Disclaimer: All original characters belong to BBC/Tiger Aspect.
A/N Thank you Jadey36 for your feedback xx
Sins of the Heart Part Two
Isabella of Gisborne was dressed in the finest dress she had ever owned, she was dripping with expensive jewellery, her brunette curls hanging loose down her back. She was a beautiful woman, Marian would give her that. No-one could accuse the Gisborne family of lacking in that department, she thought with a sideways glance at her husband. There was a definite resemblance to Guy, the dark features, the blue eyes, but as far as Marian was concerned that's where their similarities ended. Marian was under no illusions about Guy; he could be cruel and brutal, but he did have a heart, he was capable of love and compassion. She now thought that Isabella was pure evil, her existence seemed designed to torture her – slowly. Marian watched her laugh again at Prince John's joke, tipping her head back, then smiling coyly at him, pausing to dab a drop of wine from his lip with her napkin. Marian turned away, hoping the Prince wouldn't notice the look of disdain on her face.
This was the third banquet in the five days since the Prince's arrival. They had been forced to endure Isabella's outrageous flirting with him at every turn. Marian knew Guy didn't like it and would have long ago put a stop to it were it any other man. But it was the Prince Regent. And it seemed the Gisbornes were his favoured family, much to the Sheriff's disgust. Marian also knew that by throwing Isabella the Prince's way, his eyes would be diverted from her. Guy might allow the Prince to take liberties with his sister, but he had told her he would kill any man who touched his wife, more painfully than she could imagine, prince or otherwise. This was meant to be a comfort to her.
Guy gently touched her hand, quietly reassuring her. She placed her hand on top of his and squeezed. Nearly everyone else was drunk, it was the end of the night, the food had mostly been eaten, but the wine was still in full flow. Guy, Marian and Vaisey were sober however, the Sheriff too much of an operator to let wine cloud their judgement.
'You better ask his wife,' Marian heard Isabella cry with a raucous laugh and a glance in her direction. Marian determinedly kept her face impassive; if Isabella got any closer to the Prince she'd be sitting in his lap. Prince John had a bejewelled hand over her shoulder, fingers draping across her chest, their tips teasing the low neckline of her dress indecently. The Prince laughed and turned to Marian.
'Lady Marian, I was just wondering if all the Gisbornes are as arousing as my lovely friend here,' Prince John drawled, clearly taking delight in Marian's embarrassment. Isabella squealed and Marian suspected the Prince had pinched her behind.
'I am very happy with my husband,' Marian answered with a false smile, touching Guy's hand again.
'How very sweet, you are such an adorable couple. I shall look forward to meeting your beautiful children one day.' The Prince smirked, took a mouthful of wine, gulped it, again allowing Isabella to dab the drops from his lips before continuing. 'Yet your sister here tells me you were once betrothed to Robin Hood, do you ever wonder what might have been? Do you ever crave the excitement of a glorious outlaw? I can't imagine you have too many adventures with Gisborne here.'
The Prince laughed and Isabella fixed Marian with a hard, knowing glare. Her hand froze where it sat over Guy's, she felt Guy's fingers tense, she looked at him, his face was thunder. Isabella was toying with her like a well fed cat playing with a dying mouse, enjoying every last squeak and gasp of life. If she had just told Guy what she had seen in the woods she would have understood, despite the fall out. But this – these games – this was cold, calculated, designed to inflict maximum pain.
'I assure you I am very happy with my husband, Sire,' Marian squeezed Guy's hand again as she spoke.
'Of course you are, my dear. Good thing too, because I intend to have Robin Hood dangling from a gibbet before I leave Nottingham.' Prince John laughed again then turned away from Marian before he had time to notice her face paling. Isabella noticed though, she smirked at Marian, a glint in her eye before turning back to the Prince.
