Captive - Chapter 22 (The End)
Guy regained consciousness as they lifted him onto the kitchen table at Locksley Manor.
“Master Robin! What are you doing here?” Thornton exclaimed, running in and wiping his sooty hands on his worn trousers.
“Is the forest fire out?” Robin asked.
“Yes, my lord,” Thornton replied, “Much and the others are on their way to the barn to look for you.”
“Send Will for Dr Perry!” Robin exclaimed.
“He’s still staying at the Castle,” Jack reminded the elderly bailiff.
“Marian,” Guy murmured through the searing pain.
“Have Will tell Marian that Gisborne is injured.”
“Don’t let her come back without guards!” Guy cried out, knowing that it would be impossible to tell her to stay in Nottingham.
“Send Djac in here to help me tend to Gisborne,” Robin continued, ripping a cloth into strips. “Ask Much and the others to help Allan. He’ll take charge of dispersing the mercenaries!”
“I will?” Allan asked, still looking dazed. He then gazed at the determined pride on Guy’s pale face, “I will! We’ll pay them a fair wage and then remind them that Prince John’s got a price on any man thought to have harmed the Sheriff of Nottingham! They’ll scarper, particularly when they see what we did to their leaders and hear the guards coming with Marian. Come on, fellas!”
“Are you sure you don’t want a couple of us to stay, Sir Guy?” Morecambe asked, looking from the other guards following Allan to his lord’s rival.
“Go, man,” Guy grunted, gritting his teeth against the pain radiating through his shoulder joint.
Robin yanked the French helmet from Guy’s head and a serving girl placed a pillow under his neck.
“Go to the well, Tess,” Robin told her, “We’ll need a whole bucket of fresh water.”
Robin used a knife to hack away at the rest of the fairly useless chainmail vest. “Why are you helping me?” Guy muttered, needing to focus on something other than the agonising wound.
Robin firmly held a cloth over Guy’s bleeding shoulder. “If you repeat any of this, I’ll tell the others that you were hallucinating,” Robin replied.
“I thought I was when you finished Ellingham off,” Guy muttered.
“Nope, that was me, alright.” Robin replied. “I’m ashamed of how I behaved in the forest this morning. I’d made myself half-mad by staying in that dungeon all month. And where did it get me? What Marian and I had is in the past. She was in love with a boy who never came back from the Holy Land. The man that did come back did not even have the courage to tell her that he had always loved her until she almost died last year. He was too arrogant to treat her like an equal when she wanted to join his gang. He didn’t love her as he should have... so he lost her to another.”
“But,” Guy grimaced, “if that ‘other’ were to die in some swordfight in a barn, then the man could win her back.”
“No,” Robin said, “he could not, because such a cold-blooded act would mean that the Locksley boy’s heart would be forever frozen.”
“To think I thought that you enjoyed war,” Guy mumbled.
“All of that bloodshed robbed me of my own peace,” Robin muttered. “I would rather see Marian happy, and try to get back peace for this land and for myself, than become a jealous brute.”
“I... I can see why th...they all follow you, Rob...in,” he said, finding it harder to breathe.
“Thank you, Guy,” Robin replied, feeling uncomfortable. He began to detail his plan. “Now, hold still. As soon as Djac comes, she’ll give you something for the pain. Then we’ll pop your shoulder back in. Dr Perry will stitch it up and then Marian will fuss over you for...”
Guy tasted blood in his mouth again and called out in fevered pain. He passed out, thinking that he would never see Marian again.
“Marian, my love!”
Suddenly, he felt like he was breathing in her warm scent and feeling her soft breasts brushing against his side.
“Guy!” Marian called again, shaking his shoulder. “Guy! Wake up! It’s just a dream!”
He sat bolt upright and then groaned in frustration. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you up again. I’ll go and sleep in my chamber.”
“Don’t be silly,” Marian said and pulled a pouty face, “How would I ever get back to sleep without you by my side? Now, shift over and I’ll give you a massage.”
Marian was soon sitting behind him, but he could tell that she was hesitating.
“I know it still looks bad, my love, but it’s not paining me,” he mumbled.
Marian gently ran her fingers over the deep exit wound on the back of his right shoulder. “Have I told you today how proud I still am of you?” she asked and leant forward to tender kiss the battle scar.
“Yes, my love,” Guy replied, pulling her legs down on either side of him, “and I am of you. What would I do without you to stand up to me and boss me around?”
He smiled at the contented sigh that escaped her lips as he caressed her calves.
