The Journey To Acre

Chapter 5

Well, this was a conundrum wasn't it?

If Guy let Sully take shelter with them, then the secret was out where Marian was concerned, and there was no way he could put her in danger like that...

but...

if he left him out there and he got hurt...

Despite what many might think, he was not entirely without conscience and it is this that is plaguing him as he listens to the distressed voice calling out from in the passageway.
He briefly considers the possibility of having Marian hide or cover her head, but the berth is so small and who could attend to head coverings in this chaos? One had occupation enough trying to avoid crashing into walls and furniture, and who knew how long the storm would last? Did he honestly expect Marian to sit with a blanket over her head for the duration?
He was about to ask her if she would be alright alone whilst he delivered Archie to his owner and got them to wherever Sully bunked for the night, but the furious expression currently gracing her features tells him this would not be a smart move.

No, he knew what she wanted, that much was obvious from the lightning fast lunge she'd made for the door and now they were standing at the threshold, with Guy blocking her way, pointedly ignoring her glare as he silently weighed their options.

For her it was all so simple wasn't it? She would always put the welfare and safety of others first, which meant that his hesitation to let the man in was utterly contemptible in her eyes.

In the end, it was Archie who decided what was going to happen, swiftly putting all debate at an end by wailing loudly in response to his owner's calls. The confrontation between knight and lady had taken place in a matter of mere seconds, but evidently even this was too long for the feline, who was now caterwauling fiercely from within his hidey-hole, determined to get his owner's attention.

Thus, the matter was settled and Guy was forced to admit defeat. Avoiding Marian's triumphant gaze, he sighs and opens the door.

.

Sully was a flurry of affection.

Hugging Guy, placing kisses upon his bewildered cat's head, hugging Guy some more, tearing up in relief, thanking the Lord many times, and praising His name, hugging Guy again, and finally, moving to embrace the other person in the room who just so happened to be...

a woman!?

He does a double-take so comical, Guy has to bite back a bark of laughter.

Yes, indeed, a woman, and not just any woman either; she's the most striking looking woman he's ever seen - the sort that makes a man bow his head, avert his eyes, and squirm awkwardly whilst mumbling "Good day to you, milady."

Her dress has seen better days and she's clearly not been able to tend to her coiffure of late, but this does not diminish her beauty in the slightest.

Sully stands there gaping, very nearly falling over because in all the excitement he's forgotten to hold on, when Archie gracefully saunters over to her as if to prompt introductions.

Guy, ever the awkward host, wrangles with how to make them, but doesn't get round to it because Sully is already patting him on the back and declaring, "Well, I must say you've done well fer yerself lad, an' I bear you no ill will fer keepin' a lid on it - if the lads knew you had such a fine missus on board, they'd be fallin' over each other to get a look at 'er an' no mistake!"

Marian frowns. She detests it when people talk about her as if she isn't there. She shoots Guy a look to prompt him to correct his friend as to their relationship status, and naturally, he complies directly.