Fic: To Cozen Fortune - Chapter 3
Title, Chapter: To Cozen Fortune, Chapter 3
Author: roh_wyn
Summary: Guy and Isabella leave Locksley and arrive in France to make a new life for themselves. A pre-series exploration of these two characters and how they become the people we see on the show.
Characters/Pairings: Guy of Gisborne, Isabella, Lambert (of black powder fame), OCs.
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers/Warnings: Spoilers for 3x10, "Bad Blood"; possible (but inadvertent) fudging of canon timeline
Disclaimer: Robin Hood belongs to Tiger Aspect, BBC and legend. All Rights Reserved. No copyright infringement is intended, and no money is being made.
Notes: Many thanks to applebeing for her excellent beta work. Any errors that remain are mine entirely. Thanks to shinysparks for her amazing artistic contribution. Thanks also to kegel84 who kept me company online as I wrote this story, and to railise and thymelady for helping me with the title.
Artwork by shinysparks
Chapter 3. Marching
Late November 1175
Abbaye aux Hommes, Caën, Normandy
Abbot Martin studied his ward with a keen eye. The boy was tall and had he been better fed over the past few years, he would have been strong as well. He had the look of his mother, which pleased Martin, but also the temperament of his father, which did not.
But despite his training, he could discern little else about the lad. His melancholy-and the reasons for it-were clear enough, but of his ambitions and desires, he knew nothing. The girl had been easier to understand. She said little, but there was a restlessness about her, a storm behind her eyes that frightened Martin a little. But it also reassured him. He was certain he knew how to handle her, or at least keep her in check.
Guy and his sister had been at the abbey more than a month, and in that time, they had conducted themselves with decorum and discipline, as Martin had expected of them. But they had surprised him by making no demands on him, as others exploiting the bonds of kinship might have attempted. Indeed, they never sought him out on their own, and it was left to Martin to speak to them once a week when he dined in the chapter house with the other monks.
But two days ago, much to his surprise, he'd received word from Rupert Kitchener that Guy wished to speak to him in private, and so Guy now sat before him, looking nervous but very determined.
"So. To what do I owe the honor, Guy?"
The boy cleared his throat and began awkwardly. "My lord abbot. Er, Uncle." He shifted in his seat and collected himself before meeting Martin's eyes evenly. "I would like to discuss my future with you. That is, what is to become of me here."
Martin brought a hand to his chin in a thoughtful gesture, but really just to hide his amusement. "What would you like to become?"
Guy looked surprised and then shook his head and fell into silence. Martin sighed.
"What I mean is, I cannot answer your question until you've answered a few of mine."
"Yes, of course. Ask me anything."
Martin rose out of his chair and went round the front of his desk, and watched in growing amusement as Guy scrambled out of his chair in a show of respect.
"Tell me, have you any proper education?"
"Yes, some." Martin watched Guy fiddle with his tunic a bit, clearly nervous. "I began training as a knight's squire a few years ago."
"But you did not continue? Because of your parents' death?"
Guy shook his head. "No, before that. It stopped when my father went to the Holy Land. To attend to the king's affairs," he emended hastily.
"So you have some skills with a sword and little else then?" Martin tried to keep the mockery out of his voice, but he had little use for the drunken louts who passed for squires and knights these days.
Guy colored. "I am lettered, of course. But I never got the sort of learning a knight should have." He gave Martin a frank look. "And I'd like to now, with your help."
Martin joined his hand under the sleeves of his habit and pondered the matter before answering. "I think it's commendable that you wish to learn. But there is not enough room here for everyone."
"Unless you want to be a monk."
Guy gaped at him, and then stammered. "I…I have-"
Martin allowed himself a chuckle, though he allowed it to dissolve into a cough that hid his amusement from the lad. "There is a long period of postulancy, of course. You'd have to stay here and learn for at least two years before you could become a novice." He let his voice trail off, allowing Guy to figure out the rest on his own.
It took several minutes before there was any response, but eventually, Guy nodded at his uncle. "Yes, yes. I think I will become a postulant." Guy smiled shyly. "That is, if it is acceptable to you."
Martin congratulated himself for putting the idea in the boy's head. If nothing else, two years as a postulant would convince Guy he did not want to take holy vows. In the meantime, he would receive a proper education at no cost to either himself or Martin.
"Welcome to the Abbey of St. Stephen's, Guy of Gisborne."
--
Guy looked up over the rim of his mug of ale and gave Brother Rupert a look of shock. "What? Why?"
Rupert shuffled his feet and looked uncomfortable. "I just don't think it's a good idea for your sister to stay here."
"But she's done nothing wrong." Guy set the mug down and it clattered noisily before it toppled over, spilling ale onto the stone floor.
