Soft Thorns in the Leather, Part 2/5
The walls in the castle felt cold as Marian walked along them early in the morning. The halls were silent. . . she didn’t hear anything - except from the clumsy sound of iron clinking a few feet behind her. The guards that were going to watch and follow her every single minute of the day went after her sleepily.
A light shone through the gaps in the windows and made a shadowy light on the stone floor. Most of the servants were already awake and had begun to prepare the castle for the day’s event, even though it almost was like a regular day. The Sheriff always had plans. And today he had something special arranged in Locksley.
Marian sighed deeply and looked at the guards who still followed her. The hall ended and she tried to make a quick turn to the left to be freed from the sheriff’s employees. But instead, she found herself bumped into a wall of leather.
The basket Marian had been carrying fell to the floor and a bunch of apples spread along the enormous corridor. Marian looked straight forward and was met by the item she had walked in to. Her cheeks became rosy and she was blushing from the rots of her hair.
It was Guy.
Marian bent to her knees and began to gather the nearby apples. “I’m so sorry, Sir Guy, I did not see you.”
Guy bent down too but didn’t help her. His eyes lingered at her and he stared at her for a while. She didn’t want to look at him. She had other things to think about. Not him. Not now.
“Marian, where are your guards?” he asked with a small smirk and raised eyebrows.
She didn’t answer at first, but then she became relived when she heard that clumsy sound again. Her three guards appeared around the corner. They had not even noticed that she’d gone missing.
“Here they are!” Marian said anxiously and smiled and then moved over to the other apples with the basket on her hip.
Guy rose and folded his arms and studied Marian as she put back the apples in the basket. There was still a few more left at the end of the hall.
“Take care of this.” Guy said to the guards and then grabbed Marian by the arm when she was heading towards the halls end. Marian tried to gain her balance as she got pushed inside of one of the nearby washing rooms that stood empty.
Guy closed the wooden door behind them and leaned against it with his back. He looked at Marian with a serious and questioning stare.
Marian smoothed down the end of her dress before she met his eyes. They were burning. Was it lust she saw? Lust and hope. Of course last nights happenings would make a difference in their relationship. She had acted wrongly and she knew it. Last night had been filled with confusion.
She wanted Robin.
“What is going on, Guy?” she asked with an uncertain voice.
Guy smirked as he turned the large key in the keyhole and heard the door lock. He stayed at the door - taking of his gloves smoothly.
“I wanted to have a word with you about yesterday.”
Marian frowned. “What - What about yesterday?” she asked cautiously.
Guy chuckled, amused, and went away from the door. He glanced at her from the corner of his eyes.
“I think you know.” he said. “You came to Locksley very late, Marian. I heard my servants talk this morning about the possibility that you might - ”
“I didn’t attend to make your servants mislead. It was unprofessional, I confess. I hope you send them my apology.” she said and turned the handle on the door, and found it locked. She slowly took her hand away.
Guy looked at her with a confused and hurt expression. Had it all been a lie? Had she used him again?
“You said you came because you wanted to be with me.” he began. “You kissed me back...” He moved over to her and his steps made her flinch. “What was your real intention yesterday? You never wanted to be with me. You only wanted your and your father’s freedom!”
“No! That is not true! I wanted. . . That is. . .” she shrieked.
“What?! What do you want, Marian?” Guy hissed and stared into her eyes. Marian knew that if she said the wrong things in this moment, everything would be a grand loss. It was either lie, or die.
She swallowed and gathered herself into a calm and relaxed self. “You are misleading yourself... Only because I rejected you once... does not mean I’ll do so forever... Guy I...”
They looked at each other. Guy waited impatiently for her to continue. But she didn’t. She only stared at him with her mouth half open. Her eyes betrayed her.
Guy sighed and looked away. He licked his lips and began to unlock the door. “If I notice you’re lying, I will have to punish you.” he said strongly and was about to leave the room.
“Guy…”
“No. You can talk to me when you know where you stand.” he said and left the room.
Marian tried to hurry after him but when she reached the hallway she was met by her guards, one of them held the basket full of apples. Marian sighed deeply... There was no Guy to be seen.
.
To see Guy almost drown was actually very hard for Marian. She knew Robin wouldn’t kill him. But to see him like that, out of breath and destroyed made her unable to look at him. She saved him that day. She saved Robin. She did all this for Robin… Guy just happened to be there.
Guy was still angry with her. He didn’t say much, only asking her lots of questions that were making her uncomfortable.
