Copyright 2000, by Rebecca Lee

THIS STORY IS WRITTEN FOR PLEASURE AND IS NOT INTENDED TO INFRINGE ON ANY PREEXISTING COPYRIGHTS THAT MAY BE VIOLATED.

FEEL FREE TO SHARE WITH FRIENDS, BUT NOT FOR PROFIT.

THIS STORY IS FICTIONAL, A WORK OF THE WRITER'S IMAGINATION. THE CHARACTERS AND INCIDENTS USED IN THIS STORY ARE PURELY FICTIONAL AND ARE NOT BASED ON ANY PERSON AND/OR PERSON'S ACTUAL EXPERIENCES.


Title: Igraine

Igraine
By Rebecca Lee

It was a dreary, wet afternoon as five of the Sheriff's men chased a young, girl into Sherwood.

"No, I won't go back... I won't let that bastard touch me again, I'd rather die first." The girl shouted as they surrounded her.

Suddenly one the men screamed and fell from his horse with an arrow in his back, then a second and a third.

"Leave the girl be and get out of Sherwood... Now!" Robin ordered from the trees and the two men left.

Robin, Marion and Will dropped from the trees and the girl started to run.

"Igraine, wait!. . . It's me, it's Robert." Robin shouted and the girl instantly froze.

"That's impossible, my Robert died in the mill with Mommy, Daddy and Much. . . A year past, I have no one now. . . I'm a pleasure slave and I mean nothing to no one... No one!" She cried as she leaned against a tree.

"Rob-" Marion stopped short as Robin dropped his long bow and walked over to the girl.

"Igraine. . . Igraine, look at me. . . Look at me!" Robin shouted as he jerked her around and stared into her blue, doe-eyes. "I'm alive and so is Much. . . We thought that you were killed in the fire. . . Igraine, if I had only knew I-" he suddenly stopped as he realized how close their lips were and that Marion was watching.

"Robin, aren't you going to introduce us to your friend?" Marion asked as she grabbed his bow and stormed over to them with Will right behind her.

"Marion, Will, this is Much's sister Igraine... Igraine, this is Will and-- And Marion." Robin said with a uneasy smile and realizing that he was still holding Igraine, he reluctantly let go.

"I'm so tired." Igraine gasped as she grabbed Robin's shoulders and leaned against his chest, she fainted and Robin absent-mindedly grabbed her up in his arms.

"We must get back to camp." Marion exclaimed and stomped off.

"I think you're a dead man." Will said as they followed her.

"You may just be right." Robin replied.

***

A short while later, they arrived at the camp.

"Marion, I'm sure she's just a old friend." Will said as they watched Robin carry Igraine into the cave, where they kept their stores and spent their nights.

"Yeah, of course she is. . . He and Much are like brothers, it couldn't be anything but friendship." Marion replied with a hearty burst of laughter and walked into the cave.

"Robert of Loxsley, I've dreamed of being safe in your arms again for the last year. . . Every time one of them took me, I closed my eyes to pretended it was your hands and your body. . . Then the pain would come, I could only scream your name for comfort and pray for death... I love you, I never thought I'd get to say that again. . . I love you... I love you." Igraine sighed as he laid her down on his pallet.

"You're here now, and I'm never letting go... I love you." Robin replied as he eased her down and covered her soft, red lips with hot, wet kisses.

Robin couldn't help himself as he pulled away her rags and stared at her beautiful, curvaceous, body. He slowly ran his fingers across her breasts, they were just as he remembered as fair as a lily and felt as soft and juicey as honey-due melons.

"Robert, I need you. . . I want you, now. . . Right now." Igraine sighed between kisses as she grabbed his manhood, causing him to groan with pleasure.

"Igraine, I want you too. . . But we can't. . . We just can't." He said as he pulled away.

"Can't or won't?... It's because other men had me, isn't it?" Igraine cried and turned away from him in shame.

