summary: Marian sits down and writes her own ballad of undying love about Robin of Locksley and how he deserted her.
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Marian troubled by her recent lost love she gathered all her feelings and memories, retrieved a ledger and quill, an apple to eat (to her the apple was a truly inspiring fruit) and made her way to the private gardens that was behind Knighton to write her own ballad of undying love about the man she loved and lost to the holy lands.
My heart skipped a beat when I first knew I loved Robin of Locksley. He was handsome strong and destined for great things. Where as I Marian, a lowly noble girl who he was fond of as a friend was quite ordinary. no one not even I was prepared for his shocking request to start courting me. It was the talk of the town and nobles everywhere gave their congratulations.
Both Robin and I were invited to many more celebrations as a couple and we were the topic of discussion at the council of nobles. However it was never that simple. I was always used to babysit children at these "celebrations" so the mothers could attend and gossip about myself and Robin. while Robin was taught how to properly handle a woman.
Robin was always disobedient and found himself aimlessly wondering into the room where i and the children were left. usually i had little Bertha, the darling little daughter of Mildred and Thomas of Clun in my arms, while i also had Isabelle and Timothy of Nettlestone's children at my feet tugging at my skirts almost tripping me up. Then Robin swanned into the room.
"oh i hope your this good with our children Marian" i rolled my eyes at Robin's expectations while stiffling a sile, i was so glad he had saved me fromt he ear pericing squeals of little children i had no care for.
"well i should be because i will love them" i envisised on love so the children got the idea i despised them.
"good".
The next celebration was my 16th birthday, it was the celebration of me becoming a woman and how i hated that day, for it ruined my anticipation to marry Robin almost ruined my livelihood. i insisted on Robin attending but he seemed less eager. and when he finally approached me i dragged him by the arm and out into the garden. he seemed uneasy and slightly guilty i questioned him but he shrugged it off.
"Robin if you love me you would help me convince my father to move foward the wedding" that was when Robin sprung to life and looked deeply into my eyes.
"i do love you" his intense eyes made my heart melt and i began to lose control of my own actions. "that is why i brought you this" he turned me around and retrieved from his pocket a necklace, that was three delicate flowers carved from mother of pearl and hungaround my neck with a golden chain. once he had placed it around my neck and it sat gracefully on my chest i swung round and looked into his eyes rendered speechless by his kind action.
"it was your mother's Robin i cannot acept this" Robin held me by the arms and began to kiss me pasionatley agia i was rendered speechless.
"you must accept if you love me, and then hopefully you can use it to remember me by while i go away" my speechlessness became worse as i looked at him in a confused state. "Marian talk to me" it was then i clicked Robin had always spoke of the glory of war and how he wished he could one day fight along side the mighty Richard the lion heart, but he promised that he wouldn't for my sakes.
"your going to the holy land aren't you?" he nodded guiltily
"maybe we can marry before i go" he suggested i moved my fingers around m neck and reached for the clasp on my necklace.
"you expect me to marry a dead man" i screamed he was now the one confused
"but i am living breathing i am not dead" he was so naive and couldn't understand
"going to the holy land is like writing your own death warrant" i began to get louder and more high pitched, tears were welling in my eyes and without thinking i threw the necklace at his head. he remained calm and approached me
"if there is still room in you heart to marry a dead manthen please meet me at Locksley tomorrow where i will discuss this situation with my father" he handed me the necklace and walked back into the manor. i stared down at it anger still boiling inside of me i tyred with all my strength to get rid of that blasted necklace but i never had the heart. instead i kept it in my cleavage to keep it near my heart with a little hope that he would return.
i sat alone in my bedroom looking at the horizon where the tree's of Sherwood lined it hoping i would see Robin run back to me but in the two years if my grief he never did i was now the age of 18 and my father thought it suitable for me to search for another suitor but ahgain never had the heart to.
and then Sir Guy came