Guy stayed in Locksley and Marian returned to the castle with the Sheriff. The sky was dark, covered in stars and the shiny moon was placed above the castle tower. Marian thought the day was over when she headed towards her chamber with some guards behind her. But a scared maid came running towards her in the other end of the hallway.
“Lady Marian! My Lady!” the young servant cried and breathed hard as she stopped in front of Marian.
“What’s the matter? Has something happened?” Marian asked and looked at the girl.
“Your father. Sir Edward… he’s not well...”
At those words Marian’s expression froze and the blood in her veins did too. She couldn’t move, she couldn’t speak, nor think. She didn’t hear the servant girl repeat her name… But after some minutes, she woke up from the fright that had captured her and she began to run in the direction of her father’s room. The guards followed her.
Marian couldn’t describe the things that swept through her mind when she ran faster through the corridors. Deep down inside of her she could feel the fear of being left alone, here in Nottingham, with the Sheriff and Guy. To be held like a prisoner for the rest of her life was nothing she would be able to survive with.
She came to the door leading in to her father’s chamber. It stood ajar and she could hear three voices, she recognized her father’s low one and the sheriff’s. Then there was one she couldn’t put in place. Marian entered the room slowly and stared at her father. His face was almost white and he had black circles under his eyes. He looked like a living dead. Her father who had taken care of her all these years was lying on his deathbed, from what it looked like.
“Ah, Lady Marian!” the sheriff said as he turned to the door. He looked almost pleased to see her. Pleased to see her scared face. “So you heard about your father I see.”
Marian didn’t reply. She only walked closer to the bed, kneeled down beside her father and took his hand in hers. The candles beside her shone at the right side of her features, and the left side of her father’s.
His eyes told her he was sorry and that he didn’t want this. Marian smiled sadly with shaking lips and squeezed his hand.
“How touching. I have to admit, I did think you would run sobbing into Gisborne’s arms… But obviously, I was wrong!” Vasey said and let his hand hit the physician’s shoulder. The man, the sheriff’s own physician called Blight, flinched and looked at the sheriff.
“You can go now.” Vasey said.
“Of course, My Lord.” Blight said and bowed lightly and then headed towards the door.
The Sheriff remained in the room with Edward and Marian, looking at them while Marian almost broke into tears. He smiled to himself. He had spoken to Blight before he came to Edward’s room. And he told Blight not to visit Edward any more. This was the his chance to get rid of the old man for good. He would deny all access to medicine and physicians until Edward was dead.
Vasey clasped his hand together without making the others notice. “Well, Missy. I guess you should say goodbye to your dear father now. He will be gone within the night is over. And don’t try to find some healer or physician of any sort… Because I will not allow that.”
Marian quickly turned her head towards the sheriff. “What? No… No! This can not be…” she mumbled under her breath.
“I’ll let you two… well, say goodbye then.” He smiled widely and left the room. The door closed and Marian’s guards stayed outside.
.
It was a little after midnight and Marian had not left her father’s side once. He was beginning to speak lower and more carefully. He tried to smile at his daughter but failed. Marian was not herself. She couldn’t picture her father gone from this life. How was she ever going to make it? Would she leave the castle? Go and join the gang… What about Robin? What… What would happen to Guy?
Marian felt tears welling up in her eyes again. And this time they did slide down her cheeks. She still held her father’s hand and looked in to his eyes.
“I will not leave you, father. I am so sorry for everything I have done… I should have been a better daughter to you… I should - ”
“No… You are the most perfect daughter I could ever have had…” Edward whispered and squeezed his daughter’s hand.
Edward and Marian suddenly heard voices outside the door.
The door opened and a dark-haired man entered. Marian looked in the direction of the door. Her heart stopped in worry when she saw Guy’s face. Why had he come? He was angry with her. Was he here to take her away from her father or was he here to gloat?
“Please don’t take me away from him…” Marian pleaded and brushed away a few tears with her hand. She noticed another person standing behind Guy. She looked at him in confusion.
Guy closed the door carefully when the other man went inside. Guy glanced at Marian before he began to speak.
“I heard what happened.” he said and cleared his throat. “And I heard that the sheriff has denied Sir Edward a physician… Therefore, I brought you mine…”
Sloan, Sir Guy's physician, couldn’t avoid his master’s stare. Sir Guy's severe look told him to take care of the former sheriff.
Sloan went over to Sir Edward with a bag full of instruments and medicine in fluid form. “Please My Lady, I need some room.” Sloan said and put a finger on Edward’s neck. Marian didn’t know what he was doing… She was not going to ask either. Marian rose from her knees and walked over to Guy.
