soooo i hope that most of you were pleased with how the last chap ended...see rob/mar fans i wasnt abandoning you!!! so a couple of things...i might choose to update another chapter today including this one...depending on how things work out...i was listening to nightswimming by R.E.M when i wrote this chap...in case that helps anyone with why this chap is wierd...i'm starting school this thursday so likely i wont be updating till the weekend...i do not own robin hood bbc or any other robin hood...i wouldnt have killed will's father (you werent expecting that were you) read review enjoy

Chapter Thirty One: Your Choice...

"I love you," she whispered in his ear.

And Robin's world, his universe, and everything in it stopped moving. He felt, for that small blissful moment, that there were only two people in the world. He was there, holding her. And she was there, holding him.

He feared closing his eyes as if it was a dream. Some terrific fantasy that he was experiencing, better than any of his usual dreams. But it was so real. He smelled her sweet fragrance. He felt her soft skin touch his own. He saw her dazzling eyes…

This couldn't have been a dream.

And she loved him. That was all he could ever have hoped for.

Her love.

Her love, for him.

Marian loves me.

And Robin let himself smile. He let all his anger, rage, confusion, and bitterness wash over him in this powerful smile.

Marian sat on the floor smiling at Robin, gazing at the man she loved.

He was really there. It wasn't a dream. It wasn't some bizarre fantasy she had concocted in her weakened brain. It was really his hand touching her cheek. It was really his eyes gazing into hers.

While they sat in their almost paralyzed state of being, Guy and Meg stood over them. At first they too felt paralyzed at the spot. As if roots were wrapped around their ankles preventing any movement. Meg held Clara in her arms and gazed at the two lovers on the floor.

They were so in love with each other. You could see it, plain as day.

You could hear it in the very words they did not say.

Meg chanced a worried glance at the man she loved. At Guy.

He was anything but pleased. There were many things going on in Guy's mind. Things that Meg couldn't see just from reading his face. Things that the two lovers on the floor couldn't have begun to believe.

Such terrible and terrifying things.

Guy knew, he had always known, that Robin loved Marian. And, it was not hard to realize that she loved him too. She had given her heart away a long time ago. Guy knew that. It was obvious. This knowledge saddened him greatly. It crushed him. It bruised him.

But he had accepted it.

He had accepted it because he never once dreamed it was possible that Robin would actually come and take his wife away.

Not that he legally could.

But there was a more pressing matter at hand. A matter that no one could have guessed, unless they knew what Guy was thinking.

Clara, said Guy's grandfather with understanding. You fear you have lost her.

That was exactly what Guy feared. He feared losing her to evil men like Edward and the sheriff. But now he feared losing her to Robin. Marian would take her away. Guy would never get to see her grow up, and live life. He would never see her eyes sparkle again. He would never see her smile.

Clara had truly changed Guy.

Allan had been right when he guessed that Guy's new attitude was due to the little girl. Allan did not know how right he was. Allan did not understand what Guy would do for the child. He knew Guy would die for the child.

He had not guessed that Guy would kill for the child. No one seemed to think that this was possible. After all, Guy had changed. He was not a killer any longer. He was a father.

But he was a father in panic. The panic of losing his child.

So Guy did not stand idly by while his child was lost to him forever.

I'm sorry grandfather.

Suddenly he stepped away from Meg and unsheathed his sword. He raised it above his head and was about to slam it down on Robin's unsuspecting head when three things happened together.

Clara burst out in tears.

This woke up Meg's quiet thoughts who gasped at Guy's potential action.

The gasp made Marian look up and see Guy. "Robin! Look out!"

Robin rolled away from Guy just as Guy's sword fell with speed on the wooden floor. Robin retrieved his own weapon and stood up, pointing it threateningly at Guy.

"I don't want to hurt you," he said.

"You already have," said Guy bitterly as he attempted to drive his sword into Robin's head.

Robin blocked his blow.

Marian stood up and went to Meg.

The two women called a personal council to debate what they were going to do about these two men and the fight.

"We need to stop them," whispered Meg.

"Thank you for the brilliant suggestion," said Marian sarcastically. "Without your input I was planning to let them battle each other to the death."

Meg narrowed her eyes. "It's your fault anyway."

"My fault?"

Meg rolled her eyes. "They are fighting over you."

Marian shook her head. "What we need is a way so that they do not. We need a priest."

"A priest?"

"A priest can stop this marriage, once and for all." Marian gave Meg a quick look. "I'm sure you'll have no arguments about that."

Meg nodded.

