Hey all…so I promised daily updates…instead this is on Saturday and I haven't written anything practically all week.. sorry for my lack of updates. I'm going away from Sunday to wensday so this is it for a couple of days…so the inspiration for this chap was Casblanca…I saw it on the big screen with my friend last night and I saw similarities (not germans and wwII) but the triangle of love…angst and all!!! also this chap is for Jonasluva who has an awesome story "us against the world" this is for you my friend for sticking it out…(we know what I mean) love you all read review enjoy
Chapter Twenty Nine: Life Depends on It
"Guy," said Marian as she and her husband ran through the early morning light. "I think we need to rest for a while."
"Why?" he asked gruffly. They were nearing the village of Agincourt and he wanted to get to the docks by mid morning. He was formulating a plan in his mind. Guy, Marian, and Clara would set sail and leave France forever. Perhaps they would go back to England, Robin Hood would never suspect that. Or maybe they could go to Spain…
But, while Guy felt a determination at this decision he also felt that something was wrong with this plan of his mind. There was this nagging feeling in the back of his brain, telling him that he had forgotten something.
That he had forgotten someone.
You do not even want to say goodbye to me Guy?
Meg. The darling little creature with piercing brown eyes and long flowing hair clouded his thoughts. Once he realized that she was the voice in his head, he resolved that he was married and would have nothing to do with her again.
But the voice persisted.
Why do you run my sweet child?
It was not Meg's voice echoing through Guy's rattled thoughts. No. It was another. It was the only other human being in the world who truly cared for Guy of Gisborne. The voice Guy heard, so clearly and painfully, was his grandfather's.
Grandfather?
Guy shook the idiotic notion away. "Why?" he repeated to Marian who had not given him an answer.
"Firstly," said Marian, "because I still do not understand all this haste of yours. Something happened to you tonight Guy. Something that you did not expect. I do not know if it was something you overheard Robin say or not, but something has shaken you. I am giving you the chance to tell me now, and get this off your chest, or I can discover it on my own."
Guy thought about this suggestion. Could he honestly see himself telling Marian about Meg? How he had kissed another woman…twice? That did not seem like such a good idea. If he told Marian about Meg, she would leave him. She would take Clara, his precious daughter, and just leave with Robin for England.
And Guy would have Meg.
Or, alternatively, Meg would have found another man, who did not have a horrific past like Guy did. So then, Guy would have no one. Guy would be all alone. Except, for this sage like voice in his head, which would stay with him till old age.
A sage? Old Guy mulled over that. Guy, is that how you think of me?
You are just a voice in my head, Guy thought. You are not actually speaking to me.
I've momentarily taken post as your conscious Guy.
I was unaware that I had one.
Ask your wife what the second reason she has for why you should stop moving, his grandfather suggested.
"What is the other reason?" Guy asked. "I do not see the need to stop just because you do not believe what I've told you."
Marian stopped moving and looked down at the bundle she held in her arms. She had realized a little while back that Clara's cheeks were very hot. Her forehead was hot as well, though the morning air was cool and crisp.
Guy spun around and faced Marian. "What is it?"
Marian looked up at Guy with sadness. "It's Clara."
Suddenly Guy's anger and rage melted. His hatred for Robin Hood and his desperate need to leave the country were momentarily halted.
Clara.
Things change when the most important thing in your universe needs you. Doesn't it Guy?
Guy, ignoring the voice, walked to Marian and Clara, dropping the bags he held in his arms. He put his hands out to hold Clara. Marian gave him the child willingly and Clara snuggled in Guy's warm arms. He too felt her cheeks and forehead and his heart began to pound. She looked too pale. She looked sick.
She looked how Guy felt at the moment.
Guy thought his entire world could come crashing at his feet.
Clara gazed up at her father. She did not smile at him. She looked at him with eyes of wonder and curiosity. Clara was looking to him for help, for mercy, for love. And Guy would not fail her.
"What should we do?" he asked.
"We need to take her to a physician," said Marian.
Guy nodded though he did not look at Marian. "Someone in Agincourt will know what to do."
Marian got an idea.
In her mind, she thought it was a pretty good idea. It would mean saving the life of her child and seeing an old friend. But, if Guy had been in her head, he would not have liked the idea one bit. It was destructive.
"Gabriella," said Marian.
"Who?" Guy asked absentmindedly cuddling his ill daughter.
