maid_marian

( PSL )

( PSL )

( Reality Crash application )

Guy had been on his toes that whole week, meaning close calls left and right. Both as the Night Watchman, and with Robin, and Marian wasn't the only one worried about what the next close call would bring. Robin had all but ordered her to pack in her mask, at least for a little while. And, though she had argued vehemently against it, she couldn't deny that things were hot at the moment.

Her father had been called to the castle earlier that day and, as the day dragged on, and it began to get dark, Marian couldn't help but start to worry. It couldn't be anything very serious, could it? Forcing her hands to keep busy, she moved through the house, tidying, straightening...and trying to not let her mind wander too much. Not that she could help it very much. She just hoped everything turned out okay.

With Sir Edward Fitzwalter long since deceased, Marian had found herself relegated to the status of ward of the new Sheriff of Nottingham. And, while it was not exactly uncommon for lords to marry their wards, especially heiresses, Marian had done all she could to resist this particular match. Any objections or obstacles had been dealt with swiftly and summarily. Her childhood betrothal to Robin of Locksley dissolved and the man declared dead. It wasn't exactly unexpected, since Robin had been gone for years now, with no news. And Marian's initial refusal had only led Vaisey to tighten the noose.

Privately Marian was baffled as to why the man even wanted to marry her. He hated all women, and the only conclusion that she could come to was that it would give him more land, money, and would make her miserable in the process.

She'd lived at Nottingham Castle since her father's passing, but with he betrothal, had not been allowed to leave for any extended period of time, or, indeed, without an armed escort. Superficially it was to protect his ward and fiancee; in reality Marian suspected it was to keep her from escaping his clutches to wed someone, anyone else.

Having just spent the last hour at nuncheon with her soon-to-be husband, nauseated by the way he chewed with his mouth open and sneered at her, Marian had escaped to the outdoors, settling down beneath a tree growing in the courtyard, her eyes sliding shut as she enjoyed the sunshine and fresh air. Might as well enjoy what little freedom she had left.

It was pure bad luck to be trapped inside the master bedroom at Locksley. She'd just wanted one last adventure before settling down into the dull life of marriage. And, really, Guy shouldn't have been back at the manor for some time yet. But she'd left the bedroom with a purse of jingling silver and almost run directly into this arms. And the unsheathed sword had not done much to persuade her to turn herself in. Instead, Marian had barricaded herself into the bedroom, pacing the floor. The door was thick enough to withstand even Guy's broad shoulder, but they would do something to draw her out, no doubt.

Eyes darted to the window once more, but there were guards outside, and the torches meant there was no cover of darkness for her to escape under. She hesitated, realizing that the thumps of Guy all but throwing himself at the door had stopped, but that wasn't a good sign, something that was proven by the next sound she heard; that of an axe striking the wood.

Not good at all.

Studying the room for some kind of hiding place, Marian placed the sack of money on the windowsill and then squeezed into the corner behind the door. When it swung open she would be hidden by the door...it might buy her enough time to squeeze behind Guy and get away.

Marian hated the Sheriff right about now, had hated him, in fact, for quite some time. The hatred had only grown once he insisted on her accompanying him to the Holy Land to assassinate Richard, and it turned into a blinding rage about the time their ship ran into a storm just off the coast of their destination and she was washed overboard. She would have been given up almost instantly for dead, and it was only blind luck that washed her ashore...and led her straight into the arms of a slave trader.

Marian hadn't gone quietly at all, and numerous escape attempts had left her shackled, her captor holding her in a large tent at one end of the local marketplace. She could hear him outside, selling his wares in Arabic, though it soon turned to a broken English. Obviously he had his eye on someone.

"Cook? Maid?" He questioned. "Something else?" The tone implied exactly what that something else would be.

With her father's death, Marian had been unwilling to stay in the castle any longer. Everything in her was disgusted by what she saw there, rebelling against the forces which had hastened his death. And so she'd retreated to the forest, eager to help Robin fight. When he would let her, at least. That day, most of the outlaws had gone to Clun, certain that the Sheriff and his forces would be there, ready to tangle. And, knowing what a familiar sight Marian was to most of the guards, not to mention Vaisey and Guy, Robin had all but forbidden her to go, the disagreement ending in an epic battle between the two that left Robin striding off angrily in one direction and Marian in the other.

In an effort to calm herself, she'd gone back long enough to grab a bar of soap and a towel, heading for a stream she knew of not too far away. It had been far too long since she'd had anything like a bath. Stripping, she stepped in, wading in until she was more than hip deep in the cool water, soaping herself up. Even just a few moments in, she was beginning to relax slightly, softly humming a familiar melody.

