Fic: A Great Miracle Happened Here - G/M & R/I
Title: A Great Miracle Happened Here
Rating: PG
Word Count: ~2,900
Characters: Guy/Marian, Robin/Isabella, OC’s
Prompts: Guy and Marian and Robin and Isabella and... stuff.
Notes: AU, written for dear hulamoth in lordgisborne, Sir Guy Treats You Right Secret Santa 2010.
Warnings: Religion. Jewish traditions and Medieval Christmas traditions. Errors may occur, if so: forgive me! Cute family life and fluff.
Disclaimer: Robin Hood is copyright to Tiger Aspect and the BBC. All rights reserved. No copyright infringement is intended, and no money is being made. Guy and Marian belong to legend and together. ;-)
A/N: Edited version from the SGTYR entry that I added in a bit of haste. I BETTER POST THIS WHILE IT'S STILL WINTER, OK!?
A Great Miracle Happened Here
The people called them the sheriffs of Nottingham, after having usurped Vasey and won Prince John’s favour. Guy and Marian ruled the shire with as much fairness as possible, and when it wasn’t, they used their favour with Prince John to ease Nottingham’s load. And sometimes handing out food through less official channels... It wasn’t a perfect plan, but it saved a few lives.
“The tradesman Benjamin of Leicester wants to settle in Nottingham,” said Guy one bright and early December morning.
“Ah, that’s good news!" Marian smiled, showing her dimples.
“Hm, I bet you think so. I see his silk everywhere these days. You must be the reason he wants to settle here, milady.”
“Do I detect a bit of jealousy, mylord? I’m only interested in his wares.”
“If you say so,” said Guy and sat down, studying a document.
Marian looked at him. There was something bothering Guy. He looked down very intently on the document, but there was that frown.
She went to him and placed her hands on his shoulders from behind. “Have you been spying on me?” she whispered in his ear.
Guy stiffened. “Why would I do that? I merely saw you talking with him. It looked serious.”
Marian sat down in his lap, arms around his neck. “Do you dislike Benjamin of Leicester?”
“No, should I?”
“You do mind that he’s of Jewish faith?”
“Not at all. If he leads a virtuous life and pays his taxes, I have no quarrel with him.”
“He will, and his contribution to the taxes will be most welcome, I’m sure. But what if he’s not able to practice his faith, do you think he and his family will be happy here?”
“His faith? Do you worry that the peasants will speak about that old nonsense of Jews using babies’ blood?”
“If the peasants do believe that, what will we do?”
“Tell them off, of course. You know we cannot allow such nonsense. Besides, it was your King Richard who saw to the killings of all the Jews at his coronation.”
Guy was in a bad mood, if he was insistant of bringing up sensitive subjects like the peasants and the king. They did still not see eye to eye in all matters and probably never would, but they had both learnt to adjust. Marian smiled quite sincerely to Prince John nowadays, taking comfort in the fact that Guy did not like the prince any more than Marian did. She hugged him closer.
“Do you want to know what I spoke to Benjamin of Leicester about?” she murmured in his ear.
“If you wish to tell me,” he said in a low voice. Marian knew too well that he wanted to demand the truth out of her, had probably wanted to do so for some time. The fact that he abstained from such behavious was saying something of the long way they had come together.
“He asked whether he and his family were allowed to celebrate Hanukkah,” Marian answered and haltering a little on the foreign word.
“Celebrate what?” Guy had to ask.
“They call it Hanukkah, it’s a festival of light. There’s a story of how a foreign power forbade the Jews to practice their religion. There was a family, The Maccabees - ;”
“I’ve heard of them,” said Guy, nodding against her cheek and pulling her closer.
“Yes, there was a revolt and they took back the Temple of Jerusalem.” Marian continued, “A father who was a priest and his five sons - ;”
“Lucky man!” he exclaimed.
“For being a priest?” she said teasingly.
“For having five sons!”
“Bah! We have one son!”
“So far.”
“Oh, so that is not enough after two years of marriage?”