Rupert clucked his tongue, and started fussing about, trying to mop up the ale. "That has nothing to do with it. She's a girl, and it's not proper."
Guy wrinkled his eyebrows in concentration, trying hard not to think of why Brother Rupert thought it was improper. "She's only ten. Just a little girl."
Rupert stilled, and gave Guy a long, hard look. "That's true. But she won't be ten forever. If you understand what I mean."
Guy dropped his eyes. He was well aware that Isabella attracted unwanted attention, even at such a young age, if only because she was the only girl at the abbey. But still, it was an abbey, after all, and monks were bound by their oath of chastity. What place could be safer for a girl than an abbey?
"If she can't stay here, where will she go? She has nobody in the world but me." Guy gave Brother Rupert a determined glare. "You cannot just cast her out. I will not abandon her to the world!"
Brother Rupert held up a hand in conciliation. "Nobody is speaking of such things. She is not abandoned. The abbot has…other plans for her."
Guy narrowed his eyes at Rupert. "What sort of plans?"
Rupert blanched and set about cleaning up the ale spill. "She's to be sent to the women's abbey. In two days time."
Guy gave Rupert a withering look before he flew out the door in the direction of the abbot's quarters.
As he raced up the stairs, fueled as much by his anger as by his legs, Guy knew he had no business confronting the abbot. But his sister was the only family he had, and if she was going to be taken from him, there would have to be good reason. He was entitled to an explanation, if nothing else.
He burst into the abbot's private quarters, pushing the heavy wooden door with all his might. The abbot, reading by candlelight, startled and crossed himself, before recognizing Guy.
"What is the meaning of this?" His uncle's voice boomed in the hollow room, and Guy withered, the rush of anger fading quickly.
"I…I heard you're sending Isabella away. Why?"
The abbot laughed. "If you do not know why I must send her away, then you are more of a fool than I first thought!"
Guy pulled himself up, his anger and indignation giving him courage. "She is my sister. You cannot decide her fate without me."
"Is that so?" The abbot allowed his derision to show on his face, and Guy shivered involuntarily. "Tell me, what am I?"
"You?" Guy stammered. "You're the abbot. Our uncle."
"I am your guardian. It is my duty to protect you and your sister, and therefore, it is my right to make decisions for you."
"Did you even ask her? Maybe she doesn't want to be a nun. She's only ten. You can't expect her to know what she-"
Guy stopped short when he felt the abbot's hand on his shoulder. The touch was light, but there was a power to the gesture he had not expected, and he fell silent in anticipation.
"I will say this only once, so hear me out." Martin's voice was only a whisper, but to Guy, it seemed as if he were being yelled at, and he cowered a little as he listened. "I am a difficult man, but not a cruel one. Whatever I do, to you or to Isabella, it is for your own good.
"Though you may not think it now, you will realize it eventually. I ask only that you respect my judgment. Always, and in all things."
The abbot released him, and Guy resisted the urge to rub at the spot in his shoulder that now throbbed with pain.
"Do you understand, Guy?"
Guy nodded, knowing no answer would be appropriate.
The abbot's expression softened. "The women's abbey is not like this place, lad. There are many women there who have not taken vows, postulants, even just common folk. An abbey is a place of safety for many women who find themselves alone in the world. Isabella will not be a nun, unless she wants to be."
"Will I be able to see her?"
"That is not up to me. If the abbess there allows it, then I imagine, yes, you will be able to see her."
Guy nodded and began to leave the room, disturbed and defeated. "Does she know?"
The abbot nodded. "Yes. I told her yesterday. She took the news rather better than you did."
--
"Will you be alright?" Guy watched as Isabella stuffed her meager belongings-an old woolen dress and a ragdoll made by one of the monks-into a pack for her journey to the women's abbey.
Isabella nodded, her eyes clear, but her brow wrinkled. "Do you think it will be cold there? In the other abbey?" She shuffled her feet. "I get to sleep in the kitchen here, and it's nice and warm and-"
Guy stopped her and pulled her into a tight embrace. "It will be fine. You'll have your own room, I think. They'll take good care of you."
Isabella nodded. "That's what Uncle said too." She gave Guy a bright smile. "You know, I think it might be good for me to go. It will be a sort of adventure, won't it?"
"Yes." If you want it to be.
She squeezed his hand. "Don't worry so much. I'm a big girl now. You don't have to look after me all the time.
"Besides, Uncle says they'll let me see you whenever I want."
Guy gave her a wan smile in response, not wanting to disappoint her with the truth.
She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him. "Goodbye, dear brother."
"Goodbye, sister. May God be with you."
She laughed and hoisted her tiny bundle onto her shoulder. "Always."
