PART SEVENTEEN
"They're Welsh," spoke Gisburne, once Robin had managed to spot him outside the castle.
"Welsh? Are you sure?"
"Well, they're not English! I'd know their colours from a mile away."
"I bet you could," muttered Will.
"They must be attacking Clun because he sided with King John," said Robin.
"Does it really matter?" questioned Loxley. "Whoever they are, they're just as willing to kill us as they are to kill Clun's men."
"You're right," agreed Robin. "It doesn't make any difference to us. Where's Margaret?" he asked Gisburne.
"On the hill with that fat monk, Tuck, and the rest of them," answered the knight. "I found some horses for the journey," he added. Robin raised an eyebrow as he studied the row of horses in front of them.
"Welsh horses?" he queried.
"Does it matter?" replied Guy, almost looking sly.
"You're learning more quickly than I thought," admitted Robin with a laugh. They began to untie the horses from their posts.
"What on earth happened anyway?" asked Gisburne, suddenly observing Robin's bloody face and rather dishevelled clothing.
"You don't remember anything, do you?"
"Remember what?"
"We fought in that arena just now."
"We did what?" questioned Gisburne. "The last thing I remember is--"
"Being with Gulnar?"
"Yes..." They started to walk with the others, leading their newly acquired steeds up the hill.
"Gulnar possessed you," continued Robin. "He ordered you to kill me...Does any of this sound familiar?" Guy shook his head.
"What happened?"
"What usually happens when we fight. I knocked you out and won," responded Robin.
"Guy! Robert!" called Margaret, hurrying down the hill to meet them. "When I saw all of those soldiers heading into the castle, I was afraid you wouldn't get out," she informed Robin. Then, she eyed them both critically.
"What was going on back there? Why were you both fighting?"
"It's all right, Margaret," Robin explained. "We fought only because we had to. It's all over now."
"Well, thank goodness for that! I thought Guy was going to kill you!" she exclaimed. Now it was Gisburne's turn to raise an eyebrow.
"Who won?" he questioned coldly. He tugged his horse's bridle and continued past them up the hill.
"Robert, what's the matter with him?" demanded Margaret.
"Who? Guy? He's probably just tired. You know Guy..." said Robin, hoping that she really didn't.
"Yes," she conceded, though she still sounded doubtful. "It's as if he's a different person. He looks and sounds like Guy, yet it isn't him somehow. He's colder, Robert...like a stranger...He will barely even speak to me. Is he
angry? Have I done something wrong?"
"No, of course not. He...he hasn't been well..." spoke Robin quickly, once again employing this very old excuse.
"Is it because of what Owen did to him that he's acting this way?" asked Margaret. "Because he almost died..."
"Yes, in a way," replied Robin, mixing truth with a lie.
"Is he very ill?" inquired Margaret fearfully. Ill enough to have died, mused Robin sadly, only too aware of the fact that the brother she truly knew
and loved was gone. Gisburne would have to replace him, whether he liked it or not. He would have to be her brother for as long as they remained in this time.
"He's fine now," Robin stated, trying to lift her spirits. She gave a wan smile.
"I'm sure you're right, Robert. He's my brother. He can't treat me like this forever..."
You really don't know Guy, thought Robin. Hopefully you won't get the chance to...
"Robert! Are you coming with us, or not?" hailed Loxley.
"Come on," Robin said. They continued up the hill.
"Robert, who are these people? They look like--" Robin cut her off with a smile.
"Friends. They're our friends, Margaret."
"You still haven't told me how you got into the castle," complained Loxley.
"It was all Much's doing," spoke one of the outlaws.
"Much? Really? Good work, Much. How did you do it?" asked Loxley eagerly. Much smiled shyly, then, encouraged by his friends, he answered.
"I can't tell you everything, can I?" Loxley groaned while the others took turns thumping Much on the back.
