An impossibly long chapter awaits you. Enjoy with tissues if needed.

XXVIII

One More Moment

Rebecca blinked awake, yawning lightly as her sight returned to her. She was at once awash with a feeling of warmth. She smiled at the sight of the man still asleep beside her. Guy looked so peaceful; none of the former frowns lined his skin like they had when she had tended to him when he returned to Locksley. She remembered how feverish he had been. She thought he would die with the agony of his loss and guilt.

She kissed his face with ghostly presses of her lips. She vowed he would never be so alone and left in such despair again. He stirred at her touch and opened his eyes. His face broke into a faint smile as he caught sight of Rebecca. He stretched, reaching for her and delighting in the playful giggling shriek she uttered as they tangled together.

Rebecca nuzzled against Guy's neck and shoulder. "How did ya sleep?" she asked him, wondering if he had truly been as content as he had looked.

"Peacefully," he replied.

"No dreams?"

"Oh, I did not say that. I dreamed," Guy said slyly.

"What of, pray tell," she prompted.

"Of waking and seeing you."

"Rogue," Rebecca laughed, shoving him lightly. "D'ya think your silver tongue will beguile me, sir?"

"I only ever speak the truth," Guy said, his tone darkening with mock offense. "I am hurt you should think otherwise."

His old humor had certainly returned with a vengeance, Rebecca found she could not silence the laughter in her voice. "What can I do t' heal ya then?"

Guy gestured for her to lean closer to him. She did so warily. Guy raised his head up and stole a kiss from her. "There," he announced softly, "I am healed."

A knock on the door to the chambers startled the pair. They both turned their heads towards the door. "What is it?" Guy snapped, his mood shifting to icy anger towards any who sought to intrude upon them.

"Robin sent me to inform you to meet him in the courtyard. He thought you might be in here." It was Kate.

"Can't whatever it is wait?" Guy groaned.

"No. Robin's orders. Come down whenever you're ready," Kate said, sounding less than pleased to have become the messenger girl.

"Fine, tell him I'm on my way."

"And you will tell Rebecca as well...if you should see her," Kate added as an aside.

Guy was about to answer when Rebecca's voice boomed out, "I can answer for myself. Tell Robin we're both on our way."

They heard no more from the other woman beyond the door. Rebecca grinned like a naughty child. "That ought to shock her out of any of her nasty little remarks about me."

"You did not have to do that. She thinks little of you as it is," Guy said.

Rebecca shrugged, slipping from the bed as she donned her clothes. "I spent all my life hiding the fact that I loved ya. I'm your betrothed, I won't feel ashamed o' my love anymore. I'll tell everyone if I want t'. I'll shout it from the battlements if ya like."

"You wouldn't," Guy teased as he clothed himself as well.

Rebecca raised an eyebrow challengingly and before Guy could stop her she ran for the door, unbolting it and dashing into the empty and barren hallway of the castle. Guy chased after her. She went running down laughing, "I love Guy of Gisborne! I love Guy of Gisborne!" she shouted repeatedly.

Guy caught her, attempting to silence her. Rebecca laughed at his efforts, she kissed him swiftly, "Come on, let's see what Robin wants with all o' us. The sooner we do, the sooner we can get ourselves to a church t' be married."

***

Guy and Rebecca joined up with the rest of the gang near the castle gates. The villagers were standing around as well. Everyone appeared to be in high spirits and the wounded had all been tended to. Isabella stood with her hands tied behind her back, the object of much ridicule from the crowd. Robin was standing up atop an overturned wagon, a useful stage for the purpose. His face was beaming, and the way the villagers were staring up at him he must have been talking for some time before Guy and Rebecca had caught up to them all.

"...in the name of King Richard, I charge Isabella of Gisborne with high treason, and high crimes against the people of Nottingham. The castle and everything in it belongs to the people!" He cried, his arms raised enthusiastically .

Rebecca found herself cheering along with the others, surprised to find herself swept up by the feelings of mutual triumph and happiness. The victory was finally validated, the King was soon to arrive in England, and all would be set to right. It was perfect--

"Robin!" Much's shout cut through the cheers of the people.