She began to gently knead the muscles of his back and shoulders. “You’re so tense,” she observed, “and that’s the third time this month that you’ve had that dream more than once in a night. It was the one about the night you were injured, right?”
“Yes,” Guy admitted and added regretfully, “I didn’t realise that you were counting.”
“That’s what you do when you love someone,” Marian replied, leaning forward to rain kisses down on his warm skin. “Do you want me to go and make you a sleeping draught?”
“No, no,” Guy said, yawning. “I’ll try to dream of Sunday instead.”
“Oh, I just remembered something!” Marian exclaimed and scooted off the bed.
Guy lay back against the pillows, watching her pad across to the writing desk. She searched through her papers. The wind howled outside and she glanced out at the stormy night.
“He’ll be alright,” Guy assured her.
“Allan?” Marian asked obtusely and then tried to make a joke, “He seems quite frightened of squalls.”
“You know that I meant Robin,” Guy replied, trying to get comfortable on the pillows. “I doubt that they’ll be able to free the King, but I bet you that his whole gang will return from the Continent with all sorts of tales to share.”
“Thank you,” Marian whispered, picking up the right piece of parchment and returning to the bed. “Thank you for understanding, my love.”
“Thank you for being my love,” he smiled and she snuggled into his arms.
“Stop fussing,” he grunted after she kept trying to tuck the blankets more snugly around his right shoulder.
“If you’re going to be grumpy, then I won’t show you your surprise,” Marian said, jutting out her chin at him.
He ran his fingers through her silky hair. “A thousand apologies, my lady,” he drawled.
“Here,” Marian said, handing him the piece of parchment.
Guy looked down at the drawing.
“What is it?”
“Seth drew it for you,” Marian said.
“Well, I worked that much out,” Guy smirked. “But I can’t work out what it is.”
“Well,” Marian said, turning it the right way up, “that’s Annie and that’s Thornton and there’s Allan.
“That scribble there?” Guy asked.
“Yes!” she said indignantly, “Seth explains it while he’s drawing!”
“Oh,” Guy smiled, “I stand corrected. So, where are you?”
“Right there near the horses, see,” Marian pointed, “next to you.”
“Thank you for showing me.”
“I thought it might put your mind at rest,” Marian replied happily.
“No,” Guy folded the piece of parchment and placed it under his pillow. “I’m not just thanking you for the picture. I’m thanking you for showing me what it truly means to love and to be loved in return.”
She kissed him passionately and then murmured, “Aren’t you too tired to ‘practise’?” Marian pretended to turn over to go back to sleep.
“Never!” he rasped, pulling her under the covers.
It was the sunniest New Year’s Day that he could ever remember. He looked at the garden of flowers that Marian had festooned Nottingham Castle’s chapel with. All of the colours seemed brighter.
Allan grabbed his shoulder. “You’re going to wear a hole in the floor!” he quipped, “Stop pacing. You don’t want to miss her arrival.”
Guy cleared his throat, “I... There’s something I’ve been meaning to say, Allan.”
“You’ve changed your mind about leaving me in charge of Locksley until Robin returns, haven’t you?” Allan said, frowning in disappointment.
“No, no. Annie was telling me this morning what a good master you are to all the servants.”
“She still acts like one!” Allan exclaimed. “I told her that once we’re married, she’ll have to act like a proper...”
“You’re getting married?” Guy asked incredulously.
“Not the only one with surprises, now, are ya?” Allan said and smiled as Guy congratulated him. “It was one of those ‘Nurse me back to health, after I helped save your life’ sort of courtships.’
“I’d barely noticed her affection for you!” Guy exclaimed.
“You haven’t noticed because you’ve spent most of the last month on a sickbed,” Allan replied. “I’m glad you’re happy about it. I thought things might be a bit, you know, awkward, because of Seth and all.”
“Well, he’ll visit Marian and I whenever Annie does,” Guy said. “Oh, now this seems even more fitting. Here...”
He handed Allan a bag of coins.
“What’s this then?” Allan asked, “I don’t...”
“There’s a hundred pounds in there for helping to save Marian’s life,” Guy explained, “and...”
“But I told you I didn’t expect no money for getting Dr Perry to her that night!” Allan protested.
“So, you’re even more worthy of it,” Guy replied. “Now, let me finish. There’s also a hundred pounds in there for helping to save my life.”
“Two hundred pounds?” Allan asked incredulously. “Well, I... Thank you... I...”
The nobles and guards filling the pews all suddenly stood up and Guy and Allan spun around.
