Chapter 7

Guy's eyes slowly open. After he had passed out from the fire incident, Robin had helped me carry him to our bed in Locksley Manor. I had sat beside him occasionally wiping his brow with a cool cloth. I was now Guy's wife, Lady Gisborne. Mind you, I feared the fire might be a bad omen. As Guy stirs, I brush those fears aside.

Marian? A rush of relief spreads over his face. I thought I'd lost you.

Robin Hood saved you just in time, too.

Hood was here? Guy closes his eyes for a moment as if mulling the situation over. I never thought I'd owe my life to an outlaw.

What does it matter who saved you? I wasn't going to let you die.

Guy lifts his hand up toward my face, his fingers brushing my cheek. Ah, Marian, my wife…

Night crawls in quickly. Instead of a wedding celebration earlier that day, I stayed with Guy. He was making a quick recovery. I think more than anything my presence was soothing to him. I never thought I'd feel this safe with Guy, to not have to hold back any secrets from him. My fingers brush the old scar on his tattoo, a mark of his past sin. He takes in his other one engraved upon me: the scar where he had stabbed me. Gently he kisses it and I do the same for every battle scar on his body. His fingers stroke my hair, remembering how it had once been cut as punishment. We share our secrets, our dreams, and we heal our wounds. He is the man I thought he was. To him, I am his better half.

I awake in his arms to a loud knock on our door. Guy stirs in his sleep, pulling me in closer. Leave it.

I ignore his request, piqued at who could be calling at this hour. Is it Robin? I hope to God it's not the Sheriff. Quickly I climb out of our bed, wrapping a night robe around me. Rushing down the stairs, I'm out of breath when I open the door.

Standing there is a woman I've never seen before. She has an air of elegance about her and piercing eyes full of fear. She looks me over, puzzled.

I'm sorry for disturbing you at this hour, but my call is urgent. I've come to see Robin Hood. I was told he lives here.

I have no idea what this woman could want. No, he used to. Who are you?

My name is Isabella. I've been on a long journey and I'm seeking shelter. May I come in for a moment?

Yes, you may. I guess my time to start practicing being Lady Gisborne has come rather early. It's dangerous to be traveling at this hour. Are you alone?

Yes, replies Isabella, taking off her hooded cloak. I don't mean to stay long, but my life was in danger. My husband is an abusive man. He treats me as his slave. If there's one thing I've learned, it's never to trust men.

I gesture for her to sit in the chair next to me by the fire. I'm so sorry to hear that, but surely not all men are bad, a bit arrogant sometimes, yes. I wouldn't say the same from my experience.

Oh, they are. All they care about is wealth and power, men like my brother.

Your brother? What did he do to you?

He sold me, Isabella sighs, sparks from the fire reflected in her eyes, so I would marry and he could have money and position. He is a heartless man.

My father would never have done that to me, even if his life depended upon it.

Isabella's eyes search me over. You're married though. Wait… She stops short, spotting my wedding ring. I recognize that ring…it was my mother's. No…it can't be!

Marian, come to bed. I cringe at the look of horror on Isabella's face. I turn around to see Guy frozen on the staircase at the sight of us.

I try to break the tense atmosphere. Do you two know each other?

I'd rather die than ever have known him, snaps Isabella. He is my brother.

My eyes flit back and forth between Isabella and Guy in shock. Guy sold his own sister? I can't believe it…I won't.

Marian, this is my sister. Isabella, this is my wife. What have you been telling her? How did you even get all the way here? If I knew any better, I'd send you straight back to your husband where you belong!

Isabella shakes her head, sneering. You're a fool Guy of Gisborne. She could prove of use to me. Everything happens so fast. One moment I'm trying to read the truth in Guy's eyes, and the next Isabella has me under her grasp, her dagger at my throat.

Isabella, don't!, cries Guy, unleashing his sword.

What is she to you−a pawn in exchange for your wealth, your title?

She is innocent, Isabella! Leave Marian out of this! This is between you and me.

If you dare to send me back to my husband, threatens Isabella, she dies!

You will not lay a hand on her, my wife, not in my house!

I feel Isabella's dagger brush my neck. There's no way I'm waiting for Guy to make a decision. I move quickly, knocking Isabella away from me with my leg. Releasing myself from her grasp, I try to wrestle the dagger out of her hand. Isabella in turn, knocks me to the floor. She is unrelenting; I twist her arm until she is forced to let go of it. Guy close behind me. He is quick to take control, pulling Isabella away from me and knocking her unconscious.

An unsettling silence falls between us. I have never seen Guy lay a hand on a woman, especially his own sister. Slowly, he turns to me. Marian, are you alright?

What have you done to her?

Guy holds out his hand to help me up. Let me explain. He raises me up and leads me to a chair to sit down.

I need a drink, I murmur. He is quick to offer me wine to calm me down. As I take a few sips, it takes me a lot to find my words.

You…you sold her. How could you?

Marian, I've told you I've done unforgivable things. If I hadn't done so, we would have starved. We had no title, no lands, our parents were dead. I had no choice.

Don't say that, I shake my head. Don't ever say that! We always have a choice, Guy of Gisborne. You chose not to take her back in when you knew her husband was abusive It's no wonder Isabella's bitterness clouds her judgment.

Marian, don't test me. There is an edge to Guy's voice, one I've heard many times before. I've always made my own decisions and I've stuck with them.

Think about it, Guy: if I had been your sister, would you have sold me?

Guy rolls his eyes at me. We're not going there.

You see? We're family: we make decisions together.

Guy looks up at me, his expression incredulous. That's not how I was taught.

Well, I can be just as stubborn. Without another word, I start climbing the stairs.

Where are you going?

I send one last look at Guy. To bed; I'm too tired for this. So, I think to myself, our first married argument and I just met my sister-in-law. He had never breathed a word about her. It had always been clear to me Guy had no family. I was very wrong. Slumping down on our bed, my hand encircles the bed post. There's no way I can get to sleep after this. I only used going to bed as an excuse to end our argument. I had always done that with my father. Now I was a wife and I didn't have my own room to escape to, or play night watchman.

Marian? Guy's voice is softer, gentler now. I keep silent, hoping to calm what is left of my frustration with him. Guy has always known I was stubborn, always holding my ground against the decisions of men. My voice as a woman, is anything, but passive.

Guy slowly kneels down in front of me, meeting my eyes. Marian, I'm sorry. I was wrong not to tell you about Isabella. She's a lot like you: willful, strong. Sometimes I think her tempers even worse than mine. But you, you're all I have, he murmurs, holding my face in his hands. You're the only true family I have in the world, the only person I can really turn to. If I lose you, my world may as well turn to ash.

I sigh, his words soothing me. Is that why you came back, when Prince John's men were going to destroy Nottingham?

Yes. Marian, I will always come back for you. He enfolds me in his arms, creating for a safe haven I need now, more than ever.