“It’s a good start,” he said and kissed her.
They broke apart after a while and she was rather breathless when she asked whether he wanted to hear more about the ceremony. He assured her that he did and even apologised for not giving the story his full attention. She remarked that he seemed to be in a better mood now, to which he replied that kissing her always lifted his mood.
“Well, Guy,” Marian continued, “Benjamin the mercer and his family celebrate Hanukkah because the Temple was clensed and the Jews could worship again. They needed oil for a lamp while they did this. There was enough oil for one day, but the oil lasted eight days. Just what they needed. It was a miracle and they celebrate it.”
“A good reason for a celebration,” Guy agreed.
“They have a special lamp and they light it every day during eight days.”
“Tell Benjamin they can do it.”
“They’ve asked us to come this evening when they light the lamp.”
Guy was silent and then said: “You’ve already told him they could hold their celebration,” he said sternly.
“Guy...”
“I’m not saying it was wrong, Marian. But if I’d done something similar, you’d be upset and reminding me that we promised to agree on these things first.”
“I know... I am sorry Guy! There was some haste, you see... It was time for their celebration and I hadn’t had time to discuss this with you. Imagine if we had to postpone Christmas due to Prince John not being sure whether he was loved or not!” Marian added defensively.
“Don’t let him doubt your love, Marian, by all means. Prince John may very well postpone Christmas, last year he complained loudly that his birthday on Christmas Eve was not properly celebrated because everyone was eager to celebrate Christmas Day.”
“I remember,” Marian laughed. “So... I’m asking you whether we can go to Benjamin’s house this afternoon and be there when they light the lamp?”
“This must be quite an honour.”
“I’m sure it is. And they want us to bring baby Edward.”
“Our son?” Guy looked slightly alarmed.
“Yes. Don’t tell me you believe in that baby-blood nonsense?”
“Not at all! I was just surprised.”
“Very well, then. So we go, and we bring Edward,” Marian said.
“We do,” Guy confirmed.
They did, and Benjamin and his family was friendly and warm. His wife cooed over little Edward. Little Edward, six months old, sat on his father’s arm and watched them all with big, serious eyes. The light from the curious lamp reflected in the baby’s eyes when Marian and Guy, still with the baby on his arm, stood to the side and respectfully watched how Benjamin lit the first candle and said a prayer in a language they did not understand.
Afterwards, Benjamin eldest son, a youth who reminded Guy greatly of himself in that age, presented baby Edward with a curious toy. Edward grabbed it and gnawed on it with his itchy gums.
Guy looked at the toy with some thoughtfulness. “Is it a spinning top?” he asked Benjamin the mercer.
“It is,” his host said while looking up at the tall sheriff and thinking that he had rarely met a taller man. “We call it dreidel.”
“Dreidel,” Guy repeated.
“Yes,” Benjamin said. “My son made it. We give it to children during Hanukkah. The signs on the sides make a message. One letter for each word. See?” he said and pointed at the top where it protruded from baby Edward’s mouth.
Guy nodded and smiled. It did not seem as if Benjamin found it blasphemous when Edward chewed on the toy made for the ceremony. Well, it was a toy after all. Guy doubted if any priest or bishop would ever get the idea to hand out toys during Christmas. Well, there was that saint... Nicholas of Myra, was it not? He handed out gifts in secret.
Just like my wife, Guy thought and chanced a look at her while she stood chatting with Benjamin’s wife. My Saint Marian, the Nightwatchman, Guy thought wryly while his heart still swelled with pride and love. There was also a bit of shame; Marian was certainly no saint and that parallel had indeed been blasphemous. Then he smirked and had a vision of how she used to pull him close at night, her unrestrained passion. No secret giving there. Thank God she was no saint. Blasphemy again, Guy thought.
“The words,” Benjamin said and startled Guy from his reverie, “are נס גדול היה שם Nes Gadol Haya Sham.”
“What does it mean?” Guy asked.