"I know we have not seen her in some time," said Marian, "but you cannot tell me you have forgotten her that easily!"
Guy looked up at Marian. "Sorry, tell me again."
"I think," said Marian, "we should take her to Gabriella. She will know what to do. And it will be good to see her again."
Guy's eyes flashed with fear. "No."
"No?" Marian repeated with astonishment. "What do you mean no?"
"Isn't there someone else?" Guy asked covering up his alarming response. "I do not want my daughter to be treated by that witch."
Is that how you speak of the dead, Guy?
Oh shut up!
Marian put out her hands for Clara, and Guy begrudgingly handed Clara to Marian's open arms. "Look," she said with a sigh, "I know you never really liked her. I know you probably did not trust her. But Guy, she delivered Clara safely. She was a friend to me when I felt like I had no one to talk to."
"You could have talked to me," Guy said.
Marian smiled. "About women things."
"Marian," said Guy desperately, "there must be someone else, anyone else."
Marian raised an eyebrow. "What is with all the agitation Guy? Anyway, we both know our French is greatly lacking. If we'd ask them to care for Clara, they would not understand what we wanted. I'm bringing Clara to Gabriella, if you want to come with me, then you can."
Marian set off with all deliberate speed to Agincourt. Guy put his fingers into a fist and gritted his teeth. This was not going to be good. There was no way this would be good for Guy. He might as well stay here, in the very spot, and just let Marian find out everything for herself.
But, perhaps, if Guy went with Marian, he could explain things to her.
How would you do that Guy? Explain things? You are a married man who kissed someone else! Twice! There is nothing you can explain. There is no way that you can spin this into a good situation, or at least, a situation that she would understand.
You could tell her you were lonely. You were feeling unloved and hopeless because she was going to leave with Robin. Your feet led you to Meg's. She was there when you were not Marian, see, she listened to me. She seemed to understand me.
You are pathetic Gisborne.
No, my beautiful grandson, you are a man in love.
Not helpful grandfather, not helpful.
Guy shook his head. He should just stay here. But…there was something which broke the roots dying to twist themselves around Guy's feet.
Clara.
She needed him. He was going to go where she was. He did not care what happened to him. What happened to him and Meg and Marian was not his problem, was not his concern. Clara was the only thing that seemed to matter to him anymore in this mixed up world. He loved Clara in a way he never loved Marian, or Meg, or his grandfather.
She needed him.
And, this was hard for Guy to admit to himself, he needed her.
You, the murder, the killer, the man who stands alone, needs someone.
You need Clara. You know that you would die if anything should happen to her while you were there and did nothing. While you stood rotting in your petty problems, and did not care enough to protect her.
Guy looked in the direction of where Marian left.
Run Guy! Run as if your life depended on it.
So Guy broke into a run. He ran as if his life, his existence, his world, depended on nothing else, but the little girl he loved. He ran because his life, his existence, and his world, depended on nothing else, but the well-being of the little girl he loved.
Guy was so caught up in his daughter, he forgot to pick up the bags he had previously dropped.
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Robin Hood, the fearless leader of outlaws, was afraid. He had spent the early morning running as if his life depended on the girl he loved. Robin knew that his life was tied to hers in a way that could never be broken. He did not care anymore about the pain he still felt in his chest.
He did not care about marriages and people bound under God.
He did not care about the difference between the touched and the untouched. The tainted and the pure were equal in his wild eyes.
And children, well, that no longer concerned his conscious.
How did Robin Hood come to these conclusions so quickly? It was quite simple. It was all due to a certain letter written by a certain fair woman who Robin had given his heart to.
Marian loved him.
She still loved him, even after his words, even after her marriage, even after the birth of her child. She still loved him, after all this time.
She loves me.
That thought, and that thought alone, brought a giddy smile to his sullen face. That thought guided his feet through the countryside. And, though the thought brought contentment to his eyes and his heart he was still enraged. He was enraged because why had she not told him herself.
Robin knew that if Marian truly wanted something she went out and got it, no matter what. This letter, though he loved it, seemed too subtle and meek for someone like Marian. She could have woken him up to say those beautiful words of love. But she hadn't.
Why hadn't she?
Maybe it was not her choice? Maybe Guy had forced her to write that letter just to confuse him and muddle his already muddled mind.
I'm going to go insane!
