CHAPTER SUMMARY: Once Prince John catches Isabella speaking with the outlaws and realizes Katherine's sister is among them, Guy is forced to do something drastic in order to remain in the Prince's good favor so he can become Sheriff of Nottingham. Katherine tries to have her husband see reason.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: The chapter title above: "Family is Not Always Blood" is something that speaks deeply, not only to the message of this chapter, but to me personally and where I've come from. I've found throughout my life experiences that family isn't always the people you are related to by blood, it is also the people who share no blood relation to you, but prove themselves by being your family.
CHAPTER 32 - Family is Not Always Blood
LOCKSLEY MANOR
A heat wave had hit England, bringing a terrible drought to Nottinghamshire. Guy was persistent to keep a careful watch over his wife just as he was adamant in speaking with Prince John about becoming the next Sheriff of Nottingham, a position the Knight had been ambitious about achieving one day. It could provide them the security and fortune they needed for the family they were starting, especially once he got Robin out of the way for good.
However, the Prince was more focused on flirting with his sister, something that caused Katherine and Guy to exchange looks of disgust over. "Do you know, I don't know who's hotter, you or me?"
Isabella giggled, pouring him a goblet of water and handing it to him. "It's you, sire. You...are...hot...hot!" She said, whispering in his ear, enjoying the annoyed look on her brother's face.
"If we could get back to the business in hand, Sire." asked Guy.
"Do we have to?" Prince John frowned.
Isabella caught onto the look her brother was giving her. "I think I'll leave you to it. Care to join me, Katherine?"
Before she could even respond, Guy spoke. "No, she is staying here."
The Knight gave a protective look towards her, telling Katherine the reason he was doing this was for her safety. She knew how concerned he had become over her since the incident with Vaisey, and this heat wave was no help either, especially since one of the symptoms with this pregnancy came a higher body temperature. The last thing he wanted was for her to overexert herself and their growing child.
"I'm sorry, Isabella." Katherine said, looking to her sadly.
"I understand." She said before heading out of the door and into the smoldering heat. Isabella was surprised when she turned around and spotted Robin and Marian heading towards the manor. "Oh god, what are you two doing here?" She asked in a panic.
"Sorry. Just thought we'd pop in on you and Katherine and offer some of these to help battle the heat." Marian said, holding out a basket of strawberries she had picked. The three of them began to walk away from the manor and to a private location.
Back inside the manor, Katherine sat quietly drinking a goblet of water as Guy spoke to the Prince. "I need to make arrangements."
"I've told you, you're as good as sheriff already." Prince John said, rising from his chair to get more water. "The only thing you don't have is the title or the power… or the castle." This was exactly why Guy was being so adamant with the Prince about making this a reality. He needed the job security, especially now that there wasn't a sheriff anymore. "But the truth is, right now, there're more pressing matters."
"Robin Hood." The Knight pointed out.
"Now, obviously, he has to hang. The only problem is, the people do rather insist on adoring him still."
"Well, the people are fools, Sire."
This caused Katherine to throw a look her husband's way, finding herself shocked that she felt the need to be defensive over her brother-in-law and childhood friend that she had mixed feelings about for years. Guy gave her a brief look of confusion before catching onto the meaning of her look.
Prince John didn't seem to catch onto this, continuing on. "Of course they are. But we need their co-operation if my plans for England are to come to fruition. So... I need to woo them, make them love me."
Bringing his attention back to the Prince, Guy replied quietly. "Yes, Sire. But how?"
"By giving them what they want, of course. What they want more than anything with this drought. Water." Glancing out the window, the Prince's gaze narrowed, spotting Isabella speaking with Robin and another familiar face he had been wondering about. They seemed rather chummy and close eating strawberries. He looked over at Katherine who gave a small smile when she noticed he was looking her way. "Katherine...I forgot to ask, how are your sister and father doing?"
The smile dropped from her face and he knew he had gotten her on something. Even Guy seemed to frown. Katherine was quick to try and hide it though, trying to not give him any leverage to use over her. "My father passed away. As for my sister...she's married and I haven't seen her since, sire."
Outside the manor, the three were speaking with each other happily, unaware they had been caught by their enemy. "Thank you for the strawberries. I'll be sure to tell Katherine you came by."
"How is my sister doing?" Marian asked, looking to her with concern. "Despite everything that happened with the church, she has been rather off lately. Is everything alright?"
Isabella was completely unaware Katherine had a role in the sheriff's death, thinking her brother did all the work. "She's fine despite the usual morning sickness." She ended up blurting out, realizing it was too late.
"Morning sickness?" Robin exclaimed with a raised brow. "Is she pregnant?"
