Chapter 2
Tragic reunion
All at once, the outlaws heard a hubbub of familiar voices that came somewhere from behind the trees. In a matter of seconds, Will and Djaq appeared on the clearing. They swept their eyes over the outlaws, astonished to see bowed heads and saturnine faces. Not understanding why everyone was so gloomy, Will and Djaq felt rather uncomfortable. As they caught a glimpse of Robin's body, their hearts sank into their throats as horrible suspicious crept into their minds.
"Hello, lads," Will began, his wandering across the clearing and finally fixing on Robin's body. Then he shook his head and turned to face his friends.
Little John broke into a sad smile. "Will and Djaq! What a great surprise!"
"What happened?" Will asked, staring at Gisborne. "What is this man doing here?"
"Gisborne is with us now. He was outlawed and turned against the Sheriff," John explained.
"He switched sides. He no longer lives only for power and wealth. He is a changed, repentant man," Tuck added, a small smile hovering over his lips.
Will and Djaq gave them suspicious looks, but said nothing, though they doubted that Gisborne could ever change and become a kind and compassionate man instead of a cruel and power-hungry man. They didn't know several people among the outlaws, assuming that they were the new additions to the band. They didn't care about their identities at the moment. Their eyes were attached to Robin's body.
Dread slashed through the hearts of Djaq and Will. Their eyes went wide as they took in the picture before their eyes: Robin was deathly pale, looking as if he were sleeping, but his pose and appearance suggested that he was most likely dead. Did they arrive in Sherwood to Robin's funeral?
"What happened to Robin?" Djaq asked straightforwardly, without preamble.
"Is he… is he…?" Will stammered. All other words struck in his throat.
Much gave a slight nod, his gaze frantic and desperate. "Robin… our Robin… is… dead." He stuttered, unable to say that his best friend had departed to another world. "Robin died as a hero after the siege of Nottingham. Sheriff Vaisey and his mercenaries were killed when we blew up the castle." He took a deep breath, and then went on. "Robin… was injured with a poisoned-tipped dagger."
"Gisborne tried to save Robin and risked his own life. However, his sister Isabella still managed to murder our dear Robin," Little John said evenly. He decided to reveal the truth at once, though it was probably dangerous for Guy because he mentioned the role of Guy's sister in Robin's death without giving detailed explanations.
Will and Djaq were amazed. They had never known about Gisborne's sister.
Will gave Guy an odd look. "Gisborne has a sister?"
"I had a sister," Guy confirmed. "Isabella and all the others in the castle were killed by Robin." His mind drifted off to Robin's bravery in the last minutes of the siege. "Robin's last flaming arrow torched the Byzantine fire in the castle, and then everything exploded."
"Isabella is going to burn in the hellfire forever for all her evil doings," Archer snapped angrily, cursing the moment when he had decided to help Isabella trap Robin and his friends in the tunnel. He didn't feel that the woman was his half-sister. Any blood connection was lost when he realized the extent of her true wickedness, her vile nature, and her lust for power.
A murderous silence pressed over them. Everyone was bent their heads down, heartache nesting in their hearts. Their faces wore grim looks of black grief and deep mourning.
"Robin will never be forgotten." Djaq's voice was cracking.
"Everlasting memory and glory to Robin of Locksley!" Will's booming voice coursed through the chilly autumn air. All the others repeated his words.
"May Robin's soul rest in peace," Little John said.
Everyone bowed their heads in respect to Robin Hood, who gave his life for King Richard, England, and the people. His sacrifices and good deeds would never be forgotten. Overhead the setting sun palpitated in a silence that seemed uncanny when coupled with the intensity of grief for Robin's death.
"Lads, I'm happy that you are here," Much broke the silence with a lugubrious smile. "Your arrival is one of the very few positive events in the past months."
Little John nodded. "Very true."
"We didn't expect to see you here. Why did you come right now?"
"It is a long story," Djaq began, her eyes fixed on Robin, her heart hammering hard, not in delight but in pain. "We travelled with King Richard's party from Acre. Due to bad weather and storms, our ship was wrecked near the shores of Northern Italy, which forced the King to undertake a dangerous land route through the territory of the Holy Roman Empire. Unfortunately, the King was captured near Vienna by Duke Leopold of Austria. We were also taken prisoners, together with King Richard, and then kept in the dungeons of Dürnstein Castle; it is I daresay, a terrible place – cold and dirty." She paused.
"Please go on," Much prompted. "We want to know what happened."
