Sir Guy of Gisborne (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
landlesslord) wrote2007-06-16 04:11 pm
landlesslord) wrote2007-06-16 04:11 pm
Episode 1x08 "Tattoo? What Tattoo?" Part II
His goblet is still raised when something strikes it and it flies out of his hand, tumbling to the ground. Guy turns to see where the projectile had come from, knowing already who he might see there.
Robin.
Where are the guards who are supposed to be safeguarding the lives of the nobles gathered here? How did this outlaw and his companions get in and surround them? What in God's name is going on? He was not concerned that he himself was in any danger, only uneasy that this celebration was turning into a shambles and that he was sure to look bad in the eyes of the nobility and in those of Marian and her father for letting this happen. And infuriatingly, there is nothing he can do - there are more soft, rich hands here than competent, strong fighters here to support him and they are outnumbered by the outlaws, who are armed while most of the nobles are not.
His mind races for a minute. What can he do to stop this? The problem is half-solved by Robin ordering that everyone go into the next room. Perhaps things are starting to look up, with them out the way Guy can take on some of the outlaws himself without his guests being harmed. As they leave, depositing their valuables with the manservant, he breathes a little easier, biding his time, waiting for the right moment, remaining where he had been standing. He hates Robin Hood. Too cocky, too sure of himself, too self-satisfied, too amused at his own 'wit', too smug. This thorn in his side would be his first target when the moment came and Guy chanced a look to his left to see where Robin was - leaning against the wall.
There is a knock at the door, some signal these outlaws have pre-arranged and Robin starts towards Marian, Guy reaches for his sword, perceiving some danger to his betrothed, though the Saracen's sword on his arm prevents him. The outlaw's attentions make Guy uneasy. They were once betrothed in youth but now that Marian is engaged to him, would this make her a target? He tries to distract Robin, by pointing out that the Lady doesn't carry money, a fact verified by Marian herself but then commended by the outlaw, who then notices her ring. The precious ring which Guy has just presented to her. He tenses. This ring is his declaration of his intent toward Marian, the symbol of the hope of their marriage. His mother's ring. Marian's ring. Through gritted teeth he says that they have taken everything else, that they can leave this ring, but Robin takes the ring right from Marian's hand himself.
It is this imposition, this boldness, this daring which angers Guy more than the theft of a thing so precious to his dreams. So as Robin leaves with another dry attempt at wit, Guy seizes his chance and draws his sword, moving forward to attack. The other outlaws are distracted by their signal and running away and there will be no other opportunity.
Robin counters the strike, pinning his arm behind him and Guy himself against a beam momentarily. Guy turns and strikes again, but Robin pins his arm to the wooden beam behind him with a dagger, holding the point of his curved scimitar in towards him. His sword arm is held by the blade through his sleeve, but not for much longer. Perhaps it's time to show his cards to his opponent, knowing what will happen if he frees himself. Guy tears his arm away from it's prison, ripping his sleeve and revealing a scarred tattoo on his forearm. A tattoo that he knows that Robin has seen before, freshly wounded, and the look of shock on the other man's face is worth the trouble that he has caused so far today.
Guy breathed one word only, with a knowing half-grin. "Surprise."
He pulls the dagger from the wood and what's left of his shirt, while the Saracen pulls the dazed Robin away and it's this dagger's hilt that he uses to fell the dark-skinned boy as he pushes the other man on to escape. Sheathing his sword as the Sheriff entered (this must have been what the outlaws' signal meant), he darted out the now open door, past the Sheriff to see the outlaws fleeing on horseback. There Robin sits, upon his horse, waiting, glaring at where Guy has emerged from the courtyard, only to be hurried on by his manservant.
He had to follow them. The satisfaction of Robin's initial shock was not enough and he must see this through. Guy ran for his own horse, mindful of the light footfall of Marian behind him and then her voice telling him to "leave him." As if he could! Robin knows now exactly where they first met, of which the only evidence, save for memories, is the silvery scar over the tattoo on his arm and poor evidence it is, at that. This is his opportunity to deal with the man who foiled his plot to kill the King, to end years of political turmoil while other claimants pushed and shoved to try and take the absent ruler's throne.