“It means: ‘A great miracle happened there’, Sir Guy,” Benjamin explained.
“A great miracle happened here...” Guy said in a low voice.
Guy and Marian walked back to the castle - home now - hand in hand. Baby Edward was still on Guy’s arm with a warm blanket around him. He was sleeping against Guy’s chest and his tiny tumb was in his mouth. His other hand grabbed the dreidel and Guy could feel it pressing against his ribs.
Coming in to their own private rooms, where they had a banquet room for smaller gatherings; a beautiful and welcoming room with hangings in warm colours and fine materials. Guy smiled, thinking that Marian had indeed favoured Benjamin the mercer. That was good. Strange how the hangings moved, was the draft really that strong...?
The hangings flew aside and revealed Isabella and Robin.
“WASSAIL!” they shouted. Edward woke up and cried. Guy sneered. Robin and Isabella just laughed at them, looking happy and carefree.
“You are welcome,” Marian said sternly, “despite waking Edward. We know the rules of wassailing,” she said and allowed them the right to surprise them thus for Christmas, it was a custom and they would be given food and drink. She also suspected that they had news of Shrewsbury. After having ordered a servant to fetch mulled wine and warm, fresh pies, she kissed her sister-in-law warmly, holding her close to her. She loved Isabella as much as she loved Robin now. It was a special love, not like the one she shared with Guy, but the same as Guy felt for Isabella, she was sure.
“Why are you here?” Guy asked abruptly. He was still averse to them for several reasons. Isabella lived openly with Robin in Locksley, but they had been away in London for some weeks, trying to obtain an annulment of Isabella's marriage. There were several things that worried Guy about that; he was not fond of the idea that Robin, former Hood, now again Locksley, might charm his way into Prince John's favour. Hood - Locksley - might say he hated Prince John, but Guy doubted that it would stop him from bringing forth his abilities to bewitch a Plantagenent. He looked very well pleased with himself at the moment.
Guy and Robin had made peace with one another, for the sake of Marian and Isabella if nothing else, and Guy had been the one to be appointed sheriff and win Marian's affection. There was a reluctant respect between the two men now, even a growing friendship of sorts. If not trying to kill each other on every encounter could count as a friendship.
Isabella smiled to him, and it seemed sincere enough. She looked beautiful and happy, more so since living openly with Hood. Guy wished he could hate both Isabella and Robin, but he knew he loved them despite everything.
"We have seen Prince John, brother," said Isabella. "He sends his warmest regards to you and Marian. He agreed to see us, thanks to your letter."
"Letter?" said Guy. "What letter?"
"The letter explaining our case," said Robin.
"I wrote no letter! Who - ah."
"You know we discussed it, Guy!" said Marian apologetically.
Guy grumbled and scowled to all three of them, calming his crying son and taking comfort in holding the child in his arms.
The servant returned with a bowl of mulled wine with raisins and dried apples in it. It had a rich, spicy scent. Pies and delicious cookies from the kitchen was on a tray brought by another servant. A real Christmas feast, by the look of it.
Baby Edward was calm again and sucking on his new toy. Robin stepped forward, watching the boy with a keen eye and then the toy.
"Are those Jewish letters?" Robin asked, bewilderment on his face.
"It is," said Guy. "They called this toy a dreidel. We were invited to Benjamin the mercer today. He intends to settle in Nottingham and they held a celebration tonight."
"Tonight?" said Robin. "Oh, don't tell me! It's... Chanuka!"
"HA-nukkah!" Guy corrected him.
"That's not how they say it in the Holy Land," said Robin. "I spoke to Jews in the Holy Land who had moved back. They called it Chanuka."
"Whatever," said Guy a bit sourly.
"Well, they do!" Robin grinned.
"If you say so."
"Can I hold Edward?" Robin asked and extended his hands hopefully.
"No," Guy snapped.
"Why? He's my nephew too!"
"Oh, did you suddenly become Marian's brother over night?"
"You wish!" Robin grinned his infuriating grin.
"Guy!" Marian said.
