Disclaimer: I do not own Robin Hood nor am I affiliated with BBC. Only OCs and plot post-season 2 belong to me

Chapter 45: Guy & Marion

"Much said he would take me for a ride, Gretchen!" Ygrainne said happily when the outlaws returned. "I saw you ride off with Uncle Will and it looked like fun," she said bouncing around excitedly.

Gretchen clearly looked surprised. "It is fun. You will like riding, hon. What else did you do?"

"We played hide and seek. Much says I am a good hider," she grinned proudly. Gretchen smiled back. Or Much is a good player, Gretchen thought. Their conversation was interrupted by Allan and Eleanor's bickering. They hadn't had a spat in several weeks, since Gretchen and Allan's conversation that one evening, and were long overdue in everyone's opinion.

"John and Robin spend more time with Tom than you do," Eleanor pointed out angrily.

"What do you want me to do with him? He isn't exactly easy to do anything with," Allan defended.

"Tom is your son!" she huffed as she stormed towards the entrance to the tent. It opened on its own as she got close and she stormed right past Guy, not caring how he found them. "You should have hung Allan when you had the chance," she said as she stormed into the forest.

"Would you like me to fix it now?" Guy friendly offered.

"I'm thinking about it," Eleanor said as she stormed past him.

Everyone was drawing weapons and suddenly Gretchen found Much and Marion standing before her and Ygrainne. Allan was terrified Eleanor had just walked into a trap and rushed out of the camp after her, not thinking about how the others would defend themselves. They could defend themselves. Eleanor had just walked out into who knew what. "I'm alone and unarmed," Guy said holding up his hands. "I just want to speak to Marion."

Everyone eyed Guy. "How did you find the camp?"

"Marguerite told me. She knows I just want to talk with Marion."

Marion touched Robin's shoulder. He nodded to Will and Djaq who did a quick look outside. "Only Allan and Eleanor are outside," they announced. Marion walked past Robin and Guy followed her.

"You're alive," Guy said. He couldn't pass it as a delusion. He was talking to her, he touched her shoulder. She was real.

"Yes. What do you want, Guy?"

"Why did you lie to me?" he asked.

"You tried to kill me, Guy. Who was to say you wouldn't try again? Or Vaysey?"

"I would never let him hurt you…"

"Really? You seemed intent before."

"You went from asking me to marry you and save Richard, to proclaiming your love for Robin! What was I suppose to feel but betrayal, Marion? I thought, at the very least, we were friends and you could learn to love me only to learn you were using me and betraying me at every corner!"

"It wasn't like that!" Marion insisted. "There was a part of you Guy that I did love, that I did befriend. But the sheriff was corrupting you more each day. And whatever I did feel for you, Guy, I have always loved Robin."

"Why hide from me? Why now? Robin and I had a truce."

"Had? You are breaking the truce?"

"No," he shook his head. "Although I can't say I'm surprised if you really think so little of me."

"I don't. As I've told Robin, I want you to be happy, Guy. I wanted you to nurture that part of you I did befriend. There was a part of you that was good. I saw it, even Allan, Eleanor, and Gretchen have seen it. Why else would Eleanor not think of you as a threat?"

"Why not tell me yourself before now that you were alive? Why keep hiding yourself?" Guy demanded.

"You know Robin is overprotective. Plus, I didn't want to interfere between you and Marguerite. As much as I loathed Marguerite, I could see she was able to get through to you in ways I never could. She is good for you, Guy, and I didn't want you to get me mixed up with her."

"You were already mixed up in this, Marion. This whole time I thought I killed you, your murder haunting me. Do you think that was easy as it lay between me and Marguerite?" he asked. "You loathed Marguerite?" he asked with a laugh. "That's fitting since she loaths you."

"Well, I wasn't very accommodating when she first arrived as Robin's bride," Marion sneered. "But I am happy the two of you have each other, Guy. Don't lose or hurt her," she warned.

**** ****

Marguerite sat in the saddle, overlooking the scene. She could only imagine what had happened inside the camp when Guy arrived. Allan and Eleanor seemed to be over their squabble and were watching the two nobles. "Marguerite?" Anne asked. "Do you wish to return now?"

"No, I don't want to go back to Locksley," she decided as they turned back to the path. Anne didn't know if she meant right now, or ever. Hopefully if it was ever, Marguerite had a plan to send for Anne's new husband. They rode for a bit until they came across Tuck. "Hello, My lady," he called out.

"Tuck! How are you?" Marguerite asked. It hadn't even been a day since they last saw each other but she was happy to see his cheerful countenance.