"Yes." Isabella answered.
Marian began to chuckle with joy for her sister, knowing how much this must mean for her. Even if it was with Gisborne. "I'm happy for her. Wait...this means I'm going to be an aunt." Her blue eyes widened, not sure how to feel about that just yet.
Robin's face was scrunched in irritation and disagreement, still not happy to have any ties to Gisborne in any way. This was something he would rather forget about, feeling a bitterness eating away inside him.
"Prepare the horses! I wish to leave!" They heard Prince John shout inside the manor.
The couple glanced at each other knowing it was time for them to start heading off. "See you later, Isabella."
She set the basket of strawberries outside before making her way back inside the manor, she noticed the tense looks inside waiting for her. Prince John quickly spoke to her. "You'll accompany me on my trip back to the castle. We'll visit the dungeons."
Once the Prince and Isabella left, the couple enjoyed the quiet of their company. Guy slumped down in the chair beside his wife, letting out a sigh that was a mix of frustration and worry. Katherine got up and went to put her arms around his neck to comfort him before pulling back in fear with a gasp.
Guy noticed this and looked up to her with worry. "What is it? What's wrong?"
She was on the brink of tears, recalling what happened with Vaisey. "I'm sorry. I still can't forget…I don't want to hurt you too." Katherine looked to her hands shakily, afraid she would hurt her husband or anyone else she cared about with these same hands that helped take a life.
"Katherine…" he said softly, "you saved my life once again. You did what you thought was right... we both did ." He reminded her that she wasn't alone in it.
"But it still doesn't justify the fact that we took a life, Guy. We can't let it slide. I wanted to lead you away from this kind of life, not bring you deeper into it!"
The Knight was left speechless by her words, feeling the guilt of his actions eating away at him. He knew she was always trying to help save him from the darkness of his past he got lost in, but little did he realize that he was bringing her into it as well. Still adamant on getting his hands on power as the sheriff and dealing with Prince John for it to happen, no one would know the truth of the position better than Katherine herself having been a previous sheriff's daughter.
But he couldn't help it, especially now that they had a child on the way. He didn't want the same fate befalling his wife or child that Guy had thrown upon him in his childhood.
"You are not at fault for what happened, my love. If anything, it's my own doing because of my ambition for everything I had lost." He sighed, resting his hand on her cheek, wiping away her tears softly. "I didn't want anything to do with Vaisey, nor do I want anything to do with Prince John but...I need to make sure we are provided for, no matter the cost."
Katherine understood where he was coming from perfectly on it. This was all from the sense of security he lacked after losing everything and everyone he cared for. He had to work his way up to build nothing into something again, but he didn't have to keep living in this mindset forever, constantly working for a corrupt person because he had no other means or choice.
Being in his life, Katherine was determined to show the Knight that he no longer had to fear losing anything or anyone ever again with her by his side and that he had a choice to continue falling through with orders from a person he didn't fully believe in or make a change.
"I know, my love. But I just want you to realize how much you've gained in your life recently, even if there are some things you don't wish to acknowledge." Katherine said, pointing out the fact with his sister, her sister and Robin. "I don't want you to end up losing something that could be wonderful just because it isn't exactly what you wanted."
Just like her husband, Katherine was still ambitious as ever to give Guy the life he had stolen away from him; the one he should have had alongside her, Marian, Robin and Isabella growing up together.
Realizing what she was referring to, his gaze widened before softening. She was right about the fact he didn't wish to acknowledge it. "All I need is you, my lovely wife and the keys to Nottingham." He said, planting a kiss on her cheek.
LOCKSLEY VILLAGE
NEXT DAY
The wells had run dry. There was no water anywhere and the villagers were thirsty, some almost on the brink of dying from thirst by the heat. Even the rivers weren't flowing with water, leaving dry, cracked dirt that made the villagers feel hopeless.
Robin and the outlaws were quick on the scene, trying to help get any sip of water out of the well. "Nothing." Little John sighed, glancing at the woman holding her baby, desperate for water.
"I'm sorry, have some of mine." Robin said, handing his canteen over.
"But you need it, too."
"Come on." He urged.
"Take it, Ellie... for my godson." Kate smiled, going to take her friend into a hug, looking over the child with Marian. "I've missed you so much! How's the little tyke doing?"
"You know, tears, tantrums, fouling his pants… but enough about my husband." The girls began to chuckle over this. "We'll get through this drought, I know we will."
Robin stood off to the side, watching as Marian interacted with Elenaor and Kate over the baby in his arms. His mind drifted to his wife and then to her sister, still not content with the news they got from Isabella. Tuck came to stand beside him. "Change is coming, Robin."
