Chapter 9
A Trap
While Robin was recovering in the King's camp, Guy was confined to his lonely cell. The welts on his back were gradually healing, but he still underwent a regular examination; Legrand permitted the doctor to visit the dangerous prisoner every day. Guy spent his time staring at the ceiling of his cell, waiting for Robin to come. He resolved to bear his burdens with dignified silence.
Dungeons were everywhere around Guy, and it drove him to the edge of his sanity. Guy tried to think about the happy days of his life, when he was the happiest of all men in the world – when his parents had been alive and before his father had gone to fight in the Holy Land. Yet, even those memories didn't give him pleasure.
Guy tried to guess how Locksley would execute him, for he didn't believe that there was the way out of the prison. Yet, there was some hope in his heart after Robin's words spoken during his last visit. And he was ready to cooperate, to tell Robin everything about Sheriff Vaisey and the Black Knights. Somehow, even power didn't interest him as much as it had interested him before. He could smell death in the air and hear only curses of his soul to celebrate his death instead of lamentations of his mourners; he believed that he was too wicked to be mourned by anyone, for Vaisey had done everything to have his protégé damned to perpetual burning in hell.
On the fifth day after Robin's visit, the guards notified Guy that Captain Locksley wished to interrogate him. The guards rudely pulled Guy to his feet and dragged him out of the dungeons and then out of the building of the prison. Guy was happy to look at the sky with the setting sun that blazed like a huge red orb, slowly disappearing beneath the horizon. Guy was delighted to see even at the yellow sand, if only he could avoid looking at the stone walls of his prison for some time. Yet, there was a strange turmoil within his head, as if a foreshadowing of a catastrophe.
As the guards dragged him somewhere, Guy could see a road curving down the side of the sandy hill. He wondered where he was led for interrogation, for he was puzzled that Robin didn't come to his cell like he had done five days ago. Guy could see a row of tents ahead, and soon they stopped near one of the tents. The guards checked the shackles on Guy's wrists and his ankles, and then Sir James of Kent approached the masked Saracen from the back.
"We will need to talk after your interrogation," James of Kent whispered into Guy's ear.
Guy shot an alarmed glance at James. "What happened?"
"Later," James barked, then pushed Guy ahead. "Now go to Robin."
Guy entered the tent and stopped at the entrance. He swept his eyes over the tent that was richly furnished with some beautiful pieces of furniture, expensive hangings, and a pile of soft silk pillows scattered on the Turkish carpet that lay on the ground. Guy realized that it had to be Robin's tent: it definitely couldn't be a tent of a common soldier – it had to be a tent of a royal favorite.
Guy felt his body shaking in fear as he stared at Robin who stood in the corner of the tent; he wasn't looking at Guy, his gaze fixed on the blade of his unsheathed scimitar which he was holding in his hands. Robin was dressed in a white Crusader tunic and black flat pants, but he didn't wear chainmail that could have caused much pressure on his torso and hurt his healing wound.
Robin swung around to face Guy. "Come in, my dear masked Saracen." He flashed a smile as he studied Guy closely. "Now you look like Guy of Gisborne, not like a disguised Saracen assassin."
Guy hated Robin's ability to always have fun, which his enemy possessed since childhood. "And you look like…" He trailed off, trying to find right words to throw a nasty barb at Robin.
"Yeah, I look like the Captain of the King's Private Guard," Robin retorted with a brilliant smile. He looked down at his sword; then his gaze slid to Guy. "You shouldn't mock me, Gisborne. You have never possessed a sense of wit, and your recent adventures in Acre seem to have deprived you of your last sense of humor, which, I'm sorry to say, you have also never had in abundance."
Guy absolutely despised Robin at that moment. "Want to humiliate me, Locksley?"
Robin chuckled. "I'm merely stating the fact, Gisborne."
Guy laughed. "And you always were dryly humorous – so humorous that all nobles in Nottingham considered you inappropriate to be an heir of the Earl of Huntingdon."
