Episode 1x12 "Return of the King" Part II

[landlesslord]

It had taken far too long to reach Knighton, especially after being tasked with innumerable pointless jobs by the Sheriff - no doubt as some kind of subtle torture, but he was there now and eager to see Marian.

It did not take long to spot her as he approached; she was outside absorbed in some small task with her father.


"Marian?" He remembered her father again and nodded a greeting in his direction. "Sir Edward."

As she turned to face him, it occurred to Guy that she had never looked more beautiful, though perhaps it was the effect of the unfamiliar optimism and hope that buzzed across his skin.

"I bring good news... something I..." A thought struck him. "No..."

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[queenofmay]

From the moment she looked up, she thought something was....

Wrong, would be the right word. Except that the reasons for wrong were peculiar. Like the openness of his expression. The almost joy he seemed to have. They way he looked about to smile and--

Marian tensed as he leaned down, looking to see if she dropped herbs, only to feel all her weight shift as he hauled her into the air and over his shoulder.

Terror replacing her confusion, she used the leverage and momentum he'd gathered to pick her up to spring off his back. It was risky (and stupid). Her wrist tweaked as her whole weight fell on it, but she managed to complete the back flip.

Managed to come up standing and not gasping, looking unnaturally annoyed. At him, for his wrongness and for manhandling her; and herself, for the reaction.

"Sir Guy!" Her father called out, and she was grateful it caused him to look away. It was wrong that Guys look of confusion should make her feel even more annoyed, like she'd been the one who'd done something wrong.

[landlesslord]

...


Guy turned to Sir Edward at his call and then back to Marian in utter confusion, unsure as to what had just happened.

What had just happened?

"I apologise," the confusion etched itself more deeply into his expression. "I just wanted to... sweep you off your feet."

But he had come here with a purpose hadn't he? Very almost forgotten in all this strangeness.

He brushed the moment from his thoughts and regrouped. Focussed.

"Will you come with me to Locksley?" It was hard to keep the smile from turning into a grin.

[queenofmay]

She gave a noncommittal sound, almost near an amused under breath laugh, but it sounded small in her still confusion and hope he simply wouldn't ask or comment on what she'd just done.

Marian didn't move, trying not to eye him warily as he attempted to extricate her from her father.

"Why?"

[landlesslord]

Any confusion is forgotten now, it's not important. Not really. At least, not as important as this. As why he came her.

"There's something you should see."

The dart her eyes make towards her father's gaze isn't missed, but Guy can only hope that the old man is making some encouraging gesture. He does not turn to see - it is not Sir Edward that needs to decide anything.

Guy can't help his smile getting a tiny bit wider.

[queenofmay]

The look her father gave her, if lacking in encouragement, did address the fact she had nearly no reason to say no.

Especially if she wanted him to continue being so forgetful about her sudden fluke ability at acrobatics.

Her blue-grey eyes flicked down and then back to him, adjusting to the idea of leaving her father and going where ever it was he'd suddenly demanded was so important to her day.

"Of course." Marian longed to look back to her father, but didn't. Instead she feigned for a smile. "I'll get my horse."

[landlesslord]

The journey to Locksley is all at once too long and too short.

Too long for the time it takes to get there in his eagerness.
Too short to enjoy her company in the quiet ride there.

It is eagerness that wins when they dismount and he hurries to the door, leaving the stable boy to deal with the horses.

Thornton's approach makes him suddenly uncomfortable with what he has to tell her, what he has to show her, what he has to share with her. They need to be alone for this.

[queenofmay]

"Lady Marian," Thornton called. Smiling, she replied with his own name, feeling twinged with an even more unsettling near guilt and thankfulness.

Thorton; steward to the lands and house of Locksley, who'd watched her as a green girl in braids, whom she'd seen overjoyed at her first engagement and someone in whom she couldn't help feeling herself compared to and pitied.

Especially as he'd suddenly looked shocked, realized he'd stared too long, fear touching his expression toward Guy as he walked off.

Guy didn't seem to notice as his hand found her forearm, demanding her more pressing attention.

[landlesslord]

"Come with me," his tone was urgent now. "There's something I want to show you."

What could be more pressing than the prospect of them being together? Properly together, joined as one.

His hand leaves her arm as Guy turns to hurry up the stairs to the master bedroom. Which would be their room in a short time.

And sweeping the curtain aside, he explained somewhat.

"Show you this," he opened the box and turned, looking for her approval. "My wealth."

[queenofmay]

Her brow wrinkled in confusion, stepping into the room. "Why?"

Then Marian caught herself, and how blunt the question was. Her face softened, nearer to a smiling one again. "I'm not sure what this means."

[landlesslord]

"This means everything," Marian did not understand now, but she would in time, how important this all was. "This means that I am a man of substance. Wealth."

"I can provide for you." He stepped closer to her, urging slightly.

"I am a man of power. The sheriff and I, increasingly with Kin..." He stopped. Too soon for that, too soon. "Prince John."

He turned back to look at Marian. She was as unreadable as ever.

[queenofmay]

Marian watched him warily. Something was...not wrong.

No. Not wrong. She was missing something.

That worried her, and she didn't move. Her eyes followed him as he paced back and forth inside the room.

[landlesslord]

"This means," he continued, no longer caught up in dreams of material things. "That I am a man of lineage."

How could he explain, when Marian looked so unsure? Guy reached for her hand.

"The Gisborne heritage is a proud one." For a moment, he was distracted by her grace and by all the hopes she inspired. "I would be proud to continue that line...with you, as my wife."

[queenofmay]

"Something has changed."

It wasn't a whisper, but it was quiet.

And then she knew what it was. What it all must be.

She turned and looked at him, openness of his face mirroring the way her stomach suddenly sank. "The King is returning."

[landlesslord]

He can't help but be pleased at her quick deduction; that this event which was so closely tied with their impending marriage, came to her mind so effortlessly.

Like it was not too far from her thoughts.

And even when she guides her horse from the courtyard, he cannot help but feel a swell of gladness in his heart despite the strange look in her eyes.