Jess walked in first, smiling at the crowd as she scattered white rose petals down the aisle.
A lump formed in Guy’s throat when he saw Marian. She looked so radiantly beautiful and smiled at him so enthusiastically that he almost shed tears of joy. The finely embroidered pale yellow silk dress accentuated her every curve as she made her way to his side. Sarah held the train and then stood next to Allan, minding Marian’s bouquet.
As soon as the vows were completed, Guy impatiently lifted the veil and kissed Marian until she felt faint. The crowd clapped and hooted. Guy signed the ledger and then beamed with pride as Marian wrote ‘Lady Gisborne’ for the first time.
“I can walk!” she exclaimed as he picked her up and carried her through the Castle. “I thought I’d sweep you off your feet,” Guy said hoarsely, delighted at how now when he said such things she laughed and ardently kissed him.
They barely paused to look out the window during the carriage ride.
When they reached the fork in the road near Locksley Manor, Guy lifted her out of his lap and sat her on the seat beside him.
She looked surprised and concerned, “Your shoulder’s not...”
“Not sore in the least, my lady,” he replied, “I need you to promise me something.”
She smiled at the crinkly grin gracing his face as he held up a black silk blindfold. “What are you up to?”
“I’ve got a surprise for you,” Guy said, planting a playful kiss on her button nose.
“You know that I don’t like surprises!” Marian exclaimed.
“You’ll like this one,” he said confidently, remembering what he had said all those months ago when he was first trying to woo her.
Marian twisted around and lifted up her hair. He was careful not to mess up the flowers woven through the braid crowning her head. Guy finished tying the blindfold and then pulled her onto his lap for the rest of the journey.
She snuggled against him, planting kisses on his neck and jaw. He chuckled at her, running his fingers across the soft fabric of her bodice.
“Stop laughing!” she exclaimed, “I can’t see your mouth!”
He captured her lips with his own and she tightened her hold on his black ‘armour’.
“Mhhmmm,” he murmured when they broke apart. “I love your dress.” He caressed the silky yellow fabric stretched across her curves.
“I thought that you would like the colour,” Marian murmured, “Gisborne colours. You’re in black, as the whole Shire knew you would be and...”
“I like black!” Guy protested.
“I’m not complaining,” Marian smiled and affectionately brushed her fingers across the leather. “Anyway... I’m in yellow. We go together, just like the colours on both your parent’s crests.”
She held up her hand proudly showing how well the designs on the crest’s rings and the colours all matched. Guy fondly kissed her fingers and then almost cursed when the carriage came to a sudden halt.
“Are we at Locksley already?” Marian asked in confusion.
“We’re home, my love,” Guy replied.
A guard opened the door and then Guy carried her out into the warm sunshine.
“Okay, I’m going to put you down on your feet, so...”
“If you’re about to tell me not to fall and hit my head, then this will be the shortest honeymoon in history!” Marian said, putting her hands on her hips.
“You promised to obey me,” Guy said teasingly, locking his arms around her from behind.
“Only because I knew that you would cherish me,” she whispered, revelling in the way he held her.
“Today is a new year. I am starting a new life with my new wife...”
“Is this going to be a long speech,” Marian interrupted him.
Guy squeezed her lithe body in his strong arms and nipped at her earlobe. “Shush and let me finish,” he muttered. “So, where was I? Yes, well, uh, I’ve decided to bring my new wife to her new home.”
He gently pulled off the blindfold and leant his head on her shoulder.
Marian gazed in wonder at the replica of Knighton Hall. She burst into tears and passionately embraced him. He patted her back as she cried.
“So, I hope that means that you think Jack and the workmen got it right?” Guy said nervously, surprised that she was lost for words. “We shall fill Knighton Hall with brave sons and...”
Suddenly the words cascaded out of her mouth. “Oh, I love it, Guy! I would happily have lived at Locksley Manor, but this is just for us, isn’t it? You said you wanted to build a home, rather than burn one down. Oh, and that’s exactly what you’ve done! No, we shall not call it Knighton Hall, though! It needs a new name for our new life together!”
“Oh, uh, how about Fitzwalter House, in honour of your father?”
“No, no,” Marian said, “that would make me think too much of the past.”
Guy quickly rushed on, not wanting anything to mar their special day. “How about Marianvale?”
“Oh, that’s so sweet, but it’s your home, too!” Marian protested. “We shall call it Gisborne Hall.”
Guy’s mouth crashed onto hers and then he happily swung her around in his arms.
She beamed down at him and whispered, “Let’s go inside and start making our new family!”