He had not slept in days, he had not eaten in days, he had not truly been Robin Hood. How could he call himself the protector of the poor if he could not even protect himself? Protect himself from these doubts and feeling of self-loathing. He was not superhuman though. He could bruise, he could bleed, and he could eve die.
He almost had died come to think of it.
Robin found himself wishing that he had his gang by his side. It was lonely without their faces. It was lonely without Much's concerning words, John's powerful two word sentences, Will's calm reassurances, and Djaq's level-headed help. He needed them, just as much as they needed him.
Robin vowed that if he ever got out of this mess, if he ever made it home, he would not abandon them again.
Not even Eve, should she choose to stay with Much.
Not even Stephan, who had just decided to stay with his brother.
How would it look to Stephan, that his little brother was always leaving him?
I have made a mess of everything.
He was tired and out of breath when he finally reached the outskirts of the town. People were just beginning to walk through the streets and shops were starting to open. So many faces and voices surrounded Robin. Surely, one of them, one of these dozens of people, had seen a tall man, and beautiful girl, with hair like the night sky, walk by.
Robin stopped running for a minute and thought.
Thinking always seemed to do him some good in these situations.
Robin tried to get into the mind of Gisborne. It was a dirty business and very uncomfortable to think like a murderer, but Robin tried nonetheless. He closed his eyes and though of Gisborne. He thought of the way Gisborne looked and how he wore his hair. Robin even pictured his own clothes disappear in favor of Guy's clothes.
In short, the hero of the forest was going to great lengths to become his worst nightmare. To become his enemy.
He thought of Guy's disgusting lust for Marian. He knew that Guy could take Marian and just keep running forever with her on his back. Robin would never find her. It would take more manpower and…it would be impossible to beat Guy's lust and obsession. But then a thought occurred to the sullen outlaw.
Robin realized he was only thinking like the Gisborne he used to know. Not like the Gisborne he had met in France. That Gisborne was almost a different person than the one in England who hunted men like animals. He remembered how he had first seen Guy in France. How Guy's face was somber with fear, fear for his life and the…
Robin stopped abruptly.
The life of his family.
Guy was motivated by two factors, Marian and the child he loved. Robin knew, very well, that Guy loved his child unconditionally. If Guy had just had Marian, without the child, then he would have ran with her forcefully through the entire country. The two of them could be anywhere…
But now Guy was a father. He had a child to think of.
He would want to raise the child in a safe place.
Guy did not believe that his home was safe any longer, obviously. The next safest place Guy would set foot on, with his child, would be England. That would mean Robin needed to head for the docks of Agincourt.
Robin let a small smile escape his stiff face.
At least he had a starting point now. He ran for the docks of Agincourt hoping against hope to find the familiar face of the girl he loved sitting there, waiting for him. Robin absentmindedly let his mind wander back to a time when the girl he loved was quite cross with him.
They were young and in England. Robin was supposed to leave for the Holy Land the next day. He wanted, he had hoped, to spend his last day with Marian. But that morning, when Robin went to Sheriff Edward's house, hoping to find his lady, Edward was standing outside waiting for him.
Edward's arms were crossed and he wore a stern look on his face.
My lord sheriff, Robin had exclaimed happily, I'm looking for Marian, have you seen her?
I have. Edward's voice rang out in a monotonous tone.
Robin still smiled. Where is she?
She does not want to see you Robin. The old sheriff, normally full of love, was now shooing away one of his daughter's friends.
Actually, technically, more than a friend.
What? Robin's voice broke.
She is angry with you. She needs time to cool off.
Robin scoffed. Sir Edward, I do not have time. I leave for the Holy Land tomorrow!
Edward shrugged. I do not know what to tell you.
You could tell me where she is, Robin mumbled. He thanked the sheriff and walked away from Knighton with distress in his face. He had gone home to Locksley with anger. Robin did not tell his mother, father, or even Much, what had happened at Knighton.
But later that morning, he found himself screaming at Much.
Master, Much said with worry, what is going on?
Nothing.
Marian? Much asked with a knowing grin.
Am I that obvious? asked Robin sheepishly.
Much nodded. What happened?
She does not want to see me! Can you believe it? The last day I have in England, and my betrothed does not want to see me!
Much smiled. Sir Edward did not let you see her?
Practically threw me out of the house without even letting me step in!
