A big hug to my beta xxCee-Gisborne-Cullenxx. My, you are quick - I've got this chapter back even before I sent it. *giggling* A great thank you to everyone who reviewed. I know, this is only a short chapter, but this was the reason I translated it so quickly. The next will be up in a few weeks.

Illusions 39

In hindsight, Guy didn't know why he had turned around. What did she want? She didn't know Rhobert well and Gwyneth hardly at all; so why would she be present at the wedding, a wedding ceremony held in Welsh? And, according to her startled expression, she had not wanted to talk to him; so - why?

The people in the chapel were crowding the happy couple to congratulate. For a short moment Guy wavered; perhaps Rhobert was right and it was about time to face the facts. He should confront her, should hear her saying her lies once more, should tear any feeling he still harboured for her, from his heart. Surreptitiously, he looked around; nobody paid attention to him and nobody seemed to have noticed Marian. Slowly he moved towards the exit.

Meanwhile, Marian had recovered herself; she pushed against the door, opened it for a second and slipped out. Then she waited.

He was standing so close to her that he could see the fluttering pulse at her throat. With one hand he brushed a strand of hair out of her face and for a moment she felt, how his fingers touched her lips as if caressing her.

"What did you want, Marian?" he asked in a deceptively mild voice and his disdainfully curled lips showed her that she had hoped in vain. "Did you want to tell me that everything has changed, that I was wrong about you… that you love me and have always loved me?...Or do you want to ease your bad conscience? No need to tell me that you only used me, I've known for a while. " He took a step back and looked at her coldly. "Yes, I know from Anne and Osgood that you asked the King for my life and I'm…grateful. I spared your life at the charburner's hut, so we are even." His mien had not changed and his eyes were hard. "I will tell you what happened. The noble Robin of Locksley had tired of you. Perhaps he found someone else at the court and tried to get rid of you. And then you remembered this fool Guy of Gisborne, who would have given anything just to hear that you loved him….then."

He looked down at her in the same way he had at the charburner's hut and at this moment something died in her. She would not run after an illusion like she had before with Robin. The time she had spent at the convent, longing for Guy… all her dreams of him, her hopes - illusions too. She had chosen to ignore the facts; he would never forgive her and suddenly she knew that she didn't want him anymore.

Guy watched her with narrowed eyes. He didn't know what he had expected, perhaps a stammered apology or a blush. With surprise he noticed, that she lifted her chin and looked into his face; her voice was tired but firm. "You're right. Robin didn't want me anymore… and the reason why I'm here? I don't know anymore. Perhaps I hoped that you could forgive me, but you won't, will you? Even if I went down on my knees and asked for forgiveness, it would be futile. You don't want to forgive me and you don't want to see that I might tell the truth. And I…I have fallen in love with a man, who doesn't exist. Good-bye, Guy!

With theses words she turned around and left him standing there. She didn't look back and Guy stared after her, unable to respond, although he knew she was right. She had not tried to change his mind by flattering him but had left when she had seen his irreconcilability. And probably she had been right to leave. Without moving Guy watched her retreating figure.

This was even better than he had thought. Morgan was standing in the shadow of a wall, grinning and then pulled his dagger out of his sheath. He had not understood what Guy and the Englishwoman had said, but obviously it had not been terms of endearment. The foolish, arrogant Englishman hadn't even noticed him and now he would rue it. It was his fault that Morgan's future was in shambles and that he would have to leave the Court to become a steward at his family's estate. He – a stewart! It was Guy's fault that everybody mocked him now.

The woman's presence was a gift from heaven. The rift between her and Guy was well known and when they'd find him with a dagger in his back in the morning, she would be the likely suspect. Morgan had made sure that he was seen drunk leaning at a wall and everybody would swear that he had been to inebriated to harm Guy. Morgan's eyes were glittering…This Englishwoman…this way he was able to kill two birds with a stone. He remembered her disgusted mien… she, too, thought she was a cut above the rest.

There… she was leaving. Guy was still standing rooted to the spot and nobody was to be seen; everyone was in the chapel. Slowly the woman disappeared; there would be no better opportunity. Carefully Morgan sneaked forward – just a few yards more! He lifted the dagger and took another step, when his boot foot touched a stone. It was only a hushed crunch on the gravel but enough to alarm Guy. He jerked around – too late. With a single bound Morgan jumped Guy and dashed him to the ground. Aaaargh! Guy cried out in pain when the assassin plunged the dagger into his shoulder. Swiftly Morgan pulled the dagger out and jabbed out again. This time he seemed to succeed; Guy groaned and slackened. Just one more time to make sure that this son of a bitch was dead! There…footfall! When he looked back, he saw the Englishwoman running towards him.

He had to get away immediately. If she had heard something, there might be others and he could be seen… On the other hand…perhaps she would be caught red handed. This was perfect.

Marian had nearly reached the little annex when she heard a cry. Alarmed, she looked back and saw two shadows fighting in the darkness. Guy! She gathered her skirts and ran back. One of the men rose quickly and hastened away, the other one remaining, lying on the ground. Marian knelt down; it was Guy and he didn't move. She touched him…blood…blood everywhere. Was he dead? Help, she had to get help! Marian opened her mouth, but no word came out; then she heard voices and rose. The wedding ceremony was over and the people came milling out of the chapel. One of the men shouted something and then they were running towards her. Rhobert was the first one to reach her - He would help!

Rhobert's face was contorted with fear when he knelt down. Two other men dragged Marian from Guy's side, grabbing her roughly by her arms and Marian understood. They thought she had killed Guy.

"Do something!" she shouted hysterically. "Do something" He mustn't die!"