'I am so looking forward to seeing Hood swing. Now Hood's camp has been discovered it won't be long before he's caught, I almost feel sorry for all the little people who love him so much. They won't think he's so glorious when he's swinging from a rope with his guts hanging out,' she giggled, ostensibly to the Prince, but Marian knew the words were meant for her. So this was it, this was what all the waiting was for. Isabella wasn't going to simply tell Guy of her betrayal. She was going to make Marian watch her lover die.
Marian had thought the game was up when Isabella had seen her with Robin. She had expected Isabella to run and tell Guy immediately. Instead she had greeted Marian cordially and acted like absolutely nothing had happened. Isabella was all sweetness and light: excited about the royal visit, deferential, amiable. Marian had waited for the storm. There was none. What there was however, were the conversations she started; about loyalty, about marriage, about Robin, how Guy might capture him, what his punishment would be. Then Prince John had arrived and Isabella had, to her delight, caught his eye. She had shamelessly made the most of it. Guy, keen to cement his own favour, let her.
Marian was forced to watch as she flirted her way to royal favour, knowing Isabella held her explosive secret, could at any moment blow her world apart. The night could not have gone more slowly, Guy would not leave before Isabella and she was not going anywhere before Prince John. Marian never thought she would have anything in common with the Sheriff, but judging by his expression she was not the only one who wished Isabella a million miles away.
Marian had never been so glad to go to bed. There was to be no sleep for her however, she lay, wrapped in Guy's strong, protective arms; her guilt eating away at her, her shame burning her soul, her worries about the future tearing at her brain. She was afraid for Guy: this would ruin him. She had always known that, it hadn't stopped her, partly because she thought herself too clever to be caught. Now that possibility was always a breath away she feared not only what that would mean for her and her safety, but for Guy. She didn't think she could bear to cause him such pain.
Since the incident at Nettlestone a week ago she had done her best to love him. She had complied with his request to be more affectionate in public; he thought it was because of her growing feelings for him. Poor Guy, he was so thrilled to have his wife proudly on his arm, smiling at him, kissing him for the world to see. If he knew it was borne out of fear of being exposed, of guilt for her adulterous love for Robin . . . and yet the more she pretended to love him, the more she found she did look at him with genuine love. She thought yet again how he seemed to be two men in one body. Her Guy, tender, passionate and generous; the Sheriff's Guy, ruthless, cold and brutal.
If only her Guy was the only Guy, would that be enough to make her forget Robin, her love for him?
No . . .perhaps . . .she would never know.
Guy wasn't only the loving man who held her now. Guy was still the Sheriff's man, he was still a man who would kill, who would inflict needless, senseless suffering for his own selfish ends. He was not a man who would rather lose everything than see innocents hanged, not like her darling Robin. Marian knew she had broken Robin's heart and now she feared for his life if Isabella had divulged the location of the camp somehow. Robin, oh Robin, she loved him with her heart and soul. Despite her resolve to be faithful to Guy – a promise she now fully intended to keep – she couldn't bear the thought of Robin not being in the world. Even if she never saw him again, he would be there, fighting for what was right, for what she believed in. Marian knew that she would have to warn him, somehow, she could not allow him to be caught, he would be tortured and killed, most probably by Guy. It could not and would not happen.
Isabella had made a mistake, showing her hand tonight.
Marian felt Guy shift in his sleep, his hand gripped a handful of her nightdress where it lay on her waist. She wriggled free of his arm, it was heavy and she felt a shiver of revulsion as she considered that the man it belonged to might use that same arm to torture and kill Robin.
'Marian?' Guy mumbled, stirring as she moved away from him. Marian immediately felt remorse for her previous thought as she turned and saw his sleepy, affectionate eyes.
'Sorry,' she whispered back. 'I am hot, I can't sleep.' Marian sighed, he pulled her towards him again and began to lift up her night dress, his hands caressing her legs, then her hips as he did so. He thought her words were an invitation. Marian pushed his hands away.
'Not tonight, Guy. I am sorry, I can't sleep, I am out of sorts . . . I think I will go and sit by the window, perhaps some air will help me,' Marian got out of bed quickly before he could try again. 'Go back to sleep, you need your rest.' She could make out Guy nodding in the moonlight that shone dimly through the open shutters. She heard him sigh and roll over, he was soon asleep again. Marian sat on a stool by the window, looking out at the castle courtyard, and continued to wonder how soon she could get away. Get away and warn Robin.
