Hi everyone! I'm back :), missed my original reviewers, hope you've all been doing well :) I would like to thank "orangesatan" for giving me a reminder to start this and "blitzXcoleen4ever" who had also given me many reviews on my previous fanfic.
To my new readers, welcome! I would like to point out this is a sequel though if you wish to read from here, it's not impossible to pick it up, my first one is called "Robin Hood Becoming Royalty." One last thing though, this is only going to contain 10 chapters at most as my writing is so pressed for many different things, but I promised a sequel and here you go :)! x
The beginning of spring, brings new flowers to bloom, and symbolises the start of a new year. With the christening of the cubs Olivia and Forrest it also brought about the start of their life as the new prince and princess of Nottingham. The morning of the christening had been a rushed one, despite Robin's hope that it would be much more relaxed, and as he sat beside his wife Maid Marian, in their weekly royal meeting, both only wished to be with their new children. 'Item nine,' the owl began in his droning voice, an hour into the meeting, Robin and Marian exchanged exasperated glances at this point, 'umm I'm sorry but please may we continue this tomorrow?' Marian began politely, the owl looking up at her before bowing his head slightly. 'There will be no need for that, I shall finish for you and Robin today,' Richard said calmly coming into the throne room, the new king and queen thanking him graciously as they left the room, sighing contently as they returned to their bed chambers.
'You know this morning; I would've given anything to be back in Sherwood Forest with no worries…' Robin admitted thoughtfully, Marian glancing at him in understanding. Robin had never experienced the responsibilities which came with being a member of royalty, and remembering the first time she met him, she yearned to have the freedom he had. 'Do you believe the children will grow up to love as we have done…' Marian muttered, Robin turning to her with a coy smile, as he put a hand around her back, lowering her slightly as he kissed her passionately. 'Of course they will, being a King may be strange, but being by your side, makes every moment worth it.'
'We'd better get ready, after all what would happen if anyone walked in?' Marian said with a laugh, Robin replying simply 'I'll lock the door,' it was then that he pulled her close to him, his forehead resting against hers before a knock came to the door.
Groaning as Marian went to answer it, Clucky came in the door, wearing a sky blue dress with a big hat upon her head. 'You two not ready yet?' she said grinning as she came farther in 'no the meeting this morning held us back a bit…' Marian admitted Robin nodding in agreement coming beside his wife.
'Well you two had best be ready soon the christening's in an hour, Robin you go and finish getting ready with Little John, and I'll help you get ready Marian and do the back of your dress dear,' she instructed, Robin wanting to stay but listening to these orders as he left the room, the long gold coin hanging around his neck shining brightly from the sunlight that shone into through the castle.
As Marian and Clucky were left alone, her previous lady in waiting instantly began to help Maid Marian get ready. 'Do you ever think that the children will resent me…' Marian questioned feeling that Clucky would understand where she was coming from, her hastily adding at Clucky's horrified expression. 'It's just they will grow up within these castle walls as royalty, which was something I often found tedious…what if they wish to have been brought up the way Robin was? With no boundaries surrounding them…'
'Marian dear, you have turned out perfectly, as has Robin and you are both regarded as heroes in your own right, I do not believe that the children will grow up in the way you fear. They shall have your looks matched, with a way of life that is free in spirit, whatever royalty has in store from them…besides I'm sure if that rogue of yours could settle in like he has, with the King favouring him, then anything is possible.' Laughing light-heartedly, as Marian brushed her silky fur, the two progressed now to talking about Clucky's upcoming wedding.
'Have the dress makers been in?' She asked
'No…there was something I wanted to ask' Clucky confessed, 'I have seen you sew from a mixture of what I and your mother taught you, and I would like to request if it was not too much trouble, for you to be my seamstress?' Marian turned around looking at Clucky, positively beaming at this 'of course I will.'
'Thank you' Clucky replied smiling, Marian putting on a dress which glimmered silver in the light of day, her own gold chain posing as a good contrast. 'Had any of the guests arrived yet?'
'Skippy and his family have, my how they've all matured so early on…' Clucky remarked thoughtfully, Marian nodding with a smile remembering their first meeting.
Meanwhile, Robin and Little John were completely ready, and went for a walk in the grounds, 'I dunno how women can take so long' Little John complained, his best friend chuckling, after a year with a wife who was fussed by many lady's in waiting and servants, he was only too used to the idea. 'So you ready for the wedding old chap?'
'Not in the slightest,' Little John answered laughing nervously, Robin shaking his head 'it's not that bad you know…'
'Really, well it's easy for you, you gave Marian her happily ever after, and swept her off her feet, like I advised' he replied emphasising his help, which Robin couldn't deny.
'Robin, Little John!' was the next thing the best friends heard as they looked around to see Skippy approaching them, getting a bit taller all the time. 'Well I wondered when you'd be arriving,' Robin grinned, seeing Skippy wearing the hat the young fox had given him a long time ago now. 'Yeah, I came with mother and my brothers and sisters, I've only just been able to get away, they've been fussing over my appearance,' he responded with a groan. Robin and Little John exchanged looks at this point grinning, when Skippy asked 'where are Forrest and Olivia?'
