CHAPTER FOURTEEN.

It was Friday. The festival was tomorrow, and she was already behind on her preparations. She was up well before the c.o.c.k crowed, baking honey cakes studded with raisins and sewing her dress for the dance.

Normally, the festival was a joyous occasion, but this year, Marians heart was heavy. She hated Gisborne. Despised him. Yet, she couldnt help but feel that luring an unsuspecting man"or monster"to his death was somehow wrong.

The sun was still hours away from rising when Marian entered the castle courtyard. With so much left to do before the festival, Marian wanted to get home as early as she could. She found Mirabelle who told her to clean the chambers and report back to her when she finished.

Marian knocked on Gisbornes door.

Enter, came the gruff response.

The door whined as she pushed it open. Gisborne was standing with is back to her, his arms crossed, studying a painting on the wall beside the window.

Ive come to clean, my Lord, she said.

Marian, we must talk, he said, his voice rougher than ever.

My Lord?

I saw you with him, Gisborne said calmly, his eyes still glued to the painting in front of him"a couple embracing.

I dont know what you mean, Marian said coolly.

I saw you... with Robin... Hood... he snarled, whirling to face her, nostrils flaring.

Robin Hood is dead, she shot back. You said so yourself just yesterday.

Dont lie to me, he warned her, suddenly inches from her face. Dont you dare lie to me!

Im not! How could I have been with him if hes dead? she asked defiantly.

I saw you! he yelled, his face red with fury. I saw you kiss him on the hill by the forest!

Gisbornes face was taut, drawn with rage and a mix of other emotions Marian found difficult to decipher.

And what if I did? she hurled at him, but she was suddenly regretful and afraid.

You belong to me! Gisborne shouted, grasping her elbow tightly, his pulse throbbing in his temples and his lips curling ferociously over his pearly white teeth.

I belong to no one! Marian shouted, her palm slicing across Gisbornes face sharply.

She wrenched her elbow from his grasp and fled. Her heart was filled with dread. Shed done it, now. His wrath would be swift, and her father would most likely be the primary target, given Gisbornes knowledge of her deep love for him. She raced down the lane toward home with tears streaming down her flushed cheeks.

Marian! his voice called after her, loud and angry. Marian!

His voice carried down the road after her, rolling across the hills and echoing over the water of Lake Heron. Marian flew as fast as her feet would carry her, the thin soles of her shoes snagging painfully on every rock and root. She was certain Gisborne would be behind her on his white stallion, capturing her and whisking her off to the castle where shed be locked away forever for her defiance. Or worse, her father would be jailed... or even executed.

No! she snarled, her eyes stinging with tears. I wont let you!

Her ears strained to hear the hoof beats behind her. The further she ran, the more certain she was that she heard them behind her. But they never came. She burst through the front door of her cottage with sweat sticking her thick hair to her neck and staining her pink cheeks with white streaks.

Father! she panted. We... have to... go...

Go? Go where?

We have to leave... get out of here, quickly! Its Gisborne!

What? What about Gisborne? What happened?

He asked me today... if it was true that Id been seen with Robin, she wailed. I tried to lie, but... he could see it on my face! He told me I belong to him, and I slapped him and told him I belong to no one, and then I just ran. I ran all the way home! Oh, Father, we have to go!

All the while shed been throwing clothing into a bag. Hers, her fathers... anything within reach the tossed into the bag in clumps.

How are we going to... her father started to ask.

Im going to hire a carriage in town, she said.

How? We have no money, her father reminded her.

Ill figure something out.

Marian! a voice from outside the cottage was shrill and full of rage.

Marian gasped, frozen in horror with her hand inside the bag. Her eyes flitted quickly to her father, whose face was filled with confusion.

Marian! he shouted, his fist pounding the door so hard the walls vibrated and things clattered to the floor.

Youd better answer it, her father warned her.

But... what do I say? What do I do? she wailed.

There was a great crash and the splintering of wood as Gisborne kicked down the door. Shards of wood flew about the room, scattering across the floor. Marian sat back onto the bed grasping her bag.

Gisborne stood in the doorway panting, his eyes bulging, his dark hair whipping viciously around his face. His hands were clenched into white-knuckled fists as his chest heaved.

Where are you going, Marian? he growled. Running away with Robin Hood?

It is no concern of yours! she shouted, though she sorely wished she could shut her mouth.

