"Now," Robin told Guy, having disarmed him and placing his sword point at Gisbourne's throat, "I am giving you a choice. You are going to take me to my wife, or I will take you to King Richard."
Gisbourne was a fierce and able fighter, vengeful and out for Hood's blood, but Robin, knowing Marian's safety at stake, had bested him.
"Kill me," Guy seethed, furious that Hood had beaten him again, even while wounded.
"Was that one of my choices? You weren't listening, Gisbourne."
"Still smug, I see, Hood."
"You'd be smug too, Gisbourne, if it were my sword lying on the ground and yours at my throat."
"You'd be dead."
"Ah, then I'm glad I won!" Robin dropped his cocky manner and turned dangerous. "What's it to be, Gisbourne? Reunite me with Marian, or your neck in the hangman's noose? The people of Locksley could use that bounty the king placed for your capture. Now, I am giving you to 5 to tell me your answer, or I'll take you straight to the king. 1-2-3-4-"
"Alright! I'll take you to Marian."
"Wise decision, Gisbourne." When Gisbourne failed to move, Robin shouted, "Now!"
"Put away your sword first, Hood."
"And allow you to pick up yours? I don't think so. Start walking."
"Walking? You are in no condition to walk that far, Hood, with that limp. We need to ride! "
"So that you can escape? Nice try, Gisbourne. No, we'll walk, and my sword stays right here, at your back."
Furiously, but thinking there might still be a way for him to overpower Hood, steal his sword then kill him, Guy turned in the direction of his village and began walking. Hood's leg was wounded after all, and would surely bother him on such a long trek ahead. Guy would wait for him to tire, and then...! Guy would not give up hope that he might yet kill his enemy, kill the king, and gain power, position, and Marian yet.
The rain, at least, had stopped, but it had brought cold air with its passing. Both men were soaked to the skin, and Gisbourne began to shiver, guessing that Hood was shivering, too. Guy began to hope that he might overpower his enemy sooner than he'd planned.
Glancing back over his shoulder, he saw that Hood did not look cold. "Don't you feel it?" he snarled.
"The cold?" Robin almost laughed. "I do. It's just, I'm used to it. Don't forget, I spent five years in the Holy Land, sleeping in a tent. It isn't always hot there, you know, Gisbourne. Nights can turn freezing, and don't get me started on how much it rains there in the winter. And then, of course, there were those three years I lived in the forest. This drop in temperature is nothing! By the way, what happened to your spurs?"
"Shut up, Hood."
Gisbourne could hear Robin's mocking chuckle behind him. He wanted to turn and knock him to the ground, but knew the time had not yet arrived. Hood knew Guy's spurs were a symbol of his position as a knight, though he doubted Hood knew he had been forced to buy them, never having truly been knighted, though Guy believed it his right. Parting with his spurs to buy food was one of the hardest things Guy had ever done.
The two men continued walking, and Guy stopped shivering, warmed by the exercise. Hood was a fool, he believed, and weak for not killing him or taking him to the king! He took solace, imagining Hood's leg hurting him more and more with every step they took, and he was right.
After several hours of walking, Gisbourne knew they were nearing his village, and that now was the time to strike. Using all his strength, he whipped his body around and tried to knock Hood to the ground and steal his sword. But Robin, not only brilliantly clever but one of the best fighters Lord Sheridan had ever trained, had been expecting such a strike. In an instant, he had Gisbourne pinned on the ground, one foot on his chest, his sword again at his throat.
"Get up, Gisbourne," Robin ordered, stepping off his enemy.
But Guy was not finished.
Feeling he had nothing to lose and everything to gain, he pounded his fist at Robin's wounded thigh, hoping to bring him down with the pain. Robin grunted and stumbled but stood firm, then angrily nicked Guy's throat with his sword.
"Get up," Robin repeated, his command a snarl.
Guy reluctantly obeyed and the two resumed walking, though Robin's limp was more pronounced than before and Guy kept one hand pressed to the nick on his throat.
"Have you considered, Hood," Gisbourne sneered, "I might be leading you into a trap?"
"I thought about it, and decided it was worth it to take the risk."
"You mean Marian."
"Keep walking!"
