A story of love and hate, passion and prejudice. Of how Robin, Marian, Guy, and Djaq discover that what we have in common is more important than what makes us different.

Robin arrives home just in time to stop the wedding of Lady Marian and Sir Guy.

But he is bringing home more than memories from the Holy Land. Robin has a child from a forced marriage to a young Saracen woman. Now a widower, he travels home with his young daughter and his sister by marriage, Djaq.

Will Marian be able to forgive Robin's betrayal? Will she accept a child whose very existence will always remind her of Robin's foreign wife?

Djaq has arrived in a strange land surrounded by people who are suspicious of her. Can she find a place for herself in this land of endless green forests?

And what of the tall, handsome knight whose desperate pursuit of Robin Hood will change her forever? His hateful words pierce her heart. But is there another side to this enigmatic man?

Author's introduction

This is an alternate universe story. It is intended for fans who like both Robin and Guy, and are willing to see both have a happily ever after. Even if you like one better than the other, as long as you are not hoping for one of them to die, I believe you will enjoy the story.

There are some historical events and people in this story, but it is a work of fiction, and I take liberties with some of the timelines. The story includes scenes of violence, bloodshed, and sensuality.

If you are familiar with the legend of Robin Hood, but have not seen the 2006 BBC Show, you will still be able to understand the story.

For fans of the BBC Robin Hood Show:

Although some familiar scenes and events are included, this story deviates significantly from the show. There is no Annie/Seth. Guy never travelled to the Holy Land. Vaisey has only been sheriff for a year at the beginning of the story. The death of Guy's parents was fifteen years ago, not twenty as in the show. Robin and Marian remained betrothed after he left for the Crusades.

Guy is four years older than Robin. They are approximately 29 and 25 in this story. They were companions and friends during their youth, but that ended fifteen years ago, when Guy was banished from Locksley.

Sir Robin is the hero. He is honorable, brave, intelligent, and passionate. He is also reckless, hot-tempered, jealous, and a bit arrogant. One notable change from canon is that Robin is more willing to openly express his feelings for Lady Marian.

Sir Guy of Gisborne is the villain who finds redemption. I think you will be surprised by Guy's journey.

This is not a story about religion or religious differences. Characters might thank God, or cry out to Him for help, but I've kept this to the sort of thing that anyone, particularly from the time period, might say during times of happiness, danger, or stress.

Another theme in this story is Djaq's development and growth from a very sheltered young woman who has spent most of her life confined to the shadows of an oppressive (to women) culture to a young woman who becomes her own person, who recognizes her own worth, learns to speak for herself, and begins to stand up for herself. She has great inner strength, but she does not realize it for some time.

If you are familiar with the 1958 movie, South Pacific, this story includes similar themes of cross-cultural romance and racial prejudice found in that movie.

I do not own those characters belonging to the BBC Robin Hood show; the rest are in the public domain.

This story is illustrated with screenshots and photo manipulations. The link to the banner and illustrations can be found at my profile.

Photo credits: screenshots are originally from either or television fading tomorrow or richardarmitagenet

Chapter 1: A Wedding at Locksley Chapel

April 9, 1192

The world outside the carriage was a watery blur. Marian reached discreetly under her bridal veil to wipe away the tears that threatened to trickle down her cheeks. She hoped that her father, Sir Edward, Baron of Knighton, had not noticed, but he grasped her other hand and squeezed it in a reassuring gesture.

Any moment they would arrive at the Locksley chapel, and she would have to face her future. A future without Robin, the man whom she had loved all her life.

A fortnight ago, she still held hope in her heart. Robin was far away serving King Richard on the battlefields of the crusade to retake Jerusalem. They had occasionally heard news of him. It had been a proud day in Nottinghamshire when they received word that Robin had become captain of the king's elite personal guard.

Then dreadful news had been delivered to the sheriff. Robin had been killed months ago in a particularly bloody battle. She had wept and wept as she imagined Robin alone and dying in some far away, horrible place, with dark men in Saracen robes tormenting and torturing him.

Marian shook her head, as if that could dismiss such painful thoughts, and glanced at her dear father. She was so worried about him. In the year since he had been forced to retire from his post as sheriff, he had aged considerably. Sir Edward had faithfully served as Sheriff of Nottinghamshire for many years. The local nobility and the people had flourished under his benevolent administration.