Robin's face lined at the panicked cry and he leapt down from the wagon. Much signaled for the gang to follow him. Something was wrong. They ran to the town gates where a bundle lay as if strategically placed for them to find. Much, Robin, and John quickly unraveled it. Rebecca let out a gasp of horror and placed a hand over her mouth to cover her cry. John nearly fell over in shock; Kate had to avert her eyes. For lying in the road was the body of Allan a'Dale. It was clear even before Tuck leaned over to hurriedly examine him, that he was past the point of their help.

"Close the gates..." Guy said, slowly drawing his sword.

His words caused the rest of the outlaws to look past the road to the hill beyond where a cavalry of soldiers were spilling downwards in all directions. Guy pulled Rebecca behind him and in her state of shock she did not fight him. Where had this vast army come from? The question did not go unanswered for long, for riding up the way came the figure of a man thought long dead: Sheriff Vaysey.

"Man the battlements!" Guy shouted, stirring everyone into action. He pulled Rebecca back into the relative safety of the town walls as he and John shut the gates.

"He is supposed t' be dead!" Rebecca said, "How can he...how can this...he died!"

"I will deal with him," Robin growled, "Guy, come with me."

***

No one had expected the sudden attack. The fireball landed in the center of the town, blasting debris and fire everywhere. Three men were dead before any help could arrive. Rebecca and Kate rushed onto the scene with water, but the water did nothing to douse the flames. In a numb state of terror they took to smothering the fire with anything available. No one had seen a weapon quite like that. Byzantine Fire; that was what Archer and Tuck had called it, and they were completely helpless to any future attacks from it.

Guy and Robin rode back into the town and they appeared almost as shaken as the rest of them. The Sheriff wanted Nottingham, and he was prepared to annihilate anyone who resisted. Rebecca continued to work clear the carnage in the square.

"Becca," Guy approached her as he dismounted his horse, "There's nothing more you can do here."

"There's going t' be a battle here," she stated calmly. "We can't have people tripping over burnt out bodies an' wood. I salvaged the wagons, Kate thinks we can use them for protection if need be. Much is raiding the armory in the castle, thinks there might be some weapons left for us...why are ya looking at me like that?" Rebecca said, her voice catching, "I'm fine."

Guy knew that to be a lie. She was not fine, but neither was he. He knew from the moment he saw the Sheriff and the army backing him there would be no escape. All of the dreams of a home and a life with Rebecca were pulled from him and violently shattered before his eyes. He had only ever experienced a pain akin to it once before, his very soul was writhing in opposition even as the sharp spear of reality impaled it upon bleak hopelessness.

Guy kicked at an overturned bench, turning it right side up. He motioned for the barely trembling woman to come and sit beside him before she fell over from shock and fright. Rebecca sat next to him, but she kept her arms tight at her sides and hands clasped in her lap. Guy did not reach for her, sensing his touch would only suffocate the already reeling woman.

"I know that look," she said roughly, glancing over at him, "I'm very acquainted with that look...ya had it when Marian left ya at the altar, and again after she....died. Please, please don't look at me in that way, I can't bear it," Rebecca pleaded.

"I should have known there would be no escape from this," Guy said softly, facing away from her as his own agony seemed to trouble her so much. "It was foolish to believe I would be allowed a life of contentment after what I have done..."

Rebecca's eyes hardened at his words. "I did not know Marian well, we were not overfond o' each other when we did speak to one another, but I know this much: she cared for ya," she saw him flinch as if she had stabbed him with a dagger. "She was kind an' compassionate an' I never took her t' be a woman o' revenge or needless violence. If ya think she watches ya from heaven with the eyes o' one who wants t' see ya suffer then I say ya are wrong. I think she'd want ya t' fight and live t' be the man she tried t' understand and care for."

