Faith Hope and Charity

Apologies for how long this chapter's taken

No sex but it's time for the the Evil One 's comeuppance.............And I'll make up the sex next time.

Feed back would be much appretiated. Good or bad.......But be kind please. I'm a sensitive soul.

Chapter 22.........Trial and Punishment.

Guy was loathe to leave his pregnant lady to go to London for Vasey's trial. Allan was going to be with him so he felt uneasy at the notion of her unprotected.

He'd been to see Father Tuck having been told by Allan that the priest has inquired after him.
The good old cleric could see that the usually dour Knight was bursting with some portentous news.
' Out with it man '. He laughed before you split that leather garb'.

And Guy told him about the new life growing in Charity's womb. ' Sancta Maria!'


Tuck exclaimed. ' The best of news ! Is the Mother to be well ? They can be rather poorly at the start bless them'.

Guy shook his head. 'She's never said so and she's blooming like a flower.
He looked some what discomforted at what had just slipped out. Ye gods he'd be writing poetry next.
'No need to be embarrassed Lad.' Tuck slapped him on the back. ' I'm pole axed myself by the wonderful talent these ladies have for taking part in creation. And it's isn't my seed that will be bearing fruit in a few months.
You bask in the joy of it Guy.

And it seems that the Vasey coffers that were are getting Loxley Manor back on its feet. Most gratifying for you.'

Which recalled to Guy's mind his reason for coming. ' Allan and I are off to London for Vasey's trial soon and we're both worried about leaving the ladies vulnerable.............I wonder....Father if you could.......'

' Keep a discreet eye on them ?' Tuck finished for him. ' My pleasure dear Son'.

'I shouldn't really talk about this.' He confided. 'But I do have a very good friend who I met in Wales. The Church would condemn her as a witch but I don't see that in her case this is a bad thing. She talks about ' The Law of Three fold Return' and how it is not dissimilar to ' As ye sow so shall ye reap'. Your deeds good and bad will come back to you with 3 times the power. '

He saw fear flicker across Guy's features.

' Ahh but where you differ from Vasey my boy is in repentance. Did I not say to you that true remorse is noted in Heaven. Now I fancy you begin to be blessed.
Keep up the good work. You are doing yourself and your family proud'.


Guy and Allan were prepared to leave for London. Now they had stolen away with their wives for a quiet hour......................

Guy sat beneath a tree in a forest clearing. Charity sat on his lap and his head rested luxuriously against her breasts.

He sighed heavily. He would have to move soon to be off for London. It would be a wrench to tear himself away from his lady's soft warm body.
' Am I a monster for half looking forward to this trial ?' He asked her quietly.

A feather light kiss touched his hair. ' If you are then so am I'. Was Charity's reply. ' I am no fan of hanging but in Vasey's case I'll make an exception. The world will be better without him in it'.

She felt a shudder run through Guy's body. ' I can't help worrying about how Vasey's going to react to me'. He told her. No need to school his countenance for her. Charity thought him no less of a man for showing fear.

' What can he do ?' She gently reassured him. ' You and I between us have told the King everything Vasey could use against you and he will have checked it out thoroughly. Vasey has far more to fear from you now than you from him.'

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Alan had been speaking and he knew that Guy hadn't heard a word. He urged his stallion Arthur closer to Gaius as they trotted along the road South and clicked his fingers under Guy's nose.

' I could have been saying something of earth shattering importance there'. He reproached. ' And there you were back at Bonchurch between Lady G's legs no doubt'.

It was the wrong thing to have said and he knew it. Guy's face was like thunder as he grabbed Alan's jerkin. ' You presume on our fledgling friendship too far. In any case you will not speak of my wife as though she were nothing but a tavern whore'.

Allan breathed again. In the camaraderie that had developed between them of late he tended to forget that Giz could be a dangerous brute especially in defence of his lady.
' Look. I'm sorry'. He said levelly. ' I didn't mean any disrespect to her lady ship.
My Niamh loves her and that's good enough for me.
It's just that you were in a world of your own. And I thought you might wanna talk about it'.

Guy mellowed. Allan might be cheeky and at times bordered on the insolent but he was a good man and had shown a loyalty that Guy had little experience of amongst his men.

' I was pondering on something Lady Gisborne said about Vasey. That now I've been open and honest about my past he has far more to fear from me than I from him'.