"What?" Guy said slowly, it sounded like a warning.
"Will you listen to what they have to say?" she said impatiently.
"I can listen to Isabella," he answered his wife. "It seems the women decide everything in this family."
"You called us family!" exclaimed Robin.
"I don't remember talking about you, Hood!"
"It's Locksley now, remember?" Robin teased.
"The reason we came," Isabella interjected with a twinkle in her eye, "is that Prince John used his influence with the church. My marriage to Thornton is annulled!"
"Oh, that's wonderful news!" Marian exclaimed. She smiled and clapped her hands, and baby Edward gurgled and laughed too.
"So brother..." Isabella continued and walked over to Guy, looking up into his eyes intently. "All we lack now is that you, as my kinsman, give your consent to me marrying Robin. That was one of Prince John's stipulations."
"ONE stipulation! What was the other!?"
"Well..." said Isabella and looked at her brother guiltily.
"He wants money," said Robin.
"Ah," said Guy, and both he and Marian looked relieved.
"Are you not upset by that?" Isabella asked, looking baffled. "What sort of stipulation did you expect?" When neither Guy nor Marian answered, Isabella continued: "I thought you'd be terribly upset since it's quite a sum!"
"IF you want this marriage, you and your lover will have to pay for it."
"No Guy," said Robin with a smirk. "Prince John insisted that you would pay, since Thornton paid you for Isabella. Consider it a late dowry, he said."
"Should Isabella's dowry go to the crown!" Marian said with raised eyebrows. "Is it not enough that we have MY dowry to rebuild?"
"YOUR dowry!" Guy said. "Knighton is our earldom now. OUR earldom."
"But it was MY dowry you burnt to the ground!" said Marian, hands on her hips. She was getting angry and flushed. How soon could he get Hood and his sister out of the door so he could kiss her senseless? He saw her features grow soft when he stared at her; she knew what was on his mind. After all, they had often joked during heated embraces how the burning of Knighton had been almost as flaming as their passion. They could joke about many of their former issues now.
"Please let us marry, dear brother," said Isabella and noticing the changed tension, the warmth from Guy towards Marian - a chance to influence him. "Let Robin be Edward's uncle, and take pleasure from the knowledge that you will soon me an uncle too," Isabella added and placed a hand on her abdomen.
Guy saw the swelling beneath his sister's hand. No wonder Isabella looked so radiant; Marian had been aglow during her pregnancy. His throat was suddenly constricted.
"Congratulations," said Guy and nodding. He tried to hide his hoarse voice and saw that Isabella was smiling through tears. Guy's vision was blurry too. He knew how much Isabella had longed for a child. She deserved to be happy and he would do what was in his power to make it so - this time.
There would be new Gisbornes. Locksleys too. Well, there was some pleasure in that thought. The Locksley line could only improve from the Gisborne blood. Guy hoped it would be a daughter. If it was a son, they might name him Roger, and Guy wanted him and Marian to have a son by that name before Hood - Locksley - and Isabella. They could of course name a son Malcolm, since tradition dictated that. But somehow Guy doubted that Robin would object if Isabella wanted their firstborn son to carry her father's name. Guy smirked at the thought.
He realised that his heart and head had already accepted their union. Marian, who of course knew everything already, embraced Isabella. Robin extended his arms to Marian, but she waved him off. Robin then extended his arms to Guy, still holding Edward, and before he had time to react, Robin held him and his son in his arms, kissing Edward's dark and downy hair. Then, the cheeky bugger kissed his cheek. On his face, at least. Guy grumbled, but then Marian and Isabella embraced him too. That was better.
Edward gurgled and shook his little fist, still grabbing his toy.
"Look at those symbols," said Isabella. She was standing on Guy's side, her hand on Edward's back where he sat on Guy's arm. Robin came and embraced her from behind. Marian was next to Guy as well, his other arm was around her shoulders. They stood closely together with baby Edward in the middle.
"You never said what the letters stand for, Guy," said Robin.
