G/M - One more lie - Chapter 8
Hello! Me again. I know, I know... I'm such a slow writer but considering English is not my native language and I'm having a busy life saying sorry is all that I can do. I still appreciated you stay with me and bear me, slowy fingers and all. This is chapter 8 and 9 is coming along. Probably on Sunday if I can find the time to pulish and beautify a little bit.
You know comments are happiness to me and I can assure you and need some happiness in my life right now :P
Thank you for reading and commenting and if you have any suggestions, please just let me know.
His eyes magically closed as he felt her near him. It was a dream come true. A real kiss from her lips and he did nothing to deserve it. His skin was burning just by her touch, her hands still on his face as if she was afraid he broke the contact. It was... like he always thought. The most perfect thing ever happened to him but... Still it was not right.
"No!" he heard himself saying while he pulled her away. "Marian, stop this now!"
The lady was a bit reluctant to obey, as always, but this must end this very moment.
"What is all this?" he questioned her.
"It's a kiss" she just said. "I bet you would recognize the move"
"Don't play with me, Marian, you'll get burned"
"I'm not playing. I just... " she stopped herself.
"Just what, woman? I'll tell you what you were doing... Charming me once more to serve your plans. Let's kiss poor desperate Guy and make him believe he still has a chance".
"It's not that way. Guy... " she started but he didn't let her finish.
"Guy what? Are you gonna tell me that you love me? That you came back to the castle and noticed how much you miss me and you can't imagine your life without me?"
Yes, that was exactly what she was feeling. And the box. That box was like an open door to his heart. But now she knew he couldn't believe her. Not now, not this way. She needed to do things right. And the first thing was to face her own feelings. She would write to Robin as soon as she got the castle.
"Marian, if you ever cared for me as you had always claimed... Let me go." he said caressing her hair.
"I think it's time to go back to the castle" she said.
"I think that's the cleverest thing you said since you got here but..."
"But what? I thought you wanted to get rid of me as soon as possible."
"The idea of that Winchester trying to hurt you again, Marian... " and he bent his head down to his feet as a way to avoid her eyes. "I killed his father and I will do it again just to..." he stopped himself.
"I know " she said as she gently kissed him on his cheek. "But no need of bloodshed right now. I'll deal my own battles. I'm the Nightwatchman, remember?". She held his head up and smiled to him. Wide open smile just for him as an assurance of her safety.
"Not anymore. You promised me. " he said smiling back "Silly me, I always forgot you're not good at keeping promises."
An akward silence fell between them and Marian looked at him intently. There was sadness and worry in his eyes. She didn't know what to say to make him look at her again like those other times, to touch her like before...
"Don't provoke him, Marian, please! Leave him alone! Can you just promise me that?
"Will you help me ride back on my horse?" she asked to avoid the moment.
Winchester had waited a long time near the castle just to make sure they don't get on time to rescue Marian. He had cut himself on his arm and tore his expensives clothes up to down. He left his body leaning on the head of his horse and pretended to be crushed.
"Somebody help me, please!" he cried dramatically as soon as he entered the gates. "Lady Marian! She's alone in the woods!" and threw himself from the horse.
Sarah was walking through the hallways when she heard voices in the yard. Up from the balcony he could see Winchester falling down from his horse as he cried something about her lady.
She dropped the clean linens and run fast to Marian's bedroom looking for Allan. He was not there. Probably he went to Vaisey's rooms to get that little damn box.
"Oh, Lord, please! Keep my lady safe!" she prayed as she run even faster than before. She knocked on the door crying for Allan.
"Allan! Allan! "she cried till she felt one hand covering her mouth.
"Are you insane, woman? Stop this now or I'll be hung before dinner." he said as she moved restlessly to free herself. She wisely used her elbows on a certain part of his anatomy to guarantee that. "Ouch! I hope you don't want to have family of your own, my dear. I'm not sure If I could use them anymore!"
