CHAPTER SUMMARY: Knowing it's real means you gotta make a decision. One: keep denying it. Or two…: do something about it. - Jessica Jones.
CHAPTER 13 - Marriage of Lies - PART 2
"Robin?" Katherine asked, trying to get his attention. No, he couldn't really be considering? It was dangerous...It was suicidal. "Robin...please." She sobbed, wiping away at her tears.
Djaq came beside them, holding the physician with a knife to his throat. "Robin, what do I do with him? If he dies, you have nothing against Gisborne."
Katherine got up from her place and went to address the claimed man who held her fiancee's dirty little secret. She looked him down coldly before asking. "So it is true…Gisborne tried to kill the King?" Before he left, Robin had whispered in her ear to keep an eye on the Physician, which resulted in her hearing the truth about her fiancee. "You were right all along, Robin." She still wasn't sure how to process this, feeling her body shake with chills. She wasn't sure how to process anything right now with the fact her sister was now gone from this world...and because of the man she loved.
Katherine heard Gisborne outside, yelling for his men to get into position. Robin was frozen, not able to do anything, his two men were outside about ready to be wiped clean and her sister was dead. Obviously, Katherine felt it was in her hands to come up with a plan. "M-Maybe if I offer myself up as a hostage…"
"NO!" Robin said, finally breaking free from his state. "You are staying right here. I am not losing anyone else, not today." He said, charging outside the cave and firing his arrows.
Watching as her brother ran out, willing to risk his life in order to keep her safe and avenge her sister, Katherine realized she had been wrong about him all along. She had been wrong about many things lately it seemed. Hearing the battlecries of the men, Katherine clutched onto her sister's hand, crying for her, and for Robin, and his men. But also for the fact that she started to doubt everything between her and Gisborne. How many lies had they told each other? What was the truth?
After minutes, it suddenly went silent. Hearing feet approaching inside the cave, she turned to see all the merry men and Robin coming inside. "Oh, thank god you all are safe." She exclaimed, going to join them as she took Robin into a hug. They all looked at her and Marian sadly. "I-I have to inform my father of what has happened. She will have to be buried."
Robin went and put his arm around her, comforting her. "Djaq- prepare her body. And Will- I need you to make a coffin." It was hard for him to speak as well, trying to keep from breaking out in sobs.
Little John came to comfort them. "In good time. First...we say goodbye." They all began to speak their peace about Marian as Katherine listened in, not ready to face saying goodbye to her sister yet.
"She was a good woman. Kind and considerate." Will stated, tears falling from his eyes.
Much went next, stuttering. "Good. She was-"
"She was alright." Allan said, speaking the words for him. "Yeah."
"Her, we liked." Little John said.
"Her we loved. Her I loved. I loved her and I never told her." Robin stated, causing Katherine to let out another sob, moved by how everyone cared for her sister.
Looking up at her sister finally, Katherine walked over to Marian and took her hand into hers. It was time she faced the reality before her and stopped denying it, just as Robin said. It was time to say goodbye. "She was my sister, My best friend, and my partner in crime. We were born into this world on the same day...and we were supposed to die together as well. I-I love you Marian. I always have and always will, my dear sister." She lost it, sobbing onto her chest.
Allan looked over noticing something. As Katherine cried upon her, she began to notice it too, her eyes scrunching up in confusion. "I'm not being funny, but she's breathing."
Katherine felt for her pulse and gasped out in joy. "SHE'S BREATHING! ROBIN, SHE'S BREATHING!"
Djaq quickly came over and began to evaluate her. "Physican's draft. I've heard of this before. Hemlock. Too much, Antibody freezes. Breathing stops, but when one is young, body fights back. Comes back from the dead."
"You're saying she died and came back?" Katherine asked.
"Yes!" She exclaimed with joy.
Everyone began to cheer, happy to know Marian had made it out safe and alive. Robin began to stroke her cheek, trying to get her to wake. "Marian! Marian!"
Her eyes fluttered open, giving Robin a strange look. Everyone let out a sigh of relief. "What happened?" She asked, highly confused.
"A miracle." Katherine replied, on the other side of her sister, kissing her forehead.
NOTTINGHAM CASTLE
"Would've been nice to deal with Robin Hood before the king returns!" Guy exclaimed as he walked into the Sheriff's quarters alongside him after escaping with their lives from the battle in the forest. Vaisey chuckled, causing Guy to wonder what was so funny. "What?"
