Faith Hope and Charity

Long chapter....please bear with me

Djaq had never seen London before and felt somewhat over whelmed by the place. Particularly the grim Tower built by King William with parts used as a prison.

Ever since they'd parted from the King Vasey had been trying to threaten, cajole and in the end beg the 3 Nottingham Guards to set him loose. ' Leave Sykes. He'll be no sort of loss to the world..........'.

Any opinions the men kept to themselves but as their lives depended upon Vasey going to prison they were unmoved by his words.

Vasey's incredulity as he and Sykes were led off to imprisonment seemed to amuse them more than anything else.
The loss of his lands and wealth had smarted Vasey keenly as did being stripped of his position as Sheriff. But where there's life there's hope and he considered himself clever enough to claw his way back. But as the cell door slammed on him. Hope was becoming frayed at the edges.

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Now Djaq found herself in a the royal apartments. A total contrast to the prison.
She was unprepared for the awe inspiring presence of Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine.
A still beautiful woman of enormous charisma and authority.
The eye was drawn inevitably towards her and as Djaq knelt to her she felt embarrassingly exposed.

The Queen Mother read the letter carefully. Her haughty features softening slightly as she read the words written by her favourite son.

' We are to go to Nottingham'. She told her people and the room became a hive of activity as preparations were made.

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Loxley Manor was no more than a broken skeleton. It must have been quite a blaze that destroyed it. Immediately the Queen sent one of her ladies to the village to find out what had become of Lady Gisborne and her staff.

An elderly woman. A Mother to 10 and Grandmother to 30 so a figure of respect and authority in her own right stood unabashed before the Queen Mother and told how Lady Gisborne was now at Bonchurch Lodge.
' How the outlaws came to know of the threat to the house I can't say'. She said as easily as if she was gossiping over work. ' But all the staff got were got out just minutes before it were done. A miracle. If you ask me........'

Djaq smiled. ' Yes a miracle it was. Allan a Dale heard of the plot and told Sir Guy before they went away.........on business. Sir Guy told him to have word sent to the outlaws that when danger threatened they were to get everyone away safely'.

The old woman crossed herself . ' I never thought to find out such things about Lord Gisborne as I have recently'.
Queen Eleanor smiled. ' My son thinks the same. In fact he wants me to ask if some of what he has heard about Gisborne's recent activity is true....'.
And the 2 women talked about the effects that had been wrought on Guy of Gisborne by the love of a good woman.

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Djaq went ahead to tell Charity of the Queen's imminent arrival. She was keen to see the lady's reaction when she told her that Sir Guy was safe and recovering well from his wound, would be travelling home soon and that his mission had been a success.

Charity's eyes filled with tears as she hugged the little Saracen tightly. ' God bless you for bringing me such fabulous news..........What of Allan ? Niamh is just as anxious as I'.
Djaq was hugged a second time by the delighted maid as she confirmed that Alan was very well indeed.

Queen Eleanor was a romantic soul and was known to prefer to surround herself by beautiful people.
She was enchanted therefore by the adorable English rose prettiness of the young Lady Gisborne. Her endearing gentleness veiling but not hiding the courageous determined soul beneath. Her nervousness at meeting royalty for the first time was under valiant control. Niamh was proud of her and the Queen liked her very much.

Love for her husband shone out like a beacon. The entire household appeared to be bathed in its beneficent aura. Little wonder then at the changes in her Lord now confirmed to the Queen's satisfaction by the villagers of Loxley.
It would be a devil of a man who could resist the influence of this darling angel.
Her pleasure was palpable as she was told how Sir Guy was to earn his pardon from the King and eventually land of his own.

The Queen and her entourage had got lodgings in Nottingham Castle that night. She was to be the guest of the new Sheriff of Nottingham Sir Thomas Merton and his Lady.
Charity suppressed a smile as she remembered Guy talking about Thomas of Merton. Who irritated him by being ' A sanctimonious little git' in Guy's opinion.

His family were staunch supporters of King Richard indeed Thomas late father had been murdered by Vasey for it.

But surely for the price of a pardon and land in the Gisborne name again Guy would be able to work with the man. With her help of course................

