Chapter Three: The first day of the rest of our lives (ish)

Isabella was not pleased when Meg came in to the house with Guy in tow, of course Isabella would admit that it was nice to have a woman about the house someone that she can talk to about things that she could never with her brother. But it was not nice having a woman in the house that was in love with her brother, it made her feel sick.

Meg could tell that Isabella took an instant dislike to her but she could not be sure why, maybe she was jealous of how close her and Guy were. Knowing that she would never be the one that he would ask for advice it would always be Meg he would go to. There had been no news about the men who had ended her parent's life. Meg's training was going well, she had managed to persuade Guy rather forcefully that he would teach her to fight and after much deliberation he had agreed. Although in the lessons she suspected that Guy was going easy on her but she would not tell him that. But being with Guy was a plus side to the evil glares that she was sure Isabella and the maids were giving her.

'Meg' she had been sitting at the window in the entrance hall, watching the children playing.

'Hmmm' Meg turned; she already knew who was talking to her, Guy.

'Are you ok? You seem distant' Guy asked

'I was just dreaming' Meg smiled

'You would tell me if something was wrong would you not?' Guy replied

'Of course I would, I tell you everything' Meg replied

Isabella entered the bouncing up to Guy: Meg rolled her eyes why did she have to think that it was a competition between them. She was not going to make Guy choose between her family and her.

'Lady Meg still here' Isabella spotted here

'It appears so Lady Isabella' Meg replied

Guy wished that Isabella would not be rude to Meg she was part of their lives now, Isabella had to accept it.

'Meg, will you accompany me for a ride' Guy asked

'Of course' Meg agreed, getting up slowly she saw Isabella look as if she would have leapt for her at any second.

Guy and Meg rode to Locksley to be far away from Isabella well Guy lead the way Meg followed.

'Meg' Guy whispered

'Guy, what is it?' Meg said alarmed

'It's Isabella she has had an offer of marriage by a man called Thornton, he seems like a good man and the dowry is sufficient'

'But you are worried, that she is too young' Meg finished

'I am. What if he does not look after her?' Guy nodded

'Guy, girls enter marriage not really knowing whether their husbands will love them, I remember my mother telling me that she was petrified when my father asked for her hand, but she fell in love with him, but of course it is your decision it is you who is her brother' Meg smiled

'But I want you to help me'

'That I cannot I can offer you advice but the decision would be yours ultimately' Meg replied, 'I will ride back to the house and wait for you, I think you need some time alone'

Meg turned her horse around and was gone.

Guy dismounted his horse and sat on the hill, this was going to be one of the hardest decisions of his life. He looked at the pluses Isabella would be married and happy but then she may not be, of course he would miss her but to have someone make an offer for her, he now knew he would have to accept it. He made his way back to the house as the sun descended from the sky.

Meg was there waiting for him when he arrived home, her face smiling. This face was the face that one day he would wake up with everyday and fall asleep with every night.

'You alright, Guy?' Meg asked

'I am, Isabella is to be betrothed to Thornton, on the condition that they shall marry on Isabella's next birthday, when she will be fifteen'

'You know I will support you in this decision, my love' Meg replied

'Thank you' Guy kissed her forehead, 'I'd better go and tell Isabella'

'Good luck, you may wish to tell me again in front of Isabella later you do not want her to think that you told me first' Meg smiled

'I will' Guy replied, making his way into the house.

Guy knocked gently on his sister's door, she mumbled for him to come in. He looked at his fourteen year old sister, Meg only three years older than her.

'Brother, what is it?' Isabella looked to him, her eyes piercing him as if they already knew what he was about to say.

'Isabella, I have had an offer of marriage to you, to a respectable man, whom I am sure will look after you, his name is Thornton and I am sure he will be good for you'

'When am I to be married?' Isabella replied coldly

'Not until your birthday in June, as it is September now, you have nine months'

'Thank you' Isabella smiled, 'I thought it would be sooner'

'I may be your older brother but I am not the devil' Guy replied, 'Come on you'd better wash up dinner will be soon'

Guy came down stairs seeing that Meg was attempting and failing to do some needle work, smiling, he sat next to her.

'I think you are going to kill that' Guy laughed

'Be quite you are you won't get your surprise'

'Surprise milady' he teased

'You did not think that this was my needle work did you, I was taught to sew' Meg replied, 'Now do you want your surprise or not'

'I am thinking yes' He smiled

Shifting her weight slightly she put her hands between the crease of the chair and pulled out a piece of cloth she handed it to Guy. He took it looking down it was sewn with his initials and hers intertwined.

'Well do you like it' Meg smiled eagerly

'Of course, I like it, I love it' Guy beamed, 'It is beautiful, thank you'

Meg was very pleased when he said that he liked the present. She was about to inquire how the meeting with Isabella, when Isabella came down for dinner. Guy sat with Meg and the dinner began.

'I have something to tell you Meg' Guy smiled

'Yes, sir' Meg replied

'I have had an offer of marriage on Isabella; she is to be married in nine months'

'Congratulations Isabella' she turned to her, 'If you would like any help with the arrangements I offer my services'

'Thank you Lady Meg that would be greatly appreciated' Isabella smiled.