Marian was tense as a coiled spring, she was in the one place she had vowed never to set foot in again. She had taken an enormous risk coming here and it hadn't been easy. She had made an excuse about feeling ill, needing to go back to Locksley and rest. Guy hadn't been easy to convince, not because he doubted her sincerity, but because he was worried about her safety. He insisted on six guards accompanying her. Marian wanted to scream, she was in no danger from outlaws, well not in that way at least. But she could hardly tell her concerned and protective husband that.
When she had finally got away she had ran as fast as she could. Not out of a sense of freedom or release, but out of necessity, a real and urgent need to reach Robin and warn him. Now she was here and they were nowhere to be seen. She couldn't wait much longer, she would be missed. Marian got up and decided to set off the traps around the camp, perhaps that would alert Robin, wherever he was.
But before Marian had got ten feet from the camp she heard voices.
'Ah, home at last,' it was Much. 'I don't think I have ever spent such a wasted afternoon. That is the last time, Robin.'
'It wasn't that bad, come on, Much.'
'Not bein' funny, Robin, but it was pretty pointless. All we've learnt is that Gisbornes like black, I could've told you that.'
'Well you'd know, Allan,' Much huffed, clearly in a bad mood.
'That's lovely, that is. Are you ever going to drop that?' Allan sounded at the end of his tether as well. 'Look, Robin, how long are you going to carry on following Isabella?'
Marian's stomach jolted. He was following Isabella? She felt that now familiar surge of jealousy and immediately berated herself. She had no right to be jealous, she was married. Robin could pursue who he liked. Except that no woman on earth would ever love him like she did.
'Until I know what she's playing at. Look, she saw me and Marian, she knows. We've been over this a hundred times. I have to keep tabs on her, until I know Marian is safe.'
'And meanwhile what about the poor?' It was John. 'Robin, we missed two drops today. So you can run around spying on Isabella buying dresses. This is the last time. If she was going to tell Gisborne she would have done it by now, it's been two weeks, this is about Marian. You want to see Marian.'
'No, John!' Now Robin was angry. 'It is about keeping Marian safe.'
'Look, Robin you always said Isabella hates him, she probably understands, you know, that Marian needed a bit of comforting an' all that,' Allan reasoned.
'Much,' Robin began, he sounded desperate as he turned to his closest friend.
'No, don't you Much me!' Much was clearly as annoyed as the others. 'I've had enough of it, you think because you're my master that you can tell me what –'
'Much, shush,' Robin whispered suddenly.
'Oh don't you start shushing me!' Much began indignantly, but then he fell silent. Marian heard Robin move forward.
'Who's there?' he called, she could see him bow drawn, poised to take deadly aim. Despite the seriousness of her predicament and her sadness at hearing the gang's disagreements she couldn't help but smile.
'Just me,' she said softly, stepping forward. She heard the gang's sighs of relief, but she didn't see them, she only had eyes for one man. He looked drawn and tired, hot after a long day. His hair was swept across his forehead, just brushing his eyes. The sun had lightened his hair a little, and the early evening light shone off it, even from a few feet away she could see the blueness of his eyes and the loving gaze that fell over them as soon as they saw her.
'Marian.' There was no why, no how, just her name and a moment later his arms were around her so tight she couldn't move. Marian willed herself to be indifferent, to remember her marriage vows, remember Guy. But it wasn't working. This was where she belonged, this was where her heart was. She realised that her sick feeling in the last two weeks hadn't just been fear of Isabella revealing the truth, it had been fear that she would never again be in these arms. Deep down Marian knew this wasn't the end; there would never be an end. Not while they both still lived.
Robin released her a little and smiled softly, she pressed her head against his chest and breathed deeply, she sighed as he bent down and kissed her cheek, burying her face in his neck, her hands running through his hair, brushing it out of his eyes, her finger tracing the line of his jaw, finally resting on his lips. He kissed her finger gently; she felt a tingle of excitement.