“Why are you doing this?” she asked quietly and stared at him.
Guy did not look at her. He folded his arms and inhaled. “You helped me today… I thought I might bring you something in return…” his voice was calm and warm in some way. But his surface looked very tense and strong. Marian could not make out if he was angry or happy.
She was very thankful and touched by Guy’s gesture and felt herself blush a little. “T-Thank you, Guy…”
Guy nodded. “It was nothing.” He looked at her a bit now and saw how her eyes changed colour by the candle lights.
.
The hours passed and Marian was sleeping in one of the armchairs next to the dying fireplace. Edward was stable and awake now thanks to Sloan’s herbs and he was observing Sir Guy with half-closed eyes.
Guy was sitting in the opposite chair from Marian’s and was watching her sleep. She looked so beautiful, so peaceful. Some of her brown locks lay across her face and Guy couldn’t keep his smile away. He heard something from the other side of the room. He saw Edward looking at him.
Guy rose from his chair and walked over to the man with quiet steps. “Is there something I can do for you, Sir Edward?” Guy said silently.
“Yes,” Sir Edward said. “Please take my daughter to her room… I would not want her to sleep in a chair…” the older man whispered.
Guy nodded and walked back to Marian when Edward closed his eyes and began to drift off to sleep.
The sun was soon to appear on the horizon. Marian was sleeping a deep sleep and didn’t wake up when Guy placed his arms on her back and under her knees. Carefully, he carried her out of the room. Guy glanced at her features. She had her head against his chest and groaned softly. Guy thought she would wake up but was relieved when she didn’t.
Marian’s door was wide open. Guy went inside and gently placed her upon the bed. He took off her boots but left her dress on… He drew a blanket over her to her shoulders.
He sat on the side of the bed, watching her. When he was going to leave, he moved close and kissed her softly on the forehead. He flinched when he felt a hand on his. He looked down and saw Marian’s hand, squeezing his. She was still asleep.
Marian cuddled closer to the item in seeking of warmth.
Guy’s mouth fell open when her hand clasped his jacket. He had to lie down on his back to not fall onto her. Marian’s hand stayed on his chest and her head landed on his shoulder. Guy lay completely still, just listening to Marian’s breaths. He had never been lying next to Marian before… He had thought of it, imagined it… but never done it - until now.
A light shone through the gaps in the windows and made a shadowy light on the stone floor. Most of the servants were already awake and had begun to prepare the castle for the day’s event, even though it almost was like a regular day. The Sheriff always had plans. And today he had something special arranged in Locksley.
Marian sighed deeply and looked at the guards who still followed her. The hall ended and she tried to make a quick turn to the left to be freed from the sheriff’s employees. But instead, she found herself bumped into a wall of leather.
The basket Marian had been carrying fell to the floor and a bunch of apples spread along the enormous corridor. Marian looked straight forward and was met by the item she had walked in to. Her cheeks became rosy and she was blushing from the rots of her hair.
It was Guy.
Marian bent to her knees and began to gather the nearby apples. “I’m so sorry, Sir Guy, I did not see you.”
Guy bent down too but didn’t help her. His eyes lingered at her and he stared at her for a while. She didn’t want to look at him. She had other things to think about. Not him. Not now.
“Marian, where are your guards?” he asked with a small smirk and raised eyebrows.
She didn’t answer at first, but then she became relived when she heard that clumsy sound again. Her three guards appeared around the corner. They had not even noticed that she’d gone missing.
“Here they are!” Marian said anxiously and smiled and then moved over to the other apples with the basket on her hip.
Guy rose and folded his arms and studied Marian as she put back the apples in the basket. There was still a few more left at the end of the hall.
“Take care of this.” Guy said to the guards and then grabbed Marian by the arm when she was heading towards the halls end. Marian tried to gain her balance as she got pushed inside of one of the nearby washing rooms that stood empty.
Guy closed the wooden door behind them and leaned against it with his back. He looked at Marian with a serious and questioning stare.
Marian smoothed down the end of her dress before she met his eyes. They were burning. Was it lust she saw? Lust and hope. Of course last nights happenings would make a difference in their relationship. She had acted wrongly and she knew it. Last night had been filled with confusion.
She wanted Robin.
“What is going on, Guy?” she asked with an uncertain voice.
Guy smirked as he turned the large key in the keyhole and heard the door lock. He stayed at the door - taking of his gloves smoothly.
