A/N: Once again thanks for my beta LadyGisborne15, and to all of those who were kind enough to review.
Guy of Gisborne's mind was clashing wildly with thoughts as he headed back to his chamber. He still could not believe that Marian had actually initiated a kiss; a deep and passionate kiss. He was still shocked by it, yet unbelievably ecstatic. He had been yearning for her lips for far too long, and at last he got his wish. Most men would want more, he did too, but he would never dare cross that boundary with Marian, no, she was special. No matter how long it would take for her to accept him, he would always respect and cherish her. For that was how much he loved her.
Before reaching his chamber, Guy came across one of the servants and ordered dinner to be brought to his room. As soon as the tall man reached his destination, he crashed onto his bed, feeling a bit drowsy from all of today's excitement. His eyes were fluttering, threatening to close, and he was about to surrender when a knock intercepted him.
"Yes?" Guy demanded groggily.
"I brought your dinner, Sir Guy." A voice replied respectfully from behind the door.
"Come in." Guy replied lazily.
A young female opened the door, and hurriedly placed the dinner on a small table that stood near the window. She then bowed courteously and took her leave.
Guy yawned as he strode to the table and sat down to face his dinner. He was famished, and felt like dinner had been his only source of food these days; he barely had eaten anything else from the moment he woke up. He was about to diverge his hunger when something caught his attention; a slice of bread topped with honey.
"Humph!" Guy growled, and rubbed his temples. He was finally able to relax and now thoughts of the energy consuming lass were invading him.
He wondered what she was doing back at his manor. Was she having dinner? Or did she fall asleep already in that little corner of hers? He forced these thoughts aside, and scolded himself for thinking about her. He barely knew the lass, so why was he thinking so intently of her? And more importantly, why had she invaded his thoughts earlier when he was with Marian? So what if she made him smile? She was no more than an annoying youth.
The knight felt like he had lost his appetite. He brushed aside his dinner as he stood up and went back to his bed. He lay down, and decided it was better to sleep. Unfortunately though, he lay there for what seemed like ages without any success. He was now extremely frustrated. It was her fault! How can someone be so annoying even when they are not around?
"That cursed thing." Guy hissed under his breath as he stirred around in his bed.
A couple of minutes later, Gisborne decided that his endeavor to sleep was indeed useless and gave up entirely. He promptly stood up, and headed to the hallway that led to the stables. Once he was done saddling his faithful companion, he mounted her and rode back to Locksley.
In no time, the knight was standing in front of his manor's entrance with the following logic in his mind: if sleep had deserted him, then the lass was not allowed the pleasure of it either. He took in a deep breath to calm his nerves, and then slammed the door open. He was met with darkness. It took his eyes a few seconds to adjust, and he noticed that the room was empty. He walked over to the table, and lit a candle. He then headed to the kitchen which was also empty.
"Where is the damned thing?" Guy cursed under his breath.
He searched around the manor just to achieve the obvious conclusion; no one was there.
It was pass midnight, when a low creaking sound came from the backdoor followed by graceful footsteps. The intruder entered the dark room stealthily, and headed toward the fire place.
"Welcome back." Guy's voice suddenly growled, startling the intruder who then gasped in fear.
The knight was descending the stairs as he slowly lit a candle and directed it toward the intruder's face. The large hazel eyes stared at the master of the manor with fear written all over them.
"I…I …." Malak stammered as she tried to come up with an excuse, but her shoulders sunk as she failed miserably.
"You what? I would love to hear your tale of woe." Guy glared at the scared lass.
Malak was overwhelmed with fear. She tried hard to come up with an excuse. She looked around the room frantically, and felt her palms getting sweaty. The lass was completely at a loss, and failed at coming up with anything.
"She was back at my place." A steady voice replied from the kitchen's directions. Both, Guy and Malak, turned toward its owner, who stood in a perfect posture.
"Please do accept my apologies, Master, for my sudden interruption." Gytha apologized as she dipped her head in a slight bow; she then looked at the terrified lass, "It's alright to tell the Master. You have no reason to be afraid, right, Master Guy?"
"Really? And what was she doing back at your place?" The knight questioned with unmasked suspicion.
Malak looked at the middle-aged woman with thankful, yet pleading eyes. She was hoping that her rescuer would come up with a logical explanation for her disappearance.
"Well, Master. I cannot see the harm in it. However, if you insist." Gytha replied confidently, "Malak was a tad fearful, and if I may add, I am not quite fond of the idea of a young lady staying all alone past sunset."
"Is that so?" Guy scoffed, obviously not believing a word of it. Even though, he admitted, the story made quite some sense. Malak may be quick-witted, but still she was a young female and may render helpless against the strength of men if ever assaulted.
"Yes, Master." Gytha stated, and gestured for Malak to say something.
"I…I am sorry, Master Guy, for leaving without your permission." Malak apologized anxiously, trying hard not to look into the eyes of her Master.
"Thought the Devil had your tongue." Guy mocked with apparent annoyance, and then headed toward the stairs. "No one is to disturb me. No one." He stressed while eyeing Malak. He then turned on his heels and walked back upstairs.
Malak immediately turned to face Gytha, who stared at her silently and with an impassive expression. The lass understood right away that the woman was demanding an answer, which she obliged to instantly.