"The King is not coming."
Guy felt his breath clutch, confusion on his face. "What do you mean the King is not coming?"
"He is in the Holy Land. I have arranged an imposter. Think about it, is the real King who has spent god knows how long fighting in the Holy Land going to stop off on his way in Nottingham for a chat? A clue: No!"
Guy sighed, rolling his head, annoyed the sheriff was lying to him. "Why?"
"How many of our friends are against us? Our pathetic lords! Merlton, Woodville, Edward! How many of them are scheming? Smiling at us, lying? Bidding their time and nodding their heads all the while preparing for the return of their king, the precious Richard the Lionheart. Preparing to turn against us the moment he walks through that door."
"I don't know."
"None of them have ever seen the King. So this way...we find out. The plots bubble to the surface. The rats come scurrying under the woodwork."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Aw, sorry, nothing personal. Anyway, you should thank me. You get to marry the girl."
Gisborne looked conflicted, obviously not wanting their wedding to happen like this. "Yeah, but based on a lie. The King is not really coming!"
"Oh, isn't that despicable. I don't know how you could possibly live with yourself."
Guy looked down, questioning the worst. "What if Edward is one of them?"
Sheriff slammed his hands on the table, yelling at the top of his lungs. "I will hang him!"
KNIGHTON HALL
The gang helped bring Marian back home and into her bed safely while Katherine explained the situation to their father. Edward looked over his injured daughter with worry before addressing the outlaw. "This is my fault."
Katherine sighed. "No, it's mine."
"No, it was the sheriff and Gisborne's." Robin pointed out to the both of them.
"When the King returns, the Sheriff will make his move- you know that. He would try to kill the King. Help me stop him. Katherine's wedding takes place in Locksley on Saturday. At the same time, the sheriff will meet the King for Nottingham. Maybe he is thinking I and others will attend the wedding and leave him free to assassinate the King. We must forget the wedding. We must be in Nottingham."
"We? I don't think so." Robin looked over to Katherine. "You can't seriously still be considering going through with the wedding, especially after all you know about him now?"
"It would just be you, me and a number of loyal nobles. Now is the time to act, to stand up and defend our king. Join us."
"I cannot just leave Katherine and Marian to meet Gisborne at the altar."
Hearing the sound of a horse approaching, Will came running into the room, warning them. "It's Gisborne!"
"I'll go speak with him. Everyone stay here." Katherine said, walking down the stairs to answer the knock at the door. She opened and a brief smile landed on Guy's face. "Katherine, I need to speak with you."
"Yes, I need to speak with you as well." This caused Guy to raise his eyebrows in curiosity. "Come in." She said, having him take a seat downstairs as everyone listened to the conversation from above in their bedroom. Noticing he was looking worried about something, Katherine grabbed his hands, hoping he was going to open up to her about the truth she would confront him with. "It's okay. Whatever you need to tell me, you can tell me Guy."
"The King-" He stuttered, finding it hard to speak of the subject. He didn't want to ruin their chances of getting married by revealing the terrible truth that the King was a fake, but Guy didn't want to have a marriage with her based on lies.
"What about the King?" She asked, curious to hear what he had to say.
It was now or never. All he had to do was trust she wouldn't run away from him. That she wouldn't think differently of him...that he wouldn't lose her over the truth.
"Ah, Sir Guy." Edward said, coming down the stairs, interrupting them, concerned for his daughter. "We've been busy preparing for the wedding."
Guy looked to Katherine, seeing the small smile on her face. If she was excited about the wedding, he didn't want to ruin it for her. But yet, he was conflicted. He wanted to tell her the truth, but feared how she would react. The Knight cleared his throat. "You're excited for the wedding?"
"Yes." Katherine replied, still wondering what he was going to tell her. "But what did you have to tell me?" If he just told her the truth about what he did in the Holy Lands, then maybe she could tell him about Marian. And yet, her heart clutched, telling her it wasn't the case.
"I am excited as well." She had to hold back from giving a frown, suddenly feeling a wall growing between the two of them, something she hadn't noticed before. Guy noticed she stiffened and decided to take his leave. "I'll let you continue with your preparations."
Watching as he walked out the door and left, she closed the door behind him and let out a shaky breath. Edward walked back up the stairs to speak with Robin and his men, Katherine dragging herself behind as she cried.
