I had originally posted this story under the title For the Love of A Good Woman, but was unhappy with it. So I scratched most of it and started over. This is my first attempts at posting any of my stories. *I do not own any of the Robin Hood BBC characters.*

Chapter 1

The news struck her like a blow to the face. For a moment she couldn't breathe. Then the bile came up from nowhere and she emptied her gut in into the potted tree to her side. Brooklynne tried to read the rest of the evil tidings but the tears blurred her vision. Nothing else mattered. Marion was dead. Marion, who knew all her secrets, who was closer than a sister, is gone. No, she wouldn't believe it. Kindred spirits they were, people said they looked more like sisters than cousins. Marion couldn't be dead. Brooklynne felt her legs begin to give way and she sunk down the stone wall at her back.

Brooklynne lost track of how long she sat there that afternoon. The sun that had felt warm on her face earlier that day no longer warmed her skin. Memories of happy times paraded through her mind as grief began to set in. Marion's father, trying to be both father and mother to his only child as well as the Sheriff of Nottingham, had sent Marion to live with his sister's family. He wanted Marion to have a woman's influence. So Marion came to live with Brooklynne. What fun they had. Brooklynne smiled through her tears as she recalled some of their escapades. Summer time was always the best, for that was when the two of them went to spend the summer with Marion's father. He taught them both to fight with a sword. The girls did all sorts of masculine sports. Why Brooklynne's mother would have had a fit if she had known the girls both learned to swim the summer that they were ten.

When Brooklynne finally became aware of her surroundings, she found that dusk had set in and the air had grown chilly. She slowly pulled herself to her feet. She suddenly felt ten years older. Her muscles hurt from sitting in a scrunched position for so long. She was weary. She made her way through the castle to her bed chamber. Fresh tears fell as she passed the door to Marion's room to reach her own. She fought the urge to collapse on the bed until she had sent a servant to inform the staff that she would not be down for dinner. With the Sheriff and Sir Guy away, she was the only one in the castle for the staff to tend to.

Brooklynne allowed the grief to take its toll on her and she cried herself to sleep that night. The next morning she awoke with puffy eyes and feeling like all the light in her world was gone. She had come to the castle when her sole remaining parent, her mother, had died after two years of illness. She came to be with Marion. For a year now she had been living at the castle. In that year she witnessed the drama that engulfed Marion. She had watched how Marion danced along the thin line between Sir Guy and her hooded hero. Even she herself had been persuaded to draw the attention of a guard or two to aid Marion in some scheme or other. Marion's passion was contagious.

Four long days passed before Brooklynne heard the scurried steps and frantic whispers of the servants that the Sheriff and Sir Guy had returned from the Holy Land… without Lady Marion. Brooklynne stood at the top of the steps to meet them. She was anxious to hear what they had to say. Vasey seemed to be in rare form but Guy on the other hand looked absolutely terrible. There were dark circles under his eyes and it looked as though sleep had avoided him for many nights. In fact he looked sick. When he saw her, he started. He rubbed his eyes and looked at her again. Then sighed and left the room without a word to her. She understood. People told the girls everywhere they went that they looked like sisters, twins even. She knew that Guy thought he was looking at Marion for a moment.

"So my dear, I'm sure by now you have heard the news. Yes it was quite unfortunate to loose someone so beautiful and young." Sarcasm dripped from his words. "I was still hoping to make some decent money by marring her off. Have you had the details from anyone yet?" Brooklynne shook her head. "Oh yes, of course not, how could you. Our dear Gisborne did it actually. Yes I can see your shock. I didn't think he had it in him either. Well life is full of surprises. In fact, I think he surprised himself, there was quite the look of shock on his face. His lady love went and declared herself Hoods bride and I think Gisborne saw red for a moment. Well my dear I am off to my room for the night, travels you know. Ah well, Good night. Shall I sleep like a babe tonight? A clue? No. Babes don't sleep much. I on the other hand shall sleep soundly." With that said he was gone as well. Leaving Brooklynne to deal with the shock.

It couldn't be. Not Gisborne. But he loved Marion. Brooklynne had seen the tender way he had watched her. He has courted her, fought for her. How could this be? Brooklynne's mind was reeling. How could he? Anger rose to the surface of her emotions. Who would purposefully snuff out such a light as Marion? Without thinking she rushed through the maze of hallways till she came to Sir Guy's door. Without knocking she barged in, not caring for what state of dress he might be in.

It took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the dark. She spied Guy sitting in an arm chair by a fire that was reduced to red coals. She moved to stand in front of him. No response from him. "Get up." She hissed at him. Tears were burning trails down her face. He finally looked up at her then stood slowly to his full height. "How could you! You said you loved her." Brooklynne shouted at him as she began to pound her fists into his chest. "How dare you!" She screamed. She pushed him back against the wall as she continued to wail at him. Guy made no move to stop her. In truth, her actions seemed to act as a release for him. His own tears began to fall. Brooklynne continued to hit him until her grief overtook her energy and she rested her head on his chest and folded her hands under her and wept. Guy wrapped his arms around her as violent sobs shook his own body. He slowly slide to the floor, taking her with him.

How long they stayed this way, Brooklynne didn't know, but at some point she pulled herself up. Her anger was spent and all that remained was exhaustion. "You should sleep Sir Guy," she said as she offered her hand to help him up, "and please try to eat something. I will have the cook send up a tray." Guy said nothing but woodenly took her offered hand and allowed her to lead him to the bed. Gently, as though he were a small child, Brooklynne took off his boots and tucked him in. With a heavy sigh she made her way to the kitchen to talk to the cook about a platter of food for Guy, then she slowly pulled herself up the steps to her own room and fell into her bed. As tired as she was, sleep took a long time in claiming her mind. Her thoughts were with Guy and how terrible it must have been. Knowing how much he cared for her, she knew if Guy did this terrible thing, it must be haunting his every thought. A tear fell down her face as she thought of this agony. She felt sorrow take angers place in her heart for Guy.