“They say: A great miracle happened here.”
~fin~
Rating: PG
Word Count: ~2,900
Characters: Guy/Marian, Robin/Isabella, OC’s
Prompts: Guy and Marian and Robin and Isabella and... stuff.
Notes: AU, written for dear hulamoth in lordgisborne, Sir Guy Treats You Right Secret Santa 2010.
Warnings: Religion. Jewish traditions and Medieval Christmas traditions. Errors may occur, if so: forgive me! Cute family life and fluff.
Disclaimer: Robin Hood is copyright to Tiger Aspect and the BBC. All rights reserved. No copyright infringement is intended, and no money is being made. Guy and Marian belong to legend and together. ;-)
A/N: Edited version from the SGTYR entry that I added in a bit of haste. I BETTER POST THIS WHILE IT'S STILL WINTER, OK!?
A Great Miracle Happened Here
The people called them the sheriffs of Nottingham, after having usurped Vasey and won Prince John’s favour. Guy and Marian ruled the shire with as much fairness as possible, and when it wasn’t, they used their favour with Prince John to ease Nottingham’s load. And sometimes handing out food through less official channels... It wasn’t a perfect plan, but it saved a few lives.
“The tradesman Benjamin of Leicester wants to settle in Nottingham,” said Guy one bright and early December morning.
“Ah, that’s good news!" Marian smiled, showing her dimples.
“Hm, I bet you think so. I see his silk everywhere these days. You must be the reason he wants to settle here, milady.”
“Do I detect a bit of jealousy, mylord? I’m only interested in his wares.”
“If you say so,” said Guy and sat down, studying a document.
Marian looked at him. There was something bothering Guy. He looked down very intently on the document, but there was that frown.
She went to him and placed her hands on his shoulders from behind. “Have you been spying on me?” she whispered in his ear.
Guy stiffened. “Why would I do that? I merely saw you talking with him. It looked serious.”
Marian sat down in his lap, arms around his neck. “Do you dislike Benjamin of Leicester?”
“No, should I?”
“You do mind that he’s of Jewish faith?”
“Not at all. If he leads a virtuous life and pays his taxes, I have no quarrel with him.”
“He will, and his contribution to the taxes will be most welcome, I’m sure. But what if he’s not able to practice his faith, do you think he and his family will be happy here?”
“His faith? Do you worry that the peasants will speak about that old nonsense of Jews using babies’ blood?”
“If the peasants do believe that, what will we do?”
“Tell them off, of course. You know we cannot allow such nonsense. Besides, it was your King Richard who saw to the killings of all the Jews at his coronation.”
Guy was in a bad mood, if he was insistant of bringing up sensitive subjects like the peasants and the king. They did still not see eye to eye in all matters and probably never would, but they had both learnt to adjust. Marian smiled quite sincerely to Prince John nowadays, taking comfort in the fact that Guy did not like the prince any more than Marian did. She hugged him closer.
“Do you want to know what I spoke to Benjamin of Leicester about?” she murmured in his ear.
“If you wish to tell me,” he said in a low voice. Marian knew too well that he wanted to demand the truth out of her, had probably wanted to do so for some time. The fact that he abstained from such behavious was saying something of the long way they had come together.
“He asked whether he and his family were allowed to celebrate Hanukkah,” Marian answered and haltering a little on the foreign word.
“Celebrate what?” Guy had to ask.
“They call it Hanukkah, it’s a festival of light. There’s a story of how a foreign power forbade the Jews to practice their religion. There was a family, The Maccabees - ;”
“I’ve heard of them,” said Guy, nodding against her cheek and pulling her closer.
“Yes, there was a revolt and they took back the Temple of Jerusalem.” Marian continued, “A father who was a priest and his five sons - ;”
“Lucky man!” he exclaimed.
“For being a priest?” she said teasingly.
“For having five sons!”
“Bah! We have one son!”
“So far.”
“Oh, so that is not enough after two years of marriage?”
“It’s a good start,” he said and kissed her.