Robin took a step forward and seated himself into the chair. Leaning back against his chair, he stared at Guy, holding himself rigid as he fought to bring his emotions under control; he gripped tightly the hilt of his scimitar. "And you always envied me, Gisborne. I was a disobedient and noisy child, but everyone loved me for my mischievous ways. I always had fun." A small smile tugged at his lips. "Children sought my company, while they avoided you because you were somber and dull, though I agree that you were a well-behaved lad, at least in public."
"At least everyone considered me a serious young man until your father and you ruined my life," Guy answered gruffly. "You never deserved what you have, Locksley. You never deserved lofty titles and wealth you have. You are a worthless man – worthless of everything you have."
Robin laughed. "And are you a better man than I'm, Gisborne?" He raised his sword and pointed it at Guy. "You traveled to Acre and organized the raid on the King's camp." His eyes were full of disdain, his sword still pointed at the raven-haired man. "During the attack, you behaved so knightly that you stabbed me from the back in the darkness, not in an honorable fight." His gaze turned hateful. "And then you ran to the King's tent and almost killed the King."
Guy smirked darkly. "But I didn't kill the King."
Robin put his scimitar on the table. "You failed because I stopped you."
Guy gave Robin a contemptuous glance. "You are so full of yourself and so proud! You always show off your archery skills, like on the night when I was almost hanged for your mischief."
To Guy's astonishment, Robin didn't make a jest of him. He shook his head, his expression almost guilty. "I was not right when I allowed them to think that your arrow wounded the priest." He let out a sigh of frustration. "But I learned my lesson, and I became a better man."
Guy looked perplexed, for he didn't expect that Robin would ever openly acknowledge his guilt. "A better man?" he exclaimed in disbelief. "You cannot become a better man, Locksley. You are a spoiled brat, arrogant and full of yourself. You are a hypocrite through and through."
"I never lied after that case with an arrow," Robin declared, his voice high and tight. "And I don't care what you think about me because I don't respect you, and your opinion means nothing to me."
"A hypocrite," Guy reiterated.
"I'm not a liar," Robin reiterated with annoyance. "And I'm not as cruel as you are."
Guy's eyes challenged Robin. "At times, we do things we don't want to do because we want to survive."
Robin shrugged. "Did you need to attempt regicide in order to survive?"
Guy bowed his raven-haired head. "I… I…" He truly didn't know what to say.
"I see." Robin suspected why Guy had tried to take his liege's life, and he loathed all those who sold their soul for privileges and power. "You were cruel in childhood. I remember the moment when I saw you in the forest with a small rabbit you held in your hands." He sighed. "You twisted the neck of that rabbit. I was a child, and I was terrified of your actions."
Guy gave Robin a look of unfeigned surprise; he didn't think that Robin remembered that case. "The brave Captain Locksley fears something, doesn't he?"
"Do I need to explain to you that you cannot quarrel with me?" Robin's voice was low and harsh. "If you continue behaving in the same way, I will feel sorry for you because you will feel solitude and pain twice as heavily as you have already felt since you were captured."
Guy bit his bottom lip, trying to conqueror his emotions. He hated Robin at that minute more than he had hated him during the days of his imprisonment in Acre. He hated that Robin had such a great power over him. He hated that Robin could kill him on the spot or could condemn him to the most brutal death. An agitated, troubled mind ceased to reason, and he felt that he was unable to control a feeling of dread gripping his heart. His rationality was carried away by a resistless torrent of anger and hatred, and he was so full of malignity that he had forgotten the reality again.
"Calm down and take a seat there, Gisborne," Robin offered calmly, as if he were reading Guy's thoughts. He pointed at the chair near the entrance. "I'm not going to kill you; at least not now."
Guy sat down, relieved that he wouldn't have to stand on his feet. "And then will you kill me, Locksley? Will you order your men to kill me or will you do that by your own hand?"
"You know, Gisborne, I'm really surprised now," Robin admitted thoughtfully. "You seem to know a lot about my reputation in the Holy Land. And yet, you prefer to ignore some facts about me which even the Saracens acknowledge." He smiled a little sadly; he didn't consider the Saracens his enemies. "The Saracens say that I am a chivalrous and kind man because I never let my men slaughter women and children. They also say that they can believe Captain Locksley's word."
