G/M - ONE MORE LIE - CHAPTER FOUR
That's been a long week and not one of my favourites but today's episode of RH3 kind of fix a dreadful week. So here it is, Chapter four. Once more thanks to all your comments and specially to my beta phadria
Chapter Four
She was like a vision,: she was walking to him, almost in darkness, with that green dress of her late night visit to Locksley like one of his fantasies but...this time she was real. He wasn't dreaming.
Marian was afraid of him... No, not really afraid of him but afraid of his rejection. She was so happy to see him standing on his feet, she had to make a big effort not to jump on him. Her hands, clasped to control her nerves, were shaking. She knew she was unable to speak, not at least without her voice betraying her words. But then, the Gisborne we all know and love came her way:
"What the h*ll are you doing here at this hour, woman? he shouted loud enough that Marian was sure even the castle guards had heard him and would soon come to catch him.
"I thought you were dead, I thought I'd..." but didn't dare to end. Lost him? How could you lose something you never had... No, never wanted.
"I'm well, I'm fine! Go back to the castle!" and he turned around and started walking away against his own wishes.
"You are not leaving me here" she said, and she sounded more sure that she really was. "The Guy that I know wouldn't do it"
"That man died in Acra. Sheriff's arrow could not kill my body but your poisoned words did kill every memory of you."
"Guy, please..." she begged, taking his hand in hers before he left. "I know I've been..."
"Go away! Go back to the castle and to Robin. Marry and be happy." he split it out like a curse more than a wish.
He saw her turning around and walking the path. He dug his nails hard into the palm of his hand, trying to concentrate all his anger by curling his fingers in a fist but...
"Marian, wait!" he shouted. "I cannot let you go on your own. I will walk with you till the end of the path."
"Thank you." she managed to whisper between the tears.
"Do not thank me! This is not for you. If Allan found out you left unescorted... I'd never get the end of it!"
***
Sarah was scared to death. The Sheriff had been asking to see Lady Marian before dinner. She managed to keep herself locked in Marian's quarters pretending to be taking care of the lady and saying she was having a nap. But now Foxley was determined to enter.
"My lord, Lady Marian's having a bath at the moment. It takes more than an hour for my lady to be ready. She's begging you to be so kind as to wait for her at the Great Hall"
"One hour. I've got news from the Holy land "
"Yes, my lord." Sarah answered not knowing exactly what to do. "Where are you, my lady?" she asked to herself as soon as the Sheriff left.
***
Guy hadn't said a word since they began walking. Marian needed to say something to make him react, but what?
"I don't trust the new sheriff. I don't even know if he's bot even worse than Vaisey." he remained in silence. "I'm trying to find out something about him."
"Marian, stop. I don't want to know."
"You don't care what happens to Nottingham any more?"
"I thought you believed I was the worst thing it could happen to Nottingham."
"You know that's not true" she said with a sad tone in her voice. "You would have given your life for Nottingham once, you were ready to die for this place and-" she paused before end the sentence, breathed deeply "... For me!"
"I do not wish to talk. Please, let us do this in peace."
"But Guy, someday we'll have to talk about it!"
"There's no use. I am leaving England and never coming back."
"Please, let me say I am sorry. I never meant to hurt you but..."
"You've never meant to hurt me but you always did." she recalled Allan's words and realised they were Guy's. "I cannot take one more lie and you cannot stop lying to me so... Silence is golden between us."
They walked for a while in silence but Marian just could not help herself and tried again to make amends with him.
"I should have been honest with you from the beginning... but it's not like you are the most communicative man in the world. And you were so single-minded about a marriage of position" he said nothing "Yet again, you loved me. You once said I meant everything to you" she stopped to breath and a sigh escape from his lips "Now are you telling it only took two months to forget those feelings?"
"You can not really expect to break someone's heart and still be loved. You are not so naive... Not even you, the virtuous lady of the poor." he said bitterly trying to hurt her just to make her shut up.
And it worked. Not a word till they reached the road to Nottingham. But she couldn't stop staring at him, even now dishevelled and wounded, his figure was overwhelming. Marian knew how much he must be suffering, depending on Allan's skills to do what he could have done without breathing. At one point of the walk, they were so close their hands touched by accident. An accident that made her sigh and wish for a new start to their friendship.
Guy was really trying not to look at her. But when his hand came near hers, he realized nothing had changed. She still loathed him. Her hand was faster than anything. Rejection, he should be used to it, God knew Marian was a good teacher for that but...
"I must leave you here. You'll be safe from this point."
"Guy..." she tried once more.
"I need to go back to the camp. I wish you well, Marian."
"Will I ever see you again?"
