Of Necklaces and Betrothals, chapter 2

Sir Edward gave his blessing, shaking hands with Sir Guy and making his voice warm as he welcomed the unwanted future son-in-law into the family. Marian listened to it all with calculation and thinking of what her newly-betrothed lord had promised her earlier.

She had promised to marry him. He had promised to be the man she wanted him to be. A promise was a promise and Sir Guy would be the first to admit that. But was it at all possible? Before Robin had put the neckless in her hand, Guy had asked for the truth. Marian had begun to tell him the truth, as she saw it. Could Guy handle to hear the truth?

A servant brought their best wine and the three of them drank to the union. Guy had finally released her hand and she felt oddly unsought, yet free.

They stood there smilingly and silently with cups in their hands. But Sir Guy took the opportunity to fill the silence:

"It's the king's birthday next week!" he said quite cheerfully.

"It is indeed," answered Sir Edward.

"I am to hold a celebration at Locksley. Will you come, Sir Edward... Milady?" He looked eager and was clearly expecting them to accept the invitation, which they did. Marian hid her surprise.

Guy of Gisborne, celebrating the king? Wonders never cease...

His eyes were locked on hers and she made a small smile that showed her charming dimples. He put down his cup and said:

"I must go. Much to prepare."

"I'll follow you to your horse, Sir Guy," Marian said and smiled again when she saw his surprise.

This is easy, it's easy to keep him happy with little. A bit of obvious politeness that most would take for granted is by him received as a special favour.

She should be triumphant when finding his weaknesses so easily worked on, but somehow she felt a twinge in her heart instead; it was not in her nature to feel indifferent to anyone in need. While the poor were deprived of worldly goods, Sir Guy of Gisborne was deprived of...

No. Stop. He is not worth my sympathy.

Guy and Marian walked slowly along the manor and the fragrant, buzzing flowerbeds towards the stables. His horse was tethered just outside.

How strange a day it was. The sun was shining down on them as if it was just another day. She walked next to him, as if they were friends... and lovers. In his mind, they definitely were. In her mind, they were neither.

"I thought we were friends," he had said accusingly, not an hour earlier. "So did I," she had answered. But she had always thought he was her friend, not the other way around. There had never been much choice, given the circumstances. But now... Being engaged to him, things would have to... work. She had to be friends with him, at the very least.

So maybe he had to be worthy of her sympathy, if nothing else.

They stood by his horse now, and she supposed it was time to say good-bye. For now.

He was obviously going to visit her again, soon. He had visited her often enough before, it was not as if their betrothal was going to make his visits less frequent, probably the opposite!

Or... maybe it was the other way around? Now that he had assured himself of her acquiescence, he might in fact visit her less frequently. Many men lived for the hunt, why should Sir Guy of Gisborne be any different?

Robin had not been different. He had been on her trail every day for a month before she had accepted him. After that, she had seen much less of him, as a matter of fact. There had been no cause to doubt his love, but Robin was the boy who always chased after new triumphs and taking his earlier conquests for granted.

"Marian... you look worried," Guy said, sounding concerned.

She startled and her hand went up to finger the necklace.

I must make a copy of this, quickly, and give the peasant girl. This necklace must be mine. My conquest.

"It has been an eventful day... Guy," she answered and looked up at him earnestly.

He took notice of the fact that she had addressed him with only his name for the very first time. There was that crooked smile again that told her he was pleased.

"You said..." she began and stopped, looking down again.

"What?" he asked eagerly.

She was afraid again. Was she destroying the brittle illusion of good will? Could she risk it? Could she live with herself if she did not?

"Will... will the sheriff be very angry with you, Guy?"

He hastily took her hand again and said: "You must not worry about such things, Marian. I can deal with the sheriff."

She purposely interlaced her fingers with his and continued in a voice that she forced to sound light: "But you told him I betrayed you both. He must be expecting to see me arrested and executed."

"NO!" he nearly shouted and grabbed her arm with his free hand.

She looked up at him, clenching her jaw. Now it was his turn to look afraid. So there was regret within him.

"You – you wanted me dead, Guy," she said sternly.

"No!"

"You came here to arrest me."

"No!"

"You came to kill me and now you leave me as your future wife!"

"No, Marian, no!" he cried out, grabbing both her upper arms and staring wildly into her eyes.

"You're hurting me, Guy."

"Forgive me!" he exclaimed and instantly released her. He turned around and pulled a hand through his hair. He turned to her again, desperate anxiety in his every feature. "I did not want to believe it, Marian. But the sight of the necklace... The circumstances... My – jealousy – " He choked on the words. It took some time for him to regain his composure.

