Gisburne had been torn since Alyss had left the cottage. Though he was glad that he had seen her, he had not wanted her to go. He had been angry with her for keeping her impending marriage a secret, but upon learning that her father had kept it quiet, it had dissipated. He wished he had known about it sooner, for perhaps he would have been able to do something to prevent this situation. Standing by the fire, he had realised just how much he did not want her to belong to another, and he so desperately wanted to release her from this duty. But despite him wanting her to stay, he could not voice it, and so she had left. He had known that she was walking to her death, and he regretted not warning her.
He had spent every minute since trying to work out some way of stopping the wedding. He could not afford to pay off the debt that Nettleworth had, and it would take years before he had that kind of money. He doubted that the Earl of Dunwich would be willing to back out of the deal, and there was no proof that Hugh was a killer. His previous wives were said to have committed suicide, but there were rumours that they had been murdered. Regardless of his feelings, Gisburne knew he could not let Alyss suffer the same fate. Nettleworth needed her, and she deserved to be happy. He knew he could simply interrupt the church service and object, but he doubted that anyone would take him seriously. His other option would be to persuade Alyss to run away with him, but he knew that she would never abandon her people.
"I think you have to accept that she will be a wife to someone else tomorrow my lord." Osric said as he watched the knight pace later that evening. "If you truly love her, then you will let her do this." These were the exact wrong words to say, and Sir Guy had stormed out of the cottage, determined to at least warn Alyss of the rumours.
This was how he found himself standing in the manor just after he had heard Alyss scream. The Earl of Dunwich was passed out in a drunken stupor, while there was no sign of Edgar or Hugh. Hurrying upstairs, he found the guest room empty and his blood ran cold as he realised what was happening. Without thinking, he kicked down Alyss' door and ignored the pain in his chest from his newly healed wound as he strode over to the bed. He tore the man away, while Alyss instantly clutched the covers tightly to her, and Hugh staggered to his feet with sword in hand. Gisburne stood between Hugh and the bed, determined not to let the man anywhere near the young lady.
"Want her for yourself do you?" Hugh taunted. "I am certain we can come to some form of arrangement." This only angered the knight further.
"You will not have anything to do with her. I will make sure of that." Gisburne seethed. The dark- haired man merely smirked, before attacking. Though drunk, it seemed that Hugh of Dunwich was an accomplished swordsman, and Gisburne did his best to defend himself. He was tiring though, for his strength was not what it had once been, and he swore as Hugh's blade cut his arm. With renewed energy he attacked the Earl's son, while Alyss shouted for help. Guy could only hope that someone came soon, if only to keep Hugh away from Alyss.
"She'll be mine tomorrow, and there is nothing you can do to stop me." Hugh grinned as he disarmed the knight. Guy glanced around the room for another form of weapon, while the Earl's son advanced.
"No!" Alyss cried out as the knight stumbled and fell backwards. Hugh laughed as he placed his blade on Guy's chest, ready to plunge it into his heart.
"I'm sorry my lady." Guy uttered, trying to work out a way out of this.
"Let him go!" Alyss pleaded, and Hugh smiled cruelly at her.
"Who is he to you?"
"A friend. Let him go!" She was stood close to him now, and Guy wondered just what the lady was doing. That was when she smiled at the Earl's son, and moved her hand to his sword arm. The blade moved, allowing Guy a chance to retrieve his sword and he leapt to his feet. Hugh growled with anger and hit Alyss before turning back to the knight, but the noblewoman was not deterred. There were no weapons in sight, but her eyes landed on the pottery jug filled with the flowers that were to be her bouquet. She took them out and then climbed onto the bed, waiting for the right moment. Hugh was stood by her trunk now, and Guy nodded at her. She brought it crashing down, and Hugh fell as it broke. She sank to her knees then, nervous laughter mixing with tears as she realised what she had done, while Hugh bled on the floor.
"It will be alright my lady." Gisburne assured her as he draped a blanket around her shoulders. Alyss looked at him with fear and he realised he had never seen her so vulnerable.
