Sorry for the delay have been working on a Dragon Age 2 story with Fenris because he is awesome, but that's no excuse so here is the next chapter. Enjoy!

Chapter 9,

Strength,

"Kate listen to me…you have to try and escape…the guards are coming for you." He informed,

"How do you know?" She nearly demanded,

"Don't ask questions, just try and get away, save yourself." He insisted,

"No." Was her flat reply,

"What do you mean…do you have any idea what they can do to you if allowed?" He demanded, anger filling his voice, why did everyone try and push him away when he tried to help,

"No I'm not going to leave you, it's my fault you're here, and now that I am I can help Robin rescue you from the inside." She explained,

Guy was going to reply to that with a choice come back, but they were interrupted by the swinging open of the dungeon door, and the clanking of chain mail armored guards, coming for Kate, or both of them. There were two guards, and one was already fumbling with the lock on the cell door, they both then stood intimidatingly, eyeing the female prisoner.

"First time I saw such a pretty prisoner, in a long while now, this must be a gift from God." One of them said, while Kate rose to her feet to glare daggers at them,

"Don't you dare touch her." Guy ordered, as he made a feeble attempt to rise to his feet without success,

"And what are you going to do about it?" The other guard mocked, and he was right there was nothing Guy could do but throw around idle threats,

"Comeon missy how about a kiss?" The first man asked,

He made an advance on Kate, while violently grabbing her wrists so she couldn't get away from him, but she screamed and struggled instead, he then reacted by pulling her so close to him that she was nearly winded. Pulling her head back, by grabbing her hair, he forced Kate to look him in the eyes, she reacted by spitting in his face, but all that merited was a hard back-handed slap across her face, and if it wasn't for the vice like grip he had on her wrists she would have fallen over.

He then drew her back, and forcefully pressed his mouth against hers, and that was all the additional willpower Guy needed, before a pulse of adrenaline ran through his body, causing him to temporarily forget his pain, and rise to his feet shakily. He steadied himself against the wall; just as he watched the guard, grind himself into Kate while slamming her up against the wall behind her, which caused her to emit a high-pitched muffled moan, as her lips were still being assaulted.

His blood was at boiling point, images of his mother falling in love with Malcolm haunted him, so he placed a hand to his forehead, as he closed his eyes to stop the torment. Suddenly his eyes flashed open, and he withdrew his hand, the lithe form of Kate was the only thing he saw in his now blinkered vision, so he then stalked the up on the men.

He grabbed a hold of the guard who was assaulting Kate, by the shoulders, and spun him around, then with as much strength as he could muster, he struck him in the face, the metal helping with the force. He fell onto his back striking his head against the iron bars, and the other guard who had become more proactive with his captive, was next in Guy's sight, he just kept at Kate as if, he didn't see his friend get attacked.

He spun this one around by the shoulders as well, but he literally had to yank him off her, and when he did, he kicked the man in the groin, and instantly he buckled over, and when he had he received a knee to the chest, and the slamming of his head against the bars like his friend. He then grabbed Kate around the waist, and buried her back into his chest, now staining her dress with the blood that was flowing amply from his shoulder, once again.

He slowly moved backwards, one arm gently but firmly encircling her waist, while the other hand felt behind him for the wall, he rested his quivering body against it not trusting himself to remain upright. Kate noticed his breathing was constant and steady, almost as if his every effort was being put into controlling its rhythm, but she knew he had to be exhausted after that, so she didn't fight him.

He stood there eyes peering like an eagle, as he watched the two guards rise to their feet and stagger out licking their wounds, even when they were out of sight he still held her protectively, as if he expected them to come back. She didn't mind how Gisborne held her, because at the moment she felt anything but safe, and being in his capably strong arms made her feel safe, after a while she turned and buried her head in his bare chest, as he towered over her.

As the adrenaline faded from his body, he soon became aware of his newly found pain and this caused his body, to shake like a leaf on a tall oak tree, being batted about by the wind. Kate could feel him quivering, regardless of how gently he stroked the back of her head, and soon she found that his skin changed to a deathly cold temperature, it was a wonder he managed to stay on his feet for this long.

"Sssshhh…" He soothed shakily, as he felt her begin to cry, "It's over now I'm not going to let anything happen to you." He assured,

After a few moments of them being poised together Gisborne couldn't take it anymore, he had to get off his feet, it was killing him, so with her help, and he leaned his back against the cold stone wall, while still holding her in his arms. Kate had never seen this side of Guy before, was this how he acted with Marian, and if that was the case, then why Marian didn't love him instead of Robin was odd, was his employer the only thing holding her back?

After Guy helped her wipe the tears from her eyes, he lifted her chin gently so that she would look at him.