Much and Robin looked at each other in silence. Much raised an eyebrow.
What are you waiting for master?
What are you talking about? Robin asked. Waiting for what?
Find her.
Find her?
Much left Robin's side to continue packing for the journey to the Holy Land. I know you heard me. Just find her. You said yourself, this is your last day in England. Find her.
But—
You will regret it otherwise.
Robin nodded. He thanked Much and started walking out the door when he stopped and looked back at his best friend. Do you think this is right?
What? Marian? Sure it is. Though Much had known that they were no longer talking about Marian.
I do not mean Marian, I mean this war, do you think we should really have a part in it? For better or for worse?
Much bit his lip. I do not do the thinking for us master, you do. A week ago you were the most self-assured man I'd ever seen when it came to this. What has changed?
Robin leaned his head against the door forlornly. What if she moves on Much? When I return, what'll happen if she does not love me anymore? If she has moved on I…or if she has left…
Much shook his head. Firstly, you love her master. You would move, I don't know, heaven and earth to find her again. No matter what. And besides, the sky is darkening, soon it will be night and too late to see her. Run mater, run!
Robin grinned his signature grin at his friend and ran off into the darkening day. He ran back to Knighton. Instead of going into the front entrance he climbed up the vines growing on the side of the manor. Sure enough, they led the young Romeo right to his Juliet's room. When she saw his face poking out of her window she rolled her eyes.
What do I have to say to make you get the message?
Robin grinned. I'll keep coming Marian. There is nothing you can do or say. I will always come and find you.
Marian scoffed. And yet you leave? Abandon everything for king and country?
Robin climbed into her room and walked up to her. Yes. It is my duty.
Duty, Marian repeated sitting on her bed. Men and their duty.
The young lord of Locksley sat by his lady's side on her bed. He wanted to wrap his arms around her and hold her tightly to his chest. He wanted to tell her that everything would be all right. He wanted to tell her that war could not keep them apart. Distance could not separate those in love.
The dove found its way back to Noah's ark after all. What was distance?
But he said none of these things. He could not. There was fear of the unknown. Fear of the, what ifs, and that the horrifying possibilities.
Marian, Robin said at last, I need to tell you something.
Does it concern your duty?
He chuckled. It concerns us.
Marian looked at Robin with ears ready to listen.
I think I love you. There. He had said it.
Really? she asked with astonishment.
Are you surprised? Robin asked.
Marian shook her head. Jut that you were the one to say it first.
Robin grinned. You love me too? Truly?
Marian nodded. She did not smile. But it is foolish though. And I must break the habit immediately.
Robin laughed to hide his sudden pain. Loving me is a bad habit?
You are leaving, she moaned lying down on her bed. For heaven knows how long! Years? And, who knows even if you will come back again?
The youth lay beside the girl on the bed. Both eyes looked up at the ceiling with uncertainty. Robin turned to Marian and put his body on top of hers. He held her hands and intertwined his fingers around hers.
He was about to be very brave.
Listen, he told her, and you must believe every word. Marian, I love you, now, yesterday, and forever. And while I wander through the war torn country I shall think only of you. And when I return, not if, but when I return, I shall find you again. I will…I would…move heaven and earth to find you Marian.
Marian smiled though she raised an eyebrow. Heaven and earth?
Robin kissed her on the lips tenderly.
Now, years later, Robin found himself still trying to find the woman he loved. He went to the docks where ships of great magnitude and size lay before him. Though he scanned the ships and docks with determination, he found no girl with hair like the night sky. She was not there.
His Marian was not there.
Did she leave already?
Was she already gone?
Somehow Robin did not believe this. He could not remain a sane man and believe that she was not in the same country that he was in.
He walked away from the docks with a heavy heart and a heavy weight upon his chest. Suddenly he realized that there was a great pain in his chest. He toppled over and grabbed at his sewn wound with agony.
People had seen his fall and were crowding around him. They were speaking rapid French and Robin could not understand their strange words. He only caught certain words. One person shouted, "Hurt." Another exclaimed, "Medicine." And a third bellowed, "Herbs."
They wanted him to go to a herb shop of some sorts. All Robin wanted was to be left alone but he figured that if he listened to this shouting mob, he would at least have peace and be alone with his thoughts once more. Robin let them lead him to a small, oddly familiar shop, and left him there to decide whether to enter or not.
