Thank you to everybody who reviewed; you really make my day with these reviews. Please give my dear beta a warm hand; she' s always so quick - besides being a nice person. I just wanted to tell you that there will be another 5 chapters (this one not included) and an epilogue.

Illusions 38

His feet seemed to have its own mind, but then he heard how a door creaked open and paused. What am I doing here? Mechanically, he clenched his fists and then blinked at the sight of Gwyneth, who was standing in the door; she looked at him, surprised and then smiled. "Do you want to…?"

"No!" Guy replied gruffly, turned on his heels and strode away.

"Wait, Guy!...Guy!"

He had no other choice than to stop and wait for her, but the expression in his blue grey eyes was icy. He liked Gwyneth, but why would everybody meddle in his affairs?

Gwyneth laid her hand softly on his arms and sensed how he became even more forbidding; she shook her head slightly. "You are mistaken; I wanted to ask you, if you were looking for Rhobert since he'd like to talk to you, too and…" Taking in his mien she hesitated and continued. "Rhobert respects your decision, even though… Please, don't be angry with him."

"Does everybody in the castle know about Marian and me now?" Guy snapped and shook off her hand. Gwyneth blinked; she didn't know this side of Guy yet. After the incident with Morgan he had borne her company more than just a few times. He'd never looked at her disparagingly or intrusively. At the beginning, she had felt more as an assignment than a person; when she had told him, Guy had looked at her, surprised and had laughed. Thereafter something had changed between them and she had felt that a fragile sort of friendship had developed. Gwyneth had learned to like this guarded and solitary man. The uneasiness she had felt in his presence had completely vanished, and now….

She blushed and took a step back. "Nobody knows and Rhobert didn't even tell me everything he knows. He didn't want to talk about this, not even to my father… Believe me…"

Guy had recovered himself and seemed to relax a little, but the smile that curled his lips didn't reach his eyes. Gwyneth averted her eyes and continued. "Guy, it's jsut as well that I tell you the reason why Rhobert wants to talk to you: Father Conway will wed Rhobert and me tonight. I know, it's a bit sudden, but some of the knights will have to leave in a few days and my father is busy gathering troops. We don't want to wait and a big wedding is not really important to us, even less at times like these. Best you talk to Rhobert.

"I'm happy for you," Guy replied, but his voice told her that he himself was not a happy man. "I will go to Rhobert," he added stiffly. He nodded to Gwyneth and stalked away, angry about himself. He knew that he had wronged Gwyneth the way he had treated her; she had always been honest to him and she was not responsible for the whole situation. Probably it was his own fault and it had been his behaviour that had led to gossip. Damn! Some weeks ago, everything had been in order and now….

Gwyneth gazed after his retreating figure. Right now she had seen a glimpse of Guy how he had been before, moody and probably hot-tempered. She had seen the flicker in his eyes and the barely suppressed rate. The predator was still slumbering within him and everything was related to this woman Rhobert had brought with him. Bad things must have happened, and the sooner she left the better.

She shook off the troubling thoughts; there was much to do until the evening. She had to wash her long hair and dry it, take a bath with and don the dress she had made herself. She had begun to work on it after Rhobert had left and each stitch had reminded her that he would come back and marry her, each blossom and each twine she had embroidered at the sleeves and the neckline. No woman could be happier than she was. After the wedding there would be a feast, not a big one, and then…. Gwyneth swallowed.

Yes, she knew that Rhobert loved her, but she felt uneasy at the thought of him seeing her legs. What would he say? There was nothing to sugar coat; her legs were blotched by scars, red and ugly. She would always have to cover them at night… If she blew out the candles immediately… Then she saw Rhobert's warm eyes in her mind's eye and she already seemed to feel his hands on her arms, her face, her shoulders… She blinked. What a relief that she was alone; she touched her crimson cheeks and drew some deep breaths.

Tonight she would be his wife; she didn't mind a small wedding, on the contrary. Of all the people who would come to celebrate only a few would understand, that Rhobert and she loved each other with all their heart. Nobody would have spoken as crudely as the drunken Morgan had, but Gwyneth knew that some people who didn't know them might think Rhobert ambitious or her lucky to get a husband – any husband. Probably her father didn't know or didn't care… her old nurse knew and …Guy.

Her thoughts were back to Rhobert's friend… and hers. Yes, he had become her friend, too, although he would probably be surprised, if he knew.

Rhobert's eyes lit up when Guy entered the chambers, but he saw at once that Guy's smile didn't reach his eyes and that he was still in a somewhat sullen mood. Rhobert only looked at him and finally Guy snapped, "What?"

