Chapter Eight
Gisborne climbed off his horse, his leather boots thumping on the ground as he landed. A small boy ran up to him, "Sir, sir my father is waiting for you to check his crop!" Gisborne was in a really bad mood and shoved the boy out of his way as he headed towards his manor. The youngster fell hard on the floor, grazing his elbow on a rock. He glared up at the man who had pushed him.
"You are supposed to be the Lord of this Manor yet you treat us like dirt," the boy spat, "I wish Robin was still here." Gisborne spun round, his eyes cold and full of hatred. He hauled the boy up, holding him by his tunic so his feet left the ground.
"If you dare mention that filth's name again I will string you up by your neck quicker than you can say 'I didn't mean it'," Gisborne's spittle flew over the child's face and he flinched.
"I don't care, you ass, life is hell without Robin!" the boy yelled, struggling to get free.
"Why you little…" Gisborne raised his fist.
"Guy!" a voice cried from the house, "What are you doing?" Gisborne dropped the boy as if he had burned him. He stepped away quickly and looked guiltily at his wife. Marian hurried out of the house and up to the boy.
"Arthur isn't it?" she asked as she knelt down beside the boy, "Are you hurt?" He shook his head and scowled at Gisborne.
"Why did you marry him, Marian?" Arthur asked, jerking his thumb at Gisborne, "Why not Robin?" Gisborne made a move forwards at this comment.
"Guy," Marian put a hand on his arm, "He is just a child, he doesn't really know what he is saying." Arthur, corroborating her story, nodded solemnly and made his eyes wide and innocent. Gisborne did not look convinced.
"Now run along to your father, Arthur," Marian pushed him gently on his way as if he was her own child. She hadn't had any children with Guy, luckily, she was not sure if she could take having his child. That would link her to him permanently. Not that their relationship wasn't permanent at the moment, they were married. But Marian still held the hope that at some point, somehow, she would escape him.
She turned to her husband, "Guy, if you want the people of Locksley to like you then you have to treat them well."
"I can't believe you," he turned away in disgust, "You embarrassed me in front of that boy. You show no respect, I am your husband. I have power over you!"
"That's not how marriages work. We respect each other," Marian was furious. Guy whipped around, she was ignoring him again, white anger took over and he brought his hand sharply across her face. Marian recoiled, clutching her cheek, the red mark standing out on her pale face. Gisborne looked satisfied that he'd shown her who was in charge as she turned and hurried back into the manor.
She ran up the stairs and threw herself onto the bed. The slap hadn't hurt physically, it had hurt her mentally. She didn't like being treated the way she was by Gisborne but she was his wife and she couldn't do anything about it. She was supposed to be docile and obedient, completely opposite to her fiery personality. Gisborne had control, he was a man. Slowly, over the ten years they had been married; her real character had been pushed to into the shadows.
Marian's mind drifted as she lay on her soft bed. It travelled, as always, to the face of the man she knew she should have married. Robin. He was the one she loved, despite all she said to him. She knew he would have never treated her the way Gisborne did. She wanted to be married to him and have children by him. But I do have children by him Marian realised he just doesn't know. And I don't even know where they are, what they look like or even what sex they are. So really we can't actually be called their parents, we just brought them into the world.
Every time Marian thought about her children tears came to her eyes. She knew she was going to break down soon. Life was just too much to cope with, Gisborne was too much. She hadn't seen Robin in about two years; they never talked to each other now she was Lady Gisborne. My father is dead; I have nothing left to live for here. I am going to see him now, before it's too late to escape Gisborne.
Sorry it took awhile, I hope you like this chapter!!! Please review cos the I'll update quicker and luv you forever!!!