"Is it now?" he asked sarcastically. "I'm beginning to wonder if we can really change anything."
Tuck sighed. "The Sheriff is dead. Is that not change enough?"
"In his place is the Prince who does nothing while his people die of thirst."
"Thank goodness for Kate and I then." Marian said, sharing an equal smile with the blonde.
"Your recce went well?"
"Two guards, one door and twenty barrels of Prince John's cool, fresh water hidden in a barn, just begging to be sampled." Kate declared proudly as everyone began to chuckle.
Robin smiled. "Let's get to work then. Shall we?"
NOTTINGHAM CASTLE
"I don't believe it." Guy mumbled, pacing the room.
"There's no point resisting it! I saw them. Isabella was speaking with Robin and Katherine's sister." Prince John yelled out, rising from his throne and walking over to the Knight.
"Sire, is it possible that you could have misread the situation?" Guy asked, lowering his head ever so slightly, fearful for his sister and his wife.
"Well, we'll see, won't we? Because I've set her a little trap."
"Trap?"
"I told her about my plan with the water. If she is in league with Hood, I suspect she'll want to find him and tell him all about it, and when she does, you'll be there, because you'll be following."
"And then?" Guy asked, fearing the worst to follow his question.
The Prince snapped at him. "What do you expect? They're traitors. Execute them."
"The three of them?"
Circling around the Knight like a vulture, Prince John knew exactly what to say to get him to do what was needed. "Gisborne, I have great plans for you. I do hope you're not suffering from any pathetic pangs of familial loyalty?" It was obvious who Marian's husband was, none other than Robin Hood, meaning they all shared ties to each other.
Guy swallowed. "None at all. My loyalty to you is absolute. Whatever the outcome, it shall be my hand that resolves it for you, and I promise you…"
When he turned to him, Prince John quickly looked away, cutting him off. "Yes, bored now."
Briefly narrowing his eyes at him, Guy began to walk off, not looking forward to what would have to be done. It was then when Katherine's words began to replay in his head, haunting him for the actions he was about to commit.
He soon found himself making his way towards his wife who had been sitting in the main hall reading a book. "Katherine." Guy said, getting her attention. "I need to speak with you. Have you seen my sister?"
"She just left back for Locksley. Why?"
"Let's go. I'll tell you on the way." He said, bringing her along with him much to her confusion.
LOCKSLEY VILLAGE
The outlaws managed to knock down the guards and sneak one of the barrels of Prince John's water. The villagers formed a line and began to fill their pitchers with the nice, cool water.
Marian, Allan and Little John helped distribute as Robin began to speak with the couple in line once again. "So what's his name, then?"
"Actually, his name's Robin." Elenaor said.
Robin looked moved by this, smiling proudly. "Is it? Thank you very much, that's very flattering."
"No, after the bird." Marian and Allan began to chuckle, watching the confused look come over his face. "One landed on his crib the day he was born."
Robin swallowed, feeling embarrassed now. "Course it did. Right, good, good."
Elenaor laughed. "Joke. It was after you."
Her husband began to speak up, explaining. "He's always been a poorly lad, so...we thought we'd give him a name of strength."
Marian watched as Robin reached out towards the child, smiling and saying hello. Once she poured the water for the couple, she handed it to them. "Here you are."
"Thank you my lady." she said before glancing at the baby in her arms. "Let's have some water."
Much noticed the sad look upon Robin's face as he started walking away and asked. "What's wrong?"
"I envy them, Much." He sighed, glancing over to his wife who was helping give the villagers water. "I envy them, Much. You know, they have nothing, and yet I envy them, their lives, because…they have each other. I wish I could do more for Marian and have… have a family with her." Robin wanted that more than anything, but with the way their lives currently were, it wasn't the right time. It probably never would be.
"Well, we've got each other. We're all family, right?" Much said, pointing out the obvious optimism in the situation.
"It's not the same, though, is it?"
"No, it's not." Much replied nervously.
"Robin! Marian!" Kate called out towards the couple, approaching with her brother by her side.
They both came towards the siblings. "What is it?"
"Isabella just spoke to me as I was passing the manor. She said she had important information for you. She wants to meet you both in the meadow."
Robin sighed. "Right, OK. Marian and I need to go."
"Do you think Isabella might know about the problem with the well?" Marian asked.
"You think that's wise?" Tuck asked the couple.
Robin gave an annoyed sigh. "Come on, Tuck, we've been through this."
"My gut still tells me there's something not right about her."
"She helped us before." Little John commented.
"She defied Prince John." Much said. "She helped us put out the fire."