They had reached the camp in Sherwood. Robin and Gisburne had agreed to stop long enough for Margaret to rest, but the outlaws had insisted that they stay for a meal. Robin soon found that he had no choice but to accept. He agreed not just because of his friends's insistence, but because Margaret wished it. Learning the true identities of her rescuers had not deterred her in any way from expressing her gratitude. She expressed it a little too warmly perhaps, if Robin could judge by the red in some of the men's cheeks.
"I don't know how to thank you. You risked your lives to save me when there wasn't anyone among you who knew me very well," stated Margaret.
"My lady, please. You don't need to thank us," protested Loxley, whose modesty had made him the most vulnerable victim of all. "You make too much of this."
"Nonsense. You did more for me than you'll ever realize," argued Margaret. "Even you, Baroness, were there to help me," she added, acknowledging the woman beside her.
"It's just Marion now, and it was all of us...and your brothers. No, if you should be thanking anyone, it should be them," replied Marion.
"I know, but words don't seem to be enough."
"We're just glad to have you back again aren't we, Guy?" said Robin.
"What? Oh, yes...of course," he spoke sullenly. He had been trying hard not to listen.
"Well, I think you were very brave, Robert," Marion broke in. "You not only helped your sister, but all of us...especially me...Thank you." She kissed his cheek and, laughing, squeezed his hand. "We did it!" she whispered, and Robin returned her smile. He now knew that she finally felt safe from Azael and the Lords of Darkness and the haunting memories of her past.
Loxley didn't smile. He felt as if another piece of his heart had been wrenched from him by just watching the two of them. He rose silently and stole out of the camp. Gisburne saw him, but said nothing. It provided a tiny amount of
satisfaction to know that there was at least one other man in the camp who felt as wretched as he did. And, although Loxley's misery was very different from Guy's, it ran almost as deep.
Loxley went farther into the forest, allowing guilt and remorse to trail closely behind him. He thought of the two companions he had lost and again felt guilty for their deaths. He had been unable to do anything to help them. All he had been able to do was watch them die.
Even Much, who had often been called a "half wit," had managed to find a way into Clun Castle. Loxley had relied on the merits of another: the man Marion loved, the man who succeeded where he had failed. The man Loxley believed was a better leader than himself.
Loxley knew what had to be done. He had to relinquish his title as Herne's son.
"Why do you come when you have not been called?" questioned Herne, appearing before his son at the foot of the cave. Robin Hood went down on one knee and held Albion out before him.
"You are Herne's son."
"No! I have failed you. I am nothing. There is another. He must take my place."
"It is not his time to do so."
"Why? You said he would be leader. You said he was your son."
"He is my son and your successor, but this is not his time or place."
"Then why did you send for him?"
"To aid you. To help you find your strength and see your worth."
"I see nothing!"
"Then search deeper. You are the Hooded Man. You must lead them. You cannot deny your destiny. You are my son," spoke Herne. "Go now. Return to those who will follow you and fulfill your destiny. Go with my blessing."
Loxley turned and walked away, still unable to understand why he should be their leader. It angered him that Herne saw some purpose in his staying when Loxley believed that, up until now, his efforts had been futile. Why couldn't Herne see that? Why did he persist in claiming him as his son?
Loxley took his sword and threw it as far as he could.
"Robin!" Marion stepped through some trees and into Loxley's sight. She walked past him and picked up Albion, studying it as she carried it back to him.
"It's a beautiful sword. Why should you wish to throw it away?" she asked. Loxley didn't answer. "Robert's leaving. He wants to say goodbye."
"Then why aren't you with him?"
"I came to fetch you. He wants to say goodbye to you." Marion frowned. "What's the matter?"
"Nothing. You wouldn't understand."
"Wouldn't I? You might be surprised.
"Maybe I don't want to be." He turned away. "You shouldn't be here. Hurry and catch Huntington before he leaves you behind."
"What?" Marion laid a hand on his arm. "Is that what you think? Look at me." Loxley's gaze slid back towards her slowly. "I told you. My place is here," she said.
"It shouldn't be. You would be better off with him."
"Why? Because he lives in a castle?"