Rebecca wiped at her eyes, as they stung with tears. "Guy, ya loved her. For that I tried t' love her as well. Fight for her. If it was Marian sitting here with ya now ya think she would say any different?" She rested her head against his shoulder, clasping his hand in hers. "If we are given a life beyond this and we are blessed with a family, our child....if she should be a girl...will be named Marian."

Rebecca could feel him gasp at her announcement before he began to weep quietly; for he knew there would be no escape and he knew that Rebecca understood that as well. There would be no home, no family and no daughter to raise or cherish. The pain and grief of past agonies came rushing back. Rebecca could be killed in the battle, he could not help but realize it would be his fault. He had killed the two women he had loved with all his soul, and no matter how Rebecca tried to console him there could be no true comfort for such losses.

Rebecca kissed Guy's tearstained cheek as his tears lessened. "We should go and join up with the others," she whispered. "They need our help."

Guy nodded, trying to find his voice again for he did not trust it yet. "You go," he said, "I need to speak to Isabella....see if she knows anything."

Rebecca did not like the idea of Guy going to see his treacherous sister on his own, but his reasons were sound and they needed all the information they could get. Rebecca agreed, she parted from him to walk towards the castle steps. Guy stared off after her, her mere presence a small consolation. Perhaps Rebecca had been right; Marian would not want vengeance. She had once called him a good and decent man and he had failed her and in doing so he had destroyed himself. Now Rebecca swore she saw the same in him as Marian had, and he could not fail her as well. His heart rallied against the waves of guilt within him; he had been given the gift of loving two women who had understood him completely. He would make himself worthy of such a gift.

For a brief moment Guy swore he could hear Marian's voice whispering to him as gently as if she were standing beside him. You are good man, Guy of Gisborne. Fight for me; do not fail me again.

He swore then that he would fight for her, as he had not when she had still been alive. He would fight to live to give Rebecca all the love and happiness that had been stolen from her; he would fight for Marian's forgiveness and for God's; for all the wrong he had ever done and for all the crimes he had ever committed. He would fight, and he would not fail.

***

The Great Hall was in a state of disarray, as was Robin and the rest of the gang. They sat around the long table; Tuck was in the process of bandaging his wounds, Robin stood with his hands atop the table, his head lowered in concentration. Much stood at a distance, arms crossed and faces lined.

When the doors opened everyone jumped, drawing weapons. "It's only me," Rebecca said, realizing that everyone was still in shock from the recent attack from Vaysey and his men.

The gang relaxed at the sight of her. "Is Kate with you?" Robin asked her curiously, his voice betraying a subtle worry.

Rebecca shook her head, "I thought she would be with you lot."

Robin looked away, not wanting to persist with the question. Rebecca walked down the stairs towards the table. "Found some wagons and carts that survived the fire. Thought we could use them for barricades if need be."

"That's clever of you."

The voice was a new one. A man sat apart from the rest of the gang. He looked like trouble to Rebecca. "Who are ya?" She asked.

"Archer."

"He's my brother," Robin said, eyeing the man with a less than brotherly affectionate glance.

Rebecca looked at the man again with newfound understanding. This was the lost brother that Robin and Guy had ridden out to rescue. Now that she saw him properly, he did bare a striking resemblance to the both of them. "I saw ya," she said, "ya were the man who attacked the guards, ya cleared the way for us t' get into the castle."

"Glad to know I was not entirely a failure," Archer grunted.

Oh yes, Rebecca thought, he was definitely their brother. The doors opened once again and this time it was John who came marching in. "Robin, Kate's gone to Loughborough for reinforcements."

"What?!" Robin shouted, slamming his hands upon the table.

"What's happened?" It was Guy, he emerged from the back of the room from the staircase leading towards the dungeons.

"It's Kate," Robin said. "Kate's taken it upon herself to go to Loughborough for the troops."

"She knows what she's doing," John said, trying to maintain a sense of calm.

Robin moved about in agitation. "The Sheriff is playing with us! He knows he's got the advantage. We have to hold his castle until the troops arrive."

"Can we?" Much asked. "How long under bombardment from Byzantine Fire?"

"He's got plenty of it," was Archer's enigmatic response.