"No, don't be daft. . . I love you, I always have and I always will. . . We took our marriage vows in dark mere, beneath the stars, remember? . . . But when Much and I became outlaws I didn't want you hurt, so I decided to give you up and when I thought that you were killed, I swore they'd never be another. . . Then I met Marion and now, God help me... I do still love you, but I love Marion too and I'm her husband."

"But you're my husband-"

"No!. . . Robin, say it isn't so. . . Say she's lying, that you're my husband." Marion cried out and Will immediately ran in to see Robin throwing a fur over Igraine.

"Marion. . . I'm. . . I'm sorry, but it's true. . . Igraine's my wife, just as you're my wife--"

"Robin, look at what Little John made me-- Igraine!. . . Igraine, you're alive. . . Alive!" Much shouted, gleefully as he ran past a teary eyed Marion nearly knocking her down and pulled Igraine into a bear hug. "Now, we'll be a family again--"

"That's my baby brother, always jumping into things with both feet." Igraine said as tears flooded down her face as she held the fur tight.

"Robin, why is Igraine crying-"

"A man can't have two wives-"

"Damn it, Will, don't you think I know that!" Robin interrupted him as Little John, Tuck and Nasir walked in.

"Marion, what's going on?" Tuck asked as he saw Marion's reddened cheeks and teary eyes.

"My marriage is over. . . Over!" Marion shouted and ran from the cave.

"Marion, wait!" Robin shouted and chased after her, he caught her just outside the mouth of the cave. "You don't understand-"

"No, you don't understand . . . I don't mind sharing your attention with Herne, the men, the Sheriff, his brother, Gisburne or the poor. . . But I won't share you with another wife, I won't!" Marion interrupted him. "It's her or me, the choice is yours. . . Choose, Robin, choose now."

"Marion, it's not that easy. . . I can't just flip a stick and say rough or smooth, like Tuck does in the games. . . I love you both." Robin sighed and stared at the ground. "I could never choose, there's a part of me that needs only you and a part that needs only her-"

"Well, you can't have us both. . . I won't be your mistress or your whore. . . I guess that's all I've been, since we can't be married-"

"Marion, I've never thought of you as either. . . You're my wife." Robin interrupted her.

"Am I?" Marion asked as she glanced back into the cave to see Much trying to comfort his sister.

"Marion, give me some time to think. . . Igraine's hurting so bad-"

"And you think that I'm not!. . . My life's falling apart-"

"I know that, but what do you think that her life's been like for the last year. . . Being raped, beaten and god only knows what else they done to her. . . Marion, Igraine isn't strong like you." Robin argued.

"Choose, Robin." Marion ordered, angrily.

Robin immediately walked back in the cave and knelt down beside Igraine and seeing that she was shivering, he took off his fur coat and wrapped her in it.

"Much, Will, go to Kirkley's and see if the holy sisters can spare a dress for Igraine. . . Nasir, John, we'll need more food-"

"Robert, I don't eat much." Igraine sighed, weakly as she leaned against him for warmth.

"You will here, or you'll get sick and die." Marion exclaimed as she stormed back into the cave and built up the fire.

"Marion!" Robin said, sharply.

"Don't you Marion me, I won't play nurse maid to a whore that spread her legs for every man that wanted her, instead of killing herself like a descent woman." Marion replied, angrily.

Robin instantly jumped up and Nasir grabbed him, realizing that he'd lost his temper as Tuck grabbed Marion.

"Robin, she's angry and doesn't know what she's saying." Nasir said, trying to calm him down.

"The hell I don't, she's a home wrecking whore!" Marion shouted.

Igraine instantly jumped up and ran from the cave, Robin immediately shook Nasir's hold and ran after her. He didn't have to chase her far though, because she fell to the wet grass as tears flooded her face.

"I'm sorry, Robert, I'm sorry." Igraine cried as he picked her up and started back to the cave.

"What for?" Robin asked.

"Wrecking your marriage and ruining your life." Igraine replied as she laid her head on his shoulder.

"You've done neither." Robin said.

"Yes, I have... Your Marion's right, I should've killed myself." Igraine sighed.