Walking in, she heard Much explaining the situation to Marian. "We thought Pitts would denounce Gisborne, but he was a traitor. Also revolting. I'm glad he's dead, even if Gisborne did kill him."
"Yeah, but now she's gotta marry Gisborne tomorrow." Allan pointed out, glancing at Katherine which everyone did. They stopped, noticing she was crying, leaning on the door.
Robin ran over to her, knowing exactly what she was going through. It hurt to admit it. It hurt to face the reality. "I thought for a minute he was going to tell me the truth." Katherine could feel her heart breaking, but she knew she couldn't give up just yet. Maybe if she went to speak with him in private, just the two of them so they could tell each other everything, the wedding could still happen. Everything could be out and open in the air.
"I will find another way out of this." He said, kissing her forehead.
"So will I." Katherine stated, opening the door and going downstairs without another word. She got on her horse and rode off.
"Where are you going?" Robin shouted after her, but she didn't dare turn back to answer him. She was going to try to get the answers on her own without someone stopping her.
LOCKSLEY MANOR
Arriving at the manor, Katherine got off her horse and saw the servants were at work, preparing for everything taking place tomorrow. It was time: there couldn't be lies between them if they were to get married. The last thing she wanted was for their marriage to be based upon lies.
She spotted Gisborne giving his guards orders. "Get out, and scour the country for the Nightwatchman. I want him found by sunset!"
This made her pause in her tracks, thinking about reconsidering what she was about to do, but it was too late now: he spotted her. "Katherine?" He asked with surprise.
She continued walking up to greet him. "I'm sorry about the Nightwatchman."
"He will be caught soon enough. I've taken extra precautions so you're entirely safe."
She swallowed hard, feeling a lump forming in her throat. As they walked into the manor together, completely alone, Katherine felt her heart racing with fear and panic before turning to face him. It was time to get the truth. "Sir Guy, I must ask you a difficult question. There are also some things I need to tell you."
He smirked, walking up to her. "I'm intrigued."
Letting out the breath she had been holding, she asked. "Did you try to kill the king in the Holy Land?"
"Pardon?" It was obvious he was taken by surprise at this, tensing up.
"Is it true that last year you were not in quarantine with a fever?" Guy looked away from her, shaking his head as he walked towards the window. "That you travelled to the Holy Land dressed as a Saracen and tried to kill the King?"
This couldn't be happening. The sins of his past were catching up with him, threatening at his happiness. He let out a shaky breath before looking at her. "Robin Hood?"
"What of him?"
"Have you been talking to him?"
Realizing how this could sound, she chose her words carefully. "I don't speak to him willingly. He's just an old childhood friend. He came to me and told me of this news." Katherine sighed, seeing how upset he was, but they needed to come clean about everything. "Guy- you know you can tell me anything."
He paused before stating. "It's just rumors. You know I have enemies everywhere, especially in Robin Hood. You need to be more careful who you listen to." Grabbing her hands, he looked to her with a smile. "The day the king returns is a day of joy for me. It is the day that I marry you."
Katherine felt herself stuck in the middle of a conflict. She couldn't tell what was the truth or what was a lie anymore. She saw the truth in Guy's words, but she also saw them in Robin's. "I'm not sure what to think of anything right now."
Guy felt his heart lurch, knowing she didn't believe him. "Well, you must be sure." She gave him a conflicted look before he continued. "Have you not seen what you do to me? My passion for you." He leaned in, giving her a kiss. Katherine felt herself melt into it immediately before pulling back, tears at the brink in her eyes. "I have never felt like this before."
Feeling her heart ache at the conflict inside her heart, she turned away from him. "I feel the same way about you, but- I must go."
"Stay." He pleaded, grabbing her arm. She stopped in her tracks, not daring to look back at him because if she did, she would lose it right there. "Tell me you believe me."
What was she to say? She knew she loved him and she knew she wanted to marry him, but not like this. Not into a marriage full of lies between them, something that would keep them constantly second-guessing the other. That wasn't how a marriage was supposed to be. You had to trust the other person fully, and Katherine thought she did.
But after hearing what the Physician had to reveal - the truth Guy just couldn't seem to tell her, Katherine began to question if there was anything else he was hiding from her?