No. She wouldn't. Marian took a deep breath and stepped back a little.
'I came here to warn you,' Marian said, trying to be matter of fact, despite wanting nothing more than to fall back into Robin's arms and let him hold her and kiss her all night.
'Warn me? About what?' Robin was tender, gentle and looked so happy to see her. Marian took another step back. This had to be business, just business.
'Isabella. She has told Prince John's men where your camp is, or Guy, or someone . . . I don't know. But I do know Prince John's men are coming to get you. She wants to see you hang, Robin. That's her plan, not telling Guy.'
Robin tipped his head back and closed his eyes. His brow creased.
'Marian, you shouldn't be here!' he cried suddenly, his face no longer happy and loving, but creased in worry and pain. 'If you are caught here . . . John, get the horses, we leave now.'
'Where to?' John asked nodding.
'Locksley.'
Locksley?' Marian cried. 'Are you mad? You can't go there.'
'Marian, we have to get you home. You must not be seen here.' There was a finality and urgency in Robin's voice.
'I will go back alone, you will be at risk in the village,' Marian felt a aching surge of regret as Robin let go of the hand he had been holding on to, despite her resolve. She felt the absence of his touch, of the warmth of his arms that had a few moments ago been on her skin.
'No, I will make sure you are safe,' he gave her a small smile. 'I can easily avoid being seen.'
'Alright, but stay away from the house,' Marian relented. She allowed herself to be helped up onto a horse behind Robin. I should not be riding pressed into another man's back, I should be at home, with my husband, she thought as they began to move. That was until the movement of the horse threw her against Robin and she was forced to encircle him with her arms, holding on, but also letting herself enjoy his closeness. One last time, she told herself, leaving her hands where they were and berating herself for wishing to God that the man she was now holding was the man she was going home to.
Marian was relieved to reach the edge of the forest, she quickly slipped off the horse and gave Robin a small smile as she walked away. Her guilt at her enjoyment of the ride prevented her from a more affectionate parting. She knew Robin would watch her to the house, hidden, until he knew that she was safe. She wished he wouldn't, they'd both be safer if he left, but there was no point arguing; he would not be moved.
Marian paused before opening the front door; she smoothed her hair and tried to appear composed. A walk to clear my head, that is what she would say. She had after all complained endlessly about the Prince and her lack of freedom. They'll all believe that, she reasoned. Except Isabella. Marian sighed and walked through the door, expecting to see her maid, perhaps the table boy setting the evening meal out. She did not expect to see Guy. Not with his sword drawn, his hand at the throat of his terrified sister.
'Marian,' Guy snapped, his eyes sparking with fury. His voice was coarse and angry. 'Where have you been?'
Marian's eyes were wide with horror. Isabella was whimpering and gasping as Guy gripped her. Her eyes fell on his sword, deadly and unsheathed. He looked beyond rage, he was wild and dangerous. She noticed they were alone; the servants had either been dismissed or fled.
'Guy, what are you doing?' she cried. 'Let go of her!'
Guy's eyes turned to Isabella, it was as if he had forgotten he was holding her. He pushed her away, the force of his shove sending her skittling across the floor with a scream.
'She is a lying bitch,' he said, sword still drawn and pointed in her direction.
'Ask her,' Isabella rasped, through her tears, massaging her throat where Guy had half strangled her. 'Ask her where she's been.'
'No,' Guy said, his voice desperate. 'Marian is my wife, you say one more word I will run you through.'
'Guy,' Marian said gently. She felt utterly sick, she was trembling and frightened. Guy was in a rage, there was very little reasoning with him when he was like this.
'Guy,' Marian said again, tears choking her voice, she put her hand and his arm, hoping that her touch would calm him. 'Put your sword down.' Guy looked at her, his eyes searching, sad and desperate.
'Marian?' he said her name softly, desperately.