"Not if I can help it." he said dryly. He needed to be far from her or he couldn't stand the pressure and confess how much he still loved her.
"But I would like to say goodbye before you leave. Guy, surely these are not our very last words."
"Go now, Lady Marian. It's getting late." and he turned around and walked away.
Marian started walking to the open field and stopped and looked back to see the tall dark figure she was now sure she would miss so much. This is not the end, Guy of Gisborne, and I'm going to make sure of that. Then, she walked a little faster looking for the light of the moon.
Guy was trying so hard not to look at her for the last time. If she ever caught his glance, he would be lost. There was nothing in the world he would like more than to listen to her all night long. Even if Robin Hood were the chosen topic. Anything to hear her voice, to see her eyes dancing, to watch her smile... Oh, you fool, you cannot stop loving her, no matter what.
***
Sarah was looking through her mistress windows every five seconds, praying for her lady to appear once and for all. Sheriff was getting angrier because his guest was growing impatient about dinner.
"Why should I keep waiting for a lady who clearly knows nothing about manners?"
"Please, five more minutes. Lady Marian is worth the wait."
"I find it hard to believe any woman is worth anything. Women are nothing but trouble."
Lady Marian came through the window and got a very annoyed look from her maid.
"They've been waiting for you for more than two hours, my lady. The Sheriff is very upset. You must hurry up and go to the Great Hall at once!" she said, helping her to get dressed as soon as she was in the room.
"Just remind me why I have to do this." Marian felt so tired. "And where is Robin when I need him?"
"My lady, I... " Sarah was not going to really answer that question but Marian stopped her.
"Don't worry, Sarah, dear. I'm just so... I do not want to go down there. I just want to sit down and cry for being a completely fool most of my life."
"What happened in the forest, my lady? Did he hurt you?"
"Yes, he did." she paused.
"Miss, you should..."
"It hurt me to know he's not looking at me that way any more. That he is ready to move on and leave me behind and because all... Because all of this is my fault!" she said, trying to hold the tears in her eyes.
"But... My lady, you love Robin of Locksley. You are going to marry him when he come back from the Holy Land!"
"I wonder if he knows that..." she said in a whisper. "I'm going downstairs, to the Great Hall. When we reach the second course, you come and look for me. Say you need to tell me something very urgently and we both leave. Agreed?"
"Yes, madam. Second course."
"Oh, I forgot it. If anyone asks, you're Allan's fiancée and he's coming to see you tomorrow."
"Yes, my... "she was going to answer mechanically. "What?"
"I will explain later." Marian said and, with that, she left.
***
There was so much to be done tonight, she just couldn't waste a minute on that unpleasant dinner. She was ready to enter Guy's quarter tonight before Allan did. She needed to find what Guy was pursuing so desperately.
The Great Hall's doors opened as she reached them and the two men looked at her intently.
"Lady of the Castle at last!" the Sheriff yelled. He looked a bit drunk already. "I believe you met our guest's father a few months ago"
"Lord Winchester." she said nodding.
"Lady Marian of Knighton " he nodded back "My pleasure, finally... I was starting to think you were a product of my good Jefferson's mind"
"I apologise for my lateness, my Lords, it has been a long day for me."
Both of men looked at each other with a knowing glance, an expression Marian recognised from the former sheriff's face. She had a feeling nothing good could come for this sudden friendship between a new Winchester and a new Sheriff.
"Sarah, my maid, told me you have news from the Holy Land. I hope it is good news."
"A letter from the King for me, reassuring my position at Nottingham and some words for you from Robin of Locksley" he said, throwing her a small piece of paper that was already open.
"Sir Robin of Locksley, if you don't mind, my lord and he is still the Sheriff of Nottingham." she answered, taking the paper in her hands.
"Not for much longer" Winchester muttered.
"You've read this?"
"I'm afraid I had to. Just a matter of security."
"But this was a personal message... "
"You have nothing to fear if you have nothing to hide".
The note from Robin was nothing but an apology for not being there. It was taking longer than he had thought to return to England since the King was determined to return unbeaten. The King has offered Lord Jefferson the place of Sheriff of Nottingham with immediate effect. Marian thought this was the wickedest way to ensure he kept Robin by his side. As for the King, he was making a fool of himself by misjudging people over and over again... This or he actually wanted to become himself the worst enemy of England.
***
Allan reached the camp a few moments after Guy. By the look of the former henchman, Allan knew he would need to wait for a while before asking, Guy seemed to be particularly sad.
"I found some horses but... They were too small."
"Too small? " he asked back, relieved Allan was not asking about the subject on his mind. "It's not time to be picky, Allan. We need any horse."
