Guy of Gisborne - This Changing Life

This Changing Life - Part 22 -The long Road

Kes woke to find her husband sitting in the chair, next to the bed. He had fallen asleep, his head wedged in the wing of the chair he was in. His hand was touching  hers, just barely. She watched him for several moments. He looked so peaceful, all the care and worry gone from his face. Then, the stresses of the last two days came washing over her. She shut her eyes again, trying to will the whole affair away, clenching her fists as she did. This woke Guy, who was watching her with concern. What was happening to her?  Finally, Kes sat up, and quickly jumped out of the bed and ran to the bathroom. Guy could hear the waves of nausea coming from her. He found her standing, with a wet towel on her face. 

"Are you OK? I know how stressful what you learned has been for you," he told her.  "Yes," she whispered. "I am fine. It is nothing."

After a moment, she asked him about travelling to London, answering the King's summons.  "Are you well enough, Kes? You have been ill for more than a week now."  He was very worried. She had been fainting, throwing up, and barely eating for some time. She looked pale, and thin. She had been simply pulling her hair back with a ribbon, which he adored, but knew was not like her. 

"Please, stop! I am not ill. Stop asking me that!" She was angry, taking it out on him. She let out a sigh, then "I am sorry. I know you are trying to help. But seriously I am fine." There. Maybe it would be enough.

Guy just stood there. He finally told her they would leave in 2 days, to make the journey to London. "You have notified Vaisey?" At least she is speaking to me, thought Guy. "Yes, while you were resting. He will join us on the journey. And Kes," he hesitated here, afraid what reaction the next statement would bring. "He is planning to meet with Winchester before we leave and give him Marion."   

Kes turned to him and smiled, not the smile he loved, more of a sneer. "Well, we cannot have that, can we? I will speak to Mother...I mean Grandmother, I have a plan that might work."

Guy  nodded, not wanting to add to the issue. He would trust her. 

"Please, Prince Guy, go down and ask Grandmother and Lady Marion to join us in the drawing room." He noticed the formality of his name, and the tone as she spoke. This was not going well.

"As you wish." He walked out of the room quietly, wondering what would come next. 

He summoned the two women, and waited as Kes came down the stairs. She entered the room like a true queen, her head high. In reality, the last person she wanted to be near was Marion, but this had to be done. 

"Marion, Guy informs me Vaisey is planning to see you wed to Lord Winchester this week. Are you aware of that?" Her bluntness surprised Guy and Elanor.  "No! He cannot do that..." Marion was shocked, frightened at the thought. Winchester had a very bad reputation with wives. 

"He can, and he will, but I think I have a solution. You will become a ward of Queen Elanor. She will be your protection. You will be a Lady in Waiting. Vaisey will not dare defy her. You will have to stay and travel with her, until she finds you a suitable match." Kes looked at Marion. The girl was crying. "Someone much more suitable than Winchester." Kes was not a bit sorry. She wanted to inflict the hurt that she was feeling back onto this girl.  Elanor nodded assent. Kes knew she  would have to speak to her Grandmother about Guy and Marion, but it would not be easy. 

"We shall be leaving for London in two days, please be ready. Give Prince Guy a list of the things you need from Nottingham, and he will take care of it for you." Kes gave a hard look at Guy. He was standing with his head down, trying to not be conspicuous, his hand on the mantel. He looked up, met her stare, and nodded his head, no.