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Aug. 7th, 2011 at 9:58 PM
Marian knew she was looking worse for wear. She knew she was worrying her father. But what was she to do? She could defend her home, but could he? He was far worse off than she was. And she knew Guy would take out her miss deeds out on a feeble old man, she had seen it happen more than once.
So there she lay, in between her window her bed chamber door, the shutters thrown wide as was the door. Not a sound would get passed her. Weapons she used as the Night Watchman by her side. She was ready for anything. Unless the whole army was brought to rain siege on her home. She had little hope that, if that were to happen, that Robin would come to her aid. Even if it was quite foolish to do so.
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With all of this to consider, he'd bided his time. The wait would be worse for Marian, not to mention Sir Edward, and his lip had curled, smirking, as he lay awake contemplating revenge each night. Guy doubted Marian had even begun to relax; she knew him too well to even think this could go unpunished. But he would catch her as off-guard as he could. With the Sheriff's smiling approval, he'd waited until well past the midnight hour to take a small contingent of men and race towards Knighton.
They halted at the treeline, Guy surveying the scene for a moment, eyes glinting before he motioned for everyone to gallop forward, making no effort to be quiet. Almost leaping from his horse, Guy pounded on the door. "Edward! Marian!" His voice was cold, any feeling normally heard when her name crossed his lips gone. She would pay.
Edward didn't like it, he didn't like that his daughter felt the need to protect him, as it should be the other way around. Especially in her bed clothes. But he did as she bade, backing around the corner, so he could see but not be seen. He had half the mind to go after Robin. But he didn't dare leave Marian alone with Gisborne.
Placing her foot just so he could not shove the door open, and barge in, Marian opened the door. The weapon she held hidden from view. She put on her best scowl. After all it was his fault she hit him, and walked out. He had lied, he had played part in a deception that very nearly got her father killed. "What do you want?" What she left out was 'at this hour' but it didn't matter what hour it was. Her tone having taken the cold, belligerent edge that told just how happy she was about his actions.
His first instinct was to hit her for her insolence, but he stilled his hand, Leather gloves squeaking has his hand balled into a fist. "You're coming to Nottingham. Now." He would not give her the satisfaction of an actual answer; no, it would be better to let her imagination run rampant as to what fate could possibly be awaiting her at the castle.
"And if I were you, I would take care with your tone." He had the power, now. He had been willing to share it with her; to give the woman in front of him anything she wanted. And she threw it back in his face.
"Surely I have a moment to get dressed, my lord, I was not expecting your visit." Her tone was still icy, though she curtsied, pulling her sleeping shift away from her body, which hid the sword in the folds of it's skirt. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction of her distress.
Edward retreated farther into the house. Not wanting to leave Marian alone, but she did better when he was not a bargaining chip.
His hand stretched out, catching her arm. She was trying something. What, he didn't know, but she had to be taught her place. "Surely you'll do as you are told," he returned, the chill in his voice surpassing hers. And if he told her that she would be riding to Nottingham bare naked, she would do just that.
"Ask nicely, Marian." His grasp tightened, just enough so that she knew he wasn't playing.
"May I?" That had to be sweet enough. She wasn't about to beg if he didn't care about how people saw her. If he no longer wanted her hand, then that might mean a bit of trouble.
"Quickly," he responded to her request, flimsy though it might have been, almost shoving her back. Until something caught his eye. "Wait," Guy odered. "You're hiding something."
Keen eyes slid down her body, slowly, uncomfortably, at least for Marian, before settling on the hand lost in the folds of her nightgown. His free hand stretched out, wrenching her wrist into view. And with it, a sword. "And what do we have here?"
She was set to pretend she was grateful, and rush up the stairs, and perhaps climb out the window. And figure out a way to have her father escape as well. That was until he stopped her. She swallowed thickly as his gaze flowed down her body. She hadn't a clue what he was about.
Her lips tightened when he pulled her wrist free, forcing her to release the skirt of her gown or show him more than she was willing. "You were pounding on my door in the middle of the night, how was I to know you were't some... Outlaw. My father is infirm. I could hardly come down without means to defend myself and him." And my home. Though she had no real hope of going against him and all the guards he had brought with him.
"You were supposed to know," he returned, carefully measuring out each word, eyes locked on her face, "Because I called out your name, and your father's." Speaking of which...
The sword was taken away, Guy motioning for her go upstairs. "Go change, Marian. And hurry. Your father and I will just have a little...discussion while we wait."
If he'd learned anything about Marian, it was how much she cared for Edward. And he would not hesitate to use that against her.
She wanted to hold on to the sword, she wanted to quite badly. But she didn't dare fight him. No doubt he was in the mood not to book any argument as far as the blade went. She turned to go, though the second half caught her half way up. "My father isn't here." It was a blatant lie, especially after she had said she was going to protect herself, and Edward. But she said it loud enough with hopes that her father would hear her and find way out of the house. So he could not be used for leverage.