That all ended when Lord Vaisey and his master-at-arms, Sir Guy of Gisborne, arrived in Nottingham. Suddenly, the people were under the oppressive thumb of Sheriff Vaisey and Sir Guy, while nobles such as Sir Edward watched helplessly as the wealth of Nottinghamshire disappeared into the coffers of the sheriff and Prince John.

A sennight after she had received the news of Robin's death, her father reluctantly informed her that she was now betrothed to Sir Guy of Gisborne, who was currently managing Locksley during Robin's absence. Sir Edward explained to her that Gisborne would be able to protect her in these uncertain and dangerous times, and if she married Sir Guy, she would still be mistress of Locksley. With Robin's death, and no other living relatives, the Locksley lands would be awarded to Sir Guy by Prince John, according to Sheriff Vaisey.

When her father told her that she would marry Sir Guy, Marian decided that she had cried enough. She couldn't bring Robin back. She would have to look to the future. Marian had always dreamed of becoming Lady Locksley, but she would become Lady Gisborne and work to protect Locksley and its people from the harsh rule of the sheriff and Sir Guy. She would do it for Robin.

Marian knew that she would always love Robin, but she suspected that the tall, somber knight might actually have feelings for her. At least she hoped that he did. Sir Guy's attempts at conversation were frequently awkward and halting, but she could see desire and admiration in his eyes whenever he looked at her. He had given her a number of expensive gifts, and he was polite and respectful to her father. She hoped that he would continue to behave in such a manner after they were married.

If he did have some affection for her, hopefully he would treat her with kindness, although 'kind' was not a word that came to mind when she thought about her future husband. Words like cruel, cold-hearted, and greedy were more likely to enter her thoughts whenever she saw Sir Guy of Gisborne.

She prayed that Sir Guy would be kind and gentle, especially tonight. Shivering with dread, she closed her eyes and tried to focus on something other than the marriage bed that awaited her at the end of the day.

With a rough jerk that nearly unseated her, the carriage came to an abrupt halt. Her father exited first and gently helped her down. As she walked towards the small chapel, she squared her shoulders, took a deep breath, and moved forward with the grace and dignity befitting a daughter of the proud Knighton family.

Within a few minutes, she was kneeling in front of the priest with Sir Guy at her side. She glanced at him. He was undeniably handsome. Even through her veil she could see that Sir Guy looked quite pleased. He was almost smiling.

She briefly imagined Robin there, instead of Sir Guy. Robin would be smiling broadly, and he would probably risk the ire of the priest by winking at her or by mimicking the odd way the priest moved his eyebrows as he droned on and on. These thoughts made her smile too.

Behind her she heard the doors to the chapel open. She was tempted to turn and look – to see who would dare come so late to such a ceremony – but she resisted the urge.

"We are gathered here today to join Lady Marian of Knighton and Sir Guy of Gisborne, Lord of Locksley, in holy matrimony. Marriage is the holy covenant –"

"Stop this wedding! She is betrothed to ME, and I am Lord of Locksley!"

A collective gasp echoed in the small chapel. Marian and Sir Guy quickly stood and turned towards the intruder.

Marian lifted her veil over and behind her head as she looked at the man standing in front of the chapel's open doors. The light was behind him, and his face was in shadows. But that voice! Was she dreaming? Having a vision? To hear the one person in the entire world whose voice she most wanted to hear . . . It was impossible.

She took a step towards the man, only to feel Sir Guy's vise-like grip on her arm.

"Guards! Seize that man!" At Sir Guy's command, two soldiers appeared in the doorway behind the stranger.

"Robin!" Sir Edward cried. The moment her father called his name, the stranger stepped forward, away from the door, and Marian could finally see him.

"Robin!" she had intended to shout his name, but her voice was nothing but a puff of air as she fought the dizziness that threatened to overtake her. Again she tried to move forward, towards Robin, only to be pulled back by Sir Guy's powerful hold on her arm.

The guards tried to grab Robin, but they were quickly incapacitated by blows that Robin delivered with stunning fierceness and economy of movement.

"Gisborne!" Sir Edward addressed the tall knight. "Call off your dogs! This is Robin, do you not recognize him? You have known him since you were a boy!"

