Sir Guy of Gisborne (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
landlesslord) wrote2007-05-16 09:11 pm
landlesslord) wrote2007-05-16 09:11 pm
Episode 1x07 "Brothers in Arms" Part I
Yet again, the Sheriff had summoned him. Apparently there had been some trouble with a trader that had been working in the area and something had to be done about it. Not that Guy might have more important things to do, of course.
Still, the only way he was going to get anywhere was to do what he was told. And if peasants didn't hassle him for anything like the two standing pathetically in the courtyard were bound to do. Couldn't they see he was in a hurry? And they want his blessing so that they can get married, something that doesn't look like it will be happening for him any time soon. At least he can try and make it worth his while, but as usual these peasants are poor and have nothing. Nothing apart from something he can see glinting in the sunlight around the girl's neck.
The girl only comes closer very reluctantly, claiming that the silver she is wearing is the only thing of value belonging to her family. As if that matters, Guy thought as he removed a glove to better undo the clasp on the necklace, she would have lost it sooner or later and now it will make a fine gift for Marian.
--
So Lucky George had been robbed by outlaws and now complains to the Sheriff as if he is the only person that this has happened to and going so far as to ask for more guards. Guy's immediate reaction is that it is out of the question, of course. The guards are already stretched taking care of their usual duties in Nottingham, but Vasey seems all too eager to donate them to George's cause. A new carriage too?! At least this makes the odious twit happy enough to leave.
Guy hadn't expected the Sheriff's new-found generosity and was not expecting what he next had to say, though it did explain the aforementioned generosity. Guy had no answer as to how Robin knew that George was going through the forest, when he had not gone that way before, nor did he have an answer to the question of Hood knowing their plans before they even knew them. Doubt and suspicion begin to fill Guy's thoughts and the Sheriff voices the thought that he had started to entertain. There was a spy in their midst - someone was feeding their secrets and plans to Robin and his outlaws - and the Sheriff was going to set a trap for him. This was genuinely exciting, Robin would have no way of knowing what they were planning to do to catch him and the thorn in his side would be dealt with once and for all.
It was less exciting when the Sheriff revealed that it would be Guy setting the trap. It would be nice if the Sheriff did his own dirty work for a change and thinking about it, he was not sure that he wanted to know who the spy was. After all, it would be someone that he trusted that was betraying him. Nevertheless he would do what he had to.
--
Marian was the light in the gloom of Guy's day of traitors, intrigue and peasants and he was glad to gift her with the necklace. He was glad too, to be able to put it around her neck himself as a show of his affection for her. The simplicity of the design, the pale silver would not distract from her beauty, which needs no gold or gaudy jewels to enhance it. He sees her hesitation though, her reluctance, her distaste and her words confirm it. It's not good enough for her, he was a fool to think that a trinket taken from a peasant could be a fitting gift for Marian. Not meaning to, he demands to know why she can't accept his gift, worried that he has offended her or insulted her somehow, that the inadequacy of his gift might reflect his own inadequacies. Had he said something wrong? Did silver hold some unknown terrible meaning for her?
Even though Marian says that she likes the necklace and that she would treasure it, Guy still worried.
"It is a gift of friendship."
Maybe if she understands his intention, then the poor choice of his gift will be forgiven?
"And I am very grateful."
Perhaps she does understand.
The sergeant he had summoned earlier chose this moment to arrive and need Guy's instruction. The moment was broken and now he must tend to duty. He breathed out slowly and turned to face him. It would do no good to be angry, this man would not have known of the importance of his time with Marian. Once this was dealt with, he could return and give her the attention that she deserved.
"Cancel the guard for the consignment to Rotherham."
"No guards?"
"No guards. Guards attract attention and why would we want to attract attention to a chest full of silver travelling through Sherwood Forest?"
"Yes Sir"
The man turned to leave, but a thought darted into Guy's head and he places a hand on his arm to stop him.
"And tell no one. No one. Not even the guards themselves."
