Title: Betrothed
Chapter: 1
Author: Moon-Majik
Rating: K
Disclaimer: The cannon characters do not belong to me. Robert is a figment of my imagination.
Synopsis: Robin Hood and Maid Marian were always meant to be together. A story of love and devotion, from a young age.
"Come on Child, keep up. Stop dragging your feet!" The buddled up toddler picked up his pace, hurrying after his father as they trudged through the snow from the horse to the front door. "Robin - Oh Robin" The small boy had fallen, face first into the cold, wet snow, and his father bent to scoop him up, sighing in barely concealed annoyance. His son's cheeks had turned immediatly red, his nose resembling the berries that would grow on the branches of the trees come spring. The child screwed up his face to scream, but one glance at his fathers stern look made him think better of it.
"Now Robin. Do you remember why were are here?" The boy nodded eagerly, his hoor falling back to reveal soaked brown hair. His eager expression changed to one of confusion and as his father raised an eyebrow his nod changed to a shake. Despite his annoyance, his fathers expression changed to a smile as he ruffled his son's hair, shaking the snow out.
"Do you remember Lady Mary?" A slight nod prompted him to continue speaking. "Do you remember that she got a really big stomach?"
"There was a baby there...littler than me" Robin said frowning, his teeth chattering.
"Thats right. Well Robin, do you remember what I told you last night?"
"You said..Lady Mary has gone to be with Jesus, and we wont see her any more? Daddy?"
"Yes Rob?"
"Did the baby go with her to see Jesus?"
"No Robin. The baby stayed behind, with Sir Edward. Like you stayed behind with me."
"Oh." Robin seemed to accept this, and wriggled to be put on the floor as his father knocked on the door and announced himself to the maid who opened it.
"Come on Robin" He turned around to find his son, who had wanted a little way off and was now sat contentedly in the snow making little mounds. "Robin! You are going to get cold." HOlding his son tightly in his grasp, he ducked into the house.
The atmosphere was one of sadness, and of death. He instinctivly clutched his son closer, memories of that fateful day three years ago, when his own beloved wife had been pulled untimely from his grasp, leaving him only with the precious bundle of trouble he know held in his arms.
"Daddy your squashing me" the bundle of trouble protested, and Robert released his grasp. Opening his mouth to reassure his son, he was interrupted by footsteps and a voice.
"Robert. Thankyou for coming.
"Edward...how are you?" he strode forward, clasping the man's shoulder with his free hand. At the shake of the man's head, he nodded. "I know...I understand." His friend's body shook, as he lost his composure and a tear fell down his cheek. But there was no shame surrounding this crying, even the small boy understood that this crying was needed.
"Lets me introduce you to my baby girl" He said, after wiping away his tears and regaining composure.
"The baby is a girl?" Robin's face was a picture of disgust. The two older men laughed.
"Believe me, little Robin, one day you will like girls." The glare he revieved from the boy was one of pure distain, copied perfectly from his father. "I will not!" Placing him on the ground, Rober chuckled and took his son's hands as the three of them made their way to where the new-born baby was lay.
Robert hung back, letting Edward take Robin's hand and lead him forward. He swallowed. This was the moment that would tip all of his plans to succeed or to fail. How would Robin react to the baby? He settled down on a chair by the door to watch and listen, ready to step in at any time.
"You have to be very quiet" Edward whispered as the two crept towards the cradle. "She is asleep, and we don't want to wake her." The reached the cot, and Robin stood on tip toe, clutching the side of the crib to see, almost tipping it over. Robert sat up, but Edward caught the crib and righted it, lifting Robin up in the same movement.
"Can you see?"
There was no reply from the little boy. He stared openly, peering through the semi-gloom, at the tiny baby wrapped in linen sheets. Her skin was pink, her head covered in a layer of dark down. Her fist was curled, clutching the blanket, her legs kicking as she slept. Ewdward chuckled.
"Well, young man?"
"What is her name?" Edward reached down to stroke his daughters tiny face with his finger, and she snuffled slightly. Robin gasped openly in delight.
"What do you think we should call her little Robin?" The boy frowned.
"I am named Robin because Daddy is Robert... you are Edward so she should be called Edwin." His logic made both men laugh.
"But Robin, Edwin is a boys name" Rober spoke up from the shadows. "Maybe she should be named after her mother?"
"And so she is" Edward sighed. "I have called her Marian, after her mother and her Grandmother. Do you approve Robin?" At the boys nod he smiled. "I am glad. Would you like to hold her?"
Robin nodded eagerly, but Robert frowned.
"That might not be"
"Oh hush Robert" His friend placed Robin on the floor. "Robin, go and sit on your Daddy's knee." He bent to pick up Marian, gathering her lovingly up with her blankets, ensuring that she was completly covered from the cold winters air.
He walked accross the room and lowered his precious bundle into the arms of the three year old boy and arranged his hands correctly. Robin touched her tiny nose with his fingers, heeding the warning of "gently" from his father and then leant down and touched his lips to her forehead.
"Hello Marian. You mustn't worry. Your Mummy is safe with Jesus. My mummy will look after her. And I will look after you."
The two grown ups looked at each other over the heads of the boy, shocked. Neither had schooled him to say that, neither had expected him to, yet he had. A smile grew on Roberts face, and was matched by one on Edward's. They had made the right choice.