They broke apart after a while and she was rather breathless when she asked whether he wanted to hear more about the ceremony. He assured her that he did and even apologised for not giving the story his full attention. She remarked that he seemed to be in a better mood now, to which he replied that kissing her always lifted his mood.
“Well, Guy,” Marian continued, “Benjamin the mercer and his family celebrate Hanukkah because the Temple was clensed and the Jews could worship again. They needed oil for a lamp while they did this. There was enough oil for one day, but the oil lasted eight days. Just what they needed. It was a miracle and they celebrate it.”
“A good reason for a celebration,” Guy agreed.
“They have a special lamp and they light it every day during eight days.”
“Tell Benjamin they can do it.”
“They’ve asked us to come this evening when they light the lamp.”
Guy was silent and then said: “You’ve already told him they could hold their celebration,” he said sternly.
“Guy...”
“I’m not saying it was wrong, Marian. But if I’d done something similar, you’d be upset and reminding me that we promised to agree on these things first.”
“I know... I am sorry Guy! There was some haste, you see... It was time for their celebration and I hadn’t had time to discuss this with you. Imagine if we had to postpone Christmas due to Prince John not being sure whether he was loved or not!” Marian added defensively.
“Don’t let him doubt your love, Marian, by all means. Prince John may very well postpone Christmas, last year he complained loudly that his birthday on Christmas Eve was not properly celebrated because everyone was eager to celebrate Christmas Day.”
“I remember,” Marian laughed. “So... I’m asking you whether we can go to Benjamin’s house this afternoon and be there when they light the lamp?”
“This must be quite an honour.”
“I’m sure it is. And they want us to bring baby Edward.”
“Our son?” Guy looked slightly alarmed.
“Yes. Don’t tell me you believe in that baby-blood nonsense?”
“Not at all! I was just surprised.”
“Very well, then. So we go, and we bring Edward,” Marian said.
“We do,” Guy confirmed.
They did, and Benjamin and his family was friendly and warm. His wife cooed over little Edward. Little Edward, six months old, sat on his father’s arm and watched them all with big, serious eyes. The light from the curious lamp reflected in the baby’s eyes when Marian and Guy, still with the baby on his arm, stood to the side and respectfully watched how Benjamin lit the first candle and said a prayer in a language they did not understand.
Afterwards, Benjamin eldest son, a youth who reminded Guy greatly of himself in that age, presented baby Edward with a curious toy. Edward grabbed it and gnawed on it with his itchy gums.
Guy looked at the toy with some thoughtfulness. “Is it a spinning top?” he asked Benjamin the mercer.
“It is,” his host said while looking up at the tall sheriff and thinking that he had rarely met a taller man. “We call it dreidel.”
“Dreidel,” Guy repeated.
“Yes,” Benjamin said. “My son made it. We give it to children during Hanukkah. The signs on the sides make a message. One letter for each word. See?” he said and pointed at the top where it protruded from baby Edward’s mouth.
Guy nodded and smiled. It did not seem as if Benjamin found it blasphemous when Edward chewed on the toy made for the ceremony. Well, it was a toy after all. Guy doubted if any priest or bishop would ever get the idea to hand out toys during Christmas. Well, there was that saint... Nicholas of Myra, was it not? He handed out gifts in secret.
Just like my wife, Guy thought and chanced a look at her while she stood chatting with Benjamin’s wife. My Saint Marian, the Nightwatchman, Guy thought wryly while his heart still swelled with pride and love. There was also a bit of shame; Marian was certainly no saint and that parallel had indeed been blasphemous. Then he smirked and had a vision of how she used to pull him close at night, her unrestrained passion. No secret giving there. Thank God she was no saint. Blasphemy again, Guy thought.
“The words,” Benjamin said and startled Guy from his reverie, “are נס גדול היה שם Nes Gadol Haya Sham.”
“What does it mean?” Guy asked.
“It means: ‘A great miracle happened there’, Sir Guy,” Benjamin explained.
