A/N: First of all, I'm awfully sorry for the late update. I have been out of the country for almost a month! Best vacation ever btw, Japan totally rocks! :D Anyhow, I'll try my best to resume my previous pace. Second of all, big thanks to my beta Lady Gisborne 15, you really motivate me to try harder sweetie!
Guy was in an awfully bad mood. Each time he remembered what happened the day before, he hated himself. He hated his very guts for trying to kiss his beloved Marian in one of her most vulnerable moments. It was his fault that she ran away, or maybe it wasn't, but either way the guilt was eating him away.
"God, Marian... Why did you leave me alone?" Guy mumbled with dismay, "I need you…"
The man buried his face deep into his palms, trying so hard to clear his head. He just wanted a moment of clarity; these past few days had been incredibly eventful. He kept thinking of what else he could do. The moment he knew Marian went missing, he searched each and every part of Nottingham; he searched thoroughly and relentlessly. He didn't rest for a single minute, yet his efforts were wasted, and for what? Nothing. He still didn't have the slightest clue of where she might have gone, and was at a loss on what to do next.
A small knock on the door intercepted his overwhelmed mind. Whoever that was, it was someone with a death wish. He wasn't in the mood for anyone; he could barely concentrate on his own thoughts.
Guy slowly stood up from his chair, where he had sat for the past several hours. His muscles had become sore and his whole body was now aching. He walked up to the door and opened it angrily.
"What?!" Guy shouted, but there stood no one. He only saw a tray of food placed in front of the door.
Anyhow, he was too tired, both mentally and physically, to search for whomever had placed the food. Moreover, he hadn't eaten a thing since the incident, and thinking on an empty stomach didn't seem like a good idea. So he just accepted it grimly and slammed the door shut.
To be honest, he didn't have to search since it was obvious who would do such a thing. None of his servants were foolish enough. Moreover, Gytha might challenge him at times, but she knew better than to cross him when he was in a bad mood. With this deduction, he could think of none other but the little energy-consuming lass.
"Foolish girl." Guy snorted as he placed the tray on the table and sat down.
As the man clad in black ate his dinner, he had found his thoughts finally calming down. However, the food had made him think of a certain someone. His thoughts took a turn to the hazel-eyed lass, who had suddenly invaded his life.
She might seem gullible yet insightful, and somewhat foolish yet honest. She had incredible senses, and the most graceful body he had ever seen. Furthermore, she was undeniably pretty, he begrudgingly admitted to himself. Not only did she have those appealing hazel eyes, but the contrast between them and that brown-golden skin would catch and lock anyone's eye.
As Guy thought of Malak, his usual smirk started to take on softer edges. This young one that he knew nothing about made him smile unconsciously.
When he focused back on his place, he found it empty. He was certainly hungry. If it weren't for that ego of his, he would have thanked the lass. He took one last mouthful from the pitcher before rushing into his bed, and allowing sleep to engulf him wholly.
The next day, Guy was awakened by a soft knock at the door.
He stirred a few times before answering with a gruff voice, "What…?" He was obviously annoyed by the intrusive knocking.
"Forgive my intrusion, Master, but it will be soon mid-day. You have personally requested your awakening if you were to ever oversleep." A stern voice replied respectfully, "I've brought a bowl of water for you to wash up with. May I come in?"
"Yes, Gytha." Guy replied. He was still annoyed, but secretly grateful.
Gytha entered the room, carrying a bowl and a small piece of cloth that lay on her forearm. She placed both on the table that stood next to the bed. She then placed a nudging hand on the shoulder of the man, who lay on the bed refusing to wake up.
When it came to his sleep, Guy still acted like a little child. It was a fact unbeknownst to no one but to the middle-aged lady who many a time had been given the task of waking him up. In reply, Guy simply moaned and shrugged Gytha's hand off of his shoulder. The past two days had been so tiresome, and he just wanted to hold onto these final bits of leisure, away from the pain of reality some called life.
"By goodness Master Guy, when will you ever rid yourself of these childish sleeping habits of yours?!" Gytha exclaimed, taking back her hand and crossing her arms against her chest in anger.
"Such a headache you are!" Guy groaned, finally waking up and taking a sitting position. He rubbed the side of his face and then added, "Remind me why I asked you to wake me up?"
"Must I state the obvious? Or perhaps you would rather have a young hazel-eyed awake you next time?" Gytha mocked with an erected eyebrow, "Speaking of which, how was your dinner last night?"
