The Trials and Tribulations of Love [BBC Robin Hood ] || Guy of Gisborne x OC

Chapter 4: The Fury of Women

Author's note: I realized I need to work on being more descriptive with my writing so this a shot at that. Let me know how I did. :)

And I finally made some cover art for this story, but realized too late my spelling error in it. Whoops!

 Thanks to everyone who has left comments so far. I enjoy the support and I'm glad you're enjoying this story. This story is also on Ao3! 

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CHAPTER SUMMARY: Despite her sister's warnings, Marian finds out the hard way that her actions have consequences when going against the sheriff. Katherine helps at the castle as Guy begins to realize he desires her as much as he desires his power.

CHAPTER 4 - The Fury of Women

NOTTINGHAM CASTLE

The sisters stood behind their father in the room full of nobles attending the usual meeting with the Sheriff. News of the pestilence brought worry around every corner in England, causing families to fear the worst. Towns were boarded up to wait it out until they died off or the pestilence miraculously disappeared.

"Good news," the Sheriff announced, walking down the stairs and into the great hall. " Good news from the village of Clun. No new outbreaks for a fortnight. The pestilence, whatever it was, is gone."

"Then we can lift the quarantine. Feed the survivors?" Edward asked.

Vaisey gave a dry chuckle. "The people of Clun, they are grubby people. The great unwashed. Low on taxes, high on moaning. The quarantine remains."

"They must be fed. They will die!" Marian barked, daring to speak out.

"Marian..." Katherine whispered, nudging her sister to stop her before she made the sheriff angry. The last thing they needed was getting on his bad side.

Vaisey's eyes landed on Marian, deciding to take the time to explain the situation to her. "Ah! Sweet. My dear, you have to understand.These are incapable people. They do not look after themselves. We must not, we cannot... nanny them."

"But how can they look after themselves if we will not allow them to leave their village?" Marian pointed out. The room was silent with tension as the nobles watched the bickering between them.

"I agree. This is a conundrum. Another conundrum is this: Whom do I tax? To pay for the food...for the hopeless of Clun? Hm? Do I rob from Peter to pay for Paul? Simpler to keep the quarantine in place and then after one or two weeks, we say that the village has been... cleansed. I may house my garrison there."

She gripped the back of the chair as her knuckles became white. "You cannot let healthy people die! It is barbaric! If it became known..."

The Sheriff let out a chuckle, eyes narrowed. This caused Katherine to gulp noticing the fury in his eyes. "Interesting, hm? This fire in your belly. Is this reason talking? Or is it frustration? Frustration at being... How old now and still a maiden?"

Marian looked down, knowing he was trying to attack her. And it worked. Even when he glanced at Katherine, adding her to the fire in their disagreement.

"Be more like your sister. She knows her place." Katherine felt the stab in her chest. The sheriff knew exactly how to strike her - and she let him . "Excuse me. I have other business."

The noblemen rose from their seats as the meeting adjourned. The sisters were still frozen in their places from the sheriff's cold attacks, staring at each other, an unspeakable message passing between them.