She knew she was hiding secrets from his as well - about her sister's identity as the Nightwatchman and her relationship with Robin Hood. It was something that was always seeming to boil, threatening to spill over into the surface someday. And she wanted to tell him- but after seeing the deadly lengths he would go to capture both of them, and the fact he had practically killed her sister before her, what was to say he wouldn't do the same thing all over again if she ever revealed the truth to him?
Katherine felt herself go numb, cursing the fact Robin was right. He was always right and she hated it. But...she had to go through with the wedding, if anything, to keep her father and sister safe at this point. She would have to grin and bear it, as always.
"I believe you." She said, offering him a sad smile.
Guy released her as she walked away, finally letting the tears fall from her eyes as she felt her heart break. The Black Knight let out a sigh of relief, sitting down to gather himself from the trying moment. He didn't like lying to her, but he didn't want to lose her and everything he had just started to gain back.
KNIGHTON HALL
Katherine had returned back home, bursting through the doors as she cried her heart out. Marian, who was finally up and healing quickly went to comfort her sister, who told her of everything that happened.
Deciding it was for the best, and to help her sister through the conflict eating away at her heart, Marian grabbed her Nightwatchman garb and threw it into the fire, making sure to destroy one of the lies and lay it to rest. Seeing the sisters sitting together, resting their heads on each other, Robin stood in the doorway. "How are you two feeling?"
"I went to see Guy." Katherine mumbled, watching the fire emotionlessly.
Robin sighed, walking into the house. "And let me guess, you asked him if he was a traitor, he said he wasn't and you believed him?"
"Don't start with me, Locklsey. I'm not in the mood for it right now."
"Trust me, I was right about him. You heard the Physician."
"Okay, then stop coming to gloat to me about it. Either way, I still have to go through with the wedding." Katherine barked at him. Marian watched the two, sighing as they fought again. "The difference between you and Guy isn't so huge."
Robin gave her an offended look, not believing the words coming out of her mouth. "Are you honestly comparing him to me?"
Marian came between them, trying to ease the tension as always. "No, I think she's trying to get at you with the Robin Hood world view: That one man is much like another. That the poor are no different from the wealthy and just as deserving. Why can't you just impy your charitable principles to somebody else who's been deprived in a different way?"
"Guy has no family, he has no one else. He's deprived of love." Katherine stated, looking him down.
Robin couldn't help but chuckle. "Deprived of love." It didn't give him an excuse to keep doing the horrible things he did. It didn't justify any of his actions. Guy wouldn't get away with it. Walking over to the fire, he noticed the clothes burning in the fire. "The Nightwatchman?"
"It's time to grow up, Robin. We need to accept our ways in life." Marian stated.
He glanced at Katherine, noticing the look on her face. "You're really going to marry him?"
"Yes."
"Very well." This took both sister's by surprise.
"Pardon?" Marian asked.
"You said grow up. I'm growing up." They expected him to keep fighting them further on it as he had been, but the outlaw just left the house without another word, leaving them dumbfounded and wondering what he would do next.
LOCKSLEY VILLAGE- NEXT DAY
Servants were gathered around the church, preparing the last of the decorations for today's wedding. Everyone in the village had gathered around, watching with curiosity and interest at what was to take place today. Guy, already dressed in his attire, looked about the church with a thoughtful look.
Today was the day. His life was going to change and for the better. Katherine was going to be his wife and he would finally get a family again. Despite the scowl on his face, this was truly the happiest day of his life. Turning back from the church, he looked upon all the servants and children who were preparing the reception tables with glee. The village of Locksley had indeed never been as lively as it was now.
But a grim thought still ate away at the back of his mind concerning the question Katherine had presented to him yesterday. He had to convince himself that she wouldn't back out on him now. He had to convince himself that despite all the lies, they would work this out.
"Ahem, Master." His thoughts were interrupted by Thornton, coming to speak with him. "About your family?"
"I have no family, Thornton." But that would soon change, he reminded he had walked into a dangerous subject, Thronton began to take his leave before Guy stopped him. "Thornton. Are you married?"
"Alas, my wife has died, sir."
"Did she understand you?"
"I think so, sir. Yes." A smile came to Thronton's face.
"That is the thing, to be understood."
"Yes, indeed, sir."
Gazing into his reflection in the lake beside the church, he looked thoughtfully before it. "I have committed crimes."
"Really?"