"After several weeks in captivity, we were released without the payment of ransom," Djaq informed. "The King insisted on our release, and, of course, the Austrians couldn't receive large ransom for us because we were only the King's companions on the trip."
"And you came back," John said with a smile.
Will nodded. "Yes. The King ordered us to return to England, find Robin, and give Robin a vitally important message."
Much already knew what their liege wanted. "Does King Richard want us to get him out of Austria?"
Djaq shook her head. "Yes. Richard said that only Robin could get him out of the mess."
"Oh," John breathed.
Much squeezed his eyes, then opened them. "Robin could do everything because he was Robin!"
Will's face twisted into torment. "Oh my Lord! Robin is dead, but Marian…" He stumbled with words, his face revealing a sheer shock.
"Robin and Marian are together, in Heaven. It is my only consolation," Much muttered.
Djaq shook head. "We came here with a gift for Robin – with Marian."
Much frowned, confused. "What?"
"There is something you don't know," Djaq said.
All the words died into silence, and each pair of eyes was at Djaq, who stood quiet, trying to find right words to tell the outlaws the truth, but it was difficult to find them. The shadows stole here and there, and the woods were filled with intangible and unreal influences, yet potent with the symbolism of someone's unknown presence in the wilderness. And then there was the rustling of leaves between the trees, and Djaq knew that now she would have to explain many things to her friends.
A slender hooded figure of an average height emerged behind Will and Djaq. It was clearly a female figure. The figure passed the outlaws, slowly and gracefully. She crossed the clearing and approached Robin's motionless form. She paused and stood rooted for a long moment, looking down at Robin. Then she crouched near Robin, then took Robin's hand in hers and bowed her head.
"What is going on? Who is she?" Much pointed at the hooded figure.
"This is Marian." Djaq looked at Much, then averted her eyes. "Marian is alive."
"What? What?" Much shouted. "She died in the Holy Land! We buried her!"
"It is a bad joke. This I don't like," Little John grumbled.
Guy's heart skipped a beat and then started beating faster. "Impossible!"
Kate stepped away from Guy, focusing her eyes on Much. "Marian? Who is she?" She had her suspicions, but she didn't dare think that it was Lady Marian of Knighton, Robin's former betrothed, who was rumored to have been murdered by Guy of Gisborne in a jealous rage.
"Lady Marian was Robin's wife. They were married several minutes before her death in Acre." Tuck's eyes were at the silent hooded figure near Robin's body.
"Marian is not dead," Will said. "She survived her mortal injury."
Much's eyes went wider; he didn't believe Will and Djaq. "How is it possible? Djaq said that Marian had died after Guy had stabbed her. Marian died in Robin's arms after the King had administered the wedding ceremony and had given them his large ruby ring. We buried Marian near Carter's grave!"
Dumbfounded and numb, Archer and Kate turned their heads at the hooded female figure.
"Marian isn't dead," Will repeated. "She is alive. She is here."
A hush fell over the clearing. All the eyes were fixed on the woman leaning over Robin. Will and Djaq said the truth – the lady was indeed Lady Marian of Knighton and of Locksley, the rightful Countess of Huntingdon and Robin of Locksley's wife.
The sounds of muffled female cries sliced the stillness of the forest as Marian started sobbing, her bosom heavy with tears. Her small frame was shaking in a nerve storm of sobbing as the realization dawned upon her – her beloved husband was dead. Her heart was thundering wildly in her thorax, blood pounded in her ears. Her throat constricted in spasms. Her entire body began shaking.
Marian's inconsolable grief threatened the numbness, which had wrapped them all after Tuck had told them about the news of Robin's poisoning. Her cries of pain and agony echoed the quiet sobbing of Will, Djaq, Much, Guy, Little John, and even Archer. It was extremely difficult to keep their emotions at bay. Kate's face was stoic, her gaze unfocused, her tears dried; she was paralyzed in shock. Tuck was calm, gathering his composure and intending to support everyone.
Marian looked at Robin, her sapphire blue eyes shining with love for the hero. She loved him with all her heart and dreamt of meeting with him for so many months. She saw Robin's handsome face in her sweet dreams that comforted her and guided her from the darkness to the light throughout so many months of pain and agony. Never had she imagined that she would overcome many obstacles, cheat death, and finally arrive in England, to Sherwood, only to find Robin dead.
