Maxwell's Silver Hammer

Part of the "Fab Four" challenge. What is Marian up to? Post series, AU (I should change this to mean "as usual," in addition to "author's universe").

Rated K

o0O0o

Lady Marian of Locksley waited until Robin had left for Nottingham for his business with Sheriff Much. The moment he departed, she quickly drew a cloak around her, slipped out the servant's entrance, and made her way through the fairy tale village of Locksley to the blacksmith.

He and his hammer were working on a special present for the Earl of Huntington.

Maxwell the blacksmith was a big, brutish sort of man, anti-social and loyal to the highest bidder; and Marian was indeed paying him well for this favor. His hammer slammed down, practicing for the final performance. He would not strike, however, until he had spoken with the Lady of Locksley first.

Marian breezed in like a shadow, and pulled the hood away from her face. Crossing the dark, hot work shop, she pulled a pendant out of her pocket and passed it to the metalworker. It was Robin's old outlaw tag, which he kept as a trophy of his days of glory.

Maxwell nodded at the insignia. A smile slid across Marian's face. She pulled out a sack of coins and handed it to the man. He dumped out the coins and counted them in front of her. She was insulted, but didn't say anything, as he was the only man for the job. Satisfied with the number of coins, he turned and pulling a metal rod out of the fire, began pounding, sparks flying everywhere.

The silver colored hammer pounded on the metal. Bang bang! The ringing repetition of the sound drove Marian out of the shop and back to Locksley Manor. Hopefully, Maxwell would have everything prepared for Robin's very special birthday present.

o0O0o

The fourteenth of October dawned crisp and clear, and all of Locksley was readying itself to celebrate the Earl's birthday. Bridget Thornton was running around, skirts flying, like a chicken with its head cut off. The cooks and bakers were going through their last minute preparations, tables and chairs were being set up, and small children were being forced by their mothers into a bath and their Sunday clothes.

While Robin was caught up in welcoming their guests, Marian was working on executing her plan. She let in Maxwell through a back gate and hid him in the stables, telling him to wait until the time was right.

Unfortunately for Robin, he remained completely oblivious to any sort of deception that Marian might be planning.

o0O0o

Troubadours and jesters were distracting the crowd and making them merry. The feast was magnificent; the villagers were delighting in the hospitality of the Earl.

But crouched in the shadows behind the high table, a man lurked quietly, waiting for his chance. The Lady Marian was going to signal to him… until then he had to content himself with his vigil….

Dusk was making its way across the skies when Marian's handkerchief dropped to the ground; the white against the dark ground was almost an illusion of surrender.

Maxwell silently slipped through the gloom to the high table.

Bang!

Several villagers shrieked at the noise; one woman saw a goblet of spilled red wine and, assuming it was blood, fainted dead away.

Robin did a double take between his wife and the sword before realization crossed his features. He laughed, and hearing that, the crowd began to recover.

It was a birthday gift, from Marian, judging by the mischievous grin that graced her features. The insignia of his old gang was painstakingly engraved into the pommel, courtesy of Maxwell and his famous silver chisel and hammer.