Hello readers of Robin Hood! This is my first story in this category, so please bare with me as I try my best. ENJOY!

Disclaimer: Yeah, I'm the ghost of the man who wrote Robin Hood and I have come back to haunt you. Yeah, right, not in a thousand years.

Maid Marian stared out her window at the falling rain. The dark clouds and dismal landscape matched her mood.

It was the fifth anniversary of when Robin Hood left with Little John and Will to fight yet another crusade in the East. She had asked that he not go, but he said that it was his duty to go and defend England. Helen, Little John's wife, and Jane, Will's wife, had also begged their husbands not to go, but all three wives stood on the beach waving as their husbands set out to war.

That was 5 years ago and now all three were reported dead.

Jane had a 3 year old boy when Will left, but after he did she had to find a job as a maid to keep food on the table. Helen was also now a single mother to twin boy and girl who were 1 at the time of Little John's leaving, but she had to start taking in launrdy to make ends meet.

Marian was not so lucky as to get a job to support her small daughter, who was 6 months when Robin left, because of Marian's status in society. Plus she didn't really know of any work she could do, so she had to live with Helen, taking care of her children in return for room and board.

That was until she met Lord Edward from London. He had moved to Nottingham and bought a castle there. When he hosted a feast to celebrate his new home he had spotted Marian and had invited her to sit on his right hand throughout the meal. That might had changed her life as Lord Edward was obviously taken with her, so she moved into one half of his castle with her daughter, and had become engaged to him.

That had been a year ago and now her wedding was a month away, so she had so much still to do.

But her thoughts were not on the wedding, they were miles away, thinking of Robin. Their wedding had been simple, nothing fancy at all, definitely no doves and fresh roses as she was to have with Lord Edward. But she needed to move on, Robin was dead and her heart with it. Lord Edward seemed to be a good enough man, certainly no Robin Hood, and would provide a warm home and good food for her daughter.

That was why she was doing all this and she would just need to learn to love Lord Edward, no matter how much she didn't want to.

Her handmaiden ran in. "Milady, the cook is asking for you. He wants to know how you want the duck prepared for the wedding."

Marian sighed and turned from her spot in front of the window. "Tell him I will be down in just a moment, Sarah."

Sarah nodded and curtsied. "Very well, milady."

Marian gave one last longing look out the window and then left. She had to get on with her life, even if her heart had to be left behind.

A short start, I know, but I am just testing the waters, getting a feel for Robin Hood. Please Review, and tell me if this story is worth continuing, if I should rethink it, or if I should just burn it. Thanks! Until next chapter, Li Li.