Separated from Robin for more than a year, Marian had spent days and nights thinking about Robin. He hadn't been with her and had possessed no substance, but he had always been in her heart. She had easily recalled his face in perfect details; she had imagined that she could feel his strong arms hugging her, stroking her long, dark hair, and caressing her body. Other happy memories had included the minutes when she had been in his arms after they had been making love to each other at their secret rendezvous place in the forest; she had remembered how she had put her finger to his lips when he had started to say something, for she hadn't wanted to speak about trifles in those short and sacred moments they had shared. Those memories had helped her recover.
Guy of Gisborne's face had been haunting Marian in the continuous recurring nightmares, as well as in her delirium when she had been sick and had been fighting for her life. The scene of her demise in the deserted courtyard in Imuiz was haunting her every night since the day she had awakened for the first time after the struggle with death. Afterwards, every night she awoke in cold sweat from the nightmare about her death in Imuiz. At all such moments, she had thought that she had almost physically felt the searing, savage pain as Guy had thrust his broadsword into her abdomen.
Marian heard how Much told Will and Djaq what had happened to Robin. She wasn't interested in the details who and how died on that day. She heard only that her dear Robin had died – she didn't need to know something else at that moment. As soon as she saw Robin's body with flowers on his chest, she understood that it wasn't a foul play. Her heart giving a loud thump, she rushed to Robin, her mind struggling to believe the catastrophic news that her beloved Robin had died before she found him.
Marian persuaded herself that Robin couldn't be dead. They were supposed to be together, live happily in Locksley, and have many children. They only had to defeat the Sheriff and release King Richard from captivity. Together they were stronger – they could do everything and survive through hell. Robin couldn't be dead. And yet, there her husband lay, motionless and seemingly lifeless.
Guy's heart was hammering harder and harder, nearly suffocating him. It couldn't be true that Marian was alive. He had killed her in the Holy Land. He remembered how he had plunged his sword into her lower stomach as rage and jealousy had driven him to the point of temporary madness. Yet, he could see the familiar curves of her slim figure, the way she moved – he had no doubt that she was Marian. She looked slimmer, perhaps due to her sickness. His heart collapsed as he saw her grieving for the loss of Robin. Guilt seized him as he tried to imagine what she was feeling at that moment.
"Is she really Marian?" Guy muttered, his voice thick with emotion, his eyes drifting back and forth between Will and Djaq. "Didn't I… kill her?"
Will shot Guy a disdainful look. "No, Gisborne, you didn't, by miracle."
Guy smiled, though his eyes remained grave. "I cannot believe!"
Djaq regarded all the outlaws, sighed, and spoke. "It was my entire fault. Unfortunately, I made a mistake when I said that Marian had died. As she removed the sword from her body, she apparently passed out from pain and blood loss, and she didn't breathe for some time. Probably, her heart didn't beat for a while and she had a semblance of death. Then she came back to the land of the living, but her breathing was too shallow and irregular to be detected." She lowered her eyes, as if embarrassed by the acknowledgement of her mistake.
"Go on. Tell us what happened to Lady Marian," Tuck demanded.
"Robin was so heartbroken that he was unable to bury Marian," Djaq reminded as she ran her eyes over the astonished faces of the outlaws. "We buried Carter, but not Marian. Robin carried her body across the sandy dunes to her fresh grave and put her body on the sand. Then he said farewell words to her and went away. He was unable to witness how she would be put into the ground. Then we left King Richard and returned to Bassam's house, asking the King's guards to bury Marian." She paused.
Will took the initiative and spoke. "Then the Saracen raid happened, and those guards were killed. Marian was captured by the Saracens who discovered that she barely alive. They tended to her wounds and took care of her. She was very ill for five months and spent around seven months in captivity."
Djaq sighed heavily. "Later, the Saracens heard the story about the brave young English woman who saved King Richard's life and died from her wound. They heard that her body disappeared before burial. Matching the details, they realized who the woman was in reality." She let out a small smile. "Robin was an infamous Christian general in the Holy Land. It seems that everyone knew the young brave Captain of the King's Private Guard, watching him from afar."
"We heard many stories about Robin in the Holy Land," Will confirmed.
Djaq felt a little uncomfortable as she spoke about Robin's past in the Crusade. "So the Saracens discovered that the woman was Captain Locksley's wife, and the fact was reported to Saladin. Saladin sent his emissary to King Richard. Of course, Richard understood that the unknown woman was Marian. After prolonged negotiations about the terms and conditions of Marian's release, the King paid ransom for her and took her under his protection." She finished her tale.
Tuck blessed himself with the cross. "This is a miracle! It was God's will that Lady Marian must live!"
Much gasped for air. "Oh, my Lord!"