'Guy, put it down.' Marian waited, he looked at her, she could see him weighing her up through the tears that were clouding her eyes. She finally heard the loud, metallic clink of the sword as it hit the hard, stone floor.
'Tell me she's lying.' Guy was pleading with her, desperate to hear her tell him that Isabella had made it all up. Marian wanted to do that, but she had no idea what Isabella had actually told him.
'What has she said?' Marian asked tentatively. Guy grasped her upper arms and pulled her to him, his face was contorted in pain and hurt.
'She said, that . . . that you have been meeting Hood.' Guy was tentative, but spat the word Hood. 'That you . . . you have been. . .' Guy shook his head. He couldn't even say it. Marian felt a wave of nausea hit her, a cold sweat broke out over every inch of her skin. She felt dirty, stained. Her secret was out and it was breaking his heart. She saw before her a man not powerful and strong, but desperate and needy. A man who loved her and would be utterly heart broken if she confirmed Isabella's story. She felt the tears rolling down her cheeks. She couldn't speak.
'Marian?' Guy asked, more desperate still, pain etched on his face. He shook her arms, gently, then more harshly at her continued silence. 'Marian?' his voice was raised and choked.
'She has been in the woods,' Isabella said, now on her feet, her voice was shaky, but full of malice. 'In the woods with her lover, like I told you.'
Marian was vaguely aware of Isabella picking up Guy's sword. She was also vaguely aware of her own sobs. Her brain was screaming at her to lie, but nothing would come out of her mouth. What she was most aware of was the anguished cry of her husband.
'No,' he shouted, 'Marian, no, not you!' He pulled her to his chest, half shaking her, half embracing her. She could do nothing as he dragged her to the floor as he collapsed to his knees, seemingly unable to stand under the weight of the revelation. Marian then felt him grab the front of her dress and roughly pull her to him until their faces touched.
'I loved you so much,' Guy cried. Marian was about to reply, about to say she loved him too. It wasn't a lie, she did love him. In this moment as his heart was breaking before her eyes she saw her own heart. She wanted to tell him that it had all been a mistake. But she found herself flung across the floor, roughly landing on her back.
Marian screamed as Guy loomed over her. Something had shifted now, he was furious. She had seen this look before but never directed at her. His eyes were cold, his face full of rage.
'You're my wife!' he screamed at her. Isabella was forgotten, Guy bent down and Marian felt his hands cupping her head, almost tender, until he shook her violently again. 'You promised yourself to me and I loved you,' he shook his head sadly, the rage draining out of him again as his tears fell, falling on her already wet face.
'Why, Marian? Why did you have to do this to me?' Guy sobbed pulling Marian roughly to his chest again. He sobbed for a few moments then flung her away again, seeming to remember her sins. 'I asked you why!' he shouted, rage returning.
'I'm sorry,' Marian whispered. 'It is finished, I promise. I'm so sorry.'
'Finished? You expect me to believe you? You're a liar, Marian. I told you that before, remember? But I gave you another chance, because I loved you. I told myself you wouldn't, not with him.'
'I didn't plan to, I'm so sorry, please, Guy.' Marian scrambled to her feet and leant on the table for support. 'I'm sorry,' she repeated forlornly, feeling worse that she had ever done in her life, fear and guilt tearing her heart apart. Guy's quickly alternating grief and rage was also frightening her.
Guy remained on his knees, his hands loose at his side, his hair had fallen forward hiding his face, but the sound of his strangled sobs filled the room. Marian wanted to hold him, comfort him, tell him she cared. But before she could move he looked up.
'Why?' he asked again. 'I have done my best for you, given you everything I could. I thought you were happy now. I thought you . . . you wanted me, I know you did.' Guy's eyes were wide and searching. Marian thought of the lies she could tell him, the half truths she could spin. But there had been enough of that it was time for the truth. She owed him that at least.
'When we married,' she began, her voice shaking as she wiped the tears from her cheeks. 'I thought Robin was dead. You told me he was dead.'