“A great miracle happened here...” Guy said in a low voice.
Guy and Marian walked back to the castle - home now - hand in hand. Baby Edward was still on Guy’s arm with a warm blanket around him. He was sleeping against Guy’s chest and his tiny tumb was in his mouth. His other hand grabbed the dreidel and Guy could feel it pressing against his ribs.
Coming in to their own private rooms, where they had a banquet room for smaller gatherings; a beautiful and welcoming room with hangings in warm colours and fine materials. Guy smiled, thinking that Marian had indeed favoured Benjamin the mercer. That was good. Strange how the hangings moved, was the draft really that strong...?
The hangings flew aside and revealed Isabella and Robin.
“WASSAIL!” they shouted. Edward woke up and cried. Guy sneered. Robin and Isabella just laughed at them, looking happy and carefree.
“You are welcome,” Marian said sternly, “despite waking Edward. We know the rules of wassailing,” she said and allowed them the right to surprise them thus for Christmas, it was a custom and they would be given food and drink. She also suspected that they had news of Shrewsbury. After having ordered a servant to fetch mulled wine and warm, fresh pies, she kissed her sister-in-law warmly, holding her close to her. She loved Isabella as much as she loved Robin now. It was a special love, not like the one she shared with Guy, but the same as Guy felt for Isabella, she was sure.
“Why are you here?” Guy asked abruptly. He was still averse to them for several reasons. Isabella lived openly with Robin in Locksley, but they had been away in London for some weeks, trying to obtain an annulment of Isabella's marriage. There were several things that worried Guy about that; he was not fond of the idea that Robin, former Hood, now again Locksley, might charm his way into Prince John's favour. Hood - Locksley - might say he hated Prince John, but Guy doubted that it would stop him from bringing forth his abilities to bewitch a Plantagenent. He looked very well pleased with himself at the moment.
Guy and Robin had made peace with one another, for the sake of Marian and Isabella if nothing else, and Guy had been the one to be appointed sheriff and win Marian's affection. There was a reluctant respect between the two men now, even a growing friendship of sorts. If not trying to kill each other on every encounter could count as a friendship.
Isabella smiled to him, and it seemed sincere enough. She looked beautiful and happy, more so since living openly with Hood. Guy wished he could hate both Isabella and Robin, but he knew he loved them despite everything.
"We have seen Prince John, brother," said Isabella. "He sends his warmest regards to you and Marian. He agreed to see us, thanks to your letter."
"Letter?" said Guy. "What letter?"
"The letter explaining our case," said Robin.
"I wrote no letter! Who - ah."
"You know we discussed it, Guy!" said Marian apologetically.
Guy grumbled and scowled to all three of them, calming his crying son and taking comfort in holding the child in his arms.
The servant returned with a bowl of mulled wine with raisins and dried apples in it. It had a rich, spicy scent. Pies and delicious cookies from the kitchen was on a tray brought by another servant. A real Christmas feast, by the look of it.
Baby Edward was calm again and sucking on his new toy. Robin stepped forward, watching the boy with a keen eye and then the toy.
"Are those Jewish letters?" Robin asked, bewilderment on his face.
"It is," said Guy. "They called this toy a dreidel. We were invited to Benjamin the mercer today. He intends to settle in Nottingham and they held a celebration tonight."
"Tonight?" said Robin. "Oh, don't tell me! It's... Chanuka!"
"HA-nukkah!" Guy corrected him.
"That's not how they say it in the Holy Land," said Robin. "I spoke to Jews in the Holy Land who had moved back. They called it Chanuka."
"Whatever," said Guy a bit sourly.
"Well, they do!" Robin grinned.
"If you say so."
"Can I hold Edward?" Robin asked and extended his hands hopefully.
"No," Guy snapped.
"Why? He's my nephew too!"
"Oh, did you suddenly become Marian's brother over night?"
"You wish!" Robin grinned his infuriating grin.
"Guy!" Marian said.
"What?" Guy said slowly, it sounded like a warning.