Marian had forgotten that the two men had grown up together before the fire at Gisborne Lodge. She had been very young at the time. She tore her eyes away from Robin to look at Sir Guy, whose face had become a mask of cold fury. He said nothing, but continued to hold Marian back. Her arm ached from the pressure of his hand, and she tried to pull away from him.

Sir Edward spoke, "Let us return to Locksley Manor, where we can speak privately. Robin is alive; therefore, he is still betrothed to Marian. He is still Lord of Locksley and Earl of Huntingdon."

At that moment, Sir Guy finally released Marian's arm, and she ran to Robin, flinging her arms around him and hugging him tightly.

He lifted her up off the floor and spun around, laughing and smiling. "Marian, dear Marian! I am home at last!"

All eyes in the chapel were watching this joyous reunion. Smiles and murmurs of approval filled the air. No one paid attention to Sir Guy and the hatred that was clearly evident in his scowling observation of the happy couple.

Sir Edward again encouraged the wedding party to return to Locksley Manor. Sir Robin, Lady Marian, Sir Edward, and Sir Guy exited the chapel and began the short walk to the manor.

Marian felt as though she was floating. How could all her prayers and hopes be answered so perfectly? She held Robin's hand as they walked to the manor house. She knew it wasn't really proper, but she felt an overwhelming need to touch him, just to be sure that he was real, and that he was really there.

As they entered the manor, Marian smiled when she saw Robin's faithful servant, Much. Her smile morphed into open-mouthed shock when she saw an exotic, dark-skinned woman in long flowing robes and a small girl standing next to Much. Saracens. The little girl started running towards her, and Marian involuntarily stepped back in surprise and let go of Robin's hand. She then realized that the child was running to Robin, who gently lifted her into his arms.

"Papa! Papa! Can we eat now? Where is the food?"

Marian gasped as her mind struggled to understand.

The woman began to speak in heavily accented English. "Robin, have you discovered why there are no servants here to greet you or prepare food?"

Marian's heart dropped to her stomach as she realized the truth: Robin had a Saracen wife and a young daughter! Crying out in pain, she turned and ran from the house. Sir Edward quickly followed after her.

"Marian, wait!" cried Robin. "You do not understand!"

"Papa? Where is the food?"

Suddenly, Sir Guy began to laugh. A cruel, mocking sound that echoed in the room. "Locksley! How can you claim Lady Marian when you already have a wife? Are you adopting the Saracen practice of multiple wives? Surely you remember that is against the law here. Although the good people of Locksley would probably let you do whatever you wish, I fear the new sheriff will insist that you follow the same laws as the rest of us."

Robin had turned to follow Marian, but he spun around to confront Gisborne. "I do not know what you are doing in my home, but you will leave now! And this is not my wife. My wife died. This is her sister."

He set the little girl down and spoke quickly, "Much, Djaq, stay here, and please watch Ellie. I have to find Marian and try to explain . . ."

Robin then dashed out the door, following the direction he had seen Marian and her father take.

Djaq gazed upon the knight, who was clearly mocking Robin. He was dressed in an elaborately decorated dark jerkin of tooled leather with silver clasps. It looked very expensive. He was perhaps the tallest person she had ever seen. He was also quite handsome with long black hair that reached to his shoulders, pale skin, and eyes the color of lapis lazuli. She had never seen anyone with such eyes!

The man was a startling contrast to Robin. Robin, with his boyishly handsome face, easy smile, and hair the color of harvested wheat, looked nothing like this man, with his angular, stern features.

She was staring at him just as he turned and met her eyes. It was then that she realized that his beautiful eyes were glittering with hate. The intensity of his glare caused her to step back in fear and lower her gaze.

The man then began to speak, his melodious deep voice at odds with the viciousness of his words, "Not his wife?" His azure eyes made a slow perusal down her body and back up to her face. "Perhaps just a Saracen whore. I am not sure you will be successful plying your trade in Nottingham. Too many of us have lost family to the Saracen hordes in the Holy Land." He actually sniffed at the end of his outrageous remarks. As if she smelled bad!

Stunned and appalled by his words, she gasped and again stepped away from him.