"I hope," Rhobert said finally, cocking an eyebrow. "…that you will be in a better mood this evening as my best man."

Best man? He should be best man at Rhobert's and Gwyneth's wedding? Guy blinked.

"I don't know why you are surprised, Guy. You are my best friend and it has always been a tradition that not a relative but the groom's best friend is best man." He paused and looked directly at Guy. "Or don't you want it?" His voice was hoarse and Guy realised that he would really hurt his friend, if he refused. Yes, he would have liked it better, if Rhobert had chosen someone else; he wasn't suited to bare witness of someone else's bliss of love. It was an honour and Rhobert hat chosen him and no friend from his boyhood, him, an Englishman not Welshman. It was proof again of Rhobert's unswerving friendship.

"I will be your best man," he replied softly. "And I'm happy for you." Then he cleared his throat. "Well, and now it's time for a cup of ale or we'll become completely soppy and the mockery of the maids."

Rhobert laughed, relieved; he was glad that Guy had consented and slapped him on the back, reaching for the jar on the table. His thoughts drifted off to Marian; he hoped that Guy would not rue his decision not to speak to her. Only a few days from now on and she would leave Wales for good. Inwardly he sighed. This day would be he happiest in his life, but nevertheless he could not stop thinking about his friend's feelings for Marian. But Rhobert had learned that he could not save the whole world and after his wrong decision to take Marian to the Welsh Court, he knew now what well meant advice or help could lead to.

"Just one or two cups, Guy. I don't intend spend my wedding night drunk and snoring, and a best man, who's lying under the table before the marriage ceremony, is of no use to me either."

When Rhobert had told Marian that he and Gwyneth would be married this very evening and that they would be glad if she came, Marian had shaken her head. "Please, I wish you happiness from my heart, but I would be out of place there and since I don't understand your language…" Marian was positive that Rhobert had felt obliged to invite her, but had been relieved that she had refused the invitation. It was better for her to remain in her chamber. She hated the curious and sometimes derogatory glances and this morning she had had an encounter that showed her she had to leave soon, or she would have to endure more than only these glances. She was English and if she turned up at the wedding, there might be more than just glances with all the men drinking heavily at the feast.

Bran had wanted to show her his weapons and pony; she had smiled at the boy's elation and had waited for him near the stables. A young knight had come out of one of the buildings and had paused. Mostly, the castle's inhabitants ignored her, even though she felt their glances, but this young man seemed to be an exception. She had smiled politely and obviously he had taken this as an invitation to step forward towards her. He was well-dressed and rather good looking with his dark locks and green eyes, but despite the early hour his breath had reeked of alcohol and he swayed slightly. Disgusted, she had flinched, and he had flashed her a furious glance. Then he had said something she had not understood, but she knew that it had been no flattery. If he touched her, she would have to defend herself and this could be dangerous, given that the English were not exactly popular here. The knight had stepped towards her threateningly, but in that very moment, Bran had come out of the stable with his pony and she had moved towards him and had turned her back to the drunken man.

It was silent in the annex. There were only a few chambers for guests and some storage rooms. The castle's inhabitants would be in the little chapel by now and Guy… Two days more and Rhobert would have her accompanied to the harbour, two more days and she's never see Guy again. She'd seen him when she had arrived and his face had been contorted with rage; this was the last she had seen of him. She would have to begin a new life without this man, who hated her. He didn't want to talk to her, but perhaps she could just catch a glimpse of him, could memorise his face and never forget it. He would stand near the altar as a best man and would not notice her. Everybody else would be occupied and it was dark in the chapel. Only one glance…She shouldn't do it; it would hurt…

Marian wrapped a soft woollen cloak around her and left her room. When she drew near the chapel, she already heard people sing. What if the door creaked? Carefully, she touched the latch and was relieved: they had left the door ajar. Marian slipped into the chapel unseen. Her heart was in her mouth and she drew a deep breath….There…

Rhobert and Gwyneth were standing in front of an old chaplain, facing each other and holding each others hands, their happiness obvious and their faces glowing. Only two steps aside stood Guy; he, too, was clad in festive attire and said something to the chaplain she could not understand. Then he stepped back and the marriage ceremony went on.

Marian leaned against the cold stone wall and stared ahead. In a few moments it would be over and she had to hurry to leave the chapel unseen. She should not have come here. What had she hoped for? He would never look at her as he used to do. If only she could erase his contemptuous gaze from her memory. There… he was smiling, not much, but for a few seconds she could imagine that this smile had been for her. She cast a last glance at the tall, slender man with the dark locks and the bold profile, laid her hand on the latch and froze: Guy had turned around and his gaze met hers.