"I have no reason to believe that you will help me, Locksley."
"Yet, you should believe me," Robin fired back, looking at Guy, "because now I'm the only man who stands between the King's order to execute you and your continuing imprisonment." He grinned devilishly. "I just think that you may be more useful alive than dead. And I can always murder you later if I want to do that."
"I will cooperate," Guy stated, gazing at Robin with eyes darkening in rage, "but not because I want to be obliged to you, Locksley."
"I know. You want to save your miserable life."
"You would not do that if you were in my shoes, would you?"
"I would have never been in such a dire situation, Gisborne."
"What do you mean?"
"I'm not a traitor. I would have never tried to kill my King. I'm not you."
Guy frowned. "You could have been me if you had been banished from Locksley with nothing – even without clothes and a penny in your pocket."
"I will say this only once," Robin said in a distant voice; he averted his gaze. "I did a wrong thing when I allowed Bailiff Longthorn to chase you and Isabella away from Locksley." He turned to Guy. "But I hated you for murdering my father, and I wanted you out of Locksley and out of my sight."
Guy looked shocked, and then shock evolved into amazement. "Is it another trick of yours?"
"No, Gisborne." Robin glanced away, staring into the flames of the flickering torch. "This is one of the few reasons why I haven't ordered yet to execute you like a dog, though only God knows how much I'm tempted to end your life here and now."
"You are a liar," Guy fired back automatically, unable to believe what he heard. He had always had an image of another Robin in his mind, and Robin's honesty shocked him to the core.
"You may say whatever you want," Robin shot back. "I gave you a chance to survive, and if you want to live, you will use it." At last, he turned to Guy. "Otherwise, you will be hanged, drawn, and quartered." His voice was rather melancholic. "But maybe you still have some conscience left."
"I will tell you everything." Hope that maybe his life wasn't cursed yet revived in Guy's heart.
As Guy finished his tale, Robin was silent for a long moment. His eyes blazed, and then, with great effort, he mastered his anger and leaned back in his seat with arms folded over his chest. "I fear to imagine what I will find in my lands if you were the overlord of Locksley for so many years." He released a sigh of exasperation. "Everything you told me is disgusting and deplorable."
"I told you the truth," Guy declared.
"I believe you."
"What will happen to me now?"
Robin smiled tiredly. "I will keep my word, Gisborne. I will speak with the King for you." Not giving Guy time to say anything else, Robin called James who emerged at the entrance to the tent. "James, take the masked Saracen to his cell. All my previous instructions remain in full force."
James nodded slowly. "Everything will be done exactly as you wish, Robin. Don't worry about anything," he said, bowing his head in obedience.
ææææææ
Two guards entered the tent and grabbed Guy's shoulders. Guy had no time to say anything to Robin as the King's men started dragging him out of the tent in the direction of the prison. The sun already was low, and it wasn't long before the darkness engulfed the city of Acre. James of Kent was walking together with Guy and his captors, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. And then Guy heard the sound of the thump, as though something or someone had tumbled to the ground.
Guy looked around, and his eyes locked with James'. "What the hell is going on?" He turned his head and saw two unconscious guards lying on the sand. "Why did you knock them out?" He understood nothing; his head was spinning, anxiety overcame him.
James plastered a smile on his face. "We are escaping, Gisborne."
"Why? Why now?" Guy asked, greatly confused. "What is going on?"
"King Richard won't listen to Robin," James announced with a grim expression. "He will execute you in any case. He will execute us together if we don't escape right now."
"Damn King Richard! Damn Locksley!" Guy fumed.
"We must go! Now! Now!" James cried out.
Guy shook his head. "Yes, let's leave this damned place."
Unfortunately, the wheels of fate turned against both Guy and James. They were not destined to run away from the camp tonight. They heard the voices and the steps of approaching King's men. Then Legrand's loud voice gave a deathly command in Norman-French.
"Fire! Fire!" Legrand's shrilling voice resonated. "Traitors are escaping!"
