To be Worthy

Chapter VIII

SUMMARY: Betrayed by his latest master and mocked by the cruel hand of destiny, Sir Guy of Gisborne returns to Nottingham twenty years after his banishment determined to reclaim the life which should have been his.

AUTHOR: Lexie aka lillianschild

RATING: PG-13/R

FANDOM: Robin Hood

PAIRING: Guy/Marian

GENRE: Romance

Disclaimer: Tiger Aspect Productions and the BBC are free to claim whatever they own of this piece, except Guy's thoughts and my words which are ours to keep. lol.

A/N: Set in an alternate Series 1 where Guy has never met Vasey before his arrival in Nottingham, this fic will explore what impact an earlier acquaintance with Marian might have had on Guy's life and ultimate fate.

A/N 2: Sorry for the very long delay in updating this fic but work and then a long-deserved holiday messed with my writing schedule. Now I'm off to deal with a new chapter of my Lucas fic "A Voice in the Dark". Enjoy!

CHAPTER VIII

Lady Marian's unexpected entreaty shocked him and sent him into a spiral of confusion. No other woman had ever provoked in him such contradictory emotions in such a short span- joy and anguish, hope and despair.

“He's not someone you'd wish for an enemy. He's a powerful man with equally powerful allies. He'd not hesitate to destroy you or those close to you.”

“Has he threatened you... or your family, milady?”

Guy had met men like Winchester in the past and knew how they operated, just as he knew Lady Marian was the kind of woman who would stop at nothing, including marrying a man she loathed, to protect the ones she loved. He admired her because of it but wished she weren't that strong for him to be able to render her a service. He was in no position to offer her the protection she needed; he had no power or means at his disposal, only his skill as a warrior- largely diminished because of his injury- and... his life, which he'd willingly lay at her feet. And, despite his reduced circumstances, he was determined to let her know she had an ally in him.

“There's no need for you to explain,” he told her; her silence speaking louder than words.

“You’re a knight. You must understand duty….and sacrifice… very well,” she replied, knowing instinctually there was nobody better than him to empathise with her current predicament.

“I just want you to know you are not alone,” he said softly.“It's time for Lauds. Shall I accompany you back to the castle, milady?”

Marian wondered what kind of penance she'd get after confession today for the sinful thoughts and feelings that warm and deep voice kept on stirring in her didn't befit her maidenly purity.

“Will you join us, Sir Guy?” she asked him, even though his acquiescence would be nothing but a further complication in her already tumultuous state of mind.

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“Do you think it's time I got married?”

“Where does this sudden interest in matrimony... your matrimony... come from, Meg?”

“I know I used to say that if I had my way, all men would disappear in a puff of smoke and the world would be a happier place. But... now that I'm older I see things differently. Not all of them are insufferable... Take Uncle Edward... or...”