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queenofmayThe days after Marian returned home had been quiet, seeing to her father, Sir Guy’s random appearances, the people of Knighton Village, and, when she couldn’t truly avoid it, her embroidery. Which was what she’d been doing when Sir Guy swept in one morning saying she was to come with him to see a demonstration. She’d begged off once, but he’d pressed the issue, mentioning that it was a friend of his.
The whole idea of Guy having a ‘friend’ so confused her she hadn’t agreed completely, but Gisborne decided her silence was a acquiesce and packed her off out into the middle of the woods. It was a gift of his favor she knew, once she realized she was the only person there aside from him, his friend, Lambert, the sheriff, and many guards.
The black powder Lambert had poured out, which had looked like sand, worked as an incendiary explosive which awed and frightened her instantly. Not because it was terribly frightening, but because she thought Guy and the Sheriff should be the last people that were shown it.
She hated being held back at the shelter with soldiers while the three discussed it almost out of ear shot, but it wasn’t hard to tell, even that far away, when the Sheriff got angry and Guy got uncomfortable due to whatever his friend was saying. The next moment soldiers were rushing, things were exploding, Lambert was running into the hills with both giving chase, and she couldn’t do a thing.
Not while the ground kept exploding.
And, especially, not dressed the way she was, surrounded by soldiers.
~*~
It had taken far too much of her patience to explain, simply and gently, why the soldiers should escort her back to the castle since both of her chaperones were now gone. And then it had taken even longer for them to take her there, something about going slowly as not to damage a women’s constitution.
Which only helped to fray her nerves.
She was walking quickly out the steps of the garrison when she spotted Guy, due to the ruckus he made kicking over a bench. He spotted her, looking surprised and embarrassed, but, also, strangely, he looked wounded and angry. She grew more curious, if better than to admit concern, when he would not respond to his name or the first inquiry to his actions.
When that didn’t work, she pulled out the betrothal card. If she had to have it, she might as well get to use it for her own purposes. It worked, if a little better than she’d expected, earning her first an immediate apology and then answers to all of her questions. Some of them were circumspect answers, while others more direct than expected; like his discussing the treatment the Sheriff gave him caused her to feel conflicted.
Marian had to keep pressing, dropping small bits, about Lambert and the ledger before he finally turned enough so she could try to drop in a plan. One that worked more to her advantage, and hopefully Robin’s, than his, but it was one which could cost her to trust him and she was surprised how easily she felt it might be to trust him with such small steps.
Just getting his friend to trust him, to reveal the ledger’s location, through acts of secrecy and loyalty which were so very precious to Guy.
And when he seemed doubtful, but able to be edged the direction she wanted most, she reached out placing her hand on his shoulder, feeling rather dirty for the fact she used his own weakness for her against him.
~*~
The news of Much’s commendation traveled through Nottingham fast, though she had to content herself with waiting many hours to call on him. At a time which it would have seemed appropriate for her father to have heard the news and then bade her to go visit him to make their early respects.
In such interviews invitations and inquiries were allowed, of course. Along with letters, that might look like official invitations.
She was surprised that at first he did sound rather courtlier than she expected, though the news wasn’t good. Knowing Robin had not come, or even more might not yet know about the situation, she left with him the letter and took her leave of him. The hour was appropriate and so was his sudden appointment.
It would look as though she’d come to give him an invitation to a dinner, or something close.
Especially before the cleverly placed servant girl none of them knew.
Marian was troubled by the set up, the sheriff giving away Bon Church, trapping Much into some clever scheme. Because Much was gifted Bon Church by Robin and she did not want to see him toyed with, especially not over his prized possession which had been denied to him since returning. The whole thing left a bad taste in her mouth and set her on edge.
Which was why she almost hit Robin for tapping her shoulder, reaching home after delivering some medicine to a sick child in Nettlestone, talking about her note and getting Gisborne to play part in her scheme. Robin, predictably was arrogant and childish about the whole thing, calling Guy conscious less and making fresh of his friend.
She admitted taking advantage of him, wanting to show herself clear, but was feeling ever worse for admitting to it. How was it being supposedly good she kept having to sink to methods that were not to get things done?
Robin snapped even more when she divulged Guy’s thoughts, relating her plan, for freeing Lambert, but giving it more preference to it being Guy’s, adding it this time the revelation that giving Robin her plan would allow him to seize Lambert while he was alone with Guy. She hadn’t expected to hear he had possession of the ledger already.
That stopped her. Especially once he admitted it not ruining it.
