The Nightwatchman (English)(From Ashes Vol.2)

Chapter 14 - A Wedding in the Forest (Prologue)

"Are you there?" Robin's voice asked from above, and, a moment later, a sack of flour landed in Guy's arms, nearly making him to fall from his horse. He managed to keep himself on the saddle, and he threw the bag on the wagon, then Guy nodded to Much. The outlaw started the wagon, while Guy waited for Robin, holding his horse by the bridle.
A cry of alarm come from inside the building, and the outlaw jumped from the window a moment later, landing on his horse. A soldier came to the same window from which Robin had just jumped, and started to scream.
"They're Robin Hood and the Nightwatchman! Arrest them!"
Guy Robin and galloped away, before the soldiers were able to organize themselves to pursue them.
"When you're about to throw something heavy, you could warn me before you let it go, not while it's already falling," Guy complained, but Robin smiled innocently.
"Come on, Gisborne, you got it, didn't you?"
"Not thanks to you," Guy said, "now what? Are we going to deliver the supplies we just stole?"
"Not tonight. Or rather, Little John, Will and Djaq will distribute a part of the supplies in Nettlestone, but you, me and Much have other projects."
"Oh, we do? And when are you going to tell me what you want me to do?"
Robin grinned.
"Wait and see."
Guy snorted.
"I hate when you do that."
"When I do what?"
"The mysterious self-satisfied one."
"You complain because I still haven't told you what it is. Now shut up, we're almost at the camp."
Robin dismounted and he waited for Gisborne to follow him, but Guy just removed the Nightwatchman mask, and he stared at him with his arms crossed, not moving.
Robin rolled his eyes in mock resignation.
"Oh, all right, you untrustful spoilsport!" He approached Guy, and whispered a few words in his ear, then he looked at him. "So, what do you say?"
Gisborne smiled, amused.
"I say that it seems an excellent idea to me."
"So let's get to work, there is much to do."

Guy returned to Locksley when the sky was already beginning to be tinged with pink. He took the horse to the stable, trying not to make noise, and he silently went inside the house.
Robin, Much and Guy had worked through the night for Robin's mysterious project and now Guy was simply exhausted.
He decided that that morning he would go to Knighton a little later than usual, so he could sleep at least a few hours. He began to open the clasps of his jacket as he climbed the stairs and he had just put his hand on the handle of his room when the door of Marian's room burst open, startling him.
"Oh, you're awake, Guy!" The girl said, briskly, as she approached him to kiss him on the cheek. "So you've remembered!"
Guy looked at her, desperately trying to think of what he should have remembered, and meanwhile Marian began fastening his jacket again, lovingly.
"Do you think we will find something suitable for Djaq? And what might Will like?"
Gisborne suddenly remembered that he had promised the girl to accompany her to the market of Nottingham to choose a gift for the newlyweds.
"I am sure you will choose well," he said, trying to smile. "Wait, I'll call Allan, tell the cook to prepare the breakfast."
"Oh, do you think he will want to come, too? Maybe he's still sleeping."
"I'm sure he will be happy," Guy said, with an innocent smile, then he headed towards Allan's room.
If he couldn't go to sleep, he certainly wouldn't allow Allan to stay in bed until late.

Allan awoke feeling that somebody was shaking him, and he turned in bed, pulling the sheet over his head, but Guy pulled it off, and opened the shutters to let the light in.
"What do you want, Giz? It is dawn," he complained with a yawn.
"I know, the sun was rising when I came back home."
"And why don't you go to sleep, then?"
"Because I promised Marian I would take her to the market of Nottingham this morning."
"And what do you want from me?"
"You're coming with us." Guy looked at him, resolute. "You have an important task."
"Which task?"
Guy sighed.
"You'll have to keep me awake. Marian won't take it well if I fall asleep while she is talking to me."

Allan sat in the wagon, while Marian sat beside Guy, and she took his hand as he spoke briskly to the two men.
"Do you think Much will cook for the wedding feast?"
"I guess so," Allan said with a shrug. "I doubt that they can hire a real cook and take him to the camp."
"I could make a cake..." Marian began.
"No!" Allan interrupted her, quickly, and Guy gave him a startled look, while Marian blushed, remembering the results of her previous attempt to cook.
"There won't be time to cook if you have to prepare for the ceremony," Allan said, "but you could ask Thornton to cook something."
"Good idea," Marian said, accepting Allan's suggestion. Then she looked at Guy, a little worried. "Do you think there will be problems?"
"What kind of problems?"
Marian sighed.
"Between you and Robin, I mean. Aren't you afraid he might be mad at you for what happened? You haven't seen him since that day, I don't know how he took it..."
"I don't think there will be problems, otherwise they wouldn't have invited Giz," Allan said, absently.
"I think so, too," Guy said, "Djaq was nice to me, but she wouldn't have asked me to come if Hood didn't agree."
Gisborne thought he had to be careful how he'd behave during the ceremony and the banquet.
Marian had not the faintest idea that since the day when Robin had saved his life, the two of them had met and had worked side by side very often.
He should also try not to look too at ease at the camp, and take care not to talk too much lest he could say anything about his adventures as the Nightwatchman.
He noticed that Marian had been staring at him in silence for a while without saying anything.
"What's up?"
"Are you well, Guy? You look tired."
"I didn't sleep well," he said, and basically it wasn't a lie: he hadn't slept well because he hadn't slept at all.
The girl looked at him, sorry.
"Do you still you have nightmares?" She sighed and she put her arm around him. "Come, lean on my shoulder and rest a while until we arrive."
Guy leaned against her and closed his eyes.
"Are you sure this is fine? People will gossip if they see us being so close."
Marian kissed his forehead.
"They would gossip all the same," she said with another sigh, "now go to sleep, I'll wake you when we get to Nottingham."