CHAPTER NOTES: Okay, so from here the rest of the story follows Season 2, but with twists in between it to make it Canon Divergent. In other words, Season 3 of the show is when this story goes completely canon divergent (cause we don't really like how things went down.) Although, I will grab some things from it, but not much. It's going to be it's own original thing.
But I hope you enjoy the twists I bring into Season 2, especially one taking place in this chapter ;D
CHAPTER SUMMARY: The Knighton family are faced with consequences for their actions which might result in Marian and Katherine going separate ways to fight battles their own ways.
CHAPTER 14 - Separate Ways
NOTTINGHAM CASTLE
Guy glared upon the war table, deep in thought. It had been a week since the unsuccessful wedding and he was finding things more unbearable without Katherine by his side. He still stung from the pain and rejection of her leaving him at the altar. The sheriff had taken notice of his moping about the castle since the incident, having enough of it.
Vaisey came into the room, pulling the Knight from his thoughts. "Tell me you would rather have a woman."
"Pardon?" He asked.
"Tell me you would rather have a woman than all this?" The sheriff exclaimed, extending his hands out to the room before them. "Power." He breathed it in. "We are so close."
Guy sighed. "Indeed."
"Talking of our lady leper friends, time to go and get the pretty one and her family." He grinned viciously, pushing his second-in-command.
"Katherine, Marian and Edward? If they resist, shall I use force?"
The sheriff paused before addressing him. "Get up to speed, Gisborne. Use force anyway."
Guy left the hall, knowing exactly what to do. They were going to pay for their betrayal. Katherine was going to know exactly how angry and hurt he was for what she had done to him. They were all going to pay.
KNIGHTON HALL
Robin had surprised the sister's, appearing at their bedroom window like a prince in the night. Katherine threw her book at him for chuckles before they welcomed him in. "You know, this sneaking into our bedroom at nighttime has got to stop." Katherine scolded him playfully.
"Aw, come on now." The outlaw chuckled before Marian went to greet him with a kiss. "I come with questions." He handed them a pin of sorts shaped like a bird. "What do you make of this?"
"It's the sheriff's insignia!" Marian exclaimed.
"We took it off a woman on the way to Nottingham today. She had men and they were well trained. It was like a military unit. And she's been granted the sheriff's insignia."
"What does that mean?"
"Maybe she's working with the sheriff." Katherine took a wild guess. "Or maybe she's related to him." She chuckled.
Robin sighed, not sure exactly what to think on the matter. "I was hoping you and your father might know."
Looking over to her sister, Marian told him. "We aren't exactly welcome in the corridors of power." This caused Katherine to look down, feeling her heart clutch from the reminder alone.
"Good. Come and join my gang." Robin offered to them.
Marian chuckled. "In your dreams."
"No, you should." Katherine stated, giving her sister a serious look.
"You can't be serious?" She asked, a ludicrous gaze on her face.
Robin stopped her, grabbing her arm. "Wait." He paused. "Listen." All three of them were silent, trying to hear what he was hearing before he took Marian into a kiss.
Katherine gave a warm smile at the gesture before turning away. Robin and Marian had grown closer after the wedding while Katherine's relationship with Guy seemed to die out. Her heart clenched in pain. Just thinking of him hurt. She knew he was upset, he had every right to be. But she believed they could try to make it work again, they just had to try.
Her attention was brought back to her sister and Robin talking. "Did you hear it?"
"What?"
"That kiss spoke volumes."
"Did it?" Marian raised her eyebrows. "What did it say?"
He took her into a hug. "It said Marian wants to come and join your gang." Robin looked over to Katherine, still extending the same offer to her, but she shook her head, pointing to her sister instead.
"Really? That's not what I heard." she chuckled. "What I heard was a little voice saying abandon your home, your sister, your father. Give up any hope of a normal life and take up arms with a man who thinks resistance is about showing off with a bow."
"That's not fair."
"And to do what? To wait for a King, who, let's face it, may or may not make it home?"
Katherine sighed, rolling her eyes. "Marian, you're not fooling us." Robin began to chuckle, seeing the confused face her sister was making. "You wouldn't be abandoning father and I. In fact, you'd be fighting for us, especially since you can't be the Nightwatchman anymore." She recalled, remembering how Marian had sacrificed that life for her sister's wedding that didn't happen. "I know you want that kind of life again."
Marian sighed. "You can't really expect me to drop everything and run off into the forest?"
