Guy of Gisborne - This Changing Life

This Changing Life - Chapter10 - Robin's Band

The next morning found Sheriff Vaisey knocking at the door.  As he swept in, he demanded to see "Prince Guy." When he noticed Kes  enter the room, he made a brief bow, slightly better than none at all, and demanded again to see his Master of Arms. 

"He is dressing. He will be down shortly. Can I get you something?" she offered.  "No, he replied abruptly. I am in a hurry." And then, "Whatever is keeping the blasted man?"  Kes stopped what she was doing, and met his eyes, all thought of graciousness gone from her manner. "Sheriff Vaisey, once again you overstep your bounds."  Anger welled up in her and she walked closer to the repulsive little man, and she refused to back down. "I think," she said slowly, deliberately, "you need to calm down. It would seem to me you need Guy much more than he needs you at the moment. I would be very careful of my manners from this day forward. I will not remind you again." Vaisey, his face showing his rage, spun around and left the house to wait. 

Guy, who was standing at the top of the stairs, heard the entire conversation.  He was astounded at what he had heard. She had defended him! Her ability to make the man cower with words  and attitude amazed him.  He was sure Vaisey hated her, and that made him nervous, although he knew Kes could care less about that.  He came down the steps quickly, grabbed a scone, gulped down some ale, then headed for the door.  He turned around though, as he passed her, and took her into his arms for a quick kiss and a thank you. She couldn't help but smile at him as he left. 

As the door shut behind him, Kes was amazed at how quiet the Manor was. Guy was a force to be reckoned with. He had a stern demeanor, and was very quiet, but was also quick to anger, and gave orders that he expected to be obeyed. The house seemed empty without him.  Kes walked out to the back garden area, thoughts of the last few days filling her head.  So much had happened. So much had changed. She had planned to open the Manor, and to reacquaint herself with Guy, but this was so much more than she had dreamed of! He was actually living with her as her husband, something she had not dared to hope for.  He seemed happy, and certainly enjoyed their physical encounters, but she still had so much to learn about him. At times he seemed to want more from her, which she would gladly give if she were more certain of his feelings towards her. She didn't want to ask more than he was prepared to give, but oh, if he could love her the way she had always loved him!  She sighed. She would proceed carefully, giving it time. 

Guy and Sheriff Vaisey rode together in silence. Vaisey finally told him of his latest plan to capture Robin Hood.  He was going to hold an archery competition, and Hood would not be able to resist. 

Robin had gathered a small band of men, and one woman,  and formed a camp in Sherwood Forest. The day at the castle had cost him dearly, but Will Scarlett, Dan's oldest son, and Allen A'Dale, the young man caught poaching, had stayed with him. A very large man named John had joined them, and a Saracen woman who had escaped the Sheriff's men, named Djac. Much, his former servant and best fried, was also with him. Together, they had been harassing the sheriff and various nobles, relieving them of their money and jewels, which they gave back to the villages it had been stolen from as taxes. They live in a hidden cave deep in the woods, ate off the land, bathed in the creeks. 

Alan had just returned to the band after a foraging mission, with a story of Gisborne taking up residence in the castle located next to Locksley. "He has a woman with him. A very pretty one too," he told the small group. "He left with the sheriff today though, so I am not sure what it means."

This caught Robin's attention. "A woman? Gisborne couldn't get a woman to go to the stable with him willingly. He has it bad for Lady Marion. You must be mistaken." 

"No Robin, they were fairly close. He seemed to like her." Alan was a bit miffed. He knew physical attraction when he saw it.  "Go see for yourself," he said crossly.

Robin did just that. He found Kes sitting on the bridge behind the castle throwing what was left of her breakfast scone to the wild birds. For once it was a beautiful sunny day, with the birds chirping and leaves rustling. He watched for a moment, then said with delight, "What brings you to Nottingham Shire Princess?" She started, then jumped up and hugged him.  He gave her a grin, thinking to himself she had come because of his proposal. "So, what's going on Princess?"

"Where shall I begin?" Kes wasn't at all sure how he would take her news. "How about with Gisborne,"  he spat. "What was he doing here?"

This was not going well, she thought. "Guy and I were married less than a week ago. The day after you left London. We arrived here the day of the hanging, and we are living here at Castle Manor." There. She had told him. The look of disbelief on his face told her it had not been what he was expecting to hear.

He was visibly shaken. Then his anger surfaced. 

"Why Kes?  What possessed you? He is a murderer. He has tormented all the villages in the shire on behalf of the sheriff!" 

"Robin, please," she begged quietly, "I do not care to explain, but know that I am his willingly." This was almost too much to bear for Robin. His shoulders sagged, and he asked, "You are willing?" She felt his pain. He had lost his home, his wealth, his land, and now he had lost someone he thought he cared for.  "Very much so," she told him quietly. "I am so sorry. I did not mean to hurt you." He turned to go, then stopped, his back still to her and said, "If you need me, I will come." Then he was gone. She felt terrible. She should have handled it better.

Guy returned at dusk. He looked tired, and ate very little. He was sitting in the drawing room drinking a tankard of ale, looking at the portrait of his mother, when Kes entered the room. She watched the sternness slip from his face as she massaged his neck and shoulders, the tension of his day with Vaisey leaving him slowly as she worked his tense muscles. It had been a day full of snide remarks and humiliation for him. He reached up and took her hand, and she leaned down putting her cheek on his. They were still for a few moments, then he pulled her around into his lap, and kissed her hair softly.  He told her of Vaisey's plan to draw Robin into town with the tournament. She huffed at this. "Robin would not be so stupid," she insisted. Guy was not so sure. 

"At any rate, I would love to have you accompany me, as I must be there most of the day. There will be a horse fair, and we may find some suitable mares to breed. It will also give me a chance to introduce you to Nottingham" This got her attention, and she quickly agreed.   

"Guy, are you ill?" she asked. His face had felt quite warm a moment ago, and his cheeks were quite red. "I'm fine," he answered, "I just need to rest." Kes sent him up to get into bed, then checked all was well with the stables. When she went to join him, carrying a light supper to him, he was already asleep, albeit fitfully. She gently felt his forehead again, and it was quite warm.  He was trembling from cold, so she slipped in beside him and warmed him with her body, helping him to regulate his body temperature. It would be a long night.