Word Count: 1903
Prompt Fill: Romayne request #4: After Marian punches him and leaves their disasterous wedding, Guy and Thornton talk.
Summary: After the demise of his Master's wedding Thornton offers Sir Guy words of wisdom and a truth neither Robin, nor Marian have yet to acknowledge.
Additional Notes/Warnings/Spoilers: Takes place post Season 1 finale 'A Word No'. Definitely, spoilers if you're new to the scene and haven't finished season 1.
Author's Note: Not sure if this was what you had in mind Romayne, but I hope you'll enjoy it nonetheless.
It was at Marian's insistence that Guy permitted the smallfolk to enjoy what should have been their wedding feast. It was too late to put an end to the banquet and there was far too much food that would go to waste.
With their secrets exchanged, neither had any desire to linger in one another's presence. Marian quietly left the estate. Guy departed shortly after for his chambers. Neither was seen by either servants, or nobles for the rest of the day. Their absence sparked a variety of speculations as to why Sir Gisborne was no longer to be wed to the lovely Lady Marian. Rumours circulated that she had punched him in the face before abandoning him at the wedding altar. Guy was accustomed to harsh gossip; all his life he had been the victim of stories, theories, and rumours. Still, he vowed to find the one responsible, if only to make an example of them.
The revellers had long since gone home for the hour was late, when Thornton found the black knight alone leaning against the balcony that overlooked Locksley courtyard. 'It was a fine feast, sir. The people will not soon forget your generosity,' the elder servant said by way of greeting. Guy scowled as he swirled a glass of wine that he had yet to drink between his fingers.
'That was Marian's idea not mine. Besides, the only thing they'll remember today is that damned rumour; me being beaten and abandoned at the altar by Marian. What nonsense will they think of next?' Guy groused.
Thornton did not have the heart to say the ugly rumour had been hatched by his former master, Robin; a humiliating blow at his age old nemesis. 'You did the right thing, sir,' he carefully answered. His words were not a lie.
Guy glanced back with a sneer. 'Did I now? I suppose letting Marian run back to your former master's arms would be the sort of thing you would support.'
Thornton frowned. He did not appreciate the implications made, certainly when that had never been his intention. 'If I may be so bold sir,' he politely began.
'Why not. Everyone else does,' the knight muttered.
'I was not referring to the decision end the wedding. I was referring to the fact you told her the truth about the King,' Thornton clarified. At Guy's murderous glare servant quickly added. 'Her ladyship, made mention of the discussion you two had. She was rather…grateful for your honesty.'
'For all the difference that it made,' Guy said with a heavy sigh. The knight took a long sip of his wine. Thornton had long since learned Guy preferred his wine dry and heavy with oak; an acquired taste, the sort of vintage his former master never would have enjoyed.
'Did she also tell you that she was the 'Nightwatchman'? Don't imagine she was eager to share that little detail,' the black knight spat, breaking the heavy silence that had fallen between them.
Thornton's eyes grew wide to the revelation. In his life he had heard many tall tales; none were quite so shocking as this unexpected, if not unbelievable fact. 'Impossible! I have heard Lady Marian received some training by a weapon masters as a child, but what you're suggesting is, entirely absurd! Surely Master you speak in jest. Her ladyship is a noblewoman, not some backwater mercenary!' he balked.
'This is no joke!' Guy snapped. 'When Marian broke into the manor a few days prior, I, unaware of her identity, unwittingly attacked and stabbed her in the side-' he faltered struggling to continue. 'Today, she showed me the sword wound I had given her. I nearly killed her; I would have killed her had it not been for-' Guy breathed a shaky sigh as he ran a hand over his face. The young man looked far older than his years. 'What am I to do now? How can I ever face her after that? After all this?' he added in barely audible tones.
Silently, the man servant approached, standing on the knight's left side before the balcony. After a long silence Thornton answered his query. 'You acknowledge it for what it is, and then you let it go and walk away.'
'What if I am unable to do so?' Guy asked, meeting the elder man's gaze.
'Then you will be doomed to the past. In this world Sir, we each must learn to let go of past mistakes, or be crushed by the weight of it.'
'You speak from experience?' The question was more of a statement. The old man gave a sad smile to Guy's words.
'No man is without sin. The challenge is what to do when we make them. Do we wallow in our mistakes, or do we learn from them?' Thornton said, recalling the words spoken by a monk he had once met.
'Spoken like a true scholar,' the knight mocked in disgusted tones. Most would have been put off by his master's mockery; the elder servant took it in stride. Thornton knew much of Guy's behaviour was little more than a mask worn in order to survive the harsh world he had come to know. If only he could convince others of that truth. Sadly, Sir Gisborne did not make it easy.
'You fear Master Robin will do to you what his father did to yours.'
