Chapter 12: Allan's Regret

“We found her up the way,” Much said morosely, his face uplit by the bonfire. “Dressed in her Nightwatchman outfit. She and Gisborne – they had a fight to the death, apparently. Stuck him good in the side.”

Allan stared at the dancing flames as if lost in thought. He, of course, was now free from Gisborne’s services, if indeed he was dead. “And where is his body?”

“Where we found it,” Little John said in his growl. “We’ll let the scavengers at him.”

“I'm not being funny,” Allan said, glancing at Little John incredulously. "But won't it stink?"

“It’s downwind,” Will said.

They all fell silent, watching the flames.

“Has anyone told Edward?”

“Yes, Much and Djaq told him. Poor chap seemed to expect it.”

“Anyway,” Much said, wiping his eyes. “I thought she should have a proper burial and commemoration. And when the time is right, we’ll tell everyone who she was, and what she did for them. It only seems right.”

“It is right,” Little John said.

They fell silent again, and it was only broken once more by Djaq, who quietly took Will’s hand and murmured, “Such a tragedy.”

Allan stared blankly into the flames, thinking of the charming, strong, beautiful woman who had given her life for his freedom, for the peasants of Nottingham, and to avenge Robin's death. He'd always known she was made of stern stuff, but he'd never suspected she'd prove herself more capable than any of Robin's worthy band of men. He felt so much inexpressible gratitude toward her that he felt he would choke on it. He couldn't help but feel ashamed for falling under Gisborne's services, but he would never again forget the sacrifice Marian had made - and he would use the chance to protect the poor.

Robin Hood's gang stood there for hours, until the fire was nothing but smoking embers, thinking all the while of the heroics of Robin Hood and Lady Marian as Guy of Gisborne lay forgotten in the woods.