'I thought he was, the Sheriff said that his mercenaries-'
'The Sheriff said, the Sheriff . . .I am sick of you hiding behind the Sheriff!' Marian felt an unexpected surge of anger. 'You told me that because you wanted it to be true, you didn't know. Then you told me you would leave the Sheriff and save the King if I married you. But you didn't.'
'The King was safe anyway and I have told you I cannot leave the Sheriff, I have to keep you safe.' Guy was angry too now, rising to his feet, raising his voice.
'You never even tried! We could have gone away somewhere, started somewhere fresh.'
'And we'd have had nothing. We would have been penniless and powerless.'
'I would rather be penniless than have to inflict the suffering that you do for the Sheriff!' Marian shouted, her anger getting the better of her.
'It's easy for you to say that, isn't it, Marian?' Guy was accusatory, his voice turning to a snarl. 'You have never been poor and powerless, I have. Did you think I would let my wife suffer that, let our children be raised in poverty, just so you can have your principles?' Guy had moved closer, towering over her, tall, threatening. 'Is that why you've been . . . you and Hood?'
'When we got back to Nottingham and Robin was alive . . . I had to meet him, to explain. Nothing happened for a long time. But I have loved Robin since I was a girl and you still worked for the Sheriff, every time I thought you had changed, every time I thought you were becoming a better man you let me down, Guy.'
'I did what I had to do!' he shouted. Guy picked up a jug that was on the table and flung it across the room, shards of pottery and ale splattered the far wall.
'You had a choice, I would have stood by you, if you had left him. I would have been able to love you.'
'You let me think you did love me. You wanted me, you gave yourself willingly enough. But perhaps you are like that with all the men you go to bed with. You'd make a good whore.' Guy sneered at her, but he couldn't hide his hurt, his eyes were red with tears.
'I did want you, I do want you, Guy,' she whispered. 'It wasn't a lie. I care about you.'
'Stop lying to me. Please, Marian, no more lies.' Guy grasped his head, clutching at his hair, as if trying to block out the world.
'That isn't a lie,' Marian replied, desperately. 'I have always cared about you. I'm so sorry.' They stood in silence for a few moments.
'Was I the first?' Guy asked suddenly, his head whipping up and eyes boring into her own.
'What?' Marian took a moment to work out what he meant. 'Of course you were!'
'Don't sound so shocked, you have been lying with another man, do you deny it?'
'No,' she whispered, head bowed in shame.
Marian didn't know what she expected next. But it was not the back of Guy's hand, hard across her cheek though. She felt a rush of pain and lost her balance, falling to the floor and landing hard on her side. Tears once again fell down her cheeks; she scrambled backwards, trying to get away from him, to get to the door. Guy crossed the room quickly and pulled Marian up by her hair. He then pulled a dagger from his sleeve and held it to her throat.
'I should've finished you off when I had the chance,' he rasped, grazing the skin of her neck with the curved blade that had once nearly killed her.
'Please, Guy,' she begged, terrified. Marian's breaths were quick, her eyes wide with fear, her worst nightmare was unfolding.
'Do you still love him?' Guy demanded angrily, roughly gripping her arm to keep her on her feet. Marian stared up at him, her eyes searching for the man she was married to, for the gentle, caring man she lay beside each night. But he was gone, she had destroyed the man she loved and all that was left was anger and hatred in those blue eyes. It broke her heart.
'You have a knife at my throat, what is it you expect me to say?'
'The truth,' he hissed.
'The truth? You want the truth?' Guy nodded and Marian closed her eyes, searching her soul. What was the truth?
'The truth is that I love you both.' Marian said finally, she spoke softly, part of her greatly relieved to admit the truth to herself at last as well. She had spent months, if not years, confused and torn. Wondering how it was possible for her to feel as she did about the two men in her life, wondering if her feelings were real, thinking they could not be, not for both of them.
Her words seemed to have shocked Guy into silence, he was still holding the knife and still holding her. Finally he spoke.