"No, she didn't mean it. . . Igraine, she was angry at me and you just got in the way." Robin whispered as they entered the cave to find everyone gone.

Robin quickly laid her near the fire, wrapped her in furs, built up the fire and disappeared into the back of the cave. He returned a moment later with a cup of liquid.

"Drink this, it'll make you feel better." Robin said as he sat down beside her and held it to her lips.

***

"Little Flower, you're blaming Robin for something that he didn't know." Tuck said as they walked through Sherwood.

"He could have chose me, but he chose her!. . . A woman that he hasn't even seen in a year." Marion replied.

"You didn't give him any choice, she's been trough a lot and Robin knows that." Tuck said. "Little Flower, give him the time he needs."

"You didn't see him touching her. . . I'll never forget the lust in his eyes and the way he kissed her, it was as if they were animals!" Marion exclaimed as she turned to face him.

"I've seen the way he looks at you, before he guides you away into the forest . . . Isn't it the same?" Tuck asked.

"Yes, but I'm his wife." Marion replied and suddenly froze as she realized what she'd said. "I've been a fool, he still thinks of her as his wife too." She sighed and started back to the cave.

"Where are you going?" Tuck asked.

"To apologize." Marion smiled.

***

When Marion reached the cave, she found Igraine sound asleep with her arms wrapped around Robin and her head on his chest, but Robin was wide awake and staring at the roof of the cave.

"I was afraid that you had left for good." Robin whispered as she walked over and knelt down beside him.

"I could never leave you, I love you to much. . . I'll have to be content with what I have left of you." Marion replied as she ran her fingers through his black hair.

"Marion, I love you too. . . I'll find a way for us, for all of us." Robin said as he drifted into sleep.

***

Hours later Igraine awoke to the smell of roasting venison and sitting up, she saw Marion tending it.

"How are you feeling?" Marion asked with a smile.

"Better, but my head hurts." Igraine replied.

"That would be the wine." Marion said as Much walked in.

"Sis, the sisters sent this." Much said as he handed Igraine a simple brown dress and boots.

"Thank you." Igraine replied and Much instantly left.

"Can I help?" Igraine asked as she got up to dress and turned her back to dress.

"No, I can- Oh, my God!" Marion screamed as her eyes fell on Igraine's back.

Igraine immediately jerked about and covered up as Robin jumped up, Little John, Will, Much, Tuck and Nasir ran in.

"Her- Her back." Marion cried as she ran to Robin and buried her head against his chest as Robin looked at Igraine.

"No, Robin, please. . . Don't make me show you my horror, not you?" Igraine begged as tears streamed down her cheeks.

"Igraine, it's all right. . . I've already saw." Robin replied as Marion pulled away.

"You knew. . . Why didn't you tell me?"

"Knew what?" Much interrupted Marion.

"They-"

"It's nothing, Much. . . Igraine's back is bruised, it just took me by surprise. . . John, Will, Nasir, Much, I need help gathering some herbs for a poultice?" Marion cut Robin off and headed from the cave.

"Marion, leave Nasir and take Tuck." Robin ordered.

"Robin, Tuck can-"

"Marion, just do it." Robin interrupted her, sharply.

***

"Gisburne, I sent you to kill one little escaped whore and you loose her to Robin Hood . . . I want her dead, Gisburne, dead!" Sheriff Robert de Rainault shouted.

"I don't understand, she's just a disrespectful slave. . . What trouble can she cause?" Gisburne asked.

"Don't be stupid, man. . . She knows too much, she could get half the clergymen and all of the noblemen she served excommunicated." The Sheriff replied.

"I'll get her." Gisburne said.

"No, you won't. . . The King's sending his own man after her, you're going stay out of Sherwood and let him do his job-"

"But what about Robin Hood?" Gisburne interrupted him.

"Robin Hood is the least of our worries now, now get out of here!"