"Not now, Dale! she whispered when she was free.
"That means that maybe sometime we could have our sexy time?"
"Winchester is back! Without Lady Marian!"
"Well, I dont blame her! Her father was an old pest and being younger doesn't make his son more delightful" he said with a silly grin.
"Oh, think for once! He said something about the woods! Maybe Sir Guy attacked them!"
"Whoaaaaaa there! Guy would rather die before hurting Marian. He loves her!" And then he realized he shouldn't say that so tried hard to keep the focus out of it. " Winchester is not a safety policy to Marian. He rejected the father once and he died so..."
"Go, please and check it! My lady could be hurt or... Worse!" Sarah was taken by panic and fear.
"Don't worry, my girl. I'll bring her home safe" he assured "Now go your duties as if nothing happened. I'll find you when I'm back"
Sarah went to the door and before turning the handle she said quiet thank you to Allan.
Marian has been thinking of her next step as soon as she got to the castle. Probably Winchester would be surprised to find her alive and back, so she could choose to ignore him or acusse him. Neither of them was a nice choice. Ignoring him would lead Winchester to believe he had won a battle and acussing him would require futher explanation and less liberty to move around the castle and the woods. And God knew she needed to come back and see Guy.
Her time with him was precious. Though they spent most of the time arguing and fighting, he managed to spark a fire inside her that made her feel dizzy, afraid and completely happy at the same time. She remembered the soft of his touch, the feel of his lips upon hers and how his piercing blue eyes hooked her while their tongues started to dance slowly into each other... Stop thinking about that, Marian! she said to herself, feeling her hands shaking just with the thought.
Like it or not, crazy or not, Guy was her man. Kisses with Robin were never like this. They were sweet and calm but with Guy there was passion, anxiety, tenderness, desire,... Mixed emotions she wasn't even able to explain to herself. As soon as she arrived the castle, she must write to Robin.
In the Great Hall, Sheriff was trying to find out what really happened to Lady Marian. Winchester insisted they'd been attacked by outlaws but Foxley wasn't buying that.
"So are you actually going to tell me what you did to the lady or do I have to use my fertile imagination?"
"I've already told you: Outlaws." Winchester repeated for the nineth time this afternoon "We were having a nice ride when a bunch of them came down from trees, like rain and tried to catch us. Lady Marian was not lucky enough."
"Bunch of them? Winchester, may I remain you no outlaws have been seen around Sherwood since King gave Robin and his gang a royal pardon for the crimes commited in the name of England." he made a dramatic pause "So... You try to boss over the lady and she disagreed. Then you went mad and hurt her. Is it that closer to the truth?"
"I would never hurt a lady" he assured as he poured himself another cup of wine.
"Yes, I am devoted and loyal servant of our king... Come on, Winchester! I know what you are made of."
"Perhaps you got me absolutely wrong, Jeff."
"You telling me you don't care that woman was the one your father died for?"
"I tell you what happened if you tell me what you're looking for"
"Something that could change the course of England for ever. It could make me and my allies "he said with a very significant look to his fellow " richer than we have ever dreamed of."
"And that is..."
"Not so fast, my friend."
Sarah knew something was not right. She was praying Allan could find Marian soon and find her well. She had always feared Sir Guy to come and take her far away but by the look of it, her Lady was more than ready to be taken. She had spent the previous night with this small box by her side and Sarah managed to see some black clothes hidden in his bed linens. What if my lady is in love of this wicked man? Servants and maids said the man was devil incarnated and that he was obsessed with the miss.
"Oh, please, don't let her do anything she could regret later" she said as she stayed kneeled in the llitle chapel in the castle. "And God protect Allan for any evil. He's like a painful headache but... he's just my favourite headache. In the name of the Father... " she recited as she got up.
"YOU ARE ALWAYS CAUSING ME TROUBLES!" Allan shouted to a peaceful Marian who have stopped for a little before entered to Nottingham path.
