PART FOUR
"Who are you?" he asked, as she rose from her curtsy and smiled up at him.
"My name is Marion," she answered.
"Marion," he mused. Then he smiled too. Gradually, the silence that had filled the hall reverted back to a healthy noise; the guests began to speak among themselves. Robin stood watching Guy and Marion. He couldn't believe it. Marion was being polite to Guy and, even more shocking, friendly as well! What was she doing? She hated him. Why should she wish to speak to him? Robin knew that Guy wasn't Gisburne, but surely he wasn't the type of man Marion would choose to speak with. What was she up to? Guy seemed to be wondering the same thing.
"My lady, why...why did you present yourself to me? I'm not the host, or the guest of honour. You should have greeted the Sheriff or Owen of Clun."
"But, my lord, I wished to greet you. I've already had the honour of meeting the Sheriff and Lord Owen of Clun is with Lady Margaret." Guy looked quickly past Marion at his wretched sister and frowned. "You disapprove?" questioned Marion.
"It's not for me to say," he replied curtly.
"Then it should be," answered Marion gently and, to Guy's surprise and Robin's chagrin, she took his hand and kissed it. Guy's frown promptly left him. Then, so did she.
"Wait! Come back..." he spoke, but it was Robin who went after her.
"Marion!" he called. She turned, thinking it was Guy. Robin quickly read the disappointment on her face.
"What is it?" she asked coldly, as if speaking to a mere slave. Robin felt as if his heart might stop.
"What are you doing?" he demanded angrily. "What's happened to you?"
"What do you mean?" she retorted. "I don't even know you!"
"But you did once, Marion...So did Much and Tuck. You just don't remember. It...it was another time," he muttered, feeling foolish at the words he chose to
use as an explanation.
"Another time?" she queried. "What are you talking about? Who are you?"
"I'm Robert of Huntington," he answered, wishing he wasn't.
"Oh, I see..." laughed Marion lightly. Did she see? Did she understand? "You're Guy of Huntington's younger brother!" she spoke again. "You dear boy. How sweet!" She patted Robin's cheek as if he was a child, then walked away.
"Marion!" he cried, but she only laughed some more before continuing on her way.
"What a woman," commented Guy, suddenly appearing at Robin's side. "She...she is incredible! So beautiful...and what spirit!" he enthused. Robin
stared at him, his anger growing into fury. He wanted to hit Guy. He wanted to hit him with a force that would send him reeling against a wall, smashing his bones as it did so. He wanted to hit him harder than he had ever hit Gisburne.
Guy spoke about Marion as one might speak about a horse. He didn't love her. He was amused by her. He thought of her as an entertaining diversion. Guy
had no real feelings for her and Robin hated him for that. Robin had been in love with Marion since the first time he had set eyes on her. It had been less
than a fortnight ago that they were to have been married in Wickham. Robin had lost her to the church and, now that she was free, she was chasing after Guy!
And Guy didn't seem too upset by the idea. In fact, he really seemed to be enjoying it! Robin remembered the look on Marion's face when she had spoken to him. It was the same look he had seen when she had been the captive bride of Owen of Clun, possessed and controlled by Gulnar. It was as if she was being controlled now, as if she were under someone else's power...
Robin shivered as he felt an icy tendril reach across the room to touch his back. Gulnar had entered the hall. He went over to speak to his master.
"Where have you been?" demanded Clun, pulling him aside and out of Margaret's earshot. "You should have been here. This feast could determine if there will be a marriage between myself and that Huntington girl, Gulnar, and if there will be sons in the House of Clun to carry on my name. Where were you? Meddling with your spells?"
"No, master," hissed Gulnar. "I was doing something much more important than that!" He flashed Margaret a hideous leer, and she shuddered, seeking refuge by Guy's side. Gulnar's eyes followed her, but rested themselves on Robin.
They widened and the right one twitched. Then, he started to laugh, a hollow, eery laugh. It echoed throughout the hall, taunting Robin and challenging him to a deadly battle between the Powers of Light and Darkness.
I have to leave here, Robin thought. I have to go to Sherwood. He bolted from the hall, his feet carrying him away from Gulnar's maniacal laughter.
"Robert! Robert, where are you going? Come back here!" commanded Guy. But Robin didn't care. Guy could shout his lungs out if he wanted to. Robin had had enough. He marched down a corridor, hoping it would be one that could lead him out of the castle. Where it led him though was to the chapel and Tuck, who was delighted to see that Robin had sought him out at last.
"Welcome, my son. Sit down and I shall hear your confession," spoke Tuck, trying to usher Robin to a chair. However, this wasn't what Robin had in
mind.
