Meg, bitter and broken hearted, lay propped up on pillows recuperating in bed. With all her dreams of being Lady Gisbourne ended, she longed to return home to her father.

"No!" she shouted, terrified as Gisbourne entered. "Go away!"

Gisbourne was undeterred. "Meg," he said quietly.

"Why are you here? To hurt me some more?"

"No, Meg. I know I was harsh, but you needed to learn obedience."

"Harsh? Two of my ribs are cracked! I want my father!"

"Most people cry for their mothers."

"My father is all I have."

"Your father...all?"

"What concern is that of yours, Guy of Gisbourne?"

Her father. A grown, single daughter, spoiled and pampered, with her father her only family. Gisbourne had not realized it before now. His desire to make her his wife increased.

"Don't speak, only listen," he said. "Hurting you was the only way to protect you from Prince John."

Meg caught her breath, then winced in pain. She had not considered that her injuries served to protect her. She looked up at Guy, injured himself, and her heart slowly began to thaw.

"I brought you a gift," Guy told her.

"What is it?"

"I've brought you a gown, for our wedding."

Meg grew interested, despite her pain. "Let me see."

He stepped away, then returned with a dress he placed on her lap.

It was the most beautiful, sumptuous dress she had ever seen, pale blue and silver, made of the richest silks and satins.

"This must have cost you a fortune," Meg said, hesitantly.

"I told you I can provide for you, Meg. I want only the best for Lady Gisbourne, as long as she knows her place."

Meg continued running her hands over the gown, picturing herself in it. "I was angry at you, Guy. That's why I said those things."

"I was angry, too, at you and Prince John. Do you think I want to share you? You are mine, Meg. I shall marry you and make you Lady Gisbourne, and then, no one can hurt you ever again."

"Yes, Guy!" Meg was thinking his hurting her gave her some power over him. She could demand what she wanted, at least right now. "I want a wedding as rich as this dress. I want it to be like I'm a queen!"

Gisbourne sneered, but only for a moment. It stroked his pride to appear to provide for her and display his wealth with a lavish wedding. If only Marian could witness it! "I told you it would be here in the castle, with Prince John in attendance."

"I want lots of flowers, and a tremendous party afterwards, with swan to eat and fancy wines from Burgundy and all the other places in France they make wine. And musicians playing all night long. I want bells rung throughout the shire, announcing our wedding day."

"You shall have everything you desire, and more. Everyone must know you are Lady Gisbourne, and our wedding shall be envied by all women."

"Yes, Guy! I wish it could be now!"

...

Isabella was furious, chained around one ankle to Marian, both of them dressed in identical simple loose white nightdresses.

"I was chained once to your husband," Isabella mentioned. "Did he tell you? Guy caught us together in a most delicious yet compromising situation, and he clapped shackles to our wrists before we knew he was upon us."

"We've got to save Robin," Marian cried out frantically. "You've got to help me!"

"I think it's ourselves we have to save. You don't know Prince John as I do. He'll expect...well, even I shan't say."

"Can you fight?"

"Weaponless? Hardly."

"I can."

"Against Prince John's men? All of them?"

"I can knock out Prince John," Marian said, thinking aloud, "and then..." She had an idea. "Do you have any poison?"

"I don't use poison."

"I know you do. Call it a drug, if you like. Have you anything that can make the guards sleep?"

Isabella began to see her point. "I have velarian root. Enough to knock out a stable of horses. It takes instant effect."

"It's a good thing you have wine. Add it to the wine, and we'll offer it to the soldiers who are guarding us, after I knock out the prince."

"I don't want to dampen your plans, but have you ever considered I don't want to help you? Granted, I certainly don't want to sleep with you either! But if I help you hurt the prince, I'll be finished! All I have is here, with the prince's interest in me, and my brother's protection."

"You've got to help me! You heard Prince John. He told the sheriff to kill Robin!"

"So, if I do help you by drugging the guards, how do you expect to save him?"

"I don't know! But I must do something!"

Isabella studied her coldly. "You love him. Real love, I mean."

"Yes. He's...he's Robin. He's my husband."

"Hmm. Alright then, I'll help you, but it isn't because of your tender feelings. It's because I need to keep Prince John, and his sick little plan for the three of us disgusts me. If you knock him out, I'll be your prisoner, since we're chained together. Whatever you do to try to save Robin Hood shall be on your head alone. Once you're caught, you'll be the enemy again, I'll be the damsel in distress who was rescued, and our 'twinship' will be over. Since you wish to die with Hood, who am I to stop you?"

"You are cold," Marian said.

"Not I! You're the one who's frigid in bed. Happily, I won't have to find that out personally!"

"We don't have time for this! Where's the poison?"

"Where do you think? It's already in the wine. Do you imagine I actually drank some while you and Robin watched? You are both so trusting! So easily fooled!"

"You tried to poison us!"

"You pulled a knife on me first. What did you expect?"

Marian, intent of saving her husband, ignored the question to ask one of her own. "Can you fight with a sword? When the guards are asleep, we'll each steal one and run to the dungeons!" She caught her breath, remembering something. "Robin has a lockpick concealed on him. He may have already escaped."

"You should know as well as I he hasn't. Every bell in Nottingham would be tolling an alarm. Surely you remember that happening, when you lived here. Besides, why should I take a sword? I told you, it has to look as if we are on opposite sides. Which, by the way, we are."

The door opened and both women tensed, expecting Prince John. It was only Gisbourne, however. Marian tensed even more.

Gisbourne stood still, stunned by the sight of Marian. "What is happening here?" he demanded to know.

"Haven't you heard?" Isabella asked. "Or have you been too busy, making sure you didn't murder your bride-to-be?"

"Meg is fine," he said, unable to take his eyes off Marian, staring with the avidity of a famished beast. "We are to be married, here in the castle, as soon as she...as soon as I have recovered from my injuries."

"Meet my twin," Isabella sneered. "Prince John's latest fantasy! He means to enjoy both of us together in the same bed! Disgusting. But I suppose you'll consider it my duty, to further your career."

"Not both of you," Guy uttered, astounded and horrified.

"Guy," Marian said softly. "You can help us! We are hindered by being chained. Can you bring a key, and unlock our shackles?"

"Help you? Why would I help you?"

"We were friends once."

"Friends? We were never friends! I loved you, and you despised my love! I have a new love now. I care nothing for you! Prince John is due for a huge disappointment. All the nights I wasted dreaming of you! I never expected the reality to be so dull and disappointing!"

"Please, Sir Guy," Marian said, reverting back to old habits.

"The prince won't want you, once he sees you're marked. Even I, the man who marked you, felt disgusted by your hideous scars!"

He turned and began to stride away, then stopped and said, "My wedding will take place as soon as I'm well. It will be no shoddy village affair. You may both take part, waiting upon the bride." With that, he left them, feeling he had done little to ease his agony.

"Always so dramatic," Isabella sneered. "You know Guy wet the bed until he was twelve."

"Is it any wonder, with your father so abusive?"

"Still making excuses for him, after all he's done to you?"

"I don't excuse what he did to me, only the child he was. But while we stand here talking, Robin might be drawing his last breath! There isn't time to wait for Prince John to come to us. We need to poison the guards now!"