"Because he's in love with you. He can give you so much more than I can and I know you love him too."
"How do you know that?" gasped Marion.
"How could I not?" he exclaimed. "It's been in front of my eyes for days now!" She shook her head.
"Then you must see things that neither Robert nor I can see," she uttered. Loxley spun around.
"Yes, I do have feelings for him...very strong feelings," she continued, "but Robin of Loxley is the man I'm meant to be with. Robin of Loxley is the man I love." Loxley's eyes widened and he gaped at her, astonished.
"But--"
"But?"
"Why should you love me instead of Huntington?"
"I...I don't know. Why shouldn't I?"
"Why shouldn't you? To start with, he's more brave and clever than I am. Look at the plan he came up with to get into Clun Castle! And he's a better leader than I'll ever be! The others followed him because they trusted him. He probably saved each of us a dozen times over! And...and he's done so many other things that I can't even name them all! He can give you so much, Marion. You should be with him," stated Loxley.
"And what about you?"
"What about me?" Marion sighed.
"What you say isn't true. He isn't a better leader than you because he is not the leader of this group. You are. You decided what should be done. The men admire you. Robert may have come up with a great plan, but he didn't do it alone. You helped him. Without you, we might not...we would not have succeeded.
"What about John and Nasir? Who accepted them when no one else in Nottingham would? Who befriended the cutthroat, Scarlet, and made him an honourable member of this band? Who risked his life to help a friend save his sister? Who retrieved the Silver Arrow? Who thought of his men before himself and fought the longest and hardest so that they might escape from Clun Castle first? And who was brave enough to admit it when he was wrong? Who allowed me to stay and join the fight?" Loxley opened his mouth to protest but, with a finger, Marion pressed it shut.
"Do you love me?" she asked, carefully removing her finger.
"Yes...more than I can say, but--" Marion covered his mouth again, sealing his words with a kiss.
"This is our time. We are meant to be together," she spoke.
"Just in this time?" questioned Loxley cautiously.
"No. The love we share will never die, for we can never be parted." Loxley took her hand in his.
"Nothing's forgotten--" he began.
"Nothing's ever forgotten," she finished. He smiled, his countenance filled with wonder. She returned his smile, pushing a stray lock of hair back into place.
He stroked her cheek gently. Although it was nearing the end of summer, all they saw was the warmth and beauty of spring.
* * * *
"Are you sure you can't stay any longer?" asked Loxley, as he and the other outlaws escorted their guests to the road leading out of Sherwood.
"I wish we could," answered Robin, "but my father will be concerned about Margaret."
"And the two of you if I know Father," responded Margaret.
"Either way, I suppose we had better get back," said Robin. "Wouldn't you agree, Guy?" he added, tossing a glance over his shoulder. Why do you keep asking me as if I had some choice in the matter? You're the one making all of the decisions here, not me, thought Guy furiously. He gritted his teeth.
"I hope you recover soon, my lord," said Loxley impishly to Gisburne, though he meant to be kind. Gisburne saw it only as a slight.
"You as well," he replied, hoping to add an insult of his own.
"Why, thank you, Guy!" beamed Loxley, touching the tender spot of his wound. "I appreciate that!" Gisburne rolled his eyes. He would have grumbled something unmentionable if Robin hadn't politely intervened. He indicated that Guy might
be better off waiting with Margaret by the roadside. Gisburne complied gruffly.
Robin said goodbye to each of the outlaws in turn and shook their hands. He lingered longer with John, Nasir, Will and Much, whom he had seemed to form a natural bond with, despite their ignorance of the strong friendship they held in the other time. Nevertheless, they only had kind words to say to Robin and the goodwill they expressed in their humble farewells was very touching. And
with a friendly bear hug from John, Robin realized that, in some very important ways, this time was not so very different from his own.
Included among the friends he was to leave behind was Tuck, who had decided that he could do more good in Sherwood any day than Nottingham Castle.
