True Love
Vaisey, the Sheriff of Nottingham, proclaimed in his cold and sarcastic voice: “People of Nottingham, today is our harvest festival and we have reason to celebrate! My guards have caught Robin Hood in the morning, no thanks to Gisborne, when the outlaw and his gang tried to steal the taxes from King Richard! Thus we will honour the occasion with a wedding and a hanging just to my liking!”
A murmur went through the crowd, increasing when the guards brought their hero Robin Hood bound in shackles to the platform in the centre of the courtyard where the gallows stood. Robin Hood grinned, certain that his band already had a rescue plan and would free him as soon as possible. He struggled against the guards so as not to make it too easy for them, and of course for the show. Just to his liking!
Marian was aghast to see what was happening. The sheriff was up to something, but what? Her mind was working at full blast. Did Guy know something? She looked at him, but he seemed to be equally ignorant of Vaisey’s newest scheme. The hanging was probably Robin Hood's planned destiny - and the wedding? Who should be married?
Vaisey nodded grinning to his guards. Two of them went to Guy of Gisborne, one on each side of him, clasped the Master of Arms and carried him to the platform next to Hood. Gisborne struggled utterly surprised, glared at his principal, and demanded: "What's going on, Sheriff?" Vaisey replied amused, “Be patient, Gisborne!”
Another sign from the sheriff and two other guards reached for Lady Marian to lead her to the platform, too. Marian endured the treatment with all the dignity she could muster and looked daggers at Vaisey. As soon as she stood between Hood and Gisborne she defiantly raised her chin and bravely questioned Vaisey: “Well then?”
The residents of Nottingham watched the upcoming events with interest, some in shock, some with amusement, some with glee and others with compassion.
Robin Hood registered the happenings with stoic countenance, Gisborne to the contrary with outright rage. The sheriff watched Marian, Gisborne and Hood with an undisguised indifferent mien.
“Lady Marian, I am fed up with your schemes, your manipulations of my men. I am fed up with a Master of Arms useless due to your machinations, and I am fed up with Hood anyway. So we are going to finish this once and for all! I am not a brute, so I will give you the choice, Lady Marian. Which one of these two men shall be your husband, and who shall die?”
Gisborne protested disgustedly: "What's the point of this? Is this the reward for all the years in your service?" He tried to get rid of the guards.
Vaisey smirked: "Oh, Gisborne! La di da di da!" Without further attention to Gisborne the sheriff explained the rules of his intended spectacle. "You, Lady Marian, shall choose your husband and immediately exchange your marriage vows in front of all the people of Nottingham, whereas the other man shall hang. Now, tell us, Marian, who shall be your husband? Your former betrothed who ran away to fight in the Holy Land without a second thought to you, or the always drooling Gisborne who is following you like a puppy?"
Vaisey nodded towards the attending priest and executioner. They strolled to the three captives. Marian was dumbfounded, utterly enraged and helpless. What could she do? Her mind was blank, panic arose. She gazed at Robin, but he did not look at her, but rather to the floor in front of him. He did not give her any support. As her gaze met Gisborne’s he looked apologetic to her. He beheld her with an unrivalled tenderness.