Marian grimaced as Robin continued to battle Guy. The sooner she could end this, the better it would be for everyone. Then she got an idea. If Robin was here…in Agincourt…that must mean that the rest of the gang was here too. If the rest of the gang was here…

Marian's eyes lit up.

Marian turned to Meg. "Can you watch Clara for a minute?"

"I'm already holding her," Meg reminded her. "Why?"

"I need to fetch a priest," explained Marian.

"Who died?" asked Meg.

Marian didn't answer. She kissed Clara on the forehead, looked quickly at Robin and Guy, and then ran out the door into the fresh air of the morning.

Robin heard the door close abruptly. He did not want to turn to see which one of the two women left.

But Guy quickly scanned the room and saw Meg standing alone.

He turned back to Robin as he parried a blow.

"She left you," he said.

Robin did not answer.

"This is how it feels you know," Guy continued in a taunting voice. "You make yourself vulnerable and suddenly your love is taken away from you."

"Unlike what you may believe Gisborne," said Robin angrily, "I know exactly how that feels."

"You know nothing."

"She went to fetch a priest," said Meg from the sidelines.

Guy raised an eyebrow and attempted to strike Robin. "She thinks one of us is going to die."

Robin digested what Meg said.

Could Guy be right? She thinks that one of us will die? She probably thinks it'll be me. She knows I don't relish the thought of killing, even if it's Gisborne. Could just be that this girl is lying and Marian left because she did not want to be a part of this anymore.

That thought seemed likely to Robin.

But unlikely too. Unlikely because not five minutes ago he had his arms around the woman he loved and was in a state of ecstasy at three little words.

So why the priest?

Then Robin's eyes lit up. They shone with all the stars in the heavens. They sparkled with light that could have made the sun envious. He knew exactly why Marian had left to fetch a priest. He even knew which priest she was fetching.

It was for the same reason why he had attempted to fetch a certain priest all those months ago.

Marian was trying to finish once and for all what Robin started.

She's bringing Stephan.

She was going to end her marriage.

For me. Because she loves me.

That meant that Robin needed to do one thing. One very small yet very important thing if Marian's plan was going to work.

He needed to stay alive.

How?

It was true. Robin had great physical strength. But he was still weak from his wounds, both emotional and physical. Guy could easily kill him.

Easily.

And Robin wasn't about to let that happen. He had just been granted requited love, any man's dream. He was not about to let himself be killed, especially not by Gisborne. He was going to make damn sure that he lived long enough to see Marian again.

To see her smiling face as she and Stephan walked in.

To hear her voice demand an annulment.

To feel the touch of her skin on his face when she told him she was his, alone.

That she would always and forever be his alone.

But now he could not let himself dwell in the possibilities and fantasies. He had to focus on the now. His entire remaining energy was focused on the now.

If he could not easily defeat Guy with the sword then he would have to defeat Guy with words.

Robin backed away from Guy and moved closer to Meg.

"So," he asked Guy, "who is she?"

Guy only grew angrier at Robin's words. He did not answer.

Robin glanced at the girl. "Who are you?"

"Meg," said Meg.

Robin nodded. "And how do you know this particular gentleman."

"You don't have to answer that," said Guy trying to strike Robin.

Robin easily blocked him. Guy was getting sloppy.

"My mother delivered his daughter," said Meg flatly.

Robin coughed. He did not expect that answer. Guy looked at Meg angrily. "Didn't you hear me?"

"I ignored you," said Meg angrily. "You should be familiar with that tactic since you ignored me when I said not to—" She stopped herself. She was going to mention a certain time when she told a certain man not to go kidnapping his wife.

Meg wanted to yell at Gisborne for all the grief he was causing her, but, at the same time, she did not want to give Robin any more ammunition to hurt Guy.

She did not want Guy to get hurt.

Robin noticed how she suddenly stopped talking. "No. Please, continue. What did dear Guy ignore?"

"Nothing," muttered Guy.

Meg bit her lip. "Sorry," she murmured.

Robin caught Meg's murmur and smiled at Guy. "I think she likes you."

Guy rolled his eyes.

"She cares about you Guy," said Robin. "That's very rare you know."

Guy groaned.

"How did you two meet?"

"Last night," said Meg.

Guy stopped fighting briefly and looked at Meg in shock.

Robin raised an eyebrow. "Last night?"

"I came to her, thinking it was her mother, and found her instead," said Guy feeling the need to defend herself.

Robin looked around the room. "I've been here before; I think I've briefly met your mother. She was dying in my arms, killed by the sheriff no doubt. She knew about me Gisborne, did you know that?"

Meg suddenly was interested in this conversation. "My mother knew you?"

Robin nodded. "I think you have Marian to thank for that."

Guy rolled his eyes. "I knew they were talking about you."

