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Mon, 20 Oct 2008 19:16:29 GMT

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A Question of Loyalty: Chapter One

Sun, 19 Oct 2008 04:18:35 GMT

A Question of Loyalty

Chapter One

Marian's Chamber, Nottingham Castle, England.

Guy…

Will you do something for me?

Name it.

Stay… and make this place bearable.

I will stay… Thank you.

She had said yes. She would stay at the castle, with him. Marian stood in her chamber leaning against her window. Her anxious hands played with the leaves of a vine that had crept over her window sill as her eyes looked unseeing at the clear blue sky over Nottingham. Her mind was in turmoil over the events of yesterday; Marian’s unmasking as the Nightwatchman, Guy’s subsequent anger and disappointment in her, and finally Guy and Allen’s unprecedented show of humanity in saving her life. Now Marian was hiding in her room, away from the Sheriff, who was on a war rampage, and away from Guy, whom she could not face at the moment with her mind in such a state. Her feelings about Guy had been thrown into complete confusion tossed together with the realization that he had saved her life. She flung the leaves away from her angrily, turning away from the window and pacing around her room. Before, Marian could place Guy into a nice little neat box, his actions were predictable, his feelings towards her easily readable and she always thought she had understood his motives and reasons.

After everything you said.

You don’t know me as well as you think.

She thought she had known him and had understood his cold ambition completely, and now Marian knew she could no longer class Guy as such a simple man. She had underestimated him, his depth of feeling for her, his compassion, and his humanity. Over the past few weeks, Marian had begun to notice a change in Guy, when Vasey was not present. Guy became more confident, more commanding, less harsh and more human. A man that Marian could like and respect, and perhaps one day admire. Whenever Vasey returned, however, reality came crashing back down into place as Guy embarked on further nefarious deeds under the Sheriff’s orders and Marian always would kick herself for beginning to hope that she was wrong about Sir Guy of Gisborne.

Marian swished her dark green skirts out of the way as she violently turned to pace in the other direction. On top of these confusing feelings about Guy, she felt an old familiar resentment towards Robin. Robin had left her to embark upon some noble quest leaving her to help the villagers. Where was Robin when she was about to be hanged as the Nightwatchman? Was Robin the one who had saved her? No Guy had rescued her from execution, although he had ordered the hanging in the first place. Guy had defied Vasey, his lord, to save her life. Where was Robin now? He had not tried to contact her through his many sources. Marian’s worry was beginning to slide into annoyance and hurt. Once again Marian found that although the villagers could depend on Robin to feed them and save them, Marian could not depend on Robin. He must have his glory Marian thought, feeling the heavy weight of Robin’s blue colored engagement ring in her skirt pocket.

A knock sounded at the door. “Marian?” a deep voice rumbled from outside her chamber.

She turned towards the sound, her dark ringlets flying “Yes? Come in.”

The door swung open and Sir Guy entered the room. Whatever Marian’s personal feelings were about the man's character, she could not help but be attracted to his handsome features and honed physique. He walked into the center of the room, shutting the door behind him. Clothed as usual in his customary black leather, Guy exuded powerful masculine strength and sex appeal. Marian was not one to be taken in by a pair of broad shoulders, but even she could admire the way the leather strained over Guy’s firmly muscled back and biceps. It was not just his strong form, but the intensity in his dark eyes whenever he glanced at her and the rakish half smile that he sometimes gave her. All of these things combined made Marian embarrassingly weak in the knees and breathless when Sir Guy entered a room. Marian unconsciously backed up to her desk, placing it as a barrier between them. Protection from whose desires she could not say, but the firm, familiar feel of the wooden desk comforted her from the dark, compelling man in her chamber.

“Marian, I thought I might find you hiding in here.” Guy began, stepping towards her, eyes bright with warmth.

“Hiding?” she asked annoyed that Guy, the subject of her thoughts, had interrupted the little peace she could find. “Is my presence required somewhere? I do believe that this is my room.” She said somewhat waspishly, her hand gripping the desk chair.

Guy sighed deeply and rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Marian, I do not wish to argue again with you.”

Marian bit her lip and lowered her lashes, slightly chastened. “Forgive me, neither do I.” She ventured. The events of the previous day rose before them, heavy and burdensome. Marian remembered both his declarations and her betrayals. She shifted her feet uncomfortably in the silence.

Guy finally looked at her, his eyes opaque and unreadable, “I meant to say that the Sheriff desires the whole castle to be present when his special guest arrives. I wanted to find you before you would miss it and be punished.”

