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

Ch. 8 (PG-13): Reunion

"Sir Guy's Atonement" (Book 3), Ch. 8 (PG-13):  Reunion, 

February 20, 2015 Gratiana Lovelace
[An Original Fan Fiction adaptation of the characters from the BBC's Robin Hood; and 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, 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:  Prince John wasted no time in advancing another betrothal at the Friday March 29th , 1199 celebratory feast for Sir Guy's upcoming Barony--but between unknown and unwilling participants in Sir Roderick Merton and the eleven year old Lady Caroline Havorford.  The  extended Gisborne-Middleton-Locksley family were near apoplectic--especially Seth Gisborne, whose mind and heart are coming around to liking Lady Caroline very much.  Sir Roderick also has a romantic past that makes him melancholy and reluctant to enter into another marriage--him being widowed eighteen months ago after a brief but fond union.  And upon meeting the pouting three year old Lord Graham Oxbridge, son of Rebecca Lady Leicester, Sir Roderick eagerly resolves to find and bring the lady to comfort her son.  Or, does Sir Roderick have another motive? 

Ch. 8 (PG-13)--Reunion

As Sir Roderick makes his way out of Gordon Castle's Great Banquet Hall to find and bring Lady Leicester to her son little Lord Graham--observed by the curious Sir Guy of Gisborne--Sir Roderick's seemingly  expectant urgency draws the attention of a courtier  whom one should never cross--Sir Jasper, Prince John's longtime sycophantic aide. And the sheen of gentility and grace by virtue of Sir Jasper's fine clothes and courtly manners fool no one into thinking that he is harmless--for they know better.  After telling his even more nefarious looking companions to meet him in the Gordon Castle gardens after the feast to discuss some important matters,  Sir Jasper  intercepts Sir Roderick just leaving the Great Banquet Hall--by holding out his sword to prevent Sir Roderick from passing

Sir Jasper: "Well, well, well.  You are in rather a hurry, Sir Roderick.   Off to curry favor with our Prince?"  He sneers.

Sir Roderick: "Ah!  Sir Jasper." Sir Roderick bows politely. "Prince John?  No?"  Sir Roderick looks at Sir Jasper quizzically. "I am doing the bidding of a child."  Sir Roderick explains without explaining.

Sir Jasper:  "Ah!   If you think that you can ingratiate yourself with the Middleton family to win the hand of that Havorford girl, you will only be disappointed.  You had best graze in other pastures.  That girl and her dowry are spoken for."

Sir Roderick:   His eyebrows rising in wariness, Sir Roderick asks cautiously, to draw Sir Jasper out.  "And am I to know who stands in competition with me for the fair lady's hand?"  Though Sir Roderick has no intention of offering for the eleven year old Lady Caroline, he does feel protective toward her--like an elder brother might.