Afternoon light illuminated the Nottingham castle chapel. Well-oiled woods gleamed with the memories of colors thrown by stained glass panels. Collections of precious stones set into sacred scenes cast reflections from their facets on the stone and panel walls, and gold inlay glimmered softly in glowing splendor. It was a wondrous, carefully curated place.
It was always empty.
Holy Mary, pray for us
Guy did not care for the chapel. It was barren. Vaisey used the chapel as a way station for his collections, a strong room in plain sight except he'd barred anyone but his top men access to the place. So, to pray as his mother had taught—as he'd promised—Guy found the one uncontaminated image in the chapel.
Though his knees screamed and his feet long numb, he knelt by a small painting, modest compared to the rest of the chapel. The icon of the Mother and Child was unremarkable, with only a little gold leaf here and there in the halos to suit the purpose. All the more reason to show his thanks.
Holy Mother of God
It was easy to worship the beautiful and ornate cups and statuettes of Christ. Easy to kneel in front of relics and imagine their power. It was something else to keep a promise—devotion for a granted request. His mother had offered her thanks and prayed for assistance daily, a habit that had fallen from Guy when he stopped seeing his days as blessings. Days were endured, and you did not thank anyone for the bruises but the one who gave them.
Virgin most Venerable
Virgin most Renowned
Guy was thankful. Marian had been spared. He'd taken to his knees once Winchester had her and in a moment of naked, bleeding hope, he'd sworn an hour a day for all those that remained for him should she be spared. His leather would be dented in witness.
Spared…and she would be his wife. The parchment was stiff against his chest. Edward had signed and Marian had walked like a queen and tucked herself to his side. He'd been granted the first half of his request; would he be worthy of the second?
Refuge of Sinners
Guy resisted the urge to shift his weight. Wretched sinners deserved no comfort and he'd soon receive the greatest he could imagine—a future. A home. Marian was salvation in a life of depravity and darkness. If he could earn her tenderness…
Cause of our Joy
House of Gold
A ray of sunlight caught in the cracked gold leaf of the Virgin's halo. Guy stared until his eyes watered, then let the overflow spill to the hard stone floor.
…
"Gisborne!"
With his legs still wobbling, Guy followed Vaisey's echoing shout down the corridors. The sharp pain of his feet slowly faded to a dull ache as he approached Vaisey's rooms. The guards had the doors open, waiting.
"Gisborne!"
"Yes, my lord?"
Vaisey settled his fists on his hips and grunted. "Where have you been? Need your opinion." Vaisey tromped off towards his display of skulls, and Guy followed with a sigh. Were he not so dangerous, he'd be an aging fop.
"I need you to arrange a carriage and an escort," Vaisey said as he held up a skull with a blue-jeweled tooth. "Winchester wasn't exaggerating; there is a bit of an uprising in Sussex and we're going to spread some gold to those that respond to that and take some from those that don't. What do you think?" He held up the sapphire tooth.
"Maybe the emerald? How long will you be away?"
Vaisey held up the second skull, considering, then held one on either side of his head and faced Guy, his jagged grin mocking the unfortunates he modeled on either side. "Not sure, depends on how much trouble we have. Well?"
"Do you expect trouble? I thought they were mostly loyal to the Prince." Guy tried to consider the jeweled teeth on display and struggled. The stones were probably pried from relics in the chapel, set into stolen bones. "The ruby?"
"Ah, red! How regal!" Vaisey exclaimed. "They are. All members of the pact but they seem to be going on about common customs and other quaint nonsense. I'm going to recommend a full guard, and we'll use the dungeon of the first trouble maker to lock up the rest." He rubbed his hands together. "I've always wanted a summer home. Well," he held up the ruby-toothed skull. "What do you think?"
Nearly two decades of service had made him numb to Vaisey's madness, but this was new. "The ruby. How long will you be away?"
Vaisey turned and plucked the tooth from the skull and peered into a polished glass. "Planning some treason, Gisborne?" Vaisey jabbed the tooth into his jaw.
"No, my lord," Guy hesitated. He must be careful. "My wedding."
Vaisey turned and licked at the ruby-set tooth. He tossed the skull into the air and caught it like a toy. "Lady Marian?"
"Yes, my lord."
"Sir Edward?"
"He agreed."
Vaisey looked confused. "Then I don't quite understand. You've been mooning over the baggage for a year." Vaisey turned to inspect his wardrobe. "Call a priest and be done."
Guy unlatched his leather jerkin and pulled out the marriage contract. "Because, I was hoping you would sign on my behalf. As my lord and my guardian."
Vaisey looked back and narrowed his eyes. "You don't need me to."
"No, my lord. But I would value it."
Guy knew there was little Vaisey loved more than having Guy at his mercy. Seeing him vulnerable. Giving Vaisey this piece of himself was the easiest yet. Whatever he bartered was cheap compared to what he would gain, so he unrolled the contract and held it out, careful to let Vaisey see the vacant space.
Casually, Vaisey strolled towards his desk. "I have always felt like a father to you, Gisborne," he said as he dipped a quill into the inkpot. Guy quickly laid out the contract and held the corners. "So I'm going to offer you some advice."
Guy remembered his father. The idea of Vaisey taking that place made his stomach churn. "Yes, my lord?"
"Be quick about it. I dislike weddings." Vaisey scrawled his mark across the parchment. It was larger, thicker-lined and more ornate that Edward's. It took up far more space. It was ridiculous. He set the quill back on the desk, ignoring the splat of ink it left across the contract. "Incidentally, Gisborne, if I return and find Lady Marian is still unmarried, I'll lock you in the dungeon and trade her off with more success than with Winchester. Which reminds me, make sure some guest rooms are ready when I return."
Guy swallowed, but said nothing.
"Now, I'm off to sort out Sussex with Prince John. I'll leave in an hour, and I expect you to see me off. Shoo."
Clutching the blotched catastrophe that was his marriage contract, Guy hurried out of the room. Marian would be safe.
His boots were lighter on the stones as Guy quickly passed the guards, turning towards Marian's rooms with as much dignity as his gear would allow.
Gate of Heaven
Queen of Peace
Pray for us.
…
The monk stopped Guy before he could reach Marian's rooms. "My lord, Sir Edward. His breathing is more… labored."
"Labored? Labored how?"
The monk tucked his hands into his sleeves and bowed his head. "There is a rattle, my lord. Where is Lady Marian?" He lowered his voice. "It is a matter of days, I think."
Guy glanced over the monk's tonsure. He could see Marian's room. God, he knew they would have to hurry, but now… "She has been ill, brother. She stayed away to protect Sir Edward's health."
"Little need for that now. She should be with him and," the monk carefully drew up his hood. "I suggest allowing no other visitors. He has been… talking."
The grim set of the monk's face was deepened in his hood's shadow.
Guy nodded his understanding. "I will prepare Lady Marian and take her today." He drew a few coins from his purse. "An offering, brother. Will you return tomorrow?"
"Of course."
"I will have another offering then."
The monk bowed. "I will spend my days in silent prayer for you all, my lord."
...
The Veneration of Mary was really getting kicked off in the 12th century, and some of the most devout were the Norman French. The first known written records of prayers specifically to Mary date back to the 1400s and they were kinda old then. Many clearly borrow from fairly mystic pagan sources and are pretty lovely. (I am deeply guilty of using prayers/scripture inappropriately on a regular basis.)