“Oh, I see, thank you.” Marian said, her mind racing with questions about the guest, Vasey and their evil plans. “Who is this special guest?” she queried, skirts swaying as she stepped around her desk, moving closer to Guy.

Guy turned away and began to pace the length of the room, his arms behind him, “I could not tell you Marian, for I do not know. The Sheriff has not been keeping me in his confidence.” Guy said bitterly.

Marian grabbed his arm with an outstretched hand as he passed by her and Guy paused mid-step. Even through the layers of leather she felt his tension building within when she touched him. “I am sorry,” she said, eyes on his sleeve. “I feel that is because of me.”

Guy put his large, gloved hand over her much smaller one and looked intently at Marian. “No Marian. He could not possibly know. If Vasey knew, both of our heads would be already forfeit. I fear I am being selfish by asking you to stay.” He said intensely in a low voice.

Marian drew away her hand and clasped both hands in front of her, tightly. “I have no where else to go.” She said simply.

“Do you not?” Guy murmured sadly, his face bleak. He refocused and continued, “Your promise means more to me than you could possibly understand.” His dark eyes burned into her; his face showed open longing.

“Wait here a moment,” Marian smiled tightly as Guy inclined his dark head in agreement. Marian walked into her adjoining chamber where a small mirror and a chest of drawers stood. She leaned into the mirror, looking at her wide eyes and flushed cheeks, and gave herself a couple of moments to regain her calm and self possession. Adjusting the drape of her long forest green dress, she walked out of the chamber, ready for Guy to escort her to the front steps of the castle. She found Guy patiently waiting for her and in seeing her, his eyes burned with pride and passion, although his expression remained solemn. Guy bowed and offered Marian a leather coated forearm.

“Milady,” Guy said smoothly, “shall we?” his smile mocking and his eyes bright with hidden emotion.

“Yes,” Marian said and returned a small smile of her own. She then placed her hand delicately on Guy’s corded arm.

As the couple was about to leave Marian’s chambers, Allan came skidding in, bending over and leaning his hands on his knees as he gasped out, “Gisborne, Marian… Came to get you,” he panted, “the carriage is approaching, follow me to the courtyard.” Allan then took off at a sprint from the room back to the front of the castle, Marian and Guy following closely behind.

They had passed through the double door main entrance to the castle just as the carriage could be seen through the main iron wrought gates. Vasey, dressed in black and an ermine cape, already waited on the stone steps for the guests. Vasey turned his head idly to look at Marian and Guy standing on the top step near the door.

“So glad you two could tear yourselves away.” He said sardonically, glancing at Marian’s hand resting still upon Guy’s sleeve. Marian flushed and snatched her hand off his arm, casting Guy a quick sideways glance. Guy reddened angrily at the Sheriff’s words and crossed his arms, but said nothing.

“Ah,” Vasey said throwing up his arms and descending the steps, “here is out guest now.”

A wooden carriage with discreet black curtains protecting its occupants pulled up in the front of the main stone steps. A figure flung aside the curtain and revealed himself to Nottingham’s courtyard.

Guy started, “No,” he hissed under his breath, “why is he here?”

Marian and Guy both watched as Jasper, grinning, embraced Vasey. The two exchanged pleasantries in a manner that stirred Marian’s stomach uneasily.

Guy, his face pale and his large body tense, growled in a low tone, “That man tried to destroy us!” and shifted to move forward.

“No!” Marian exclaimed softly and moved into his path. Placing her hands upon his chest she pushed at him and startled, he allowed himself to be steered back into the shadows of the balcony overhanging the courtyard. Marian grabbed his shoulders and stared Guy down, searching his stern features, trying to make eye contact.

“Guy, do not be so foolish. The sheriff obviously wants Jasper here for a reason. In your current circumstance it would not be wise to interfere.” Guy let out an angry snort and tried to shake her off. Marian, undeterred reached for Guy’s face and placed her hand not too gently on his check forcing his focus back on her. “It would not be the best plan to anger the Sheriff, instead play nice and Vasey might again take you into his confidence. Be patient. Find out what the Sheriff and Jasper plan before you act. We can figure this out together.” Marian’s gentle voice soothed as if gentling a wild colt. Guy’s dark eyes burned, mesmerized by her words.

Guy breathed out, “Marian, I had hoped…” Guy glanced towards her fingers resting on his cheek as his hand slowly moved to cover hers. Guy looked into her eyes and saw the guilt and hesitation. He ripped her hand off of him and grabbed her wrist hauling her against his front. Marian slammed against Guy's chest, her breasts crushed against his rock hard body, which quivered, taut with anger and arousal.