"Will you listen to what they have to say?" she said impatiently.
"I can listen to Isabella," he answered his wife. "It seems the women decide everything in this family."
"You called us family!" exclaimed Robin.
"I don't remember talking about you, Hood!"
"It's Locksley now, remember?" Robin teased.
"The reason we came," Isabella interjected with a twinkle in her eye, "is that Prince John used his influence with the church. My marriage to Thornton is annulled!"
"Oh, that's wonderful news!" Marian exclaimed. She smiled and clapped her hands, and baby Edward gurgled and laughed too.
"So brother..." Isabella continued and walked over to Guy, looking up into his eyes intently. "All we lack now is that you, as my kinsman, give your consent to me marrying Robin. That was one of Prince John's stipulations."
"ONE stipulation! What was the other!?"
"Well..." said Isabella and looked at her brother guiltily.
"He wants money," said Robin.
"Ah," said Guy, and both he and Marian looked relieved.
"Are you not upset by that?" Isabella asked, looking baffled. "What sort of stipulation did you expect?" When neither Guy nor Marian answered, Isabella continued: "I thought you'd be terribly upset since it's quite a sum!"
"IF you want this marriage, you and your lover will have to pay for it."
"No Guy," said Robin with a smirk. "Prince John insisted that you would pay, since Thornton paid you for Isabella. Consider it a late dowry, he said."
"Should Isabella's dowry go to the crown!" Marian said with raised eyebrows. "Is it not enough that we have MY dowry to rebuild?"
"YOUR dowry!" Guy said. "Knighton is our earldom now. OUR earldom."
"But it was MY dowry you burnt to the ground!" said Marian, hands on her hips. She was getting angry and flushed. How soon could he get Hood and his sister out of the door so he could kiss her senseless? He saw her features grow soft when he stared at her; she knew what was on his mind. After all, they had often joked during heated embraces how the burning of Knighton had been almost as flaming as their passion. They could joke about many of their former issues now.
"Please let us marry, dear brother," said Isabella and noticing the changed tension, the warmth from Guy towards Marian - a chance to influence him. "Let Robin be Edward's uncle, and take pleasure from the knowledge that you will soon me an uncle too," Isabella added and placed a hand on her abdomen.
Guy saw the swelling beneath his sister's hand. No wonder Isabella looked so radiant; Marian had been aglow during her pregnancy. His throat was suddenly constricted.
"Congratulations," said Guy and nodding. He tried to hide his hoarse voice and saw that Isabella was smiling through tears. Guy's vision was blurry too. He knew how much Isabella had longed for a child. She deserved to be happy and he would do what was in his power to make it so - this time.
There would be new Gisbornes. Locksleys too. Well, there was some pleasure in that thought. The Locksley line could only improve from the Gisborne blood. Guy hoped it would be a daughter. If it was a son, they might name him Roger, and Guy wanted him and Marian to have a son by that name before Hood - Locksley - and Isabella. They could of course name a son Malcolm, since tradition dictated that. But somehow Guy doubted that Robin would object if Isabella wanted their firstborn son to carry her father's name. Guy smirked at the thought.
He realised that his heart and head had already accepted their union. Marian, who of course knew everything already, embraced Isabella. Robin extended his arms to Marian, but she waved him off. Robin then extended his arms to Guy, still holding Edward, and before he had time to react, Robin held him and his son in his arms, kissing Edward's dark and downy hair. Then, the cheeky bugger kissed his cheek. On his face, at least. Guy grumbled, but then Marian and Isabella embraced him too. That was better.
Edward gurgled and shook his little fist, still grabbing his toy.
"Look at those symbols," said Isabella. She was standing on Guy's side, her hand on Edward's back where he sat on Guy's arm. Robin came and embraced her from behind. Marian was next to Guy as well, his other arm was around her shoulders. They stood closely together with baby Edward in the middle.
"You never said what the letters stand for, Guy," said Robin.
“They say: A great miracle happened here.”
~fin~