Hey...okay heres something i need to tell you this chapter was probably one of my most thought out chapters...i use french in here and i barely know french...theres a town in here a mediveal french village which i found using ----this is to show you my lovely readers that there was much work writing this installment....so please i hope you read this and enjoy this and review if you have suggestions or thoughts about this...as ever i love you all and robin hood bbc does not belong to me id like to thank WillowDrake for your suggestions throughout my chapters...and all of you...readers and reviewers alike

Chapter 9 Bliss to gain again

Guy was at a loss. He was currently staring in dismay as his wife, his beloved, his Marian was clutching her stomach and in great pain.

Guy was at a loss because he could not stop her pain. And he so wanted to. But there was no cure for pregnancy. So he watched as Marian groaned and moaned. "There is absolutely nothing I can do?" he asked.

Marian shook her head and bit her lip. "Thank you but…ouch…there is nothing you can do." She was sweating and could feel the baby inside kicking. She was miserable and in great pain. If only there was someone who knew what to do. If only there was someone who knew how to care for a pregnant woman.

Guy began to think. Unlike Guy's normal thoughts which were of schemes…evil plans…or revenge this was a positive thinking moment. It was quite new to him.

I cannot heal her. She cannot heal herself…but others could. Who?

The gears in his brain began clicking. Why hadn't he thought of this idea sooner?

There was a little village about a mile from his estate. Guy closed his eyes trying to remember the name of the village…Agincourt. That was the name of it. In that village there must be some sort of medicine for her.

For Marian.

Guy looked at Marian and took a deep breath. "Are you well enough to stand?" At the moment she was sitting on their bed leaning herself up against the bedpost.

"Why?" she asked.

"There is a village about a mile from here…I hope…I am sure that we can find something to relieve your pain. Are you well enough to walk?"

Marian thought this proposition over for a bit. She was two and a half months pregnant. She still experienced some morning sickness and these bouts of cramping, but she could walk. Marian had wanted to see the village and interact with other people than Guy and the baby inside her stomach.

On some nights when Guy was already sound asleep Marian would rub her belly thoughtfully and whisper at the child inside her.

"Your father is not such a bad man…once you get to know him." She had helpfully advised her stomach. "I hope he will love you, and I hope that I will love you. You were not intended. You were not part of the plan." Marian stopped herself and had wrung her hands at the darkness in front of her. But fighting with the darkness, with her anger, was useless.

And now she was given permission to go and talk to other people. Maybe, even though Guy was beside her, she could see if they needed her in France.

Just like I was needed in England.

Marian nodded at Guy and slowly rose. The pain was dull and she could survive the journey. She and Guy walked out of the manor and outside. The sunlight warmed Marian's waning heart, and lifted Guy's spirits. The sun made Guy braver and he offered his arm to Marian. It was the act of a gentleman. It was an act that Guy was not known for.

You are a gentleman now Guy? He berated himself.

Marian accepted his hand and together they journeyed to the village of Agincourt. In the beginning of their walk they were silent. Neither knew what the other expected them to say and therefore neither said anything. Though a trembling priest had joined them together as man and wife, there was much left unsaid between them. When Guy had been Sir Guy of Gisborne he was torn between his devotion to the sheriff and his devotion to Marian. When his loyalties were forcibly tested, as with the case concerning the black powder, Guy had chosen to side with the sheriff.

But now the sheriff was gone, possibly dead, and Guy could be all that he wanted to be for Marian. But he had never considered what his wish meant. So far, in his mind, he had caused Marian nothing but pain and suffering, from the first night they became man and wife till now.

Marian thought of how she wished she could be in England. She knew that even if she could resume a Night watchman like role in France, it would be to numb the pain of losing England…of losing Robin.

But Marian wanted to break the silence between her and Guy.

"Guy?" she said.

"Yes?"

"Though we are married, and are about to have a child, there is so very little I know about you." It was true. What she did know of him she found repulsive, but maybe there was more to him.

Deep down…very deep down. Maybe there is good.