So there it was; Robin of Locksley was back from the Holy Land and ready to pick things up right where he had left them. Well Marian certainly wasn't about to let him just step back in. She was still furious with him, angry that he had left her, that he had been gone so long, that he didn't understand everything that happened during his long absence.

It was infuriating and, so, when Guy came up to the pair of them and asked if he could have the pleasure of her company, Marian was in a mood to agree, giving Robin an exasperated look as she turned toward Guy.

"Of course, thank you, Guy," she replied, one hand moving to rest on his arm as her other hand took hold of her skirt, following his lead down the stairs into the main banquet hall.

Over the last few weeks Gibbs had been wonderful; helping with Katie, being there for Marian when she needed him most. He really was quite the gentleman and, on more than one occasion Marian had caught him looking at her in a way that almost made her blush. But that evening, he'd asked her and Katie over to a dinner. Nothing fancy, he'd said, and she assumed it would be something like spaghetti or macaroni and cheese.

Knocking on his door, Katie balanced on one hip, Marian was amused to see a dish towel flung over one shoulder. Apparently he took cooking seriously. "Hello," she smiled.

Since Robin's return, and the rise of Robin Hood and his cult, it seemed the entire Shire had been loosening up, chafing under the Sheriff's rule. Even Edward had become just a touch more outspoken as of late, something Marian fully approved of. He was finally taking a stand, comfortable, perhaps feeling protected by Guy of Gisborne's status as his future son-in-law.

The Sheriff, meanwhile, was less than pleased. He knew just how to control the father and daughter duo. It was sickening, really, how close the two were, and how interdependent they were. Keep them apart and it would keep them in check. He knew just the man to do it, too, had seen Gisborne off with a bored wave of his hand and an order to bring the old maid back, using whatever means necessary. He rather enjoyed loosing Gisborne's evil side.

Though she had grown up acting as her father's hostess on all manner of official events, tonight was a bit different. There had been a great feast, and she had, for once, been allowed to stay up late. It was, she was certain, her father's way of acknowledging that she was, in fact, a young woman now, and not a child to be coddled. The excitement had brought a flush to her cheeks, the goblet of wine perhaps bringing her greater cheer than normal, especially as she felt eyes lingering on her all evening. It seemed her father was not the only one who had noticed her entrance into adulthood.

As another troubador took center floor, though, Marian excused herself, with a kiss to her father's brow. She had no wish to listen to another song in which the heroine withered away waiting for her true love. Instead she wandered out into the hall, settling on the sill of one of the windows overlooking the courtyard. It was definitely cooler outside.

Marian had been pacing the small room for what seemed like hours. After the conversation with Guy, after she had almost thrown herself at him, dangling herself in front of him to spur him to do the right thing. But she had thought that it wouldn't take him too long to finish Vaisey off. She'd thought that there would be some kind of commotion outside. Instead there was only silence. They'd taken to talking lowly, far too low for Marian to hear behind thick walls and wooden doors, and so all she was left to do was wonder.

A soft sigh as she stopped, facing the door for a brief moment before striding forward, pressing her ear to the door, hoping to hear something. And she did, the sound of footsteps heading her way. Stumbling back, she looked questioningly up at the dark man now standing in front of her. Was it done?

Who: Guy and Maz
What: He's been pursuing her for far too long
When: During a festival of some kind
Where:Nottingham Castle

( She was just as insistent on putting him off... )

( Application for Davey Jones )

With King Richard away in the Holy Land and a new Sheriff installed in power, the peasants were suffering. Taxes were high, food was scarce, and Marian could not bear to see things get any worse. Knowing from past experience that protesting conditions to Vaisey would do little good, she had instead spent the past several years running about, relieving some of the suffering that she saw. And, she saw no reason to stop now that Robin was racing about doing the same. She'd started it first, and the Night Watchman was just as well known as Robin Hood in most parts.

Still, she had to be careful; the Night Watchman had a price on his head, and even Marian was aware she wouldn't be able to keep these missions of mercy forever. She really should have realized that she was tempting fate even by thinking such thoughts. A shake of her head as she left a final parcel outside a home in Clun. Medicine and food, just what the inhabitants needed. A satisfied nod and then Marian was on her way once more, heading for the treeline. At this rate, she would be home and abed with time enough for at least a few hour's sleep.

Who: Guy and Marian
What: The wedding feast/night


( I now pronounce you husband and wife... )

Who: Marian and Guy
When: After their ride
Where: Knighton Hall


( Exploring Knighton brought back such strong memories )

WHO: Marian and Guy
WHAT: They're engaged
WHERE: Nottingham Castle

( This was not good. )

( Yes, England needs me. England needs us. )