"JESUS! ALLAN!" she shouted herself as she turned around. "You scared me to death!"
"Where the hell have you been? Sarah is sick of worry since she saw Winchester returned alone."
"That pig with a title has stabbed me in the arm and left me in the middle of the road to die"
"Then, what's this? " he asked as he could recognized the bandage she was wearing.
"Guy found me and took care of me"
"And you are both still alive?" he joked.
"I think I got it all wrong, Allan. I'm losing him"
"Why do you say that? Wait... No! I don't want to know."
"But you are the only one who knows everything. You've seen us through the years...
"Yes, you can bet I did. And you know what I got: THIS! "he said pointing to his head" My first grey hairs! You know how hard it's to hide this when you are red hair. I'm not getting any younger and one of this days I may need a wife so..."
"And Sarah?" she said trying to change the subject to make him more comfortable. Allan has the gift to make her laugh. "I thought you had a thing for her"
"And that thing is all I have to offer. I have no titles, lands or fortune. I've been an outlaw and when I had the chance to make a change... Well, then it was Guy. No woman could marry a man with such prospects, Marian, not if she's in her right mind."
"Guy can take care of himself and I'm sure he will understand."
"Leaving Guy is not an option and you are wrong if you think he really can take care of himself because he cannot."
Allan remembered how the very first days of their travel to Nottingham, Guy could never stop talking about two things: that chest and death. He had everything planned in his mind, he was talking through his sleep and Allan became aware of what Guy intended to do as soon as he recovered the wooden chest.
The first part was retrieve the box and took whatever it was inside (though Allan never knew it was a box till that very day cause Guy was always muttering about "getting it"). Next move: find King Richard wherever he may be and give him an important message. Once the mission was completed, death was the only option for him. He felt empty inside, alone and misguided. No home or family of his own and the woman of his life had declared to love somebody else so... No chance for him to redemption. No more Sir Guy.
"He is lucky to have you by his side" Marian agreed. Allan may seem a man who only care for himself but he was a most faithful friend. "So what's the story?"
"Pardon?!" Allan didn't have a clue what she was talking about.
"Winchester? What's his story?"
"Outlaws. he just said " Are you gonna confront him?"
"Not right now. But the time will come and the sooner the better"
"Just let me know, ok? No more ridings alone!"
"About that, will you mind to go back to the camp whenever you can and let Guy know I'm fine and safe."
"He already knows! " Allan answered.
"HOW?"
"He's been after you all this time. I saw him leaving the minute I appeared."
The gates of the castle in front of them and they got into the yard leaving the stable boys to take care of the horses. Lady Georgia run into the Great Hall where the Sheriff and Winchester were spending some time making plans.
"Georgie, you are supposed to knock before storming in."
"I know... I know... "she answered trying to catch her breath "But Lady Marian... Lady Marian is in the castle!"
"That's not possible! She was dead! I saw her! "Winchested claimed.
"She appears to be injured but pretty much alive, my lord."
"Go and make sure she's fine or if she's in need of something. Maybe we should call a physician..." the Sheriff commanded to his wife.
"You're helping her? "Winchester wondered in awe.
"Of course I am. She's noble, she's Locksley's bride to be and this man is one of King's protegees so I intend to do anything in my power to gain the king's favor just in case..."
Sarah was patienly waiting in Marian's rooms for her to come back. Suddenly the door opened and there she was.
"My lady! " exclaimed as she run to grab a hold on her."I was so worried about you. Thought of everything and anything good could happen to you in that forest."
"I'm fine, Sarah! But thanks for sending me Allan" she said as she turned to thank the man but he was already gone.
"What happened to your arm? Do you need a bath? Are you hungry? I'm going to fetch something for you in the kitchens and be back at once." she told Marian leaving in a rush.
Allan was turning around the corner when he heard Sarah calling his name.
"Allan!" she was running into him and hold him tight. He could do nothing, wanted to do nothing to avoid it. She kissed him softly on the lips and just whispered a thank you, Allan! before she started to walk in a hurry to the kitchen. Allan stood there watching her walk away.
