The next few days passed in a blur. Charlotte and I remained in the castle under Guy's orders. I did not appreciate this but there was not much I could do. The search for the missing outlaw continued. I remained undiscovered.
Finally, after about four or five days of searching, Guy came to my door around dinnertime. I was getting ready for Sarah to bring me my meal since we hadn't been gathering in the Dining Hall.
"Marian," he nodded to me once I opened the door. I gave a slight curtsey in return.
"The Sheriff would like for you to join us in the Dining Hall for dinner," he continued. I gave him a funny look. He simply shrugged and walked off. I returned to my room and picked out a simple burnt orange gown. The sheriff always insisted the ladies to look nice for dinner. In my opinion, he was looking for something else.
A few minutes later, I was dressed in something presentable. I made my way to the Hall. Charlotte was already there when I walked in. I took my place beside her and waited for the Sheriff.
Charlotte and I made light conversation until the he arrived. He had a funny look on his face. He was grinning ear to ear, but it wasn't a happy or goofy grin. It looked like he knew something no one else did.
He sat down very abruptly. Everyone stopped talking. He obviously had something to say.
"Ladies and gentlemen," he began very dramatically, "Make sure you go to sleep early tonight. There will be a hanging tomorrow morning!"
And just before anyone could get anything out, dinner was served. I wanted to say something, but it was not my place as I'd learned earlier. No, it was best for me to remain as invisible as possible.
After we ate, people began to excuse themselves. I conveniently wait for Guy to excuse himself. Once he did, I followed.
"Guy!" I called to him. He stopped and turned as I ran to catch up with him. We walked together.
"Did you catch the outlaw?" I asked.
He shook his head. This made me a bit confused. If not the outlaw, who would hang in the morning?
As if reading my expression, he gave me my answer.
"The Sheriff plans on hanging the two guards that were on duty the night of the escape," he said.
"Why?" I asked. I knew they had both fallen asleep at their posts, but that didn't exactly merit a hanging.
"They fell asleep on duty. They failed us," he explained.
"Yes, but I hardly believe that calls for a hanging," I shot back.
"Someone must be punished for this, Marian," his voice began to rise.
"Yes, but should the punishment really be death? All of the guards fall asleep at their posts that late at night! Is it really fair that these two happen to have fallen asleep on the night someone escaped?" my voice rose right with his.
"We must make an example of them. Our guards should be top-notch, not some that allow a measly outlaw to escape! You will take care to note what side you are on, Marian!" he yelled. I was taken aback by his outburst. Guy had never addressed me in that way.
After a moment of silence, I managed to regain my composure.
"The Sheriff just needs someone to blame. He just needs someone to die because he's angry," I whispered, "Isn't that right?"
Guy glanced at me and sighed. We both stopped walking. We'd arrived at my room.
"Just, get some sleep, Marian. I'll see you in the morning," he managed calmly. He bid me good night, and I slipped into my room.
How could things get so out of hand? This boy was innocent; these guards were innocent! This was all my doing!
"Ugh! What now?" I asked to no one in particular. I then began to mumble to myself as I often did. I tried to sort out everything and every possible solution to this problem I created. About halfway through my rant, I noticed something. I whirled around to face my window, and who but Robin Hood was leaning casually against the frame, just as he had before.
I didn't ask him the most obvious question of 'What are you doing here?' I wouldn't have gotten an answer anyway.
"How long have you been there?"
"Long enough," he smirked.
I glared at him and then went back to pacing. I had no time for him and his silly games. I stopped myself from speaking out loud. Instead, I continued sorting things out in my head.
Okay, I could sneak in and help them escape as I did with Will! But the guards would be more alert this time. I could cause some havoc while the hanging was supposed to go on, allowing them to escape, but I was supposed to stand on the balcony with Guy and the Sheriff. They'd know if I was missing. Ugh! What to do?
"What's troubling you, Marian?" Robin asked very nonchalantly. I shot him a look.
"Nothing of your concern," I continued pacing. I walked away from the window. I turned back and was startled by Robin who appeared noiselessly behind me.
"Marian," he bent down so that we were at eye level. His green eyes held my hazel. As much as I wanted to, I couldn't look away.
"What's troubling you?" he asked me again. I let out a frustrated sigh.
"Nothing!" I tried to go around him, but he stepped in the way. I tried to go the other way, but he again stepped in my path. We continued this dance until I finally gave up.
"It's the Sheriff! And it's Guy, and England! What are we coming to that a man gets hanged for the smallest mistake?" I nearly shouted. I stomped around him to the window. I looked out at England, my England, but it wasn't mine anymore. This England was falling apart. People were dying. No one was helping them. What was becoming of us?
As I thought of all the lives lost, all of England lost, a silent tear slipped down my cheek, followed by another. I quickly wiped them away with my sleeve, but they just kept falling. I hated crying. It made me feel helpless, and I couldn't afford to feel helpless. I especially hated crying in front of Robin. I couldn't say why. I guess I felt like I needed to be strong around him. To show him I could take care of myself.
"Marian," Robin said gently. His tone hit something. He grabbed my hand softly. My chest began to ache. This was something I hadn't felt in a very long time.
My first reaction was to pull away. I felt a little bad the moment I did, but I hated how he did that to me! How he just showed up and made me feel this way! It didn't seem fair that my emotions turned on me when he was around.
Robin was not to be discouraged so easily. He grabbed my shoulder and turned me to face him.
"Tell me, Marian, what is it?" I couldn't escape his penetrating eyes. I sighed, and told him everything. I told him about my helping Will and how I felt. I told him about the men that were to be hanged the next day. I told him how it was my fault.
"Marian, this isn't your fault," he said once I was done.
"Yes it is! I helped Will, it's my fault these men are to be killed!" Robin had to shush me as my voice rose. I could feel tears wanting to return.
Robin's eyes fell to the floor. That was when I knew that it was my fault. Any blood spilled would be on my hands. I would be the cause of their deaths.
The weight of this hit me all at once. I sank onto my bed. Tears began to fall again. Robin looked back up at me. As he approached me, I saw the beginnings of a smile pull at the edges of his mouth.
"Marian," he knelt in front of me. My heart skipped a little.
"Do you trust me?" he asked.
I gave him a look. I was about to answer when I really stopped to think about it. Did I trust Robin? Could I trust him?
"Yes," I answered after a moment, and that was honest. A smile broke out on his face.
"Good, then trust me that I will take care of this," he began to walk back to the window.
"Wait, what are you going to do?" I asked.
"You'll just have to wait and see," he teased before leaping out into the darkness. I ran to the window, but he was already gone. I hoped he would pull through for me. I needed him to pull through for me.
What's Robin's plan to help Marian? Can she trust the infamous outlaw? R&R!