Illusions 16

Illusions 16

After Robin had left the room, the maid had come back and had cleaned Guy's head wound. She hadn't spoken a word with him, though, and had avoided his gaze. Guy knew she wouldn't talk and the sound of hammers told him anyway - the gallows and the gallery were built.

Two days had passed; his head wound had begun to heal and his rib had obviously only been slightly broken. The meals were better now and he could not bring himself not to eat it. Sometimes he wished he were back in the dungeons where the boundaries between dream and reality had begun to blur. Locksley had not come back and he had remained alone – until now that he heard heavy footfall from the hallway.

"Up, Gisborne!" the guard barked and Guy rose. They didn't bother constraining him, it was only a short walk and Guy knew what awaited him. He stepped out of the building and saw the gallery they had built, which was packed with numerous courtiers, in the midst the accursed King, but…. Where were the gallows? Guy halted and was pushed further by the soldier walking behind him. Beside the gallery, Guy saw some soldiers on horses and also his own horse. Suddenly he felt as if an icy hand had clasped his heart, no gallows but horses, this meant….He gasped. No! No! Then he was hustled forward again and saw Locksely, his face grim, at King Richard's side. A row beneath he noticed Marian; she was pale, but she….smiled! He had not thought that his words would come true this way. Yes, she would applaud his death. He should have killed her when she had been in his grip. From the corner of his eye he saw Anne and Osgood, and then the soldier knocked him to his knees with the blunt end of his lance.

Still dazed, he heard how the sentence to death was read aloud. The horses…they will draw and quarter me….Everybody went silent and the soldier struck him another blow. "Look at his Majesty!" he shouted. Guy raised his head and looked at King Richard who had stood up and addressed his courtiers.

"This man is a coward, a traitor, a worm, who deserves the most painful death. Men like him are responsible for the downfall of kingdoms and it is only due to God's providence that he didn't succeed killing me. When I came back I found England in uproar and rebellion. My beloved brother John was not able to give this nation the strong hand it needed. I was forced to take drastic measures. But perhaps the day has come to show that England's king can be merciful. I will spare this man's life, but I banish him from our country. He had sworn the oath of a knight to fight for order, truth, justice and the church and he has broken these oaths. I disallow him his knighthood and his peerage."

King Richard descended from the gallery and beckoned a soldier who brought Guy's sword. "It has always been the custom to destroy the sword of a knight who has lost his honour. But this sword was not his property, but another victim's of this so called nobleman. Osgood of Gringstow, rise and take the sword for your kinsman, Roger of Hale, who was murdered viciously by this villain."

Petrified, Osgood had listened to the King's words. He himself had told the King that Guy had not killed Roger but that he had died of a family decease. And the King had not said a word about Marian having pleaded for Guy's life. The King he had always admired, had made a spectacle out of this, it was a performance with the King as the central character. Osgood rose and bowed his knee to the King, who handed him the sword with a grand gesture; then he walked back to his seat and sat down beside Anne. He took her hand and looked at her gloomily. Guy's life had been spared and Osgood was glad, even though he had tried to murder the King Osgood had always supported. Osgood and Anne had loved the withdrawn knight like a son and they knew that they had not been mistaken – he had loved them too. But there was something else, too: The doubts about the King's character hurt.

Guy was pulled up by the guard. Confused, he looked around and saw the hostile faces, hostile except Osgood and Anne and….Marian?

"We'll leave you to the Welsh to deal with the likes of him," King Richard added after a pause. "He will be brought to the frontier; what happens to him afterwards, is not my responsibility." He had not once even looked at Guy, and now beckoned to the soldier to lead Guy away. One of the noblemen who sat at the edge of the gallery, spat in his face and then everybody turned to the King, applauding and rejoicing the great and merciful ruler. Nobody paid attention to Guy any longer.

The guard pushed him into his room and closed the door. Guy dropped to his straw bed; he was still dazzled. Why had the King spared his life? He leaned back, clasping his hands behind his head and stared at the ceiling. Eventually, he fell asleep…Marian….Anne….Osgood….

Robin looked after Guy, satisfied. The King had kept his promise and this had even been better than an execution; the humiliation had been complete. He had watched Guy when he was being brought into the courtyard, had seen how he had gazed around and paled when he had seen the horses. You thought they were for you, Gisborne, didn't you? Robin smiled. Yes, was better indeed. If Gisborne had been executed, there would always have been some sentimental people who would have pitied him. Probably Gisborne wouldn't stay alive anyway after having been brought to Wales and even if….he was a nobody, less than an outlaw, no weapons, not friends….

How grateful Marian could be that the King hadn't mentioned her role in this; her reputation would have been ruined beyond redemption. Of course there was still the possibility that the servants would talk, but what the heck had she thought? He would have to talk to her; it was high time she learned how to behave at the King's court and she would have to change if she wanted to become his wife. He knew by now that nothing had happened between her and Gisborne, but could she hold it against him that he had been suspicious? No, .she had much to learn indeed.

A guard sat on the coach box of the heavy wooden coach they would use to transport Guy. Two soldiers would accompany the coach. "S' much fuss abou' this bloke," one of the men grumbled. "Best be cuttin' his throat an' ditchin' 'em somewhere. Te think we're drivin' to the border to get rid of 'em."

The other soldier nodded. "Right, I'd make short work of him, if ye asked me, but the King's pardoned 'im . It's the King's order!" He shrugged.

A guard brought Guy, who climbed into the coach without uttering a word. The soldiers' miens said everything; he was a traitor and less than a human being. The door closed and the coach moved forward.

"Stop!" Guy heard Osgood's voice shouting. "Wait a minute! I'll take a last look at this scum who killed my nephew."

Guy felt as if he had been slapped. They didn't believe me. I thought….The door opened and Osgood's grim face appeared. Dead was too good for you," he snapped. „Go to hell!"

Then he added, audible only for Guy's ears. "Take this, son, and read it." He pressed something in Guy's hands and slammed the coach door. The cart began to move again and Guy unfolded the letter, his fingers trembling. A gold coin fell out, but this was not what he was interested in. He recognized Anne's handwriting.

Dear Guy,

It is still unfamiliar for us to call you by this name. You were Roger for us and as such we have come to love you and we believe you that you cared for us, too. This is what we wanted to tell you. There is something else you should know. The King has pardoned you asolely because Marian of Knighton pleaded for your life. She has told us what she has done, but we believe that she had rued it since. Why do you hate our King so much? We'll never know, but we pray that God may forgive you. Your further life will be what you make of it. We will never forget you.

Osgood and Anne of Gringstow.