"Believe, they were not right. When I pictured you on that horse, it looked more like an asparagus riding a hamster."
"How were you going to pay for them?" Allan's eyes opened wide and rising eyebrows as a answer. "I thought we said no more stealing."
"I thought you said Allan get some horses."
"Not steal them! Come on! What's wrong with you?" he asked angrily, but knowing it was Allan he was angry with.
"NO! WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?" Allan yelled back. "I've seen you kill, cut tongues and fingers off, beating and hanging people, punishing them without a trace of remorse... Even kids, Guy! And now you're giving me some speech because I wanted to steal some old horses?"
Guy stared at him. “You're right" he said in a whisper and went to lay down leaving Allan a clear view of his back.
***
Marian was finally back at her quarters after Sarah rescued her from Great Hall. She was now waiting for the whole castle to be in silence and to do what she was to. Nightwatchman Revival. Just one night. Just one goal: Guy's quarters.
She knew she was taking her chances with the new sheriff and the risk of being caught was high but... Where would the fun be otherwise? Robin came to her mind.
What are you, Marian, a pendulum? Coming and going from Robin to Guy and back? she thought as she laid on the bed.
"That's exactly what I am" she said to herself in a loud voice. "I'm driving myself mad and taking those men with me. Now, I must choose... In fact, I have already chosen my fate and I need to be strong and go through with it."
But that was not easy when Robin stayed so far from her. Guy's proximity was intoxicating. He may be a fallen man, evil, cruel and absolutely rotten but... When she looked at him, his eyes were like an open book to his soul asking to be loved, to be respected. It was no longer a question of money, power or position. He wanted to have a life of his own.
He had longer hair and he had left black leather outfit behind, he probably needed a bath and a good meal to be Guy of Gisborne again but his charms were still intact and surely growing on her.
Robin was all foolishness and silly smiles. He could play around you without even making a move and suddenly took you by surprise. Guy was the king of close encounters and his eyes talked about what he was feeling any moment. It could be just a minute or hardly seconds, but seconds with Guy were... Oh, stop Marian! She touched her hand. The spark she felt when their hands touched still remained on her skin. Her body always had that kind of response to Guy but she had mastered the art of concealing it so well that it was misunderstood as rejection or pity. As long as Guy ignored this, she was safe.
"It's time, my lady! The castle sleeps!" Sarah whispered as soon as she entered the room. .
Thanks so much for reading and any comment bad or good really appreciated. Please let me know what you think :)
Chapter Four
She was like a vision,: she was walking to him, almost in darkness, with that green dress of her late night visit to Locksley like one of his fantasies but...this time she was real. He wasn't dreaming.
Marian was afraid of him... No, not really afraid of him but afraid of his rejection. She was so happy to see him standing on his feet, she had to make a big effort not to jump on him. Her hands, clasped to control her nerves, were shaking. She knew she was unable to speak, not at least without her voice betraying her words. But then, the Gisborne we all know and love came her way:
"What the h*ll are you doing here at this hour, woman? he shouted loud enough that Marian was sure even the castle guards had heard him and would soon come to catch him.
"I thought you were dead, I thought I'd..." but didn't dare to end. Lost him? How could you lose something you never had... No, never wanted.
"I'm well, I'm fine! Go back to the castle!" and he turned around and started walking away against his own wishes.
"You are not leaving me here" she said, and she sounded more sure that she really was. "The Guy that I know wouldn't do it"
"That man died in Acra. Sheriff's arrow could not kill my body but your poisoned words did kill every memory of you."
"Guy, please..." she begged, taking his hand in hers before he left. "I know I've been..."
"Go away! Go back to the castle and to Robin. Marry and be happy." he split it out like a curse more than a wish.
He saw her turning around and walking the path. He dug his nails hard into the palm of his hand, trying to concentrate all his anger by curling his fingers in a fist but...
"Marian, wait!" he shouted. "I cannot let you go on your own. I will walk with you till the end of the path."
"Thank you." she managed to whisper between the tears.
"Do not thank me! This is not for you. If Allan found out you left unescorted... I'd never get the end of it!"
***
Sarah was scared to death. The Sheriff had been asking to see Lady Marian before dinner. She managed to keep herself locked in Marian's quarters pretending to be taking care of the lady and saying she was having a nap. But now Foxley was determined to enter.
"My lord, Lady Marian's having a bath at the moment. It takes more than an hour for my lady to be ready. She's begging you to be so kind as to wait for her at the Great Hall"
"One hour. I've got news from the Holy land "
"Yes, my lord." Sarah answered not knowing exactly what to do. "Where are you, my lady?" she asked to herself as soon as the Sheriff left.
