Thank you thank you to all my loyal and passionate supporters! I hope you enjoy Chapter 23!
When I first met Much, he was so stunned to see me that he looked like a toddler who got caught trying to steal sweets from jar: eyes wide, mouth slightly agape, frozen.
Guy looked a lot the same when he saw our interim king.
"Your...majesty?" He stuttered out, clumsily taking a knee. I kept my eyes downcast, but remained standing.
"Marian? Is that you?" My distant cousin made his way over to me. He was taller than the last time I'd seen him, though I'd only been a child, and he was a newly young man. Slight, frail looking, with a devil's gleam in his eye, he just never quite measured up to Richard.
"Yes, your majesty," I gave a small curtsey. He swept me into a hug that lasted longer than polite, then held me at arms length. His cloudy blue eyes looked over me, all over me, before he finally released me.
"You've grown up," he smirked.
"Yes, that does tend to happen as the years go on," I knew better than to make the quip, but at this point, what had I to lose?
"Marian was just about to answer a question," the Sheriff, always one for impeccable timing, chimed in from behind me.
"A very important question, what was it again, Guy?"
Guy had finally pulled himself up. He gave the Sheriff a confused look, and then turned his gaze to me. As he knelt, I could see the gears working in his head. He had the nobility on his side. He had the townspeople to keep me in line. He had me.
"Marian, will you marry me?" He smirked. I looked once more at the people of Locksley. People I'd grown up with. People I loved. I looked at Much, sad that his valiant act to save me from this very fate had been in vain.
"Yes," I let the word tumble out before I had the sense to stop it. He stood and before I could do anything, swept me into a kiss. As I pulled away, he whispered to me.
"You'll learn to love me Marian, you'll see. And once Robin's out of the way, we can truly be together. Forever."
My blood ran cold. Guy knew he had Robin now, because he had me.
"Here I was thinking you were simply inviting me for a party. Now my dear cousin is getting married! And of course I'd be happy to officiate," the king was speaking but I didn't hear anything anymore.
I got one last glance at Much before he and the other townspeople were herded into the local jail. The compassion in his stare, the sorrow, steeled my resolve. This marriage wouldn't be for nothing.
Shaking myself from my self-pity, I slipped my hand into Guy's, taking him by surprise.
"That would be wonderful, Cousin," I smiled at Prince John, clearly taking everyone by surprise. It was going to take a lot of butter to get what I wanted from Guy.
"Wouldn't that be wonderful, Guy?" I turned to my fiancé, giving him the most brilliant smile I could. His rage seemed to melt away as he pulled me to him.
"We'll start the preparations immediately!" He cheered. Immediately? No, I needed time. I had to have time.
"Slow down, darling. What's the rush?" I gave him a quick peck on the cheek before I lost my nerve.
"Well what better time than the present! You shall be married by weeks end!" Prince John declared to the forced cheers of his servants and attendants.
I swallowed hard. I was going to be sick.
—
I had to give it to John— he knew how to throw a party together. The rest of the afternoon went by in a blur, partly because I kept getting handed from person to person to receive congratulations on my engagement. Mostly because my mind was elsewhere. Somewhere greener and quieter.
Looking at the ring on my right hand, I thought about Robin. I was thankful I had the good sense to hide the ring before Guy placed his big and gaudy gem on my finger. It was heavy and not at all my style, so I kept it off whenever I could.
I hoped Robin would understand why I had to do this. That he wouldn't be angry with me, but some part of me knew he was furious. He wasn't in control of this situation, none of us were, and I could only pray that someone would shake some sense into him before he came in guns blazing.
The music pounded louder and louder. Somewhere, someone crashed into a table. Nobles had been drinking since they'd arrived, and we all knew they were hopeless at holding their alcohol. I noticed Guy across the room being held up by two other guards, and the sheriff was in the corner with a maid. The party was in full swing, and no one would miss me. I quietly slipped out the door and into the dusk.
—
I let my feet carry me across the quiet town. Half of the population was celebrating my engagement, the other half was stuck in a jail cell. I found myself pulling open the large door to the local prison, not caring if I found a guard there.
Lucky for me, they seemed to be celebrating as well, because the small cages were left unguarded. The jail wasn't built for holding the amount of people the Sheriff had thrown into there, and it seemed as if each person were almost sitting on the one next to him.
"Marian!" Much pushed his way to the front, "You shouldn't be here. It's not safe."
I couldn't help but laugh as I took his hand through the bars.
"You're the one in a prison cell, and you're worried about me?" My eyes welled up suddenly, but I swallowed back the tears. I wasn't the one trapped in a cell after all. Well, not a physical one anyway. Much noticed and gave my hand an affectionate squeeze.
"What's your plan Marian?" He whispered. It was a good question. I noticed keys hanging next to the door I walked through.