"Uh...no, Tuck. I'm sorry, but there isn't time," he stated quickly.
"My son, the Lord always has time," said Tuck gently.
"I'm sorry, Tuck. I have to go. I can't give you a confession."
"Then we should talk. You look upset."
"I'm fine. I really must go."
"Where? What are you running from?"
"I'm not running from anything."
"Then why do you insist on leaving?" questioned Tuck. Robin groaned. Tuck was the one who was being insistent. Why did he have to be so stubborn?
"It would help if you talked about it," added Tuck.
"There's nothing to talk about," replied Robin, although he sat down all the same.
"Does this have anything to do with your brother?" inquired Tuck. Robin wondered if there was ever a time when it didn't. Tuck sensed that he was right and continued. "I saw him and the Lady Marion speaking to one another at the feast."
"You did?"
"I was looking for you. We agreed to meet, remember?"
"I remember."
"You were concerned when I told you about her. Maybe we should speak about that and how you feel about her and your brother." Robin shook his head.
He couldn't believe that any of this was really happening. "I want to help," spoke Tuck. He laid a hand on Robin's shoulder, smiling, attempting to
give him some reassurance.
Maybe Tuck could help. He seemed to be the same kind and understanding man whom Robin had always known. It was a question of whether Robin could trust
him or not. Robin decided that he didn't have much else to lose if he took that risk.
"Tuck, I want to talk to you, but not just about the feast or Guy and Marion. I want to tell you everything."
"Aye, all right," assented Tuck.
"I wouldn't agree too quickly," warned Robin. "This could be a very long story."
The Baroness de Belleme entered the courtyard, glad to be free of the smoky, crowded hall. She took a breath and inhaled some of the fresh, cool air
surrounding her. The wind blew through her hair and caressed the soft fabric of her dress. She crossed her arms, hugging herself for warmth. The nights were becoming colder now as autumn and winter made their approach. Soon the leaves would die and fall from the trees to the ground, the downy, white snow covering them like a blanket.
She watched the night's stars, her mind racing with thoughts of her plan. She had caught Guy of Huntington's attention, but she had yet to capture his
heart. He had seemed interested enough in her. He may have even been attracted to her. But would this be enough? She didn't want to resort to sorcery, but she would do so if it became necessary. She needed to act quickly. Azael and the Lords of Darkness demanded it.
She sighed and walked briskly across the rough stones of the courtyard. She had to succeed. She could not afford to fail. She knew what kind of fate awaited her if she did. It made her blood run cold...
She gave a start and froze, terrified by the sudden vision that appeared before her. It came forward, a pale being skulking close to the ground. For a moment, Marion mistook it for an apparition. She feared that it might be a spirit sent from the underworld to torment her. She wasn't far from being right. Her ghostly spectre was Gulnar.
The bald and bony little man gave a satisfied chuckle once he had spotted Marion. She eyed him with disgust.
"Marion, how good it is to see you again," he spoke, waiting to observe her reaction.
"We've never met!" she answered in alarm.
"Oh..." he replied, feigning sadness. "I must have been mistaken." He turned to walk back the way he had come, but Marion grabbed his arm. He grinned, peering at her with almost wolfish delight.
"Who are you?" she demanded, her courage returning again.
"I am Gulnar, servant to the Lord of Clun," he replied.
"Your master is the Lord of Clun?"
"Yes..."
"You're a sorcerer," she spoke, realizing this at once.
"Yes," he purred. "And you are a sorceress: a very powerful one at that!" Marion smiled, pretending to be flattered by the compliment.
"Your master is hoping to wed Margaret of Huntington, is he not?" she asked innocently.
"Yes and so he shall!"
"Are you sure? I think he will not," prophesized Marion. Gulnar's eyes almost popped out of their sockets.
"What do you mean?" he cried. "Why do you think that?"
"Her brother is against the marriage and he dislikes your master."
"Ha! Do you really think he would dare to stop this marriage?" snarled Gulnar.
"I wouldn't be surprised if he tried," said Marion.
"Then the man's a fool!" snapped Gulnar. Marion shrugged. She gave no response but Gulnar was aware of what she was thinking.
"I know what you are planning," he boasted. "You are planning to wed Guy of Huntington." Marion lifted her eyebrows, but gave away nothing.
"What makes you think that?" she questioned calmly.
"Because Azael and the Lords of Darkness wish it!" Marion gasped.
"How could you know that?" she exclaimed.
"I see things," he responded, with the wise tone of a sage. "You need him for your plans. I could help you."
"Help me?"