Much, ever loyal and kind, immediately began defending her. "My lord, you cannot say such things to her! She is a lady, from a very important and powerful family! Her sister was Master Robin's wife, God-rest-her-soul, and she is helping Sir Robin take care of his daughter–"

A glare from Gisborne caused Much to cease his defense of Djaq. He snarled at Much, "I recognize you. You are a servant! Do not dare speak to me again, or I will have you flogged."

Much shrank in fear and looked at Djaq. Ellie began to cry as the tension in the room was obvious to her, even though she did not understand the words. She turned and buried her face in the folds of Djaq's clothing.

Outraged, Djaq responded indignantly to the tall, angry knight. "What kind of man frightens children, threatens innocent servants, and offends a lady with such vile insults? You are a man without honor!"

As soon as the words left her mouth, Djaq was horrified to realize that she had actually spoken the words, and not just thought them in her mind. Color flooded her face. Not since that fateful day when Djaq and her sister met Robin had she spoken to a man whom she did not know and to whom she had not been properly introduced.

Gisborne narrowed his eyes at her and sneered, "I am a man who has power and position. If you want to live, I suggest you remember that, and keep your filthy Saracen mouth shut. Unless, of course, you are being paid to open it." His raised eyebrow let her know that there was a crude meaning behind his words.

She gasped, shocked and mortified beyond words. She was not sure what he meant, but she was certain that she did not want to know.

Turning away from the dreadful man, she picked up Ellie, exited the manor, and walked a short distance away. She had never been spoken to in such a manner! Her grandfather was the great Rashid ad-Din Sinan, Grand Master of the Hashashin! The English king had eagerly sought, and signed, a treaty with her family!

She and her sister had been sheltered, protected, and treated with great deference and the utmost respect.

How could that man say such things to her!

Despite her best efforts to keep them at bay, tears began rolling down her cheeks. Perhaps coming to England had been a mistake. Robin had warned her that some people might not accept her because of her Saracen heritage, but she could not stay in Acre alone as battles raged all around her . . . To remain in her homeland meant an arranged marriage to a stranger, and she would have never seen Ellie, or Robin, again.

Wiping her face and turning back towards Robin's home, she saw a tall, dark-haired woman gracefully sweep into the manor. It was a different woman than the one Robin had chased, and Djaq wondered who it was.

Glancing around at Robin's home, now her home, and the place where Ellie would grow up, she was amazed at the color. Everywhere she looked, she saw green. She thought about the miserable sea passages that they had endured at various times during their long journey to England. The sea was sometimes blue and sometimes grey, but the forest surrounding her was a sea of green.

"Aunt Djaq, when can we eat? Where is Papa? Why are you cryin'? That big man was mean to my friend, Much! Don't let him hurt Much! I want Papa to shoot him wit' an arrow!"

"Quiet, Ellie. Let us go to the side of the house. I believe there is a door that leads directly to the kitchen. We will wait there, and I will find you something to eat."

Robin ran after Marian, frantic to explain but unsure of what he would actually say. He had planned to get Djaq and Ellie settled into Locksley Manor, and then he would travel to Knighton to talk to Marian and her father. He never expected to find Marian moments away from being lost to him forever!

Gisborne! God's blood, what was that man doing in his home, calling himself Lord of Locksley, and marrying his beloved Marian? He would get to the bottom of that soon enough, but first he must find Marian make her understand.

Finally, he saw Marian and Sir Edward. She was sitting on a log near the tree line of Sherwood Forest. Her hands covered her face, and her shoulders were shaking as she sobbed. Robin slowed his pace as he approached them. Sir Edward turned to him with the desperate look of a man dealing with a distraught woman.

Stopping a short distance away, Robin anxiously spoke, "Please, Sir Edward, allow me to speak to Marian alone. Perhaps you could have some food from the wedding feast delivered to the manor. We have been traveling a long time and are hungry."

"Robin," Sir Edward exhaled in relief and walked up to him, away from Marian, who had not looked up at Robin's approach. A brief hug was followed by Sir Edward's close inspection of the younger man. "I cannot believe you are here! I thank God that He returned you to us, and just in time."

Sir Edward lowered his voice and continued, "Robin, is that woman your wife?"

Robin led Sir Edward further away from Marian and also lowered his voice.