"For the love of Heaven, tell me why everything is so complicated in my new family?" Archer complained, lifting his brows, his expression bewildered. "I'm truly amazed with your ability to seek out the most unimaginable situations."
"You don't know many things about us, brother," Guy told Archer.
"Hmm," Archer growled. "I think you should tell me more about yourself."
"I will," Guy pledged. "All in a due time."
Djaq arched a brow. "Brother?"
"Archer is Robin and Guy's half-brother. It is a long story," Much replied.
Djaq blinked in disbelief, looking at Archer. "Oh."
"Where is Allan?" Will questioned.
"Allan died several hours before Robin. The Sheriff shot him," Tuck said sorrowfully.
A short silence descended upon them. Will and Djaq found it hard to accept so many bad news. Their eyes met, their mind drifted off to the young blonde rogue who was their friend, had betrayed them to their enemies, had saved them from death in the barn, and had finally helped save the King.
Marian drew a deep, painful breath. Her head was still hooded, and nobody saw her face. She bent her head and kissed Robin's still warm lips. It was a long, tender, and soft kiss, but then the kiss became intensive, almost desperate, as if she had been drinking from his mouth. As her lips parted from his, her fingers trembled as she touched the softness of his cheek, her other hand clutching his hand; her fingers entwined with his fingers calloused from years of archery.
She broke the kiss and stared down at Robin, holding her breath for a long, long time. The reality was both a blessing and a curse for her: she was finally reunited with Robin, her husband, lover, and friend, but he was dead and she would never talk to him again. Even in death and peace, Robin looked handsome and charming, like he had always looked in life; she thought that there was something unearthly in his features. She lifted his hand in hers and kissed his palm and his wrist, her lips tenderly brushing his skin. Her fingers tightened around his wrist, as if marking him with her imprint forever.
Almost melting onto him, Marian kissed his neck and his jaw line, and then rested her head against his chest. She lifted Robin a little bit, and her hands went beneath his back, hugging him and pressing her head to his chest as she sobbed. She felt how light his body was, as if his soul had been all that weighed him to Earth, and with its departure he became a creature of air. Did he become so light because of death or was it a product of her delirium?
"I love you, Robin. I have always loved you, and I will always love you. For all the lives to come, I will never forget you. I will love you until my last day, my Robin, my beautiful, beautiful Lord of Locksley, my brave Robin Hood," Marian whispered to him and to herself.
Marian continued sobbing, her throat aching, her heart broken into many small pieces. She imagined that she could hear Robin's voice and could feel his spirit as intensely as she could when he was alive. She fantasized that behind the motionless, unresponsive front, Robin was still breathing, alive and only sleeping. Yet, her heart was growing heavier with every minute.
"Nobody will ever replace you in my life, my Robin," Marian murmured, her head on his chest. "There will be no other man in my whole life, my love. If you are dead, I will always be a widow in mourning for my dear, beloved, and unique husband. I will love you forever. Only you, my love. Forever."
Marian looked at her husband's peaceful face, then cradled his head in her arms. Her eyes took in his facial features, desperately wishing to believe that they would someday be together again, though now it was possible only after her own death. She put her arms beneath him, pressing her face to his chest. A new wave of hot tears crushed her down, and she couldn't stop the tears that filled her eyes and freely streamed down her cheeks. She let them flow, burning like hot lava on her hollow, pale cheeks.
John glanced at Marian, his heart in his throat. "Why didn't you send a message with Lardner if you knew that Marian survived?" His voice was barely audible.
"We didn't know about Marian's survival for a long time," Will said in a defensive tone. "We only knew that her body disappeared after the Saracen raid. We didn't want to inform Robin that she hadn't been buried by the King's guards because we didn't want to make him more devastated. In total, more than six months had passed before the Saracens contacted King Richard."
Djaq sighed heavily. "As soon as King Richard ransomed Marian from captivity, he sent a messenger to my Uncle's house in Acre. We were shocked to learn that Marian was alive. Next day we came to the Crusaders' camp, and she was there, still weak but alive."
As Djaq found it difficult to talk, affected by the news of Robin's passing, Will spoke instead of her. "By the time we came to the King's camp, King Richard had already signed the peace treaty with Saladin. The King said that Marian would travel with him and with his convoy because he wished to personally hand Robin's treasure to his favorite general and his beloved friend." He trailed off, watching Marian; his heart screamed in pain as he looked at the sobbing Marian.
At the words about Robin's treasure, Kate blanched, visibly flinched, and averted her eyes. She clenched and unclenched her small fists, and it didn't go unnoticed by the gang.