“Don’t you ever try to control me again, Marian. You try to seduce me with your body and tease me. Do not test my limit, for one day I may break and you can be sure I will come to your bed to claim what your sweet body promises.” Guy snarled his face hard as granite. Abruptly he let go of her and swept out of the courtyard and into the castle, completely forgetting to greet their guest.

The Sheriff watched Guy’s angry departure and Marian’s helpless expression. “Ah,” he said in a bored tone to Jasper, “I see the Lady Marian has once again refused our Gisbourne’s advances. Let’s get him a whore or two to cheer him up. Shall we?”

Later that Evening

Nottingham castle stood tall and peaceful in the summer darkness. Crickets chirped in the late evening as the castle slowed down from the day’s activities. The apparent quiet calm of the night would leave one to suppose that all was well and safe inside the castle. Marian however knew more than anyone that appearances could be deceiving.

In the Sheriff’s private quarters of the castle, two noblemen gathered around a glowing fire in cushioned, winged backed armchairs quietly discussing an unknown subject. Darkness engulfed the large cold room, except for the scene before the fire. A chess board was placed between them on a low table and two goblets of wine with a silver pitcher. The privacy of the chamber and intense manner, in which the men conversed, would leave an observer to imagine that the topic was private, possibly nefarious.

“Gisborne is hiding something from me.” Vasey announced, idly picking up his wine goblet with a ringed hand. He languidly gazed at its contents before taking a sip. “I want to know what.”

“Do you think that Gisborne is secretly working for Richard?” Jasper asked in a bored tone, crossing one well tailored pant leg with the other.

“No,” the Sheriff replied musing, “Gisborne despises Richard for dispossessing the Gisborne line of the family estates.” Vasey put down his goblet and tapped his fingers together, elbows resting on the arms of the chair. “Something closer to home, I believe.”

“Perhaps he is concealing his feelings for the lovely Lady Marian?” Jasper suggested sarcastically, snorting in mirth. “Everyone knows his intentions towards her. Equally obvious is her indifference to him.” Jasper drained his cup of wine and reached for the pitcher.

“Ah, the Lady Marian, the proverbial thorn in my side.” Vasey’s face darkened “Guy is a silly, sick moon calf fawning over that leper.” Vasey clenched his armchair. “She weakens him, undermines his abilities. I want her out of the castle!” he slammed down his hands on the chair.

“Where will you send her?” Jasper questioned, “The Crown holds her estate entailed until she either marries, in which case Knighton passes to her husband or she dies, in that case her estate reverts back to the crown.” He leaned back after filling her goblet. “You could marry her off to one of your vassals.”

“No one will have her!” Vasey exclaimed, gesturing, “She is too old and her bold, headstrong nature is known throughout the county. Her past betrothal to Hood does not make her a desirable woman to form a connection with.” Vasey paused a moment and looked thoughtful. “Would you have her? I would put in a nice dowry to sweeten the deal.” He asked.

Jasper’s inbred aristocratic features’ sneered. “I prefer my women submissive.”

“You have excellent taste, my good man.” Vasey commended. He shoved his slippers up on the low table between them, disrupting the abandoned chess game. “Marian will soon do some charitable act, which I can deem treasonous and then punishes her for it. She is her own worst enemy.” He waved away the problem with his hand. “Back to the matter at hand, Guy is keeping something from me. Hence he is losing his faith in our cause. We must strengthen his resolve in his mind that this path will bring him wealth and position. He must have no doubt about where his loyalties lie before we head to Acre in one month.” The Sheriff removed his feet from the table and stood up to pace around the cold, stone chamber.

“Gisborne will certainly respond to land or monetary payments. He craves wealth and position.” Jasper said taking a deep draw from his goblet. “Or better yet, give him Marian. He will certainly respond to a woman, who can ease his cock.” He laughed mockingly at his crude joke.

The sheriff continued pacing, his hand rubbing his chin as he mussed over the idea. His face slowly lit with cunning and his eyes became small and calculating. “Gisborne wants land and we must find a way to give it to him with no costs to ourselves.” He smiled cruelly. “Marian and Knighton are the solutions to our problems. We must give him Knighton.”

Jasper, not following the Sheriff’s train of thought said confusedly, “We cannot give Guy Knighton; it is property of the crown until Marian marries.”

