Chapter Three: Mind's Eye
Much dreamed about Robin sometimes. They were nice dreams. They'd never ever happen in real life, but they were still very nice ones.
Robin was Lord of Locksley and Earl of Huntingdon and Much had his Bonchurch. They were riding horses across the open country one afternoon. Robin was doing tricks and showing off. Much applauded and laughed. At last, they came to a stream. There, they dismounted their horses, and waded into the cool, clear water. Much accidentally flicked a few drops of water at Robin. Robin responded by flinging a handful of water at Much.
This turned into a water fight, which led to a river wrestling match. Robin won, but Much didn't mind. They soon crawled out of the water, and laid down on the grass to dry in the sun.
"This is a good day," Much commented to Robin.
"A very good day," agreed Robin.
Robin leaned over and kissed Much. Much kissed him back.
Much slept with a peaceful smile on his face.
Robin and Marian were getting married. It was a beautifully perfect day. Marian was beautiful. Well, she was always beautiful, but to Robin, she seemed even more so today.
"I do," said Robin to the old and venerable priest.
The priest turned to Marian.
"Marian, do you take this man, as your husband?" he asked.
"I do," replied Marian.
"Then, I now pronounce you-"
The church doors violently banging open interrupted the priest. It was now storming outside. Sir Guy of Gisbourne stood in the entry. He stormed down the aisle in a blur of black leather.
"I object to this union!" he protested loudly.
Gisbourne turned to Marian.
"I love you," he said, quietly.
Gisbourne embraced Marian in a tight hug and stabbed her in the belly with a dagger. She gasped and fell to the floor, dead. The little priest fainted.
"Marian!" Robin cried, rushing to her side.
He cradled her head in his arms and sobbed. He looked up, tears filling his light eyes.
"How could you?" he demanded.
Gisbourne shrugged.
"She deserved it," he replied.
Robin laid his cheek on Marian's head and cried some more.
"Get up!" Gisbourne ordered, grabbing the back of Robin's tunic.
He slammed Robin into the wall. The force of it left him rather dazed. He saw doubles of everything for a few minutes.
"It's just you and me now, Locksley," the Gisbournes said.
Robin did not reply, but stared sadly at the Marians lying in puddles of her own blood.
Gisbourne ran a hand through Robin's short hair. Robin ducked his head out of the way.
"Leave me alone, Gisbourne," he said.
"Why should I?" asked Gisbourne, menacingly, "Marian's dead and I need someone to keep me company."
He softly stroked the side of Robin's face. Robin jerked his head to the side. Gisbourne grabbed either side of Robin's head and gave him a rough kiss.
When Robin awoke in the morning, he did not remember the dream. Gisbourne's recent behavior worried him deeply. Whatever the reason for Gisbourne's strange behavior was, Robin feared it couldn't end well. Whatever 'it' was.
Gisbourne's last encounter with Locksley worried him endlessly. Not only had he smacked Locksley's rear, he'd also kissed him. He had actually kissed the outlaw. He hadn't been able to restrain himself in that regard. That kiss had been better than any he'd ever dreamt about. Thinking about that one kiss caused Gisbourne to feel tension building between his legs. He'd have to relieve it before he left. He sighed as he sat on his bed. Now, he'd have to think about Locksley.
Gisbourne cleaned up, before going to the stable. He was going to visit Lady Marian at Knighton Hall. He longed to have dreams of her again. She's the prettiest woman in Nottingham and the surrounding area. He hoped she'd be able to help him stop thinking about Locksley. That was his plan: think more on Marian and less on Locksley. It was a good plan; short, simple, and to the point.
At Knighton Hall, Marian already had a visitor. Robin. He was perched on her window. She was seated in a chair near the window. A knock on the front door interrupted their conversation.
"Shh," Marian told Robin.
Sir Edward answered the door. It was Guy.
"Good day, Sir Edward," said Guy, "is Marian home?"
"Yes, she is," replied Edward, "would you care to come in?"
"Thank you," said Guy.
"Marian," called Edward, "you have a visitor."
"Hide," Marian told Robin, "I won't be gone long."
Gisbourne was seated at the former Sheriff's house, when Marian descended the stairs.
"Hello, Sir Guy," she said, "how good of you to visit."
"Marian, would you care to go on a walk?" he asked.
"A walk?" asked Marian.
"Yes. A walk," said Gisbourne, "with me."
"A walk would be nice," said Marian, "its such a lovely day."
Marian and Gisbourne took a walk around Sir Edward's property. (He didn't know that Robin was secretly following them.) The silence taht accompanied the pair was deafening. Marian spoke first.
"What is the nature of your visit, Sir Guy?" she asked, "not business, I hope."
"No, not business," replied Gisbourne, "yet, I wouldn't call it 'pleasure', either."
Marian was confused.
"Then, what brings you here, if neither business nor pleasure?" she asked.
Gisbourne sighed.
"A problem," he said.
"What sort of problem?" inquired Marian, with a raised eyebrow.
"It's a personal problem, Marian," said Guy, "it has nothing to do with you. I just thought I could find help in talking to you."
"Oh," said Marian, "what can I do to help?"
"Nothing," said Guy, "just talk."
"What is this problem of yours?" asked Marian.
"Why do you want to know?" asked Gisbourne, suspiciously.
"Just curious," replied Marian, innocently.
"It's difficult to explain."
Gisbourne tried to weasel out of explaining.
"Start at the beginning," she gently urged.
"I've been having...disturbing dreams about...someone of my acquaintance," said Gisbourne, "I hate having these dreams, but they keep coming, anyway."
"That must be very frustrating," Marian sympathesized.
Gisbourne nodded.
"It is. And, that's not the worst of it," he added, "I've also started thinking about…this person in my waking thoughts."
"And, you think thinking about me will stop these unwelcome thoughts of yours?" asked Marian.
"I hope so," answered Gisbourne.
