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

Ch. 39 (PG-13): A Mother's Love

"Sir Guy's Atonement" (Book 3), Ch. 39 (PG-13): A Mother's Love, June 15, 2015 Gratiana Lovelace (Post #767)

[An Original Historical Fiction Fan 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)

[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/King John, Dakota Fanning as Lady Caroline Havorford, Chris Hemsworth as Sir Roderick Merton, Tamsin Egerton as Lady Rebecca Oxbridge Merton, Lee Ross as Sir Jasper, Sir Derek Jacobi as Fr. Bale, Judi Dench as Mother Superior, David Harewood as Brother Tuck, Kevin McKidd as Lord John Oxbridge Earl of Leicester, and Lucy Griffiths as Lady Anne/Marian, Sam Troughton as Much, and Gordon Kennedy as Little John, 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). 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.

Author's Recap from the previous installment: Lord John Oxbridge soothed and wooed his beloved Lady Anne/Marian after she learned about part of her past from Baron Guy of Gisborne-and his role in her injuries seven years ago. But though the soothing helps, the wooing highlights an impediment-apart from him still being the legally dead Earl of Leiscester, which might be of service in the matter. Then eager to wed and to bed his lovely Lady Anne/Marian it occurs to Lord John that he need not be the one to come up with a solution to their predicament-since he did not create the situation in the first place. Hmmmm.

"Sir Guy's Atonement" (Book 3), Ch. 39 (PG-13) A Mother's Love

The aftermath of Baron Guy revealing he had stabbed Lady Anne/Marian and what she meant to him and now that it is known that Lord John Oxbridge is alive have rippling repercussions in the extended Gisborne-Oxbridge-Middleton-Merton family. And though not heard from for less than a week-and knowing of Lord John Oxbridge's living status but not of his return to Leicester-the recently two months married Sir Roderick and his pregnant wife Lady Rebecca Merton had decamped to his home at Canert Castle in Staffordshire, England [(2) right] just a spare few days ago on July 7th, 1199 to protect Lady Rebecca from her husband's supposed wrath at her being remarried and with child. But even well meaning husbands like Sir Roderick cannot break the loving bond between mother and child.

Three days, no four days-not even a full four days it has been-and Lady Rebecca Merton is beside herself with grief for being parted from her two children by her first husband, Lord John Oxbridge,three year old Lord Graham and two year old Lady Rachel. She cannot sleep nor rest and she eats little. Her husband Sir Roderick is deeply worried to see her so distressed. He lost his first wife and child because of birthing complications eighteen months ago. His heart cannot also stand the loss of his Lady Rebecca and their child were she to continue on this path of self destruction.

Walking into their master bed chamber at their castle home on afternoon of Thursday, July 10th, 1199, Sir Roderick finds his wife Lady Rebecca looking despondent [(3) right] with her eyes cast down-certain that she has been crying again for her children.