Robin did not want help of any kind. But the pain in his wound would not go away. He groaned and knocked on the door. On the other side of the door waited his destiny and fate. Robin though he was having a bad day, well, it was about to drastically change forever.
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"Well," said Allan as he and the rest of the gang ran, "this is definitely the way to wake up in the morning."
"Shut up Allan," said Will panting for breath.
"No," said Allan, "I'm going to speak my peace. We've been running for days—"
"Hours," corrected Djaq tiredly.
"Whatever," Allan sighed, "the point is, I'm no longer exhausted."
"Marvelous," said Stephan sarcastically.
Overall morale was at an all time low. Everyone, not just Allan, was tired and exhausted. Their feet ached, and their legs burned like fire. But they kept moving forward and onwards. No one dared to question why they ran, only that they kept running.
Djaq and Will ran as a pair in front of the rest. They were followed by Eve and Much. Then, John and Stephan ran behind them. And, in the rear, Allan ran alone. He did not mind that he ran without another person by his side. He was too weary to care.
"I hope he is alright," whispered Much to Eve.
Eve nodded. "I'd be more worried about her than him."
There was something eating away at the girl Much adorned. Something that she had just found out which she did not want to tell him. Eve looked quickly at Much and then, almost as quickly, back at the road in front of her. She needed to tell him this, but she was not sure if he would want to hear it.
The truth.
Much gazed at Eve. He was so lucky. There were moments of the months they spent together when Much really appreciated what he had. Now, was one of those rare moments, when he felt truly blessed by the girl running by his side.
But something was wrong.
Not just with Robin, not with the whole world seeming to crumble at Much's feet, but with his darling Eve.
She did not seem like herself. Even though she had told him why she had not slept well, she still seemed pale and…almost unwell. Much bit his lip. Should he remain silent and let her tell him herself?
But, if he had learned anything from what happened between his master and Marian, he knew that time was not to be taken for granted. Eve was not to be taken for granted. In a minute things could drastically change. For better or for worse.
And Much was not about to let anything get worse.
"What is the matter?" he asked quietly.
"With me?" she answered with a question.
Much nodded. "You do not seem well."
"Come on," said Allan from the back, "I'm not bein' funny or anything, but none of us are well!"
Much rolled his eyes. "Eve, what is wrong?"
Eve bit her lip. "Nothing."
Much scoffed. "You are lying to me. I know something is wrong. Eve, you look pale and sick. Like you haven't seen a good day in quite a while. Eve, you can tell me, whatever it is, I'll still love you."
Eve gave Much a worried look. "Do you want to know right now?"
"Now would be preferable," said Much. "Yes."
Eve broke from the runners and walked off to the side of the road. She wandered through the trees and away from the rest of the gang. Much ran after her, letting the distance between him and the rest of his friends grow.
He found Eve sitting on the ground next to a pile of, well, what Much assumed were the contents of her stomach.
"I knew you were not well," said Much bending down to Eve to take her hand.
Eve looked up at him with a sad smile. "Oh Much, I am not just unwell."
Much's eyes widened with fear. "You are really sick then? Oh my lord!"
Eve smiled and stood up. "No Much, I'm not sick, I'm…uh..."
Much put his hands on her waist. "What? What is it? You can tell me anything Eve."
Eve blushed. "We need to get back to the rest of them. To Robin."
Much shook his head. "This is about you and me. More importantly, this is about you. You need to tell me Eve. Whatever it is we will work through it."
Eve grinned at Much's willingness to help her. To forget the gang for just a brief moment, and focus solely on her, and her concerns.
But, she remembered, this was his concern too.
"Much," said Eve trembling, "this is big." She looked up into his eyes.
"How big?" Much asked nervously.
"I'm um, pregnant."
Much's heart skipped a beat. His eyes widened. "Are you sure?"
Eve nodded. "Yeah, I missed my…well never mind. I've been feeling unwell, and I think I'm pregnant."
"Who's the father?" Much asked suspiciously.
Eve gave Much a strange look. She raised her eyebrow. "Who do you think?"
Much gasped. "Me?"
Eve nodded. "Yes you. Of course you. You are the only man I've ever…"
Much kissed her tenderly on the lips. When they parted Much smiled at Eve.
"Much, you know what that means right? You are going to be a father."
Much found himself smiling giddily. He was blushing redder than his already red cheeks, and he felt a tear stream down his cheek.