Not that she had any need to fear outlaws, but even so, Guy doubted Edward would have left her alone through the night hours; even if she did, obviously, know how to handle a blade. "Don't lie to me, Marian," he warned, eyes flashing. "I'll not abide it any longer." She had pushed her luck too far.
"Go change." He didn't wait for a response, nodding, instead to two guards. "Guide her upstairs," he ordered. "And wait outside her bedroom until she decides to return." With that, he was turning, stalking down the hall to Edward's room. By the time Marian was finished dressing, she would find a pale Edward sitting in the great hall, Guy standing over him. It was anyone's guess as to what they had been discussing, except that it hadn't been pleasant.
She was going to protest, say that she didn't need an escort up to her own room. Instead she simply bowed. "My lord." Was gritted out. Her anger at the situation tainting the two words.
She didn't wait for the two guards, she took the stairs two at a time. There had to be a way that she could leave a sign for Robin. A way to let him know what happened. She slammed the door behind her. She dressed as quickly as she could in something that looked complicated. With what time she could spare she pieced together a sign, a tell, something only Robin would see, something only he would know what it meant. Because she had little doubt that Guy would try and take both her and her father. If she couldn't talk him out of it.
She chose an outfit that would make riding horseback comfortable. Yet was attractive at the same time, as she might have to use all her assets. Trousers and boots were hidden by the long split skirt of a pale blue gown, a leather waist cincher, stamped with black roses, drew in the narrowness of her waist. The blue drew out the color of her eyes. There was little she could do about the bruising beneath them. Pushing the door open she had half the mind to shove the guards down the stairs. But she dare not. Guy was at his worst when he was angry, one couldn't tell what he would do.
"Father!" She exclaimed once she reached the bottom of the stairs. The fire spark was back in her eyes as she moved to Edward's side. Glaring up at the Guy, her eyes spoke the words she dare not. "Are you alright?"
As Marian came down the stairs, Guy stepped back, hands clasping behind his back, glaring at the pair of them. A pair of traitors, indeed, and he would not have any qualms about squashing them like bugs.
Edward's hand stretched out, hesitantly taking hers, squeezing it to try and give her some comfort, even if he felt there was none to be had in the situation.
"You're coming to Nottingham, Marian." Left unsaid was that she would be going to Nottingham alone.
Her gaze lifted. He had her. With Edward out of harms way he had no leverage. As long as he could use him against her, there wasn't anything she would not do to keep her father from harms way. "What charges am I up against?"
"Charges?" He smirked. "And what could I possibly charge you with? No...we're just going to make sure you learn your place. I would've thought losing your hair would have helped with that. Apparently you need to lose something far more drastic."
"With you? Only God knows that answer." Hes it was a little smart, but it was the truth, he was devious when he wanted something. No doubt, had he the want, she would swing by the next morning's light by some false charge. "And what do I stand to lose?" While they were here she would cooperate. Weather she would in the castle was a whole other story. Her hair... Had been missed, but she had gotten used to it. And Robin didn't complain about it's length. It wasn't as if it would not grow back with time.
Eyebrows rose at her lip, and without warning, his arm snapped out, grasping her arm tightly and pulling her close, eyes burning. "I wouldn't push your luck," he advised, voice low. "As to what you can lose...I'm sure you have some idea. It's not all about physical things, Marian." Surely she could see that.
"What I did to you was wrong, but what you did to me was far worse." She had trusted him. Now she didn't think she ever could. Not again. Not ever. Yes she would go to the castle, yes she would do as she was told, but she would be damned if he ever got under her skin again.
"I imagined I had feelings for you," he returned. "I hoped that you might return those feelings. Obviously I was wrong." He knew what she thought of him; he might as well live up to the reputation. Besides, it wasn't as if she would believe him, believe that he had intended to tell her, until her father had mentioned how much she had been looking forward to the wedding. He couldn't bear to disappoint her...then.
"You humiliated me," he informed her, voice rising once more. "And you don't humiliate a man like me. Say good-bye to your father, Marian."
He didn't wait for a response before he was jerking her to the door, his own men stepping between Edward and Marian, ready to keep the old man in his chair by force if necessary.
She made a protesting noise as he jerked her toward the door. "Wait. You said I could say goodbye!" She pulled against his hold. Aware of how bad it hurt. But surely he wouldn't make her go without a proper farewell. What if something happened while she were gone? She had her doubts that she would be allowed to visit.
She pulled and writhed until she finally dropped to the ground, forcing her arm free from his grip roughly. Before he had a shot at grabbing her again she scrambled to back to Edward. Standing she wrapped her arms around his neck. Taking the time to whisper in his ear. "As soon as you can get to Robin. He will keep you safe, or find you shelter. Do not worry over me." Forcing tears into her eyes she kissed the older man's cheek. "I love you."
For the moment, he would settle for forcing her onto the horse and climbing up behind her, riding fast for Nottingham.
She leaned against him. As he rode them toward Nottingham. Rethinking the things she had said in anger. Had she meant them? Had she... Had she truly thought she could love Guy of Gisborne? He hardly knew her. He definitely didn't know she was the Night Watchman. What would happen to her if he found that bit out?