"But getting back to the two of you," said Robin hoping that Guy would not realize that they were no longer fighting. "What happened?"

Both Meg and Guy remained silent.

"Come on," said Robin with a smile. "You can tell me, I'll probably be dead in a couple of minute anyway."

Guy looked at Meg.

Meg looked at Guy.

Guy had a choice. He could remain silent. If Meg said anything he could just deny it. But, he felt this weight on his shoulders that needed to be lifted off. It was the weight of keeping secrets that was digging fiercely into his back. It was the weight of choosing Meg or choosing Clara. And Guy was beginning to realize that he did not want to choose between them.

He wanted to live in a world where it was possible to be with the two women who cared for him. Who loved him.

But such a world could never exist.

Clara would be lost to him if he stood up loved Meg.

Meg would be lost to him if he killed Robin here and now, and chose Clara.

The responsible thing would be to remain quiet. To keep his mouth locked shut.

But Guy did not want to be reasonable. He did not want to be responsible.

"I kissed her," he said finally.

Robin's eyes widened.

Meg's heart leapt.

Clara stopped crying as if to hear better.

"What?" asked Robin.

Guy nodded. "Twice."

"Twice?" Robin repeated dumbly.

Guy looked at Meg. "You have my sadness. My eyes carry grief just as yours do. You have my darkness. My soul carries burdens just as yours does. You have my…"

Say it Guy! His grandfather was beside himself.

I cannot! I cannot let myself say that.

You must!

Why?

Because your future bliss and happiness depends on it.

If I say it, then I'll ruin the shot in hell I have with Clara.

And if you do not say it, if you kill Robin, do you think that Marian will still idly by? She will leave you, and she will most certainly take Clara away from her murderous father. Don't you think that Clara would want a father who stands up for what he wants? Who shows his love in obvious ways?

I've never been an obvious lover.

Maybe, said his grandfather softly, maybe you should start.

"I have what Guy?" asked Meg quietly.

She was still waiting for an answer, and Robin was too awe-struck to speak. All he had wanted to was to taunt Gisborne. He suspected that Meg was certainly 'stirred' by Guy, but he had never imagined it could be the other way around. He always thought of Guy lusting after others.

He had lusted after that girl, Annie, and got her pregnant.

He had lusted after Marian, and well, same sort of story.

But, in both of those cases, he knew that the women were only 'stirred' or 'under duress' and therefore moved on to better things, and better men.

This seemed absolutely bizarre.

Someone actually taking hold of Guy's heartstrings and pulling on them so Guy was fell on his knees.

"She has what Guy?" Robin echoed Meg's question.

Guy looked at Meg, and then at the child in her arms.

For this small second he did not think about Clara.

"My heart."

And hearts ached for what they could not have that morning. Hearts longed to be wanted and needed by others. One certain heart belonging to one certain girl was running with full speed through the village of Agincourt to find the brother of the man who had her heart.

Marian was out of breath and weary.

She was just about to give up when she heard a familiar voice.

"I'm going to be a father!"

Marian looked up with alarm. She saw a very familiar figure of a man running through the streets shaking hands and hugging people he did not know. She heard him continuously shout, "I'm a father!"

She blinked. "Much!?"

Much turned at the sound of his name. "Marian?"

He ran towards her and smiled. "We were looking for you. How did you get away from Gisborne?"

Marian shook her head. "That doesn't matter right now Much. Where is Stephan?"

"He's looking for you too, we all are. Well, technically we're looking for Robin."

"I know where Robin is," said Marian.

"Where!?" Much asked suddenly and very loudly.

Marian smiled at her old friend. "Tell me where Stephan is first."

Much sighed. He motioned for her to follow him. Together they walked through the crowded streets and markets until they bumped into Stephan who was currently talking with a local. Much didn't understand one word that Stephan was saying so he tapped him on the shoulder.

"Hate to interrupt," interrupted Much.

Stephan stopped his talk and looked at Much, and then at Marian.

He smiled at the girl his brother loved. "Hello."

"It has been far too long Stephan," said Marian.

"Where is Robin?"

"He needs your help," said Marian.

"What about my help?" Much asked desperately.

Marian shook her head. "I know he needs you Much. But I do not think you'd be able to help in this matter."

Much rubbed his hands together. "Try me."

"Can you break marriage vows sealed by a priest?" asked Marian.

Much thought for a bit. He scratched his chin thoughtfully. He raised an eyebrow inquisitively.

"No."

Marian turned to Stephan. "How about you?"

Stephan nodded. "Is this what I think it is?"

Marian nodded. "I need you to give me an annulment."