"Well, that's something!" he smiled with his mouth and his eyes and went back to the real thing. Vaisey's rooms.
He was sure now the box wasn't in the castle. If the new Sheriff had found it, he wouldn't be getting the castle upside down with that small witch on the head. The point was: how to say this to Guy without... Well, he was more friendly now but some things never change.
He was ready to leave but wanted to see Marian before going back to the camp. The lady was very strong but he knew it was more facade than real strength.
"Marian? "he whispered to her door. Marian flew and opened it soon. She was so relieved to see Allan's cheeky face once more. The man got something and she was sure Sarah has noticed that.
"Are you feeling better?" he asked looking directly to her arm.
"Oh, this is nothing" she pretended " a simple scratch. Did you find the chest?"
"Nope. And I don't know what I'm gonna say to Guy. He was here because of that damn thing"
"Do you know why it's so important for him?"
"He hasn't said a word about it. He's procteting me it seems but I often wonder if such an evil thing could be kept in a particularly small object" he said to no one indeed.
"The same way a great happiness can be hold in a small piece of paper or written in three little words."
"Tis' an ambush?" he ventured.
"I love you" she answered back.
"Oh, I feel flattered but I'm not a free man at the moment" he mocked.
"You love her, don't you?"
"Well, considering I've been thinking of her all the time and I've missed her more that I've missed Old Dora's roast beef with grapes...
"Yes, you do!"
"But I have no hope, my lady. Sarah would never put her eyes on such a waste of a man as I am. I know I'm cheerful and looks like nothing can break me but... I don't want to think, you know. If I only have this here and now, I'm gonna get it while I still can."
And she was left alone. In her rooms once more. Just a few days and Guy had really messed up her life up to down. She went to the big chest where she kept her gowns and opened it looking for something: Guy's shirt and gloves. Her fingers described a line through the wolf-heads on the gloves before passing through the black ties on the neck of the shirt. She smelled the leather and put one of the gloves under her pillow and took the other with her to the table where she sat to write the most difficult letter of all.
You know comments are happiness to me and I can assure you and need some happiness in my life right now :P
Thank you for reading and commenting and if you have any suggestions, please just let me know.
His eyes magically closed as he felt her near him. It was a dream come true. A real kiss from her lips and he did nothing to deserve it. His skin was burning just by her touch, her hands still on his face as if she was afraid he broke the contact. It was... like he always thought. The most perfect thing ever happened to him but... Still it was not right.
"No!" he heard himself saying while he pulled her away. "Marian, stop this now!"
The lady was a bit reluctant to obey, as always, but this must end this very moment.
"What is all this?" he questioned her.
"It's a kiss" she just said. "I bet you would recognize the move"
"Don't play with me, Marian, you'll get burned"
"I'm not playing. I just... " she stopped herself.
"Just what, woman? I'll tell you what you were doing... Charming me once more to serve your plans. Let's kiss poor desperate Guy and make him believe he still has a chance".
"It's not that way. Guy... " she started but he didn't let her finish.
"Guy what? Are you gonna tell me that you love me? That you came back to the castle and noticed how much you miss me and you can't imagine your life without me?"
Yes, that was exactly what she was feeling. And the box. That box was like an open door to his heart. But now she knew he couldn't believe her. Not now, not this way. She needed to do things right. And the first thing was to face her own feelings. She would write to Robin as soon as she got the castle.
"Marian, if you ever cared for me as you had always claimed... Let me go." he said caressing her hair.
"I think it's time to go back to the castle" she said.
"I think that's the cleverest thing you said since you got here but..."
"But what? I thought you wanted to get rid of me as soon as possible."
"The idea of that Winchester trying to hurt you again, Marian... " and he bent his head down to his feet as a way to avoid her eyes. "I killed his father and I will do it again just to..." he stopped himself.