"Good. Colin just sent word that you and the rest need to hear immediately."

"You are in luck. Guy is at the camp," Marguerite said. They kept their horses at a walk as they followed Tuck. When they arrived at camp it was to find that Guy had returned to Locksley. "We will get him, then," Marguerite decided.

"We could just follow you into Locksley. No reason we can't have a meeting there," Robin decided.

"Are you angry at me, mon archer?" Marguerite wondered.

"It would have to had come out sometime," Robin grumbled. "At least, that's what Marion insists. And with her reasoning, I can't be angry at you." Marguerite rose an eyebrow. "Marion says I am not allowed to be angry with you," Robin confessed sheepishly.

"Listen to your wife, mon archer," Marguerite grinned but it didn't quite reach her eyes.

Before they could clear Sherwood, though, Robin grabbed her bridle to keep her from trotting out. "What?" Marguerite asked.

"The sheriff is there," Robin said softly.

"I hope he doesn't know already," Tuck said angrily.

Marguerite's eyes narrowed at the party infront of Locksley Manor. She slapped Robin's hand away, backed her horse up, and crept along the edge of the forest before she lowered her horse into a crouching position, covered by the shrubbery.

Her eyes followed every move Vaysey's companion made with clear malice.

*** ***

Guy walked into the Manor house only to find a moment later guards were riding into Locksley with the Sheriff in the lead. "Anne? Marguerite?" he called out.

"They left earlier, my lord," a servant informed him. He would look for her after the sheriff left. He was just glad she was already out of harms way.

Vaysey breezed in. "When you said you need to make improvement upon Locksley I didn't think you were in earnest," he said as he took a goblet of wine a servant offered. "Here I was concerned you were no longer interested in any of the pretty faces I tossed your way and I discover you have simply turned your attention to this," he gestured.

"You have come far, my lord. Surely not to check on my estate."

"You spend so much time here one begins to wonder what is really going on," Vaysey muttered.

"You didn't seem to approve when my pastime was filled with Marion or Marguerite, now you don't approve when I direct my attention to my estate."

"At least you showed signs of life with that sassy one. Now you are back to the way you were after Marion's demise."

"Why let something as inconsequential as a woman get in my way? I thought you would approve."

"Ah, so you are finally coming to your senses and learning something after all our time together. No, the real reason I came here was what our new friend, Granger, has just informed me of. Come," he said leading the way out to find privacy. "It seems our dear King has finally made peace and is coming home."

"How can we trust his information?" Guy asked dubiously. "I have never seen him before."

"Yes, I dare say you have missed a lot while wallowing here," Vaysey gestured. "Have you not heard what I said? The King is coming to England."

"What do we do now?" Guy asked. "We still have plenty of men on the south coast."

"If he has the misfortune of getting that far. No, Guy. I have something much better in place that will keep fingers pointed elsewhere," Vaysey emphasized by gesturing away from him in both directions.

The outlaws were watching from the forest. "He looks too happy for my taste," Gretchen drawled as they studied the group. They kept looking at Marguerite who looked like she would charge out like Boudica at any moment.

"He looks downright gleeful," Robin agreed. "This doesn't bode well."

"It looks like he has learned what Colin told me to tell you," Tuck decided. He waited for Marguerite to return before announcing: "Richard has made peace and is returning home."

Everyone stared at him dumbfounded. "Then I must return to Normandy," Marguerite decided as she rejoined them. "Soon," she whispered dangerously.

"Richard's coming home, Marguerite," Robin said.

"He considers Normandy home, Robin. I dare say that is where Ellie is throwing him his returned feast. All I can say is thank the lord they settled the war without me," she said under breath. She knew she was a bargaining chip, she was the last unmarried royal woman connected to Normandy, England, and France.

"There is more. Colin said a meeting was being called at Blue Water Bend. He said you would understand what I mean," Tuck added. Marguerite nodded. They waited for nearly an hour before Vaysey finally left.

Will and Allan followed to ensure he was well on his way to Nottingham before they left Sherwood. Guy was leading his horse out and was making his way as if he was heading back to the camp when he ran into everyone. "We've got problems."

"Tell us something we don't know," Marguerite said striding past. He looked confused as everyone returned to the manor house. Everyone was sitting around in the parlor again. Marguerite wondered if they realized how quickly they were becoming comfortable around each other.

Guy quickly told them what the sheriff had said. "It is what Tuck came to tell us," Robin nodded. "Colin and John already know this."

