Forgot to mention rating might go up to T in later chapters.
Chapter Two; Target Practice
Guy's legs were sore from riding as the sun began to raise through the trees, forcing him to put a hand up to his eyes. Guy had been riding throughout the night and early morning until he could see signs of daylight coming, then he made his way through the woods. He couldn't take the risk of being seen on the road.
To be honest, Guy didn't really know what to do or where to go.
On one hand, he was tempted to return to the sheriff and carry on as he did before. On the other hand, he wanted to kill Vaisey. His mind went round in circles, both waging a deadly war;
Go to the sheriff, get your lands back.
I would rather die then go back with him.
You will deny everything you killed for?
Even if I wanted to, the sheriff will not welcome me, to say the least, when he hears I killed Prince johns men.
If he finds out.
He will eventually, he is the sheriff.
Well it's better than going around killing people and him.
No it's not. He deserves to die! I will be outlawed either way.
Do you not remember the agreement with the sheriff and the Prince?
Hood will save the people, that's his job.
Have you even planned on how to kill him. The old sod has eyes on the back of his head.
The other half of Guy's mind knew exactly how to kill him.
First he would kill those close to him- a few guards gone disappearing in the night, perhaps one of his precious birds hanging dead from the ceiling. Guy knew how to get into the castle undetected, a secret passageway built in case Prince John came to get rid of the sheriff. But if Vaisey knew I was doing the killings, then he would seal off the passage. Guy thought. So he had to go in disguise.
Guy cringed at the thought of that, the thought of him, being the peasants hero after killing so many of them. 'No, I will not be like Hood. I will kill the sheriff, steal some money and leave Nottingham.' The problem was, was the same as when his parents were killed- he had no where to go. The only family Guy had that was still alive was his sister who he'd sold to another man and his uncle in northern France who was almost as bad as the sheriff. Perhaps, he could lend his fighting skills to some other rich Lord and make a living as a mercenary.
But Guy was ambitious. He wanted power, wealth and most of all- land that he could call his own. But the cost for that was high. Was Guy prepared to work with another sheriff who was just as bad or worse than Vaisey? 'No.' Guy's demons were already pushing him over the edge to insanity. He couldn't take doing something like that again. "Then what should I do?!" He cried out in rage to himself, making his horse whine a little. He leaded forward in his saddle and stroked its neck, trying to calm it. Only did Guy realize that he wasn't the only one tired. He had ridden his horse for hours without a drink. Without further thought, Guy dismounted his horse, took its reins and lead it through the forest until Guy heard a familiar sound of water crashing down on rocks and water. He had reached a small waterfall that gave way to a river, about four meters across and got wider as it continued south. The thick oak trees disappeared as he got closer, only to be replaced by thin, silver birch trees. The ground around the river was a sea of small pebbles mixed with fallen leaves. His horse drank greedily from the river and so did Guy for they were both thirsty. The water was like ice and it chilled both man and horse to the bone but it was also refreshing, especially after a long ride.
After he had drunk his fill, he scooped some more water up with his hand, though most of it spilled out, and be splashed it on his face. Guy caught his reflection in the ripples of the water- His eyes were bloodshot, from lack of sleep, his hair was dirty and matted, his face was jewelled with droplets of water and the purple bruise stood out against his pale skin.
'I do look like an outlaw.' Guy reminded himself. It seemed as though the right-hand man of the sheriff who wouldn't hesitate to obey every order had vanished. Perhaps he had gone for a quick walk somewhere and got delayed or perhaps... he had gone to live somewhere else and left for good. Either way it didn't really matter to Guy where the other part of him had gone off to.
Guy walked over to his horse and flipped open one of the saddle bags. Inside lay some oats. He took a handful and fed it the horse who licked it up hungrily. Next Guy lifted up its leg to check its hooves. It seemed as though the horse had shoes been put on recently. Once he checked everything, Guy mounted again and rode away from the river. Before he did anything too serious, he wanted to go to Locksley manor, in secret of course, and then he could make his mind up.
It was a day's ride from the boarders of Nottingham to Locksley and by the time he had got there, it was pitch black with only a thin slither of moon to illuminate the darkness. Guy didn't mind the dark, but he disliked the cold air with nothing but his leather to keep him warm. When he reached him manor, he took his horse around the back and lead it to the stables where there was both fresh water and food for it. Now he had to find a way into his house without alerting the guards. Expect, there was no guards to alert. Guy could have sworn he had posted guards around the manor. He cursed them for their laziness but then he remembered, Guy was meant to be dead, or waiting for death at least.
