"Sir Guy's Atonement" (Book 3) by Gratiana Lovelace, 2015 (a Wattys2015 Nominee)

Ch. 15 (PG-13, D): Out Plotting the Plotters

"Sir Guy's Atonement" (Book 3), Ch. 15 (PG-13, D):  Out Plotting the Plotters,     March 13, 2015 Gratiana Lovelace

[An Original Fan Fiction adaptation of the characters from the BBC's Robin Hood; 

& a Sequel to "Sir Guy's Dilemma" (Book 2) by Gratiana Lovelace]  (All Rights Reserved; No copyright infringement intended)  [(1) story logo, top right] 

[From time to time, I will illustrate my story with my dream cast of:  Richard Armitage as Sir Guy of Gisborne, Clive Standen as Lord Archer of Locksley, Emma Watson as Lady Roseanna Gisborne, Tommy Bastow as the young Seth Gisborne, Lucy Griffiths as the spectre of Lady Marian, James McAvoy as Lord George Middleton, Toby Stephens as Prince John, Dakota Fanning as Lady Caroline Havorford,  Chris Hemsworth as Sir Roderick Merton, Tamsin Egerton as Lady Rebecca Oxbridge, Lee Ross as Sir Jasper, etc.]

Author's Mature Content Note:  "Sir Guy's Atonement" is a story of romance and intrigue set amidst Medieval times.  As such there will be some passages in this story involving heartfelt love scenes (S) and some passages involving highly dramatic moments (D), or foul language (L).  I will label the maturity rating of those chapters accordingly.  Otherwise, the general rating for this story is PG or PG-13 due to some mature situations and topics.  If you are unable or unwilling to attend a movie with the ratings that I provide, then please do not read the chapters with those labels.  This is my disclaimer.  

Nota Bene:  And though I may refer to some historical timelines, events, and personages, I reconfigure them somewhat for this storyline--and they should not be taken as literal historical fact.    The citation links are provided for you to find out what really happened historically.

Author's Recap from the previous installment:  After Sir Guy and his extended family reveal the assassination plots to Prince John--both Prince John's for Sir Guy, and Sir Jasper's for Prince John, Sir Guy, and Seth Gisborne--all is out in the open.  Well, not all--with more yet to be uncovered.

"Sir Guy's Atonement" (Book 3), Ch. 15 (PG-13, D):  Out Plotting the Plotters

Keep your friends and family close, and your enemies closer  [(2)] had been Prince John's father King Henry II of England's best and only advice he had transferred to his youngest son Prince John.  Never truer words were uttered as both the Gisborne-Middleton-Locksley-Oxbridge family and Prince John must enter into a King Solomon like alliance to prevent Sir Guy and Seth's deaths as misdirection for their cousin Prince John's assassination during Sir Guy's investiture.  They have only a few days to discover who the conspirators are beyond knowing that Sir Jasper and someone named Roland are involved.  Roland being the name of someone whom Prince John had a flicker of recognition about that--he omitted to share with his extended family.

Putting on serene smiles--or his usual scowls in Sir Guy's case--the extended Gisborne-Middleton-Locksley-Oxbridge family attends the weekend's remaining dinners, church, and other daytime activities as they are expected to do.  They do not want to raise suspicion that they have become aware of the plot.  But an observant conspirator might have noticed that the families hardly let themselves out of each others' sights.  That is unusual because they all have their children with them--and children are not generally included at large festive gatherings.  But perhaps because their hostess at Gordon Castle, Lady Leicester--their kinswoman Lady Rebecca Oxbridge--is also a mother with two young children that the presence of young ones is forgiven.

It had been decided Saturday at their family tea, that since Sir Roderick Merton was the mostly unknown entity amongst Prince John's entourage--and now ingratiated with the Gisbornes after saving their children--that he should seek to be a spy for them amongst the other courtiers.  Sir Roderick hopes of giving the false impression that he is displeased with the Gisbornes and the only reason that he is still a guest in their guest chamber is at Prince John's request--otherwise, Sir Roderick would happily bunk in the Castle Armory's temporary barracks with the rest of them.  So Sir Roderick preys upon his fellow courtiers general state of envy and their love of juicy gossip.