--
Replacing the silver with rocks in the chest had been the Sheriff's idea and now he was crowing over his success. Vasey was always more dangerous when he was pleased with himself, so Guy would have to be careful how he answered the Sheriff's questions. He had told only his sergeant, no one else.
The short, sharp swat to his rear from the arrow in the Sheriff's hand was certainly not expected and he resisted the urge to strike out, clenching his fists hidden within his folded arms.
"You're sure?"
"Only my sergeant, it must be him."
And he would pay for his treachery. Guy had felt the sting of betrayal before and had vowed then that he would not suffer it again.
--
He headed up the staircase from the dungeon, leaving the tortured screams to fade behind him, to find Marian standing at the top of the stairs. Not entirely sure what she could be doing here, he greeted her politely and then noticed that she was no longer wearing his gift.
"So you did not like it after all."
She didn't seem to remember.
"The necklace."
And while she says it is at home, Guy can only think that she did not think to wear it. That she does not care for his feelings, that he might be hurt that she could so easily cast off his gift. Marian placates his doubt slightly when she says that the necklace is precious to her and she would not want to lose it - but to the extent of not wearing it? Surely if it was so precious she would keep it near to her heart? The shouts of agony being to rise from the dungeon and Guy tries to lead her away, this was no place for her to be and the sound of torture not something he thought her ears should bear. But Marian is curious and asks him about what they both can hear.
"Do you know the worst crime a man can commit?"
"Murder."
"Betrayal."
He does not want to burden her with the more unsettling side of his work for the Sheriff, but he will not hide this from her - the subject of betrayal is one close to his heart and one that riddles his nightmares. The sergeant betrayed him and was caught by the trap that had been set, the chest and Hood's attempt to steal what turned out to be rocks and how someone would have to have told Robin that it was going to be taken through the forest. Marian's worry that the sergeant might be innocent, that it wasn't him and he might be punished for something he hadn't done and her plea for him not to let it carry on, made Guy feel both glad and saddened. Glad that she would try to think the best of someone, but saddened that she did not seem to understand the severity of the crime. She did not seem to understand why it was important that this traitor be dealt with and made an example of.
"You understand loyalty... the importance of loyalty."
"Yes I do, but.."
"So, he must pay for his crime."
Still, the only way he was going to get anywhere was to do what he was told. And if peasants didn't hassle him for anything like the two standing pathetically in the courtyard were bound to do. Couldn't they see he was in a hurry? And they want his blessing so that they can get married, something that doesn't look like it will be happening for him any time soon. At least he can try and make it worth his while, but as usual these peasants are poor and have nothing. Nothing apart from something he can see glinting in the sunlight around the girl's neck.
The girl only comes closer very reluctantly, claiming that the silver she is wearing is the only thing of value belonging to her family. As if that matters, Guy thought as he removed a glove to better undo the clasp on the necklace, she would have lost it sooner or later and now it will make a fine gift for Marian.
So Lucky George had been robbed by outlaws and now complains to the Sheriff as if he is the only person that this has happened to and going so far as to ask for more guards. Guy's immediate reaction is that it is out of the question, of course. The guards are already stretched taking care of their usual duties in Nottingham, but Vasey seems all too eager to donate them to George's cause. A new carriage too?! At least this makes the odious twit happy enough to leave.
Guy hadn't expected the Sheriff's new-found generosity and was not expecting what he next had to say, though it did explain the aforementioned generosity. Guy had no answer as to how Robin knew that George was going through the forest, when he had not gone that way before, nor did he have an answer to the question of Hood knowing their plans before they even knew them. Doubt and suspicion begin to fill Guy's thoughts and the Sheriff voices the thought that he had started to entertain. There was a spy in their midst - someone was feeding their secrets and plans to Robin and his outlaws - and the Sheriff was going to set a trap for him. This was genuinely exciting, Robin would have no way of knowing what they were planning to do to catch him and the thorn in his side would be dealt with once and for all.