Katherine walked up to her sister, taking her hands. "Don't lie to yourself. Trust me, it will only make things worse."
As if to prove her point, horse's were heard approaching the house. Their smiles dropped as Robin rushed to the window to see who it was as the sister's joined his side. Katherine gasped, feeling her heart race with panic. It was Gisborne with guard's and torches. She suddenly found it difficult to breath, but raced downstairs to go confront her actions.
Guy pounded on the door violently. "Sir Edward! Katherine! Marian!" He shouted for the whole village to hear. "Out now!"
Katherine went to open the door only to find it being kicked open and knocking her down in the process. "Sir Guy!" Edward exclaimed, standing up and looking to his daughter with worry.
"Hold him!" Guy yelled to his guards, his eyes glaring down to Katherine on the floor.
She could feel the blood gushing from her nose as she backed away from the man before her in terror. He briefly looked to her with concern before the guards rushed past, taking hold of her father and holding him at sword point. Guy towered towards her, grabbing Katherine and bringing her to her feet.
"MARIAN!" He yelled. "Come down now or I will torch your house."
Katherine was beyond terrified, seeing the monster of a man she had loved before her. Despite her bleeding nose and the pain from the fall, she looked to Guy, pleading. "Please…" It took everything in his power to keep from reaching out towards her, concerned over her injury.
After a few minutes, her sister finally made her way downstairs. "Father! Sister!" Marian said in concern.
"You come when I say!"
"I am unhurt." Edward replied.
Looking to Katherine she couldn't say the same about her. "What do you want?"
"You are coming to the castle. The Sheriff wants you where he can see you."
"No." Marian said. "Our father is frail. Release him!"
"You do not tell me what to do!" Guy barked at her, glaring at her before his eyes landed on Katherine who looked to him with horror. "Burn the house!" He ordered the guards.
Katherine reached out for him, begging. "Guy, please. No!" But he pushed her away. Her eyes were now pleading desperately. "Guy, please, I beg you. I beg you!"
"Sir Guy?" a Guard asked, waiting for the signal. Guy held up a finger, stopping them.
"You can't just leave a man like me at the altar and get away with it."
Katherine began to sob. "I'm sorry. I thought I was doing the right thing for the both of us. Please..."
"Much better." Just as Katherine was about to give out a sigh of relief, she saw him walking towards the guard, taking the torch. "But still not good enough!"
"NOOOOO!" Both sister's cried out, watching helplessly as he began to set their house on fire. A guard came to the side, grabbing Marian while Guy pulled Katherine along with him, taking the family outside of their burning house. Leaving her side to get back on his horse, the Knighton family began to walk back to the castle in shame, being dragged away by the guards as their precious family home burned to the ground.
A dark look came over Katherine, piercing her eyes into the back of Guy's head. As far as she was concerned currently, her feelings for him were tainted and she wished for them to burn away in the fire, no longer wanting them anymore.
NOTTINGHAM CASTLE
They had walked all night to the castle, dragging their feet. Exhausted, humiliated and broken, the family spent the rest of the waking morning taking everything in before being brought up to the sheriff's quarters to endure more.
"Ah, the sanctimonious old farts and their father." The sheriff chuckled, looking among his newfound prisoners. "I gather you've been careless with your fire... and other things I see." He pointed out Katherine's bloody nose which had dried up.
"You know full well that is not the case!" Marian spoke out.
"Tell me, whose side are you on? Mine or King Richard's?" Vaisey asked, sitting down. "The real world or the old world?"
"Yours." Both Edward and Katherine said.
He laughed dryly, not buying it as he pulled a tooth from a skull. "Come along. We know that's not true, do we."
Edward stood tall and proudly stated. "I believe in justice. I believe in the rights of a free man."
This caused the sheriff to stand up, glaring at him. "Who cares what you believe in? I have a plan and I will not tolerate dissent." He put the tooth into his mouth, the sound causing Katherine to shudder. "So, you are under house arrest, here, in the castle, until I can find some use for you."
"My lord sheriff, I must protest." Marian started, trying to stop him.
He turned back, practically biting at her. "You must?!"
"Our father is unwell. He must be allowed to-"
"One more word out of you, missy, and your father will never be unwell again!" He yelled to her, causing Katherine to look down with guilt.
At that moment, Guy came walking in. "My Lord. Another one of our friends has arrived."
