The Ghost

Chapter 2: Because I Am a Father

Allan was relieved to see the dark figure of Guy of Gisborne walking down the corridor and he hurried to reach him.
"Hey, Giz!" He called. "Are you alright?"
Gisborne winced and turned to look at him, and Allan realized that he wasn't. The knight was deadly pale and he had dark shadows under his eyes, as if he hadn't slept for a week, and he looked jumpy and upset.
"Oy, mate, that wine was too strong, I guess. But don't worry, I know a great remedy for hangovers, it's a little disgusting, but it works miracles."
Gisborne grabbed the front of his tunic with a growl, and he slammed Allan against the wall.
"You're a liar! A snake ready to betray me!" He snarled.
"Are you still drunk, Giz? I wouldn't betray you!"
"As you wouldn't betray Hood? You lied to me!"
Allan frantically tried to understand which lie Guy could have found out, but just a moment later Guy answered that unexpressed question.
"You knew how I feel for Marian, but you never told me that she's in love with Hood! And that she's the Nightwatchman!"
"Who told you?!" Allan blurted, realizing immediately that he had just revealed to Guy that he knew about her secrets. He braced himself for a beating, but Gisborne didn't hit him.
Instead he let him go, looking at the empty corridor, and lowering his eyes, as if he was ashamed of something.
"You wouldn't believe me," he said, with a sigh. "Why you didn't tell me?"
Allan looked at him, and he saw how dejected Gisborne was. He felt some pity for the man, even if he was afraid that Guy could still beat him.
"I didn't know how you would react. I might be a traitor, but Marian had always been kind to us, I didn't want you to hang her when you found out the truth."
Guy kept glancing at a point at the left of Allan.
"I would never hurt her."
"Maybe, but you could hurt me. And I wanted to make sure that it wouldn't happen."
Gisborne didn't answer to him, but he mumbled something, still looking at the empty space at Allan's left. The former outlaw gave a worried glance at him.
"Giz? What's up? You are worrying me."
"Nothing."
"That's because of Marian? Did you really love her so much?"
Guy eventually looked at him.
"She means everything to me."
"Even now?"
The knight nodded, and Allan felt sorry for him.
"I didn't mean to hurt you, Giz..." He began, but Guy interrupted him waving a hand.
"You can spare your words, I'm not going to retaliate on you."
"But I'm really sorry for hiding the truth from you," Allan said, and for once he was sincere.
Guy looked at him, a little surprised. The ghost of Sir Edward, visible only at Guy's eyes, was standing at Allan's side, nodding at the former outlaw.
"He's not lying," the ghost said, "this young man is loyal to you, Sir Guy, at least for now."
Guy glanced at Allan, uncertain.
"It doesn't matter now. We have something to do, come."
Gisborne led him through the corridors of the castle, and the ghost followed them. When they arrived in front of a door, Guy stopped, hesitating, and Sir Edward felt a sudden dread.
"What's inside this room, Sir Guy?" He asked, but he already knew the answer.
"Hey, Giz? Why are we here? It's some mission for the sheriff?" Allan asked.
"No, quite the contrary, indeed." Guy pushed the door open, and they stepped into the room.
On a bed, covered by a shroud, lied the body of Sir Edward.
Allan stared at the corpse, shocked, then he looked at Guy: the knight was standing at the side of the bed with his head bowed and perfectly still, as if he was praying.
"Poor Edward." Allan said, sadly, and Guy lifted his gaze to look at him.
"We must provide for a burial. Please, call a priest, and organize everything."
"The sheriff won't approve," Allan objected.
"The sheriff won't care, as long as he doesn't have to spend money for it. I will pay."
"Thank you, Sir Guy," Edward said, unable to avert his gaze from the body.
Allan didn't know if he found more strange to be in the same room with the corpse of a man he had known, or to see Gisborne so respectful towards the father of the woman who had deceived him so much.
"Go, now," Guy said quietly, "make sure that he is buried in a nice place."
"Here in Nottingham?"
Guy thought for a moment.
"No, at Knighton. I don't know if Marian will come back at the castle, but she must be able to visit her father's tomb. It will be easier for her if he's at Knighton."
Allan nodded thoughtfully.
"Aren't you coming, Giz?"
"Later. I just need a moment."
The young man wondered why Gisborne seemed to be so touched by the old man's death, but he didn't ask.
"As you wish," he just said, then he was gone.