"I had a feeling," said Stephan.

"Did he ask you to come for this very reason?" asked Marian knowingly.

Stephan nodded. "Though I also like to think it was because he loved me."

"I like to think that is why he came for me too," agreed Marian.

"Hello!" said Much angrily. "What am I? Chopped liver?"

"Are you really going to be a father?" asked Marian.

Much nodded. He smiled giddily. He did a happy dance for the entirety of Agincourt to see.

"Bring me to him," said Stephan after Much finished dancing.

"I'm coming too," said Much.

So Much , Stephan, with Marian in the lead ran towards Meg's house. While they ran Much, as usual, could not keep silent.

"How, exactly, do you do an annulment?" asked Much.

Stephan shrugged. "Your guess is as good as mine, I've never done one before."

Much almost stopped running. "Never?"

"I'm a priest Much," said Stephan. "I do not make it my business to break what God has blessed and ordained."

"So you think that God blessed their marriage?" Much whispered to Stephan.

"Just as much as any other marriage," said Stephan.

"And you are still going through with breaking it?" Much asked with awe.

Stephan sighed. "He is my brother Much. There are many things in this world I would break for his happiness."

Much's eyes widened. "What else Stephan?"

"What else what?"

"What else have you broken for Robin?" asked Much.

Stephan was silent. He hadn't exactly told the rest of the gang his decision not to return to Burgundy. He hadn't exactly, in so many words, let them know that he was returning to England with them. And, he also hadn't exactly, really, explained that the brothers probably would not let him back in the order.

"I will not be returning to Burgundy," said Stephan. "I chose to do this, my brothers were not so accepting."

"Sorry," said Marian who was listening in.

Stephan shook his head. "Don't be. Aren't you doing the same thing for him? You and I have both made choices which the majority does not approve. And we both, I think, do it for the same reason."

"Love," said Much abruptly before Marian could reply.

"Anyway," said Stephan, "my brother accepts me. I realize now that that is all I ever wanted. And, I think, it is all you ever wanted too. We both wanted his love, but were both too afraid to reach for it. I left my family because of his anger and apparent hatred. I thought it was best to forget and move on, but leaving only made me miss him. The distance only made me love him more."

"The distance only made me love him more," said Marian thoughtfully.

Before Much could interrupt again Marian stopped running and stared at the door leading to Robin, to Guy, to Meg, to the future.

"We're here."

Marian slowly opened the door. She found Guy and Robin with swords pointed at each other. She found Meg, still standing and still holding Clara in her arms.

On the surface, nothing drastic had changed.

But things were very different since Marian had left.

Secrets that were not meant to be shared had been shared and understood. Loves which were thought to be unrequited were, in fact requited, in the most loving way.

At first no one spoke.

Then, of course, the silence was broken by none other than good old Much.

"Master!" he cried. "You've got to stop running away from us like that!"

Robin smiled. "Sorry, it's a habit now."

Guy looked suspiciously at Stephan and Much. "What are you doing here?"

"They are with me," said Marian. "Guy, I want an annulment."

And Guy's heart beat quickened. He was unsure if he was alive anymore, though his heart continued to beat. He was unsure if he was still blinking, though he saw Marian's face. He was unsure if he was deaf, though he heard her request. He was unsure if he moved, though his hands shook vigorously.

"What?" he was able to ask.

Robin smiled at his love. He was so proud of her. She was so strong and bold. She wasn't afraid anymore. She wasn't afraid…

So I shouldn't be afraid either.

Robin sheathed his sword. He was beginning to hope again.

But Guy's sword was still pointed threateningly at Robin.

"This is Stephan," said Marian to Guy. "He is a priest, and he will give us an annulment. But we both need to agree to it. Both husband and wife."

Marian walked past Stephan and Much. She stood in front of Robin so that Guy's sword was now pointed at her. She put her hands up and took a very deep breath.

"Are you going to kill me Guy?"

"It is possible," said Guy, unable to stop the words from flowing, "I've killed a lot of people."

"I know," said his wife. "But I do not think I will be one of them."

Robin tried to pull her away but she remained where she was. "When you married me I was not thinking clearly."

"Thanks," said Guy sarcastically.

"Let me finish," said Marian determinedly. "I was thinking about you, and Robin, and my father. All of you wanted me to be alive, you all wanted me to live. So I let you place a ring on my finger, I let you help me onto a horse, I let you take me to France. I let you because of Robin. Because I knew, that, if nothing else, he wanted me to be alive."

"Is this supposed to make me feel better?" asked Guy.

Robin smiled inwardly.

It's making me feel better.

Marian smiled at Guy. "You do not want to stay my husband."