The King's men released a hail of arrows at Guy and James, who were then surrounded from all the sides. One of the arrows struck James in the neck, and he fell dead, paying for high treason in a way King Richard had decided to punish him. Another arrow struck Guy in his chest, and he staggered backwards, giving an inhuman howl of pain; then his tall frame tumbled to the sand.
Guy had never felt such a horrible pain before. A sharp pain slashed through his chest, and he felt his mouth filling with the sea of blood, which he had to swallow in order not to choke with the hot red liquid, tart and sticky. He was sure that an arrow punctured his lungs. His vision was blurred, and the series of brilliant colors through gradations of orange, yellow, green, blue, and indigo to violet ones flashed in his mind. He was struggling with all his energy and strength left to stand up and make another attempt to escape, but he failed; he could neither move nor breathe.
King Richard and Legrand stood in several steps from where Guy and James had fallen. Their faces were devoid of emotions as they swept their eyes over the bodies of the two traitors. Other guards stood near them, waiting for the lion's orders and looking at the body of James, their faces revealing horror mingled with amazement; they were shocked to discover James' true allegiances.
"It is dreadful – dreadful – that Sir James of Kent tried to help the masked Saracen escape," Richard said in the voice that resembled something between nervous laughter and tears of sorrow. "I have never thought that James could have ever betrayed his King."
Legrand nodded gravely. "James deserved his death."
"Yes," the King agreed, his heart wounded by James' betrayal. "James disappointed us."
"Gisborne seems to be alive," Legrand noticed as he noticed the movement of Guy's legs.
Richard leaned closer to Legrand. "Did you do what I asked?" he murmured into Legrand's ear.
"Of course, sire," Legrand whispered. "Adam shot James and Gisborne with poisoned arrows."
The King smiled with a mirthful smile. "Today was a good day. Two traitors caught in one trap."
The lion's words brought uproarious merriment from Legrand. He laughed until everything in the air seemed to rattle and quiver. "It is done. Robin is free from this worm."
Richard gazed at Guy's twitching limbs. "Not exactly. Gisborne will be finished in several hours."
"Yes, milord."
"Legrand, please take care of these traitors," the King instructed.
Legrand bowed his head. "As you command, my liege." He shouted orders to take the bodies of Guy and James to the building of the prison, and then he hurried to other guards.
King Richard regarded the scene indifferently; he got what he wanted, and he was satisfied. "Now you are safe from this man, Robin," he thought. "We can be sure that he won't kill you from the back." Then he turned around and regally walked away, with five guards trailing behind him.
The King didn't like what he had done, but he had accepted the inevitable outcome of Robin's old conflict with Guy. It was better for Robin to think that Guy had died during his foolish escape from the Crusaders' camp; Robin didn't need to know the grotesque truth about the true identity of the culprit who had trapped two traitors on the same day. Robin didn't need to know that the King had done everything to protect him from Guy. Richard didn't need Guy and loathed him wholeheartedly, but he needed and loved Robin very much. And now his Robin was safe.
As soon as Robin heard shouts of alarm outside, he jumped to his feet and stormed out of his tent. He stopped at the entrance, looking around and trying to understand what had happened. At first, he thought that the Saracens had attacked the camp, but then he heard the conversation of several guards who were involved in a heated discussion about the attempt of Sir James of Kent and Sir Guy of Gisborne to run away; it was the last thing Robin had expected to hear.
Robin approached the group of the guards who relapsed into silence at the sight of their Captain and bowed to him in respect. "What happened here?" Robin demanded impatiently.
"Robin, I can answer your questions," Legrand offered as he appeared near the other guards, who looked relieved that they wouldn't have to explain to their Captain what had just happened.
Robin stared at James, his expression as hard as granite. "What of your report, Legrand?"
"The masked Saracen tried to escape assisted by Sir James of Kent," Legrand announced.
Robin's expression turned incredulous. "James?"
"You didn't mishear Legrand, Robin," the King declared. He emerged next to Legrand and the King's guards, each of whom bowed their heads very low at the sight of the monarch. Richard waved his hand, dismissing everyone from their bows. "James of Kent, our old friend and your second-in-command, was a foul traitor who was bought by the Black Knights and betrayed us."