"I was just checking up on my mum." Malak explained anxiously, "She's staying with her cousin back at Nottingham."
"You should've told me, young lady. You should be grateful that I was awake, and noticed the Master's arrival or you would have been in a far more awkward position." Gytha scolded harshly, yet her face showed utmost concern for the young one.
"I am. I don't know what I would have done without you. Thank you, Gytha." Malak replied and promptly hugged the woman that stood in front of her.
Gytha was stunned by the young one's reaction, but her motherly instincts overtook her instantly. She hugged Malak back, and stroked her wild, chestnut locks tenderly.
"Thank you." Malak whispered softly into the warm lap of the middle-aged woman.
"Now, young lady. You catch up on some sleep as you have lots of work to do on the morrow. Starting with the stable." Gytha stated as she pulled Malak gently out of her embrace.
"What?!" Malak exclaimed with a pout, "Why should I clean the stable?"
"Told you that next time there would be a punishment." Gytha replied with an erected eyebrow.
"Oh…" Malak frowned, still with a pout, "Guess I shouldn't waste any more time when I've an early morning ahead of me."
"You guessed right." Gytha remarked as she headed to the backdoor, "Goodnight, Malak"
"Goodnight, Gytha." Malak replied with a yawn, and blew out the candle.
The next morning, Malak woke up before sunrise, and headed directly to the stables. She was extremely sleepy, but determined to show Gytha how she genuinely appreciated her act of kindness. She worked hard, and was able to get half of the work done by breakfast time.
"Someone is awfully early this morning." Trudy stated scornfully when Malak entered the kitchen.
"Good morning." Malak greeted, and then added grimly as she sat next to Gytha, "I've to finish cleaning the stable before midday."
"Why would you clean the stables?" Trudy asked back quizzically as it was the job of one of the young lads.
"Humph… a punishment." Malak sighed wearily as she eyed Gytha, who was having a cup of warm milk. She was both extremely exhausted and hungry.
"Remind me not to ever cross you." Roberta snorted as she looked at Gytha, "You know you can be as mean as the Master."
Gyth simply sat quietly, drinking her warm milk with utmost elegance. If it wasn't for her peasant like dress, one would mistake her for a noblewoman. On the other hand, Malak dug into her meal, like a six year old boy, apparently famished from all the work.
"Well, she is the only one able to stand up to the Master." Trudy remarked bleakly, "Since he, for some forsaken reason, allows it. You know… I always wondered why."
Gytha gracefully placed her cup, and then with a smile and a steady voice she spoke, "I think the two of you have chores to do. If you are done with your breakfast, I highly suggest that the both of you head to your respective chores before they mysteriously increase."
At the sudden, cold threat, the two women scurried away, each heading to her assigned chores. Malak chuckled at their reaction before getting intercepted by the heavy footsteps that entered the kitchen.
"It seems that you still have it in you, old lady." Guy taunted as he entered the kitchen, fully dressed and ready to head to Nottingham.
"And good morning to you too, Master Guy." Gytha greeted, aware that her Master was still angry at her for yesterday's intrusion.
The Master of the manor waved a curt, dismissive hand as he picked up a slice of bread, and headed toward the stables.
"I guess he is still mad." Malak remarked in disappointment. She hurriedly took one last mouthful of her milk, and followed her Master as fast as she could.
Gytha was never the curious one, except when it came to her Master. She looked past the backdoor and at the two figures that were heading towards the stable, and she couldn't help but wonder how Malak would affect her Master's current life.
Meanwhile, outside, Malak almost instantly caught up to Guy; she was pretty fast, he admitted. But what did she want, following him so boldly, when last night she could barely utter a word? He suddenly halted causing the young lass to bump into his broad back.
"Ouch!" Malak shouted in pain as she hit her nose, and fell on her back.
"Why are you following? Do you have a death wish?" Guy snapped at the lass who was rubbing her bruised nose.
"No, I was just wondering if you were still angry with me." Malak answered as she pinched her nose to suppress the pain, "You know, at last night's incident."
"Do you honestly think that I believed Gytha's story?" The tall man scoffed with crossed arms.
Malak stopped fiddling with her bruised nose, and stared at Guy incredulously. She then pointed a finger at him and exclaimed, "It is true then? You do allow Gytha some slips!"
It was Guy's turn to look at the lass with incredulous eyes. He was about to snap at her but was cut off.
"I knew it! I knew you were not as mean as everyone says you are!" Malak shouted happily as she flipped up and brimmed with a radiating smile, "You are kind, and its their loss for turning a blind eye!"
Guy was rendered speechless. He felt as if he was in some kind of a match, and had lost terribly.
"Go saddle and fetch my horse right away!" Guy demanded suddenly; he didn't know what else to do. He just knew that he had to send this lass away before she stole whatever else was left of his sanity.
"Yes, Master!" Malak replied cheerfully, and ran toward the stable.
Guy looked at her thin visage as she happily hurried to obey his order. He found himself, once again, comparing the young lass to his Marian. What took Marian months to realise, had taken Malak only a few days. It confused him how such an oblivious human being could be so insightful.
He sighed heavily and pinched the bridge of his nose, as he couldn't help but dread what the future was holding in store for him. His life was taking an unexpected turn. He had honestly thought that Marian was the only one for him, but here he was completely defeated by this youth, and, dare he say, utterly captivated by her beaming smile.