"I could break a man's spirit in the moment it takes for a bird to flutter its wing," he stated, and Marion felt as if his eyes were delving into her soul. She forced herself to look away and Gulnar chuckled at what appeared to be weakness on her part. Marion then glanced back fiercely and his laughter stopped. She placed her hands on her hips and studied him shrewdly.
"And what would you gain from this?" she inquired.
"I would gain nothing, but my master would gain everything. You said that Guy of Huntington was against this marriage?"
"Yes."
"Well, you could help convince him that it is right. He could cause trouble if he continues to go against my master."
"And you think I could convince him?"
"Oh, yes. I'm sure you could, my lady," he sneered. "In return, I shall do what I can to help you if..."
"If?"
"If the House of Clun is spared when the great Azael comes to power. We would willingly serve him of course, but--"
"I will do what I can," she interjected.
"Then it is agreed?"
"It's agreed," spoke Marion, and the two shook hands.
* * * *
Tuck listened to the tales that Robert of Huntington told him in amazement, finding them difficult to believe but hard to doubt. The young man held such conviction in his voice as he spoke about his adventures in Sherwood as Robin Hood!
Robert of Huntington claimed he was led by a forest god named Herne in a battle between the forces of Light and Darkness, along with Lady Marion, himself, a Saracen, a giant, a vengeful bully and a miller's son. It seemed impossible.
In Tuck's opinion, Robert of Huntington was deranged. How else could an apparently normal man hold such loathing for the Norman lords of his own race? He accused almost every noble in the country of being corrupt! He was the son of the Earl of Huntington. It didn't make sense. However, what baffled Tuck more was what Robert said about Guy of Huntington.
Robert stated that Guy of Huntington was his worst enemy: a cruel, heartless knight who worked as the Sheriff of Nottingham's steward. It was
ridiculous. The Sheriff practically cowered at the sight of him! Robert had even stated, though not in direct words, that Guy of Huntington was illegitimate. How could he be so spiteful towards his own brother? Tuck knew that Guy of Huntington was hardly perfect, but surely he didn't deserve this! He wondered if it was mere jealousy over a woman that caused the younger brother to be so infuriated with the older one.
Robin concluded his story and waited to see if Tuck would speak. However, the monk was too bewildered to know what to say.
"You don't believe me!" uttered Robin at last.
"My son..." began Tuck.
"It's true! You have to believe me, Tuck!" implored Robin.
"Even when you choose to speak against your own brother?" asked Tuck, a little too coldly. Robin felt his temper flare.
"I'm not speaking against him. I'm telling the truth. Guy is...Guy is my enemy. He's arrogant, cruel, deceitful--"
"'And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.'" Robin turned his head away, exasperated. Cain and Abel was a biblical story of the jealousy between two brothers. Cain had murdered his brother when God had accepted Abel's offering and not his own. Was Tuck comparing him to the
murderous brother?
"I'm not Cain," argued Robin angrily. "If anyone is, he is!"
"I didn't say that you or Guy was Cain, nor did I say you were Abel," said Tuck. "Those two brothers could have worked out their differences, but instead one was killed and the other made to walk to the ends of the earth in suffering. Now are you telling me that you want this to happen to you and your brother? Talk to him, Robert, before it's too late."
"My lady, where have you been? I've been searching everywhere for you," spoke Guy, approaching the Baroness in one of the castle's corridors. Marion watched him, feigning a smile of delight.
"My lord, I didn't know I was lost," she answered.
"Well, when you didn't return to the hall, I thought that someone should go to find you."
"Are there not other ladies you should be searching for, my lord?" asked Marion boldly. But Guy wasn't one to easily blush.
"No other lady has taken the liberty of kissing my hand before," he spoke with a grin.
"Did I dishonour you, my lord?"
"Dishonour? No. But you did disappoint me."
"How did I disappoint you?"
"You left the hall before I had the chance to ask you for a dance!" he complained.
"Or kiss my hand," added Marion, and she held it out before him. Guy laughed and accepted her invitation, touching the back of it briefly with his lips. He then laid his fingers against her cheek. He leaned forward and Marion waited for what must surely be a kiss...
"Let go of me!" screamed a voice from nearby. Guy tore himself away.
"Ignore it," stated Marion quickly, resting her hand upon his shoulder. "It's probably just two of the servants, that's all."
"No, it...it sounded like my sister!"
"It couldn't have been," said Marion, fighting to keep his attention. He broke away and hurried down the corridor. "My lord!" she cried. Then she had no choice but to follow. Guy was calling out his sister's name, positive that it was her voice he had heard. He soon discovered that his suspicions were correct.
