Marian listened as Robin proudly boasted how he had swung from a rope to catch her as she dropped from the highest tower of Nottingham Castle, after she had been deliberately pushed by Lady Sybille de Lusignan. The whole story sounded so far fetched, Marian had difficulty believing it.
"Swung from a rope? And caught me up in one arm? As I was falling? Really!"
"Both arms, actually."
"While swinging on a rope? Just how was that possible?"
"I looped the rope around my ankle to catch you. Don't think I could have gotten hold of you with one arm. You're not as light as you look, Marian."
His cocky attitude inaccurately convinced her he was inventing the story. "I would think you'd at least owe me the courtesy to concoct a less ridiculous tale," she told him. "Now that you've had your fun with me, I insist you take me back."
"Fun?" He grinned and approached her, his face wearing a charming, but naughty expression. "We haven't begun to have fun yet, Marian. But if that's what you want, I could be persuaded to-"
"Grow up!" she hissed angrily.
"Speakin' of fun," Allan a Dale, suggested, "I got a helluv an idea! Not bein' funny, but since it's so late, why don't we sneak into Locksley while Gisbourne's asleep, and piss in his boots! Give him a lovely surprise, when he steps into them come mornin'!"
Much and Little John laughed out loud, Will and Djaq looked amused, and Robin chuckled under his breath, then quietly reproved Allan for his language in front of their "guest." Marian glared from outlaw to outlaw.
"Have you gone mad?" she asked Robin.
"I didn't say we'd do it, Marian, though it tempts me sorely. Not as much as your lovely presence here tempts me, I admit." He lifted a lock of her hair but released it when she slapped his hand away. "But, don't worry about me," he continued, unfazed by her temper, "I have no desire to get anywhere close to Guy of Gisbourne's unoccupied boots. The man's foot odor is infamous in three shires."
"You're not going to take me back?" she asked, ignoring what she considered his juvenile stupidity.
"Not tonight. Not until Lady Lusignan is far from Nottingham. You've made a dangerous enemy, Marian."
Marian wanted to cry with vexation. What was Robin doing? She resigned herself to the fact she wasn't going anywhere tonight. She decided to get some sleep, and try to find her own way back in the morning, when she'd have daylight to guide her.
"Where do you sleep?" she asked him. "Much said I may sleep in your 'bed,' without your pesky, annoying presence!" she hastened to add.
He snickered, and pointed to his fur skin.
"Goodnight, Marian," he said, his voice sweet and contrite at last. She glanced into his eyes, which now looked so puppy doggishly appealing, she had to catch her breath and remind herself what a fiend he was. Without a word, she marched to his "bed," and settled down for the night.
...
If Robin's gang had acted on Allan's suggestion, they would have journeyed to Locksley for nothing, for Guy of Gisbourne was not permitted to return to the manor to pass the night.
The swordfight between Gisbourne and Lusignan had ended in a draw, and Sheriff Vaisey had locked Gisbourne in the dungeon to appease his foreign guest, the Count of Poitiers. Vaisey felt he needed the Count's support for his "little scheme" to dethrone King Richard. Besides, he was furious with Gisbourne for starting trouble, when they were so close to an alliance.
The Leper de Lusignan would recover, though her famous legendary face, known all over Christendom for its beauty, would be scarred and marred for life, thanks to Gisbourne's temper. Vaisey had no problem with that. Actually, it amused him, and pleased him that Gisbourne had shown such marvelous brutality. He only wished the man had shown the sense to take his anger out on some other leper than the wife of the man Vaisey wished to impress!
Gisbourne would pay for his stupidity, Vaisey planned. Oh, yes! He would be made to suffer! This was good! This was good!