Katherine looked up, trying to address him. "Guy..." She cursed her heart for telling her to try reaching out for him. He paused, turning to give her a look, curious for what she had to say. The words seemed to die on her lips.
Marian decided to take this opportunity to speak. "Sir Guy, please, the castle is no place for an old man."
He walked up to the sisters, blue eyes narrowed dangerously at them. "You think you can humiliate a man at the altar, a man like me, and get away with it? You're wrong." He walked off, causing Katherine to let out the breath she had been holding.
She realized now that she had royally screwed up. In thinking she was trying to help them, it only seemed to damage their relationship. Could it ever be fixed at this point?
Relaxing into her room, Katherine sat at the table, taking a washcloth as she wiped the crusty blood away from her nose. Her face was sore, but at least her nose wasn't broken. She couldn't say the same about her heart though.
Feeling the emotions of the day finally bubbling to the surface, she cried her eyes out, making sure her heart was emptying to the brim. Marian had heard news of a public execution and wanted to attempt to stop it, but Katherine knew she wouldn't get far. They were trapped here in the castle playing by the Sheriff's rules now.
If only she had gone through with the wedding and dealt through the lies like she planned, then maybe they wouldn't be in this mess. It was all her fault. She took full responsibility for it. Losing track, Katherine wasn't sure how long she had cried, but she knew she was done once the sobs stopped and her breathing returned to normal.
She only hoped her feelings for Guy had disappeared along with all the tears and didn't return.
Hearing a knock on her door, Katherine was broken from her thoughts, going to answer. Marian rushed into the room quickly, closing the door. "Sister, the sheriff has captured Robin." She told her. "Apparently that insignia he showed us belonged to the sheriff's sister."
"The sheriff actually has a family?" Katherine questioned in shock.
Marian nodded before changing the subject. "I'm bringing back the Nightwatchman." She informed, watching her carefully.
"How?" Katherine asked, knowing she burned all the clothes. Then again, she could just buy new ones and use them. Marian smiled, revealing the clothes she hid underneath her current ones.
"Will you be okay?" Marian asked, looking over her with concern. "You've been crying again."
"I think I'll be fine now." At least Katherine would act like she was at this point.
Marian sighed, feeling conflicted as she bit her lip. "I've been thinking about taking Robin's offer up." She admitted, looking to worry for her sister's reaction. "Is it bad for me to even consider such a thing, especially with you and father here?"
Katherine shook her head. "No. If anything, get out of here while you can. I'll take care of father, I promise. I- I have my own Nightwatchman things to do around here."
Marian's eyes widened at this. "Okay, now I'm curious what you mean."
The idea briefly passed over her mind, but now with this news, Katherine was heavily considering it. "It's my fault we are here." She sighed. "I have to set things right, so my battle is here at the castle doing exactly that...however I can."
Marian looked to her sister with a smile, seeing the serious look in her eyes before an understanding passed between them. They were going to take separate routes it seemed, and after they had just gotten back together. The sister's hugged each other. "Be careful...and tell father I love him. Take care of each other. I'll try to give word to you when I can."
"Be safe. Tell Robin that if he doesn't take care of you, I will personally kick his arse."
Making her way to the room where they held Robin, the Nightwatchman caused the distraction as planned, battling Gisborne in the hall and bringing the rest out to leave Robin alone, buying the outlaw some time.
Chasing her down the hall, Marian waited above in the rafters as they looked around for her. Guy carefully made his way before noticing the Nightwatchman looking down upon them. He pulled out the familiar dagger. "Remember this, Nightwatchman?" Swinging down from the rafters, she landed to the floor before being captured by the guards. "Take off your mask. I wanna see your face when you die!" She kicked the dagger from his hands before cartwheeling back and knocking the guards out.
The only problem was: the sheriff now held a knife to her throat. "Mistake my friend. You should have run when you had the chance." Marian brought her fist back to his face, causing him to cry out as she ran, jumping off the balcony.
"GISBORNE! GET THEM!" The sheriff yelled.
"Don't worry, he's mine." Guy exclaimed, pulling out his sword.
Marian ran towards the gate, only to be cornered in by guards and Gisborne himself, pointing swords at her. She fought back, deflecting their attacks with ease before making her way up the tower, outrunning the guards.