Guy froze to the elder mans' words. In his gaze, Thornton saw the warning; still he pressed on. 'You fear that you will lose Lady Marian to him as your Mother was lost to your Father. But you are wrong.'
'Do not ever speak to me about my parents-' Guy growled, grabbing Thornton by the throat. The old man gasped in shock but held his ground.
'Are you so afraid of the truth, Master?' The old man stammered between gasps for air.
'What would you know of the truth, old man?' Guy hissed; his grip around Thornton's throat tightened.
'She doesn't…She doesn't love Master Robin…and he doesn't love her, Master…mayhap once… not anymore. They just don't know it yet.' Stars were dancing behind his eyes, and the ground was beginning to spin when the black knight relinquished his vice-like grip. Coughing and gasping for air, Thornton fell to his knees, his fingers clawing at his throat.
'How do you know this? What do you know? Tell me!' Guy growled.
'I may be old Master, but I am not yet blind. I see the way she looks at you. Her Ladyship may believe she holds you no affection. I think she only needs a reason to acknowledge its existence,' Thornton rasped as he struggled to catch his breath.
As Thornton rose to his feet, he watched the young knight intently. He wondered what would have become of Guy, had he not lost his lands, or fallen prey to the Sheriff's games. You and Master Robin are two sides of the same coin. Any wonder poor Lady Marian can't make sense of it all, he mused.
'Explain,' Guy snapped pulling his thoughts back to the present.
'Today you gave what her ladyship needed most; respect and honesty. Not even Master Robin has given her that, not truly. She's seen another side of you, a man who is willing to admit to his mistakes and rise above them; someone capable of honour. Now she's made aware of this she will want more,' he said. To Guy's scrutinizing look he gave a hint of a smile. 'You know that I am right, Master.'
Guy was sceptical and Thornton could not blame him for it. 'I told her the truth-about everything, and what did it get me? She humiliated me Thornton. Mocked me with her secret and walked out of my life, on our wedding day no less! Yet you dare to tell me that this is a good sign?' he growled.
'If I may be so bold sir, all relationships worth their salt begin with mutual respect. If she did not respect you, or the risk you took in telling her the truth, her ladyship would not have confessed to being the Nightwatchman. In doing so, she has placed herself in the same situation as you; sharing secrets neither can afford to have exposed. You may not see it as such Master, but you have a far better chance at winning her heart now than you did this morn.'
The black knight's expression was both cautious and troubled. 'I've done terrible things in order to survive, and I will do terrible things-' he began.
'-So long as you are under the sheriff's command,' Thornton gently concluded.
'What chance do I have when all Marian sees is a villain?' the knight lamented. Thornton resisted the urge to smile. Had his wife been still alive she would have had an easy answer, the sort he was certain Sir Guy would not have appreciated. Such moments, made him miss his late wife more than ever; she always knew what to say, and how to lighten even the darkest mood.
'Then perhaps you need to re-evaluate your loyalties Master Gisborne. Because, in the end you will have to choose between her ladyships affections or the Sheriff's power; neither one will tolerate the other,' the elder servant truthfully answered. It was not the answer the knight wanted to hear, but it was the truth. No matter the risk, Thornton refused to placate his Master's need for easy answers.
'You sound just like my father.' The young knight said with a harsh laugh.
Thornton took the knight's subtle compliment, to heart. 'I wish I could have known him properly. Your father sounds like a wizened man.'
'He was,' Guy agreed.
The silence was laden with words unspoken; there was no more left to be said. Sir Guy knew his options and knew the consequences. The elder servant could only hope the stubborn knight would make the right decision before it was too late. Having said all he needed to say, the elder servant withdrew intent on respecting his master's unspoken wish to be left to his thoughts.
'Thornton.'
Pausing in mid-step, the elder servant patiently waited for his Master's order.
'Thank-you,' Guy said in quiet tones.
Startled by the genuine gratitude of his normally temperamental master, Thornton gave a smile as he bid Sir Gisborne a good-night.
It was two days later, when Thornton overheard a conversation between two of the Sheriff's servants chatting in the market square. If there was any truth to their gossip, a certain renowned henchman had taken to openly challenging the Sheriff's orders. Though it related only to minor matters, Thornton could not ignore the flicker of hope to the discovery.
That evening, a certain fair maiden arrived to Locksley Manor with the intent of speaking to his master. Her visit was solely business related, or so she claimed. Thornton, ever a gentleman, refrained from pointing out that a business was generally attended to during the daytime. He also knew better than to acknowledge the subtle nervousness in her gestures, or the way her cheeks warmed to the sight of his Master. It did not prevent Thornton from casting the young knight a knowing smile. For the very first time since Sir Guy Gisborne had become the Lord of Locksley manor some years prior, he almost returned it.
Perhaps, there was hope for his master and his ladyship yet.