Guy raised his eyebrows. "What do you want to know?" He had not meant the reply to sound so angry and defensive. But still the words sounded harsh.

"Just about you," she said simply.

"Me?"

"I do not see anyone else here named Guy," Marian retorted.

Guy sighed. He did not enjoy talking about himself. He did not like himself. But…she wanted to know him.

For god's sake bloody fool just tell her something!

"I told you that the manor behind us was in my family for many years. Actually…it was built by my grandfather for my grandmother so they could raise a family."

Marian smiled. "That's beautiful Guy, your grandmother must have been a great lady."

Guy shrugged. "I suppose but I never really knew her. She died before I was born. My mother and father lived here with my grandfather. The two of them were just waiting for him to die so they could own the manor for themselves. It sickened me. When my grandfather lay on his deathbed he told me that one day I would be as blissful as he had been all those years ago." Guy stopped for a moment and slowly the memories that he had kept to himself under lock and key came back to him.

How his grandfather had kissed his forehead and said goodbye to the world. How his mother and father had rejoiced that the manor now belonged to them. Guy remembered the beatings he would receive from his father now that there was no grandfather around to look down about his son's deeds. Guy recalled the shouts from his mother when he would make mistakes. The shame he brought to his parents drove him one day to leave this manor and this country entirely. Guy had known that the advice of his grandfather had been wrong. Guy would never be as blissful as he had been. Guy had sailed to England and Vasey had found him and helped him become Sir Guy of Gisborne.

But he did not tell these memories to Marian. He simply said, "But I left France when I was eighteen and never thought about this place since."

Marian bit her lip. She knew there was something missing to the story. "What happened to your grandfather?"

Guy did not need to reply as he pointed out to her that they had reached Agincourt. Marian and Guy looked around at the village center before them. It was small but there was bustling and hustling as in any village. Guy touched a passerby on the shoulder and asked, "Monsieur, parlez-vous Anglais?"

The man nodded and said, "Yes."

Marian spoke, "Do you have a medicine woman in this village?"

The man nodded again and pointed his index finger towards a little shop. The shop's sign read, "Medicament femme." Guy and Marian walked towards the shop and when they went inside they found all sorts of curious herbs and bottles throughout the store. Behind the desk sat an old woman. She had long white hair and wore a purple gown. She had a long beady earring on her left ear, which swayed when she turned her head to face her new customers.

"You do not look French," said the woman in nearly perfect English without Marian or Guy needing to speak.

"We need some help," said Guy.

"I am all ears," said the woman giving Marian and Guy a nearly toothless smile.

**********************************************************

At that moment Vasey was giving a smile, which revealed his missing tooth as well. The smile was directed to one Edward Mann. For the remaining week at sea Edward had shown Vasey his superior skill with the sword and Vasey was almost impressed.

Almost.

Now after what seemed to the sheriff of Nottingham like forever, the ship docked smoothly at a port in France. Vasey, without a thanks to his frightened captain, walked briskly out of the ship followed by Edward and some of Vasey's guards. Vasey put his hand on Edward's shoulder and extended his other hand outward at the vastness that was France.

"Now what?" he asked his new lieutenant.

Edward raised an eyebrow. He was not expecting this question. "Are you asking me, my lord?"

Vasey clasped him on the back and let out a fake applause. "Yes very good."

"I suppose we need to find out where Gisborne is living?" Edward was just a little bit intimidated by his master's question.

Vasey nodded. "How do you think we're to do that?"

"Ask…someone?" proposed Edward.

Vasey smiled again. Over the past week he had been privileged to see Edward with a sword. He was very good. But he needed to be frightened. He needed to remember who was in charge of this operation. He needed to be broken. Vasey looked around and spied, through the window of a tavern, a likely candidate for Edward's first assignment.

The candidate in question was a bartender of the tavern. He currently was cleaning some goblets and was unaware that he had been chosen to test Edward. Vasey led Edward into the tavern and they sat down at a table in the back. Vasey turned to Edward and said, "Ask this man."