Robin lowered his head, but in a brief moment, he raised his eyes to the King. He stood in wide-eyed amazement, looking at his liege, his mind racing in an attempt to find an explanation for the recent events. It was difficult to believe that James of all the King's men was a traitor. "So James was the spy who made the Saracen attack undetected," he concluded.
"Yes," Richard confirmed.
There was sadness in Robin's blue eyes. "The thought that James can be the traitor crossed my mind, but I didn't want to believe in that."
"It is not easy to learn that an old friend betrayed you," the King agreed.
Robin sighed. "Where are Guy of Gisborne and James of Kent now? Have they been captured?"
The King turned his gaze at Legrand. "Legrand, you raised an alarm. Please tell us everything."
Legrand proceeded to the tale which he had fabricated for Robin and every other King's man. He informed how James and Guy had tried to escape after Guy had been taken from Robin's tent. He said that James and Guy had almost killed several guards, although it was an exaggerated version of events because the guards had been knocked out by heavy blows to their heads. Legrand acknowledged that he had commanded to shoot arrows at James and Guy in order to prevent their escape, informing Robin that James had been killed and Guy had been grievously injured.
Robin's face was distorted in horrible fury after Legrand had finished his tale. "Legrand, how could you order to shoot at James and Guy, knowing that Guy had agreed to help us?"
Legrand shifted his feet uncomfortably. "Robin, they tried to escape. I had to stop them."
Robin's eyes blazed with anger into Legrand's. "You could have done something else, Legrand!" he almost shouted. "I gave Gisborne my word that I would vouch for him to the King!"
"Robin, calm down!" the King interposed. He feigned displeasure on his face, his eyes shooting daggers at Robin. He predicted that Robin would be furious after learning about Legrand's orders, and he intervened in the argument to help Legrand. "We were with Legrand in our tent when we heard shouts of alarm of our men. We commanded Legrand to deal with what happened, and he did everything to prevent the traitors' escape before he ordered to release arrows at them."
Robin tore his gaze from the King and glanced at Legrand. "Was there really no other way to stop their escape?" he inquired, still stunned and displeased.
Legrand nodded in confirmation, surprised how easy it was to lie into his Captain's face. "Robin, you have my word that there was nothing else we could do," he said firmly. "I know that you are a man of honor. Although I hate Gisborne, I would have never done anything that could have made you go back on your word and could have compromised your personal code of honor."
Robin had no reason not to believe Legrand who proved his competence many times during the years of the war. Moreover, they were close friends, and Legrand never gave Robin any reason to doubt his loyalty to their friendship. "I beg my pardon that I doubted your word, Legrand. I just didn't expect that Guy would try to escape after our agreement."
The King stepped forward and stopped next to Robin; he put his large hands on Robin's slim shoulders and looked into Robin's eyes. "When I permitted you to make Gisborne an offer of getting a pardon in exchange for information, I feared that he wasn't trustworthy. A man, who tried to kill his King to obtain power and wealth, can always betray his liege again even after switching sides. If such a vile man is tempted by some promises, he can attempt regicide again."
Robin sighed. "Sire, I thought that Gisborne and I came to understanding."
"You were mistaken, Robin," the King said, trying to make his voice sound soft. "Gisborne is a criminal, and he used his chance to escape from Acre with James, intending to return to England and start plotting new regicide. We are lucky that Legrand and our men prevented their escape."
Robin was at loss for words. "Maybe you are right, milord."
Richard smiled kindly at his favorite. "Robin, you are too gentle and too kind when you shouldn't be," he chided gently. "You are an intelligent man and a great leader, but you don't understand human nature very well: people are usually much worse than you want them to be."
The young Captain blanched. "You told me about it many times, sire."
The King patted Robin's shoulder. "Robin, don't blame yourself. It is not your fault."
"Where is Gisborne now?" Robin wanted to know.
"This traitor was brought to the prison," the King answered. "Raoul is examining him now."
Robin was so nervous and so frustrated that he didn't pay attention to the small detail that the King's personal physical, not any other medic, was tending to Gisborne for the first time since Guy's capture. "I want to see him," he whispered.
Richard shook his head approvingly. "Naturally, Robin."