"I know " she said as she gently kissed him on his cheek. "But no need of bloodshed right now. I'll deal my own battles. I'm the Nightwatchman, remember?". She held his head up and smiled to him. Wide open smile just for him as an assurance of her safety.
"Not anymore. You promised me. " he said smiling back "Silly me, I always forgot you're not good at keeping promises."
An akward silence fell between them and Marian looked at him intently. There was sadness and worry in his eyes. She didn't know what to say to make him look at her again like those other times, to touch her like before...
"Don't provoke him, Marian, please! Leave him alone! Can you just promise me that?
"Will you help me ride back on my horse?" she asked to avoid the moment.
Winchester had waited a long time near the castle just to make sure they don't get on time to rescue Marian. He had cut himself on his arm and tore his expensives clothes up to down. He left his body leaning on the head of his horse and pretended to be crushed.
"Somebody help me, please!" he cried dramatically as soon as he entered the gates. "Lady Marian! She's alone in the woods!" and threw himself from the horse.
Sarah was walking through the hallways when she heard voices in the yard. Up from the balcony he could see Winchester falling down from his horse as he cried something about her lady.
She dropped the clean linens and run fast to Marian's bedroom looking for Allan. He was not there. Probably he went to Vaisey's rooms to get that little damn box.
"Oh, Lord, please! Keep my lady safe!" she prayed as she run even faster than before. She knocked on the door crying for Allan.
"Allan! Allan! "she cried till she felt one hand covering her mouth.
"Are you insane, woman? Stop this now or I'll be hung before dinner." he said as she moved restlessly to free herself. She wisely used her elbows on a certain part of his anatomy to guarantee that. "Ouch! I hope you don't want to have family of your own, my dear. I'm not sure If I could use them anymore!"
"Not now, Dale! she whispered when she was free.
"That means that maybe sometime we could have our sexy time?"
"Winchester is back! Without Lady Marian!"
"Well, I dont blame her! Her father was an old pest and being younger doesn't make his son more delightful" he said with a silly grin.
"Oh, think for once! He said something about the woods! Maybe Sir Guy attacked them!"
"Whoaaaaaa there! Guy would rather die before hurting Marian. He loves her!" And then he realized he shouldn't say that so tried hard to keep the focus out of it. " Winchester is not a safety policy to Marian. He rejected the father once and he died so..."
"Go, please and check it! My lady could be hurt or... Worse!" Sarah was taken by panic and fear.
"Don't worry, my girl. I'll bring her home safe" he assured "Now go your duties as if nothing happened. I'll find you when I'm back"
Sarah went to the door and before turning the handle she said quiet thank you to Allan.
Marian has been thinking of her next step as soon as she got to the castle. Probably Winchester would be surprised to find her alive and back, so she could choose to ignore him or acusse him. Neither of them was a nice choice. Ignoring him would lead Winchester to believe he had won a battle and acussing him would require futher explanation and less liberty to move around the castle and the woods. And God knew she needed to come back and see Guy.
Her time with him was precious. Though they spent most of the time arguing and fighting, he managed to spark a fire inside her that made her feel dizzy, afraid and completely happy at the same time. She remembered the soft of his touch, the feel of his lips upon hers and how his piercing blue eyes hooked her while their tongues started to dance slowly into each other... Stop thinking about that, Marian! she said to herself, feeling her hands shaking just with the thought.
Like it or not, crazy or not, Guy was her man. Kisses with Robin were never like this. They were sweet and calm but with Guy there was passion, anxiety, tenderness, desire,... Mixed emotions she wasn't even able to explain to herself. As soon as she arrived the castle, she must write to Robin.
In the Great Hall, Sheriff was trying to find out what really happened to Lady Marian. Winchester insisted they'd been attacked by outlaws but Foxley wasn't buying that.
"So are you actually going to tell me what you did to the lady or do I have to use my fertile imagination?"