"Bless you, my son, and thank you," said Tuck, warmly grasping Robin's hand. "I hope you find what you've been searching for," he added in a solemn whisper. Suddenly, Robin remembered that Tuck knew more than almost anyone else about the true nature of his quest.
"I think I shall find it soon, Tuck," spoke Robin, then he returned Tuck's blessing as well.
"Long life and happiness to you," said Loxley, as Robin came to stand before him. Marion quickly embraced him. Robin learned everything he needed
to know from the tender look in her eyes. Robin and Loxley shook hands. As they did so, Robin couldn't help but notice Loxley's arm as it circled gently around Marion's shoulders.
"I hope you will both be very happy." They stared at Robin in amazement, but Robin simply smiled. It wasn't for him to share the source of knowledge that revealed the future they would share.
"Herne protect you," stated Loxley.
"Herne protect you."
"You will return one day, won't you?" asked Loxley, and Robin could see that he truly wished to see him again.
"Yes," spoke Robin. "One day." He mounted his horse and Gisburne and Margaret started to ride away. Robin turned back briefly, studying each face carefully.
"Goodbye," he whispered softly. "For now..."
* * * *
They had hardly journeyed a mile when they were met by an army of men and the Earl of Huntington himself.
"Father!" exclaimed Margaret. The earl dismounted at once and lifted his daughter from her horse.
"My dear girl," he answered, embracing her tightly. "I feared that I might never see you again!"
"So did I," she said. "I'm so happy to be free of that terrible place!"
"But how is that you are free, Margaret?" he questioned.
"Why, Guy and Robert of course." She smiled up at them. Dark brows fell over dark eyes as the Earl trained his sight on them.
"What sort of foolishness is this, then! You could have gotten yourselves killed!" he remonstrated, then he continued to harangue them on the spot. Robin and Gisburne exchanged weary glances.
"Father, please," interjected Margaret, finding that even her gentle patience with her father's tirade was growing thin. The Earl relented for his daughter's sake and, when he looked up at Guy and Robin, his expression softened.
"All right," he consented gruffly. "I should just be relieved and happy to have you back," he stated. Gisburne looked away, feeling uncomfortable,
but the Earl went on nevertheless.
"I was very concerned about both of you, as well as Margaret, and very upset when I couldn't find either of you...but this isn't the place to discuss this," he spoke, remembering the group of soldiers who were his witnesses. Robin smiled, assuming that his father was willing to forget the subject. But this certainly wasn't the case.
The Earl caught sight of his smile. It was a reminder of his son's previous impudence.
"We'll continue this discussion later, over supper tonight at Huntington Castle," he added sternly, watching the smile on Robin's face slowly fade.
The ordeal of being the oldest son was apparent during supper that evening, as
the Earl did indeed continue their discussion from the road. Not that this especially bothered Gisburne. He really couldn't understand what the Earl was talking about anyway and, furthermore, he didn't care. He found that the meal was excellent and agreeing very well with his palate, even if the general conversation wasn't.
"I always knew that Robert was stubborn and impetuous at times, but I at least expected a bit of sense from you, Guy! Oh, but I'd forgotten about the incident involving you, your brother, and that wild beast you call a horse!"
"My lord?" queried Gisburne, who had absolutely no idea what the Earl was talking about. However, the Earl continued, unabashed.
"It's bad enough that my only daughter should be taken from me, but to have my sons disappear without any word or notice--"
"Father, Guy tried to send word to you, but there was no reply," spoke Robin, trying to clear up matters since Gisburne was incapable of doing so himself.
"I received his letters," answered the Earl. "All three of them. But when I was finally able to reply, I found that my industrious correspondent was gone. Last I heard, you were dining with the Sheriff, and then you were gone in the night! Where did you go, boy? Don't you know how concerned I was about you?" he demanded. But Gisburne didn't hear the question. He was fuming over the fact that the Earl had had the audacity to call him "boy."
"My lord of Huntington--" he began. The Earl stared at him.
"My lord of Huntington?" he questioned.
Oh no, thought Robin. Even when he had been furious at his father, he had never called him that!