"Thank you, milord." Robin bowed, and started walking in the direction of the prison.
Legrand was looking at Robin's retreating back. "I hope it went well, my liege."
The King smiled appreciatively at Legrand. "Better than I expected," he remarked in a personal tone, a smile playing around his lips. "You will not lose Robin's friendship, Legrand."
In the next moment, Robert de Beaumont, the Earl of Leicester, approached the King and bowed to his liege. "I already know what happened tonight. Robin should have never trusted Gisborne." His voice as rude, his face contorted in a grimace of loathing he felt towards Guy.
The King and Legrand nodded in agreement. The King was relieved that he hadn't enlightened Robert about his tricky plan to get rid of Gisborne, for the King's second grand favorite was very similar to Robin and he would have never approved of the King's secret and cunning little scheme.
ææææææ
The sun had already set behind the sandy hills, and Robin moved through the camp in the darkness, caring little about the King's guards who bowed to him and greeted him, asking him about his health. He could hear Much's shouts as his loyal friend was running to him, begging him to return to the tent because he was still weak and needed to rest. It was the moment when Much's fussing annoyed Robin beyond measure. Looking around, he could see nothing in a distance that shrouded in the darkness, and he suddenly felt panic at the thought of Guy's death.
Much caught up with Robin's pace as they continued walking towards the prison. "Robin, please return to the tent! Others can take care of these traitors!"
Robin paused, glaring at Much. "Do you know that Gisborne may be dying at this moment?"
"I don't care about the masked Saracen!" Much cried out. "I care only about your health, Robin!"
Robin didn't waste time on talking to Much, continuing his way to the prison. Near the building of the prison, the guards bowed to the Captain of the Private Guard and smiled earnestly at them, but Robin ignored them and kept going to Guy's cell. Now he didn't care about any of his comrades, thinking only about the condemned man who had betrayed the King again. Despite Guy's current predicament, the cell was guarded by six soldiers from the Private Guard, each of whom bowed to Robin and then opened the door of the dungeon where Guy was kept.
As Robin entered the cell, Doctor Raoul de Déols rose from the chair to greet Robin, his old-time cordial smile of welcome lighting his face. "Lord Huntingdon, I'm glad to see that your health has already improved so much that you move freely in the camp," he began in a light tone.
Robin ignored the physician's words. "How is Guy of Gisborne doing?" he asked, his eyes focused on Guy's prone form that lay on a straw mattress in the corner of the cell. He was told that Guy had been shot, but now there was no arrow protruding out of Guy's chest.
Doctor Raoul knew that Guy had been shot with a poisoned arrow because King Richard had revealed him that the truth in a secret, private conversation and had sent him to Guy's cell to make sure that nobody would ever uncover the King's deceit. "I removed the arrow from Gisborne's chest and stopped the bleeding, but there is a breach of the lung surface that may kill him in the end. He has already lost much blood, and his life is in grave danger."
"What are his chances to survive?" There was a tremble in Robin's voice.
"If he doesn't have internal bleeding, he may have a chance to survive. If he pulls through the night, then maybe he will live."
Robin nodded. "Thank you," he said politely. "Leave me with Gisborne for a minute."
The doctor gave a nod and walked to the door. He prayed that Guy wouldn't tell Robin anything about strange sensations in his body, which were not obviously related to the injury of lungs. They didn't need Robin to suspect the truth about Guy's death as the King had said to his physician.
"Locksley," Guy greeted in a weak voice. "I didn't expect that you would visit my humble dwelling."
Robin stopped near the mattress, looking down at Guy in pitying commiseration. "Why did you try to escape, Gisborne?" he questioned. "I promised you that I would spare your life." He sighed. "I truly wanted to help you, but you aggravated your situation and destroyed everything."
Guy glanced up at Robin, whose face seemed too pale even in the light of the only torch in the dungeon. He measured Robin with an attentive, searching look, and he could see that his enemy wasn't lying. "Perhaps, you wanted to help me, but the King craved to spill my blood in any case."
"King Richard approved of my idea to make you our spy among the Black Knights."
"Really?" Guy was bewildered.
