After bidding Robin goodbye, the Nightwatchman continued her nightly vigil doling out charity, steering her borrowed steed toward Locksley. Just before she reached the rise of a hill, the moonlight reveled something, causing her to rein her horse and leap from the saddle.
A lone horse lay on the ground, whineying and trying to rise. Praying no one was watching, Marian drew close and gasped in suprise.
"Achilles! What's wrong? What happened to you?"
In her alarm, she had released her own mount's reins, enabling her "borrowed" horse to turn and run towards home.
Marian barely noticed. Her sole concern was for Achilles. "Let me help you," she said, in a cool, comforting tone.
Running her gentle hands up and down Achilles' sides, she found the arrow lodged in his left flank. With due care, she removed the offending shaft and bandaged the wound with her Nightwatchman scarf.
"This will have to do until we can get that wound washed. Who could have done this to you?"
It was unfathomable! Not only shooting such a fine animal, but leaving him alone to suffer! She thanked God she had found him.
Now that Marian was unmasked, she thought it wise to reverse her vest, lest someone come upon her unawares and guess her identity as the Nightwatchman. She quickly did so, looking over her shoulder to make certain she wasn't being watched.
Looking herself again, she carefully helped Achilles rise to his feet, and was thrilled to find he could walk with only a slight limp. "Come on, boy, let's go home and let Ian wash that nasty wound. I'll bring you some apples and some good fresh hay, and you'll feel better in no time. Before you know it, you'll be galloping through the meadow, tossing your mane and showing off for all the mares."
Moonlight lit the way, and they reached Locksley after only a few stumbles on Achilles' part. Every missed step sent a chill through Marian, as she empathized with the horse. "Poor darling!" she said comfortingly.
"Marian!"
They had reached Locksley, but she hadn't expected to find Guy of Gisbourne in the yard. He appeared to be returning from the direction of Nottingham, and was staring at her with questioning eyes. What rotten luck!
"Sir Guy," she began to explain in halting tones, "I was enjoying a late night ride, when I came upon Achilles alone and hurt, with an arrow in his thigh. Who could have done such a thing?"
"Sheriff's guard shot him," Gisbourne explained with a sniff. "Small sacrifice for bringing down Hood."
"Hood?" she cried in alarm. "Has the Sheriff caught Robin?"
Gisbourne turned suspicious eyes on her and waited. She stumbled through an explanation.
"I mean...congratulations. How did...what was Hood doing with Achilles?"
"Stole him from my stables...again. But he didn't get far. Sheriff and I gave him a little ambush of our own."
She gulped. "Is he...is he in the dungeons?"
"Where he awaits the Sheriff's pleasure." Gisbourne sniffed louder. "Sheriff ought to kill him instantly, not keep him around, and give him a chance to escape."
"At least he's heavily guarded?"
"The guard's been doubled, but that doesn't mean much. Hood's clever. I won't rest easy till his soul's in hell."
Marian gave another small gasp, and Gisbourne readily apologized. "Pardon me, milady."
She looked bewitching, even in her unbecoming garments. Wouldn't he just love to strip the odd assortment of clothing off her and burn it in the fireplace...then take her to his bed and...but her next question interrupted his lustful thoughts.
"Where's Ian?" she asked, stroking the horse's muzzle. "Will you please wake him, so he can see to Achilles?"
Gisbourne sneered in satisfaction. "Food poisoning," he explained. "The entire staff's got it."
Again, Marian gasped. "But...are they alright? What can I do?"
Gisbourne stepped closer...too close, and peered down at her. "You," he said with meaning, "should get home and go to bed. You should not be out so late at night."
His proximity and manner of speaking made her uncomfortable. It was becoming difficult to breathe. All she wanted to do was to get away, and think about how she could help Robin. She took a step back.
"Will you see that his wound is cleaned? And your servants are...shall I send a physician to care for them?"
Gisbourne edged closer. "I will see to my own needs. I assure you, my staff is in no immediate danger. They'll recover." He paused, excited by her discomfort. "You enjoy taking care of things here, don't you? Perhaps you'd like to do it on a permanent basis?"
He watched in fascination as color stole up her cheeks. "I must go," she finally managed to say.
"How will you get home?" he asked.
His question brought her back to her senses. How indeed? Her horse had run off.
"Sir Guy, I hate to put you out, but could I possibly borrow a horse? Mine's run off, and I-"
"You'll ride behind me," he insisted.
"Oh, no, I couldn't do that! Please...you must be tired, and I'm perfectly capable of seeing myself home."
"You should not be riding alone at night. If you'd come a few moments earlier, you might have run straight into Hood!"
Marian sighed in resignation. Better just to get home, as soon as possible. Gisbourne wouldn't say much on the ride to Knighton. She could use the time to think of a plan to help Robin escape.