"I'm going to be a father," said Much breathlessly.
"We need to join the gang now," said Eve reminding Much of the rest of the world. Reminding Much of the reality.
Much nodded. He took Eve's hand in his. They walked back to the road and tried to catch up with the rest of them. They were silent for a minute. Each one bursting with happiness, excitement, and, at the same time, with fear.
They were not married.
They both believed that marriage came before children. That was what they had been taught as children. But, now, here they were, going about the plan in the opposite way. Was that right? Was that holy?
Each felt guilty.
Much believed it was his duty to make things right. "Eve?"
"Yes?"
"I love you," he said.
"I love you too," she said.
Still neither one looked at the other.
"I want to marry you," said Much.
Eve bit her lip. "No."
Much stopped walking and turned to face Eve. "No?"
"No."
Much sighed. "Why not?"
"Because I do not want you to marry me because I am pregnant," Eve insisted.
"I'm not marrying you because you are pregnant," said Much. "I've been thinking of proposing to you for some time now. I was going to, when everything was right again."
Eve raised an eyebrow. "Define everything."
"You know, when we were back home, in England, with the gang safe and sound. I was going to take you aside and tell you how much I loved you and that I wanted you to be my wife."
"And instead," said Eve with a smile, "I go to the side to vomit. You follow, and I tell you I am pregnant."
Much nodded without saying anything.
"Do you regret it?" asked Eve quietly.
"Regret…?" Much began to ask uncertainly.
"You know," said Eve.
Much shook his head, fully aware of what she meant. "Good lord, no. Eve, that night, what we did then, and for a while after that, meant the world to me. I'd never regret it."
Eve smiled. "And what I said about no, I didn't mean that. I want to marry you Much, because I love you, not because we are going to have a child."
"Should we tell the gang?" asked Much.
Eve bit her lip. "How about later? When things have settled, right?"
Much nodded.
They joined the rest of the gang and together they all continued running. No one asked Much and Eve what had happened and why they delayed. Everyone had their own thoughts and opinions about the two love birds. They all smiled at Eve and Much when they saw them return, but they all were silent.
Thus the silent runners ran to the new dawn.
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Marian, with Clara in her arms, reached Gabriella's shop and tried to open the door. Normally, when she had visited her friend, the door was always open, but it was locked.
Gabriella never locks her door.
Marian knocked on the door.
"Just a minute!" a voice called from inside.
Marian raised an eyebrow. That did not sound like Gabriella. Gabriella's voice was not that high, and not that young. Something was not quite right here.
Suddenly Marian felt an arm on her shoulder. She jumped and turned around to see Guy panting and out of breath.
"So," said Marian, "you decided to come after all."
Guy nodded, catching his breath. "She is sick. Of course I'd come."
Marian knocked on the door again. "Clara is sick! Open the door!"
Guy bit his lip as he dreaded the confrontation that was about to unfold before his eyes.
Marian shook her head. "Something is wrong. Gabriella is not coming to the door."
Guy shrugged. "Maybe she is sick too."
But suddenly the door unlocked and the door opened before them. Meg's back was to Guy and Marian.
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Meg had not slept well that past night. Her mind had been running around in circles as she though of one particular man. One man with coal black hair and fierce dark eyes. One man whose smile could melt ice and whose very presence could part any resisting sea.
And when she had heard unkind knocking she did not originally want to open the door. She wanted to stay here, in her mother's house, and just die there. Guy was gone. Probably by now he was on the other side of the country with his precious Marian. Probably he was no longer in the country!
She could just picture him running away with that ungrateful wife of his, who did not even love him! Meg would have run to the ends of the earth for Guy. Across seas even.
And now, someone was actually expecting her to open the door to a new day instead of letting her wallow in artificial night forever.
Meg was planning to pretend that she was not home and let the knocker leave. But then she heard the knocker call out, "Clara is sick!"
She did not know who this Clara was, though the name was very familiar to her ears. Meg knew her mother had tended the ill with herbs and medicine. Probably this was someone, some woman, who needed help. Meg, though she wished to reside in the darkness around her, also knew that the sick needed to be helped. Needed to be served.
Meg unlocked the door and as the door opened she turned away from the strangers. She did not want to see their faces, no matter who they were.
"What do you want?" she asked.