"I sold it to him."

This was too much for the gang's already frayed nerves. Robin's rage was palpable as he shouted, "Well now your trade has caught up with you! And your going to be bombarded by your own weapons!"

"I've done you a favor by sticking 'round here. I saved your ungrateful lives!" Archer retorted.

"Our lives wouldn't have needed saving if you hadn't trapped the tunnel in the first place," Guy said.

Rebecca tugged upon Guy's sleeve. What did he mean 'trapped the tunnel in the first place?' And what did Archer have to prove by stating that he had saved their lives? She felt a cold chill slither down her spine. How close had she come to losing Guy today? He gave her a quick reassuring glance, which calmed the wild questions rising in Rebecca's mind.

"We lock him up," Much said, "We can't trust him."

Archer turned to leave the room, contempt heavy in his footsteps. "What's the matter?" Robin called, "Guilty conscience? And what of all those people who are going to die because of your greed?"

"And what about all those who will die because they listened to Robin Hood?" Archer said, "A few untrained, under equipped peasants against that war machine? So you think about what you got them into before you ever try and judge me."

"He's right," Rebecca said softly as Archer fled from the room. "We won't be able to hold out much longer."

"We have to take the trebuchets," Robin said, "A small unit. Tonight."

The impromptu meeting was adjourned as the gang went to make ready for their attack against the Sheriff. Rebecca and John gathered rope and any spare weaponry they could find and carried it up to the battlements where the others were waiting. Robin surveyed the small group of fighters with a critical eye as he explained their goal: disarm the trebuchets.

"Much, you're in charge," Robin said.

His friend was less than pleased to have been given the command, but Robin's will was firm. Rebecca stood beside Much, "I'm staying too. You'll need all the help here ya can get."

"Thank you, Rebecca," Robin said, "You know what you have to do if we should not return."

She nodded numbly, "Hold the castle."

Rebecca went to check that all the ropes were firmly secure for their dissent. When she came to Guy she grabbed him in a swift embrace, which was returned with earnest. She kissed his cheek, "For luck," she whispered.

"Stay safe," Guy said, "I do not care for Robin's orders or his demand that you hold the castle. You need only stay alive."

"I will do my best, my love," Rebecca said, hushing him as she sensed his panic over losing her while he was not there to protect her. "Now go," she urged, parting from him.

He disappeared over the edge of the battlements. Rebecca whispered a prayer into the night as she kept watch, "Dear God, I care not for myself. Keep him safe; protect him where I can not. Please God...return him t' me."

Then she was off, running down the ladder to gather a team of men to barricade the gates. Much kept watch on the battlements, monitoring the gangs movements, waiting for them to appear racing down the bridge. Rebecca stood, sword drawn, in the opening of the gates. For a moment all was still, and then a blinding flash of light signaled that the trebuchets had attempted to fire on them. Rebecca tensed, waiting for the fireball to land in the center of the town, but the trajectory was off! The fire fell straight down atop the trebuchet it had been launched from. Rebecca cheered along with the others as they saw two more of the catapults go up in flames. Robin had done it! That should buy them some time until Kate arrived with the King and his troops.

Soldiers came pouring down the road, chasing after Robin and the gang. Much came running down the ladder urging the others to close the gates as soon as they entered. Rebecca hurried to help close the gates, seeing Robin approach the entrance. Arrows flew overhead, the man next to Rebecca fell with a cry; an arrow lodged in his chest. Picking up the slack, Rebecca took his place. Then there was pain. Lightening spread across Rebecca's body as an arrow slammed into her shoulder. She fell back, gripping the shaft of the arrow in agony. She gave a gasp as shock flooded her senses, for a moment she thought she could survive this pain and then the wave came. She could not even cry out, the breath was knocked from her lungs. Her right arm went slack, but the gates were still open and if she did not help close them the soldiers would ride in.

Forcing herself to swallow her agony she pushed the gates closed on Much's command. Robin and his men charged in screaming their triumph. The gates shut and Rebecca's strength left her. She caught sight of Guy, the thin smirk of victory flickered on his lips as he took notice of her. When she fell she could hear him scream her name.

