Hello Old Friend

2

"This is indeed true Alex." He chuckled.

"I've missed you Guy of Gisborne."

"As I have you, Alexandria."

Their lips met. The kiss that they shared was scalding hot as it was sweet. Guy pulled her closer to him just in time to see Alexandria's eyes widen. She smiled gently with her fingers tracing over his jaw.

"I want to show you something."

Reaching down, she pulled a thong of leather out from beneath the linen undershirt she wore. Knotted tight, there was a sparkling ring of gold and amethysts at the leather's end.

"The ring has never left me. Never. It has been fed on blood, sweat and tears. Yet, never once forgotten the meaning of the ring."

"Does this mean?"

"It means I never have stopped loving you Guy."

He kissed her again, almost sadly.

"Eight years is a long time Alex. I am betrothed to another."

Alex nodded with tears in her eyes that never quite fell. "It is a long time. She is a lucky woman." Gathering the leathers that were discarded, she dressed fully once again. Just without the mask to hide her features.

"Thank you."

She moved swiftly, only to stand next to the bed. Alexandria took his hand gently in her own, and pressed the ring into it. "Give it to the woman you love Guy of Gisborne. It is my gift to you both. May it bring you the happiness that it did me."

"Alex...... Stay."

"No Guy. I cannot. You are the only man that has ever kissed me. I am good with that. I will not compromise myself further. It's time for me to travel onwards."

"Alexandria. Stay. I have money to keep you in the castle like a woman deserves."

Frowning. That he was willing to keep her as a mistress bothered Alex greatly. "Are you actually working for the Sherriff, Guy?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"It is not any of your concern."

Alex glared at him. "Bollocks!"

"You may pretend to be a man Alexandria but you and I know that it is far from the truth."

"What happened to you Guy? Where was the young man that I knew?"

"He has been gone since you left."

"You are blaming my father taking me away from here on me?"

"Of course not. You could have retuned but you didn't."

"I had to make sure that any legacy of Alexandria d'Auvergne disappeared. Once I heard that my father was dead, I came to you." There was a storm brewing in her dark eyes. "Then I heard of the rumors. I heard of the cruelty that the Sherriff and his lieutenant were perpetuating on the people of Nottingham."

"You will not understand Alexandria."

"Try me."

"You had family. You had money. You had a title and land to bestow on your husband. I HAD NOTHING."

"I cared nothing about that. I didn't want what my father would give me if I obeyed his every word. I wanted the man that I loved."

"You would give it up because you could." He snarled once more. Finally, Gisborne stood and grabbed her jaw. His blue eyes piercing her much darker ones.