***
Guy hadn't said a word since they began walking. Marian needed to say something to make him react, but what?
"I don't trust the new sheriff. I don't even know if he's bot even worse than Vaisey." he remained in silence. "I'm trying to find out something about him."
"Marian, stop. I don't want to know."
"You don't care what happens to Nottingham any more?"
"I thought you believed I was the worst thing it could happen to Nottingham."
"You know that's not true" she said with a sad tone in her voice. "You would have given your life for Nottingham once, you were ready to die for this place and-" she paused before end the sentence, breathed deeply "... For me!"
"I do not wish to talk. Please, let us do this in peace."
"But Guy, someday we'll have to talk about it!"
"There's no use. I am leaving England and never coming back."
"Please, let me say I am sorry. I never meant to hurt you but..."
"You've never meant to hurt me but you always did." she recalled Allan's words and realised they were Guy's. "I cannot take one more lie and you cannot stop lying to me so... Silence is golden between us."
They walked for a while in silence but Marian just could not help herself and tried again to make amends with him.
"I should have been honest with you from the beginning... but it's not like you are the most communicative man in the world. And you were so single-minded about a marriage of position" he said nothing "Yet again, you loved me. You once said I meant everything to you" she stopped to breath and a sigh escape from his lips "Now are you telling it only took two months to forget those feelings?"
"You can not really expect to break someone's heart and still be loved. You are not so naive... Not even you, the virtuous lady of the poor." he said bitterly trying to hurt her just to make her shut up.
And it worked. Not a word till they reached the road to Nottingham. But she couldn't stop staring at him, even now dishevelled and wounded, his figure was overwhelming. Marian knew how much he must be suffering, depending on Allan's skills to do what he could have done without breathing. At one point of the walk, they were so close their hands touched by accident. An accident that made her sigh and wish for a new start to their friendship.
Guy was really trying not to look at her. But when his hand came near hers, he realized nothing had changed. She still loathed him. Her hand was faster than anything. Rejection, he should be used to it, God knew Marian was a good teacher for that but...
"I must leave you here. You'll be safe from this point."
"Guy..." she tried once more.
"I need to go back to the camp. I wish you well, Marian."
"Will I ever see you again?"
"Not if I can help it." he said dryly. He needed to be far from her or he couldn't stand the pressure and confess how much he still loved her.
"But I would like to say goodbye before you leave. Guy, surely these are not our very last words."
"Go now, Lady Marian. It's getting late." and he turned around and walked away.
Marian started walking to the open field and stopped and looked back to see the tall dark figure she was now sure she would miss so much. This is not the end, Guy of Gisborne, and I'm going to make sure of that. Then, she walked a little faster looking for the light of the moon.
Guy was trying so hard not to look at her for the last time. If she ever caught his glance, he would be lost. There was nothing in the world he would like more than to listen to her all night long. Even if Robin Hood were the chosen topic. Anything to hear her voice, to see her eyes dancing, to watch her smile... Oh, you fool, you cannot stop loving her, no matter what.
***
Sarah was looking through her mistress windows every five seconds, praying for her lady to appear once and for all. Sheriff was getting angrier because his guest was growing impatient about dinner.
"Why should I keep waiting for a lady who clearly knows nothing about manners?"
"Please, five more minutes. Lady Marian is worth the wait."
"I find it hard to believe any woman is worth anything. Women are nothing but trouble."
Lady Marian came through the window and got a very annoyed look from her maid.
"They've been waiting for you for more than two hours, my lady. The Sheriff is very upset. You must hurry up and go to the Great Hall at once!" she said, helping her to get dressed as soon as she was in the room.
"Just remind me why I have to do this." Marian felt so tired. "And where is Robin when I need him?"
"My lady, I... " Sarah was not going to really answer that question but Marian stopped her.
"Don't worry, Sarah, dear. I'm just so... I do not want to go down there. I just want to sit down and cry for being a completely fool most of my life."
"What happened in the forest, my lady? Did he hurt you?"
"Yes, he did." she paused.
"Miss, you should..."
"It hurt me to know he's not looking at me that way any more. That he is ready to move on and leave me behind and because all... Because all of this is my fault!" she said, trying to hold the tears in her eyes.
"But... My lady, you love Robin of Locksley. You are going to marry him when he come back from the Holy Land!"
"I wonder if he knows that..." she said in a whisper. "I'm going downstairs, to the Great Hall. When we reach the second course, you come and look for me. Say you need to tell me something very urgently and we both leave. Agreed?"
"Yes, madam. Second course."
"Oh, I forgot it. If anyone asks, you're Allan's fiancée and he's coming to see you tomorrow."