"Get everyone out of here. Get Guy and the Sheriff out of Locksley," I stated much more strongly than I felt. I went back to the door to grab the keys when I heard voices outside. Much hissed at me to get out of there, to hide, but I shushed him. Two surprisingly sober guards were talking just outside.
"They keep up this drinking and we'll never make it through the forest tomorrow," a burly blonde stated.
"Figures we get stuck following the Sheriff's little princess into the forest and find Hood's camp, and we're the ones that get left with guard duty while everyone else celebrates," the dark-haired, lanky guard replied. Charlotte...they'd followed Charlotte. My heart stopped as I stole a look at Much. His eyes had gone wide and his skin had taken on a green tone.
"Well they'll be celebrating us tomorrow when we finally take care of Hood instead of the Captain's whore," the blonde agreed, and I'd heard just about enough.
"Marian!" Much tried to stop me when I opened the door to the jailhouse.
"Gentlemen," I greeted, stopping them dead in their tracks. Their faces flushed as they swept into a deep bow. They were breathing quickly now, and their eyes remained downcast.
I realized something in that moment—being engaged to Guy of Gisborne gave me certain power...a certain protection. No one would dare question me, the wife of the Captain, even if they did think I was a whore.
"Milady," the dark-hair guard whimpered, "What are you doing out here? You should be inside."
"And these prisoners should be better fed. They've not eaten all night, do you think the Captain would be happy with a cell filled with starved prisoners? They don't make very good hostages, wouldn't you agree?" I kept my head up and spoke with the authority of my new position.
"Of course, Milady," the blonde stated, still not moving.
"Well what are you two waiting for? Go on! Find them some food!" I scolded, gesturing to the party. They ran off, stumbling as they went. I got what I wanted, but it felt gross and wrong. I shook off the feeling, returning to the jailhouse. I grabbed the keys and tossed them to Much.
"Go now. Tell Robin what you've heard and get everyone out of the camp. I'll buy you what time I can," I ordered. I walked back out before Much could argue with me.
I returned to the party hardly missed. I found a familiar face, one of the few townspeople not rotting in a jail cell. I motioned the gaunt blonde girl over.
"Those two guards over there could use some ale, don't you think?" I asked, motioning to the pair from the jailhouse. They were trying and failing to get the Sheriff's attention. I gave the young girl a meaningful look.
"Let's keep their glasses full, yes?"
She nodded at me, a mischievous gleam in her eyes. I took a quick peek out the window and saw shadows disappearing into the night. There'd be hell to pay in the morning, but for tonight, I'd sleep a little more soundly.
—
I expected to hear curses and shouts the next morning. An alarm not unlike the one I received in Nottingham after I'd freed Will all those weeks ago. But there was nothing. As soft knock came from my door. Still in the haze of wine and sleep, I opened it a crack.
"Morning, Miss," it was the servant girl from last night. She was holding a tray with a teapot and some bread; I motioned her inside.
"Your fiance asked me to deliver a message," she began, eyeing me. I fought to roll my eyes.
"Yes?" I encouraged her.
"He said to get dressed and pack your bags. You'll be departing this afternoon," she disappeared into my armoire, pulling out a dress. The girl had taken on the role of my handmaiden as my usual one was probably somewhere in a tree.
"Departing? For where?" I asked her.
"Nottingham," she sighed, "For your wedding. Prince—The King— insists upon it."
We were leaving Locksley. That was a good thing. So why did my stomach now feel like stone?
"Um," I began, realizing I did not know the girl's name.
"Catherine," she supplied.
"Thank you. Catherine, did anything...happen, last night?" I asked cautiously, realizing I wasn't completely certain of where the girl's loyalties lay.
She smirked, giving me my answer.
"Why don't you see for yourself?"
I managed to dress and leave the manor unnoticed. I couldn't believe how calm everything was. How..normal. Guy and the Sheriff should've been out a brood of prisoners and leverage against Robin. Surely someone would notice an empty jailhouse.
The two guards from last night were positioned at the door looking rather worse for wear. Seems that Catherine did her job a little too well. One look, and they let me in without question.
My stomach dropped when I saw all the people still in the cell.
"What the hell, Much?!" I swore. The redhead's eyes glimmered as he beckoned me closer. I approached the cell.
"Our numbers are looking a little slim, don't you think?" he smiled conspiratorially.
I took another look at the group. There were a few children I knew were in there yesterday that I didn't see. In fact, I didn't see any children. I looked back to Much for an explanation, and he flashed me the key very quickly.
"They would've known you had something to do with it if we all left at once. So we're leaving a little bit at a time," he nodded to a family of four. I assumed they would be the next to go.
"You're not alone in this, Marian," Much squeezed me hand. My eyes watered as I squeezed back. For so long I felt like I had to control everything. Felt like I had to handle things, to protect my people and my father and Robin. With those few words, Much lifted a weight off my shoulders.
Maybe we'd get through this after all.
What awaits Marian in Nottingham? And how will Robin react to her upcoming nuptials! R&R!