Guy ran over to her, kneeling down beside her and lifting her gently from the ground. He cradled her in his arms. "Robin!" He shouted for the others, "It's Becca! She's hurt!"

The celebrations ceased immediately as both Robin and Tuck dashed over. "I'm all right," Rebecca found herself saying breathlessly.

Tuck examined the wound as best he could. "The arrow is lodged deep in her shoulder. I don't have enough light. We need to get her inside."

"Then get her back to the castle," Robin said, "Do what you can for her."

Guy carried Rebecca, doing his best not to jostle her and injure her further. She whimpered quietly, clutching the clasps of his coat with her good hand. Her moans of pain drove him mad and he cursed himself for not having gotten back to her sooner. He should have been there to protect her.

"Lay her down on the table!" Tuck said, clearing a space for Guy to place Rebecca down.

He did so with tedious gentleness. Immediately, Tuck set to work. He took his knife out and cut around the sleeve of Rebecca's dress, tearing it off of her so that he could see where the arrow had penetrated into the skin. "I have to pull this out," he stated. "Guy, hold her down."

Tuck gripped the arrow shaft tightly. Rebecca tensed, waiting for the onslaught of pain, but nothing could have prepared her for it. She tried to lurch off of the table, her back trying to arch and move away from the cruelty. Tuck pulled on the arrow and Rebecca could feel every nerve cry out as a line of fire tore through her skin. She screamed. The arrow was buried deep and it did not want to leave her willingly. She tossed her head in delirium, she pleaded with Tuck to stop, she begged; she was almost faintly aware of the fact that she was crying.

Behind her agonized cries she could hear Guy hushing her. His hands smoothed back her hair from her sweat drenched forehead. He whispered to her, "Look at me, Becca, look at me..."

Eventually, Rebecca managed to turn her head. She stared up into his worried blue eyes. She silently pleaded with him to make the pain stop. And then it did. The awful tugging ceased and the tension in Rebecca's body left her shaking. The pain did not end; however, it continued to burn away inside of her arm. She wanted to hack the limb from her, anything to end it.

Tuck cursed as he tossed the arrow shaft away.

"What is it?" Guy asked.

"The arrow was barbed," Tuck said.

"That...that does not sound good," Rebecca said, gasping for air.

"The arrowhead is still in the wound. Rebecca, I have to cut into it to take it out," Tuck explained.

At first Rebecca wanted to tell him no. Her arm already felt as if it had burst into flames; so hot was the pain, but she knew the pain would not cease until the arrowhead was finally removed. She nodded fervently, whimpering at her own consent. When the first slice of the blade came; however, she had no voice left to scream. Her body went limp and she felt darkness come roaring down around her.

"Do not let her sleep!"

Tuck's warning served to rouse her only momentarily. Guy shook her, shouting her name, "Becca! You need to stay awake!"

She groaned, it was so cold and peaceful in the dark. The blade continued to cut into her and she could feel blood running freely down her arm. "Becca!" Guy was growing frantic, "Stay with me!"

Rebecca opened her eyes blearily. Guy kissed her in his relief upon seeing her open her eyes. "It hurts..." Rebecca whispered.

"I know, Becca, but it won't last for much longer."

"I'm tired," she was feeling rather cold.

"Becca?" Guy shook her again, "Becca, listen to me."

She groaned, annoyed at being tugged away from blissful unconsciousness. "Becca, marry me now," Guy said.

"Guy, I'm not dying," she whispered, wishing she could give him more than the reassurance of a few feebly uttered words. It was true, she felt that the pain would kill her, but the arrow had only struck her shoulder, she would be fine.

"Do you hear that?" Guy gestured towards the door where the sound of fighting trickled through. "The battle is still going on and God knows when we will get another opportunity. Marry me, Becca. Tuck can act as witness."