"Who are you?" asked the female voice she had heard on the other side of the door.
"I could ask you the same question," said Meg angrily. "But instead I'm asking what do you want?"
"Where is Gabriella?" the voice insisted.
"What is she to you?" Meg asked.
There were whispers behind Meg's back. So Meg knew there were at least two people who wanted her help.
"Our daughter," said a new, yet old voice, "is ill. Please."
Meg was about to tell off this new voice, but it chilled her bones. In a good way. In the same way that his voice had chilled her bones when she first heard it.
Wait a minute…
Was it…?
Guy?
Meg whipped her head around and stood with gaping mouth at the two customers her mother had cared for all those months ago. Meg's eyes first looked at the woman. She was quite beautiful Meg had to admit. She had long flowing hair which shone in the candlelight. Her eyes were a breathtaking blue. And in her arms she held a little child who gave little moans.
The Meg let her eyes gaze at the man standing next to the girl.
She let her eyes gaze at the man who she loved.
He was more handsome than he was in her thoughts, if that was possible.
And Guy, for his part, could not help looking with more than innocent interest at the girl before him. He too had forgotten how beautiful she was.
"Where is Gabriella?" Marian repeated.
Meg turned sharply to Marian. "Not here."
"Is she coming back?" asked Marian with a worried face.
Meg shook her head. "Not likely, unless you know how to bring people back from the dead."
Marian gasped. "She's dead?"
"Killed," Meg answered.
Marian was shocked. Her only friend in this country was killed? She could not get over it. She would not get over it. She felt a sudden pain in her heart, as if it had been ripped out angrily.
Then she looked at Guy. He did not seem surprised.
"You don't seem surprised," said Marian to Guy.
Meg looked at Guy.
Guy looked at Meg.
How was he going to get out of this?
"He already knew," said Meg.
Marian cocked her head towards Guy. "You already knew?"
Guy nodded. "I already knew."
Marian raised a brow. "You did not tell me."
"I knew it would grieve you to hear it."
"Somehow," said Marian, "I do not believe you."
"I told him," said Meg defiantly.
She was not afraid of the beautiful mother and the beautiful child. She was ready to fight to the death for the man she loved. Meg would not let him go this easily. She was prepared to do what she had not done last night, fought for him, for his love.
"You told him," repeated Marian with disbelief.
"Meg," said Guy wearily.
Marian turned to Guy with a confused expression. "You know this girl?"
"I'm not girl!" said Meg angrily. "I'm Meg. I'm Gabriella's daughter."
"Meg," said Guy trying to sooth the two women in his life.
"Look," said Marian, "right now, I don't care what's going on. My daughter is sick. Can you help me?"
She did not say us. That worried Guy. That worried Guy considerably.
Meg nodded. "What is wrong? Is her forehead sweaty?"
Marian nodded. "Yeah, her palms and feet are sweaty too. I think she might have a fever."
Meg led Marian over to the table. She had Marian sit down and she sat beside Marian. Guy stood in the back sheepishly. He was not quite sure what was going on. He was not quite in the moment in this conversation.
He was thinking about the worst possible future he could imagine.
Well, actually, there were two awful futures, in his future.
The first was that Marian, would find out the truth, take Clara away, and leave him. The second was that Clara could die, and then Marian would leave him.
The first seemed more likely than the second but Guy was not sure of anything anymore.
Meg smiled kindly at her rival. "Have you been breast feeding her regularly?"
Marian nodded. "I have. But she has not eaten anything in the past couple of hours."
Meg shook her head. "Feed her. That is the most important thing you can do right now." Meg stood up and walked to where her mother had mixed potions and herbs for her patients. Meg went to work mashing up herbs for her enemy's child. She could not believe that she was actually helping this woman.
But she realized that there were certain things, not everything, but certain things that were bigger than her hatred for the perfect girl who sat before her.
Marian went to work feeding Clara who ate happily.
Marian was feeling slightly better now, now that Clara was taken care of. "So, how do you two know each other?"
Meg glanced at Guy.
Guy glanced at Meg.
"We uh," said Meg, "met last night."
Guy nodded and walked to the table and sat across from Marian. He would have moved closer, to be next to Clara and make sure she was safe, but fear overtook him.
"Last night?" Marian asked with a raised brow.
Guy nodded. "We met last night, that was when she told me about Gabriella."