Then he feared the worst- That Locksley manor was in possession of someone else. He almost ran to the door, his dagger ready in hand, pulled out the key and twisted it till it clicked open. Guy then opened the door slowly so that it wouldn't creak and sneaked upstairs in the darkness. The door to his room was partly open. Guy pushed it without hesitation, ready to kill but instead he found his bed empty too. He breathed a sigh of relief. Everything was as it was when he left it, apart from the bed that was newly made. He smiled to himself, lay down his sword, took off his leather jacket and sunk his head into pillows, letting sleep take him with ease.
The king of England lay in pain on the hard dusty ground, an arrow sticking through his shoulder. Guy advanced on him, his sword in hand ready to kill him. The sun made his face and neck become covered in sweat, making him wish he hadn't worsen the usual black leather as he did in England. 'This is it,' Guy thought, 'this is my chance.' And then Marian appeared, her face glowing radiantly and her eyes swarming with a number of emotions. "Guy stop." She whispered in a voice that wasn't hers, "don't do this." Guy ignored her pleas and continued walking till she said something that made him stop in his tracks. "I love Robin Hood. I love Robin Hood. I love Robin Hood." She repeated over and over in his mind like a mantra. "I will never be yours. I belong with Robin." Those final words made Guy snap and before he realised it, he felt his blade pierce flesh in an all-too familiar way. His sword was sticking through Marian's stomach, spilling crimson blood on the dry ground. At that moment he felt his world shatter into a million pieces as her body hit the ground with a thud. What had he done? Then Guy saw Marian's pale, ethereal ghost rise from her broken body. She stared at him with pale eyes and then the king and Acre disappeared, fading into the background. "Why? Why did you do it?" She demanded. Guy tried to speak but no words came out. "I thought you loved me, Guy, I thought I was everything to you."
"You are-" he protested. "How can I believe you when you have killed me!" She shrieked, twisting her face into something demonic. "Why did you have to come along and wreck everything! You're nothing but murderer, a born killer from the start!"
Suddenly, to Guy's relief, Marian turned into the women he knew and loved. "Prove it to me, Guy. Prove to me that you still love me." Marian's ghost whispered. "How?" He whispered back, hanging on the edge of her every word. "The only thing you know is how to kill, all your kindness is long gone. There is but one thing you must do. Kill the man who started it all. Kill the sheriff!"
Guy woke up with a jump, covered in cold sweat. 'What a strange dream.' Guy thought to himself, the morning sunlight illuminating his room. Normally he would never be able to remember what his nightmares about, only that they had made him wake up with his pulse hammering like a thousand drums. But this dream was different. It was so... vivid. He almost felt like he was back in Acre for a second.
'Kill the sheriff.' The phrase had stuck in his mind like a command. Guy no longer cared what he would do after it or whether Prince John raised Nottingham to the ground.
'Kill the sheriff.' It would be hard, yes, Guy had accepted that. But it was what required of him to redeem himself in Marian's dead eyes and he, would follow it through no matter what the cost.
Guy put on a fresh change of clothes on, then headed downstairs. Thornton was there, sitting by the table lost in thought. His old head turned at the sound of Guy's feet walking down the stairs. Guy thought he almost died of shock. "S-Sir Guy." He stammered, coming to his senses. "Yes, Thornton." Guy replied cooly. He opened his mouth, struggling to find the right words. "I... we t-thought you were d-dead. My lord." He added on the end, remembering his manners. "I will be if you don't cook me up some breakfast." He snapped. Thornton hurried away then returned ten minutes later with a bowl full of porridge and honey. "Sit." Guy commanded. Thornton was rarely asked to sit at his table. "Now tell me," Guy commanded, swallowing a mouthful of porridge, "what has happened since I left."
"Well, not much new, my lord. James and Beth are expecting a child-"
"Not here, in Nottingham!" Guy almost shouted. He was in a bad mood today, probably from the lack of sleep. "I believe the Abbott of Kirklees has come to visit, my lord." Thornton answered, fear in the old man's voice. "And the sheriff? Has he replaced me?"
"No, but I think he'll be happy to have his right hand man back from the dead."
"No, that's where your wrong." Guy said. Thornton looked confused. "You must tell no one I'm here, you never saw me. You have served me well these past few years, Thornton, but if you tell a single soul then I swear I will kill you."