"The bartender?" Edward wanted to make sure.

Vasey rolled his eyes and nodded slowly. Just as slow as Gizzy.

Edward put down his sword and began walking up to the man at the bar when the sheriff grabbed his hand. "What are you doing?" Vasey then handed Edward his sword and said, "Take this with you." Edward nodded without question for fear of angering the sheriff further.

Edward coughed to get the man's attention. The man turned to face him. The man smiled at Edward. Edward asked, "Monsieur, parlez-vous Anglais?"

The man replied, "Petit…a little."

"Would you happen to know of an estate or manor, belonging to Guy of Gisborne?"

The man at first shook his head. "I do not know a place called Gisborne…but I used to know an elderly gentleman named Guy…he was a sweet old man, God rest his soul."

That does not seem like Guy. Edward thought. But then again, how many people are there named Guy? The man could be his grandfather.

"Where did that gentleman live?"

The bartender grew suspicious. Here was a stranger…an English stranger…with a sword by his side asking questions. The bartender raised an eyebrow. "Why do you want to know?"

Edward tapped his fingers on the table. "We have some…business to take care of with the man."

"We?" The bartender was confused.

Edward turned around and pointed to the sheriff. The sheriff smiled at the bartender and revealed his signature, missing tooth. Though the sheriff was feared in Nottingham mainly word of his deeds spread throughout Europe as well. The bartender did not know of the sheriff's detailed description but he had heard of that missing tooth.

"I do not know," said the bartender. "And I want you and your friend to leave." But Edward did not leave his spot. He stared at the man before him. Too long had he spent hating Guy and dreaming of new ways to kill him. Now he was so close to his ultimate bliss. He had the sheriff by his side, he had power, and he was going to kill. He was going to murder that bastard Gisborne and nobody…not even an innocent bartender, was going to stand in his way.

So he drew his sword and pointed it threateningly at the bartender. The bartender's eyes widened with fear. The few people who were in the tavern noticed what was going on and quietly left the scene. The sheriff stood up proudly and drew himself into the shadows to watch this show unfold. This was exactly what he wanted. Edward was doing exactly what was expected of him…now if he could only finish the job.

"See?" said Edward in a husky voice, "I think you do know. I think you know where that manor is. And I think it would be wise if you told me exactly what you know."

The bartender, held at the point of a sword, thought quickly. He had been friends with the late master of the manor near the village of Agincourt. The journey to Agincourt from his current location was long, even on horse back. There were outlaws plaguing the traveler, there were mountains, and a vast number of other impediments. Surely these two souls would not survive the journey. The bartender himself rarely had taken the trip himself, even in his younger years.

With that in mind he said, "It is near the village of Agincourt. That is all I know." It was not so true, he could have helped them find the safest passage, but he would not share that with a man like the sheriff.

Edward was about to release the bartender when he heard a tisk from the back of the tavern. The sheriff was not pleased with him…again.

"What?" Edward asked angrily.

"Do you really want people to know where we are headed? Do you want people to try to stop us?" The sheriff asked innocently from behind the shadows.

Edward shook his head. No. He did not want that. Without another thought in his mind he plunged his sword in and out of the bartender's stomach. The bartender screamed in pain and then collapsed to the floor. Edward walked back to the sheriff and together the two of them left the tavern.

When they were well away from the tavern and onlookers the sheriff turned to Edward and whispered, "Well done."

OOOOOHHH soooo Edward is looking very good in Vaseys eyes....did you think it was weird that the sheriff is just as well known for evil in England AND France??? also if any of you know french i am deeply sorry if i am wrong in the few words i used i really tried...using an online dictionary and such...sooooooo we learn about guys childhood some more...and who is that toothless medicine woman??? someone bad...goood??? helpful to marian??? when will that baby be born and who will get to Gizzy's estate first robin??? or the sheriff??? hmmmm please tell me what you think of this chapter even if you hate it i want to know so i can make it better...i write for you guys and your enjoyment....