Disclaimer: I do not own Robin Hood or BBC. OCs and plot are mine.

There is something about this chapter I absolutely adore. Marguerite/Vaysey scenes are fantastic to write!

Chapter 32: Keeping it all in

Guy was roaming the marketplace as the merchants were trying to barter off their goods in the afternoon chill. He had seen Marguerite off with her companion at the shoesmith's (he wondered briefly if it was Marguerite's goal to maintain all of Nottingham with her inclination for shopping) and it strengthened his resolve in his quest.

Just as Guy was beginning to think the man he was looking for wasn't in Nottingham—it was, after all, a ridiculous assumption— he saw the back of Tuck's red hair. It stuck out just as much as his brown monk robes. Guy snaked his way around until he came upon the man of God.

"Considering the sheriff's feelings for you, it is a risk coming to the castle," Guy spoke up, announcing his presence.

"There are souls that need to be tended to here as there are in the rest of the shire," Tuck shrugged. "Perhaps more so since they live in the belly of the beast." Tuck studied the darker man. "You seem as if you have actually had a full night's sleep for once," Tuck observed.

Guy suddenly felt stalled, as if what he had wanted to talk about refused to surface. "I am sure you have heard about our newest guest." The sheriff had made sure everyone in the shire knew about Lady Marguerite.

Tuck nodded. "Indeed. I have even been blessed with seeing the woman," Tuck grinned saucily.

Guy's arms crossed in front of him. "If you weren't a man of God, I'd be worried," Guy stalled.

"Are we discussing my vows, the Lady Marguerite, or you?" Tuck pondered.

"You always just cut right to it, something the two of you have in common," Guy muttered.

"With the Lady? You seem to know her well," Tuck observed.

"And you both see too much."

"Something about her has startled you," Tuck observed. "Or perhaps it's because you are finally starting to live again and that is what frightens you."

"I don't know why I continue to talk to you," Guy wondered.

"I have stopped wondering about it myself," Tuck joked. "I'll confess that you haven't been in Locksley lately, so I thought I would see if I could find you here in Nottingham."

"Checking up on me? I am not a patient, Tuck."

"Not from a physical ailment, no," Tuck conceded. "Don't be so quick to brush off spiritual ailments, Guy. What I am curious about is … why are you hesitant to talk about the Lady? I find this intriguing," Tuck confessed. "You have said before that you felt like demons were driving you mad. You couldn't let go of the Holy Lands. And yet, this is the first conversation we have had where you have yet to mention either of those."

"That's what worries me," Guy admitted.

"Because you may be acting human? That the demons may be gone?" Tuck asked. "I have to visit the cooper's widow, but I'll leave you with this, Guy: if someone or something has managed to chase the demon's away for awhile, be thankful, and use the time to see the world, and yourself, clearly," Tuck said before walking down another street.

Not exactly the advise he was looking for—not that he knew what he was looking for, exactly; Marguerite had everything twisted in his life. Nor did it answer how he should approach his nightly meeting with Marguerite that evening.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
(a/n: following morning)

Marguerite had the maids fix her hair twice, brushing 100 strokes each time. She then took twice as long contemplating what to wear. She always took care with her appearance; she didn't want a hair out of place with Vaysey and everyone constantly watching her. She had learned from childhood that everyone watched her and her family at all times so one must never let others see anything less than perfect composure.

More importantly for this morning, it made her late for her meeting with Vaysey.

Vaysey had sent a message up before her breakfast even arrived that he wanted to speak with her this morning. She ate slowly, took great pains with her appearance, all in a deliberate measure of being late.

She was here under his thumb but she was following her schedule, not his. Something he was coming to despise, Marguerite noticed, smiling.

Her meetings with Vaysey were always entertaining as they both attempted at playing each other, triple talking, and coding their sentences with subterfuge and smiles. She never forgot the smiles. They always resulted in Vaysey's sneers. Marguerite knew she should be enjoying it much more, she hadn't had an opponent like this in ages, but not even Vaysey and Nottingham could pierce through her current state. And even Anne was starting to suspect something was amiss with Marguerite.

Marguerite wondered what Vaysey could want this time. Last time he had grilled her on why she had even entered the shire. Marguerite answered it was for her health: bantering with bald, conniving men boosted her spirits.

It made Vaysey's muscle in his forehead twitch, something she found amusing. People in this game shouldn't have tells.