--
Previous Chapter | Next Chapter
Author: roh_wyn
Summary: Guy and Isabella leave Locksley and arrive in France to make a new life for themselves. A pre-series exploration of these two characters and how they become the people we see on the show.
Characters/Pairings: Guy of Gisborne, Isabella, Lambert (of black powder fame), OCs.
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers/Warnings: Spoilers for 3x10, "Bad Blood"; possible (but inadvertent) fudging of canon timeline
Disclaimer: Robin Hood belongs to Tiger Aspect, BBC and legend. All Rights Reserved. No copyright infringement is intended, and no money is being made.
Notes: Many thanks to applebeing for her excellent beta work. Any errors that remain are mine entirely. Thanks to shinysparks for her amazing artistic contribution. Thanks also to kegel84 who kept me company online as I wrote this story, and to railise and thymelady for helping me with the title.
Artwork by shinysparks
Chapter 3. Marching
Late November 1175
Abbaye aux Hommes, Caën, Normandy
Abbot Martin studied his ward with a keen eye. The boy was tall and had he been better fed over the past few years, he would have been strong as well. He had the look of his mother, which pleased Martin, but also the temperament of his father, which did not.
But despite his training, he could discern little else about the lad. His melancholy-and the reasons for it-were clear enough, but of his ambitions and desires, he knew nothing. The girl had been easier to understand. She said little, but there was a restlessness about her, a storm behind her eyes that frightened Martin a little. But it also reassured him. He was certain he knew how to handle her, or at least keep her in check.
Guy and his sister had been at the abbey more than a month, and in that time, they had conducted themselves with decorum and discipline, as Martin had expected of them. But they had surprised him by making no demands on him, as others exploiting the bonds of kinship might have attempted. Indeed, they never sought him out on their own, and it was left to Martin to speak to them once a week when he dined in the chapter house with the other monks.
But two days ago, much to his surprise, he'd received word from Rupert Kitchener that Guy wished to speak to him in private, and so Guy now sat before him, looking nervous but very determined.
"So. To what do I owe the honor, Guy?"
The boy cleared his throat and began awkwardly. "My lord abbot. Er, Uncle." He shifted in his seat and collected himself before meeting Martin's eyes evenly. "I would like to discuss my future with you. That is, what is to become of me here."
Martin brought a hand to his chin in a thoughtful gesture, but really just to hide his amusement. "What would you like to become?"
Guy looked surprised and then shook his head and fell into silence. Martin sighed.
"What I mean is, I cannot answer your question until you've answered a few of mine."
"Yes, of course. Ask me anything."
Martin rose out of his chair and went round the front of his desk, and watched in growing amusement as Guy scrambled out of his chair in a show of respect.
"Tell me, have you any proper education?"
"Yes, some." Martin watched Guy fiddle with his tunic a bit, clearly nervous. "I began training as a knight's squire a few years ago."
"But you did not continue? Because of your parents' death?"
Guy shook his head. "No, before that. It stopped when my father went to the Holy Land. To attend to the king's affairs," he emended hastily.
"So you have some skills with a sword and little else then?" Martin tried to keep the mockery out of his voice, but he had little use for the drunken louts who passed for squires and knights these days.
Guy colored. "I am lettered, of course. But I never got the sort of learning a knight should have." He gave Martin a frank look. "And I'd like to now, with your help."
Martin joined his hand under the sleeves of his habit and pondered the matter before answering. "I think it's commendable that you wish to learn. But there is not enough room here for everyone."
"Unless you want to be a monk."
Guy gaped at him, and then stammered. "I…I have-"
Martin allowed himself a chuckle, though he allowed it to dissolve into a cough that hid his amusement from the lad. "There is a long period of postulancy, of course. You'd have to stay here and learn for at least two years before you could become a novice." He let his voice trail off, allowing Guy to figure out the rest on his own.
It took several minutes before there was any response, but eventually, Guy nodded at his uncle. "Yes, yes. I think I will become a postulant." Guy smiled shyly. "That is, if it is acceptable to you."
Martin congratulated himself for putting the idea in the boy's head. If nothing else, two years as a postulant would convince Guy he did not want to take holy vows. In the meantime, he would receive a proper education at no cost to either himself or Martin.
"Welcome to the Abbey of St. Stephen's, Guy of Gisborne."
--
Guy looked up over the rim of his mug of ale and gave Brother Rupert a look of shock. "What? Why?"
Rupert shuffled his feet and looked uncomfortable. "I just don't think it's a good idea for your sister to stay here."
"But she's done nothing wrong." Guy set the mug down and it clattered noisily before it toppled over, spilling ale onto the stone floor.