“I wanted to have a word with you about yesterday.”
Marian frowned. “What - What about yesterday?” she asked cautiously.
Guy chuckled, amused, and went away from the door. He glanced at her from the corner of his eyes.
“I think you know.” he said. “You came to Locksley very late, Marian. I heard my servants talk this morning about the possibility that you might - ”
“I didn’t attend to make your servants mislead. It was unprofessional, I confess. I hope you send them my apology.” she said and turned the handle on the door, and found it locked. She slowly took her hand away.
Guy looked at her with a confused and hurt expression. Had it all been a lie? Had she used him again?
“You said you came because you wanted to be with me.” he began. “You kissed me back...” He moved over to her and his steps made her flinch. “What was your real intention yesterday? You never wanted to be with me. You only wanted your and your father’s freedom!”
“No! That is not true! I wanted. . . That is. . .” she shrieked.
“What?! What do you want, Marian?” Guy hissed and stared into her eyes. Marian knew that if she said the wrong things in this moment, everything would be a grand loss. It was either lie, or die.
She swallowed and gathered herself into a calm and relaxed self. “You are misleading yourself... Only because I rejected you once... does not mean I’ll do so forever... Guy I...”
They looked at each other. Guy waited impatiently for her to continue. But she didn’t. She only stared at him with her mouth half open. Her eyes betrayed her.
Guy sighed and looked away. He licked his lips and began to unlock the door. “If I notice you’re lying, I will have to punish you.” he said strongly and was about to leave the room.
“Guy…”
“No. You can talk to me when you know where you stand.” he said and left the room.
Marian tried to hurry after him but when she reached the hallway she was met by her guards, one of them held the basket full of apples. Marian sighed deeply... There was no Guy to be seen.
.
To see Guy almost drown was actually very hard for Marian. She knew Robin wouldn’t kill him. But to see him like that, out of breath and destroyed made her unable to look at him. She saved him that day. She saved Robin. She did all this for Robin… Guy just happened to be there.
Guy was still angry with her. He didn’t say much, only asking her lots of questions that were making her uncomfortable.
Guy stayed in Locksley and Marian returned to the castle with the Sheriff. The sky was dark, covered in stars and the shiny moon was placed above the castle tower. Marian thought the day was over when she headed towards her chamber with some guards behind her. But a scared maid came running towards her in the other end of the hallway.
“Lady Marian! My Lady!” the young servant cried and breathed hard as she stopped in front of Marian.
“What’s the matter? Has something happened?” Marian asked and looked at the girl.
“Your father. Sir Edward… he’s not well...”
At those words Marian’s expression froze and the blood in her veins did too. She couldn’t move, she couldn’t speak, nor think. She didn’t hear the servant girl repeat her name… But after some minutes, she woke up from the fright that had captured her and she began to run in the direction of her father’s room. The guards followed her.
Marian couldn’t describe the things that swept through her mind when she ran faster through the corridors. Deep down inside of her she could feel the fear of being left alone, here in Nottingham, with the Sheriff and Guy. To be held like a prisoner for the rest of her life was nothing she would be able to survive with.
She came to the door leading in to her father’s chamber. It stood ajar and she could hear three voices, she recognized her father’s low one and the sheriff’s. Then there was one she couldn’t put in place. Marian entered the room slowly and stared at her father. His face was almost white and he had black circles under his eyes. He looked like a living dead. Her father who had taken care of her all these years was lying on his deathbed, from what it looked like.
“Ah, Lady Marian!” the sheriff said as he turned to the door. He looked almost pleased to see her. Pleased to see her scared face. “So you heard about your father I see.”
Marian didn’t reply. She only walked closer to the bed, kneeled down beside her father and took his hand in hers. The candles beside her shone at the right side of her features, and the left side of her father’s.
His eyes told her he was sorry and that he didn’t want this. Marian smiled sadly with shaking lips and squeezed his hand.
“How touching. I have to admit, I did think you would run sobbing into Gisborne’s arms… But obviously, I was wrong!” Vasey said and let his hand hit the physician’s shoulder. The man, the sheriff’s own physician called Blight, flinched and looked at the sheriff.
“You can go now.” Vasey said.
“Of course, My Lord.” Blight said and bowed lightly and then headed towards the door.
The Sheriff remained in the room with Edward and Marian, looking at them while Marian almost broke into tears. He smiled to himself. He had spoken to Blight before he came to Edward’s room. And he told Blight not to visit Edward any more. This was the his chance to get rid of the old man for good. He would deny all access to medicine and physicians until Edward was dead.