'Well, my Lady Marian,' he sneered, voice dripping with malice. 'Your choice is about to get easier, because thanks to my little sister, Hood's camp is being attacked as we speak, by Prince John's finest men. Maybe they'll bring you his head as a present.' Guy pushed the knife against her skin a little harder. Marian gasped, she thought he might kill her. Then another voice.
'Guy, drop the knife.' It was Isabella. Marian had forgotten she was there. 'Guy, drop the knife and let her go.' Marian was surprised to hear that Isabella was so calm, then she remembered she had picked up Guy's sword. Marian strongly suspected it was currently being pointed at Guy.
'This has nothing to do with you,' Guy snarled at her.
'Guy, drop it,' Isabella was firm and final. Marian felt the blade leave her skin and heard it fall to the floor. 'Now let her go.'
Marian felt his hand release her and she turned, Guy's face looked utterly defeated, if she hadn't been so frightened of him hurting her again she would have held him, taken him in her arms and begged forgiveness. But she now felt Isabella's hand on hers.
'Marian, come.' Marian looked at her sister-in-law, she had a livid bruise on her cheek and a graze on the side of her head. Marian guessed she was not the only one to feel the back of Guy's hand today. 'Come, Marian, it is not safe here, he is mad.'
Guy lunged at them on hearing her words, but was kept back by Isabella pointing his sword at him.
'Marian, you are mine, you stay here,' Guy commanded. Marian looked at him: broken, desperate, reaching for yet another dagger. She wanted to stay, stay and make it right, but her sense of self preservation was winning through. She knew Guy well enough to know that there was no reasoning with him whilst he was in this state. Perhaps she would be better to run and come to him when he was calmer and unarmed.
'I'm so sorry, Guy,' she murmured as she allowed Isabella to pull her out the door. 'I'm sorry, I do love you.' Marian took a last look at her heart broken husband before turning and running, Isabella pulling her hand.
Marian mounted the horse, following Isabella's orders seemed easier than thinking. She took hold of the reins and watched as Isabella mounted her own horse, Guy's sword still in hand.
'Why did you help me leave?' Marian blurted.
'He would've killed you,' she said simply and seriously. 'I'm sorry, Marian, I didn't mean for it to go so far. I was never going to tell him.'
'Then why did you?'
'I don't know.' Isabella bowed her head, she looked shaken and chastened. 'When you were gone today, he blamed me, said I should have looked after you. I was angry. But then he went crazy.'
Marian studied Isabella, wondering for the first time in months if she had not misjudged her. Perhaps Isabella's behaviour had only been intended to punish her for holding Robin's heart, not rip their world apart. And what part of that punishment did she not deserve? She could hardly blame Isabella. She, Marian, had taken Robin as her lover behind her husband's back. That she could not blame on anyone but herself.
Marian gave a small nod. Isabella fixed her with a hard look.
'Besides, I don't think having my brother hanged for murder will impress Prince John and I'm not having him mess that up for me too.' Isabella gathered the reins in her hand and urged her horse on, turning from Marian.
'Where are we going?' Marian asked, following Isabella out the stable.
'I don't know about you, but I am going to the castle. Prince John wants me and I intend to give him what he wants.' Isabella sounded like her old self again now. 'Perhaps you should go and hide in the woods with your outlaw. I'd advise staying away from the camp though. Much as you deserve it, I have to live with Guy, for now, and I couldn't stand the hysterics if you got yourself killed.'
With that Isabella hurled Guy's sword to the ground. It hit the dry earth with a thud, Marian looked at it, lying pathetically in the dust, abandoned like its owner. She had an overwhelming urge to run back into the house, to hold Guy, to make it better. Only her fear of what he was capable of, especially with that sword in his hand, made her turn and steer her horse towards the forest.
As she entered the cover of the trees she saw Isabella urge her horse to a canter, she was heading for the castle. Marian would get no welcome there, not without Guy, she thought with regret. She watched Isabella out of sight then turned her horse to the path that led deeper into the forest, as she did she laid eyes on the horrified face of the only person who would now protect her. Robin.