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"I will testify that it is," Viviana said as she entered the guards’ hall with Rainer and Farlae "So will Rainer" She glanced at Nottinghaneur, we are the last survivors of Sherwood jardin"

Alex felt better after Viviana and Rainer supported Nottingham’s story, even when they diploh she suspected the details weren’t iham deserved to have the entire truth known

"Is there any haave Viviana and Rainer a full pardon

"I have a question" Alex turned to Locksley "Why have you been telling everyone for years that Lady Marian calowered "Because she did"

"She asked you to kidnap her the night before her wedding?" Alex asked "I’ no here, Robin"

Locksley shoved away from the table and tried to stalk out Phillipe and Will Scarlet barred the door

"Master," Will said gently "They will understand"

Locksley stared at his seneschal "Lady Alexandra, you arein matters that will only cause pain to those who do not deserve it"

"No pain, no gain," she replied "Robin, you need to set things straight For you and the other people here ere involved"

"If that is the sad song you would have , my lady, so be it" Locksley strode to the center of the rooham "You know the stories that have been told about Lady Marian and me and Guy of Guisbourne We both loved her, that much is true But the real Marian never loved either of us She had been sent away to the convent when she was but ten to be educated, and that gentle, reverent life captivated her She chose to devote her life to God She was…" He stopped, and covered his face with his hand

Byrne picked up the story from there "Marian’s father refused to let her take vows She was his only child, and a wealthy heiress in her own right He betrothed her instead to Guy of Guisbourne, that heWhen she pleaded with Guisbourne to release her, he forced her into his bed" He watched Locksley walk over to the

"What the boys aren’t saying is that the shock of being raped was too much for her," Alexandra said "Marian went crazy She had to be locked up"

Everyone looked at Locksley, who stood with his back to the rooether as children, Marian and I," he said softly, unexpectedly "I loved her more than my life When I sahat Guy had done to her, I took her away to Scotland My old friend Aedan arranged for her to live at a convent in the Highlands, where the sisters could care for her" He turned around "Alexandra, how did you know that she had gone mad? Only Byrne and I knew the truth"

"Guy knew" She picked up the pad "He wrote it all down"

Locksley shook his head "After I became an outlaw, Byrne sent word that Marian had died in childbirth The baby, a daughter, survived To protect her from her father, Byrne and I sent the child to be raised in another convent in the south of England I joined the Teland until I had becohter, to see that she ell, but found that she had run away to Scotland She had not wished to beco for her parents"

Jayr turned and stared in horror at Nottingham

"I did not meet her until the last battle of Bannockburn," Robin said "I found her in a pit trap withhim her blood, but the vein continued to bleed after he had fed I found her dying in his arms" He walked up to Byrne and Jayr "’Twas I who took you froe you I cursed you to become Kyn"

Michael broke the silence that followed "Lord Nottingham, the testimony offered by others forces me to accept your claims However, you concealed your identity from us Your seneschal caused e, and there is no way for us to knohether you were privy to his plans For these reasons, I will not accept your oath or your presence ah to travel, you will go You are banished froham rose from the table, bowed to Cyprien, and then faced Jayr He tore open his tunic, baring the left side of his chest He then bowed to Alexandra and left the hall

Jayr held Byrne’s hand tightly as she tried to digest all she had heard That soham could be her father seeht of Lady Marian, the heroine of a thousand tales, being her mother

"Aedan mac Byrne," Cyprien said "Do you still wish to step down as suzerain of the Realaze for a moment and nodded

"I have made my decision on the one ill take your place" Michael drew his sword "Jayr, coneur need her assistance in appointing a suzerain? Shrugging, she rose and went to stand beside hiuided her around to face him "Here Kneel, Jayr of the Realm"

Utterly confused, Jayr went down on one knee

"For your continual courage and devotion to thehis sword over her head to touch the flat of the blade to the top of one shoulder, then the other, "I name you lady paramount, suzeraina of the Realm" He held out his hand to her "Rise, Lady Jayr"

Jayr took his hand with hers and stood It had to be amerry with her But if he was, then ere the other lords in the roo at her so? And Byrne…