“Ah, but as the law in Nottingham, figuratively, I am the crown. As far as Marian and Guy are concerned, I own Knighton.” The Sheriff began to stride across the room again plotting, “I will speak with Gisborne, and send him to Knighton to rebuild the manor, letting him understand that the lands will be his. It will be his project to refurbish the estate and supervise the income and taxes drawn in. I will have him understand that he can do as he pleases with Marian. The foolish man will do the honorable thing and marry the leper; a normal man would bed her and be done with it. He will worship me for placing land and power within his grasp and the women he so desires.”

“And Marian, should she refuse?” Jasper drawled negligently.

“Marian will not be in a position to refuse him anything and she knows it. She has no family now and a woman’s only options are always marriage or the Church. I shall tell her that if she refuses Guy, I would view it as an act of willful defiance and marry her off to him without her consent. She is under my control now as my ward, her consent is not needed, only mine.” The Sheriff said bluntly, his plan apparently flawless.

Jasper stood up, clutching two goblets in his hand. He gave one to Vasey and clinked his goblet with the Sheriff’s, “To success in all of our grand schemes.” They drank deeply.

From his dark corner, listening intently, Guy swore swiftly and fluently.

End Chapter One.

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 01:41:47 GMT

Thank you to coffeeaddicted for my new userpic!

Six Months of Darkness

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 02:25:01 GMT

Six Months of Darkness

Locksley Manor stood silent and still in the cold frost of the night. The house seemed to be sleeping, resting up from all of the activity in the house during the day. But now the cook and servants had vacated the kitchen and the main hall. Guards wearing Gisborne colors stood snoozing, lax in their attention due to the recent absence of outlaws’ nightly raids. Robin of Locksley was truly gone.

Inside the Manor’s master bedroom the fire had long burned out in the grate. Only glowing embers transmitted heat to the still figure in the canopied bed. The connecting doors to a bathing chamber and dressing room were firmly shut against a draft. The burning coals threw a dull orange light over an armoire and chair clustered on that side of the room. The grand bed stood in shadow in the center of the bedroom. The figure lay motionless on his back, apparently asleep, but his ears were straining for the soft tread of a woman coming up the stairs.

Shivering from the cold and the early hour, Marian grasped the latch of the thick wooden door and slowly pushed open the door into their room, trying to prevent the creaking, which would disturb the figure. Marian silently crept into the dark room and over to the dying fire, her practiced feet noiseless on the floor boards. Divesting herself of the heavy woolen cloak, she grabbed an iron poker to stroke the fire. Placing more logs on the now cheery blaze, her slender body was illuminated by the glow for the dark figure in the bed. She quickly stripped herself of her gown and chemise, throwing them on top of a leather coat on the chair. She changed into a white linen nightgown and loosened her dark hair. Pulling pins out of the serviceable bun, she ran a couple of fast brush strokes through her tangled hair. After doffing her stockings, she tiptoed over to the canopied bed and drew back the covers.

The large figure on the bed shifted towards her, feeling the mattress dip with her weight and spoke.

“Marian, where were you?” Guy asked his deep voice low and rumbling in the quiet chamber. His tone betrayed his worry and anxiety for her welfare. He propped himself up on one muscled arm before peering at her through the darkness.

She slipped into the bed next to her husband, burrowing underneath the covers. It was cold outside, and there was a light frost on the ground and the windows. Marian smiled at him and allowed her body to roll into his as the mattress sagged in the middle from their combined weight. Guy made her feel safe. And he always has, Marian thought, he never betrayed me as the nightwatchman to the sheriff. Guy had also protected her from countless manipulations and schemes of the black knights since then.

“Have you been able to sleep at all?” Marian brought her white hand up to rest against Guy’s cheek. She stroked the day’s worth of dark stubble she found there, hoping to erase his worry, by feeling her near him. Guy sighed deeply and gathered her into his arms. Their marriage six-months earlier had not started with mutual feelings of love and trust as Guy had once hoped. It had been a marriage of convenience and under unhappy circumstances, Guy once again offered Marian his home and his sword for her protection and to his astonished surprise she accepted his proposal. Later when he heard word that Robin had left for the Holy Land before their engagement, his feelings of rejection and anger returned. Guy had confronted Marian with this knowledge, exposing the depth of his own feelings for her. He asked her why she had finally agreed to marry him; did she intend to leave him if Robin ever returned? Marian had been silent for awhile and said that it was time to put away childish loves and dreams. She was a different person than the one Robin had left five years ago, with different needs and different hopes. She also admitted that even though she did not love Guy now, that she wanted to believe that she could in time. For she believed that within him she saw a good man- knew there was a good man. Guy was floored by her honesty, her honor and her belief. Every day he thanked God for those qualities in Marian and tried in return to give her the same trust and compassion. Resting his chin on top of her head, he repeated the question.