"She's Gisborne's sister! You think she doesn't have ulterior motives? Or maybe you think she is okay because she's sisterly now with Lady Katherine? The truth is, Robin Hood and Lady Marian are needed here. The water in these barrels will last each village a day at most. Soon the very old and the very young will start dying."
Marian started to speak standing her ground. "But that's exactly why we need to go and speak with her, Tuck. It's a chance we need to take to help everyone. Now please, don't try to stop us."
"I hear there's water in the Trent." He started.
Robin was quick to defend his wife, seeing her way. "And I hear that there isn't. And even if I'm wrong, it's still only a temporary solution. We need something permanent, and Isabella may offer us that. We'll be back, wait for us here."
"Robin! Lady Marian!" Tuck called out, trying to stop them.
The couple didn't stop for another word, running off to go meet with Isabella and find a solution.
THE MEADOW
"Guy, why did you bring me out here?" Katherine asked, looking upon the green meadow, recalling childhood memories of coming out here to play with Robin and her sister.
Walking among the trees of the forest, he suddenly stopped in his tracks, turning to address her. "The Prince caught Isabella speaking with Hood and your sister. He knows."
Katherine let out a shaky breath. "W-What?"
"He wants me to execute them." He admitted.
"And are you going to?" She asked, causing the Knight to give her a serious look that said he had no other choice.
"Guy!" Katherine began to shout before they heard Isabella coming this way.
He was quick to cover her mouth, holding his wife close to him as they hid behind a tree. Feeling her rapid heart race match his own, Guy began to explain himself. "I'm not going to do anything yet. I just want to observe."
"Sorry we're late, Isabella." They heard Marian call out, watching as the outlaw couple walked up to the Gisborne sister. She was surprised to see them, almost starting to think they wouldn't show up.
"Well, I am punctual...if nothing else." Robin smirked, leaning upon his bow. "So...what's so important that you'd risk being seen with us in public?"
Isabella began to explain what she was told by the Prince. "Prince John's blocked the spring that provides the water supply to the villages."
Guy's eyes widened, realizing the Prince was right. His sister was helping Robin Hood, his enemy. She was not only betraying the Prince, but Guy's loyalty.
"We'd have to find a way of unblocking the spring." Marian pointed out before remembering an extra detail about the castle. "There should be another entrance to the chamber via an overflow outside the town. It should lead to the castle dungeons."
"You remember this from your time as the Nightwatchman?" Robin asked his wife, impressed.
Marian smiled proudly. "Of course."
Isabella began to walk beside the couple, agreeing with what she had to say, wanting to help them out once again. "If we go in that way, we can bypass the castle completely."
"What do you mean... "we"?" asked Robin.
Marian rolled her eyes at him. "Robin!"
"I mean I can take you there myself." Isabella stated, realizing they still didn't fully trust her. "I want to help you. What do I have to do to make you trust me? I'm not my brother. Look, I have no interest in being on the losing side."
The outlaw began to chuckle dryly. "So this is a politically motivated act."
"Let's just give her a chance. She hasn't proved us wrong so far, Robin." Marian said, trying to defend her.
"And what happens if she does?"
"Ignore him. He's usually like this everyone."
Isabella sighed. "Call it what you want. Political manoeuvring… undermining my louse of a brother…" Katherine glanced at her husband who began to slowly move his hand away from her mouth, looking rather hurt by his sister's words, "a naked attempt...to get you to like me more. You can trust me, I swear."
Guy leaned his head against the tree, rolling back from the view, not wishing to see this anymore. His sister had made him into a fool. He had trusted her, welcomed her back into his life and offered protection and a place of shelter. But unlike Katherine, it was obvious Isabella hated him, more than likely stemming from the arrangement with Squire Thornton.
Robin chuckled, glancing to Marian who gave him a look before deciding to give in. "Right. Well, we have to go back and get the others, because we're gonna need all the help we can get. All right? And then we'll go, straight to the entrance."
"Let's go then!" Marian said, leading the way as they chuckled, following after.
Glancing to her husband, Katherine saw the look come over him. He felt betrayed. She had seen that hurtful look before. "Guy…" She said softly, not wanting him to have heard the anger his sister held for him.
The Knight grabbed her hand and started following after them, not wanting to speak a word of what just happened. "Let's go."
Walking along the forest, the outlaws and Isabella were completely unaware they were being followed by the couple. "What do you think your brother would say if he knew we were together?" Robin asked curiously, wishing he could see the anger on the Knight's face when he realized his sister was helping them.
Following them at a distance, Katherine tried to speak with her husband and have him see reason. "My love, please don't do this. I know your sister said some terrible things and isn't happy with you, I know I've been there with Marian, but she is still my family. Can't you see that even Marian and Robin are as well?" He remained silent, focused on his mission.