"So you just felt the need to wander down to Agincourt in the middle of the night?" asked Marian suspiciously.
"Is that so hard to believe?" asked Guy.
"And then you just happened to meet Meg?" asked Marian. "Bumped into her did you?"
"He did not bump into me!" exclaimed Meg angrily from the other end of the room. "He needed someone to talk to. Obviously he couldn't talk to you."
"Obviously?" asked Marian.
Guy looked to Meg. "Meg, please, let me talk to her."
Meg shrugged and continued mixing the potion. She muttered something under her breath angrily.
"What did you say?" asked Marian.
"You don't want to know," said Meg.
"I do," said Marian.
"Fine," said Meg, "I said you were a cruel woman."
Marian scoffed. "When do you get to tell me that I am cruel? You do not even know me."
Meg smiled bitterly. "I do know you. He told me about you. And besides, I know your kind."
"My kind," Marian scoffed.
"You do not love him!" Meg screamed. "I can see it and I've only known you for a couple of minutes. My mother knew it! Why are you with him? Why aren't you with that other man…what's his name?"
"Robin," Guy reminded her.
"Yes," said Meg, "Robin. If you love him so much, why don't you just run to his arms?"
"Because," said Marian, "I am married, I have a child, and he does not love me."
"Oh for god's sake!" Meg exclaimed. "Is that really what you've been telling yourself all this time?"
"Meg!" Guy yelled. "Enough."
Meg shook her head. "No, she has to hear this." She turned to Marian. "I happen to be in love with your husband. And, frankly, I'm surprised that there are people in the world who do not love him, especially someone who is married to him."
"You love him?" Marian gasped.
Guy's eyes were wide. "You love me?"
Meg's face reddened. "Yes."
"How?" Marian asked.
"How?" Guy asked.
"You kissed me," said Meg with a small smile, "you have my sadness, you…I don't know what else to say."
Marian slowly turned her head to face Guy. "You kissed her?"
Guy nodded.
"Twice," said Meg triumphantly.
"Where?" Marian asked.
"Here," said Guy uncertainly. "In this room."
"On the lips," said Meg answering Marian's question.
Marian shook her head. "Oh my God! Guy! How could you?"
Now Guy was beginning to get cross. He was beginning to get angry that this was all suddenly his fault. That he was suddenly the bad guy.
"How could I?" Guy repeated with outrage. "How could I? Marian, I'm not the one who's in love with another man! I'm not the one who has been sullen for thinking of him! I'm not the one who called out his name while we were having sex!"
Meg hid a giggle.
"Guy," said Marian, "do not turn this on me. I did not kiss another woman while I was married."
Guy stood up and walked to Marian. He bent his head close to her. "Look me in the eye, and tell me that when he first walked through our door, that you did not have the sudden urge to kiss him?"
Marian did not answer him.
"Well," said Guy angrily, "did you?"
Marian was about to answer when there was a knock on the door. It was an angry knock. Meg was not sure how many of these knocks she could take in the course of a day. She sighed and walked to the door. She opened it and there stood a man full of grief and sadness.
His wretched eyes momentarily looked at the girl who opened the door. Then his eyes, which were full of love and longing scanned the room. His beautiful green eyes settled on the girl who sat breast feeding her child, and the man who bent close to her face with anger.
The man of the forest was so tired, so weary, and so in love.
He stepped into the room like a man who lived on his last breath of life.
He walked past the strange girl at the door, and to girl he loved who looked at him now with astonished eyes.
Robin stopped walking and looked at Marian.
There was so much he wanted to say. He wanted to say how happy he was that she was in the world. He wanted to say that he read the letter and that he loved her. Of course he would follow her to the ends of the earth. It did not matter that they were separated by a marriage under duress or a child sucking at her breast. None of it mattered.
Only his undying love for her mattered.
But there was something keeping his words locked up inside.
The fear.
It was the same fear that Much had held in his own heart. The fear that he had predicted was in Robin's.
The fear of rejection.
The slight possibility that Marian did truly love the man in black leather and not the hero of the forest.
So Robin opened his mouth to speak the only sentence that was audible. The only sentence he dared to utter to the girl he adored. The only sentence that would not bring about rejection or pain.
"You love me?"
WHOA!!! that was pretty long...hope you all like it!!! what do you think is going to happen next?? and eve pregant?? yeah that was pretty weird