'They're in the nursery, you'll see them soon, we should get going in for the christening…' Robin remarked, Little John nodding as they crossed the grounds ready to go inside for the christening.
Being reunited with the girls, Robin and Marian went to the throne room where the christening was to be held, their children lay in golden cribs giggling childishly as their doting parents looked over them, letting the children take their hands and it was as Marians chiffon veil fell forward that Olivia took a piece of it in her hand, holding it tightly which made Marian smile, her daughter looking the perfect image of innocence as they sat gazing up sweetly. Looking at Robin and resting her head against his shoulder, Robin put his free arm around the vixen who stood beside him, the door going, and the couple turning to see the guests enter and take their seats. As Friar Tuck entered the room, nodding to them with a smile, they both left the cribs and went to sit in their thrones, still feeling strange at being risen above everyone else, their crowns resting upon their heads, glittering with the jewels set into them.
As the guests came in, those who had been knighted approached the front, bowing and wishing a blessing upon the baby prince and princess of the kingdom. Skippy among them making his blessing aloud, 'as long as I stand I vow to protect the prince and princess no matter what it costs, my pride in being one to fight for good will remain as long as I live.' Putting a hand to her mouth as she smiled, fighting back tears, Marian hadn't been the only one touched by Skippy's pledge, as his mother and many of the others in the room that day made a short applause, Skippy backing up proudly to follow those others knighted, Little John now coming up. 'I dunno how I'm going top that one, but if you can understand this, you guys are gonna grow up to be just as brave and courageous as your parents, and that's all that matters.'
'I never thought today would make me cry,' Marian muttered, as tears rolled down her cheeks, Robin holding her hand as the christening continued.
As the weeks passed Clucky's wedding to Little John came surprisingly quickly, and as it were the children were able to now walk and talk, their aging quicker than normal of course, and so as the day before the wedding came, Marian was busy finalising the last touches to the dress she made. The bodice done with small white beadwork across it's velvet fabric, and long sleeves that stretched out had been hand-crafted from the finest lace, leaving the skirt of the dress which had been made from many layers of silk and chiffon, giving an all-round perfect dress. As Marian sat, finishing her needlework before standing up and holding it out, the vixen smiled at her handiwork, pleased that it was now complete. Setting it across her bed and going to the wardrobe, Marian then skimmed through her wardrobe, pulling out the pearly pink dress she intended to wear, the silky touch of it against her skin, was something she found were soft, and after now going to her dressing table and pulling a pretty hairpiece of three silver flowers to tuck into her hair, she had her outfit ready.
Going back to her sewing, Marian now started the easy job of designing the veil, after wearing so many herself and seeing the beautiful styles that had been made for her, Marian knew how to make one with some ease. Taking the white material and doing a double layered veil, so it would come across, she had just begun to stitch along when Clucky knocked at the door. 'Come in,' she said after quickly pulling a sheet over the wedding dress when she relaxed seeing Clucky at the door. 'Oh good here you are,' she remarked coming in the room, and seeing the sheet across the bed covering something underneath. 'Is that it?' she asked with growing anticipation, Marian nodding as Clucky dared to lift it, uncertain of what to expect but gasping as she saw the finished dress. 'Marian…it's so beautiful,' she said running a feathered hand across the soft fabric, 'well would you like to try it? After all I need to check the fittings okay,' Marian suggested, her best friend quickly complying and taking the dress to the spare room.
The day of the wedding had gone smoothly, with Marian helping Clucky get ready, before doing so herself, the hairpiece she had chosen making her look a lot different compared to the veil that she normally wore. As Robin adjusted Little John's tie that morning, the bear shook a little nervously, 'you'll be fine, stop worrying so much,' Robin had insisted, Little John nodding looking a little shaken still. As they got to the church that morning, the gentle warmth travelling through a soft breeze, Clucky's veil blew about slightly, Little John unable to take his eyes of his bride, as she walked down the aisle, Skippy's younger sisters, Scarlet and Lyla throwing flower petals down the aisle in front of her. As Robin and Marian sat together, giving their royal blessing in honour of their best friends wedding day, she whispered tenderly in his ear, 'I need to tell you something later,'
'What is it?' he whispered back softly, Marian looking up at him and taking his hand she placed it across her tummy, whispering calmly 'I promise I'll tell you later…'
As they exchanged their vows, Clucky and Little John were seen kissing for the first time, their friends cheering at this point as they both walked back down the aisle, rice and confetti was thrown over them, Marian thinking it were alike her wedding as they exited and went straight on their honeymoon, Robin coming behind his wife and slipping his arms around her waist. 'What would you say to a third addition to the family,' she whispered to him, Robin turning her round to face him, as he welled up barely managing to utter. 'Really...?'
'Yes,' she answered sweetly, Robin pulling her closer happy at their growing family.
Hope you enjoyed R&R the more reviews the more chapters quite simply, night! x