Courting Time

Chapter 5

Struggling to free herself from the guards, Chloë demanded why she was being taken prisoner. Sir Guy did not answer, he just turned his head away too prideful to show how he really felt. Chloë was led away and taken to her chambers where she was placed under house arrest. Clara had seen what happened and sneaked off out of the Castle grounds. She headed towards Sherwood Forest where she informed Robin about what had happened. Frustrated at being treated the way she was, Chloë paced frantically up and down her chambers. There was a knock on the wooden oak door and Sir Guy entered.

   " I will not be treated like this." Chloë said.

 "You disobeyed the Sheriff's orders, Marian. My orders! Now you must pay the consequences."

 "Forgive me, but I did not imagine that I needed permission to go out for a fresh of breath air."

 "The escort is for your own protection."

 " I do not need protection."

 "Marian, the Nightwatchman is on the loose and I will not have your life endangered. I care about you."

 "I'm sorry."

 Sir Guy walked over to her and caressed her cheek. He cared about her so much and yet, she did not reciprocate his feelings. He wanted her to love him as he loved her. But she didn't. He knew her heart laid with Robin Hood.

" I will talk with the Sheriff."

 "Thank you."

Sir Guy smiled. Chloë had never seen him smile before and she liked it. Sir Guy turned around but, was stopped when Chloë placed a hand on his shoulder and gave him a kiss on his cheek.

"I mean it, Guy. Thank you."

While Sir Guy talked to the Sheriff to see if he can drop the charges on Marian back out in Sherwood Robin and his men discussed about what the Sheriff actually planned to do with the money and the Nightwatchman being spotted again. Quietly above the discussion Allan was playing a tune on his lute. Although everyone should have been paying attention to the on going conversation Much was busy on the cooking the food and didn't catch the beginning of what Robin had said. Therefore, not knowing the entire context of the conversation Much spoke up.

"Isn't Marian the Nightwatchman, though?"

Looking up from what he was doing, Much saw four faces looking at him. Much never paid attention and always misheard things.

"What?' Much asked innocently.

" Yes, Marian is the Nightwatchman. But, the Sheriff is using the guise for his own ambitions." Robin explained.

"Really Much? Don't you ever listen?" Little John laughed.

Much crossed his arms and pouted. Chuckling to himself, Robin turned to Cal, who seemed to be quiet this evening.

"What is it, Will?" Robin inquired.

Cal blinked suddenly as he remembered he was supposed to be Will.

"I'm sorry, Robin. My mind seems to be on something else."

"Do you want to tell us?"

"If the Sheriff and Gisbourne seem to be so worried about the Nightwatchman striking again, then why are they taking money to Scarborough?" Surely they would be scared that the Nightwatchman would attack them?"

"Will is right." Little John agreed, "Why would they be so worried about the Nightwatchman and decide to carry chests of gold?"

Robin nodded. The Sheriff was up to something and this plan was just a guise. There was something else going on.

"Will, you're a genius!" Robin shouted, "we need to find out what is really behind the false plan. Alan, Will I need you to go to the Castle and get more information from Marian. She will know what is going on. Oh, and be careful there will be guards watching her."

Alan and Will nodded. They picked up their weapons as they left the camp. Alan and Will had not travelled too far when the sounds of horse hooves and rolling carriage wheels filled the air. Quickly, they ran behind a fallen tree trunk and crouched down. Peering out they saw the yellow and gold coat of arms. Recognizing the colours of Prince John they knew inside the carriage must be the Sheriff. To find out what he was up to Cal was about to go nearer when Allan stopped him. The carriage doors opened. Putting on his gloves the Sheriff stepped down. By the expression on his face, he didn't look pleased. From where they were hiding Cal and Alan overheard the conversation between the Sheriff and Sir Guy. It was the Sheriff who spoke first.

"Look, Gisbourne. This arrangement is perfect. If we can make a deal with this marriage arrangement then we will have enough men to build an army for Prince John. Not only that the taxes can be collected, which means we will be rich."

"My lord. I will not force a marriage on her. It is unfair and I will not force her to accept it just because it will aid you in the Prince's favour."

"If you do not like the arrangement, Gisbourne, I can always have her arrested and put to death for disobeying my orders. Now how would you like that?"

Not wanting to see Marian get hanged, Sir Guy reluctantly agreed with the Sheriff's orders. He and Marian would be wed. The Sheriff would get what he wanted and Prince John would be pleased to get more support from the nobles. Undercover in the trees, Alan and Cal wondered who's impending marriage they were talking about. Then it clicked for Alan.

"Marian." Alan whispered.

"What?" Cal asked.

"The Sheriff is going to use Marian as an asset in his plans to gain more power. We need to tell Robin. Come on, Will."

"Why is Gisbourne against the proposal? Isn't he always the one trying to win Marian's affections for himself?"

"Yes, but it seems like the engagement is a forced one. Let's go!"

Without making a sound they ran off back towards the camp.

"Robin!" Alan shouted as he ran into the camp.

"What is it, Alan" Robin asked as he stood up.

"The Sheriff. He has forced Gisbourne and Marian to become engaged in the attempts of winning the favour of Prince John and gaining more soldiers."

Robin was lost for words. He could not lose Marian to a false marriage, especially one to Sir Guy. He realized that the money was just a distraction so he could use Marian for his own advancements. They needed to save Marian before it was too late. The gang were about to head to Nottingham Castle when Little John noticed Cal was not there.

"Hey, Robin. Will is not here" Little John said.

Robin circled the camp. Little John was right. Will was nowhere to be see. Robin turned back to Allan.

"I thought Will was with you?" Robin asked him.

"I swear he was right behind me after we left the Sheriff and Gisbourne."

"Well, he's not here now."

"He must have gone to Nottingham by himself." Little John suggested.

"He's going to get himself killed if we don't catch up with him. Come one!" Robin told the gang as he started to run off deep into the forest.