“Where were you?” His voice vibrated inside his bare chest under her cheek. Guy waited anxiously, knowing he was breaking a promise; a trust he made to her, all the same praying that she would answer his question.

Marian went still, her body freezing against his. “Guy, please,” She began plaintively, “Don’t. Don’t ask.” She tried to draw away from his heavily muscled body and his comforting arms.

Guy refused to let her withdraw. Refused to let her erect those barriers, barriers of fear, mistrust and anger, which Guy had only broke through after many months. “Don’t go Marian, Don’t go. Not yet.” He whispered, his arms tightening.

“Don’t go? Why would I want to leave?” Marian asked confused and raised herself up onto one elbow, searching his dark gaze with her own blue one. “Guy what has happened?” When he did not answer, Marian said urgently “We decided that it is better for you not to know. Not while you still work for the sheriff. Vasey would do anything to get his hands on us, use me to hurt you. You can’t know now, it is too dangerous.”

Guy was silent his body tensed, all of his muscles bunching with the strain of what he needed to know. When he turned his head to look directly at Marian his dark eyes were troubled.

“But tonight I need to know.” He stated.

Marian spoke slowly, “Guy you cannot know of my nighttime activities, whom I see. You remember that I promised you that I would stop being the nightwatchman, which I have honored, but I need to help people who are suffering under the sheriff’s cruelty. When I married you, I promised to support you in your desires and wishes. Will you not do that same for me? I am lucky I have a roof over my head, plenty of food, and a strong, wonderful husband willing and able to protect me. I have to help those who are denied such things in this life.”

Guy spoke hesitantly but with conviction. “Marian I do support you in all of these things, but tonight…” he stopped and then abruptly went on “Hood is back.” He turned his head to stare unseeing at the canopy above.

“Hood is back.” Marian said flatly her eyes going to her hands resting on top of the blankets. She repeated his words, but her tone confirmed the statement. “Yes” she sighed, “he has returned from the Holy Land.” She waited a moment and then ventured, “How did you know?”

“Vasey” Guy said shortly. Marian could feel his walls almost physically closing her out as well as emotionally. Afraid of rejection and of loneliness, Guy would rather shut her out than open himself to the possibility of rejection. As if he could not help himself he asked “Did you go meet him tonight. Did he ask you to come with him.” Guy’s jaw worked as he fought to contain questions and wild accusations. The words came out harsh and filled with suppressed emotion.

“Yes and no,” Marian said searching his turned away face for any sign. “I went to see him tonight because he asked me to. But he did not ask me to come to the Holy Land with him. He knew not to ask.” Guy’s head whipped towards her at that last statement, his gaze hungry and curious. She knew tonight that she had to explain to Guy her true feelings about their marriage and about him, unsaid words that had been bubbling inside her for weeks. “Robin came to visit his father’s grave, to say goodbye to them and to me before he returns to the Holy Land. Though, he did not know at the time that for us it was a final goodbye. We talked of past times, of his future plans and about King Richard’s fight in the Holy Land. He asked me if I was happy here. I told him I was, Guy, because I am, terribly happy with you.” Marian felt Guy’s body tense again, this time with expectation and hope. “By seeing Robin tonight I successfully closed one chapter of my life. In order to start a new chapter with fresh, new beginning, one stage needs to end. I desperately want this new part of my life to begin, with you.” Marian stopped fearing she had said too much, blinking back tears at the difficultly of what she was trying to tell this proud, stubborn, desperately hopeful man. “I will not ever leave you, nor ever want to.” Marian lifted her eyes to Guy’s burning black gaze.

Guy felt each word touch the very marrow of his bones, filling him inside with such a well of hope and longing. He reached for Marian with trembling hands and kissed her. Forcefully with love and passion. Marian felt as if she was drowning as Guy’s lips molded and firmed against hers, delving deeper and deeper. She wished it would never end as she twined her arms around his neck, kissing him back with all that was in her heart.

Lingering slightly over Marian’s lips, kissing her softly Guy said, “You better not leave me for I will always follow you.” He said gruffly, his voice filled with emotion. “Then I’ll tie up in a tree like Hood did just so you can’t get away from me.” He said to lighten the mood. He continued kissing her, scratching her neck with his stubble as he traveled down her neck, the collar of nightgown and beyond. Marian’s laugh floated through the room and down the no longer silent halls of Locksley.