Owen of Clun, drunk and lustful, was making strong advances at Margaret, who, small and frail, had trouble fighting against them. Guy felt the fury well up in him. He saw that part of her gown was torn at the shoulder and tears flooded down her cheeks. When she saw Guy she ran to him, sobbing in shame, sorrow and relief. He held her for a moment, then passed her gently to Marion.
Owen of Clun held the smirk of an idiot, so Guy treated him like one and pounded him in the face. Clun staggered back but didn't fall to the ground. He straightened up and gazed at Guy stolidly, rubbing away some of the blood that
dripped from his nostrils.
"It's been decided, Huntington. She'll soon be my bride and I can treat her as I like," he slurred. "And there won't be any damn brother who can stop me!"
"You filthy heathen. Do you really think I'm going to let you marry her? I wouldn't let you marry my horse!"
"You dare to insult me, Lord Owen of Clun?" he shouted. "Get on your knees, boy, and I'll show you what it is to be insulted!"
"Don't call me boy, you miserable dog, or I'll do more than just wipe that smirk from your face!" raged Guy.
"Is that a challenge, Huntington?"
"Yes, it would seem that it is!" The men drew swords and both women watched them in horror.
"Guy, no!" protested Margaret, as they commenced fighting. She would have run between them if Marion had not had enough sense to hold her back.
"Don't be stupid! You'll be killed!"
"We have to stop them! We have to do something!" cried Margaret.
"Stay here," Marion commanded firmly. "I shall get help."
"Then hurry! Please!" Marion lifted the skirts of her silk purple gown and ran down the corridor.
The two men continued to fight, their faces gradually becoming clammy with sweat, their swords ringing in their ears. They fought on for what seemed an eternity to Margaret. Guy had the upperhand and was trying to use it to his advantage, but Owen was strong and not prepared to surrender just yet. However, as they continued, Owen's strokes became clumsier as the depths of his
drunkeness became more and more apparent.
Guy's strokes remained true and his fury was unrelenting. It didn't matter how tired he got. Clun had tried to dishonour his sister and blacken
the Huntington name. He had to pay through way of defeat, humiliation, and possibly even bloodshed: that was how enraged Guy of Huntington was. It
proved to be his downfall.
Owen of Clun's captain, Grendel, came into the corridor in search of his master. He quickly found him with another lord he couldn't quite remember. That lord was fighting against his master. His master was in danger.
Grendel drew his own sword and approached the two lords. Guy had just disarmed Owen. He had decided, with a cooler head, that he would spare Clun if he apologized to his sister and called off the marriage. But Clun didn't know this and neither did Grendel.
Owen caught sight of his captain, with sword in hand, and his features changed from fear to surprise. Guy wheeled around and Grendel struck his sword into Guy's belly.
Margaret screamed. Guy felt sick and dizzy as the pain of his wound ripped through him. Everything started to blur around him as he fought to stay on his feet. He tried to fight it, but it overtook him and he collapsed.
Margaret fell on her knees beside him. She started to weep, calling his name softly between shattered breaths. Owen turned to Grendel furiously.
"You fool!" he spat. "That was Guy of Huntington, the Earl of Huntington's son! You've just killed the man who was to be my brother, Grendel!" His servant turned pale and swallowed nervously.
"M-my lord, how was I to know that he was the Earl of Huntington's son? He was trying to kill you!" Owen growled and struck Grendel with the back of his fist.
"You idiot! How am I going to explain this to the King? He and the Earl will want my head for this!"
"My lord, we must return to Clun Castle. No one can harm you there. No one will dare try. We'll take the girl. While we have her they can do
nothing, master."
"Yes, Grendel, that's good. Margaret of Huntington will be my hostage first, then my wife! Come, girl, on your feet!" rasped Owen. He grabbed Margaret and pulled her up by the wrist.
"No! Don't touch me! Leave me alone, you murderer!" she shrieked. She struggled violently and Owen found it was a challenge to keep her still. He laughed, his teeth flashing in triumph.
"Ah...what spirit, Grendel. Look at how she fights. I love her already!" Margaret kicked and flailed her arms, bruising and scratching Owen in
the process. He yelled, then nodded to Grendel, who hit her in the face. She was thrown over Lord Owen of Clun's shoulder and carried off to his castle as a prisoner.
Marion had been stunned when she had arrived in the hall and found it filled with silence. She had gazed around in astonishment. Each and every
lord and lady had been slumped forward at their tables or stretched out on the floor. They had been sleeping so soundly that they appeared to be dead. Marion
had tried frantically to rouse a few of these nobles, but whatever enchantment they were under would not wear away.