Isabella chuckled. "Guy still wet the bed when he was 12. He doesn't scare me."
Robin found this rather amusing. "Yeah? I'll be sure to mention that to him the next time I see him."
Marian sighed, rolling her eyes at his antics before hearing the sounds of chains rattling and the voice of Katherine shouting. "GUY, NO!" They looked to see he had handcuffed the three of them together.
"GISBORNE!" Robin shouted at him.
Guy held his sword to the three of them as Katherine stood a good distance back, trying to figure out what to do. "How could you do this to me, Isabella?"
"What is this? You tricked us, Isabella!"
Marian glared at the Knight. "No, she didn't. She had no idea." She said, looking over to her sister who looked just as surprised.
"WITH HIM?!" Guy shouted.
Robin shouted as well. "How could he know where we were?" He glanced at Marian and Katherine. "It was either her or your sister!"
"YOU'RE MY SISTER!" Guy yelled at Isabella.
"DON'T BRING HER INTO THIS!" Marian yelled at her husband.
"He must have followed me." Isabella said.
"YOU'RE A LIAR!" Robin pointed a guilty finger at her.
"He's an outlaw, a murderer!" Guy spat.
"Oh, really, and what am I?" Marian asked, glaring at him.
"He shackled me. Would he shackle me if I'd known?" Isabella said nervously.
"TRAITOR!" Guy spat in disgust at his sister and Marian.
"You made us believe that you were on our side, just like Katherine did!" Robin spat, glaring at Isabella and Katherine.
"You swore you'd never see him again!" Guy yelled, pointing at his sister and his wife.
Katherine, who had been silently watching them argue as she thought up a plan finally spoke, yelling at the top of her lungs. "WILL YOU ALL JUST SHUT UP?!" Surprised by the sudden outburst from her of all people, they were shocked into silence. She was tired of them arguing and not listening to each other. It seemed she was the only sane one of the bunch.
Isabella took this opportunity to speak. "Guy, let me go! You are my brother. You will let me go." She begged with tears in her eyes. "Please, Guy."
Glancing between everyone, he decided to yield. "All right, I will. I'll give you another chance, Isabella. I mean, we all make mistakes, don't we?"
Robin couldn't believe this act of compassion he was seeing from Gisborne of all people. "I don't believe this. You're lying to her. You're a murderer. You tried to kill the king. You'd never change."
"Shut it!" Guy sneered at the outlaw before looking back to his sister. "So... I will unshackle you…"
"Thank you."
"On one condition."
"Why is there always one condition with you?" Isabella asked.
"Prove to me that you understand the terrible error you have made. Kill him… in front of me...with this." He pulled out another sword, holding it towards her. "If you do that, I will lie to Prince John."
"GISBORNE!" Marian yelled, growling at him.
"Guy…" Katherine said, making her way over to him. "Please...don't do this."
"What does he know?" asked the Gisborne sister.
"I will tell him that he misread what he saw last night, and your life will be spared." Guy handed the sword handle to her. Everyone watched quietly, waiting to see what Isabella would do.
Robin sighed, annoyed. "Just do it. You're a Gisborne, killing is what runs in the family. It'll make his day."
Katherine sighed, finally speaking up. She knew that tone of Robin's voice so well. "And here I thought you had changed."
"You obviously have." He said, giving her the secret code. Marian even caught onto this.
Isabella looked annoyed, catching on as well. "Fine! I will, then. You were right. It was obviously a mistake having anything to do with this weasel. Unshackle me and I'll put things right."
Dropping his sword to the ground, Guy began to pull out the key. Robin went and kicked the Knight, knocking him back before he swung his sword forward. Isabella used Robin's bow to reflect as the three began working in unison, dodging and maneuvering the attacks.
As the outlaws and Isabella started to gain the upper hand, knocking out Guy, they fell to the ground. Katherine ran to her husband's side, looking him over.
"You were going to do it!" Robin stated, glancing at Isabella.
"What are you talking about? I was tricking him. I helped you fight him!"
"That was helping us?" Robin retorted.
Katherine was happy to see her husband was alright despite some scraps and knocks. He was just knocked out. Glancing up to the others, she spoke. "Get out of here while you can."
"Are you going to be okay?" Marian asked, looking to her sister with concern.
"Yeah."
Once the three of them got up off the ground, Isabella grabbed one of the swords, looking it over. Robin looked up. "What are you doing?"
"What I've wanted to do for 17 years. Consigning him to hell." Isabella spat, glaring down at her brother. "I'm sorry Katherine, but I can't forgive him."
Robin held out his hand, trying to stop her and help her see reason. "Whoa. Once you do it, there's no going back. There's nothing more to be said or done."
