"I beg to differ!" Allan interjected, "I think I speak for everyone when I say we would love to know the story behind the woman that can control those two."
Spontaneously, Robin and Guy shot Allan with equally angry glares, while the latter looked away abruptly.
Gytha chuckled, "Well, as I mentioned earlier to some of you. I am but a humble servant."
"Robin says you served the Gisbornes?" Marian probed with genuine curiosity.
"Yes. Master Roger and Lady Ghislaine." Gytha replied as she gazed up at the starry night-sky, "May there souls rest in peace..." She felt overwhelmed by the names that she had not dared to speak of in ages. She looked down once again, and directly at Guy who averted his gaze abruptly. Yet he softly nodded, giving his approval for Gytha to continue.
"And I still do. Serving Master Guy, that is." Gytha continued once she got her approval, "I have known him ever since he was brought to this word. A bundle of joy."
Marian looked at Guy, who blushed terribly at such words. She let out a low chuckle, which was noticed by Robin, "Ironic?" He whispered. The brunette jolted in surprise, but managed to nod in agreement. Little did Robin know that the reason behind his fiancée's chuckle was not the irony, but how endearing she had found Guy's reaction at that moment.
"I used to help with chores. Mostly. But, as you know, English was not Lady Ghislaine's mother tongue. And she has noticed how much I love children." Gytha continued, though a sad smile formed across her lips at the mention of her love for children. While, Guy felt a pang of guilt, as he was reminded that he had never had the chance to apologise to Gytha. Nonetheless, he remind silent as the older woman spoke, "Hence, as soon as Guy was old enough she asked me to teach him proper speech and writing. And soon later Robin was born." She looked at Robin and smiled, "The mischievous little lad."
"He still is if you ask me." Marian chuckled, giving Robin a teasing nudge with her shoulder.
"Marian!" Robin objected with a hint of embarrassment.
"Mischievous? Or a little lad?" Allan jested further with a huge grin.
"Like you are one to speak." Robin snorted with one raised eyebrow.
"Now-now." Gytha hushed the merry group, "You are all naught but little children to this old woman."
"As if you are that old." Guy mumbled, which Allan had heard crystal clear. An impish grin adorned his lips as he remembered an interesting rumor he had once heard.
"I'm not being funny, but is it true…" Allan started but stopped momentarily as he looked at Guy, who flinched, knowing that the current look in Allan's eyes bore nothing but mischief. Allan's grin spread wider as he continued, "Ah- maybe later. I think it's about time supper is ready?"
"Oh. It is, isn't it?" Gytha exclaimed, "Thank you for reminding me. I was quite enjoying this that it slipped my mind."
"No worries, Gytha." Allan replied, still grinning teasingly, "We shall definitely continue later."
Gytha agreed with a smile and ushered for Much to follow her.
"Listen to me, Allan A' Dale." Guy grabbed Allan from his collar and whispered angrily in his ear, "If you say anything funny. I promise you, it will be your last."
Allan raised his hands in surrender, "Honest. No funny business."
Guy gave him on last, doubting, glare before following Gytha. It was about time he apologised to her, and he was determined to do so.
"Perfection!" Much exclaimed once he took a sip of the soup.
"Good. Would you be kind enough to ready the plates?" Gytha requested from Much.
"Of course!" Much replied happily, and obliged almost instantly.
"Ehm- Gytha?" Guy interjected with a soft cough.
"Yes, Master Guy?" Gytha inquired as she looked over her shoulder.
"May I have a moment? In private."
"It's alright." Much assured as Gytha looked at him, "I will handle the rest. You have helped more than enough."
"Thank you, Much." Gytha replied gratefully and then looked at Guy who waved for her to follow him.
Once alone, it took Guy one look at Gytha to get overwhelmed with hesitation. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath to strengthen his resolution; with his ego, apologising never came easy to him. Meanwhile, Gytha noticed the hesitation in Guy, yet she remained silent as she saw sincerity as well.
The instant the man clad in black opened his eyes once again, he looked at Gytha and said, "I'm sorry for what I have said that night. I had no right. You were simply looking for my wellbeing."
"Oh- Guy." Gytha looked at him with gentle eyes, "As I said earlier. Leave those for when they are needed."
"If not now, when?" Guy insisted, his eyebrow creased with distress, "I had chosen the worst way to hurt you."
"Had I not as well?" Gytha smiled apologetically, "And it's not that you had said anything wrong. You had merely stated a fact."
"That…that doesn't justify it." Guy countered as he looked down in shame, his voice breaking with the pain.
"Come here." Gytha urged the tall man to come closer to her. Yet Guy looked away, and stubbornly stayed in his place. "Come on." Gytha insisted.
Reluctantly, Gisborne took a step forward; it was already hard enough to apologise. Once the distance between them was closed, Gytha grabbed Guy's hands and cupped them within hers. She had not touched these hands ever since they fitted perfectly within heres. Now, she could barely cover his knuckles, and their roughness, as expected as they were, still surprised her.
"Now listen to me carefully." Gytha requested, looking up at Gisborne, "This is something that I have not told a soul about. Something that I have locked away in my heart, and which my dear Warren had taken to his grave."
Guy looked at Gytha with great concern, dreading what she had to say next.
"It was not that I couldn't bear children." Gytha continued, already seeing the impact of those words on Guy, "For once I was blessed with one, but my body was not strong enough to carry it."
"What…?" Guy whispered, his eyes turned wide with disbelief. "You were once with a child?"
Gytha nodded, she bit her lower lip as she felt tears forming at the corner of her eyes.
"W-why have you not told anyone? When?" Guy stammered as he felt a thousand questions clashing in his mind.
"It is of the past. You need not worry your self about it." Gytha replied. She stood on the tip of her toes, so that she could reach Guy's cheek. As she gently caressed it, his bristly stubbles reminded her once again of the past. A time when this cheek was yet smooth and soft. "I have been planning to take it to my grave. As my Warren did. However, being with the lass, I was constantly reminded. Thinking of how it might have been. How my child might have been a friend to her." She looked at Guy and added with a chuckle, "Or how she might have been my boy's first love interest."
Guy slightly blushed and averted his eyes awkwardly.
"Or you, if it was a girl." Gytha smiled as a sheepish smile formed across the man's thin lips. "Even with all of these what ifs, I have finally made peace with it."
Guy stayed silent as he searched for the right words. After a while he placed a hand over Gytha's, the one she had over his cheek, and looked at her. "Thank you for opening up to me."
"Of course." Gytha replied, "And I hope you will with me one day."
Guy tensed up for a second before nodding hesitantly.
"Come on now. Let us wake up Malak and join the others." Gytha walked toward Djaq's makeshift room, pulling Guy behind her.
Once in front of their destination, Gytha stopped and declared their arrival, "May we come in?"
However there was no reply. The middle-aged woman cleared her throat and added, "Pardon the intrusion." With that she had let go of Gisborne's hand and entered, only to come back seconds later, alone. "It seems they have already left to join the others." Gytha stated, "I assume we are last to join."
Guy grimaced at the idea, "I hope we are not too late. I can imagine the amount of questions they have in store for her."