laughed coyly as he crushed her wrist in his hand. "But there was a time when you understood them. I think you still do to this day. I could have kept you out of trouble, I think."
The sheriff glowered at her. "State your business and then go."
She pouted slightly. "Very well, if you insist, but we will have a much longer talk this evening over dinner."
"No."
She ignored the sheriff's bark. "With candles."
"I said no."
"And wine."
"Are you deaf woman?"
Guy shook his head in amazement as Maria boldly flaunted and teased the sheriff, somehow, managing to keep his anger at bay. "No. since you wish for me to discuss business, I shall do so; I'm here to bargain Meg's release."
The sheriff's reply was instant. "No deal."
"Come on Vaisey, you charged her for attempting to kill you."
"And she did!" He shouted. "She threatened to cut my throat."
"No, I'm sure it was a double." Her aunt pointed out. "She was safely in her own home with me all day, and the moments when she wasn't with me, she was with her husband. It's impossible for her to have committed it."
"She did threaten to cut his throat, but that was over a week ago." Guy spoke up, anger rising in his voice as he recalled that moment. "You were going to let me drown."
"So sorry Gisbourne, but it couldn't be helped. She's also charged with consulting with outlaws."
"Not in a million years." Guy shook his head. "Hood and his gang held her against her will for two days. She is not in conspiracy with the men who kidnapped her."
Maria nodded. "Agreed. And as for the charges of her lewd and indecent behavior-
"What?!" Guy shouted in fury. "Megan is charged with that!?
"Oh come on Gisbourne," the sheriff sneered. "having a tumble with a lady is one thing as long as you pay. But living in sin for days is another."
"We were married….in front….of the whole of Locksley!" Guy roared in anger, the sheriff even shifted back a step at the anger in his voice."
"Then why is there no record of your marriage license?" he asked, as if this whole scenario was a joke to him. "Hmm? No one's even seen the priest that married you! This whole thing is a farce Gisbourne!"
Guy's blood boiled and he had to fight to hold back his anger as he realized what the sheriff had done. "We are married and no…devices from you…will convince me otherwise!"
"Sorry Gisbourne, but uhm, as you don't have any….say, proof. Your wife is going to swing tomorrow for attempting to murder me."
Aunt Maria began to protest loudly, but Guy had been given plenty of time to look around and form a sort of plan in his mind. There were two guards standing nearby. One had a bow and a quiver full of arrows, but he wasn't paying attention. The other had a sword in his sheath. Guy moved quickly, he set Meg down and lunged at the man with the arrow. With one punch, he'd knocked the guard down and out! He drew his sword and began to fight the soldier! He easily unarmed the man; he wounded him, as opposed to killing him.
A quick glance around let him see that Meg had hobbled towards the fallen soldier and grabbed his quiver of arrows. She already had an arrow fitted to the string and the bow was pulled taut. Her stance was firm, but her gaze was nervous, he doubted if she'd even killed a man before and he hated the thought of her getting blood on her hands. She let the arrow fly, barely missing the sheriff's foot. She threw her head back, looking every inch the triumphant warrior as she stood, keeping one foot alleviated from the ground.
"Well husband," she asked as she fired off a few more shots, disarming a few of the guards. "what do we do now?"
Guy wrapped an arm around her waist, adding support to her injury as they began backing out of the courtyard. There was a horse a short distance away, he'd have to get her on it. They'd have to move fast, the soldiers were beginning to close in around them.
"We get on the horse and then we get as far away from here as possible."
Meg nodded and hurried alongside him, letting out a few whimpers against the pain in her ankle. The sheriff was cursing up a storm while Aunt Maria was shouting for them to go. It was slow going, due to Meg's ankle. She was a great shot, but Guy still had to fight several soldiers' that attacked him. They were no match for him, but Guy realized that it was because his wife was in the midst of the fight and he wanted to get her out as soon as possible. Guy lifted Meg up onto the horse and her eyes widened as she screamed. "Look out Guy!"