"Isabella, Robin is right. I know your brother has hurt you, but surely you both can sit and talk things out instead of yelling or restoring to violence?" Katherine said, standing protectively in front of her husband, guarding him.
"This will do all the talking I need. Move out of the way, Katherine."
"Isabella!" Marian yelled, trying to help stop her, watching her point the sword at Katherine. "They are right. What about what he may have to say?"
Leaning down beside Katherine, tears began to fall from her eyes, looking behind at her older brother. "The only thing I ever wanted to hear from him was a plea for forgiveness, some admission of guilt that it was his fault that I was so unhappy. He sold his own sister to a man who made my life a misery."
Robin began to lean down, slowly taking the sword from her hands before anyone got hurt. "That's why you shouldn't let him off so easily. Come on, give it to me." She sobbed before slowly letting it go. "You will pay, Guy...some day, you will pay."
Isabella was surprised to find Katherine suddenly taking her into a hug, wondering why she was treating her with such kindness after trying to kill her husband. "W-Why?"
"It's like I said. I know my husband has done terrible things and hurt people, but I know he cares for his family deeply and you're still family. I'll always be here when you need me." She said, holding true to her word.
Marian smiled, putting a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I know this to be true."
Isabella nodded, taking in their words as she pulled away from the hug. "Get the key."
Katherine touched her husband's hand, seeing the key was missing. "Oh great." Robin sighed.
"Oh no."
"We can just go to Clunn and have Blacksmith take off these handcuffs." Marian stated.
Robin glanced at Katherine and the Knight behind her. "Will you be alright?"
"Yeah. I'll help wake him up soon. Just go." She said, waving them off.
Guy started to wake up, groggily looking to see his wife. Jolting up, the Knight noticed that they were alone in the forest meaning that the others got away. Realizing she wasn't tied up and remained unharmed, he looked at her with confusion. "They got away….and you let them?"
"Of course."
"Why?!" He snapped.
"Because you were about to hand over our sister's to Prince John for execution." She stated, pointing out the obvious. "I know you have a bad past with Robin, but you don't have to drag our sister's into it, Guy, especially for the position as sheriff."
The Knight sighed, frustrated. "You know why I'm doing this. I don't have time for this. Where did they go, Katherine?"
It was her turn to sigh, shaking her head. "No, I'm not telling you."
His blue eyes went wide, a painful look passing over them. "No...not you too. Katherine…" Was she turning against him too? Guy started to feel as if his heart was being torn from his very chest.
Realizing he got the wrong message from her words, she was quick to correct it, reaching out to caress his cheek. "My love, I'm not doing this to hurt you. You know that is never my intention, I just don't want you to end up losing your family by your own hands unintentionally." This didn't help him feel any better, only making him recall the guilt he felt concerning his parents. "Guy, please...do the right thing. I know you can do the right thing. I've always believed it."
He was silent for a while before speaking. "W-Why? Why do you never leave my side? How do you still believe in me after all I've done?"
"Because I love you for who you are, flaws and all." She smiled at him before kissing his cheek. "Everything is a choice, everything we do. My father taught me that and it's something my sister and I firmly believe in to this day."
He started to chuckle, recalling the familiar words from Marian. "I know, your sister has told me the same thing."
It was silent between them, both looking into each other's eyes before she spoke. "So, what should we do about Prince John then?" Katherine asked, giving her husband a serious look. "You can't tell me you are okay with all he's done since he got to Nottingham?"
"I don't. He's just as bad as Vaisey was, maybe even worse."
"We need to get him out of Nottingham."
Guy sighed before his eyes went wide in realization with a plan, looking to his wife who had shared the same thought as him. Together, they began to form a plan where they could both have what they wanted.
NOTTINGHAM CASTLE
Marian, Robin and Isabella had managed to break free of the handcuffs thanks to the Blacksmith in Clunn village. After, they rushed to the castle, determined to find the source of the spring under the castle and set it free so everyone could get water once again.
Managing to make it under the castle, Isabella looked up at the trap door. "That's the trap door to the dungeons. And that's where the water flows to the wells. The spring is somewhere under there."
"Alright, let's get started girls." Robin said, winking to his wife as he began to take off his overcoat.
Above the castle, the Gisborne couple came riding into the castle. Guy started shouting orders at the guards, getting off his horse. "I need four men to go to the overflow entrance and block the chamber. Now!" He shrieked at them.
"You heard him! Move! Move!"
Helping Katherine off the horse, she followed beside him into the castle.