"We missed England and Sherwood. We missed all of you," Djaq said huskily. "So we decided to go back. When we told King Richard about that, he recommended that we join him in his voyage."
Will's expression was tenebrous. "We should have helped you destroy the Sheriff."
"We should have been here." Djaq nodded, and a sigh of regret escaped her lips. "Now, when Robin is no longer with us, I wish we sent an urgent message as soon as we learnt about Marian's survival."
Kate looked startled and amused. She didn't say anything, not right away. She heard from the villagers that Robin Hood had married Lady Marian of Knighton on her deathbed in the Holy Land, but she didn't pay much attention to Robin's late wife. She supposed that Robin had long buried his grief in the desert and that he had forgotten about Marian. After all, he didn't speak about his wife, and the outlaws avoided even mentioning the woman's name. So Kate believed that Robin had fallen in love with her.
Kate was angry that another woman, not she, dared demonstrate her grief and sorrow so openly. What right did Marian have to stay near Robin? Even if the woman was Robin's wife, Robin's heart belonged to Kate, the girl from Locksley mused. She wasn't Robin's wife, but she was Robin's beloved and had a moral right to be next to the deceased hero instead of his wife. Resolute in her intentions, Kate dashed to Robin, wanting to take Robin's body in her arms instead of Marian, to cradle him against her chest.
As Kate made a step towards Robin and Marian, she suddenly felt a hand on her right shoulder. Then someone clasped her forearm to restrain her movements. Not looking who the intruder was, she instinctively tried to resist, but failed. The hand just squeezed her arm again harder than before.
Kate turned her head, and her gray eyes met with Guy's steel blue eyes. "You think that you can do anything to me," she threw over her shoulder. "You are mistaken. Let me go."
"You are a spirited young girl, Kate." Guy didn't want to argue with her, but he didn't intend to let her intervene in Marian and Robin's tragic reunion. "Stop here. You are going nowhere."
She was amazed to see tears shining in his blue eyes. "Why?"
"Robin and Marian loved each other. They were married," Guy said, feeling numbness overcoming him. "She is alive and she still loves him. He also loves… loved… her."
Kate furrowed her brows. "And what?"
Guy swallowed heavily. "Let them have a moment of privacy. They deserve it."
"I want to be with him," Kate insisted.
Tuck gripped Kate's forearm. "Kate, Guy is right. It is not your place to be there," he chided. "Please respect the sacred marriage vows of Maid Marian and Robin Hood."
"I understand." Kate nodded reluctantly and took several steps back.
Tuck relaxed. "Good."
Kate looked at Guy, surprised. "But why are you so affected?"
Seized by the tornado of emotions bubbling in his heart, Guy felt dizzy and lightheaded. His knees slowly buckled beneath him, and Archer reached him on time to support him. His expression evolved into sheer grief. "Vaisey and I travelled to the Holy Land to kill King Richard. Marian saved King Richard by preventing me from reaching him when he lay injured by Vaisey's arrow in the deserted courtyard and when I tried to approach the King to do the deed." He again paused, his breathing erratic.
Archer looked very interested. "What happened then?"
"Marian and I had an argument," Guy answered, mastering his courage. "She… said that it was over and that she would never let me kill the King because she was always fighting for England." He hung his head in shame, tears running down his cheeks. "She… confessed that she loved Robin, not me, and that she would rather die than be with me. And then I… stabbed her."
Guy shut his eyes as his mind relayed the gruesome picture of how he had stabbed Marian. He had made a step forward and had plunged his sword into her stomach, wishing to eradicate the source of the words that had destroyed his dreams. He had acted like a brutal killer, like he had acted in many other cases when he had killed someone at Vaisey's order or in an outburst of anger. He had met no resistance as the blade had penetrated her body. He had realized what he had done only when he stepped aside and had seen his sword driven her belly; then she had fallen on the ground.
The faces of the outlaws were shocked. They didn't know what had really happened in the courtyard in Imuiz, thinking that Marian had stood between King Richard and, thus, Gisborne had disposed of her to get to the King and kill him. Nobody knew that Marian had provoked Guy.
Much looked abashed. "I'm saying nothing… I'm saying nothing."
"Lady Marian found a bad time for love confessions," Archer commented, shaking his head.
"Marian chose a bad timing to tell Gisborne the truth," John commented.
"It was God's will that Lady Marian had saved the King on that day," Friar Tuck hankered to say. "We cannot prevent what God sends upon us, his children."
