Come. Come to me. You are mine.Robin had the feeling of moving through a wall of water, his bodyslow and heavy. The call he heard in his mind was scary and beautiful. Irresistible."I'm yours," he whispered, waking up, and he found himself staring at Guy of Gisborne's blue eyes."As far as this is technically correct, being my prisoner, I would prefer if you avoid using that tone with me, Hood," Guy said with a disgusted grin.Robin retreated instinctively, but he regretted moving too fast, when he saw the cell spinning around him. He laid down on hisback and closed his eyes, feeling sick."What did you do to me, Gisborne?""Of course I wasn't the one who bit your neck."Robin touched his wound with his hand, and he looked at his fingers. The blood that had soaked the scarf was dry, but he felt that his neck was swollen and it hurt. The most unpleasant feeling, however, was nested at the bottom of his mind, as if he had forgotten something very important, a commitment that he shouldn't miss."Who did it then?" He asked, tiredly. He didn't know what Gisborne wanted to do, but it didn't matter much because he didn't have the strength to oppose. This time, his rival had won, and Gisborne could enjoy that triumph while he regained hisstrength.But Gisborne didn't seem as triumphant as he should have been after catching him. He seemed distracted and concerned."That's what I would like to know," Guy said in a low voice, almost speaking to himself.Robin stood up cautiously, and he tried to concentrate on his situation to find a way to save himself. Gisborne behaved strangely, he seemed worried and absorbed in some unpleasant thoughts, and Robin wondered if he could take advantage of that distraction to overwhelm him and escape.He gave up that attempt: it was true that Guy hadn't even unsheathed the sword and that he had his guard lowered, but Robin felt too weak to try to attack him. To tell the truth, hewasn't sure to be able to walk for more than a few steps without falling to the ground."Hood." Guy's voice suddenly called him, startling him, and Robin saw Gisborne staring at him. He looked at him in turn, waiting.
"Have you seen him? Did you see who attacked you?"Robin was astonished at that question and he reflected beforeanswering."Weren't your guards?"Guy snorted and he shook his head with a sarcastic smile."It's a miracle if the two of them were smart enough to think of arresting you, but certainly they weren't the ones to wound you like that. No, there is a murderer at the castle, and I want to know who he is.""And you come to ask me?""You survived his attack, you have to remember something."
"If I'm not wrong, even the sheriff is still alive, why don't you ask him? Or this is what you want to avoid?""Answer, Hood!""Let me guess, Gisborne, you're scared that the sheriff wakes up, asks you who hurt him, and you can't give him an answer, aren't you?"Guy gave him a fierce glare, and Robin knew he had guessed."Speak or I'll torture you."Robin smiled, seeing that Gisborne was so upset made him feel better."It seems to me that someone is in a hurry, or am I wrong? Torture can go on for many hours, do you have enough time?"Guy leaned forward and struck him with a slap that made him see black spots in front of his eyes for a moment, but Robin didn't stop smiling: if his opponent lost his temper, it was because Robin's words had hit the target."What is it, Gisborne, am I right? What will Vaisey say when you can't tell him who has hurt him?""He will feel better when he can have the pleasure of hanging you.""If the mysterious assassin doesn't decide to finish the job. Or who knows, you might be the next.""He might also end the work that he had started with you.""I don't have much to lose, right? If he doesn't kill me, you'll hang me, what's the difference? But you're likely to find yourself in a very ugly situation, with an assassin free to make whatever he wants in the castle."Guy was silent, tempted to pull out the sword and to use it to silence Robin Hood. But his words sounded too true, unfortunately.He had seen with his eyes what happened to the guard who had been killed, only to think about it made him shudder, and he knew that until he found the culprit, every inhabitant of the castle would be in danger.Marian included."We can arrange an agreement, Hood."Robin looked at him, crossing his arms in front of him."I'm listening."
