Faith Hope and Charity

Part 13...........Robin's Revenge.

Robin had paused on his journey toward Lancashire and and sat brooding about Gisborne by his fire.
He also found his mind returning to the angelic face and glorious body of Lady Gisborne.
She could have let her husband have Robin to inflict whatever diabolical revenge he had brewing in that dark head. But she had not.
No wonder Gisborne was so besotted with her. Robin refused to believe the man capable of anything as pure as love. But how could a Lady like that love such a fiend in return ?

He thought of his beloved Marian. How she would have approved of the gestures.
They might have been the best of friends. But Marian had been denied the chance
and her flesh now lay rotting in the Acre earth.

Gisborne had no paid nearly enough yet he decided. ' I have to go back and either avenge or join you My Love'. He spoke aloud to Marian. And he had no doubt that she heard him from whatever Otherworld she now graced with her presence.

He would return to Loxley and goad Gisborne into a fight to the death. And he knew just how to do it.

Without pause he jumped back onto his horse and turned his head back towards home.

He rode into the forest and left his horse back at the outlaws camp. He left his bow and arrows picking up his sword and fastening the belt to his hips. Then he set off on foot for Loxley Manor.

From the cover of the trees he watched the busy comings and goings. Washing being hung out to dry, animals and the steadily growing vegetable patch being attended to.

Then he spotted her. The Lady of the Manor with her ubiquitous companion. Her role of helping her Lord to run the estate taken seriously. Just as Marian would have done. He thought longingly.
Well the maid would prove useful. Let her alert Gisborne bring him home to face Robin man to man.

As swift as any of his own arrows he broke cover and his arm was round Charity. Pinning her arms to her sides.
In his other hand a blade glinted in the sunlight. ' Back !' He shouted to the guards now descending on him. The blade slid to the smooth pale throat by his shoulder. 'Back or she dies.' The guards fell back nervously unsure of how to proceed.

'Master Robin'. It was Thornton. ' What is this madness ? Let My Lady go. Your quarrel is with Sir Guy not her'.

' That's right'. Robin nodded. ' And I'm spoiling for a fight with the murdering scum.
Send someone to fetch him. Tell him that Robin Hood is entertaining his Lady in the forest. Be sure to get the words right. I want him good and angry'.

With that he was off and dragging a struggling Charity with him. ' I'll go for My Lord'. Niamh said. Thornton nodded gravely. ' One of you guards find a suitable mount for her if you please'.

Niamh had never ridden so fast in her life. Robin had surely gone mad. So who knew whether he would hurt Lady Charity or not ?

She scanned the yard looking and listening for a tall imposing figure in black leather or his commanding baritone bark.
Instead and to her more welcome she saw her Allan. He was loping gracefully down the castle steps.
' Hello darlin' !' He greeted her. ' Can't keep away from me eh ?' He grabbed her for a quick kiss. ' I can't spare the time for anything else. More's the pity. Giz is in a mood and I'm not keen to cross him'.

' This isn't a social call. Though I wish it could be'. She sighed. ' I'm afraid I'm going to make My Lords bad mood at lot worse. Where is he ? I have an urgent message for him'.

Trembling she stood before Guy. At times like this he seemed especially huge and overwhelming. ' Robin Hood has come back My Lord'. She tried and failed to keep her voice steady. Though Allan's calming presence kept the tears at bay.
' He says I'm to tell you. He's entertaining Lady Gisborne in the forest.'

Guy didn't pause to reply. He was heading to the stables. ' Tell Vasey I'm called away on a matter of life or death'. He called back to Allan.

Throwing Gaius's reins to a stable boy he ran across the Loxley grass and grabbed Thornton. ' Which way did he go ?' His anger was white hot and Thornton could do no more than point. Then watched his master disappear into the trees.
Whatever Robin was planning it seemed to be working.

Guy plunged into the trees. ' Alright Hood'. He called. ' You've got me here. Now be a man and show yourself'.

The answer came as an indignant outcry from a voice he knew to be Charity. He followed the sound with his heart thumping and the adrenaline of anger pumping through him.

Then he saw her and his sword was out. His wife was bound to a tree and Hood was pressing his mouth against hers. His hands roaming over her body. As much as she was able Charity was attempting to kick him. At last she managed to connect with his shin. For which he slapped her face. Turning to grin at Guy as he did so.

' Right Gisborne'. He moved away from Charity drawing his sword too. ' Trial by combat. Just you and me. Only one of us leaves here'.

' That suits me very well Hood'. Came the reply. And Guy raised his sword to parry
as Robin lunged at him.

' You're right about Her Ladyship Gisborne'. Robin taunted. ' Very well worth looking at and touching. Beautiful soft lips. Gorgeous tits'.

Guy gave a growl that suggested he was into ' battle fury'. And Robin laughed.

No more words passed between them now. There was just the intense concentration of 2 men intent upon killing each other.
Charity was silent struck dumb by terror. Guy might be killed and here in front of her.

How long they had been fighting for there was no way of knowing. Both men were pouring with sweat, bleeding from several wounds and so near to collapse from exhaustion they could hardly lift their swords any more.

With an effort Robin threw his sword aside and drew his dagger. Guy did the same.
Now they were wrestling rolling and writhing on the forest floor.
Each of the simultaneously trying to stab each other and prevent each other from stabbing. No easy feat when so exhausted.
Robin was weakened by the weight of grief. He had little to give his leaden muscles energy.

Guy on the other hand was fuelled by adrenaline and needed only this final surge to bring his dagger down into Robin's heart.
Feeling his enemy flop as life bled out of him he collapsed back himself hardly able to move a finger.

A strangled sob came from behind him and he looked up at his still bound wife beginning to come out of her terrified trance.
With a huge effort he pulled himself to his feet and sliced open the ropes binding Charity. Her arms were round him immediately and her lips regardless of dirt covered his face with kisses as she sobbed out her relief.
' I thought he'd kill you.........Oh Guy......Guy....Hold me. Hold me tight. I need to feel you'.
They could do no more at the moment than collapse on the ground locked in each other's arms. Needing only the knowledge that each other was alive and well.
Trembling. Charity slowly checked Guy over moaning in anguish at his wounds.
' Darling ! I have to get you home and have those seen to'.
Guy kissed her. Hoarsely chuckling. ' My dear sweet love'. He held her face in his hands with aching tenderness. ' It feels so good to have you clucking over me like a broody hen. Let's get home...........
He indicated Robin feeling a biting sadness for what grief had done to the man. He needs to be buried. And I think it should be at Loxley'.

TBC