As Marguerite walked down the hall with only a guard behind her, she took the opportunity to think since she was nearly alone. She should have been trying to figure out how to get the shoes she had made for little Ygrainne and Tom the previous day out to the camp. But her mind couldn't focus on such details. She couldn't seem to focus at all. Her train of thought, however, soon made her realize she was in one of her moods.

No, she realized. Since she had come to Nottingham on this mission, she realized, her moods were interspersed with emotion. Real emotion. The realization made her stop in her tracks. She walked over to the half wall that over looked the village as she tried to think what this meant. Don't even try to understand why, Marguerite. You can not let your walls crumble now. …not that there is anything left of the old Marguerite…

She looked over the villagers doing their daily tasks. One figure quickly caught her eye, and she realized what was making her life—and sanity—suddenly so unclear.

Guy.

She had only known him a few weeks. This was absurd. Three weeks with someone did NOT make 2 years worth of hell go away. No one had that ability.

But what if they did? She pushed that thought away immediately. Just do what it is you do best, Marguerite. This is just a new aspect of hell.

"Ah, good, there you are," Vaysey's voice rang out.

"I was just on my way looking for you," Marguerite announced. They eyed each other warily.

"I will say you don't pull the hapless routine as Marion did," Vaysey said. "A word to the wise: don't expect Gizzy to fall for your charm."

Marguerite grinned. "If you believe my charm to be on par with Marion's, why, that is like comparing your falcon to a chicken," she smirked. "I should be insulted. But poor Gisborne, does he even know the extent you are putting him in our game?"

"Oh, my dear, he knows very well what is going on," Vaysey assured her.

"Good. I hate it when someone doesn't know the rules."

"Ah," Vaysey clucked, "but that is when the game becomes interesting."

"What did you wish of me? You did, after all, summon me," Marguerite asked, leaning against the post.

"It seems you have rather expensive tastes," Vaysey said.

"Are there any other tastes to have?" Marguerite asked confused.

"I think it's about time you earned your keep," he said walking off.

She followed after him with the guard behind her. The guard waited outside as she and Vaysey entered his parlor. Gisborne happened to walk in a moment later. He looked surprised seeing the two of them together—an occasion he had learned to be wary of— but what surprised him most, though, was the look in Marguerite's eyes. There were always ghosts dancing in her blue eyes, but they seemed even more haunted today than normal. "My lord. Lady."

"My brother had a beautiful falcon," Marion said admiring his bird.

"Do I care? A clue, non," he said with a French accent.

"Ah, cher, we are going to have to settle this between us," she smirked. He raised his eyebrow at the endearment. "Don't worry, I much prefer ma puce." (ma puce=my flea)

"See, we are friends already," he said as he indicated the desk in the room.

"I am assuming this is a letter to my father," she said as she took a seat. "I was wondering when I would have the privilege of informing him of my wonderful stay here."

"Just remember, girl, your father is in a vulnerable position, too. I have his county surrounded by black knights. One false step from you and I can bring them down on him."

"You need to be more concerned with allying with my father, not overthrowing him. He could topple Richard if he so chose," Marguerite stated simply.

"Now see here you insolent brat, if I so wanted I could take out your father."

Instead of cowering with shock or fear— all appropriate reactions in Vaysey's mind— she smirked. Smirked! Guy could see the irritation dancing in Vaysey's eyes. Irritation that was usually only reserved for Robin Hood.

"If you are quite finished, I will begin my letter now," she said turning to the desk. She read as she wrote:

"Mon cher papa.
The journey has been simply atrocious. It makes me long for the simple but elegant roads of Paris the longer
I was forced to journey on them. The weather has been simply agonizing and a perfect setting to my mood."

"Get along with it," Vaysey said, tired of pleasantries.

She glared at him. "I believe I was writing this letter," she huffed. "After all, we don't want cher papa to get suspicious now do we?" she reminded him. She turned back to her letter.

"My arrival in Sherwood was simply deplorable. Robin was far from the man I remembered doting on me in London.
I tried to excuse his behavior in his grief, which was deep, but he refused. Can you believe such a thing? C'est déplorable. (a/n: It's deplorable)
I shall never forgive him. What cher Richard could have been thinking I can never know. But worry not, papa. Dear friends found me
at the worst moment. John's friends have taken me in. Monsieur puce has been most kind and hospitable,"

She prattled on a bit about Nottingham before signing it. Marguerite sent Vaysey a knowing smirk. "Does that meet your satisfaction?"