She had run down to the barracks, attempting to find a soldier who could help her there. But everything had been the same. There wasn't a single guard or soldier who was awake.
She couldn't understand this. Was Azael testing her in some way she couldn't fathom? Why would Azael risk Guy of Huntington's life to do it? He was too important to the Lords of Darkness. They wouldn't want him to die.
Marion kept running. There had to be someone in Nottingham Castle who could help her end the fight. Then she remembered Guy's younger brother. What was his name...? Robert. Yes, that was it. She would find Robert. He would stop the fight.
She scoured the castle, determined to find Robert of Huntington. It was by chance that she bumped into him as he was heading for the stables with Tuck. Robin had again decided that he would go to Sherwood, but had found that he was unable to go alone. Tuck had refused to let him go there at night, unaccompanied.
Robin was very surprised to see Marion once more and wondered, with a faint heart, if she had been trying to find him. He decided that it was Guy she was pursuing. He stood passively, waiting for the blow she was surely going to send him. She did send him a blow, but it wasn't the kind he was expecting.
"Robert, you must come at once! Your brother and Owen of Clun are fighting!" she exclaimed breathlessly.
"What? Where are they?" demanded Robin.
"Come with me. I'll take you to them." The three rushed to the corridor where the battle had taken place. They froze. Guy of Huntington lay motionless on the ground.
"Guy!" cried Robin, kneeling quickly beside him. Guy groaned and Robin lifted him gently by the shoulders. "Guy, can you hear me? What happened?" Guy opened his eyes. The lids fluttered weakly.
"He's taken her, Robert," he gasped. "You...you must save her."
"What do you mean? I don't understand."
"Clun has...Clun has taken our sister...You have to save her, Robert...before it's too late..."
"Guy..." His head fell back and his body went limp in Robin's arms. Marion felt for a pulse along his neck. Her eyes widened in terror.
"He's dead!"
"Dead?" Guy was dead. His brother was dead. Robin felt a kind of numbness fall over him as he lowered Guy's lifeless body to the ground.
Robin had fought him for so long and now Guy was dead. It didn't seem real. He had never expected this to happen. Was he supposed to be happy about his enemy's demise, or grief-stricken by his brother's death?
There was nothing but the slight tightening of his throat and the heaviness of his limbs as he rose to his feet.
Tuck was praying over Guy's body, but Marion just stared at it blankly. Robin walked away slowly. He headed for the stables to find his horse.
Tuck soon ceased his prayers, lifted his head and followed. He believed that he could now do more for the living brother, than the dead one.
Marion remained where she was, oblivious to everything except the despair she felt over Guy of Huntington's death. What was she to do now that he
was gone? What would happen to her plans? What would happen now that she had failed Azael?
She heard the sound of footfalls behind her. Without looking, she knew who it was. "You said you would help me," she spoke quietly. "You have betrayed me!"
Gulnar stood over her and Guy, gazing down at the latter's corpse in morbid fascination.
"Why didn't you stop your master from killing him?" she questioned. Then it dawned on her. He was the one who concocted the spell to make everyone
in the castle sleep! He had purposely wrecked her plans.
"Why did you do it?" she hissed. "We had an agreement! Now he's dead and I'm likely to follow! You've ruined everything, Gulnar!" The sorcerer
started to laugh and Marion stood up to slap him. He grasped her arm before she could do so and held it tightly like a vice.
"Do you not think I can bring him back from the dead? Do you not think I can make his heart beat again and his breath quicken? Do you doubt my powers, Marion? Your own husband created a circle of power to protect himself from death. He lays there now, waiting...waiting for the Arrow."
"The Silver Arrow?" queried Marion. "He was a fool. It doesn't exist anymore. It may never have existed at all."
"Are you certain? Wasn't Herne's son supposed to guard it?"
"You mean that outlaw, Robin Hood? I don't think he's even seen it." Gulnar grinned.
"What would you say if I told you that he had and that it truly did exist? Would you believe me?" Marion didn't answer. "Herne kept it hidden for years so that no one would ever find it again. But I knew where it was and it was on this day that I came to find it!" Marion gasped as silver flashed before her eyes. Gulnar was holding the Arrow.
"I stole it from Herne," he continued. "I took it from right under him and he didn't notice. Herne's son did nothing. He didn't know. I took it because I knew we would need it tonight." Marion shuddered.
"You mean that...But we can't...It's impossible!"
"Oh, but it will be, Marion. We must go quickly. The Sheriff and his guests will soon be awake. I have told your servants to prepare a cart in which to carry his body."
"But where are we going?"
"To Belleme Castle where, with the sun, this man shall rise again!"
* * * *
