Needing to know the reason for the bells, Robin began to run. Much followed closely behind him, leaving Isabella to finish the final leg of her journey back to Nottingham alone.

"You had better run, Robin Hood," she sneered, believing the bells rang out the death of King Richard and the proclamation of his brother as King John. She was furious that Robin was now deserting her, but found it typical of him. He always seemed to be dashing about, expecting others to keep pace with him, even that wife of his.

She had to admit she was grateful he had saved her from her husband and his vicious dog. Thinking of the rescue, she stopped, fearful that Thornton might be in Nottingham or worse still, discover her alone on her way there. Damn Robin, for leaving her unprotected! Unprotected and unsatisfied!

She quickened her pace, then began running as well, terrified that her husband might find her.

...

Robin and Much had no trouble sneaking into Nottingham. Hoods shadowed their faces as they wove in and out through the crowds, growing more and more secure in the knowledge that the bells did not spell out King Richard's demise or Prince John's ascension to the throne.

"Sarah!" Robin spotted a friend from Pitt Street, the mother of little Jess, who worked in the castle. Since Marian could no longer spy for him, he sometimes relied on Sarah and others to let him know what took place within the gray stone walls.

Much stood guard while Sarah told Robin the reason for the bells.

"Gisbourne's getting married right now in St. Mary's," she explained. "His bride apparently wanted bells before and after the ceremony, so everyone would know."

"Are the sheriff and Prince John attending?" Robin asked.

"That's why there's so many guards surrounding the church," Sarah told him. "It's almost like a royal wedding."

"Thank you for telling me." Robin and Much disappeared into the crowd, not wanting Sarah to be seen consorting with outlaws.

A gleam lit up Robin's eyes as he approached the castle.

"Oh, no," Much fretted. "We're going the wrong way, you know. The way out of Nottingham is that way! Robin! Not the castle? I hate this!"

"There's something belonging to the sheriff, I need to get my hands on."

"Not money then?"

"That, as well. But this is a book."

"A book? Oh, Master, surely not! Let me tell you a story instead, if you're so eager to read. There were once two soldiers who survived war in the Holy Land, only to get killed sneaking into a castle to steal a book!"

"We won't get killed! We're much too good for that." Robin, with Much at his heels, began moving around the outer walls of the castle, trying to find the best way in. "The book I want contains maps, which we need for our trip."

"Trip? What trip? Master, where are we going?"

"Austria, to rescue the king."

"Austria?"

"And maybe Bavaria."

"Bavaria, too? Why not Rome, or Aquitaine, while we're at it?"

"We might very well visit Aquitaine, before all's said and done." Robin found a coiled rope. Securing its end to an arrow, he fired a shot through a castle casement, while Much resigned himself to climbing.

...

Sir Guy of Gisbourne knelt before the priest, tortured as he wed the wrong woman.

The wedding was lavish enough to please Meg, but Guy was miserable. All this expense, wasted because Marian was not here to witness it!

He could almost feel the sheriff, seated in the front pew beside Prince John, mocking him behind his back for marrying the wrong "leper." And Prince John did not even try to hide his boredom, speaking out in a loud voice to gain attention. "I love weddings!" he announced, interrupting the proceedings and then complaining, "How long is this infernal ceremony going to last? Damn it, Priest, have them say 'I do,' and be done with it!"

Guy couldn't help but remember his first wedding...to Marian. He had hoped she had been pleased by the decorations in Locksley, and even more pleased by him. He had rushed to greet her when his coach carrying her arrived, and had seethed at her father's absence, yet was not surprised the old man had proved a traitor to the sheriff. "You should not be here," Marian had said, and he knew...he KNEW she had meant Locksley should be in his place!

Locksley! He had Marian now, had her in his forest bed any time he wanted. Guy took little comfort knowing he had taken her, too, for it had not been anything like he had dreamed it would be. His feelings for her were more complicated than he could understand...desire, love, hatred, the need to protect her yet punish her as well. His need to possess her trumped everything else, having begun from his obsession to replace Lord Locksley, owning everything that had been his. Gradually, his feelings had deepened for Marian herself. He suffered agonies of the soul, all due to her. She needed to suffer, too. He would not rest, until she suffered as he did. Somehow, in his mind, that would make her belong to him.

What did belong to him was Locksley's village, to him and to his soon-to-be wife. Let Marian stew over that! Let her watch as the new Lady Gisbourne lorded it over the peasants. How pleased they had been when they'd thought Marian would be their lady...his lady! How they had greeted her on their wedding day. The sad smile she'd bestowed on them was warmer than the cold greeting she had given him! His heart still bore the scar, just as his cheek bore the scar of the ring she had placed on her right hand to make her blow to his face more fierce. Damn her! Damn Marian to hell!

Guy had completed repeating his vows, prompted by the priest. Meg was saying hers in her common, whiney voice. Guy wondered whether the marriage was legal, since he was wedding "Lady Margaret of Eynsham," a woman who didn't exist. It was a point to keep in mind, should he ever want to end the marriage without having to shed blood. Not that he minded bloodshed. He was not weak, like Hood. Killing made him feel stronger. But even he balked at the thought of killing a young, pretty woman.

His mind took him back to Acre, to Marian laughing in his face, getting in his way to prevent him from killing the king, declaring her love for his enemy. He'd shed her blood then, stopped her words, her revelry, all with the thrust of his sword. And how he had suffered afterward! Losing her had been the worst thing he had ever been forced to endure. Yet Marian had returned, and he suffered still, all because she was Hood's wife!

She wouldn't be, if Hood were dead. The fact that his enemy lived and breathed was poison to Gisbourne. There had to be a way to kill him!

"I now pronounce you, man and-"

"Stop the wedding!"

Again! Those very words! But this time it was a woman's voice, more specifically Isabella's, that cried out.

Isabella appeared in the doorway of the church, trying to catch her breath, wearing nothing but a nightdress.

"Wife," finished the priest, making it legal. Or possibly not, since "Margaret of Eynsham" did not truly exist.

"I want my wedding kiss," Meg insisted, melting into Guy as he kissed her.

"Hood's in the castle," Isabella announced.

Flinging Meg aside, Guy demanded to know, "Is Marian with him?"

"Just his idiot servant. You can catch him, if you hurry!"

"Well done!" the sheriff told her. "GUARDS! GUARDS! You heard Gisbourne's sister! To the castle!"

"What about the post wedding bells?" Meg complained. "You said we'd have bells before and after the wedding!"

"Damn your bells," Gisbourne sneered, realizing he wasn't wearing his sword. Why couldn't Allan be loyal to him? All he'd need to do would be to call out his name, and Allan would be there, with his sword. "Somebody," he demanded, feeling lonely and betrayed, "bring me my sword!"