Unexpectedly, Djaq gave Guy a sympathetic look. "She taunted you with her true feelings for Robin."
The outlaws gave Djaq strange glances, but she didn't care.
Guy was still staring on the ground. "Yes."
"Djaq, what do you–" Will began, but he was interrupted.
Djaq put a hand on Will's shoulder. "Don't say anything, Will," she said pleadingly.
Guy was able to lift his eyes at last. "I didn't know what I was doing when I… plunged my sword into her stomach." More fresh tears came to his eyes. "I regretted my actions as soon as my sword penetrated her flesh." Then a small play appeared on his face. "And now I'm just so happy that she is alive." He brushed away tears with his palm. "I didn't kill her! It is such a relief!"
Archer put a comforting hand on his brother's shoulder. "It is good, Guy."
"But now Robin is dead," Guy said in a low, trembling voice. "Robin loved Marian. I destroyed Robin's world when I almost killed her. It doesn't matter that I also destroyed myself – I destroyed Robin and Marian." Thinking of Robin's untimely death, he looked heavenward. Then he turned his gaze at Marian whose head still lay on Robin's chest. "God is cruel to them."
It was extremely strange that they all discussed Marian and Robin with Guy of Gisborne of all the people. Robin's death brought many memories back and pushed them to have a frank conversation.
"Oh," Kate breathed. She wished only to run away from the clearing because the topic of Robin's love for his supposedly dead wife hurt her too much. She still thought that Robin loved her, not his wife.
"Guy, at least she is alive. At least her death is not on your conscience." Archer's voice held no joy, only acknowledgment of the fact. "People make mistake and learn from them; they change. You have also changed: you have become wiser and better."
"I changed, but it is too late," Guy almost moaned.
"It is never too late," Archer objected, his lips lengthening into a tiny smile.
"Kate, I'm sorry that I caused your brother's death," Guy repeated an apology again, a twinge of guilt in his tone. "I will forever blame myself for so many things that I cannot innumerate them."
Guy's words touched a sting in Kate's heart. Kate nodded at him. "Thank you for your honesty."
With thundering heart, Guy watched Marian raise her head and look at Robin with eyes full of pain; then her head fell on Robin's chest. Marian's presence in the woods, so close to Guy and so devoted to her heroic husband, made Guy unable to feel happiness that Marian was alive – he could feel only pain, her pain for the loss of Robin. The pain was a part of every breath he must force himself to take.
For so many years, Guy was falling deeper and deeper in hell, without hope for salvation. He had naively believed that Marian had been his redemption, and he realized that only he himself could save his soul from eternal damnation only after he had killed Marian. Guy had been furious that she had betrayed him by loving his sworn enemy, but later everything changed and now he even didn't blame her for toying with his feelings and manipulating him. He didn't hate Robin anymore – he wanted Robin to be alive and happily married to Marian. He blamed only himself for all his misery and mistakes.
Guy felt as though he had been drowning in the ocean of excruciating guilt, and someone's rough, cold hands were dragging him down, deeper under the water. He was burning in hell, and he would burn there forever, doomed to endure the eternity of damnation. He was falling deeper and deeper, knowing that it didn't matter how many people he would help and save right now – he would never be forgiven by God and he would never forgive himself. At least he didn't believe in forgiveness for himself.
Yet, Gisborne suddenly felt himself a human being for the first time since the events in Acre. He had considered himself a monster who had murdered in cold blood the only woman he had ever truly loved. But Marian was alive and he was free from the gravest crime he had thought he had committed. There was lightness in his chest he hadn't felt for so long, and he discovered that it was easier to breathe.
Robin's death accused Guy of ruining Marian and Robin's prospects for a happy life. He was guilty that he had wounded Marian and had separated her from Robin for so long, and he knew that nothing could ever wash away his guilt. He had no right to stab Marian in an outburst of a dangerous, furious jealousy: instead, he had to protect her and let her be happy with Robin if she loved him. And now Robin was dead because of Isabella of Gisborne. It seemed that the Gisbornes were destined to destroy the happiness of Robin Hood and Maid Marian.
Marian is alive and is reunited with Robin, even though they have a tragic reunion. I know that their reunion is tragic and heartbreaking, or at least I wanted it to be heartbreaking. My hope is that the chapter touched the hearts of my readers.
Guy is genuinely shocked that Robin is dead and that Marian has to deal with her husband's death. He is grieving together with Marian.
Please leave a short review if you don't mind. I want to know your opinion. Thanks!