And Robin has the ring, meant for Marian, though she knows not what it means to him. A ring she seems to have forgotten in the commotion. He must follow the outlaws, follow Robin, into the forest.
Robin.
Where are the guards who are supposed to be safeguarding the lives of the nobles gathered here? How did this outlaw and his companions get in and surround them? What in God's name is going on? He was not concerned that he himself was in any danger, only uneasy that this celebration was turning into a shambles and that he was sure to look bad in the eyes of the nobility and in those of Marian and her father for letting this happen. And infuriatingly, there is nothing he can do - there are more soft, rich hands here than competent, strong fighters here to support him and they are outnumbered by the outlaws, who are armed while most of the nobles are not.
His mind races for a minute. What can he do to stop this? The problem is half-solved by Robin ordering that everyone go into the next room. Perhaps things are starting to look up, with them out the way Guy can take on some of the outlaws himself without his guests being harmed. As they leave, depositing their valuables with the manservant, he breathes a little easier, biding his time, waiting for the right moment, remaining where he had been standing. He hates Robin Hood. Too cocky, too sure of himself, too self-satisfied, too amused at his own 'wit', too smug. This thorn in his side would be his first target when the moment came and Guy chanced a look to his left to see where Robin was - leaning against the wall.
There is a knock at the door, some signal these outlaws have pre-arranged and Robin starts towards Marian, Guy reaches for his sword, perceiving some danger to his betrothed, though the Saracen's sword on his arm prevents him. The outlaw's attentions make Guy uneasy. They were once betrothed in youth but now that Marian is engaged to him, would this make her a target? He tries to distract Robin, by pointing out that the Lady doesn't carry money, a fact verified by Marian herself but then commended by the outlaw, who then notices her ring. The precious ring which Guy has just presented to her. He tenses. This ring is his declaration of his intent toward Marian, the symbol of the hope of their marriage. His mother's ring. Marian's ring. Through gritted teeth he says that they have taken everything else, that they can leave this ring, but Robin takes the ring right from Marian's hand himself.
It is this imposition, this boldness, this daring which angers Guy more than the theft of a thing so precious to his dreams. So as Robin leaves with another dry attempt at wit, Guy seizes his chance and draws his sword, moving forward to attack. The other outlaws are distracted by their signal and running away and there will be no other opportunity.
Robin counters the strike, pinning his arm behind him and Guy himself against a beam momentarily. Guy turns and strikes again, but Robin pins his arm to the wooden beam behind him with a dagger, holding the point of his curved scimitar in towards him. His sword arm is held by the blade through his sleeve, but not for much longer. Perhaps it's time to show his cards to his opponent, knowing what will happen if he frees himself. Guy tears his arm away from it's prison, ripping his sleeve and revealing a scarred tattoo on his forearm. A tattoo that he knows that Robin has seen before, freshly wounded, and the look of shock on the other man's face is worth the trouble that he has caused so far today.
Guy breathed one word only, with a knowing half-grin. "Surprise."
He pulls the dagger from the wood and what's left of his shirt, while the Saracen pulls the dazed Robin away and it's this dagger's hilt that he uses to fell the dark-skinned boy as he pushes the other man on to escape. Sheathing his sword as the Sheriff entered (this must have been what the outlaws' signal meant), he darted out the now open door, past the Sheriff to see the outlaws fleeing on horseback. There Robin sits, upon his horse, waiting, glaring at where Guy has emerged from the courtyard, only to be hurried on by his manservant.
He had to follow them. The satisfaction of Robin's initial shock was not enough and he must see this through. Guy ran for his own horse, mindful of the light footfall of Marian behind him and then her voice telling him to "leave him." As if he could! Robin knows now exactly where they first met, of which the only evidence, save for memories, is the silvery scar over the tattoo on his arm and poor evidence it is, at that. This is his opportunity to deal with the man who foiled his plot to kill the King, to end years of political turmoil while other claimants pushed and shoved to try and take the absent ruler's throne.
And Robin has the ring, meant for Marian, though she knows not what it means to him. A ring she seems to have forgotten in the commotion. He must follow the outlaws, follow Robin, into the forest.