1 | master of arms [gisborne]

Fifty-four [revised]

"Ever has it been that love knows
not its own depth until the hour
of separation." ~Kahlil Gibran

Guy couldn't stop running, he wouldn't stop running; not when something—no, someone—he held dear was about to slip from his grasp... again. He swore on his life that he wouldn't let that happen, and he wasn't. So he kept running, ignoring the calls from Robin and Much telling him to wait up.

"Gisborne, slow down!" Much yelled.

Robin groaned. "Gisborne!"

But still, Guy ignored the outlaws. Archer wasn't far behind, the worry also flowing through him. Although she belonged to Guy, he couldn't help but care for her. But he respected her and his brother. Besides, they were more friends than anything. So with a breath, he continued to sprint behind Guy.

The former Master-at-Arms hopped over logs and ditches, pushing away branches that decided to swing in his face, his breath ragged and his muscles working. Adrenaline was coursing through his veins, and he felt his eyesight blur. Every sound became muffled, and he kept running. He wasn't going to lose her. He wasn't going to lose his purpose in life, his one love, his wife.

My Linda.

By the time he reached where everyone was, he was damp with sweat. He leaned on a tree and tried to catch his breath all while trying to see. He blinked a few times, trying to get rid of the spots that clouded his vision. When he could see clearly, he felt his heart drop.

No. No, no, no, no, no.

A crowd of people were surrounding a body on the floor, though the people who were close to that body was Genevieve, Tuck, John, and Kate. He shook his head and pushed past the surviving villagers, thought they got the idea and quickly spread out. The figure on the floor tried to turn her head to see who it was.

"Guy? Where's Guy? Is he okay? Is he all right?" Linda asked, her voice strained and hoarse.

"It's okay, love, I'm here," Guy reassured her, dropping to his knees.

She let a painful breath out, and smiled. "Good," she whispered. "And Nottingham?"

"You did it, Linda," Archer responded. "Your plan worked."

Guy took her hand and pressed a kiss to her palm. He shook his head, his bottom lip quivering. "This wasn't supposed to happen," he said quietly. "None of this was supposed to happen." The glare he gave Tuck was killer. "I saw you help her. You said she would survive. Why isn't she okay? What the hell is wrong with her?!"

"Guy, Guy, it's not his fault," Linda said as loudly as she could, turning his head with her palm so he was looking at her. "The blade... it was poisoned."

"No..." Guy felt his heart shatter into a million pieces when she said that. This was his fault, and he knew it. He was the one who gave Isabella that poison, and Isabella must've given it to Vaisey somehow. And now because of that, she was going to die. But he refused to believe it.

"We— We'll figure something out, Linda. It's going to be all right, I promise," he promised her, running his thumb along her knuckles.

She laughed painfully, tears falling out of her eyes. "Promise is a big word, my love."

"I never break my promises when it comes to you. You'll be okay."

"As much as I would love to continue this argument, I'm afraid time is against us," Linda said with a weak smile.

Guy pressed another kiss to her hand. "I'm so sorry," he whispered.

"For what?" she questioned. "For being happy? For getting what you wanted? For finally getting revenge on your sister?" Her voice grew soft. "For falling in love?"