"What's he doing?" The sheriff questioned. "Why is he running away?" He finally caught on, shouting out. "He's creating a distraction." Marian made her way up the tower, out running the guards above. The sheriff shouted out, grinning. "You're wasting your time, my friend. Robin Hood is already dead!"
Looking upon him sadly, Marian jumped down, making the sheriff think the Nightwatchman flinged himself from the tower. Running through the town where washerwomen were gathered, clothes hanging on a line, Marian grabbed some before running into a corner. Taking off her mask, she began to burst out crying, feeling as hopeless as Katherine felt.
Maybe if she had gone off with him sooner...she could have prevented him from being captured. Crying her eyes out for a good minute as she changed into a new outfit, Marian came out from her hiding place and decided to make her way back to the castle, seeing she had no other choice at this point. But Robin pulled back sheets, causing her to stop in her tracks and smile with joy, taking him into a hug. "Robin!"
"Who died?"
"You did. The sheriff said you were dead."
"The sheriff?' He grimaced as they walked along the town of Nottingham. "The Sheriff is plotting to kill the King with his friends, the Black Knight's. They're already dividing England between themselves. You can't go back into the castle."
"We must get word to the King. Nottingham is not safe!"
"It's not just Nottingham. The Black Knight's, they're everywhere. They're taxing the poor of England to pay for an army of mercenaries."
"Well, we must stop them!" Marian exclaimed. "We must warn my sister."
Robin went to grab her, trying to stop her. "Marian, no! It's too dangerous."
"Having a spy on the inside when there's a coo being plotted is useful. Katherine has already agreed to it."
Robin was about to retort before he realized her words. "Wait, what?"
Marian looked to him sadly as she cupped his face. "Two minutes ago I thought you were dead and I would have given anything for another chance to be with you."
"Then take that chance and come with me."
She hesitated. Could she really leave her father and sister behind to be a part of this new life? Yes, it was what she wanted. Marian knew she wanted to be by his side, but there would be consequences for her actions.
And that was something Katherine was prepared for Marian realized. When she said her battle was at the castle, it meant Katherine knew what she was getting herself into, choosing to be their eyes and ears for the castle.
If Marian chose this route, she had to know what she would be getting into, and she couldn't live a lie. "Listen."
"What?" Robin asked.
Marian took him into a kiss before pulling back. "A little voice saying yes, let's go save England together." The couple chuckled. Before they walked through the main road of Nottingham together, Marian came up with a plan. "I need you to make it look like you've taken me hostage from the castle, that way my father and sister won't be roped into this and we can keep our spy on the inside safe."
Robin was about to protest before understanding. "Okay." He grabbed some rope and began to tie her hands behind her back. They took the main road out of Nottingham, carefully trying to not draw attention to themselves at the same time. Robin hid her tied hands with a cloak.
Marian spotted someone from the corner of her eye and quickly looked to Robin before panicking. Guy jumped out before them, shocked to see Marian beside him. "Marian?" he questioned.
She began to scream, acting out her plan. "Help me!"
"Take aim!" Guy shouted, planning to rescue her, knowing Katherine would be concerned for her sister.
Guards came out from their hiding places, aiming arrows at them. Holding up their hands, they looked to him. Robin played along with it, holding her close to him. "What? No more public humiliation, Gisborne? No more beating and berating?"
"Let her go, Hood."
Robin chuckled. "And why would I do that? See, if I let her go, you're going to kill me and, well, I can't have that."
"Either way, the sheriff wants you dead."
Much came in with a battlecry, coming to save them. The rest of the merry men followed suit, knocking all the guards down. "GUARDS!" Gisborne shouted before his attention was directed to someone tugging his sleeve. "WHAT?" He turned.
Djaq threw pepper into his eyes, making him cry out in pain. "Pepper! Ouch!" she exclaimed.
Robin threw Marian over his shoulder, selling the charade further. "See Gisborne, that's why I didn't say goodbye, because I didn't want to see you cry!" Guy tried to blink away, but tears formed in his eyes from the burning pepper. He slashed with his sword to no avail.
"Time to disappear?" Much asked.
"Yeah."
Robin gave one final kick to Gisborne before they ran off with Marian. She hoped that her charade of making it looked like she was kidnapped worked.
Katherine was walking around the castle escorted by her guards. Hearing a commotion entering through the gates of the castle, she quickly spotted Guy coming through, groaning in pain. Her heart immediately betrayed her, making her run to his side in concern. "What happened?"
"Nothing, I'm fine."
