One arrow only to accomplish his deed. One shot, one strike, and the world would be his, Guy of Gisbourne's, for the asking.
Isabella had been wise to give him a single poisoned arrow. He wouldn't have a chance for a second, for once he loosed his arrow, whether it struck or missed the king, King Richard's soldiers would be after him. And that was why Guy couldn't stop shaking now as he approached the king's camp.
He found a hiding place while he gathered his nerves within a large grove of trees, knowing the risk was great. He would accept the risk, for success would give him everything, and failure would only release him from his current miserable existence, if he were caught.
If he failed and was not caught, he would go on living here as he had been ever since King Richard had returned home to England...a fugitive with a bounty on his head.
And then suddenly, everything changed.
All Guy's fear and trembling instantly vanished when his eyes found Hood. Hiding within the tree grove, Guy blinked his eyes in disbelief, almost believing himself dreaming.
Robin of Locksley stood within range of Guy's arrow, leaning on his bow, speaking with the king. Both men stood in profile in Guy's vision, but which to shoot? King Richard was Guy's unknowing target, but Locksley's surprising presence confused and tempted Guy.
Which one to shoot, to kill, to slay, Guy wondered. The death resulting from Isabella's poison would be slow and painful, as Prince John had ordered. Unless Guy's arrow struck the heart, the victim would not initially know he would face the grave until days later, slowly growing weaker and more sick until his heart fully stopped beating.
The thought of Hood dying such a slow, agonizing death exhilarated Guy. He pictured him lying weak and frail in Marian's arms, all cockiness gone, agony contorting his lovely features. And Marian! Marian racked with suffering, as the man she had chosen when he was nothing but a filthy outlaw wasted toward death. Marian, cradling him in her arms, weeping and begging him not to die!
With Hood dead at last, would she finally allow Guy to comfort and care for her...to love her?
Guy lifted his bow and took aim.
But then, he realized, by shooting Hood, he would fail again on a third mission to kill the king! What would Prince John do to him if he were captured, once Isabella explained whom she had recruited to loose her arrow? His death would be more horrible than Hood's!
And what would Locksley be, after all, once Prince John became king, if Guy chose to shoot King Richard? Guy's first reward for placing Prince John on the throne would be Hood's death! His second would be to take Marian for his wife, by force if necessary.
Lady Gisbourne!
It would have to be by force, he realized. She would hate him, hate him forever. Nothing he could do would make her love him, if she knew him to have begged their newly crowned king to have her husband killed. Having her, but without her heart and mind, was not what Guy wanted. He had taken her before and found the taking empty, worse than unsatisfying...agonizing in its emptiness!
No! He didn't want her that way! He wanted her to love him, to look at him the way she looked at Hood!
The thought of Marian's love for Robin of Locksley sent fresh waves of anger through Guy. Jealousy overtook him, wiping out all reason. Lifting his bow again, he took aim and shot.
...
Marian did not feel well. Standing outside the convent, watching her little girls run about and play, she couldn't really define how she felt ill. She simply felt that something was wrong.
"Are you alright, milady?" Nurse asked. "You look pale."
"I probably need to eat," Marian decided. "I've eaten nothing today, except an apple this morning."
"Then you certainly need food! In your condition..." Nurse stopped herself and blushed, embarrassed even to imply her mistress had a condition. "Come inside and eat."
"Thank you, but I mustn't." Marian did not want to worry Nurse about Isabella possibly wanting to poison her. "I'll eat when Lord Locksley returns."
Nurse would not stand such nonsense. "Fasting, are you, for his safe return? These nuns here might not like it, but I don't hold with fasting for a woman in your condi-" She stopped herself and blushed again.
"Oh!" Marian groaned as a cramp began in her back and wrapped around her body. "I need to lie down."
She was frightened, remembering such pain when she'd gone into labor before. It couldn't be, she prayed. It was far too early for her baby to be born!
Both times before she had stayed on her feet, knowing it was time and everything was fine, until Robin brought Matilda who put her to bed and helped her through the ever increasing pain. But now! It was months early and Matilda was miles away, and so was Robin! Marian needed to lie down and ward off the cramps, and pray to God to let her baby live!
Was it nature, or was it the apple she had eaten? Surely nature! She had been careful to peel the apple before eating it, just in case Isabella had coated it with poison.
Another cramp assaulted her, stronger than the first, and she hurried to her chamber to lie down and prayerfully wait for Robin to return.
"Robin!" she cried out, as a third cramp struck her.