"Not bein' funny, but you won't believe what she had strapped to her garter!"
Allan's bawdy, fabricated story would have to wait, for the unmistakable, long awaited cry of a newborn infant interrupted his tale, rendering it inconsequential.
The faces of the former outlaws broke into relieved and joyful smiles, as they downed mugs of ale and tried to slap Robin's back in congratulations. The men had gathered for support downstairs in Locksley Manor when Much had told them how very long it was taking Marian to deliver the new baby. But its cry told it had arrived at last, and Robin darted up the steps two at a time before any of his friends had a chance to congratulate him.
Grinning broadly, Robin paused an instant outside the heavy oaken door to his bedchamber, breathing a prayer of thanksgiving. Then, carefully pushing it open, he entered reverently to kiss his wife and meet their new child.
Matilda, who had delivered both himself and his two daughters in this very room, stood wearily by a basin of water, washing bloody cloths. She looked up when Robin entered, a perturbed look marring her smile, and said, "Congratulations, Papa."
Robin was immediately on his knees by his wife's bedside. Marian lay back on bolsters, her hair damp against her forehead, her face pale and exhausted, but her eyes shone triumphant. The babe was already latched onto her breast.
"You're going to need to teach your son some manners," she teased. "I told him he should wait until you arrived before beginning his dinner, but he refused."
His son! They had a boy!
"Well," Robin answered, smiling as if he'd never stop, "who can blame him, when offered a choice between my face or your breast? He wouldn't be my son now, would he, if he didn't-"
"Grow up, Locksley," Marian scolded weakly, a smile playing at the corners of her mouth. "How are the girls?" she asked, missing her little ones.
Robin sat beside her on the bed, smiling back and forth from her tired eyes to the back of their son's head. A thrill shot through his fingertips when he reached out and touched his son's soft dark hair. How he longed to hold the tiny body and look upon his yet unseen face!
"Sleeping peacefully, under the Scarlet roof." He chuckled. "I was briefly called away to help put Gracie to bed. She was plenty mad she couldn't kiss you goodnight."
"Poor Djaq," Marian smiled. She took secret pride that Gracie calmed only for her.
"And Ellie was good as gold, of course?" she asked.
"Of course," Robin agreed smugly. "She takes after her father, you know. I wonder who this one will take after? Not that I don't love Grace, mind you, but-"
Matilda cut him off. "Come over here, Papa," she muttered. "I need a word with you."
Marian closed her eyes now, weak from labor. Too excited to sleep, she was nonetheless completely spent.
The babe released her, too weak himself to eat.
...
(Note: During this period of the Middle Ages, it was not uncommon for ladies of rank to nurse their own infants. Wet nurses were common, as well, but it was a choice within families).