"Sir Guy, please." She insisted, wanting to help.
A guard who helped him back decided to tell her. "The outlaw's threw pepper in his eyes and kidnapped your sister."
"What?" Katherine exclaimed, more concerned about him then the other news. "Uh, send a bowl of water and washcloth to my room immediately. I'll take care of him." She ordered before the guards left.
"I don't need your help. I'll be fine." Guy barked, trying to push her away. The last thing he wanted was to be hurt by her again.
"Please, just let me do something right. I want to help." Katherine pleaded, grabbing hold of his arm as she held him close, bringing him back to her room since he couldn't see too well. She led him to her bed before sitting him down. "Here, sit down."
The guards followed in after, leaving her the items as requested. "Thank you. Leave us." She closed the door, trying to give them some privacy as she made her way to the bowl, wetting the washcloth.
There was a heavy silence between them. Many words to be said, but none being spoken. This wouldn't do. They would have to talk things out between them, lay to rest the misunderstands and try to move on past this point. Bringing the washcloth to his eyes gently, she supposed she would have to be the first one to start. "It wasn't my intention to leave you at the altar."
"Then why did you?"
"I was trying to give us a chance, to get everything out in the open right there and then so we could marry without secrets between each other." Katherine stated, biting her lip as washed away the pepper. "I wasn't expecting Marian to intervene as she did." Curse her heart and the feelings she still had for him. Even now, after he burned her house down and hurt her, she still loved him. It was wrong.
Guy grabbed her hand that dabbed at his eyes, suddenly opening his eyes that were red and angry from the pepper or her words, maybe both she guessed. "You're lying! You two were planning it from the start!" He spoke coldly.
"No, I'm being honest!" Katherine exclaimed, feeling the tears beginning to fall from her eyes. "I wanted to marry you- I still do. Even though I try not to...I love you Guy of Gisborne. That was never a lie!"
Seeing her genuine full blown honesty as she fell apart before him, confessing such a thing, he briefly felt himself soften. Maybe they could work things out between each other? "What are the lies then?" He asked, eyes narrowing. "Mine are already out in the open. It's your turn."
Katherine felt herself tense up, knowing this was the moment. But could she really give up her sister so easily? Marian had given such a good cover story to try and protect them. Taking in a deep breath, the words left her mouth. "My sister is in love with Robin Hood." She admitted, knowing they couldn't really do anything about that.
Guy's eyes widened, looking to her with pure shock. "What? So it is true?"
"It's like I told you, they used to be betrothed before he went off to the crusades." Silently apologizing to her sister for letting it come out, she was at least glad she chose to run off with Robin before this all came out in the open. "I thought her feelings for him had faded, but apparently not. Especially if what the guards tell me is true and she's been kidnapped."
Guy truly didn't know what to think at this moment. His usual emotions of anger and betrayal raged through him, but he was rather surprised at the honesty she was presenting towards him. However, he still couldn't overlook one detail. His hold on her arm tightened, causing her to gasp in pain. "You think she is conspiring with an outlaw? Do you know what the punishment is for being associated with an outlaw? Death . " He warned her.
Brown eyes looked at him calmly before answering. "Yes, but my sister has chosen her path. I on the other hand have chosen to stay right here...with you."
Guy shuddered before softening his grip. "Please tell me you are not working with Robin Hood?" he questioned, his eyes almost pleading. He almost didn't want to know what her answer would be, fearing the worst.
Katherine knew things would have to be quite different from here on out - as if it wasn't already obvious enough. Doing this would solidify there being no return for Marian to the castle as her sister had planned. Their father and Katherine would pretty much have to declare having nothing else to do with her because of her ties to Robin now. Swallowing, she answered. "I am not working with Robin Hood."
Guy sighed, noticing the sad look on her face. He took a wild guess, thinking it was aimed toward concern for her sister. Wanting nothing more than to take her hands into his, he held back, afraid how she would react. Instead, he asked. "Is that all?"
"Yes." She let out a shaky breath, feeling slightly better from getting everything out in the open, but worried for what he would do now that she had revealed it all. He began to rise from where he sat, causing Katherine to look at him with wide eyes. "Now that I've told you the truth, what happens now?"
He didn't say anything to her. All he did was give her a quiet look before walking out of the room. Katherine felt a panic stir in her chest, awaiting what would follow next. Whatever would happen, she knew this was her battle now and she would fight it in her own way.