"Of course Sir Guy. You were never here, I never saw you." He mumbled as he got up from the table, leaving Guy to eat his porridge. "Get me some bread too." He shouted after him. Thornton was a man who wanted no trouble, Guy had learnt that, but it made him easy to threaten. He had no doubts that Thornton would stick to his word. He returned with a plate of bread and grapes just as Guy had finished eating the last of his porridge. Thornton scuttled away, knowing better to leave Guy and his explosive temper.
He sat back into the chair, nibbling the bread in one hand. Guy's head was swarming of ways to kill the sheriff. Should he do it secretly or fight him in public? Should he poison his food or just shoot him down when he wasn't looking?
In the end, Guy followed through with his original plan. He would kill those close to the sheriff, get a few rumours flying around. Guards gone missing in the dead of night, peasants found dead in their sleep, perhaps a Nobel or two. 'It would be perfect.' He thought. Then he would wait for the opportunity to arise and strike. Guy could almost imagine the terrified look on the sheriff's face when he saw that Guy was the one who was behind the killings.
The sound of horse hooves thundering on the ground pulled Guy out of his fantasy. Thornton shuffled to the door to check who it was. "It's the sheriff." He hissed. Guy shot up and raced upstairs to his room where he could observe without being seen.
Sat on his white horse was the sheriff of Nottingham with half a dozen guards. There was some else there too, in a carriage. From the cross that hanged from his neck, Guy guessed it was the Abbott of some church.
"People of Locksley," the sheriff announced, wasting no time, "last night, the Abbott of Kirklees came to me for my help. It seems that Robin Hood and his gang of rats have stolen from the church!" Muttering broke out throughout the villagers like fire. The sheriff dismounted his horse.
"I know that you know Robin Hood. I know that some of you have come to look upon him as a friend. Do not be fool. Since his return from his travels, Hood has become a satanic killer!" More gasps of shock came from the villagers, but the sheriff wasn't finished yet. "Anyone harbouring him will be damned to a heretics death at stake where-" he grabbed the child nearest to him arm. "-the flesh shall be burnt from the bones." The sheriff let go of the fear-struck child and continued to strut around. "Now, the Abbey is under my protection. I've tripled the guards just in case Hood tries to steal again." Taking a breath, the sheriff demanded, "if this village does not assist me in the capture of Hood then it is deemed infected with evil, and should be wiped clean of every, living, creature." He glanced at the Abbott who stood up and extended his arm so everyone could see his ring. "By the power vested in me, by his holiness the Pope, I issue this holy edict. It's every man, women and child sacred duty to help bring the demon, Robin Hood to justice!"
Guy, who had watched from his bedroom window smirked. It was funny how much influence the church had over the everyone. Guy couldn't care less if he was damned a heretic- he would go to hell anyway.
Boredom soon hit him like a tidal wave. Pleasant as it was in Locksley manor, Guy wasn't one for wasting time. But if he were to kill someone, it would have to be in the dead of night, where he could escape more easily. The consequences were too severe if he was caught.
To pass the time, Guy drew a target on the back of his door with chalk, then started throwing knives at it. 'Who to kill, who to kill?' He mused to himself. 'Perhaps a few peasants in Clun? No, the sheriff wouldn't care if someone murdered a peasant.' He threw a knife, hitting the centre of the target. 'Guards gone missing in the night? Yes, that'll be good. For now.' Guy thought, throwing another one of his razor-sharp daggers, planting itself next to the other dagger. The more Guy thought about it, the more he realised how difficult this might be. The sheriff did all the planning when they had to kill the king. Another dagger hit the wood. He would start off small first, till Guy got used to invading the guards. Stealth wasn't his strongest point; Guy just liked to get it over and done with, but he would have to learn if he wanted to put an end to the sheriff.
The door creaked open, just as was about to throw another dagger. This time he aimed at the door frame, making poor Thornton jump a mile. He poked his pale aged face around the door. "Sir Guy, I brought-" He said, then his eyes flickered to the door. "The door..." he gasped. "Target practise." Guy replied, raising an eyebrow, indicating to Thornton that he should continue. "I brought you some wine, my lord."
"There is no need, I won't be drinking tonight." Thornton gave Guy a puzzled look. Guy always had a glass of wine. "Might I ask why, my lord?"
"No, you may not."
Good? Bad? Let me know.