"King Richard is a practical man, and he agreed with my suggestion. But you betrayed me after I agreed to help you, and I don't understand why you tried to escape."
"James said that the King wouldn't pardon me." Guy felt unusual weakness in his body. The sharp, tormenting pain was present not only in the region of his back, where his lungs functioned beneath his skin and bones, but also in his entire body that was terribly aching and was becoming weaker, as if something were draining the rest of his strength from his entire being.
"You even didn't tell me that James conspired with the Black Knights."
"I had to keep his name in secret as a last resort attempt to save myself in case our deal failed."
Robin shook his head in disbelief. "You acted stupidly, Gisborne."
"I'm dying," Guy whispered. "I feel death so close to me."
Robin saw a ghost of the man whom he had talked to only several hours ago. "Don't think about death, Gisborne. The physician says that you can survive, and if you do, I will try to help you."
Guy smiled. "Even though I don't like you, Locksley, I cannot deny that you have a noble heart."
"Oh!" Robin was astounded to hear that from Guy, but he didn't comment.
"Robin," Guy pronounced his enemy's name without hatred for the first time in many years. "There is a servant girl in Locksley who was pregnant with my child when I left Nottingham for Acre." He trailed off, feeling that it was becoming more painful to breathe. "Her name is Annie."
Robin looked a little absent-minded. "What do you want me to do for her?"
"Please don't throw her and the baby out of the manor when you return to England."
"Guy, I'd have never done that," Robin assured him, changing the manner of their conversation to personal. It was the first time when he addressed to Guy by his first name in a conversational manner. "You have my word that I will take care of Annie and your child in case you… die."
"Thank you," Guy murmured, turning his head and staring into the emptiness.
"You have to sleep a little bit," Robin advised in a shaky voice.
"It is not going to solve anything," Guy stated with resignation, his voice weak. His chest heaved with an agonizing breath, and he suddenly felt confused why he had such sensations in his body. "I know that you won't feel too much aggrieved with my death, and nobody will be mourning for me."
Robin gave a long sigh. "I would better go. Try to rest." He managed a half-warm smile looking down at Guy, feeling very uncomfortable in Guy's presence. "I will visit you in the morning."
When Robin had left, Doctor Raoul returned into the cell. He settled himself into the chair next to Guy's mattress, patiently waiting for the moment when the soul of the masked Saracen would finally depart from Earth. "How are you feeling, Gisborne?" He was well aware that Guy was feeling really unwell.
"You know that I'm dying." Guy's voice was so quiet that the physician strained his ears to hear him. His lips quivered, and a single fat tear rolled down his cheek. "I have already guessed that the arrow was poisoned."
Doctor Raoul gave Guy a frightened glance, but his face quickly recovered its neutrality. "How dare you declare such ridiculous things, you traitor?" he accused. "Have you gone mad?"
Guy smirked. "I'm not out of my mind, and you know the truth too," he replied in an unsteady voice. "But it doesn't matter anymore." He let out a small laugh. "The King's favorite will never know the truth that can make him so disappointed in his heroic liege lord and his finest friend – the mighty and fair King Richard the Lionheart."
The physician feigned indifference and sighed. "Your mind is clouded by pain."
Guy only laughed quietly, but then winced as the pain coursed through his chest. "Nobody will ever learn the truth when I draw my last breath. The world will remember Robin of Locksley as Hero of Acre who stopped the masked Saracen before he could kill the King of England, and I will always be considered a traitor who was killed after the attempt to escape and who deserved capital punishment." He paused, feeling the pain increasing in his chest. "Then so be it."
Guy of Gisborne didn't care that he was dying a traitor. Guy was a wretched outcast in the noble society and in the world since the day of the fire at the Gisborne Manor. Even after he had returned to Nottingham with Vaisey and had hoped to re-take everything he had once unjustly lost, he hadn't become even content with his life. Now Guy suddenly felt that he welcomed death because it could give him oblivion and peace he had always been seeking in his life. His heart lightened when he realized that the King had murdered him for his treason while Robin hadn't taken a part in the King's plot. Guy didn't blame Robin for anything, and he no longer wished his enemy dead.