"Tell me everything you know, anything that can help me to understand who the assassin is, and when I find him..." Guy hesitated. What he was about to say could be regarded as a betrayal, and if the sheriff should ever know about it, he would at least have him flogged. "If I can catch the murderer thanks to your informations, well, I might be too busy closing him in a cell to make sure that the door of your cell is well closed."Robin looked in his eyes and realized that Gisborne was not lying, he was really suggesting him a way out of that situation, so he decided to raise the stakes."I have a better proposal.""Let's hear.""Let me out now and I'll help you to capture the killer."Guy stared at him, wary."Are you asking me to let you out of here without any guarantees? I'm not an idiot, Hood, if I did, I'd see you disappear in a moment.""No. I wouldn't.""And you expect me to believe you?""I'll give you my word, if we make a pact, I'll keep it.""The word of an outlaw...""The word of Robin Hood."Guy looked at him for a long time, then he took a decision, and he held out a hand to Robin to help him get up from the ground.""Then we have an agreement. But do not deceive yourself, once I'll have captured the assassin, everything will return as it was before."Robin shook his hand and stood up, grinning."Obviously."Guy let him go, and opened the cell door, stepping aside to let him go out."Well, I've respected my part of the pact. Now it's your turn."Robin stretched his back, now that he was out of that cell, he was already feeling better.Guy looked at him, suspicious."Do you have a plan, at least?"The outlaw gave him an irritating smile."No, but I'm sure that something will come to my mind.""It will be better for you. Let's go."Marian turned into the bed and threw off the sheets and the blanket with a kick, then she woke up with a muffled cry.She looked around, panting, and the glow of Guy's lantern reassured her from the mantelpiece, dissipating the terror she felt."A nightmare... It was just a nightmare..." She whispered, remembering the scene she had lived in her dream.She was in the Sherwood Forest, and she ran through the trees, free and happy as a wild foal, without a thought in the world.The sun danced among the leaves of the trees, drawing light spots on the path, and Marian thought that she didn't want to stop, wanting to prolong that carefree moment forever. But the path split into two, and the girl stopped, undecided on the direction to take.One of the two paths was snaking in a dark and lush forest, perhaps too shady, but full of mysteries that made hercurious. It was not an easy path and she was a little frightened of it, but she had the sensation that there was something special waiting at the end of the trail.The other road was straight and full of sunshine, wide and comfortable to travel, a safe and warm road, so wide and bright that it made her feel a bit insignificant, just a traveler like many others.The girl stood still at the fork, indecisive. A road attracted her with her shadow, and the other attracted her for her light: completely different, but both interesting.As she was there, trying to choose, Marian was suddenly surrounded by the night, by a scary, cold and overwhelming darkness.She had to flee, to go on her way, but she didn't know where to go.One hand touched her shoulder, and behind her there was Guy, smiling and holding the lantern he had carved for her."Let me shed light on your journey.""Maybe we follow different roads.""Then take the lantern, it will protect you."Marian took the turnip in her hands and the flame of the candle warmed her fingers. When she turned to Guy to thank him, she was horrified: the cut on his hand had reopened, and his blood flowed between his fingers, and fell to the ground, forming a puddle at his feet."What happened to you?! You have to wrap that wound!"Guy shook his head, pale, his gaze lost and empty."I can't. It wouldn't be useful. Now that I have given you my light, the Bargest has found me. Now I have to die."Marian watched him becoming even more white in his face, she saw dark shadows crawling over his face, gathering under his eyes. She found herself in tears."No! I don't want to!"Guy smiled, as if he was in ecstasy."I gave you my love and you ignored it, I gave you my light, but you still can't choose a road... Why should you care if Death takes my blood?"Marian put her hands on her heart, trying to slow down its beats. She said to herself that that dream depended on the stories she had heard, and from the news of murders at the castle.Guy was fine, his cut was nothing serious and certainly not adanger.Marian thought to Lady Millacra's lips, pressed on the wound, and she shuddered.Death takes my blood...Marian got up from the bed and she dressed in a hurry.It didn't matter if her behavior was superstitious and irrational, but she needed to make sure that Guy was fine.She approached the door, thinking of an excuse to get rid of the guards, but she stopped shortly before opening it, and hurried back to the fireplace to take her lantern.