Guy spun around to see a solider about to stab him in the back! Suddenly, the soldier let out a groan and fell to his knees. Guy looked and saw an arrow in the man's back! He turned and followed the direction of the arrow and saw…Robin Hood lowering his bow. Guy was shortly shocked for a moment; all he could do was nod his thanks to Robin as Hood and his gang closed in, beginning to fight off some of the soldiers.
"Get out of here Gisbourne!" Hood shouted. "Go!"
Guy jumped up behind Meg, kicking the horse as the sheriff began shrieking about how his deputy had gotten involved with a leper and now with Hood. Hood and his gang had already caused the gate down, sealing the soldiers inside the courtyard.
Meg, never without words, shouted. "Thank you!"
Hood shook his head. "Thank Isabella! This was a one-time thing Gisbourne."
Guy's head shot up. "What's with Isabella?"
"Guy, later." Meg said as she guided the horse towards the forest. "We don't have time for this!"
He huffed. "Right. But I will find out what he wants with my sister!"
Meg's ankle hurt her desperately as she and Guy rode around in silence for several hours, making a complex trail for the guards to follow. He helped her off the horse, grabbed the saddlebag and set the horse free. Guy lifted her up and carried her through the thick foliage. It was night now and the stars had come out. It would have been a beautiful place to explore, there was a river running and Guy moved towards the stream.
Meg brushed his neck with her hand. "I can walk you know. I just sprained it very lightly."
"The longer you stay off it, the faster it will heal. I don't think it will heal any faster after it endured all that bouncing around." Guy moved and carefully set her so her against a tree. "We should be safe here for a while. There you go." He set the saddlebag down and rubbed her arm comfortingly before he moved pulled up her skirt enough to allow him a look at her ankle. He held her ankle in his hand, examining it very carefully. He then tore off a section of his shirt, binding it tightly around her ankle; it had swollen some during the excitement. "You need to rest."
"What do we do now?" she asks as he tore off a section of his shirt, binding it tightly around her ankle, it had swollen some during the excitement.
Guy kept his gaze focused on the task at hand. "You need to rest."
Meg rolled her eyes. She didn't need the rest. Guy did. He looked terrible. His clothes and his shirt hung all around him in a mess. His body was exhausted and she was certain that he was full of turmoil after the events today. He'd turned on the sheriff and was now a fugitive like Robin Hood.
Meg whispered. "Kiss me."
Guy looked at her, his eyes were tired. "Shh," he said gently as he brushed back her hair gently, before stroking her cheek. "try to get some rest."
"Please?" She whispered.
As always, her husband couldn't resist her. He rested his hand on her neck as he leaned forward slowly, kissing her gently on the lips before drawing back. He ran his hand, down her neck, down her chest and side to grip her hand in his. It wasn't a long kiss, it was a sweet, soft and gentle kiss, but it told her what she thought was going on in that head of his. Meg opened her eyes before smiling sadly up at him and whispering. "You're going back aren't you?"
Guy exhaled and held her close. "I must Meg. I don't have a choice."
"Please," she begged as she wrapped her arms around his waist. "don't go. Just wait, my uncle should be back soon."
"I'd like to Meg….but my conscience won't let me." He kissed her forehead. "Thank you, so much."
She frowned. "What for?"
"For loving me, changing me, making me into a better man."
She shook her head. "I didn't change you, I never asked you to."
"I know," he said hoarsely. "but you made me want to change, to become a man you could be proud of."
"I am proud of you Guy, I always will be." She caressed his face in her hand. "Don't go just yet Guy, please. Hold me, kiss me for a bit."
Guy exhaled as he started to shake his head, but a demanding kiss from her changed his mind. "I could never refuse you anything." Those words spoken, Meg and Guy fell backwards into the thick foliage, locked in each other's embrace with the moonlight streaming down on them.