"Yes, my... "she was going to answer mechanically. "What?"
"I will explain later." Marian said and, with that, she left.
***
There was so much to be done tonight, she just couldn't waste a minute on that unpleasant dinner. She was ready to enter Guy's quarter tonight before Allan did. She needed to find what Guy was pursuing so desperately.
The Great Hall's doors opened as she reached them and the two men looked at her intently.
"Lady of the Castle at last!" the Sheriff yelled. He looked a bit drunk already. "I believe you met our guest's father a few months ago"
"Lord Winchester." she said nodding.
"Lady Marian of Knighton " he nodded back "My pleasure, finally... I was starting to think you were a product of my good Jefferson's mind"
"I apologise for my lateness, my Lords, it has been a long day for me."
Both of men looked at each other with a knowing glance, an expression Marian recognised from the former sheriff's face. She had a feeling nothing good could come for this sudden friendship between a new Winchester and a new Sheriff.
"Sarah, my maid, told me you have news from the Holy Land. I hope it is good news."
"A letter from the King for me, reassuring my position at Nottingham and some words for you from Robin of Locksley" he said, throwing her a small piece of paper that was already open.
"Sir Robin of Locksley, if you don't mind, my lord and he is still the Sheriff of Nottingham." she answered, taking the paper in her hands.
"Not for much longer" Winchester muttered.
"You've read this?"
"I'm afraid I had to. Just a matter of security."
"But this was a personal message... "
"You have nothing to fear if you have nothing to hide".
The note from Robin was nothing but an apology for not being there. It was taking longer than he had thought to return to England since the King was determined to return unbeaten. The King has offered Lord Jefferson the place of Sheriff of Nottingham with immediate effect. Marian thought this was the wickedest way to ensure he kept Robin by his side. As for the King, he was making a fool of himself by misjudging people over and over again... This or he actually wanted to become himself the worst enemy of England.
***
Allan reached the camp a few moments after Guy. By the look of the former henchman, Allan knew he would need to wait for a while before asking, Guy seemed to be particularly sad.
"I found some horses but... They were too small."
"Too small? " he asked back, relieved Allan was not asking about the subject on his mind. "It's not time to be picky, Allan. We need any horse."
"Believe, they were not right. When I pictured you on that horse, it looked more like an asparagus riding a hamster."
"How were you going to pay for them?" Allan's eyes opened wide and rising eyebrows as a answer. "I thought we said no more stealing."
"I thought you said Allan get some horses."
"Not steal them! Come on! What's wrong with you?" he asked angrily, but knowing it was Allan he was angry with.
"NO! WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?" Allan yelled back. "I've seen you kill, cut tongues and fingers off, beating and hanging people, punishing them without a trace of remorse... Even kids, Guy! And now you're giving me some speech because I wanted to steal some old horses?"
Guy stared at him. “You're right" he said in a whisper and went to lay down leaving Allan a clear view of his back.
***
Marian was finally back at her quarters after Sarah rescued her from Great Hall. She was now waiting for the whole castle to be in silence and to do what she was to. Nightwatchman Revival. Just one night. Just one goal: Guy's quarters.
She knew she was taking her chances with the new sheriff and the risk of being caught was high but... Where would the fun be otherwise? Robin came to her mind.
What are you, Marian, a pendulum? Coming and going from Robin to Guy and back? she thought as she laid on the bed.
"That's exactly what I am" she said to herself in a loud voice. "I'm driving myself mad and taking those men with me. Now, I must choose... In fact, I have already chosen my fate and I need to be strong and go through with it."
But that was not easy when Robin stayed so far from her. Guy's proximity was intoxicating. He may be a fallen man, evil, cruel and absolutely rotten but... When she looked at him, his eyes were like an open book to his soul asking to be loved, to be respected. It was no longer a question of money, power or position. He wanted to have a life of his own.
He had longer hair and he had left black leather outfit behind, he probably needed a bath and a good meal to be Guy of Gisborne again but his charms were still intact and surely growing on her.
Robin was all foolishness and silly smiles. He could play around you without even making a move and suddenly took you by surprise. Guy was the king of close encounters and his eyes talked about what he was feeling any moment. It could be just a minute or hardly seconds, but seconds with Guy were... Oh, stop Marian! She touched her hand. The spark she felt when their hands touched still remained on her skin. Her body always had that kind of response to Guy but she had mastered the art of concealing it so well that it was misunderstood as rejection or pity. As long as Guy ignored this, she was safe.
"It's time, my lady! The castle sleeps!" Sarah whispered as soon as she entered the room. .
Thanks so much for reading and any comment bad or good really appreciated. Please let me know what you think :)