Is most certainly is my concern! You are to be my wife, not his!

Dont you mean I am to be your property, my Lord? she spat at him.

I only meant...

I know what you meant! she yelled. You think Im your p.a.w.n, your plaything to do as you like. But Im here to tell you, Lord Gisborne, that Id rather die than marry a monster like you!

The rage on his face was immediately displaced by some other indiscernible emotion. His hands relaxed slightly, and the lines around his eyes softened.

Monster, he said softly, backing slightly away from her. Is that what you think of me?

What else am I to think? she snarled with a fearsome sneer. I saw you, as well! You think I dont know what you are, but I saw you that night in Lord Winstons chamber. I saw what you are!

Gisborne looked deeply wounded. He staggered backward, b.u.mping into the doorframe where the remains of the door flapped in the breeze. Marian saw him swallow hard.

What are you...

Oh, dont pretend like you dont know, she snapped. I saw you bite him! I saw those fangs. Youre a monster!

Marian, I...

Im leaving, she said. Im taking my father, and Im leaving. If you try to stop me, youll just have to kill me, because Ill never, ever marry you!

She stuffed another wad of clothing into the bag and stood up.

I guess your mind is made up, he said quietly.

It is.

Will you do me one last favor? he asked.

Do you deserve one?

Please, Marian. One last thing.

What is it?

Dont leave until I return.

What? Oh, so you can bring your guards and have me arrested? Arrest my father? No thank you!

You have my word that no harm will come to either of you. Please just do me this one favor.

His gray-blue eyes were glistening. He looked broken, but sincere. She sighed.

I dont know why Im trusting you, but fine. Ill stay here until you return as long as you are prompt.

He nodded his head and backed out the door.

Marian heard the familiar cluck of his tongue, and his horses hooves began to thunder away. Her father shook his head.

Youre really going to trust that monster? he asked.

Im of the hope that he may let us leave peacefully if I comply, she said. Otherwise, he will likely hunt us to the ends of the Earth.

Marian sat on the bed picking tiny b.a.l.l.s of fabric from the blanket. Time seemed to crawl by. Shes nearly given up hope when she heard the pounding of hooves"multiple horses.

I knew it! her father said. Hes brought the guards!

No... she whispered, fear gripping her throat with a choke hold.

The hooves stopped, and Gisborne appeared at the door.

Marian, he commented, bowing respectfully. Your carriage awaits.

Marians forehead wrinkled in confusion. Abandoning the bag on the bed, she rose and stepped toward the door. Gisborne moved aside, and she peered outside at the carriage that stood waiting for her. Two white horses pawed and stamped the ground, waiting impatiently to pull their subjects.

I dont understand, Marian whispered.

Im not a monster, Marian, despite what you may have seen or heard, he said quietly. You father is not well, and if you truly mean to leave, then I wanted to ensure the two of you would be safe on your journey.

I... I dont know to say.

Will you walk with me? he asked.

In his eyes, Marian could only see the depths of sincerity. Her mind kept screaming at her not to trust him, but she nodded.

Ill be right back, Father, she said over her shoulder.

Gisborne held his elbow out to her, and she took it. They began to walk down the lane. The early morning breeze was gentle, and the earthy scent of gra.s.s and damp leaves wrapped around them.

Marian, there are things about me you dont know. Things you will never know or understand. As many things as you do know about me, or think you do... there are many more that you do not, he said. I only ask that you offer me the courtesy of getting to know me before you pa.s.s judgment.

My Lord, what you ask is not easy, she said.

Please, let us dispense with formality, Marian, he begged of her. Please, call me by my given name, at least in privacy. Call me Guy.

I do not believe that would be appropriate, my Lord.

Please. If only between us.

Alright... Guy.

His lip twitched slightly as he heard her speak his name for the first time.

I beg of you, do not leave. If you really wish it, I will not stand in your way. Ive already paid for the carriage to take you anywhere you wish to go, and the driver has been instructed not to tell me, nor anyone else, where that is, under any circ.u.mstance. But I beg you to reconsider. Please, Marian.

In the morning air, she shivered. Her shoulders quivered, and her teeth chattered. Gisborne pulled his cloak away and wrapped it around her shoulders. She pulled it more tightly around her, aware of the rich, musky scent of him on it. They stopped on the lane.

Marian? he asked.

Ill stay, she said. For now.