"I swear he will not harm you again." They could hear footsteps and shouting outside, and Guy quickly took in the scene before him. He knew he had to protect Alyss, and so he gently reached for the handle that was in her hands. She tried to speak, but they were interrupted and Guy instantly stood away from her. The Earl had been woken by all the commotion, and he uttered a horrified cry as he saw his son bleeding on the floor, while Guy stood over him. Two soldiers came in, and Guy knew better than to struggle. In his current state he would not get very far, and he was determined to keep Alyss safe, which he could not do if he was on the run or declared an outlaw. His eyes lingered on the trembling lady, before he was taken outside. He knew his status as a nobleman would protect him from immediate punishment, so he could only hope that it would be a fair trial.
Four months had passed since that horrible night, and Alyss still had not fully recovered from it. Hugh had recovered, and had declared that the contract was void. This had put Nettleworth immediately back into debt, and Edgar was desperately trying to find a way to pay. Alyss had spent the weeks following Gisburne's arrest in a daze, and the village had rallied around her. The women had ensured that she was never alone and always had someone to talk to, while the men had taken it in turns to stand guard at her door. Her father had apologised profusely for what had happened, and Alyss had forgiven him. After all, it was not his fault that the man he had promised her to was cruel and malicious. She was also grateful for her knowledge of herbs, for they were the only thing that meant she could sleep, and she spent her days distracting herself. She was growing very confused as to why she had not yet been arrested though, and could only guess that Hugh's pride and Guy's chivalry were protecting her.
"We will soon be away from here Alyss, and then we can focus on the future." Edgar told her as she paced the chamber. They had reached Nottingham Castle an hour ago, having responded to the Court summons, and she had been unable to stay still. Not only did she have to face her attacker, but she also had to get Guy released. She felt guilty for his arrest, and blamed herself for what had happened. She knew it had been his choice to claim full responsibility for assaulting the Earl of Dunwich's son, but she was still unclear as to why he would risk his life for her. After all, she was a poor noblewoman with no lands to offer and… Well, she had to accept that this was his choice.
"Come and have something to eat. You'll need your strength for tomorrow."
"I…" She sighed. "I'm not hungry."
"What is troubling you?" Edgar asked her as he got to his feet. "Is it being back in Nottingham? Or the trial?"
"Both." She admitted.
"You should come and rest yourself by the fire." He told her, but Alyss would not listen.
"I cannot. How can I when I know his life is in my hands?" She was full of anguish, and Edgar sighed as he enveloped his daughter in a hug.
"It is only Gisburne." Alyss stepped back, horrified.
"A life is still a life father." She pointed out. "He has saved me numerous times, and even now he keeps me safe even though he could gain his freedom by telling the truth."
"What do you mean?"
"I fear I have not been entirely truthful with you father." She sighed deeply. "But you must know it before tomorrow. My time here in Nottingham was not entirely unpleasant, and I know you blame the Sheriff for the increase of my ransom, but that was my doing." Edgar looked surprised, while Alyss swallowed nervously. She had not told anyone of what had transpired, and it was difficult to confess the truth. "It was a punishment for me sending Osric to look for Gisburne. Not only was the debt increased but my punishment nearly cost my life."
"What?" Edgar looked horrified, but Alyss would not be deterred.
"Gisburne found me before I froze to death. Shortly after that I heard that you were gravely ill, so I stole a horse and rode into Sherwood."
"Alyss!" He chastised. "Why would you do such a foolish thing?"
"I was not thinking straight at the time." She admitted, swallowing back tears. "I never reached Nettleworth. Cut throats got to me first, and I was wounded. I owe my life to Sir Guy. He ensured my recovery, and that the agreement remained untouched despite my actions."
"Is that why you saved him in the woods?" Alyss nodded. "Because he saved you?"
"I had also classed him as a friend in Nottingham." Edgar shook his head in disbelief.
"The man is a murderer and a tyrant!" She did her best not to wince at the insults.
"There is another part to him father. A kindness he keeps hidden to all but a few. If it were not for him then Nettleworth would have been lost to us long ago."
"Why though Alyss? Why would he do such a thing?" Edgar was confused, and Alyss could understand why. After all, Edgar had never seen the side of Guy that she had.
"I…" she hesitated, for she did not know if she could say it. "I do not know. But I owe him my life."
"Please tell me you don't care for him?" Alyss was silent for a moment. "Alyss?" he prompted.