Her hand floundered atop the table as she sought his. He clasped it tightly as she nodded up at him. He leaned in to kiss her, but Rebecca managed to turn her head away, "Not yet!" She winced, and then her shaking body relaxed as Tuck pulled out the arrowhead. All that was left to be done was to stitch the wound closed, and in comparison to the ordeal she had just gone through, the pain of the needle would be nothing.

"I'm sorry there is no ring," Guy apologized.

Rebecca managed to smile, "Ya think I care about a bloody ring? Just say the words, already!"

"I, Guy of Gisborne, take thee, Rebecca Tanner, to be my wedded wife. To have and to hold from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer or poorer...I...I don't remember the rest..."

"In sickness and in health," Tuck supplied the missing words.

Guy nodded, "Obviously in sickness and in health," Rebecca laughed, wincing at the motion.

"To love and to cherish."

Guy could not resist giving Rebecca's hand a light kiss, "To love and to cherish."

"Till death do you part."

"No," Guy said.

"No?" Rebecca questioned.

"To love and to cherish...even after I die."

Rebecca was silent for a time as tears formed at the corners of her eyes. Guy looked down at her nervously, "I think it's your turn to say something now, Becca."

She choked on her laughter as she hurried to say the words she had only dreamt of saying to him. "I, Rebecca Tanner, take thee, Guy of Gisborne to be my wedded husband. To have and t' hold from this day forth, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, t' love and to cherish even after I die."

"I believe then, you may kiss your bride, Guy," Tuck said, finishing tying off the bandages about Rebecca's shoulder.

Guy swept Rebecca into his arms, cradling her as he kissed her. Rebecca clung to him, feeling even the pain wash away from her for those brief moments. As they parted Robin appeared upon the balcony. "How does Rebecca fair?" he asked.

"She fairs far better than anyone in all of England," Rebecca said as she continued to be rocked in the arms of her husband. The danger of battle forgotten as she rested against him, kissing him sweetly.

"I am glad to hear it," Robin said, relief heavy in his voice. "Guy, we need you back out here. Vaysey's men are trying to push us back to the courtyard."

Guy set Rebecca back down. "I need to go," he said.

"I will come with ya."

"You can barely stand, let alone fight. You need to rest," Guy said soothingly.

"There is no time for that," she insisted.

"Becca! Do you know what I thought when I saw you had been injured? I thought I had already lost you," his hands trembled at his sides, "I thought you would...die in my arms. Becca, you can not ask me to place you in danger again. Stay in the castle, for my sake. I can not lose you now, my wife."

Rebecca wanted to argue that she could not very well stay hidden away in the castle and send him out into battle alone; she could not lose him either, but she saw the irrational fear in his eyes and heard the terror of his warning. He could not watch another woman he loved die. It would destroy him. So, she nodded her consent. He kissed her. There were such promises of love and happiness in that kiss. He parted from her and went out to the meet the enemy.

"Don't look so forlorn, Rebecca," Tuck said. "You can help me instead."

"Help? With what? What are we doing?" Rebecca asked, placing a hand to her bandaged shoulder as she turned about.

"We are going to make Byzantine Fire."

***

Rebecca had been assisting Tuck in his efforts to recreate Byzantine Fire for nearly a full hour. The easy and subtle motions of handing him the supplies he needed built up her strength again. She could not walk across the room for long periods of time, but she did not have to. The agonizing pain of her recent injury had faded to a steady ache, and as long as she did not use her injured arm she did not aggravate the wound further.

"Tuck!" came Robin's cry from the balcony of the Great Hall, "I need that fire! We can't hold out much longer."

"Robin!" Tuck shouted, taking a beaker from Rebecca's hands, "Nut oil!" he announced, "The Sheriff and gallons of it in the cellars."

"Good," Robin said distractedly, "we could use it."

"No, no, I can do better than that! The nut oil is a base compound," Tuck explained as he lit a bowl of the concoction he had strategically placed on the table.

The thing exploded, sending a tower of fire into the air. Rebecca gave an excited little scream as she saw the flames rise. Tuck stood proudly alongside her. "That, my friend, is Byzantine Fire!"