"Why not?"

Marian looked at Meg and then looked back at Guy. "Because I would feel incredibly guilty."

"Guilty?"

Marian nodded. "Guilty for marrying you while another loved you. Still loves you. And, I think you must love her a little too Guy."

Guy, still with his sword in hand, looked at Meg who was looking at him.

"How did you know?" he asked.

"Because your heart skipped a beat when you saw her again. Because your eyes, though you might not realize it, shone with a light that I have not seen. Because you wanted to run away with me and Clara because you felt guilty for kissing her. I figured it out Guy, you kissed her, twice apparently, she told you she loved you, and you panicked."

"Panicked is hardly the word I would have chosen," muttered Guy.

"You did get sort of jittery," said Meg.

"You are not helping," said Guy angrily.

"I am not trying," answered Meg smartly.

"You panicked," said Marian hoping Guy would lower his sword, "you panicked because you found yourself feeling things again, but not for me. You found yourself feeling for Meg. And you were scared Guy. That is natural. Normal even. I know. I tried convincing myself that I did not love Robin. But, Stephan reminded me that distance only increases the love you feel for another."

Stephan nodded approvingly.

"I would not remain a good wife for you Guy. Not now, especially not now. If you do not give me this annulment, I will remain yours in a sort of bondage. You will remain miserable I'm sure. You'll make others miserable as a result. If you do not give me this annulment you will only hurt the ones you love."

Guy looked at Marian forlornly.

She was right. She was right about most of it anyway.

There was one thing that she had not considered for all her talk of love and regret. For all her words of guilt and misery she had forgotten one key player in this little drama.

Clara Gisborne.

But Guy had not forgotten her. Not by a long shot.

He knew the minute he said yes to this annulment, he would never see Clara again. And madness would ensue and chaos and grief. Guy could see it all happening. Clara had changed him for the betterment of mankind, and for the betterment of himself.

If Clara was taken away from him…he was not sure what would happen.

He knew that he would never forgive himself. He would feel tortured even though he might draw closer to Meg. He might be momentarily happy with Meg, probably longer than momentarily come to think of it.

But his rage and despair would consume him entirely. He would fall into a pit of darkness and loneliness. Darkness would wrap around him like a blanket. There would be no comfort besides the memories of his daughter. There would be no light but the one he could remember which shone in her eyes.

He would surely go mad in this pit of his. And every little bit of him that was ever good, that was ever decent would crumble like the dust. Because all that was ever good in him, was because of her. Was because of Clara.

He needed her.

He had fallen for her since she looked at him with her eyes, with his eyes, and showed him what goodness meant. What purity could mean. She was his world. She was his life.

And if he said yes to this annulment, he would never breathe again.

Guy looked at Marian. She was staring at him with pleading eyes and a sympathetic face. She was unarmed and asking for his mercy. She was asking for his kindness. Surely, she believed, he must have some left.

Guy looked at Robin. He was staring at him with pleading eyes but a dull face. His hand was over his sword. If Guy so much as attempted to strike Marian, he would be there. He would stop Guy's blade before it so much as grazed Marian's cheek. Robin was, in his own, way, asking for Guy's kindness. For his mercy. His happiness depended on the potential shreds of goodness in Guy's heart. Though, unlike Marian, Robin was not sure if Guy had many shreds to spare.

Guy looked at Meg. She was staring at him with pleading eyes and a loving face. In her arms she held Clara. Guy also saw a future there. He saw himself with Meg and Clara. Together. Happy. But Clara was not Meg's in blood. Meg had no right to Clara though she could grow to love the child. But Meg was not her mother. Meg too asked for Guy's kindness. Her happiness depended on it. She loved the twisted soul of the torn father. She loved him too much for her own good. She knew there was good in Guy's soul. Surely he would set things right.

Guy looked at Much and Stephan. They stared at him with pleading eyes and sad faces. They had followed their leader into battle, into France, into this house. Their happiness depended on Robin's which depended on Guy. Guy saw rays of hope in Stephan's eyes, hope that there was more to Guy's soul than pure hatred. Guy saw bitterness in Much's eyes, bitterness at the potential future he would face if Guy denied Marian's request.

"What is your answer Guy?" Marian asked.

OOOHH and thats were it ends...gosh you must hate me!!! well what do you think guys?? do you think he'll let her have the annulment??? so i might let you breathe again and update another chap today but im not sure if i have the time...i think we are nearing the ending of the tale...but there might be some twists and turns...whats guy's answer?? who gets clara?? and will happen back in england?? whose running the show while the sheriff was away??? are meg and guy ever going to get together?? reviews are lovely...love you all!!