"I care for him as I would any friend." She said. "Father, Sir Guy is not the one who knocked Hugh of Dunwich unconscious. It was me." Edgar stared at her, then gave a deep sigh as he held her close. "It was in self-defence. I…" she was crying now, and Edgar stroked her hair to soothe her.
"Who else knows?"
"You and Gisburne."
"Then it must remain that way." He told her. "If he has decided to take the blame then we cannot alter his decision."
"They'll kill him though!" she objected.
"If they find out that you assaulted Hugh of Dunwich, you will be punished too. I cannot lose you Alyss. You are all I have left, and you're more precious to me than anything in this world."
"But…"
"Let us see what tomorrow brings." He said softly, and Alyss knew she could not argue. "I will see to it that everything is done to keep him from the scaffold."
Noon the next day found the Royal Court assembled in the Great Hall. King John, a weasel of a man, sat on a throne on the raised dais, while his closest advisors sat either side of him. Alyss was stood on one side of the hall with her father and Osric, while Hugh and his father stood opposite along with a number of soldiers. The Sheriff was stood near to the dais, and Alyss wondered just what he was doing as a witness when he had not been anywhere near Nettleworth that day. Her thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of Gisburne, and she felt like crying as she saw the state of him. The four months in Nottingham's dungeons had not been kind to him. He was rather thin, covered in bruises, and his clothes were torn. She wondered how much had been inflicted by other prisoners, and how much by the soldiers that hated him. He was also unshaven, and generally looked dishevelled. However, his state did not stop him from standing up straight, and he glanced around the room. Alyss knew she could not react, but he gave her a brief smile as their eyes met, before the king spoke.
"We are here to pass judgement on Sir Guy of Gisburne. He is here to stand trial for assaulting the son of Earl Geoffrey of Dunwich." The King announced. "We will first hear the prosecution." Hugh of Dunwich stepped forwards, and Alyss did her best to remain calm, although memories of that night came flooding back to her. She had no wish to spend any time in the same room as this man, and yet she knew she had to put up with it for just a few hours. Her father squeezed her hand reassuringly, and Alyss focused on the task at hand.
"I was betrothed to the Lady Alyss of Nettleworth after giving some money to Lord Edgar for him to pay off his debts to Nottingham Castle." Hugh began. "We arrived in Nettleworth just a few hours before the attack, and it was obvious that the Lady was distracted. It seemed she had plans for the evening which my arrival had interrupted." He paused. "When I retired to bed that evening, I heard hushed voices coming from the Lady Alyss' room, and when I went to enquire as to her welfare, I found Sir Guy with her." Alyss felt her blood boil as she realised what the Earl's son was doing. "They were angry upon being discovered, and Guy attacked me. Had the soldiers not found us when they did, then I have no doubt that I would be dead."
"You are saying that it was an unprovoked attack?" One of the king's advisors asked.
"It was. I acted only in self-defence."
"Very well. Earl Geoffrey, if we may hear your testimony?"
"I was sat by the fire in Nettleworth's hall when I heard the commotion. I assembled my soldiers and we reahed the Lady Alyss' room to find Gisburne standing above my unconscious son, ready to kill him. My men had to drag him away before murder could be committed." The Earl said. "It is my belief that the Lady Alyss had been unhappy at the news of her marriage, and so conspired with the knight to kill him."
"He lies!" Osric cried out, horrified at the news.
"Silence! You will have your time to talk later!" The King shouted, and the court fell silent once again. "Do you have any evidence of this?"
"Alyss seemed to be distracted that afternoon, and she retired early that evening. I ear that she was making plans to kill Hugh."
"Have you any witnesses to prove this?"
"I have." The Earl said, and Alyss did her best not to react as Hugh smirked. Then she saw how many witnesses the Earl had called, including two members of her village, and Alyss knew that something was wrong here.
"I say that Sir Guy is guilty!" One of the king's advisers said after they had listened to the Earl's witnesses speak, and Hugh's men cheered. Alyss felt nothing but sorrow, for she knew that there was little she could do to refute such lies. After all, Hugh had far more witnesses than she did, and much more influence too. It seemed that there was nothing to be done to save Sir Guy.