Disclaimer: I do not own Robin Hood, or profit from this writing. OCs and plot (post series 2) belong to me.
Chapter 38: A New Dawn
Guy wiped away the tear that trickled down Marguerite's pale cheek. Anne had arrived a little earlier, bursting into the room and joining Marguerite by sitting on the other side of the bed.
The first rays of the sun pierced through the room, catching his attention. The night had been long, filled with worry.
As he studied her face, a face that he had easily spent hours watching, he thought her eyes fluttered. He prayed that it meant she was waking.
"Marguerite?" Anne whispered as Marguerite opened her eyes. Anne wiped away the moisture dripping from her own eyes. "Thank God. You are safe," she said quickly.
Marguerite nodded, looking around the room to see the odd mixture of Guy and Hood with his outlaws. "I appreciate the concern," she whispered. "You don't need to sit around here, though," she insisted.
It was too much like before.
"You are in Locksley," Guy told her. He looked up to the sun knowing that Vaysey was expecting him to be back in Nottingham, everything normal.
"Go," Marguerite encouraged. "Its not like I can go far," she smiled.
"You'll be safe here," he promised. "I'll return for supper," he added, kissing the back of hand. He seemed to linger holding it before forcing himself to leave. The fact Hood was still there made his blood boil, but he couldn't raise Vaysey's suspicions. If Hood managed to dissuade Marguerite from him he would simply have to persuade her to stay with him. He couldn't begin to imagine how since she was the instigator in this relationship.
The realization that now he would be the leader in their relationship brought a smile to his face.
He made sure everyone understood before he left what he would do if word got out Marguerite was recovering in Locksley.
Tuck followed a clearly distraught Guy outside the manor house. Guy saw him as the rein's of his horse were handed over. "I don't know what you could possibly have to say, you said plenty trying to weasel information out of me in this mock friendship."
"Nothing you said to me in confidence was passed on, Guy. That I promise."
"And how can I believe that?"
"She woke up, Guy. Marguerite is alive, but the fight is only half over," Tuck implored. "You plan on riding into Nottingham as if nothing has changed. But everything has changed. You can't keep her here, in your house, and expect to work against her cause. This is her cause just as much as it is Robin's. Probably more so," Tuck insisted.
"Don't you think I already know this?" Guy demanded. "But all I can do right now is make sure Vaysey thinks she is gone; I have to get the image of her laying dying out of my mind so I can act as if nothing has happened."
"Just remember this, Guy: Marguerite has been fighting for Richard long before Robin, and will long after this ends. She won't switch sides just because she is in Locksley with you. And Robin is on the same side as her. What side are you going to be on?"
"She wanted to die, Tuck," Guy voiced what had troubled him all evening.
"You should know something about that," Tuck observed. "Perhaps you can help her and help yourself." He made his way back to the manor house as Guy mounted. "And there was no mockery in our conversations, at least not on my part, Guy. I'll make sure Marguerite is here when you return."
Guy kneed his horse and took off quickly towards Nottingham. Nothing made sense in the world anymore, it seemed.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
If she was pretending to sleep they would leave, Marguerite learned. All except Anne, but that was alright with her. "What happened?" Anne asked when they were alone.
"So much, and absolutely nothing," Marguerite said evasively.
"You know you have my complete confidence, Marguerite," Anne implored. "Please, I was so desperate…"
Marguerite squeezed Anne's hand. "I'm sorry. I know I can trust you. You are the only person here I do trust."
A horse and the yells of the servants drew their attention. "Its Guy," Anne said looking out the window.
He was early. The evening meal was still a few hours away.
Guy strode in to find Hood's gang sprawled in his manor house. He would deal with them after he checked on Marguerite. If she wasn't there, or if she had become worse, he would exact his revenge on Hood.
Anne had her propped against pillows on the bed and was brushing her hair. What was hanging out of the bandages anyways. Marguerite looked so pale but determined.
If only I could do something about those ghosts in her eyes he thought.
