The Journey To Acre

Chapter 1

Notes:

After years of writing Guy of Gisborne/OC fanfiction, I felt at a loss for something new to say, but then at some point I began to indulge an old whim...

Guy and Marian.

I know, I know, they don't fit, they're poles apart, there's no way, it cannot be...

but...

what if?

Their chemistry was undeniable and I can't help but feel that many of Guy's best scenes were whilst conflicted about Marian.

So yes, this is it: my attempt to capture the 'what if'. I wasn't brave enough till now and it's down to support from kind readers that I could be so brave at all.

The title tells you all you need to know here, the actual act of getting to Acre was always glossed over on the show but the idea intrigued me and in exploring it, I found the spark of inspiration that had previously eluded me.

I shall say no more, but before the story begins, I would like to say a big thank you to all who are so kind as to give my work a chance. The internet has so much to divert and entertain, I'm grateful to all who take the time to read my stories.

Disclaimer: all BBC Robin Hood characters and the show are the property of the BBC and Tiger Aspect Productions.

The Journey To Acre

Chapter 1

It rained for days.

How many, Sir Guy of Gisborne did not know, but enough for him to feel that perhaps they were at the end of the world. Vaisey would accuse him of being melodramatic here, but looking out at the drizzly mist that enveloped their boat, it was impossible to see where the dull grey of the sky ended and the cold grey of the sea began.

The consensus amongst the crew, the colourful collection of souls in charge of their vessel - the Mary Peel, was that the weather was always like this in the English Channel. Guy begged to differ; he'd taken this journey before and last time it had not been the case, but as he was soon to discover, nothing would be the same this time around.

In a way, it was fitting that the weather was so miserable; all else in his life was cheerless so why should this be any different? He sighed and turned his gaze to Marian - her stoic visage belying her dire situation – the heavy chains binding her to the hold the only sign of her misstep: the ill-judged attempt upon Vaisey's life.

That she lived was a wonder. It could so easily have turned out differently. Indeed, all others who'd tried to murder the sheriff had not been so fortunate. Guy wondered that his volatile master hadn't murdered her directly. He was, of course, ridiculously grateful that it hadn't happened, but this unexpected move put him on edge and he couldn't help but feel that the old man was merely toying with his prey before inflicting the terminal blow. After all, it was a way of punishing him too wasn't it? He'd gone to great lengths to keep her identity as the Nightwatchman secret (before blurting it out in a moment of guilt-ridden madness) and Vaisey was sure to make him pay for it, the only question was how far would he go?

Then there was the matter of Allan-a-Dale's desertion. Part of him couldn't blame the turncoat for doing only what came naturally and bailing on them now that things were getting serious, but that was largely ignored in favour of the stinging disappointment that accompanied the knowledge of whom he'd deserted them for, and though Robin Hood was most probably dead at the hands of Vaisey's mercenaries by now, that Allan had chosen to go back to him still hurt all the same.

It was Marian's stare that brought him out of his reverie. Her defiant curiosity. She had no right to act so high and mighty after the move she'd pulled, but then she always did like to push him where she could. A wiser man would keep his distance, but then he'd always been a fool for her and everyone knew it. All of their interactions were tainted now, so much of what he'd thought had meant something had meant nothing; she had used him, lied to him, and worst of all, in what could only be described as an act of pure insanity, put both their necks on the line by attacking Vaisey. There was simply no going back from that.