When Marian did not appear with Grace at breakfast, Robin began to grow concerned and decided he must go look for them. "Excuse me, Ellie," he said, leaving her in the care of her nurse.

"Daddy, where you going?"

Answering her, he kept his tone light, but did not lie. "I'm off to find your mother, Boo," he said.

"And Gracie, too?"

"And Gracie, too," he agreed.

Dismissing the pain in his leg, he quickly went outside to his coach horses and asked a stable boy whether he had seen Lady Locksley that morning.

"I saw her at mass, milord," the boy answered.

"But not here? She didn't take the other horse, and go riding?"

"Non, my lord. I thought Your Lordship hadn't returned from taking the horse yesterday." The stable boy grew nervous, not knowing where the third horse was, and fearing punishment.

"Did my wife have our daughter with her?" Robin pursued.

"Oui."

"Thank you."

Robin headed toward the chapel where mass was held, growing more and more concerned. He stopped suddenly, hearing a child crying in the distance.

There was no mistaking that sound. What Much and Little John called "wailing," was his daughter Grace's loud, persistent crying. With no regard for his wound, Robin took off running toward the apple orchard.

Grace was right inside the gate, alone and unable to reach its latch. Robin scooped her up in his arms and comforted her, his own distress growing while hers lessened.
"Where's Mama?" he asked.

"Big bad man hit her and took her away," Grace sobbed. "Get him, Daddy."

Robin froze for a moment, his heart tightening in his chest. "Which way did they go?" he asked.

Grace told him the only thing she knew. She pointed to the wall Gisbourne had come over, saying, "They rode a horsie."

"Good girl." Holding her against his chest, Robin raced back inside the convent and handed Grace to the nurse. "Lady Locksley's in danger," he quietly told the nurse, before rushing off to gather his weapons.

He hated leaving his bow behind, having used all his arrows in yesterday's battle. Strapping on his sword, he raced back to the stable and saddled one of his coach horses, then rode it to the outside orchard wall where Grace had pointed. His tracking skills immediately informed him what direction Marian had been taken.

"I'm coming, my love," he said aloud, steering his horse around and galloping away.

...

With dress and jewel piece in hand, Gisbourne returned to his cottage and found Marian just where she'd stood when he'd left her, leaning against a wall and quietly weeping. She still hadn't touched the soup he'd brought her earlier that morning.

His heart seemed to turn somersaults, she looked so lovely, pale and fragile. "I have something for you," he said. "A dress and...something else. A gift."

"Thank you," Marian said automatically, without looking at him.

All the awkwardness Gisbourne used to feel when first trying to woo her returned to him. "I'm...Forgive me for ripping your gown," he stammered. "I was...over eager. I still am," he added, more warmly.

His words, a threat in Marian's mind, yanked her out of her sad musings. She turned hate filled eyes on Gisbourne. "You killed Robin," she accused.

"I told you, it was self defense. He attacked me!"

"Because he thought you'd killed me."

"I told you, if I could take that back, I would!"

"You said that before, after burning my home to the ground."

"Then let me give you a...I have given you a new home," Gisbourne said, catching himself.

"Then take me there! I want to go home...to Locksley!"

Her words were a sob, a longing cry for Robin.

Guy waited a moment, gathering his thoughts. "We can't go yet," he told her. "It wouldn't be safe. War is raging all around us. The road to the coast is-"

"I don't care!"

She broke down, sobbing. Breathing heavily, Guy took her in his arms. She had nothing on but her torn chemise, covered by a blanket.

"Marian, let me love you," Guy panted, trying to meet her lips with his own.

Marian pushed him angrily away. "Don't touch me!" she seethed.

"I am your husband!"

All her strength seemed to desert her. She seemed frail again, and vulnerable.

Guy knew he must not push her, not yet, since he longed for her to love him. "Marian," he said, his voice surprisingly gentle. "You've been injured, and have forgotten all that has passed between us, since we became man and wife. I love you, and you have come to love me. Let me care for you. I will not force you, I promise."

Reluctantly, she nodded her head, not caring how much the action hurt.

Gisbourne was pleased she had turned submissive. "Now," he said, "I have brought you a dress and...and something I hope will please you."

Listlessly, Marian took the dress and thanked him.

"This," Gisbourne said, handing her the brooch, "is a Gisbourne heirloom. I remember my mother wearing it, and now, it will give me pleasure to see it on you."

"Shouldn't it go to your sister?"

"No. It is mine to give to you." He waited nervously, hoping she would not find it garish. "You don't like it," he said, when she didn't respond.

She liked Guy better when he was like this, instead of overbearing. "I do," she told him. "It is lovely. Thank you, Guy."

She couldn't help remembering the time he'd forced Ellerie's necklace on her, then slapped her father across his face and threatened her life, before Robin had saved her by finding the necklace and pressing it into her hand. Guy had apologized, but then had forced her to accept his proposal, again threatening her life and her father's.

"That's why I said it, you know," Marian said weakly.

"Said what?"

"Told you I loved Robin, and was going to marry him, just before you stabbed me."

"No. We do not speak about that time!"

She would not be silent, gathering strength as she told her story. "A year before, you forced me to accept your offer of marriage. You remember the silver necklace you gave me? You guessed right when you thought I had given it to Robin to return to its rightful owner... that I was staging a robbery. You had no idea, while you bullied and threatened me, Robin was outside my window. He brought me the necklace, saving me from your brutality. And then, he was forced to listen to me lie to you, hearing me say I despised him, that I would never marry him. That is why I felt glorified that day in Acre, finally admitting the truth to you."

Every word she spoke felt like a dagger wound to his heart. "Things are different now," he told her. "You willingly gave me your hand. Marian, I love you. You have forgotten, but you love me, too."

She shivered. "I am sorry. You are right, I do not remember. I would like to get dressed now." He made no move to leave, and so she asked, "Please?"

"Yes, of course," Guy said, leaving her alone in the cottage. He closed his eyes and heaved a sigh, then hurried toward his aunt's cottage to instruct her how to behave toward his "wife."