"I've already told you: Outlaws." Winchester repeated for the nineth time this afternoon "We were having a nice ride when a bunch of them came down from trees, like rain and tried to catch us. Lady Marian was not lucky enough."
"Bunch of them? Winchester, may I remain you no outlaws have been seen around Sherwood since King gave Robin and his gang a royal pardon for the crimes commited in the name of England." he made a dramatic pause "So... You try to boss over the lady and she disagreed. Then you went mad and hurt her. Is it that closer to the truth?"
"I would never hurt a lady" he assured as he poured himself another cup of wine.
"Yes, I am devoted and loyal servant of our king... Come on, Winchester! I know what you are made of."
"Perhaps you got me absolutely wrong, Jeff."
"You telling me you don't care that woman was the one your father died for?"
"I tell you what happened if you tell me what you're looking for"
"Something that could change the course of England for ever. It could make me and my allies "he said with a very significant look to his fellow " richer than we have ever dreamed of."
"And that is..."
"Not so fast, my friend."
Sarah knew something was not right. She was praying Allan could find Marian soon and find her well. She had always feared Sir Guy to come and take her far away but by the look of it, her Lady was more than ready to be taken. She had spent the previous night with this small box by her side and Sarah managed to see some black clothes hidden in his bed linens. What if my lady is in love of this wicked man? Servants and maids said the man was devil incarnated and that he was obsessed with the miss.
"Oh, please, don't let her do anything she could regret later" she said as she stayed kneeled in the llitle chapel in the castle. "And God protect Allan for any evil. He's like a painful headache but... he's just my favourite headache. In the name of the Father... " she recited as she got up.
"YOU ARE ALWAYS CAUSING ME TROUBLES!" Allan shouted to a peaceful Marian who have stopped for a little before entered to Nottingham path.
"JESUS! ALLAN!" she shouted herself as she turned around. "You scared me to death!"
"Where the hell have you been? Sarah is sick of worry since she saw Winchester returned alone."
"That pig with a title has stabbed me in the arm and left me in the middle of the road to die"
"Then, what's this? " he asked as he could recognized the bandage she was wearing.
"Guy found me and took care of me"
"And you are both still alive?" he joked.
"I think I got it all wrong, Allan. I'm losing him"
"Why do you say that? Wait... No! I don't want to know."
"But you are the only one who knows everything. You've seen us through the years...
"Yes, you can bet I did. And you know what I got: THIS! "he said pointing to his head" My first grey hairs! You know how hard it's to hide this when you are red hair. I'm not getting any younger and one of this days I may need a wife so..."
"And Sarah?" she said trying to change the subject to make him more comfortable. Allan has the gift to make her laugh. "I thought you had a thing for her"
"And that thing is all I have to offer. I have no titles, lands or fortune. I've been an outlaw and when I had the chance to make a change... Well, then it was Guy. No woman could marry a man with such prospects, Marian, not if she's in her right mind."
"Guy can take care of himself and I'm sure he will understand."
"Leaving Guy is not an option and you are wrong if you think he really can take care of himself because he cannot."
Allan remembered how the very first days of their travel to Nottingham, Guy could never stop talking about two things: that chest and death. He had everything planned in his mind, he was talking through his sleep and Allan became aware of what Guy intended to do as soon as he recovered the wooden chest.
The first part was retrieve the box and took whatever it was inside (though Allan never knew it was a box till that very day cause Guy was always muttering about "getting it"). Next move: find King Richard wherever he may be and give him an important message. Once the mission was completed, death was the only option for him. He felt empty inside, alone and misguided. No home or family of his own and the woman of his life had declared to love somebody else so... No chance for him to redemption. No more Sir Guy.
"He is lucky to have you by his side" Marian agreed. Allan may seem a man who only care for himself but he was a most faithful friend. "So what's the story?"
"Pardon?!" Allan didn't have a clue what she was talking about.
"Winchester? What's his story?"
"Outlaws. he just said " Are you gonna confront him?"