"I am a man of many faults. Great faults," he continued. "Hot – temper. Strong emotion. Perhaps too strong. I know I do not deserve you. I know that so very well, Marian. I know... that you loved... another. You may despise him now, but once..." he silenced.

"That is in the past," Marian said, doing all to keep her voice from shaking. Robin had been too involved already, on every level. Guy's words had an impact on her. Well, as he had entered her home with the purpose of ending her life, his words of the regret he felt now had to mean a lot to her.

"I believe you. I trust you, Marian," he said and took a step closer to her again with a sincere look on his face. The words kept jumbling out of his mouth: "And I regret all I said and did! I am glad, truly glad that you bring this up. That you want to speak of it." He was terribly upset, walking around and waving his arms, but not in a threatening way. "I know I acted hastily. I know I do many stupid things in hot blood – or when I'm ordered to. But... I... When..."

He stood still in front of her and had trouble finding the words.

"When given a moment of... reflection... then I always calm down, Marian. It is true. You must believe me! Had not the necklace been in your possession this day, I would have brought you to Nottingham and – "

Again, he was silent.

"And?" she asked, looking at him tensely.

"And... on the way to Nottingham..." he said in a low, thick voice with his head hanging.

"Yes?" she whispered, waiting.

"I – " he began and looked up on her.

She startled. There were tears in his eyes. He took a large step forward and grabbed her arms again.

"I could never have done it, Marian!" he cried out. "Never! Had we been on our way now, in this very moment, then I would have done anything – said anything – to find a way out of this! I could never – would never..." he released her and turned his back on her, hand over his eyes.

Marian was ashamed and shaken. Her mixed emotions for Robin – and for Guy; the fact that she had betrayed Guy, albeit for a good cause – it was all a great disarray within her. Guy was telling the truth. But this was here and now. She had to do what she could do – here and now, with him.

"Guy..." she said in a shaken little voice. He still stood rigid and tall with his back turned to her, and it actually helped. "Guy, I am in no way perfect myself."

"You are the most perfect creature in the world, Marian," she heard him say in a broken voice as he bended his head down.

"No! Believe me, I am not. You know I'm headstrong. You know I don't even share many of your fundamental opinions on politics, Guy. You know I have political opinions!"

"I do," he said. Did he actually sound amused?

"I will not change fundamentally. I do not intend to!" she continued.

"I sincerely hope so!" he answered.

"I will make faults, Guy!" she shouted, "Grievous faults! Enraging faults! Faults that will make you furious at least once a day! From this day forward!"

Her own emotion and deepest worries came to the surface now. But he was actually chuckling. He turned around and had a stunningly tender look on his face.

"I know," he said, "I would not want you any other way."

"I – I cannot live... in fear of..."

She was silent. It was too much, too harsh for words. But he understood.

"You cannot live with a man who threatens to kill you once a day," he filled in.

"Just so," she said, standing firm in front of him.

He extended his still un-gloved hand ever so slowly and cupped her cheek in his warm and soft palm. She must have looked utterly amazed.

"You will not live with such a man, Marian," he said with a low, velvety voice, "I will change."

"How?" she whispered.

"We will get to know each other. Your... pure heart will... influence me in a good way. That is why I need you so much."

She gaped at him and he lowered his hand, smiling in a way that was a mixture of sadness and longing.

"But – I-I... Can I... What if I..." she stuttered.

They stood in front of each other, but a few inches apart, and his head bent lower to look deeper into her eyes. She had to stare back, feeling herself hypnotised by his warm expression.

"We have time, Marian. Lots of time," he said huskily.

Yet again, he managed to completely surprise her. Time? Time! What did he mean? Did he mean...? Her mind was burning with questions.

Instead of elaborating his meaning, he looked further down at her hands. He took them into his and raised them to chest level, watching them in wonderment and letting his thumbs caress her skin. Slowly, he lifted one of her hands to his lips. She felt the stubble on his jaw tickle her skin and his warm lips move over her knuckles.

And while a wave of sudden fever took hold of her, all she could see was him, the amazing variations that was him.

He turned her hand over and gave her palm a firm, finishing kiss before releasing her. She stood there in bewilderment. He smiled enigmatically.

"Good-bye, Marian."

She had to swallow hard to find her voice again.

"Good-good-bye, Guy," she answered.

He smirked, straddled his horse and rode off slowly, turning around to look and wave at her once before disappearing.

She stood at the same spot for a good while, before collecting herself. It was time – time, indeed! – to come back to reality and have a good talk to her father. To find a good silver smith who could secretly make a copy of a necklace as quickly as possibly. To make a plan for the future. To avoid Robin Hood. Above all, avoid Robin Hood.

~Fin~