It was less exciting when the Sheriff revealed that it would be Guy setting the trap. It would be nice if the Sheriff did his own dirty work for a change and thinking about it, he was not sure that he wanted to know who the spy was. After all, it would be someone that he trusted that was betraying him. Nevertheless he would do what he had to.
Marian was the light in the gloom of Guy's day of traitors, intrigue and peasants and he was glad to gift her with the necklace. He was glad too, to be able to put it around her neck himself as a show of his affection for her. The simplicity of the design, the pale silver would not distract from her beauty, which needs no gold or gaudy jewels to enhance it. He sees her hesitation though, her reluctance, her distaste and her words confirm it. It's not good enough for her, he was a fool to think that a trinket taken from a peasant could be a fitting gift for Marian. Not meaning to, he demands to know why she can't accept his gift, worried that he has offended her or insulted her somehow, that the inadequacy of his gift might reflect his own inadequacies. Had he said something wrong? Did silver hold some unknown terrible meaning for her?
Even though Marian says that she likes the necklace and that she would treasure it, Guy still worried.
"It is a gift of friendship."
Maybe if she understands his intention, then the poor choice of his gift will be forgiven?
"And I am very grateful."
Perhaps she does understand.
The sergeant he had summoned earlier chose this moment to arrive and need Guy's instruction. The moment was broken and now he must tend to duty. He breathed out slowly and turned to face him. It would do no good to be angry, this man would not have known of the importance of his time with Marian. Once this was dealt with, he could return and give her the attention that she deserved.
"Cancel the guard for the consignment to Rotherham."
"No guards?"
"No guards. Guards attract attention and why would we want to attract attention to a chest full of silver travelling through Sherwood Forest?"
"Yes Sir"
The man turned to leave, but a thought darted into Guy's head and he places a hand on his arm to stop him.
"And tell no one. No one. Not even the guards themselves."
Replacing the silver with rocks in the chest had been the Sheriff's idea and now he was crowing over his success. Vasey was always more dangerous when he was pleased with himself, so Guy would have to be careful how he answered the Sheriff's questions. He had told only his sergeant, no one else.
The short, sharp swat to his rear from the arrow in the Sheriff's hand was certainly not expected and he resisted the urge to strike out, clenching his fists hidden within his folded arms.
"You're sure?"
"Only my sergeant, it must be him."
And he would pay for his treachery. Guy had felt the sting of betrayal before and had vowed then that he would not suffer it again.
He headed up the staircase from the dungeon, leaving the tortured screams to fade behind him, to find Marian standing at the top of the stairs. Not entirely sure what she could be doing here, he greeted her politely and then noticed that she was no longer wearing his gift.
"So you did not like it after all."
She didn't seem to remember.
"The necklace."
And while she says it is at home, Guy can only think that she did not think to wear it. That she does not care for his feelings, that he might be hurt that she could so easily cast off his gift. Marian placates his doubt slightly when she says that the necklace is precious to her and she would not want to lose it - but to the extent of not wearing it? Surely if it was so precious she would keep it near to her heart? The shouts of agony being to rise from the dungeon and Guy tries to lead her away, this was no place for her to be and the sound of torture not something he thought her ears should bear. But Marian is curious and asks him about what they both can hear.
"Do you know the worst crime a man can commit?"
"Murder."
"Betrayal."
He does not want to burden her with the more unsettling side of his work for the Sheriff, but he will not hide this from her - the subject of betrayal is one close to his heart and one that riddles his nightmares. The sergeant betrayed him and was caught by the trap that had been set, the chest and Hood's attempt to steal what turned out to be rocks and how someone would have to have told Robin that it was going to be taken through the forest. Marian's worry that the sergeant might be innocent, that it wasn't him and he might be punished for something he hadn't done and her plea for him not to let it carry on, made Guy feel both glad and saddened. Glad that she would try to think the best of someone, but saddened that she did not seem to understand the severity of the crime. She did not seem to understand why it was important that this traitor be dealt with and made an example of.
"You understand loyalty... the importance of loyalty."
"Yes I do, but.."
"So, he must pay for his crime."