"Here's something they don't know. Vaysey is planning for Richard to have an 'accident' and die between here and the Holy Lands. He has a naval ship that is sympathetic to the black knights, and he has friends throughout. He has plans for whether the King returns by land or sea."

"Can we get word to Richard?" Marion asked.

Marguerite listened to all the discussion going on around her. Her interest was peaked when she heard Guy say Vaysey wanted him to secure Colin's alliance and money. It at least kept him away from Vaysey for a few days.

She hadn't realized everyone had stopped talking, she was lost in thought. "Marguerite," Robin grinned. "Entertain us. Will you sing for us?"

Marguerite stared at him. He doesn't know, everyone else knows better than to ask… "You are just wanting to embarrass me in front of your friends," she chided.

Robin thought it was part of her game, she always declined at first he remembered. "I am the only one who has been lucky enough to hear you. I know you would have an attentive audience."

"There is no accompaniment," she said offhandedly.

He frowned. He remembered she was happy to entertain her friends. "That didn't stop you before."

"I don't sing any more, Robin." Her tone was final. Marion watched the exchange and could see the surprise in Robin's eyes. Marguerite excused herself and Marion followed after her. "We haven't really been able to get to know each other," Marion spoke up.

"I have heard plenty of things about you," Marguerite said candidly making Marion flinch. Marguerite sighed. "Forgive me, today has been taxing and there are several things on my mind."

"Robin told me of his time in London. I'm sorry our first meeting was so unpleasant," Marion said trying to be nice.

"He talked of you all the time," Marguerite said startling Marion. "That first evening in London Robin spent hours pestering me about his betrothed back home. I wouldn't have called it love, not then. But you could tell from the way he talked about you he cared for you and respected you deeply. In Paris, I could notice a change in him. It seemed the longer and further he was away from you made him realize that his affections ran deeper than he realized."

Marion grinned under the attention. "He fawned over you. I could see in the way he talked about you that he fancied himself half in love with you."

Marguerite waved it off. "You get use to it. Most everyone fancies themselves half in love with me. You quickly learn it is nothing more than illusion and that most want only what would come as my dowry. Robin, though, was different. He didn't want any of my land or titles. He didn't even know what being a Capet meant when we first met. It was refreshing and I enjoyed his companionship. I didn't want anything else, even when Richard sent me here."

"Are you afraid that is all Guy sees is your land and titles?"

"You and I both know that is what he wants."

"I thought you saw the best part of Guy," Marion accused.

"Like I said, I have many other things on my mind at the moment," Marguerite excused.

"Robin will work tirelessly for Richard," Marion said. "Vaysey will be stopped."

"Vaysey isn't the only one I am worried about." She saw Marion's startled look. "Richard has a few other kings who would like to see him dethroned. And John, dear dear John, likes to break bad news in person," she sighed. That was what she was dreading was seeing what was so important to call a meeting here and now.

"Marion!" Robin called out.

"He really did want to hear you sing again. He never mentioned it before now, it was something he hid from me. I think … well, if I had to guess, it is what made him fall in love with you in the first place."

Marguerite smiled. "Only half in love, remember?" she grinned.

Robin came in. "We're heading back. We'll be back tomorrow," he told Marguerite who nodded.

Marguerite headed upstairs to the upper parlor. "Anne, I shall be leaving before dawn. Can you inform the stable boy to have my horse ready early?" Anne nodded and went out as Guy walked in. "What's going on?" he asked.

"I have matters to attend to."

"Marguerite, why are you pushing me away?"

"Why should you stay?" she countered. "You can finally decide what you want, Guy, with full disclosure."

She slammed the door on him. She didn't know what Guy would decide now that he knew Marion was alive. And she cared too much to watch him choose someone else.

At least she had something to occupy herself. She had a murder to plan.

HUGE thanks to all my reviewers! Fireheart93 (thanks!!!!) Vintage20000 (Thanks! Guy is hard to write at times, glad to know I got it right!) starry-eyed-peoples (Marguerite was extremely upset with Guy, and this type of secret would have come out eventually, so she wants him to choose her knowing Marion is still alive. She trusts Guy enough with the secret--even if Robin doesn't!) and Wasting Your Gum (Definitely the longest review for this story! I LOVED it! I was worried about the drag in the middle but couldn't come up with a way around it. John does seem to get left out (not with me!) and I want to put him with someone, the question is who... I have a couple of ideas, but do you see him with anyone in particular? I haven't watched season 3 so I don't know if there is anyone in that season to pair him with. I'm open to suggestions! There is a little bit with Tuck's past, not sure when though. Thanks for the review!!!!)