The Queen departed saying she would certainly be seeing Lady Gisborne again. ' And next time along with your Lord'.

Djaq was escorted to Sherwood Forest and her beloved Will by the local blacksmith who had been repairing Will's trusty axe and wanted to deliver it.

Charity lay in her bed that night torn between joy that Guy was well and would be home soon and her desperate longing to see him again.
She missed him even more than she'd thought to. Her bed felt empty and lonely and she thought of all sorts of things to tell him or share with him and could not...............
' Guy. My love.' She whispered to the darkness. 'Are you feeling it too ?'

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He was. The King's replacement guards had arrived from Aquileia and they had resumed they journey inland. The King telling Guy he would see him in England.

This did nothing to ease the pain of missing Charity that had barely left him since he had wakened from unconsciousness.
His groin ached for her, relieved by nothing not even his own hand. But it was nothing to the pain in his heart deprived of her company.
Used for most of his life to the company of men he had never been easy with the notion of a woman as a friend. Some one not only to f**k but to talk with, laugh with, cry with.
Friends of either gender had always been few and far between. He had never invited intimacy and believing himself unlovable had made himself so.
But Charity had refused to view him this way and dismantled his barriers sharing her self with him and encouraging him to do the same.
It surprised him even more to realise that perhaps Charity was not the only friend he had.
Niamh had been slowly warming to him and to the amazement of them both he and Allan had also been forging a bond.
The past few days especially had found them talking more than ever before.
They learned a great deal about each other and even reached the stage where they could laugh together.
The fact that the women they loved were close helped considerably. Sharing the wonderful but unsettling effects that love had wrought was one of the most intimate moments they had shared.

Alan wandered into Guy's room. He was restless and twitchy. ' I need a really good s**g'. He announced. Thing is now I've been with Niamh other women just won't do any more. So I can't go for a whore'............
Guy looked at him in amazement. Alan a Dale was echoing his own thoughts. He grinned. ' Even a w**k doesn't really help now'. It was Allan's turn to grin. Guy of Gisborne echoing his thoughts. ' Funny old world innit ? You and me turning into one woman men ?
Let's take a look at that wound and see if it's time to put ourselves out of our suffering by getting back to the wives eh ?'

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The stood on board ship together each noticing with a grin the tell tale bulge in the other's trousers with the dream of reunions to come.

For a moment Guy looked troubled though. 'I can't help worrying'. He murmured allowing vulnerability to come into his voice.
' What if Hobbs got Vasey's pigeon's message to burn the Manor and Perkins didn't get to the outlaws in time ?' Alan shook his head.
' I ain't lettin' myself think like that. Perkins is sound and he can really move when he has too. The ladies are safe'. He assured Guy. ' I can feel it.......here'. He put a hand on his heart and looked so earnest that Guy was reassured.

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They rode into the Loxley estate and Guy roared with rage as he saw the remains of the house.
A man from the village saw the 2 familiar black clad figures and ran towards them.
'My Lord'. He said to Guy. ' Lady Gisborne and all the servants are safe and at Bonchurch Lodge.' He found himself hugged by 2 pairs of black clad arms and a coin pressed into his hand before Guy and Allan ran back to their horses.

Thornton was directing servants at their work outside of the lodge at Bonchurch.
He heard the sound of approaching horses and prepared to extend hospitality on his mistress's behalf.............But the 2 horses were not bearing guests. He saw the black clad figures of the master and his right hand man.
Immediately he sent stable boys scurrying to see to Gaius and Alan's mount and a maid to tell Lady Gisborne and Niamh the good news.
' Welcome home My Lord'. He greeted Guy. And it was the warmest the knight had ever found him.
' It's good to be home Thornton'. He replied putting a gloved hand on the Steward's arm.

A swish of fabric and the glint of the Autumn sun on gold hair made him look up and the world stood still....................

Alan ran laughing to swing an elated Niamh into his arms and the servants resumed their work.

But all of this went un noticed by the Lord and Lady of the Manor who drank in the sight of each other in a moment that went on forever.