Vasey clasped his hand together without making the others notice. “Well, Missy. I guess you should say goodbye to your dear father now. He will be gone within the night is over. And don’t try to find some healer or physician of any sort… Because I will not allow that.”
Marian quickly turned her head towards the sheriff. “What? No… No! This can not be…” she mumbled under her breath.
“I’ll let you two… well, say goodbye then.” He smiled widely and left the room. The door closed and Marian’s guards stayed outside.
.
It was a little after midnight and Marian had not left her father’s side once. He was beginning to speak lower and more carefully. He tried to smile at his daughter but failed. Marian was not herself. She couldn’t picture her father gone from this life. How was she ever going to make it? Would she leave the castle? Go and join the gang… What about Robin? What… What would happen to Guy?
Marian felt tears welling up in her eyes again. And this time they did slide down her cheeks. She still held her father’s hand and looked in to his eyes.
“I will not leave you, father. I am so sorry for everything I have done… I should have been a better daughter to you… I should - ”
“No… You are the most perfect daughter I could ever have had…” Edward whispered and squeezed his daughter’s hand.
Edward and Marian suddenly heard voices outside the door.
The door opened and a dark-haired man entered. Marian looked in the direction of the door. Her heart stopped in worry when she saw Guy’s face. Why had he come? He was angry with her. Was he here to take her away from her father or was he here to gloat?
“Please don’t take me away from him…” Marian pleaded and brushed away a few tears with her hand. She noticed another person standing behind Guy. She looked at him in confusion.
Guy closed the door carefully when the other man went inside. Guy glanced at Marian before he began to speak.
“I heard what happened.” he said and cleared his throat. “And I heard that the sheriff has denied Sir Edward a physician… Therefore, I brought you mine…”
Sloan, Sir Guy's physician, couldn’t avoid his master’s stare. Sir Guy's severe look told him to take care of the former sheriff.
Sloan went over to Sir Edward with a bag full of instruments and medicine in fluid form. “Please My Lady, I need some room.” Sloan said and put a finger on Edward’s neck. Marian didn’t know what he was doing… She was not going to ask either. Marian rose from her knees and walked over to Guy.
“Why are you doing this?” she asked quietly and stared at him.
Guy did not look at her. He folded his arms and inhaled. “You helped me today… I thought I might bring you something in return…” his voice was calm and warm in some way. But his surface looked very tense and strong. Marian could not make out if he was angry or happy.
She was very thankful and touched by Guy’s gesture and felt herself blush a little. “T-Thank you, Guy…”
Guy nodded. “It was nothing.” He looked at her a bit now and saw how her eyes changed colour by the candle lights.
.
The hours passed and Marian was sleeping in one of the armchairs next to the dying fireplace. Edward was stable and awake now thanks to Sloan’s herbs and he was observing Sir Guy with half-closed eyes.
Guy was sitting in the opposite chair from Marian’s and was watching her sleep. She looked so beautiful, so peaceful. Some of her brown locks lay across her face and Guy couldn’t keep his smile away. He heard something from the other side of the room. He saw Edward looking at him.
Guy rose from his chair and walked over to the man with quiet steps. “Is there something I can do for you, Sir Edward?” Guy said silently.
“Yes,” Sir Edward said. “Please take my daughter to her room… I would not want her to sleep in a chair…” the older man whispered.
Guy nodded and walked back to Marian when Edward closed his eyes and began to drift off to sleep.
The sun was soon to appear on the horizon. Marian was sleeping a deep sleep and didn’t wake up when Guy placed his arms on her back and under her knees. Carefully, he carried her out of the room. Guy glanced at her features. She had her head against his chest and groaned softly. Guy thought she would wake up but was relieved when she didn’t.
Marian’s door was wide open. Guy went inside and gently placed her upon the bed. He took off her boots but left her dress on… He drew a blanket over her to her shoulders.
He sat on the side of the bed, watching her. When he was going to leave, he moved close and kissed her softly on the forehead. He flinched when he felt a hand on his. He looked down and saw Marian’s hand, squeezing his. She was still asleep.
Marian cuddled closer to the item in seeking of warmth.
Guy’s mouth fell open when her hand clasped his jacket. He had to lie down on his back to not fall onto her. Marian’s hand stayed on his chest and her head landed on his shoulder. Guy lay completely still, just listening to Marian’s breaths. He had never been lying next to Marian before… He had thought of it, imagined it… but never done it - until now.