"How are you feeling?" he asked as he took a seat by her bedside.
"Good. Thank you, Guy. I understand you rescued me," Marguerite said with a small smile.
"Why would you leave?" Guy asked. "I thought you knew that there was no escape. It would have been best if you had Hood help you out of the castle."
"It doesn't matter. I'm sorry for the inconvenience. If you send word to my father, he will send for me. He… Anne!" Marguerite jumped up but clutched her head. "Don't let Robin send that missive!"
Anne scurried out the door to make sure whatever was causing her mistress pain didn't happen. "What was in the missive?" Guy asked.
"Why are you protecting me from the sheriff?" Marguerite asked. Her head was throbbing but she had to think through on this matter.
"I won't let Vaysey harm you, Marguerite."
"But why? I can't tell you what's in the missive because while you may wish to protect me, you are still Vaysey's man, are you not?" she challenged. "If after these last few months I haven't changed that, then just let me go home. I'll send for my own men to escort me to my estate." The one in the south of France, far, far away from all of this, she thought.
"You aren't leaving. I already promised you my protection, and you have it, Marguerite. I vow Vasyey won't touch you."
"I can't tell you more, though. It seems nothing has changed."
He wanted to tell her he had changed but Anne rushed in and handed the tube back to Marguerite. She was relieved to see Robin hadn't pried it open. "Please, let me rest now, Guy." He nodded as he left and shut the door behind him.
Anne helped her to lie down again. "Anne, send for your Luke. Make sure he knows we are not in Nottingham. It might be dangerous if he appears when you are gone," Marguerite said.
"What are you still doing here, Hood?" Guy demanded as servants scurried around to fetch Guy some food and water.
"I could ask you that, too. Won't Vaysey think it odd you left early?" Robin asked.
"Before Marguerite arrived I spent all my time in Locksley. Now with her absence, I simply told him that things at Locksley needed my attention again."
"Are we going to fight, or are we taking tea?" Much asked confused. As soon as they had seen Guy returning they had told Gretchen and Eleanor to leave the manor house with Marion. No one knew what to expect from Guy.
"What do you want, Hood," Guy drawled.
"To figure out your angle. Are you trying to weasel your way into Canterbury's estate?"
"Her father's estate?" Guy asked.
"And maybe Richard's good graces. Have you told the Sheriff about Marguerite's connections?"
Guy glared at Hood. "And what would you know of Marguerite's connections?"
"A lot more than you," Hood smirked.
"I made sure Vaysey never knew she was more than John's friend and Canterbury's daughter. Anything else he may know he hasn't learned from me."
"So how much do you know?" Djaq asked since his answer was vague.
He wondered if this was some sort of truce as they seemed to be sitting in the same room and having a semi-civilized conversation. "I'll tell you what the sheriff knows about Marguerite and his plans for her family."
"On what conditions?" Robin asked curiously.
"You help me protect her here. You don't sneak her off to your camp when I'm gone, Hood."
"Only if Marguerite asks me to get her out of here," Robin nodded.
Guy nodded. "Marguerite told me she is cousin to Richard. I know her father, the Earl of Canterbury, was the late King Henry's brother. What Vaysey knows is that she is a good friend of John, he claims John is half in love with her. He also knows about the fact that Marguerite is the Earl of Kent…" he was interrupted as Robin choked on his water and Guy smirked. "Didn't know that, Hood?"
"In her own right?" Robin asked in shock. He saw Guy nod. "I thought Kent belonged to one of her brothers…"
"I don't know the particulars," Guy said, thinking how she never talked about her family except her father, nieces, and nephews. "And she was rather audacious in announcing it," he grinned, thinking about the ball several months ago.
"Yeah, well, Marguerite always did like to do things with flair," Robin agreed with a grin as he and the other outlaws took their leave.
"Am I the only one who thinks its weird we weren't chased out?" Much whispered.
