AN: Thank you for your comments.
Part 5
After several days ride, Marian and Gisborne arrived at the city of Durham. The city was in a much better state than Nottingham had been in for years. They rode to the castle gate, Gisborne announced who he was and that he must see the Earl immediately. They were granted entrance, while Will stood in the shadows trying to figure a way to get in and then to find Marian in the vast castle once he was there.
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"Sir Guy and Lady Gisborne," announced a man to the Earl of Durham who sat in his quarters at his desk penning a letter to Rotherham.
"Gisborne," he said in greeting, indicating with a wave of his hand that they sit in chairs which had been brought in to accommodate them and his servant offered them some refreshment which both gratefully took. "What brings you all the way up here? And when did you get married?"
Gisborne ignored the latter question but answered the first. "The Sheriff wandered off, I presume he is dead. Robin Hood was ordered….. I ordered Robin Hood to find him by sunset but he failed and shock troops razed Nottingham according to the edict."
"Yet you and Lady Gisborne escaped with your lives," drawled Durham, wishing that after he had lost the attractive Beatrice he could have had the feisty beautiful Marian instead, but it seemed was not to be.
"As a Black Knight I was given my freedom, that and any family I had," he added and Durham knew in an instant why now Marian was his wife.
"And now?" questioned Durham.
"Now we have to all pull together, all the Black Knights need to meet. I thought perhaps here or Rotherham to discuss what we are going to do next. Our members are dropping like flies and we can not afford to lose any more or I fear that our cause will be lost."
"The Pact," said Durham, "You did bring the Pact out of Nottingham?"
Guy took a deep breath and replied. "Robin Hood has the Pact, he stole it from us. But I have every intention of retrieving it from his lair."
"You are a long way from Nottingham. I suggest you go back there, find the Pact and then come to the Black Knights for a meeting to discuss how we can overthrow the King."
"We have travelled a long way; can we not rest here for the night?"
"Of course, I am not a tyrant to my fellow Black Knights; I will have a room prepared for you. But first let me show you around Durham." He said with a smile.
Marian trailed behind them as the Earl pointed out this and that, thinking of how she could find a way out of this. But it appeared she was stuck. She toyed with the ring that Robin had given her and remembered his words, words which brought her comfort in her distress.
'…..It felt right like it had been made for me and that's how I feel about you….I promised your father I would protect and look after you…..Together we are stronger….Marian will you marry me?'
She shook her head to rid herself of her memories and put them back in the recess of her mind for another time, but Will's words flittered there instead.
'…Wherever you go. Robin will move heaven and earth and he will find you, just stay alive.'
Marian sighed perhaps Will had been right, she fingered the ring once more this time with a smile of hope upon her face and knew it was something she had to believe in.