"Yes, yes, that will do nicely," he nodded as she signed with one of her signets and handed him the letter.

"If you need anything else, perhaps advice on this coup of yours, I shall be in my room," Marguerite said easily.

"There is one other matter," Vaysey said as she reached the door. "There will be a party in your honor a week from today. We can't have it look as if Nottingham is slacking when it comes to welcoming one of John's favorite friends."

She smiled grandly at him, her eyes dancing with mischief. "Then, for your sake, I hope you invite every noble of any standing in the county, it will be the best party you've ever thrown," she predicted as she stormed out.

Anne was waiting for her as she walked in her room. "Are you alright?"

"He has no reason to harm me. My father, Prince John, Colin, and half of France, would be on him," she smiled, oblivious to the fact Anne didn't know who half the people mentioned were. "Don't fret. Tomorrow we will have to buy a new gown, although what we may find in Nottingham will probably not be sufficient," she frowned. "Have a maid lay out my dresses, I may have to wear one of them."

She moved to her chair before the fire when a knock caught her attention. Anne went to open it and found Guy. "I don't think she wants any company tonight, Sir Guy," Anne said. She suddenly realized that no one had actually sent for Guy, he came on his own this time.

Anne wondered what Marguerite would make of it.

He looked behind Anne to see her sitting in front of the fire. Ignoring the companion he entered. "You had to antagonize him?"

"Hello to you too, cher," was all Marguerite said.

"You don't seem like yourself," he commented.

"It is impossible to be like that all the time. I hope I am not disappointing you. What did you want?"

"I don't know…"

Marguerite smiled. "Then perhaps it is for the best you came. I had the cook make these sugar candies that I adore," she said offering him the plate. "Which is what started everything with Vaysey. He was told how much in expenses I was accruing, so he told me to earn my keep," she smirked.

"You have sweet taste," Guy said when he tasted how rich the candy was.

"I have the best taste," she grinned. "I picked Anne," she laughed, making Anne smile. "And I think I am picking you."

"For what?" Guy asked.

"Only time will tell. Currently, I am asking a favor from you. It will put me in your debt."

"I can not help you get out."

"I already told you I have no desire to leave," she reminded him. "Will you tell me when you leave for long periods of time? Especially if I am to be alone here with Vaysey?"

"You trust me?" Guy asked surprised.

"Heavens no," Marguerite said with the faintest of smiles. He didn't know why her honesty cut him like a knife. "I trust Vaysey more than I trust you at the moment."

"What?" That was absurd.

"You never know which way you will act, which makes it impossible for me to know," she explained. "With Vaysey, at least, I know he will always act in his own best interest. I know where I stand with him: to him, I am nothing but a pawn. You, mon cher, you perhaps are a rook."

"So you are using me," he realized.

"I am asking you to tell me, as a friend, when I must be subjected to long periods of time with Vaysey," she said simply. "After all these nights, are we not friends?" she wondered.

"I don't know what you are, what we are," Guy said standing.

"Guy," she called out. "Will you tell me? Please?"

He had reached the door and reached out to grab the handle. She watched as he seemed to debate with himself before nodding as he pulled open the door and walked out.

"Is that progress?" Anne asked.

Marguerite grinned. "I hope so," she smiled. She had the same realization as Anne, that Guy had come to her. She wondered if Guy even realized it himself yet.

HUGE thanks to Padme4000 (Ah, Marguerite is just as, if not more so, confused than Guy! But it is fun to see Guy tied up in knots. Hopefully you like the conversation between Marguerite and Vaysey!) Katieee (I can not wait to reveal Marguerite's past!!!! VERY excited! It will come to light in ... 5ish chapters? Its all written, but scenes keep popping up--like the Gretchen and Eleanor scene in the next chapter. I just wrote it yesterday.) and House of Nickel (I *adore* long reviews! Yours was simply fantastic because all the moments I adored writing with Marguerite you adored reading! I simply LOVED the ambush scene. I like Marion, but its easy to bash on her when Marguerite is concerned. Yes, Luke is actually going to be in the story. And I totally forgot about Anne in the first season--I didn't realize that was her name. And someone needs to make Guy realize his relationship with Marion was flawed. Who better than Marguerite? ;) And I hated the iccabob Crane look they gave Guy in the season 3 premier. Yuck. Need Handsome Guy back.)