"Not right now. But the time will come and the sooner the better"
"Just let me know, ok? No more ridings alone!"
"About that, will you mind to go back to the camp whenever you can and let Guy know I'm fine and safe."
"He already knows! " Allan answered.
"HOW?"
"He's been after you all this time. I saw him leaving the minute I appeared."
The gates of the castle in front of them and they got into the yard leaving the stable boys to take care of the horses. Lady Georgia run into the Great Hall where the Sheriff and Winchester were spending some time making plans.
"Georgie, you are supposed to knock before storming in."
"I know... I know... "she answered trying to catch her breath "But Lady Marian... Lady Marian is in the castle!"
"That's not possible! She was dead! I saw her! "Winchested claimed.
"She appears to be injured but pretty much alive, my lord."
"Go and make sure she's fine or if she's in need of something. Maybe we should call a physician..." the Sheriff commanded to his wife.
"You're helping her? "Winchester wondered in awe.
"Of course I am. She's noble, she's Locksley's bride to be and this man is one of King's protegees so I intend to do anything in my power to gain the king's favor just in case..."
Sarah was patienly waiting in Marian's rooms for her to come back. Suddenly the door opened and there she was.
"My lady! " exclaimed as she run to grab a hold on her."I was so worried about you. Thought of everything and anything good could happen to you in that forest."
"I'm fine, Sarah! But thanks for sending me Allan" she said as she turned to thank the man but he was already gone.
"What happened to your arm? Do you need a bath? Are you hungry? I'm going to fetch something for you in the kitchens and be back at once." she told Marian leaving in a rush.
Allan was turning around the corner when he heard Sarah calling his name.
"Allan!" she was running into him and hold him tight. He could do nothing, wanted to do nothing to avoid it. She kissed him softly on the lips and just whispered a thank you, Allan! before she started to walk in a hurry to the kitchen. Allan stood there watching her walk away.
"Well, that's something!" he smiled with his mouth and his eyes and went back to the real thing. Vaisey's rooms.
He was sure now the box wasn't in the castle. If the new Sheriff had found it, he wouldn't be getting the castle upside down with that small witch on the head. The point was: how to say this to Guy without... Well, he was more friendly now but some things never change.
He was ready to leave but wanted to see Marian before going back to the camp. The lady was very strong but he knew it was more facade than real strength.
"Marian? "he whispered to her door. Marian flew and opened it soon. She was so relieved to see Allan's cheeky face once more. The man got something and she was sure Sarah has noticed that.
"Are you feeling better?" he asked looking directly to her arm.
"Oh, this is nothing" she pretended " a simple scratch. Did you find the chest?"
"Nope. And I don't know what I'm gonna say to Guy. He was here because of that damn thing"
"Do you know why it's so important for him?"
"He hasn't said a word about it. He's procteting me it seems but I often wonder if such an evil thing could be kept in a particularly small object" he said to no one indeed.
"The same way a great happiness can be hold in a small piece of paper or written in three little words."
"Tis' an ambush?" he ventured.
"I love you" she answered back.
"Oh, I feel flattered but I'm not a free man at the moment" he mocked.
"You love her, don't you?"
"Well, considering I've been thinking of her all the time and I've missed her more that I've missed Old Dora's roast beef with grapes...
"Yes, you do!"
"But I have no hope, my lady. Sarah would never put her eyes on such a waste of a man as I am. I know I'm cheerful and looks like nothing can break me but... I don't want to think, you know. If I only have this here and now, I'm gonna get it while I still can."
And she was left alone. In her rooms once more. Just a few days and Guy had really messed up her life up to down. She went to the big chest where she kept her gowns and opened it looking for something: Guy's shirt and gloves. Her fingers described a line through the wolf-heads on the gloves before passing through the black ties on the neck of the shirt. She smelled the leather and put one of the gloves under her pillow and took the other with her to the table where she sat to write the most difficult letter of all.