"Do you still doubt my loyalty…I could have easily let them have their way with you…even though I wouldn't permit it." He asked,

"I am sorry, I didn't know your intentions with us were as real as I have just witnessed." She apologized,

"All I wanted from you was the cleansing of my name, to make it stand for something, to restore what it used to stand for." He explained,

"Then I will make sure you get that chance, Robin is going to rescue you, and Madison and Isabella are both telling him what they know, because she came to us earlier in the tavern, disguised as her assassin ego." Kate assured,

"I just hope they can get to us in time because I know how we are to be executed." He said,

"How?" She asked, both asking how he knew, and how they were going to die,

"You wouldn't believe me if I told…and if I told you how we were going to die, you would wish I didn't tell you." He said in a riddle,

"You're not going to tell me anything…why?" She asked,

"Because I don't think I could put it into words." He simply replied, while caressing her left arm, this caused him to grimace and she noticed,

"How about I make it up to you…come on let me see how badly you're injured." She insisted,

He allowed her to lean him against her chest, to examine his whips marks, that were thankfully scabbing over, and the flowing shoulder wound, there was a ripping sound from behind him, before he realized she had torn off a part of her skirt to use it as a bandage. That thought made him smile on the inside.

Meanwhile Justin and Madison were enjoying an intimate moment together, as they trotted their horses, down the rode to somewhere Justin was intent on taking her. His horse was a fine war horse, in fact she had never seen one like it before, because all of the other horses were black's and bays, but his was beautiful.

The horses coat was a golden, orange color, which shone in the sunlight, because he always personally maintained his own horse brushing the hair so it looked like silk in the sunshine. It had a black mane and tail, with shaded black stocking that came down from the knees, and its two back legs had two white socks covering the black.

It had a black muzzle, with spots of pink where the blaze had descended onto its nose, from its forehead; Madison found it hard to keep her eyes diverted from the beast for very long because its beauty was mesmerizing. And his rider seemed to just float along as one with his horses movement, Justin soon found that she was looking at his horse, and began to study hers.

Her horse was a lovely palomino piebald, the top half of its mane was an orange color that then dropped off into white, while its tail was completely white, and her white saddle appeared Angelic. His eyes then locked onto her face, she wore simple jewelry at the moment, which was studded with rubies, complimented by a silk, garnet colored dress, which seemed to blend into her honey orange hair, and green eyes.

She also chanced a glance at Justin, and soon found that they were starring at each other, they quickly diverted their eyes to the road ahead, and surrounding scenery until Justin spoke.

"We shouldn't be much farther from what I want to show you, it's best seen at this time of the day." He explained,

"I am eager to see what you are kidnapping me for." She admitted, as she felt her cheeks warm,

"Kidnapping you was permitted by the royal highness." He teased,

"I was gladly whisked away I assure you." She said, before the atmosphere fell into a comforting silence, as Madison steered her horse closer to Justin's,

Soon he signaled for them to stop, Madison looked around to see that they had stopped in the forest, basically in the middle of nowhere, Justin soon dismounted and an uncomfortable feeling washed over her. She had always known him to be gentle and disciplined, but what if he decided he was through with waiting, and being patient, what if he wanted to make an advance on her?

The feeling soon subsided when he grabbed his saddle bags, and then walked over to Madison to offer her a hand down, she readily accepted, but she was startled when a blindfold was placed over her eyes and then secured behind her head. Justin noticed her sudden tension and lowered his mouth to her ear.

"Trust me." He droned, he then felt her body relax; after that he then took her hand in his and lead her into the forest, while he held the reins to the horses in the other,

"Where are we going?" She finally asked,

"You'll see." He replied mysteriously,

"Would my brother approve?" She asked teasingly,

"Of course…but then again would he approve of you hanging around the likes of me since you are of noble birth?" He questioned,

"You have an excellent point." She admitted, as she allowed herself to continue being led through the forest, with horses in tow,

Finally they stopped and he told her to open her eyes, when she did she saw the beautiful setting before her, it was lovely the way the sun reflected off the water of the large lake she stood in front of and gleamed like liquid gold. There was no other place she would rather be right now, the position of the sun was perfect, she knew Justin was counting on this, and so she smiled to herself.

"Do you like it?" He asked,

"It's beautiful thank you for taking me here." She replied gratefully,

"There's also something else I want to show you." He said, as motioned for her to join him in sitting on a firm log,

"What is it?" She asked,

"Well I know your brother is holding a feast tonight, and I was wandering if you would accept a gift that I wish to present to you." He answered,

"Of course you don't have to ask for my permission if you want to give me something you think I would like." She scolded playfully,

"Well I have some jewelry that I wanted to give you and I was wandering if you would consider putting it on for the feast." He explained, as he handed her a small velvet tapestry covered box,

She carefully opened the hinged top and gazed at what was held inside, it was a complete set of jewelry, it had a diamond ring, a diamond necklace, and diamond earrings, she was overwhelmed.

"I cannot possibly accept this gift the expense would be to high." She said,

"There is no expense this is one of the things I still have after my mother died, these were things that she held dear to her, and my feelings for you allow me to part with a sad memory, and replace with something new." He explained,

"I don't know what to say." She admitted,

"Just say that you will wear them tonight so when I stand guard on the door tonight I will see how they look on you." He encouraged,

"Alright I will." She accepted, as they then moved slowly toward each other and engaged in a tender kiss,

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