*I have to get a hold of Igraine, I have to warn her. . . Why-- Why did I have to fall in love with her* Gisburne thought as he went to his bed chamber and changed into rags. *Sneaking into Sherwood won't be easy. . . But I won't stand by and watch her be killed or enslaved again*

***

"Dear God in Heaven!" Nasir exclaimed as he and Robin looked over Igraine's bruised, scared back. "I've never seen a slave beaten so bad. . . What did you do to deserve such?"

"I saw Prince John and Guy of Gisburne in Prince John's bed." Igraine replied with a gasp as he washed her aching back. "It was sickening, they were doing touching and kissing. . . I ran from the bed chamber, but the guards brought me back and Prince John had me stripped, then tied to the bedstead and made me watch as I watched it became evident that he was raping Guy."

"Is that why you escaped?" Robin asked.

"No. . . Three nights ago, I was ordered to attend the Earl of Huntington's manly desires and I saw a letter from Saladine, saying that King Richard would be killed as Prince John had paid them for. . . The next morning I stole the letter and gave it to Abbot De Rainault, I thought he'd get it to the Pope in Rome. . . Instead he gave it to the Sheriff of Nottingham and Guy warned me, he told me to run into Sherwood and to find Robin Hood. . . He said that you were a good man and I could trust you, if he'd only knew that you were my husband." Igraine explained.

"He wouldn't have helped you, in fact he'd probably killed you." Robin replied.

"You misunderstand Sir Guy, my husband... Why do you think he continues to bring prisoners, taxes and such through Sherwood... He's not the fool that everyone thinks, at first he worked for the Sheriff to keep his heritage a secret... He wouldn't allow his half brother's name to be blackened, he'd save Robert of Huntington from disgrace... He once told me that he was going to kill himself and then you started robbing the rich to give to the poor, it gave him a reason to keep living." Igraine said with a smile.

Robin couldn't believe his ears, he knew Igraine wouldn't lie to him and she seemed to truly believe what she was saying, but she could have been made to believe it.

"Robin, she doesn't need to wear a shirt for couple of days." Nasir said as he stood up.

"I'll take her to Angel Falls, no one comes there... Nasir, tell no one." Robin replied with a sigh.

"Not even Marion?" Nasir asked, concerned.

"Especially not Marion." Robin replied, sternly. "She's been through enough, and I have to think."

Nasir nodded and a short while later, Robin and Igraine left for Angel Falls.

***

"Robin, do you love her?" Igraine asked as he led her through the thickest part of Sherwood towards Angel Falls.

"Very much, but I still love you too." Robin replied.

"Do you, Robert, or is it just memories?" Igraine asked, sadly.

"Igraine, do you think I forgotten our love? Our happiness? The children we planned?" Robin replied as he turned to stare into her eyes. "I didn't forget, night after night I laid alone dreaming of you and then Marion came-"

Suddenly a twig snapped and Robin immediately drew his sword as a man in rags stepped out before them.

"Who are you?" Robin demanded as the man held out his arms to show that he wasn't armed.

"Guy of Gisburne." The man replied, slowly. "Igraine, are you all right?"

"I'm fine, but you took a big chance in coming here-"

"Why are you here, Gisburne?" Robin interrupted Igraine as he cautiously kept Gisburne at sword point.

"The King sending a man into Sherwood to kill her... Igraine, you've got to leave the country." Guy replied. "I'm taking you to Scotland, I have kinsmen there."

"Scotland! Guy, I can't just take off to Scotland." Igraine exclaimed.

"It's not safe here for you or any else." Guy argued as Robin put away his sword.

"Guy, I can't leave... I just can't." Igraine cried. "Go back to Nottingham and forget me, I'm safe."

"Forget you. Damn it, Igraine, I can't forget you!" Guy shouted. "I love you."

"You what!" Igraine and Robin exclaimed at the same time.

Suddenly a dagger flew from the bushes and plunged into Igraine's chest. Robin immediately grabbed his bow and loosed a arrow into the bush, hitting a King's Knight with deadly accuracy.

"Igraine." Guy and Robin both screamed a moment later as Igraine took her last breath in both of their arms.

THE END