Guy tugged off a glove with his teeth. Charity stepping forwards raised his other hand and used her own teeth to remove its leather covering. She covered the hand with kisses. Her eyes fixed on his never wanting to let them go.

' Charity'. It was all Guy could say before he pressed her against his heart and kissed her deeply.
' Take me to bed Guy '. She whispered into hie ear. ' I want to feel you close . All of you'.
Guy groaned his agreement into her hair. So they slid their arms around each other as they walked into the house and up the stairs.

They lay naked beneath the bed clothes bodies entwined as close as possible while they kissed, fondled and talked.

Charity had removed Guy's bandage and planted a kiss on his wound. ' I might have lost you'. She said half reproachfully. ' But now that all is well I can just be proud of what you did out there. Tomorrow I'll get Rowena to check it and remove the stitches'. Guy noted with fondness how she was relishing clucking over him.

' I suspect the next year is going to be the real challenge'. He confided. 'Having to work with that pompous p***k Merton as Sheriff. But I think I'm more likely to get my land in return from the King than I was from Vasey. So it'll be worth keeping a civil tongue and my nose clean.......Though how I'll hold back from strangling the b*****d if he starts pontificating....'. He grinned and shook his head.

He told the full story of his mission from Alan finding Sykes and Hobbs discussing the burning of Loxley to his and Allan's departure from Aquileia. In return he wanted to hear how the outlaws and Perkins had gone about their evacuating of Charity and the servants .
' Much seemed to have taken charge'. Charity smiled and when Guy roared with laughter she slapped his arm. ' He did very well I'll have you know. He was calm and collected and very organised'.
The servants all had family or friends in the village and went to them for the time being. Charity and Niamh were offered shelter at the camp while Charity sorted out where her household would go.
' I wanted to see who came and what they did'. She told Guy. ' So the boys took us to somewhere we could hide. Will and John knew Hobbs when they saw him and the 2 men he had with him. They went inside to set the fire going.
I was going to go to the ruins to see if there was any of our valuables to be saved. But Thornton told me I had no need. That they were all perfectly safe........What did you have him keeping from me Guy?' She demanded.
' Nothing.' Guy said softly. ' When Vasey said we were to get ready to leave I thought seriously about all his threats to harm you if I didn't do his dirty work. As well as making sure you were safe I wanted to keep our security too.
Thornton and I took the whole lot under cover to ask Father Tuck to take care of it.
If I'd died out there it would have all gone to you'.

Charity had tears in her eyes. ' There isn't enough money in the world that could make up for me losing you now'.
Under the covers her soft hands began stroking the length of his tumescent c)ck and his heavy ball sacs.
' We can talk again later my darling'. It was the silky seductive tones he had heard every lonely night in his dreams. ' Right now I want you to f**k me'.

Guy gave a low growl of pure animal lust and let one of his hands that were tenderly holding and squeezing her breasts slide down and between her c**t lips into dripping wet heat.
' While you were away I did this for myself '. Charity gasped out between whimpering moans.
' It felt good. But nowhere near as wonderful as when I'm with you. I don't think anyone else could send me to paradise the way you do'. She let out a wail as his slowly probing finger began to circle a spot inside her.

Her eyes fixed onto her lord's beautiful face that was smiling lasciviously down at her.
' I've been tormented for days by desire for you'. Oh that deep, rumbling entirely masculine purr.

' And I for you'. She wanted to say more but her lips wouldn't form the words. She was right on the edge now just needing the merest nudge to send her into orgasm.......And he provided.............

' Go on my treasure. Give me what I've thought about non stop for days......What my c**ks been hard for............C**e for me darling. Let me hear you screaming my name'.
And she did. Stars exploding in a magnificent pyrotechnic display within her.
' Ooh YES !........Oooh....ooooh GUUUUUUUUYYY!'

On the brink himself now Guy slid inside her glorious wetness. Groaning as he thrust vigorously.
' Oh F**k....Angel....You feel even better than I remember. I want to go on and on for ages but I can't hold back...........Ooh....f**k....f**k..........Aaaaaaah Chaaaarity.....'.

TBC