"Sir Edward, she is not my wife. I was married, and the girl is my daughter, but the woman is my wife's sister. She helped me take care of Eleanor, Ellie we call her, after my wife died in childbirth."

Sir Edward shook his head. "This will be difficult for Marian to understand. I do not understand it myself, but you have saved Marian from a marriage to Gisborne, and for now, that is all that matters."

"What is Gisborne doing here? He said something about the 'new' sheriff. Are you no longer sheriff?"

"Robin, it is a long story, but you are correct. I am no longer sheriff. Prince John established a new title, Baron of Ernehale. This man, Pierre Vaisey, was awarded the title, along with the position of Sheriff of Nottinghamshire. He is an evil man who is abusing his position. We will talk later, but we must take care. Vaisey has spies everywhere, and Gisborne is his henchman. For now, please talk to Marian. She needs to hear the truth from you."

"Very well, Sir Edward. Please try to arrange to have food brought to the house for Much, Ellie, and Djaq."

"Jack? That is the name of the woman?"

Robin laughed. "Close enough. It is a nickname that we have for her. It is another story, best saved for later."

As Sir Edward returned to Locksley, Robin turned to face Marian.

And he nearly took a step back. She was no longer sobbing. Instead she was staring at him so fiercely that he momentarily considered waiting until she had calmed down before attempting to explain the situation.

God's blood! What a glorious creature! thought Robin, as Marian began to stalk towards him, eyes blazing and fists clenched. She had grown into a beautiful woman in the years since he had left.

Robin was distressed to realize that he found angry Marian quite arousing. He decided to disarm her with one of his roguish smiles. It was always an effective way to distract an angry woman. So, he smiled, greeted her warmly, and opened his arms to embrace her.

"Marian, you are more beautiful than I remembered! How I missed you!"

Suddenly, the side of his face exploded in pain, and he realized that she had hit him! Like a cobra, her strike had been so fast that he had not seen it coming. He was doubled over and seeing stars. Just as his vision began to clear, and he tried to stand straight, she kicked him in the groin, and he dropped to the ground and started rolling in pain as she began to shout at him.

"You! How could you! I have been waiting for you for years! I thought you were over there fighting for King Richard, not starting a family! I thought you were dead! I cried and cried! Now you interrupt my wedding, even though you are already married! To a Saracen! You were supposed to be fighting the Saracens! Not marrying them! And you brought her here! A Saracen!"

Still rolling on the ground in pain, Robin tried to speak, "Marian . . . NO! She's not . . . my wife."

He heard Marian gasp. "You mean she is your mistress? Do you really think I will agree to such an arrangement?"

"Marian . . . wait, no . . . she is not my mistress." Robin was finally recovered enough to start to stand. "She is the sister of my late wife."

He realized that he was speaking to himself. Marian had left. Sinking once more into the soft dirt, he moaned. That was not the warm welcome he had hoped to receive from his beloved Marian.

During the long voyage home, he had fantasized about this moment many times. A few of his fantasies had included rolling on the ground in a secluded spot in the forest, but not by himself, and not because he was writhing in pain.

In his imagination, Marian always sat quietly and attentively while she listened sympathetically to his explanation of why he was returning home a widower with a young daughter. She would nod and agree that he had done the right thing, and then she would enthusiastically embrace him and Ellie, and then they would get married and be happy.

Robin shook his head. Their first meeting had not gone according to his plan at all!

Glossary:

Djaq – pronounced "Jack"

Eleanor – the name of Robin's daughter has some significance, and everyone in the story would know that it is the name of King Richard's mother, Eleanor of Aquitaine. Robin has honored the king by naming his daughter after the king's powerful and influential mother.

Ernehale – today, this suburb of Nottingham is called Arnold. In the 1068 Domesday Book, it was called Ernehale, meaning "a place frequented by eagles" although there is no evidence that eagles actually lived there. You might remember Vaisey's love of birds and hawks from the show. (Source: Wikipedia)

Fortnight – two weeks

Henchman – in this story, I am using the modern definition of this word ("an unscrupulous and ruthless subordinate"). The original meaning of this word (from the 1300's) is "a squire or page."

Saracen – a generic term for Muslims, especially Arab Muslims, widely used among Christians during this time.

Sennight – one week