Down below in the chamber, the two outlaws and Isabella were working hard to remove the rocks blocking the overflow of the water. They started to have success, pulling one rock aside as water started gushing in. Marian looked up to notice the guards were starting to block their only exits out of the place, trapping them in. "Robin, Isabella, we have a problem!"
Robin ran to the wall, trying to stop them blocking that exit. "Wait!"
"Your brother must have returned." Marian said, pointing out the obvious.
"You guess right." Guy said, looking down at them from above.
"Guy, what are you doing?" Isabella asked him fearfully.
"My duty to Prince John. Executing traitors...and their accomplice." He replied bitterly, glaring down at Robin in particular.
"Executing us?"
The Knight glared down at them, explaining his plan. "Now that all the exits are blocked, you're going to drown. The chamber will fill pretty quickly and you'll try to tread water. You might manage a few hours - maybe even a day - who knows? But in the end, you'll just run out of energy." He smirked at them.
"I swear, if I get out of here alive, I will kill you!" Robin growled up at him.
"Swear all you like, Hood, it won't make any difference. The legend dies here, slowly and painfully, I would imagine." Isabella looked up at her brother heartbroken once again as Robin tried to open the door and Marian glared at him. "Meanwhile, I get to be Sheriff with Katherine as my wife. Life is sweet, isn't it?" He smiled, enjoying the thought of this victory before walking away to leave them alone.
"GISBORNE!" Marian and Robin shouted, but to no avail.
Isabella sighed, knowing they were trapped now. "Save your breath. I know him. He won't be coming back."
Inside the great hall, the nobles were gathered around the Prince once again for a feast. Katherine sat beside Prince John awkwardly, waiting for when her husband would return. Once she spotted Guy walking into the room, she looked up from her plate of food. "Well?" Prince John asked him.
"She was as you suspected." Guy said sadly.
"She followed Hood?"
He nodded, swallowing. "She did."
"And?"
"And I solved the problem, sire." Guy responded, glancing between his wife and the Prince who looked to Katherine to see her reaction. Both shared an equally sad look.
Prince John frowned. "Oh, please, don't get all enigmatic on me, Gisborne. Are they dead?"
"Yes." The Knight replied solemnly.
He began to chuckle, feeling overjoyed that the matter was resolved. "Well, have a drink, man. It's not every day you can celebrate killing a national treasure and one's own sister."
Guy began to slightly snap at him desperately. "No, I don't want a drink, sire." Katherine looked at him wide-eyed before he started to compose himself. "I merely ask that you fulfil your side of the bargain."
Prince John gave him a serious look before responding. "You're right. You're owed that much, at least." He began to hold up the keys to the castle for him, causing the Knight to look awestruck at it. "There you are. The keys to Nottingham."
Guy slowly raised his hands to grasp them, finding this moment hard to believe. Here he was, given the power he had wanted, a small smile briefly on his face. He had finally achieved another goal in his life. Glancing at his wife, she gave him a small smile.
"My lords, ladies," The Prince said, rising from his seat to make the announcement. "never let it be said that I am a man who does not deliver on his promises. Robin Hood... is dead…" The room broke into applause and cheers, "executed by my loyal friend here." Guy looked to the Prince, enjoying this moment while he could. "My lords and ladies, I give you Sir Guy of Gisborne, the new Sheriff of Nottingham!"
Turning to address his people, he stood tall and proud. The nobles raised their goblets to him. "Sheriff of Nottingham!" He nodded, happy to finally be appreciated by the people for once. Katherine even took a drink, cheering with the crowd, knowing how important this was for him.
Prince John was curious and asked his new sheriff. "So go on, do tell. Did they squeal?" Guy chuckled, sharing a laugh with him.
While he was distracted, Katherine took this opportunity to sneak off from the great hall and finish with the rest of their plans.
"There must be another way out of here." Marian said, trying to think of a solution. The water had already risen enough to the point they were swimming in it, trying everything to keep themselves afloat.
"I tried to shift the stone blocking the overflow. It's too heavy." Robin said, appearing back from under the water.
Isabella looked to her friends, shivering. "It's no use. We must be the only three people in the whole of England who are cold and wet right now."
Marian glanced to Robin who shared a similar knowing look. If this was the way they were going out, then so be it. "And here we are finding ourselves in another sticky situation. First time involved marriage, now what?"
"Would you ever like to have kids of our own?" Robin suddenly asked, taking her completely by surprise.
"What?" Marian breathed out.
"I mean, with the way our lives currently are, it wouldn't be the right thing to do...but- maybe someday when everything has calmed down and we are no longer outlawed?"
Marian shared a look with Isabella who smiled at the couple. "I'm guessing these near death situations are normal for you two?" She asked.
"Yes." She breathed out with a chuckle. "And I also mean yes on having a child of our own someday. Not anytime soon...but once we can stop being on the run!"