"Heinous crimes." Thronton looked at Gisborne with fright on his face. "But by taking Katherine in holy wedlock...I will wash away those crimes." He confessed, trying to find good out of what he was about to go through with. Even if she found out about his truth, at least one they were married, maybe she could learn to understand why he lied to her. Why he did all the terrible things he did. To get here...to this point in his life. "Her pure heart will cleanse mine."
KNIGHTON HALL
Katherine stood still as the servants and Marian helped with the last minute preparations of her wedding dress. She was deep in thought, preparing herself for this moment. She was about to be a wife and marry the man she loved. It was everything she ever dreamed of, something she didn't think would happen.
But why couldn't she smile? "There, all done." Marian said, bringing the white, floral lace veil in front of her face. "I found this among mom's things. I thought it would be perfect."
"Thank you, sister." Katherine said, taking her into a hug. Marian noticed the look on her sister's face and gave a sympathetic look, wishing she could do more to help her. Deep in her thoughts, Katherine thought that if she was going to marry Gisborne despite all the lies, she might as well try to accept them, look past them. She could do that, right? Feeling her instinct eating away at her, she pushed it aside, already deciding to put on the facade that everything was fine.
She could do this, no problem.
Handing her the bouquet, the sisters began to walk outside of the house, making their way towards the carriage where their father awaited them. The servants cheered and applauded as Katherine smiled at them, doing her best to make everyone think she was fine.
Edward looked at his daughter with pride, tears in his eyes. He knew how much this meant to her and how much it hurt, everything she was sacrificing. "Be careful." Marian told their father.
"I will."
Katherine gave him one last smile before getting into the carriage, followed by Marian. As the carriage began to take off, the sister's looked among each other, sitting on opposite sides. Both felt the heavy tension they were getting themselves into and in this moment Marian just wished her sister could get her happy ending. After everything Katherine sacrificed for her and their father, she deserved to be in a marriage of happiness.
It was obvious to see this was eating away at her and she was just trying to hide it.
Marian took her sister's hands. "We will get through this."
Guy noticed the carriage arriving into Locksley village and began to approach it with a smile. Servants and villagers walked around, shouting their joys, wishing Katherine luck and blessings with her marriage. This only made her force the smile on her lips even more.
Once the carriage had stopped, Katherine got out followed by Marian. The sister's held each other's hands, looking around at everyone and the decorations with smiles on their faces. Guy approached the sister's, causing them to look surprised. Laying his eyes upon his bride, he was in deep awe over her. "I hope the decorations and the church please you."
"Yes, they do." Katherine replied with forced joy.
"I hope I please you." Guy breathed out, feeling his heart race. She looked him over, seeing that this was everything she had dreamed about. Everything except- no. She bit her lip to keep herself from crying.
Marian noticed this and intervened, stating the obvious to him. "You should not be here."
"Who should be here?" He asked, lowering his voice and narrowing his gaze.
"My dear soon-to-be husband, you should be in the church waiting for me at the altar." Katherine giggled, making her way towards the church.
Guy looked embarrassed. "Oh, forgive me. I was unaware."
He walked alongside the sisters as Marian gave him a look. "Have you never been to a wedding before?"
"No."
"Well, wait inside for her."
Guy began to do as told before stopping in his tracks and turning back to address his bride with a smile. "Katherine...I've dreamed of this day. This is the happiest moment of my life."
That was it. That was the breaking point for any control she had over her emotions. "So have I." She sobbed, causing him to look alarmed before Katherine tried to explain. "Tears of joy. This is the happiest moment of my life too."
"Go inside. She'll be in shortly." Marian persisted, trying to comfort her sister.
But noticing that someone else was missing, he stood there in question. "Sir Edward?"
"He was needed on business. He sends his apologies." Guy sighed, rolling his eyes. Of course he wasn't here. It was no wonder Katherine was upset. "What?" Marian asked him.
"Nothing." He gave a bitter look before heading into the church.
The sister's heard the ring of the church bell, telling them it was time to start the wedding. Katherine took in a deep breath, regaining herself. She nodded to her sister who stood by her side as they prepared to be walked down the aisle.
The crowd threw petals at her and cheered, continuing to wish her a happy and blessed marriage as she walked down the aisle, looking upon the man waiting for her at the altar. Katherine suddenly felt as if she were being suffocated by their words and the rose petals were chains, preparing to trap her in this moment. Her heart ached looking at Guy, knowing what she would be getting into.