"Marian," Guy whispered. Marian was the only woman whom he thought he really loved.
Guy wanted to die thinking of Marian. He regretted that Marian would most likely learn about the regicide attempt on King Richard's life from Robin and about his attempt on Robin's life too. The thought that Marian would probably despise him was painful, but he couldn't undo the things he had done. There was the deep regret in Guy's heart for his misspent life he had wasted in pursuit of revenge against Robin and of power and wealth, but he had achieved nothing. If he had been given another chance, he would have done many things differently.
At the same time, Robin lay in his bed in his tent, trying not to think of Guy. Instead, his mind traveled to Marian of Knighton. Memories about Marian were the shelter in the world of bloodshed and death for Robin. Every time when he went to fight a new battle, he thought of Marian, hoping that he would be alive by the end of the day. He had been unscratched in all battles until the night of the Saracen attack, and he was sure that Marian preserved him in the war which he had grown to hate. He had been an utter fool when he had spoken about heavenly things and the infinite glory of God, stating that it had been his duty to fight with the infidels for the liberation of Jerusalem and for his King, Robin thought. He had already accepted the fact that he had lost Marian forever because of his own mistakes when he had placed his duty over his love for her.
"Marian," Robin murmured the name of his beloved, and a smile of ineffable love lit up his handsome features, his eyes shining with unshed tears. He wanted to see Marian, to smile at her, to talk to her, and to kiss her, but she was in England, most likely already a married woman with a brood of children. "I shouldn't have abandoned you, my love. I broke your heart, and I also ruined my own happiness because I lost you." He could hear Much's loud snores, and he was happy that Much had already fallen asleep because his friend couldn't hear his lamentations over his woes.
Having spent several hours writhing in agony and pain, Guy of Gisborne died from the King's deadly poison in the early morning. Everyone in the Crusaders' camp was still sleeping when Legrand woke up Robin and notified him of the death of the masked Saracen. Robin was astonished to see a graceful smile on Guy's face when he came to the dungeons, thinking that Guy had died in peace with himself. But Robin didn't know that Guy had died with a smile on his face, free from his demons and darkness, with his last thoughts about Marian.
Guy's death wasn't a tragedy for any Crusader because Gisborne was a traitor to the Crown, and Robin was the only man who genuinely mourned the loss of Guy. Robin didn't let his men throw Guy's body in an unmarked grave and arranged a Christian burial for Guy. Only Robin, Much, and Robert attended Guy's funeral in the desert, not in the small cemetery where the King's guards were buried; Much and Robert were there only because they were worried about Robin's health. Robin even invited a priest for the ceremony in spite of complete misunderstanding and anger of his comrades; he felt that it was his duty to Gisborne and Guy's deceased parents to put Guy to eternal rest in a proper way. Now the secret of the masked Saracen's death was buried forever.
The story of the King's favorite and the masked Saracen had a sad end, but it was for the better. If Guy hadn't been captured in the King's camp, the war in Palestine would have continued, Robin would have been sent home and become an outlaw, and Marian would have been murdered by Guy in a jealous rage in Acre. Later, in Heaven, Guy would learn about the alternative scenarios of his life, and he wouldn't regret that he had died before he could kill the love of his life and consign his soul to eternal damnation for the murder of Marian. Soon the story of Robin Hood and Maid Marian and the story of the adventures of Robin and his merry men in Sherwood Forest would begin, but the story of the masked Saracen would never be forgotten.
King Richard deceived James in the previous chapter, and then James lied to Guy because he wanted to be pardoned by the King. The King's double deceit trapped both traitors.
I know that not everyone agrees with the twist in the end of the chapter – Guy's death at the hands of King Richard. However, I ask you not to judge me harshly. Guy's death is not Robin's fault, for Robin did really want to help Guy. But the King loves Robin, his friend and his captain, a lot, and he felt that he needed to protect Robin from Guy by eliminating Guy in secret.
In the epilogue, the action will take place in Nottingham. Marian will appear in the epilogue, as well as Guy and Ghislaine, his mother, which might be a source of consolation for Guy fans.
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