Robin took her into an embrace, hugging her close. They wished to have a normal family life between them someday as husband and wife, but for now, they both decided they were fighting together for justice and Nottingham.
"Well then, you better survive this ordeal so it can happen!" They heard the familiar voice of Katherine say. Looking up, they saw her looking down at them with a smile, opening the trap door. "Good thing I'm here."
The three began to cheer in joy at seeing her face before asking the obvious. "But what about Gisborne? He just tried to leave us here for dead." Robin asked.
"It's part of our plan."
"What plan?" Isabella asked.
"No time to explain. We need to get you out of there now." Katherine stated, looking around the dungeons and not finding anything to use to bring them back up.
Marian glanced at Isabella. "Take off your overdress. We can use it as a rope and Robin can aim his arrow at the ring up there as we climb our way out."
She began to do as told, reduced to her underdress as Robin tied it to the end of his arrow and aimed at the ring. Katherine tied it around the ring as they began to climb up with Marian making her way first. Katherine took her sister's hand, helping her out and then Isabella followed by Robin last.
"Thank you Katherine."
"You three should be heading out now before someone else comes down here." She told them. "Isabella, lay low with Robin and Marian until the Prince leaves Nottingham."
"Is this part of your plan, along with your husband becoming the new Sheriff of Nottingham?" Robin asked bitterly.
"Yes." Katherine told him bluntly. "Would you rather have Guy as Sheriff or someone else who might be far worse?"
The outlaw already knew the answer to that. "Very well, but don't think we won't make his life a living hell, especially if he tries coming after us."
"I know, now come on, get out of here!"
Marian gave her sister one final hug before running off with the others. Katherine looked around the empty dungeons and smiled before making her way back to her husband.
LOCKSLEY VILLAGE
The outlaws and Isabella returned back to the village and saw all the happy faces. "It's full again! The water's come back!" Jack declared, holding up a pail full of it.
Robin, Marian and Isabella walked into the village, happy to see they had done good for the people. They saw Kate run up to him, smiling happily. "Jack, that's brilliant!" All the villagers began to cheer, grabbing their buckets and pitchers to get water.
The outlaw leader stood there silently, taking in a breath. "This is what you do."
"This is what we do." Marian said, taking his hand into hers with a smile.
"And you do it well!" Tuck said, smiling to greet his friends once again, taking them into hugs.
Watching Jack lift Eleanor into the air, hugging her happily, Robin chuckled. "No, we do it well." Marian smiled.
The rest of the outlaws came back to greet them, surprised to see Isabella with them. "So, it appears we were wrong about you after all?" Allan asked, looking to the dark haired woman.
"Isabella will be joining our gang for the time being." Robin said, smiling at her.
Most of the outlaws looked rather surprised and uncomfortable about it, but would give her the benefit of the doubt in proving herself. Marian noticed the looks on their faces and explained the situation to them. "Gisborne has become the new Sheriff of Nottingham."
"What?"
"Oh, no."
"If he thinks we're going to go easy on him, he has another thing coming to him." Allan declared, smirking. The others cheered in.
Marian glanced at Isabella. "Are you ready to join the fight?"
She nodded confidently. "I can take care of myself. Besides, any chance to put my brother in his place I will happily take."
The rest of the outlaws cheered her on as Marian walked toward Robin, seeing he was distracted by Jack and Eleanor with their child, watching them kiss him on the head. Glancing to his wife, they both shared an equal smile. Someday they would have a child of their own, but for now they had their family in the fellow outlaws with them.
The couple followed after their family, making their way back home.
AUTHOR'S NOTE:Yes, so I went Canon Divergent with the end of this chapter by keeping Guy as Sheriff of Nottingham and Isabella joining the outlaws since Katherine intervened and saved them. *chuckles* However, this doesn't mean she still can't be a threat to anyone, especially Guy who is her target...but maybe that can change?
The next chapter will be something original of my own making because of this chapter ending, but also because I honestly don't like the episode where Prince John puts on an act of King Richard dying. So, that means I'll be pulling some thing from episode 9, but obviously with a twist since Guy is now the sheriff. Can't wait for you to see what I have in store. ;) As for the rest of the episodes of Season 3 which are pretty much only 4 left at this point...well, you'll see. I definetly have plans for after Season 3 *wink wink*
NEXT CHAPTER SUMMARY: Guy is now the Sheriff of Nottingham. He has gotten everything he has ever wanted, but Team Outlaw proves to still be a thorn in his side. Can the two sides ever learn to put their differences aside and work together? They might just have to when danger befalls both Isabella and Katherine. A tragedy is at hand.