"How much have we got?" Robin asked, overawed.

"Gallons and gallons of it."

"We can turn it into Byzantine Fire," Rebecca said, "We just need more time."

"Robin!" That was Kate's scream, "Robin the portcullis' been breached, their going to take the courtyard!"

Rebecca's face fell at the sight of her. If she was back then that meant there would be no reinforcements. She had not been gone nearly long enough to ensure any hope of that. The reality of their plight suddenly became all the more bleak. She leaned against one of the barrels. Tuck noticed her distress. "No time to grieve now, Rebecca. If we get this done, we can still turn the tables in our favor."

"The King is not coming," she said. "Even if we do succeed in making the Fire...the soldiers could still break through."

"We can not allow ourselves to think of such thoughts. Now hurry, we must work quickly if we are to complete this."

Rebecca continued to work alongside Tuck steadily, forcing herself to focus only on the task at hand. She managed to keep her strength up as well as block out any dark thoughts. When Guy returned to the relative shelter of the Great Hall her happiness upon seeing him again gave her renewed energy. He stole a quick kiss as he went to gather the weapons from the store room. He glanced back at her with a smile. Even among so much misery and despair he could still steal away her fears with such a look.

Time pressed down around them all. The soldiers battered away outside and even as Rebecca strove to ensure the manufacture of the weapon which would save them all, she could hear death flying at her from all sides.

"Pass out the weapons and ammunition!" Robin roared running back inside with the rest of the men, "Gisborne! Get these men into position!"

Guy shouted for the men to barricade the doors. Rebecca hurried to move out of the way of the men as they ran up the stairs to close the doors. Her heart nearly stopped as she saw the cloaked figure of a woman she thought long disposed of: Isabella of Gisborne. She gestured towards Guy, her grim reaper hand beckoning for him to follow her as she disappeared into a trap tunnel in the wall.

Guy drew his sword, his eyes glazing over with revenge and hatred as he moved to follow her.

"Guy?" Rebecca called out, her voice unsteady with fear.

This stopped him. He turned lowering his sword for a moment. Again that gentle smile appeared upon his face as he sheathed his blade and reached for his wife. "Defend the castle," he said casually, "there's a tunnel which can lead out of here. I think it may be clear very soon. You can take the others and get them to safety."

"Don't go," Rebecca said softly, wrapping her arms about him, holding him and reaffirming that she was keeping him safe in her arms, "Guy, please, don't go," she could not explain the terror which had reached down into her heart at his cryptic words.

He leaned down and kissed her. His lips pressed against hers slowly, traveling lightly to trace the outline of her. His hand cupped her cheek, keeping her still. Breath was no longer a necessity, they remained locked in the perfect fit of their kiss. Even when it was too much and Rebecca gently turned to gasp for breath, Guy's lips remained at the corner of her mouth, unwilling to part from her skin. He held her close, eyes shut in momentary bliss as he allowed himself to memorize every part of her. He could faintly hear her heart beating, he stood so close to her. It was such a frantic pounding. He rocked her gently, soothing her until he heard her heart as a reluctantly comforting drumming; the sweetest sound.

He pulled himself away from her before she could reclaim him another kiss. He would not be able to part from her if she did. He stared at her, his eyes drinking in the sight of her; his friend, his lover, his wife. "I do so love you, my Becca," he said, his voice breaking.

Rebecca could not find the words to respond. He turned to leave her. "Guy!" She cried, as he was half way through the trap door.

He turned one last time to look at her. She managed a smile, which burned itself into Guy's memory. "I forgive you, my love," she whispered.

Guy closed his eyes at the absolution of her words. She nodded that it was time for him to go. She shut her eyes, not wanting to see him leave her. When she opened them, Guy was gone.

A/N: Yes, no flashback. This is final. Feel jarred by the emptiness of no flashback? Good. It took me an age to force myself to rewatch the finale of RH in order to write some of the dialogue and scenes necessary. So some dialogue (c) to BBC.

Last chapter will be posted soon. Can't believe I finished this story already!