Allan A Dale awoke to the sounds of a bustling spring market day through the open window of his chambers at the Trip to Jerusalem Inn. Much as he relished sharing his bed with a variety of happily obliging tavern wenches who worked for him at the Trip, it was nice to wake up alone after a decent night's sleep.
He smiled and sighed contentedly. Not being funny, but this was the life! He had to give Robin credit.
After King Richard had returned to England and restored Robin's lands, Robin had created a place for each member of his formerly outlawed gang. Allan had been set up as Tavern Keeper at the Trip. Though he had believed he would have liked being a Lord, he had to admit that being Tavern Keeper suited him perfectly. He had a real knack for the business. He was making money hand over fist, and he loved the life. Robin and Marian were blissfully arguing, laughing, and loving in Locksley Manor, caring for their villagers and their 2 adorable little girls. Little John, suited to a life in the forest, was settled comfortably in his Sherwood den, as one of the King's Foresters. Will and Djaq were snuggled cozily with their twin children by their Locksley cottage fireside, and Much was lodged as Lord of the Manor at Bonchurch, with his drop down dead gorgeous wife Eve, and their growing brood of raucous children. "Children are a gift from God!" Much would clamor as his giggling offspring climbed all over him and pulled at his hair and clothes, while Eve would stand by smiling proudly with amusement.
Allan's face clouded. Eve! If there was one fly in the ointment of this life since justice in England had been restored, it was Eve. He sighed again, this time with longing. Damn it! How did Much, of all people, end up with such a wife? Allan told himself he didn't want to "settle down married," but if he did,
it would be with such a woman as Eve. Smart, shrewd, easy on the eye…make that VERY easy on the eye!
What was she doing with Much? Sure, Much was a Lord, but he was still Much! Much, who had been putting on weight with his wife's pregnancies and his easy, prosperous position. Much, with his whining and complaining, his never shutting up, and his protests of "Unbelievable!" and "He's revolting!" and "I knew it!" when he never really did.
Still, Allan had to admit, Eve SEEMED happy enough. More than happy, Allan admitted grudgingly; she really seemed to love her husband. True, Much treated her like a queen, but honestly! Allen felt a spark between Eve and himself whenever they met, a spark he knew neither would ever act upon. They both loved Much far too much to admit that spark to each other, but it flared all the same, only to be pushed down and denied. Well, maybe they had too much spark and too much in common for it to have lasted long anyway, Allan mused. What did they have in common, other than their shrewdness and their…what is it called when you're realistic, practical, and know how to make the hard choices to survive? Allan and Eve had both done that when they chose to work for the Sheriff.
The Sheriff. Allen hadn't thought of Vaisey in years. Vaisey was surely in hell by this time. Allan had witnessed his execution. Surprisingly, it had not been easy to stomach. He actually thought he would enjoy seeing Vaisey "swing," but any time Allan saw a noose, he was haunted by the feeling of the rope tightening around his own neck, and by the horrific nightmare of seeing his brother Tom's lifeless body swinging from a rope from the castle ramparts.
Allan shuddered, trying to shake the thoughts from his head. Gisborne! He couldn't think of the Sheriff without remembering Gisborne. Guy was out there somewhere, and Allan felt sure that one day he would return. When the King had returned to England, Vaisey had been arrested, but Guy had escaped on his horse. Allan believed he must be living somewhere in France. He knew Gisborne too well to imagine he was living peacefully. No, Giz's demons would be torturing him. His hatred for "Robin Hood"; his obsession with Marian, the woman he "loved," yet had nearly killed twice! And now that Robin had everything Gisborne wanted, Allan knew the Guy's demons would be working double time. Gisborne was probably feeding his hatred and obsession, biding his time, waiting for the right time to return to take his revenge.
Well, it wouldn't be today, at any rate. April 14th-Much's "birthday." Tonight, the entire gang, along with their children and Much's many friends, would be feasting at Bonchurch. Allan chuckled. One of Robin's schemes, schemes which, these days, were all about celebrating and "spreading a bit of happiness" without the threat of danger they used to face.
Until today, Much had never celebrated his birthday. No one even knew when it was, and Allan guessed that Robin hadn't really noticed. But one hot day last August, when Marian had complained to Robin that Much wouldn't stop pestering her to get busy and plan something special for her husband's October birthday, Robin had realized. Ever since Robin could remember, Much had always tried to make an event of his former master's birthday. It hadn't always been a success…being trapped in a Nettlestone barn and surrounded by 100 mercenaries demanding his death came quickly to mind, but still, Much had always wanted Robin's birthday to be special. He did the same for Eve, and for each of their many children's birthdays. So, Robin had selected April 14th as Much's "birthday", a day exactly half a year from Robin's own. Robin and Marian had consulted with Eve to host a huge surprise party for Much at Bonchurch tonight. There would be a score of people Allan could spend time with, so that he could avoid Eve.
Allan was looking forward to spending time catching up with Will and Djaq and their twins. Not being funny, but talk about some beautiful children! When Robin and Marian had officially wed in Locksley, all the villagers were hoping the nearly fatal wounds Gisborne had inflicted on Marian would not prevent her from conceiving. "Such beautiful blue-eyed children they'll have" was the general prediction. After all, Robin and Marian were just about the two most beautiful people you could ever hope to meet. But somehow, their two little girls weren't graced with either parent's beauty. Cuter than buttons they were, but beautiful…never! But Allan knew better than to mention that to Robin or Marian. They clearly thought their little girls hung the moon. Ahh, well, Allan thought, I guess love really is blind. And as for Much's lot, every last one of his noisy bunch resembled him-white eyelashes framing huge round somewhat vacant eyes set in chubby cheeked faces. But Will and Djaq's twins, a boy and a girl, those two were breath-takingly beautiful children. And quiet, smart, thoughtful, well-behaved children, too.
Allan smiled to himself. It was time to start his day.