"You're tiring, Hood. I don't think you can make it."
"Don't underestimate me. For Marian, I could go on forever."
"Marian doesn't remember who you are! Do you think she'll want you, after sleeping with me?" Guy wanted his words to destroy Robin.
"If you hurt her," Robin seethed, "so help me, I will kill you, Gisbourne."
Now it was Guy's turn to laugh mockingly at Robin.
But it was too late for Guy. His village lay just ahead, though unseen. Robin felt himself tiring, due to his wound. Before Gisbourne could try to overpower him again, Robin seized him from behind, his sword blade ready to slice Guy's throat. "Tell me where my wife is, and I'll give you something you don't deserve, your freedom. Lead me to Marian, and I swear, Gisbourne, I won't tell the king where you're hiding."
"You'll have to do better than that, Hood," Gisbourne sneered, trying not to display his fear. "I'll be long gone before you break your word and tell the king where to find me."
"I never break my word."
"How noble of you! But I'm not stupid, whatever else you think of me. Do you think I'd accept the word of a filthy outlaw?"
"I'm not an outlaw any more, and I was never filthy. But have it your way. I already nicked you. Do you want me to open your throat completely and drain you of your blood?"
Guy could hear the threat in Hood's voice. He could not see his face, but he imagined the mad look that must be in Hood's eyes. Facing defeat, and knowing he could trust Hood to keep his word, he finally gave up. "Just ahead is a village," he sulkily admitted. "Marian is in the last cottage."
With a flush of adrenaline and a pounding heart, Robin regained his strength. He released Guy, but continued pointing his sword at his back. "Go!" he commanded, following him into the village.
The village was asleep, and Guy miserably led Robin to his, the final cottage. Opening the door and walking inside, both men were disheartened to find it empty.
"Liar!" Robin shouted, looking about him, expecting a trap. "Where is she, Gisbourne?"
"My aunt must have moved her to her cottage," Guy decided. "It's this way."
They crossed the village, and Guy flung open the door of Gisele's home.
Gisele was not asleep, but sitting by her fire waiting for Guy, holding a knife hidden in the folds of her gown. She showed no surprise that Guy was not alone.
"Where is she?" Guy bellowed.
"Gone," she admitted, fearfully. Hoping to save herself from a beating, she used the lie Marian had suggested. "She punched me in the face and knocked me out. I can't help it if she escaped."
She cringed, waiting for Guy's blows, and hoping to stop them with her knife. But they did not come. Instead, Guy began laughing mockingly at the other man.
"The bird has flown," Guy mocked.
"From you," Robin shot back, proud of Marian for escaping, though worried for her safety. Facing Gisele, he asked in French, "Has she truly lost her memory?"
Gisele only shrugged her shoulders in reply.
"Bring me that rope," Robin next ordered her.
"What for, Hood?" Guy angrily asked.
"What do you think?" Robin replied. "I am going to tie you up. I can't risk the chance of you finding Marian before I do, can I? Now, sit down in that chair," he ordered.
Gisele slowly rose to her feet and gathered up the heavy coil of rope, still holding the knife in her other hand. Next, she slowly made her way toward Robin and handed him the rope.
"Merci," Robin said kindly, politely thanking her.
"You're a liar, Hood," Gisbourne snarled. "You're going to tie me up so the king can capture me, aren't you? So much for your breeding now!"
"I won't tell the king," Robin insisted. "I will keep my word to you, as much as it grieves me not to bring you to justice. Now sit!"
With one hand on Guy's shoulder, Robin forced him onto the chair. Realizing it would be impossible to tie Gisbourne up using only one hand, and knowing better than to sheathe his sword, Robin turned to Gisele and told her, "You should look away."
Gisele refused to obey, and saw Robin do to Guy what she had claimed Marian did to her, namely, punch Guy in his face and knock him out cold.
"Sleep dreams, Gisbourne," Robin said, before putting his sword back in its sheath.
"Sorry about that," Robin cheekily told Gisele, returning to using French as he began tying up Guy. "It was necessary, I'm afraid."
He stopped suddenly when he felt the cold blade of a knife at his throat.
"Be afraid then," Gisele warned him.