Spring sunshine was drenching Nottingham as lunchtime rolled around. Through the windows of Gisborne's chambers the light beamed in with a golden tint that bathed concentrated sections of the stone floor and highlighted dust particles teeming about in the air, giving Guy something to watch as he lounged. The Sherriff's associate still lie in bed in comfortable trousers wrapped up in a goose feather comforter. He had not exited his chambers, nor the bed, since he arrived home last night. There was far too much to do to worry about eating anything to break his fast; he had to come to a decision. The choice itself was not so hard, but convincing himself to do it was a trial of hellacious flames.
Even as a child, Guy wanted Marian for himself. Her round face, the soft curls, her rosy cheeks. Then she developed that blasted attitude – it was nothing but off putting. He has, however, put an incredible amount of time and money into keeping her. She did, however, punch him in the face at the altar. Guy kept finding that with every excuse he could find a wrong doing on her part that demanded he trade her in for a more affectionate girl; one, perhaps, like April. Marian was a liar. A manipulative cheat. An ugly lover in a beautiful disguise. Gisborne found himself wrestling with the truth that she did not love him at all, rather, she found him useful to her own needs with her father and the peasants. She probably enjoyed getting attention, too, but it was doubtful that she favored it in particular from him. Guy was well aware of this fact, but it is so easy to bargain and deny anything in your brain when you refuse to feel it in your heart.
Nobody could promise that a future were to develop with humble little April, though. Could he persuade himself to get up each day without her or Marian? What if he had no outlet to coax attention from? But was it worth the headache and sleepless nights over Lady Knighton? He was not thinking so anymore.
Guy eventually found his way into the wardrobe and then to the kitchen to fill his aching stomach that growled and yearned with famine. After a quickly dissolved bread and fruit, he was left wondering what to do with his day. All the matters at his camp had been taken care of ahead of schedule and, with heavy relief, Vesey was nowhere to be found. Guy regretted never having developed a hobby. He moseyed through the courtyard and wound up on the upper levels of Nottingham castle's outdoor mezzanine, sweeping his eyes past numerous guards and trying to focus on the little bit of vegetation that poked through pockets of the fortress. Time led Gisborne towards one of the doors to the ever atrocious dungeon where he noticed who else but Marian loitering. Guy rubbed his eyes and let out a heavy breath that drug out his energy and joy; time to scold her yet again for acting out of line.
"Marian." He gave with a very fatigued tone. The short girl scuffed a wide step away from the door and puckered her lips a bit to grease the cogs; it would not work.
"Sir Guy," she heavily said, "I am so glad you're here."
"I'm sure." He sourly replied. Lady Marian swallowed and searched his eyes to find that, unfortunately, ploys were not her best bet today. She told herself to keep it simple.
"It's just… well, I heard some cries and I wanted to ensure there was enough water for everyone."
"Marian, it is a dungeon. I sincerely hope there is crying," Guy's flatness made them both uncomfortable, "Why are you here?"
"I told you…" her eyes moved about and found their way to the floor. Gisborne rolled his.
"I don't want to see you here." He lowly demanded. Marian lightly scratched a part of her scalp and glanced away before putting a hand on his arm, just like April had. Hers, though, felt stiff and artificial. Signs of affection should not be routine or drill.
"Are you tired from your work in Nettlestone?" she attempted to drag his attention away before he accused her of trying to smuggle away the jail key, which may or may not have actually been the plan. Gisborne sharply tugged away his arm and folded it over his muscled chest like a bratty child.
"Stay away from here." Guy warned before breezing past her. Marian stood in the same place for a few moments before scurrying away from the dungeon; what was that? Sure, they had conversations before where he did not profess love, but that was rather clinical and cold. She found it quite peculiar. She wanted to believe that the strain of business had run him out but that didn't fit well enough to be comfortable. Could he really be that upset about finding her riding in the evening? After all, it was not nearly the first time. Maybe Vesey was chewing his hide today. Oh well, Marian thought with pure confidence that Robin Hood would find a way to spring the innocent prisoners somehow.
Back in her chambers Marian found time to remove her exceptionally heavy pair of gemstone earrings and toss them into a velvet box that held several fashion trinkets. As they plopped in, she swept aside a few pins to see a shining silver necklace that Guy had bestowed upon her shortly before the disastrous excuse for a wedding that had occurred. She could only recall wearing it once. It truly was beautiful and had to have cost a pretty penny or four, was it not stolen property. Marian fished it out and stroked the piece a few times before clasping it around her neck. Maybe this would cheer Gisborne up at supper. With a peek through the window she found that Guy was perched outside seated upon the stone wall of a walkway; she hated using him. Honestly, she did. Though he was awful at it, he was, in fact, a human being. She had even seen him grow up a few years ahead of herself. Marian could not help that all of her life her heart had been devoted to Robin and her mind captive to his brazen will and quality soul – it was who she was. Her chest felt briefly heavy with guilt before her mind turned to other matters in her own life, namely sorting through mail at the castle for any juicy tidbits to divulge to outlaws. She was unaware that her hold on Gisborne was completely gone.