Chapter seventeen:
Marian's POV:
The party was bustling with people. Servants ran around filling up drinks, while Lords and Ladies laughed and danced. Tables, which were covered in food, surrounded the outside of the big hall, a small orchestra played in a corner and guests danced in the middle. Malcom sat at the head of the biggest one, with Guy seated to his side.
Katy tried to persuade me to go and dance with some Duke she thought I would be suited with, but I tugged her towards a table instead.
"Lady Katherine, Marian, please come and take your seats." Malcom gestured to the two empty seats beside him.
The sheriff would never address me as "Lady" like everyone else, he still saw me as the fourteen-year-old girl he kidnapped four years ago.
Katy took her seat on the other side of Malcom, as she was high in nobility, and I went to sit next to her. As a servant reached to pull out my chair for me, like he had done for Katherine, she stopped him with a careful look and he backed away.
"Promise you won't get angry at me." She whispered quietly, so as not to make a scene.
"Katherine, if you don't want me to get angry, don't give me a reason to be." Already knowing what she was going to say, I snapped at her.
"I had no choice! You wanted this party too!" She protested, knowing that I had figured it out.
About to tell her where she could stick her party, I was interrupted by an insistent tap on my shoulder.
"Sir Guy had asked me to escort you to your seat, M'lady," the servant announced, already leading me away.
In some ways I was glad about being taken away from the argument before it got ugly, I should have known she would pull something like this.
Guy was in deep conversation with Malcom, I tried to hear what they were saying, but couldn't over the noise of the room.
Were they talking about whatever situation needed so many guards?
"Lady Marian is here, Sir Guy." The servant proclaimed, offering me up as if I was merely an object. All I heard was, "Your horse, Sir Guy." Even though I knew it wasn't his fault, the man was only doing his job, I was still angry.
The servant pulled my chair out for me, and another filled my goblet full of wine. I never went near the stuff, it was just a thing that cruel men used to get women drunk, it was vile.
"Lady Marian, you look beautiful," Guy turned his attention away from the sheriff and focused on me.
"That's very kind of you, Sir Guy. Happy Birthday, by the way." Replying, I already thinking of ways to get him to tell me about the guards.
"Thank you, don't bother with all that "Sir" business, we've known each other long enough by now for you to call me Guy."
My breath caught in my chest; this was a slippery slope. First, were the loss of formal names, next was the alone evening strolls and before I knew it, I would be The Gorilla's wife! The thought of it made me want to puke.
"Okay then, Guy." Giggling, I pushed his arm ever so slightly. This would make him think I was interested in him, meaning he would give me any information I wanted about the guards! Soon, he would be wrapped around my little finger.
"Apologies again for early today, it was never my intention to knock you over," he began to babble, flustered at my sudden contact.
"No worries, but speaking of today," this was a good opportunity to slide into the question, "I have been meaning to ask you something."
"Ask away, Marian." He took a big gulp from his wine goblet, giving me a curious look.
"Why were there so many-"
The music stopped dead, as a group of guards burst into the hall.
"OUTLAWS! THEY ARE IN THE CASTLE!" They shouted, running to the sheriff and Gisborne.
Gasps and screams ran throughout the hall, everyone began to get out of their seats but Malcom's booming voice stopped them.
"EVERYONE, STAY SEATED!" His volume lowered once he had everyone's attention. "I am sure that this is nothing to be worried about. But, just in case, everyone must stay in here. We will be back shortly to enjoy the rest of the festivities!"
Then, he and Gisborne rushed off to sort out the mess.
Outlaws, in the castle? That must be what the guards were about! I have to get out of here and find out what is happening!
Thinking fast, I crept out of my chair, and hid behind a tall guard, who was falling behind the rest of his troop. Once I was safely out of the hall, I began to creep up to my room, to get my daggers.
Over the years, Sarah had discreetly given me serval weapons; a bow and arrow, daggers and even a sword! For my seventeenth birthday, Katy had gifted me with a gorgeous pair of emerald earrings. Although they were stunning, I had something better in mind. I claimed that they gave me a rash, as jewellery tends to do sometimes, and she told me to give them to Sarah to trade them for something else, come market day. Because I had only been at the castle a year at the time, I was not allowed to leave its perimeter. Sarah returned back with a beautiful set of ten daggers, they made me reminiscent of the one I used to have.
Opening my room, I rushed towards my bed. Lifting up the very heavy mattress, I grabbed seven of them, leaving the other three underneath. The silver daggers were hidden there for fear that someone else would find them and take them away. Despite having been at the castle four years now, I still had to be careful with what I had. I was not supposed to have a maid, let alone weapons!
Hiding them discreetly in my dress was the difficult part. Carefully, I slid four into the corseted part of my dress (two on each side), one in each of the tight part of my sleeves, and finally, one between my breasts, I had to be armed in case I ran into the outlaws!