Guy frowned over how well Robin seemed to know Marguerite, or think he knew her. He had a servant send up a dinner tray to Anne and Marguerite and wandered around the estate. Knowing Marguerite was here and would be seeing the condition of Locksley made him want to make it perfect in her eyes. Now he could see it how Robin must see it: destitute.
He thought back to what Tuck had said before. Things were never black and white. Not completely. Marguerite complicated everything, a skill she seemed to have honed. Hood was the outlaw, but he was also allied with Marguerite—they were both fighting to save her cousin's throne. If Guy wanted to help Marguerite, he had to keep her from the sheriff, which could possibly mean an alliance with the Sheriff.
He could let Marguerite sneak out of the shire and return home, never seeing her again. He probably should do that, but he couldn't. Somewhere in the last few months something had changed. The dynamics of their relationship hadn't, but how he felt towards her, and himself, had evolved. So letting her leave him was not an option.
He knocked on Marguerite's door and opened it slowly. Anne helped Marguerite into a sitting position and then showed herself out. A servant showed her to the room next to Marguerite's. Guy had ordered it to be prepared for Anne, his consideration surprising Anne a little bit. Maybe Marguerite was right about Guy.
"I hope you are a little better," Guy said as he straddled the chair.
"I'm not quite up to swimming in the lake yet," Marguerite said with a small smile.
"Robin seems to think he knows you well," Guy commented.
Marguerite snorted. "He knows some things… but he doesn't know me."
"I want to," Guy said honestly and he saw the surprise in Marguerite's eyes. "Why does that surprise you?"
"It just does. What do you wish to know?"
"Were you honest with me in the castle?" Guy asked.
"Everything I have ever told you, Guy, has been the truth," Marguerite insisted. It was true. While she may have withheld information—namely, Marion is alive—she went out of her way to make sure she always spoke the truth to Guy.
"What were you going to ask me yesterday?"
She averted her eyes. "It doesn't matter. You already made your choice."
He was puzzled over that. He didn't even know there was a choice to be had, so how could he have made up his mind? "Marguerite?" Perhaps it was allying with Hood against the sheriff.
"Was there something in particular?"
He frowned. "Your head must still be hurting you. I believe Eleanor and the Saracen left some herbs for you. I'll let you rest," he said standing.
It was as she was drifting off to sleep she realized he had come to her again like he did every evening in Nottingham.
"But mama!" Michel demanded.
"No complaints, little man," Hélène said sternly to her seven year old twins who were giving her matching expressions of horror and pain. It was difficult to deny either of the fey-like children anything, especially when they were together. Which was all the time. "This will be good for the two of you. You will not always be able to be together."
"But mama!" Marguerite pouted, tears clouding her normally bright eyes. "Must Michel go to London? Why can I not go with papa too?"
"It is something for just the boys, ma fey. We girls will have fun here waiting for their return," she promised. Before anyone could blink William had scooped up the boy in his strong arms and Hélène was holding back Marguerite. It took all her strength against the angry and frightened child. When she released her, Marguerite ran down the hall and reached the door as the carriage was pulling away from the castle and towards the gate.
"I'm sorry, ma fae. It is for the best," Hélène insisted, wiping away her daughter's tears.
Marguerite awoke from the memory surprised her eyes were dry. So many memories started flooding her mind. It was as if a dam had been broken, she couldn't stop the onslaught that she had successfully buried for 2 years.
She did what she always did, the only thing she could do—bury them. The sun began to rise and she managed to raise herself so she could watch the sunrise. The door softly opened and she saw Guy in the doorway. "I didn't want to wake you. I was going to ride to Nottingham, I just wanted to check on you."
"Thank you." He nodded and left.
Well, Marguerite, if you are back to pretending… she couldn't even finish the thought. There was no goal, no end point. Just a never ending trial.
I was waiting for more reviews, which is why there was such a delay with this chapter. Where has everyone gone?
Huge thanks to Fireheart93, Jessica, Momto5 for the lovely reviews! I am so glad you liked my 'light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel' scenes!