Could she really do this? Could she really stand before God, taking him as her husband and she as his wife and be content with these lies?
But yet, Katherine found herself kneeling down at the altar beside him as Marian stood off to the side. She let out a shaky breath, feeling that chain weighing her down more and more. Guy glanced over to her, giving a genuine smile as the priest approached them. The priest began to speak in Latin, reading them the words that would bind them together in holy matrimony forever.
You can't keep refusing to see a ugly truth you don't wish to see. You have to stop denying it and do something about your reality, otherwise things will never change! Robin's voice nagged in her head. Drowning out the priest's words, Katherine thought to herself. How can I do this, to the man I love? To myself? How can I be willing to go through with this ceremony, one that is supposed to be of honesty and devotiation, promising to forever protect, cherish, and love the man before me when I am doing the opposite because of these lies between us? I love Guy and I want to be with him. I want to provide and help him however I can, but not with these secrets.
Please God, give me a sign as to what I should do! How can I fix this?
As if answering her prayers, the church bell sounded loudly before them and Much yelled. "Stop the wedding! Stop the wedding!" Katherine turned to look at him, realizing this was her sign. "He's not the King! The King is an imposter!" Marian and Katherine's eyes went wide. Guy looked up, seeing the truth was finally coming to light. It took everything in his power to keep from going after Much. "The King is not in Nottingham!"
The guards began to grab Much, trying to stop him. Marian and Katherine exchanged looks with each other.
"So what if the King is in Nottingham or not. That has no bearing on a wedding." The Priest spoke.
Katherine suddenly turned to Guy. "Did you know about this?"
"The priest is right." He replied with a shaky voice. "This makes no difference. Our happiness-"
"You lied to me." Katherine stated bitterly, tears falling from her eyes. This was it: the truth was finally coming out. "You've been lying the whole time, haven't you?"
Much continued to shout, her sign from God becoming clearer. "He went to the Holy Land! He tried to kill the King!"
Guy glanced at Katherine, seeing the look in her eyes over his dark past. "I have done wrong, but you will wash away my sins."
Katherine gave a dry chuckle, feeling a lump in her throat. "Were you ever going to tell me the truth?" He stayed silent, causing her to narrow her eyes. "You can start now by telling me who this King really is."
"It is a ruse by the sheriff. To flush out his enemies." Guy admitted.
"What will happen to them?" He gave her a serious, cold look indicating the worst. Katherine glanced at Marian before she stood up. "Our father!"
Guy stopped her, grabbing her arm. He wasn't going to let her run away, not now. "Your father will be safe. I have made provision. He alone will be spared." Katherine stopped, glancing at him as his gaze became serious and challenging. "You see, my influence, it benefits you. As my father-in-law he is protected-" he gripped her arm tighter, "as my father-in-law."
Looking at the man before her in disbelief, Katherine couldn't even recognize him anymore. He was different from the man she had been seeing. The sweet, lonely, passionate, caring man she fell in love with. Now, she was starting to see the reality before her of the cruel, cold, and malicious man she refused to see before. The man Robin warned her of.
"THIS IS WRONG!" Much shrieked, fighting back against the guards.
Marian stood off to the side, watching with narrowed blue eyes locked on Gisborne as she wondered what her sister would do.
"You must have legal grounds to object or remain silent." The Priest told him.
"I have moral grounds!"
"Get him out of here!" Guy barked, ordering the guards.
Katherine and Marian watched with sadness as Much tried to fight his grip against the guards. "This man is a traitor and a liar. Is that legal? Please, my lady Katherine, don't do this to yourself! She deserves to tell what's on her heart, at least tell them that."
As she looked to Robin's loyal friend with tears in her eyes, Guy turned towards her, using his last defense to keep her by his side. "Yes Katherine, tell them." He knew she cared for him as he did for her. He believed she would make the best choice. "Remember your father and sister."
Katherine looked to her sister with a smile and then back to Much. "My heart belongs here. I know you mean well, and I thank you, but I'm doing the right thing."
"What? This must be some mistake!" Much said before being dragged off. His yells being heard in the distance. "He just wanted to protect you!"
"Get on with it!" Guy told the Priest, looking at Katherine.
Marian looked at her sister in disbelief, shocked she was still going through with this wedding, but knowing now she had no choice with it. He was forcing her into it.