The evening progressed without another word from Isabella. Isabella excused herself after dinner; therefore not for the first time Meg and Guy were alone.

'Fancy a walk?' Meg smiled; 'it is still light at the moment look the children are still playing'

'Alright, Shall we?' he extended his arm to her, she took it.

They walked around the town seeing the little children running playing games.

'Hello' Meg smiled, 'and what might your name be?'

'I am Joseph, Joseph Tailor'

'It is nice to meet you Joseph Tailor, I am Lady Meg' Meg shook his hand, Guy look in amazement she was a natural with the little ones, 'Do you mind me asking what game are you and your friends playing?'

'Not at all Lady Meg' the four year old smiled, 'we were playing hide and seek, but I get to be the seeker because I is the littlest, but they hide so that I can't reach them it takes me hours to find Em'

'Well I think me and Guy may be able to help you with that one, Can we not Guy?'

'I think the lady raises an excellent point, we will help you'

Meg and Guy started looking for the children with little Joseph's help it did not take them very long, next it was Guy's turn to be seeker because the boys nominated them and Meg had already began to hide.

'….6….7….8….9….10, ready or not here I come' Guy heard giggling from the boys as he began to come near their hide out, he soon found them all, it was only Meg that was still missing.

'Boys, come on in its getting late' their mothers called.

'Guy what about Lady Meg' Joseph looked alarmed

'It is ok I will find her and I will have her come to see you tomorrow, now you better do as your Mother tells you Goodnight Joseph'

'Goodnight Sir Guy' Joseph shouted on his way back to his house.

Guy continued to look for Meg, it was beginning to get rather cold and Guy was getting worried. Then he heard a noise behind him. Turning abruptly he saw her eyes, she had pinned him against the tree.

'Found you' Meg grinned

'I seem to have misinterpreted the rules; I thought I was meant to find you' Guy breathed

'Now now, Guy of Gisborne, where would the fun be in that' She flirted, letting her lips touch his cheek.

Guy's power suddenly took over, he flipped her round so that now she was the one that was pinned, 'Now milady that was not very nice' he smiled wickedly

'That is no way to treat a Lady' he started to tickle her, 'Guy, stop, please I am sorry'

He let her go, 'Are you going to play nice Meg?'

Meg nodded; she was still attempting to get her breath back. Her and Guy walked back to the house, Guy opened the door for her letting her go in before him. Meg sat down waiting to see where Guy was going to go, was he going to go to bed or head out.

'I am to retire to my bed' Guy smiled; it was like he was reading her mind.

Meg got up to make her way to her room, 'Goodnight Guy'

'Sleep well love' He smiled

'You too, have sweet dreams' she replied touching his hand and kissing it softly, 'I love you'

'I love you too Meg'

Meg went through the door and shut it behind her, she was sure that she would be having sweet dreams about Guy tonight and he too would be having sweet dreams about her.

Little did both of them know that Isabella was not so happy with Meg being there, she was sure that it was her that had made Guy want to get rid of her, and one day she was going to make Meg pay for tearing her away from her Big brother who swore that he would always be there to protect her.

Robin had just gotten back from Nottingham inquiring about Meg's Parents, when he had heard the news that the King, Richard was off to fight in the crusades again leaving his brother Prince John in the guardianship of England, Robin had been told terrible things about Prince John and what he would do to the people if they did not love or respect him. This made Robin nervous, he needed to go and tell Guy about the news quickly.

Dawn was just breaking when the door was being pounded by Robin, Guy luckily was already awake and he did not wish Meg to be awoken, he opened the door.

'Robin, What is it?' Guy asked

'We have problems, big problems'

'Come in'

Robin sat down.

Meg had heard the banging and was getting herself dressed about to go downstairs when she heard a males voice behind her.

She turned expecting Guy to be there but it was not him.

'Who are you?'

'Now now sweet child I do not think you are the one to be asking the questions' he stood in front of the door.

'I think you should like to move out of the way' Meg threatened

'I do not think so'

'Well the least you could do is tell me your name?'

'The name is Vasey I work for Prince John' Meg moved closer to him remembering what Guy had taught her.

'I cannot say that I have heard of you sir' with that she kicked him out of the way.

She ran downstairs much to the alarm of Guy.

'There is a man upstairs' she stammered

Guy and Robin raced upstairs, but Vasey was gone.

They came back down after checking that Isabella was ok, which she was.

'What did the man say to you Meg?' Robin asked

'It's ok Meg' Guy reassured her

'He said that his name was Vasey and that he said that he worked for prince John what has prince john got to do with all this'

'It seems Guy that he is making his mark on Nottingham, we'd better go and warn the sheriff' Robin said

'We can't leave Isabella here on her own' Meg interrupted

'We will take her to Locksley Much will make sure she comes to no harm'

'You better not be leaving me behind there Guy'

'Meg he won't you'll be coming with us to Nottingham' Guy was about to complain but then thinking about it could he bare Meg to be at Locksley without him he did not think that he could.

After dropping Isabella at Locksley keeping her in the capable hands of Much the three went towards Nottingham not sure what was about to occur.