"Aren't you being a little formal, Guy?" asked the Earl.
"My lord?" Not again, groaned Robin to himself.
"You're angry with me then, are you?" spoke the Earl, as if stating a challenge. Gisburne had no objections. Margaret did.
"Leave him alone, Father. He's tired and he hasn't been well."
"I'm fine!" snapped Guy, wishing to God she'd stop fussing.
"You don't look it. None of you look it," argued the Earl.
"But we're safe now and reunited again. Please, Father, can't we just leave it at that," pleaded Margaret.
"You're right, my dear. As always," he conceded, kissing the top of her head. But Robin could see a look of determination in his eyes suggesting that he wasn't quite ready to let the subject rest. However, the conversation soon turned to lighter areas. For the moment, the Earl was willing to let the interrogation end.
His mood improved and he cheerfully proposed a toast to the safe return of his children, going so far as to apologize to Guy and Robin for treating them unfairly. Gisburne felt that it had to be the wine talking, not Huntington. He found the warmth and ease of those around him unnerving. It made him tense.
His stomach suddenly provided him with little appetite. The meal that had seemed so lavish, was now unappealing. Only drink found favour with him because it numbed the senses and made the meal seem a little more bearable. But not much. He was completely unaccustomed to dealing with a father who actually loved his son...
"Guy?" said the Earl, who had been watching Gisburne and wondering what was troubling him. Guy's head snapped up and he contemplated whether he could hide the fact that he hadn't been listening.
"My lord?" he inquired. My lord, thought Robin angrily. Still not "father". Gisburne had been able to pass himself off as a brother, but he would not provide his father with a few hours of happiness, now, while he still could. Robin gave Gisburne a look, but the knight saw nothing. Even if he had, he would never call the Earl of Huntington "father". Not while he believed he still possessed none.
"Guy," repeated the Earl, "is something the matter?"
"What? Of course not," answered Guy.
"But...ever since you returned, you have seemed..." The Earl let his sentence trail, though his eyes regarded him earnestly. "Guy..." He sighed. "Did something happen while I was away?"
"No, Father," spoke Robin.
"I was asking Guy," stated the Earl curtly, keeping his gaze on Gisburne constant. But it made no difference to Guy. He had been tried by harder
tactics than that. The Earl decided to surrender for the moment, though he still refused to give up on one point.
"Did you truly seek help from outlaws? From Robin Hood and his men?" Gisburne turned to Robin, uncertain how to answer that question.
"Yes," replied Robin for him, seeing no reason why they should lie. "We needed their help. We couldn't have saved Margaret without them."
"But I had men...It wasn't as if you were powerless..."
"Your men would have made us powerless. We entered the castle by stealth, not force."
"Hmm..." assented the Earl with a growl, "but to ally yourselves with outlaws...Could you not have found other men to help you?"
"Father, I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for Robin Hood and his men," voiced Margaret, as the men sitting around the table suddenly focused their attention back on her. "They are good, kind people. Instead of chastizing Guy and Robert
for seeking their help, you should be grateful."
"Grateful because they succeeded where I failed?" said her father quietly.
"Grateful because they cared as much as you did about rescuing me from Owen. I know what you were going to do for me, Father. Owen told me all about it. He said you were foolish, and you were, but it proved to me how much you love me...That you would be willing to sacrifice your life for me."
"I would sacrifice my life for all of you," stated the Earl, looking humble for once as his eyes moved around the table. Margaret clasped his hand.
"Yes," she agreed, "as each of us would for you. As Robin Hood pledged to do when he agreed to help Guy and Robert." The Earl grimaced, then graced them with a smile.
"It would seem as if this scoundrel Robin Hood has won poor Margaret's heart." Margaret laughed and an almost michievous twinkle flashed behind her eyes.
"Adversity proves who are our friends, Father," she retaliated. Guy dropped the dagger he had been eating with and stared across at her, startled. That was a phrase his mother once used. It was a phrase he had hoped never to hear again. He pushed back his chair and left the hall.
