I do not own Robin Hood.
"Sleep well?" Challenged Lord McBain the following morning, after Rachael and Guy's evening talk.
"Yes thank you." She replied.
"Interesting." He added.
"What is?" Asked Rachael.
"That Guy of Gisborne is more to you than a tax man." Replied Lord McBain.
Rachael looked quite shocked and turned to her father quite angrily.
"You were spying on me?" She asked.
"Not intentionally. So tell me if you do stay is it for him or the village?" He asked.
"I'm not discussing it with you." She replied.
"You love him." He said.
"Don't talk nonsense." She said.
"You lied to him then." He added.
"No I did not." She argued.
"Well what then?" He asked.
"I don't know." She replied.
Lord McBain was not impressed with her and she knew it.
"All these years. You haven't missed your brothers and sisters at all, or even asked about your mother." He said.
Rachael refused to feel guilty about her lack of curiosity about her family. She looked at him questioningly. If he wanted to tell her, he could but she refused to give in to him.
"Like that is it?" He asked.
"If you mean I refuse to play your guilt games, yes it is like that." She replied.
Guy appeared and frowned. He had never seen Rachael so foul-tempered before. He looked quite challengingly at Lord McBain before he looked at her.
"Is there a problem?" He asked.
"Nothing you can help with unless you can remove that cold heart of hers and replace it." Replied Lord McBain.
Guy struggled not to respond with an argument so he looked at him questioningly.
"Cold heart? Not quite how I'd describe her." He said.
"I bet you wouldn't." Added Lord McBain.
Guy glared at him and Rachael rolled her eyes in an embarrassed manner and sighed. Guy then looked at her, silently asking her for an explanation.
"He was listening." She said.
"Then you needn't worry my lord. I'm no threat to you." He said.
"It's not me I am concerned about." Added Lord McBain.
Guy refused to dignify him with a response and walked away. Rachael went to go after him but she knew her father would be proved right if she did.
"Why so concerned Rachael? You have a village to run." He added.
Rachael was very reluctant to stay in Locksley. Her eyes darted often around the place for a glimpse of Guy, but as a black knight she knew if he didn't want her to see him, she wouldn't. To make matters worse, she could sense her betrothed travelling to her at the speed of light on horse-back. He had been a ridiculous looking boy and she had little hope that he would be any different as a man.
To Rachael's surprise, Guy came home and she stood up, after spending an entire day worried that she would never see him again. She went quickly to him and she hugged him and he returned her hold.
"Guy! I thought..." She began.
Then came the sound of heavy hoofs on the ground. Rachael ran to the window and recognized the badger crest but not the man riding the horse. She walked outside and found her father already waiting to welcome their guest. He turned briefly to Rachael and smirked, knowing full well she wouldn't expect Gordon to have changed so much over the years. Guy stood behind her with his arms folded, they were wasting their time or so he hoped more than ever. Gordon dismounted and removed the helmet he was wearing. He had deep brown eyes, dark hair to rival Guy's and he was very well built. He walked over to Rachael and bowed, he then asked for her hand, rather than just take it and Guy saw Lord McBain smirk for a moment until he realized that she wasn't going to let him kiss her hand, so Guy took the smirk from him.
"Lady Rachael, I'm so glad that you are safe." He said.
To her surprise, like her, Gordon had neglected any accent. She bowed her head slightly and he smiled at her.
"You're more beautiful than I remember." He added.
"My Lord, I don't wish to be rude but we have much to discuss." She said.
"No. I don't think so. Beautiful though you are, I am not here to carry out our betrothal. I'm sorry Lord McBain. I confess there is another and I won't put your daughter through a loveless marriage." He said.
Lord McBain looked horrified. Guy thought about turning away as it was starting to become quite a challenge not to laugh, but he continued to fight the urge as Rachael's father challenged Gordon.
"How dare you? You bring great offence upon me sir! What would your father say?" He asked.
"Bones can't talk so I suppose I shall never know. It was never my intention to cause offence. Quite the opposite I assure you." Replied Gordon, looking at Rachael.
"My Lord I assure you, the only offence is upon my father's pride. Accept my congratulations to you and your lady friend. I personally admire you for staying true to yourself." She said.
Gordon smiled at her and Guy turned his head to the side, feeling slightly jealous, he remembered his own amazement in her kindness once and it was a wonderful feeling that he had always treasured in his memory. Meanwhile Lord McBain snarled under his breath.
"You are both as bad as each other! I should..." He began.
"Disown me? Do you really think it would make a difference?" She asked.
"Bad as each other? You mean, you love another?" Asked Gordon.
He looked at her expectantly and Lord McBain glared at her challengingly. Guy no longer had his arms folded and smirked. Rachael tried to think of a response that would make sense and not offend anybody, while being truly honest.
"I have some feelings. I'm not quite sure, but I know I wouldn't be happy if I never saw him again." She replied.
Guy could have cried out with frustration: Not happy? What does that mean? Some feelings? Three times we have nearly kissed each other and the last one I do not take the blame for. She must love me. Why doesn't she see it?
Gordon of Glasgow left Locksley and Rachael remained. She found her father packing his things and she stopped in the door-way. He turned to her angrily.
"This is the end as far as I am concerned! Thornton lied as far as the rest of the family are concerned." He said.
"Oh did he? Then how are you going to explain all the money you gave him? I really wouldn't advise asking for it back or you might loose something a little more dear to you, like your head." She said.
"I was robbed!" He snarled.
"Oh I see. But how are you going to make sure Squire Thornton doesn't keep sending you messages to remind you where I am? It would be a shame if another member of the family got the message by accident." She added.
Lord McBain slammed down his trunk and glared at her.
"Just a theory." She added.
"Tell him I will personally start a war if I ever hear from him or you again." He snarled.
There was a knock on the door and Squire Thornton arrived himself, just as Lord McBain was ready to leave. He looked at Rachael questioningly.
"The good news is, you can keep your gold. The bad news is, you or I contact him again and it's war, and you don't want to mess with Scottish Knights, they fight to kill." She said.
"I take it the reunion didn't quite go as planned." He added.
"I don't think any of us are meant to have a normal family life. You're wife is in the tower, who is also Guy's sister and my father has just threatened to declare war if he hears from me again." She said.
Thornton smirked and lowered his voice as Lord McBain began to leave Locksley.
"Luckily there is an alliance between us. The greatest family of all is that I know that when in danger, I can call on your little village." He said.
"Every able bodied man will be at your side." She said.
"I know. One way or another." He added.
He too left and she turned back into Locksley Manor, happy to have her own life back once again. She began to put her hair up but dropped a hair-pin on the floor. Before she could pick it up, another hand took it. She looked up and saw Guy.
"Thank you." She said.
"Why did you say what you did?" He asked.
"Guy..." She began.
"I know you love me. Why didn't you say it?" He asked.
"I was scared of making a fool of myself. You rejecting my affections once and I you. I won't love what doesn't love back." She replied.