Rupert clucked his tongue, and started fussing about, trying to mop up the ale. "That has nothing to do with it. She's a girl, and it's not proper."
Guy wrinkled his eyebrows in concentration, trying hard not to think of why Brother Rupert thought it was improper. "She's only ten. Just a little girl."
Rupert stilled, and gave Guy a long, hard look. "That's true. But she won't be ten forever. If you understand what I mean."
Guy dropped his eyes. He was well aware that Isabella attracted unwanted attention, even at such a young age, if only because she was the only girl at the abbey. But still, it was an abbey, after all, and monks were bound by their oath of chastity. What place could be safer for a girl than an abbey?
"If she can't stay here, where will she go? She has nobody in the world but me." Guy gave Brother Rupert a determined glare. "You cannot just cast her out. I will not abandon her to the world!"
Brother Rupert held up a hand in conciliation. "Nobody is speaking of such things. She is not abandoned. The abbot has…other plans for her."
Guy narrowed his eyes at Rupert. "What sort of plans?"
Rupert blanched and set about cleaning up the ale spill. "She's to be sent to the women's abbey. In two days time."
Guy gave Rupert a withering look before he flew out the door in the direction of the abbot's quarters.
As he raced up the stairs, fueled as much by his anger as by his legs, Guy knew he had no business confronting the abbot. But his sister was the only family he had, and if she was going to be taken from him, there would have to be good reason. He was entitled to an explanation, if nothing else.
He burst into the abbot's private quarters, pushing the heavy wooden door with all his might. The abbot, reading by candlelight, startled and crossed himself, before recognizing Guy.
"What is the meaning of this?" His uncle's voice boomed in the hollow room, and Guy withered, the rush of anger fading quickly.
"I…I heard you're sending Isabella away. Why?"
The abbot laughed. "If you do not know why I must send her away, then you are more of a fool than I first thought!"
Guy pulled himself up, his anger and indignation giving him courage. "She is my sister. You cannot decide her fate without me."
"Is that so?" The abbot allowed his derision to show on his face, and Guy shivered involuntarily. "Tell me, what am I?"
"You?" Guy stammered. "You're the abbot. Our uncle."
"I am your guardian. It is my duty to protect you and your sister, and therefore, it is my right to make decisions for you."
"Did you even ask her? Maybe she doesn't want to be a nun. She's only ten. You can't expect her to know what she-"
Guy stopped short when he felt the abbot's hand on his shoulder. The touch was light, but there was a power to the gesture he had not expected, and he fell silent in anticipation.
"I will say this only once, so hear me out." Martin's voice was only a whisper, but to Guy, it seemed as if he were being yelled at, and he cowered a little as he listened. "I am a difficult man, but not a cruel one. Whatever I do, to you or to Isabella, it is for your own good.
"Though you may not think it now, you will realize it eventually. I ask only that you respect my judgment. Always, and in all things."
The abbot released him, and Guy resisted the urge to rub at the spot in his shoulder that now throbbed with pain.
"Do you understand, Guy?"
Guy nodded, knowing no answer would be appropriate.
The abbot's expression softened. "The women's abbey is not like this place, lad. There are many women there who have not taken vows, postulants, even just common folk. An abbey is a place of safety for many women who find themselves alone in the world. Isabella will not be a nun, unless she wants to be."
"Will I be able to see her?"
"That is not up to me. If the abbess there allows it, then I imagine, yes, you will be able to see her."
Guy nodded and began to leave the room, disturbed and defeated. "Does she know?"
The abbot nodded. "Yes. I told her yesterday. She took the news rather better than you did."
--
"Will you be alright?" Guy watched as Isabella stuffed her meager belongings-an old woolen dress and a ragdoll made by one of the monks-into a pack for her journey to the women's abbey.
Isabella nodded, her eyes clear, but her brow wrinkled. "Do you think it will be cold there? In the other abbey?" She shuffled her feet. "I get to sleep in the kitchen here, and it's nice and warm and-"
Guy stopped her and pulled her into a tight embrace. "It will be fine. You'll have your own room, I think. They'll take good care of you."
Isabella nodded. "That's what Uncle said too." She gave Guy a bright smile. "You know, I think it might be good for me to go. It will be a sort of adventure, won't it?"
"Yes." If you want it to be.
She squeezed his hand. "Don't worry so much. I'm a big girl now. You don't have to look after me all the time.
"Besides, Uncle says they'll let me see you whenever I want."
Guy gave her a wan smile in response, not wanting to disappoint her with the truth.
She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him. "Goodbye, dear brother."
"Goodbye, sister. May God be with you."
She laughed and hoisted her tiny bundle onto her shoulder. "Always."
--
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