Which seemed only to lead them into a new fight about what was just and unjust, what was right for the people, for their protection, and she ended by slamming into his shoulder addressing his eternal quest for glory as she went inside for the night.
The whole idea of Guy having a ‘friend’ so confused her she hadn’t agreed completely, but Gisborne decided her silence was a acquiesce and packed her off out into the middle of the woods. It was a gift of his favor she knew, once she realized she was the only person there aside from him, his friend, Lambert, the sheriff, and many guards.
The black powder Lambert had poured out, which had looked like sand, worked as an incendiary explosive which awed and frightened her instantly. Not because it was terribly frightening, but because she thought Guy and the Sheriff should be the last people that were shown it.
She hated being held back at the shelter with soldiers while the three discussed it almost out of ear shot, but it wasn’t hard to tell, even that far away, when the Sheriff got angry and Guy got uncomfortable due to whatever his friend was saying. The next moment soldiers were rushing, things were exploding, Lambert was running into the hills with both giving chase, and she couldn’t do a thing.
Not while the ground kept exploding.
And, especially, not dressed the way she was, surrounded by soldiers.
~*~
It had taken far too much of her patience to explain, simply and gently, why the soldiers should escort her back to the castle since both of her chaperones were now gone. And then it had taken even longer for them to take her there, something about going slowly as not to damage a women’s constitution.
Which only helped to fray her nerves.
She was walking quickly out the steps of the garrison when she spotted Guy, due to the ruckus he made kicking over a bench. He spotted her, looking surprised and embarrassed, but, also, strangely, he looked wounded and angry. She grew more curious, if better than to admit concern, when he would not respond to his name or the first inquiry to his actions.
When that didn’t work, she pulled out the betrothal card. If she had to have it, she might as well get to use it for her own purposes. It worked, if a little better than she’d expected, earning her first an immediate apology and then answers to all of her questions. Some of them were circumspect answers, while others more direct than expected; like his discussing the treatment the Sheriff gave him caused her to feel conflicted.
Marian had to keep pressing, dropping small bits, about Lambert and the ledger before he finally turned enough so she could try to drop in a plan. One that worked more to her advantage, and hopefully Robin’s, than his, but it was one which could cost her to trust him and she was surprised how easily she felt it might be to trust him with such small steps.
Just getting his friend to trust him, to reveal the ledger’s location, through acts of secrecy and loyalty which were so very precious to Guy.
And when he seemed doubtful, but able to be edged the direction she wanted most, she reached out placing her hand on his shoulder, feeling rather dirty for the fact she used his own weakness for her against him.
~*~
The news of Much’s commendation traveled through Nottingham fast, though she had to content herself with waiting many hours to call on him. At a time which it would have seemed appropriate for her father to have heard the news and then bade her to go visit him to make their early respects.
In such interviews invitations and inquiries were allowed, of course. Along with letters, that might look like official invitations.
She was surprised that at first he did sound rather courtlier than she expected, though the news wasn’t good. Knowing Robin had not come, or even more might not yet know about the situation, she left with him the letter and took her leave of him. The hour was appropriate and so was his sudden appointment.
It would look as though she’d come to give him an invitation to a dinner, or something close.
Especially before the cleverly placed servant girl none of them knew.
Marian was troubled by the set up, the sheriff giving away Bon Church, trapping Much into some clever scheme. Because Much was gifted Bon Church by Robin and she did not want to see him toyed with, especially not over his prized possession which had been denied to him since returning. The whole thing left a bad taste in her mouth and set her on edge.
Which was why she almost hit Robin for tapping her shoulder, reaching home after delivering some medicine to a sick child in Nettlestone, talking about her note and getting Gisborne to play part in her scheme. Robin, predictably was arrogant and childish about the whole thing, calling Guy conscious less and making fresh of his friend.
She admitted taking advantage of him, wanting to show herself clear, but was feeling ever worse for admitting to it. How was it being supposedly good she kept having to sink to methods that were not to get things done?
Robin snapped even more when she divulged Guy’s thoughts, relating her plan, for freeing Lambert, but giving it more preference to it being Guy’s, adding it this time the revelation that giving Robin her plan would allow him to seize Lambert while he was alone with Guy. She hadn’t expected to hear he had possession of the ledger already.
That stopped her. Especially once he admitted it not ruining it.
Which seemed only to lead them into a new fight about what was just and unjust, what was right for the people, for their protection, and she ended by slamming into his shoulder addressing his eternal quest for glory as she went inside for the night.