Allan gave a low chuckle. 'Yeah. She's a smart lady. You just think of all that Vasey's been holding over your head all this time.
Now you've shot it out of the air. You've owned up to everything and you've spent the last few months gaining respect. He's the one who's never changed or repented.'

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Guy visited the tower and asked to speak with Lord Vasey. He stood at the cell door and looked in at his former superior now looking the worse for having been in prison.

He rose and rushed forward as much as his clanking chains allowed. Hissing like a cornered snake.
' Well, well. If it isn't the Judas of Nottingham. Come to gloat have you. Now you're the King's little pet'.

Guy folded his arms across his chest. Strange, he had hardly done that since Vasey had been away from Nottingham.

' In case you'd forgotten let me remind you of something My Lord. I'm not the one in a cell about to be on trial for my life.'

Vasey saw a wicked smirk spreading over the handsome face of his former slave as he warmed to his subject.

'I can imagine your foul little mind working over time planning to pull me down with you tomorrow. Thinking I'm on borrowed time until you reveal all I've done for you.
But guess what. You're too late.

I let myself be dug into a hole but you gave me the means to climb out while there was still time and I took my chance with both hands.'

Vasey looked completely aghast. He hadn't given Gisborne any help. He knew that for a fact.

' Charity.' Guy was almost laughing now. ' She was meant to be just a girl in my bed at night to f*ck Marian out of my system wasn't she ?

But it hasn't worked out like that. We fell in love and she saw a part of me I thought was gone forever.
She's the strength I've been needing all this time. She gave me the courage to do the one thing that could save me and that was to confess to everything I'd done. Then she pleaded with the King for me begged him to give me a chance to prove myself.

I was given it. And I'm making the most of it.

Did you know that part of your money is being used to rebuild Loxley ? But we won't be there forever. When I get my pardon I'm also promised lands to be back in the Gisborne name.
At last something to pass onto my child......Yes a child now growing in Charity's womb.

While all you have to come is a grave. And who's going to mourn you ?'

His face was pressed against the bars of the cell now. Eyes alight with long burning malice as he threw the final awful truth at Vasey.

' No one'. And he savoured the word almost lovingly. ' Not even Prince John is lifting a finger for you. But I suppose that when you reach hell they can find a pit for you to share with your b**ch of a sister.

I'd say it's been nice knowing you My Lord. But we both know that's a lie too far don't we'.

And he strode off without so much as a backward glance.

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The trial lasted over 3 days. There was evidence that even Guy and Allan knew nothing about. Things that Vasey had done apart from the Black Knight's plotting and even more terrible.

The verdict was never in any real doubt. The sentence of death by decapitation was passed and rang in the silence of the court room. Vasey was stubbornly holding himself straight and prideful through out and as he was led back to his cell to await execution.
Though it was rumoured that he spent most of the night sobbing at his terrible isolation.

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The execution was scheduled for mid morning to allow as many people as possible to be able to attend.
Vasey had regained his composure and even managed to shoot Guy a look of hatred as he passed him which was returned with interest.

The former sheriff knelt, laid his head on the block........then he threw out his arms wide and the sword descended taking his head with it into the straw.

Beside him Allan heard Guy let out a deep sigh of profound relief. The 2 men looked at one another and needed no words.

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As they prepared to leave the capital Guy heard the announcement that Her Majesty Queen Eleanor was approaching.

' Good Morning Sir Guy'. She held out a hand to the leather clad figure on his knees his dark head bowed. 'Your majesty'. Guy kissed the royal fingers which then lifted his stubbled chin to peruse his face. The still beautiful woman gave the merest lascivious smile.
' I suspected Lady Charity had good taste'. She murmured. I was right. And how is your lovely wife. I believe she is with child ?'

' She is Your Majesty. And she is very well'. Guy felt tongue tied. He'd never been so close to the Queen before and had been unprepared for her charm and magnetism.
' I'll take up no more of your time then.' Eleanor smiled. ' I expect you're eager to return to her'. Guy nodded ' I am Your Majesty'.

He stood up bowing as the Queen swept away. ' Sir Guy' . She had turned again.
' Your Majesty ?' He enquired. ' Now that Lord Vasey is no more I hope that we will hear your name no more in league with traitors'.
Guy bowed. Giving a grin that had even the Queen blushing. ' Never again Ma'am. I have too much to live for now'.

TBC