"So she was the one…..ignorant fool." Guy mumbled as he stood up to wash his face.
Gytha tried her best not to chuckle at the site of her grumpy Master, but she still couldn't manage to hide her smile. The young lass had brought a charming side of Guy, a side that reminded her of the young master, who had had an innocent crush on her several years ago when she had been in her youth.
"What?!" Guy demanded, staring at the smiling woman with a frown.
"Nothing, young Master." Gytha replied teasingly before disappearing behind the door.
Guy was baffled. Gytha seemed awfully cheerful, which was rare. And to call him young master all of a sudden, a phrase that he hadn't heard since he had lost his parents in that unfortunate accident.
Finally, fully awake and dressed, Guy stepped down and went to the kitchen to grab an apple before heading to the stables. On his way, he saw Malak helping Gytha with the washed clothes. She had a wide, bright smile that grew even wider when her eyes laid on him. She waved at him cheerfully for a few seconds before getting scolded by the middle-aged woman. Guy just frowned, ignoring the over-excited young lass. He wanted to reach the castle as fast as possible so that he could find Allan a'Dale and send him to track down Marian.
Unfortunately, the second Guy reached the castle, the Sheriff ordered his presence. He spoke of yet another plan to capture Hood, something about an assassin. However, when he noticed that Guy was distracted, he grimaced and took this chance to ridicule and to belittle him. As if it wasn't bad enough that Marian had run away.
As soon as Vaisey left, Guy searched for Allan, and found him sleeping in one of the castle's outer corridors. He woke him up with an abrupt kick to the chest and ordered him to find Marian. Guy wholly believed that the former outlaw would somehow find her, and he was right. A few hours later the young man came with a letter from Marian, which informed him that Marian was safe at the convent. However, she was forbidden to leave because she was in the process of becoming a nun.
The man clad in black ordered Allan to saddle Guy's horse, for he thought that he had to try and return some sense to Marian. She could not become a nun! Little did he know that he was about to meet her so soon...
Everything happened so fast, one moment he was heading to the stables. The next, Hood was laying dead on a wooden platform, or so it seemed. Nonetheless, before he could make sure of it he was stopped by Marian.
Now Guy was standing in one of the castle's chambers, and so close to his beloved. He had so many things to tell her, to prove his love for her. But suddenly unbidden thoughts began to swarm through his head. Why did he love Marian in the first place? What was it that had made him fall for her?
The dark-haired man was confused. He always knew for sure that Marian was the one for him. That she would save him from his own darkness. Then, why were his feelings wavering? More importantly, what made him so sure that Marian was the one? He then remembered the relieving sensation that was once dead, but brought back to life by the young lass that he had just met few days ago. She made him laugh, and not once but twice. The last time he had laughed must have been ages ago; he had forgotten what it felt like, and he hadn't even bothered to remember. And it seems that Marian, 'His savior', didn't bother to remind him either. She never once made him laugh, and as a matter of fact, she barely brought a smile to his face! So why was he clinging to Marian like a lifeline?
With these thoughts clashing in his mind, Guy became hesitant. The words he spoke to Marian might seem like an attempt to convince her to come back, yet deep down he knew that he was merely trying to convince no one but himself that that was what he really wanted. He held Marian's arms in an attempt to focus wholly on her and no one else; her face was now inches away from his.
"Marian…I thought I would never see you again… I thought I might never…" Guy started to plead but trailed off. The blue orbs staring at him got replaced with hazel ones.
"What?" Marian asked harshly, forcing him to focus again.
"Kiss you…" Guy replied softly. For a split of a second he wavered again, but forced himself to get closer to Marian's face in order to kiss her soft lips. It was yet another attempt to dismiss any thoughts of Malak. Unfortunately, his attempt had ended prematurely by Allan's sudden presence.
"Oh…sorry. Sheriff wants you. He's gonna put Robin's head on a spike." Allan said quickly before heading out.
Guy followed Allan, not knowing whether to be aggravated or grateful by the sudden interruption. As a last effort to hold on to his love for Marian he spun around and told her, "We must continue this conversation soon."
He was about to turn and leave, when Marian, completely out of the blue, shouted his name and locked him into a passionate kiss. He was startled by her action, but accepted it hungrily and with desperation. And as he felt himself give into the sweetness of her lips, he felt himself erase all second thoughts and hesitations.