Closing my door behind me, I began to walk towards Katherine's room to hide her valuables. With the number of jewels and dresses in there, outlaws would have a field day! Despite still being angry at her, I wouldn't want to see her upset that all of her treasures had been taken. Ready to turn the corner, I was stopped immediately by hushed voices and whispers.
"Quick Will, grab that!"
"Shut up you fool! Or do you want to be caught?"
Holding back a gasp, I silently approached the slightly open door to see at least two men rummaging through Katherine's things! The men that I could see were wearing hoods with masks on, almost completely obscuring their identities.
Do I go in there and try to fight them, with what little weapons I have? Or do I turn and run, leaving Kathy's precious gifts and jewels to the thieves?
Suddenly, an idea struck, I began backing up to alert a group of guards, when my back hit something solid. A pit began to form in my stomach, as I turned around and faced the massive man towering over me. He was also wearing a hood and mask, but I could tell he was slightly older than the others, by the way his voice sounded.
Screaming would be of no use, he could just knock me unconscious with his fists. I could try fighting but, against him and who knows how many others, I wouldn't stand a chance!
"Well hello there, Miss." The huge man grumbled, arms crossing.
Scared, I made to run away but his big hands caught my arms just in time.
"Now, now, none of that. I don't want to hurt you but I can't be letting you go that easy knowing that you've seen my friends in there."
"Please, Sir. Don't hurt me, I am just a little lost. I came down the wrong corridor! I will never tell anyone, I promise! Just please, let me go!" I played the "damsel in distress" role well, just a dumb girl who got lost on their way to the ball. People were far more gullible than they knew.
"Alright girly, just one moment." His grip on my arms loosened ever so slightly.
Big mistake.
"I can't let you go that easy, we will have to bring you back with u-"
My knee rose up in full force and connected with his groin. While he doubled over in pain, I took my chance. Reaching into my corset, I pulled out a dagger and turned, pressing it to his throat.
"I am not your girly, and I will not be coming with you! Now, you have two choices. One, you and your friends go and leave everything that you were going to take. Or two, you can squirm and yelp, giving me no other choice than to alert the guards and it's off to the cells for you and your chums."
"I'll take my chances on option two, if I may." Someone said from behind me, before the massive man had time to respond.
Robin's POV:
The war left me with many scars. Physical, emotional and especially mental. My physical scars caused me the least amount of pain.
The Holy Land was less about fighting for what's right, and more about survival. Everyone was out for themselves, you had to watch your back before someone stuck a knife through it.
Father passed within the first year of fighting, he died defending King Richard from a Turkish soldier's arrow. On his death bed, father told me that he was immensely proud of the man I had become, and made me promise to protect the King. With both of my parents being dead, I was left to be the Lord of Locksley. After that, I had stayed on fighting alongside Much and Little John for another three years, before I got discharged. Admittedly, I stayed on partly because I didn't want to return to the duties of being a Lord, running my father's job. The house would feel so cold and empty without their warming presence.
Richard had insisted that I took a break from the endless bloodshed, and told me to take my friends back home with me. Much couldn't wait, we hadn't stepped foot on a forest floor for years! I claimed that I was looking forward to laying in my old bed, but in reality, I only wanted to see one person.
I had written to Marian at least once every week from the first day that I was gone. Even though I hadn't once received a letter back, it never stopped me from thinking about her. Every other thought was about her, whether it be reminiscing about old times or wondering if her eyes ever lost their shine.
She must to have changed appearance-wise, over the four years, I certainly had. There was not an abundance of mirrors in the tents, but I could still tell I looked different. My whole body was a lot more muscular than my fifteen-year old body had been. I was taller too, but Much was still a little shorter than me, even though he wouldn't admit it.
Much had changed the more out of the two of us. He had shot up in hight and was much stronger than he used to be. His shoulders were broad and he had a sturdy form, his childish flab was replaced with toned muscles. My best friend was still jolly and bright, but sometimes I caught him crying, when he thought he was alone. The traumatic events of war had shaken him more than me let one, and I was glad to be taking him home.
John had not shrunk into his nickname, in fact, he had only grown! John had become a very close friend to Much and I throughout the years. In a war, you very quickly grew close with the people you were fighting with. If they didn't have your back, who else did?
Little John was from a small village not far from where Marian lived. He said he had a woman called Meg waiting for him there, he couldn't wait to see her again.
On the journey home, all I could think about was Marian. Did she even remember me? I had been gone for four whole years! She could have very well moved on with her life, she might even be married!
"Stop worrying about her, Robin." Much had come up to the open deck, where I had been pondering my past. He always could read my mind.
"But Much, we have been away for four years! Do you realise how that must have been for her? We had each other, what if she has forgotten all about us? What if-"
"Hey, enough if the "What ifs", Robin!" He cut me off with a tight hug. "You know full-well that she could never forget us, she did and always will love you. Nothing will ever change that!"
"Thank you, Much, I hope you right." The sun was setting, leaving a stunning shine on the sea below. I couldn't help but compare it to the gold I remember being in the middle of Marian's eyes.