"Do you have a ring?" The Priest asked.
Guy pulled out the ring he had in his pocket, grabbing Katherine's hand and placing it upon her ring finger. "Wise decision. In time, you will thank me." He told her.
Looking upon the ring on her finger, Katherine looked up to him with a smile. It was time for her to speak her peace. Knowing it's real means you gotta make a decision. One, keep denying it. Or two… do something about it. "I love you Guy of Gisborne...but-" She started to take the ring off her finger, causing everyone in the crowd to mutter in confusion. "I can't do this - to you, or to me. I can't enter into a marriage of lies with all these secrets between us. If I am to marry you, we must be honest with each other. Everything must be out in the open."
In order to help defend her sister, Marian ran up to her, grabbing her hand and throwing the ring on the ground. Guy narrowed his eyes at them before Marian took the opportunity and punched him in the face, knocking him to the ground. "Come on, let's go!" She said, pulling her sister along with and out of the chapel.
Both sisters looked around for a place to go knowing what they had just brought upon themselves, but they didn't care. They did what they thought was for the best. Marian spotted a horse coming this way and the smile came to her face as she pulled Katherine along with her.
"Do you take this man and this horse as your route out of here?" Robin asked, riding in to save the girls.
"We do!" They both replied, running towards him with bright smiles on their face. Marian was happy to see her beloved coming to save them and Katherine felt as if those terrible weights and chains had been released from her, overjoyed to see the outlaw- no, her brother.
Much came out of the pond he was thrown into, noticing his master had arrived. "Master! The King! It's not the King. He's an imposter!"
"A trap." Robin's eyes widened. "I knew it. Who's there?"
"Everyone. The Gang!"
"Robin, our father!" Marian told him. "He leads the rebellion."
Helping Marian into the horse, Robin looked to see Katherine had gotten a ride with Much. The four of them rode off towards Nottingham Castle.
The guards ran back inside the church as Guy stood at the altar, feeling everyone's eyes on him. The bitterness was eating away at him. "We can go catch her for you, Sir."
Guy ignored the guards, spotting the ring on the floor as he picked it up, looking it over, feeling his heart had been torn to pieces. His bride had left him behind at the altar after she discovered the truth. Her sister had punched him and added further fuel to the fire of making him look like a fool. She said she loved him, but Katherine had betrayed him and lied to him, leaving him behind.
He was a fool for trusting her. For thinking she would be different. "No...let her go." Guy replied, telling the guards and himself.
NOTTINGHAM CASTLE
"We can't be seen together." Robin told them as they made their way towards the gate.
Much replied. "We'd never get in anyway."
"Katherine and I will try the east gate." Marian said, getting off the horse.
"Much and I will try the west." Robin replied. Both sisters began to run off before he called out to them, riding back to their side. "Marian! Katherine!"
"Robin!" Marian exclaimed, running up to him with a smile on her face before taking him into a kiss. Katherine smiled, watching the way they looked at each other. The loneliness didn't eat away at her like it used to when she would watch them. She had moved on from it, even if it wasn't in the way she liked.
"Katherine." Robin said, looking at her. "I'm glad you made the right choice."
She sighed. "Well, it doesn't help when I have this nagging older brother always watching out for me." This took the outlaw by surprise, his eyes softening with joy that she had come to accept him as a brother. "I was wrong about you. You are a good man, Robin of Locksley and all you were doing was looking out for me. I'm sorry I refused to listen to it."
He chuckled warmly. "I'll always be here for you, even when you don't listen."
Robin rode off, leaving the two sisters to look after him with smiles on their face. They began to run off towards their destination, leaving Marian to comment. "You made him really happy saying that."
The sisters managed to run into the room in the nick of time, seeing Robin had successfully rescued their father. Now he was confronting the sheriff for what he had done, hanging the sheriff by his sandal from the roof.
"I think we can safely say, an audience with the king has been suspended!" The Knighton family chuckled at his joke as the sheriff kicked and screamed, having one of his tantrums again. "Come on, lads, let's go home!" Robin said, winking to the sisters before they took off.
The family embraced each other before making their way home. Katherine knew consequences would be coming their way for what she had done to Guy and for how their father was about to go against the sheriff. "It's okay, we will get through this together." Their father reassured them.
Whatever storm came their way, they would make it through as long as they had each other. Nothing could break them.