"Bless you Master." The old woman stretched up to her full height to kiss Robin gently on the cheek. He still had to bend at the waist to allow her to do so, but he smiled as he did it. He stroked her arm and turned to the next woman he and his gang had handed money to.
"May we be worthy Robin?" She said earnestly and grabbed his bicep with one hand.
He smiled and patted his hand over it to get her to release her grip, "You are indeed, you are."
Robin turned to see the rest of his group, his friends handing out money to all the families of Knighton. They were not in the village itself, more in the outlying part near a large farm.
There were only nine or so families living in the houses there, but every one of them benefitted from his gangs work.
His eyes settled on Marian, who was crouched in front of a woman who had her hands on either one of her children's shoulders.
Both could have been no older than seven, and were at just over Marian's eye level.
They must have been twins, for both had light hair and wide blue eyes.
He walked a few steps so he could hear what his wife was saying.
"And what are your names?" Her voice was gently running over her words like flowing water.
"Robert." The boy answered almost immediately. He possessed a self assurance Robin doubted even he had had at that age.
The girl looked at her mother, then at her brother, who rolled his eyes when she remained silent.
"This is Kate, she doesn't say much."
Marian smiled and looked at Kate only. "Oh but I bet that means you listen to everything isn't that right?" She laughed quietly and the young girl smiled.
Robin watched as Marian winked, "It is not an awful quality to have. In later life you will find it very useful I am sure."
The children's eyes were locked on her as she shifted to reach behind her. She unfolded her hands to reveal a bag of money. The average size they gave to every family. No one got any more than anyone else, no one any less.
He watched as Kate and Robert's eyes went wide and they both looked up at their mother in sync.
"My name is Marian." She said and smiled at the children.
"I knew it!" Roberts cry made Robin chuckle to himself. He stood with his arms folded watching the scene before him.
"Are you married to Robin Hood?" Kate's voice was timid, but it carried over both her mothers and Marian's laughter.
A smile played on Robin's mouth as he saw Marian unwrap her left hand from around the money sack and show Kate the ring on her finger.
"Wow." Kate peered closely at it and then smiled at Marian.
"It is beautiful." She said seriously.
Her mother and Marian laughed again. Robert was examining the money that Marian had given him.
"Well thank you." Marian laughed, "You both need to be good for your mother okay, until we come next week, can you do that for me?"
Both children nodded as though their lives depended on it.
Marian chuckled, "Thank you."
She stood and smiled at the woman before her.
"Thank you my lady." She smiled at Marian.
Robin watched as his wife looked back down at the children and then back up at the woman.
"It's just Marian now." She was serious.
The woman shook her head instantly, "Never. You are the lady of the manor, and you are lady of Locksley as well. Never let anyone tell you otherwise... my lady." She added at the end, remembering her station beneath the woman before her.
Marian smiled, "Thank you... Mary." She finally remembered the woman's name.
Mary too grinned, "You are most welcome my lady."
Robin straightened as his wife turned and walked towards him. He extended his hand and she took it willingly.
He turned them to walk towards the awaiting gang who were stood at the edge of the village.
"You know..." Robin's words were cut off by the sound of loud horse hooves and a stallion neighing.
Marian was pulled into the shadows of Mary's hut by Robin. She was held tight against her chest, one of his hands on the small of her back, the other pressed against the house by his hip, level with his knife.
They watched as several horses, all mounted by guards rode past.
Robins eyes narrowed as they stopped before the burnt down manor.
The shell had been groomed for pieces of useful wood and pieces that would still burn by the people. As hard as this had been for Marian at the time, they all knew that times were hard.
It was a small satisfaction to Marian that even her destroyed home could help people.
Mary and her children remained outside, watching as the men dismounted.
The man at the front of the group, atop a white stallion was wearing dark purple robes and was vaguely familiar to both the hidden outlaws.
He was no older than Robin, and his eyes burned with deep emotion.
Robin glanced over his shoulder to see his gang crouched in the tall grass some way away.
They were safe as long as they remained hidden, of that much he was sure.
The men were still surveying the burnt manor.
The outlaws watched as the man in purple turned and paused when he was facing them.
"You there!"
Robin froze as did Marian as they turned and walked over directly towards them.
As his fingers tightened around the hilt of his knife, Robin held his wife tighter to him.
Their excursions in the Holy land meant he had become fiercely protective of his wife, even though they had all survived, Will and Djac had been married, and it was all as good as it could be.
"My lord?" Marys voice made them all relax.
True to their thoughts, Robin and Marian both glanced to see the man in purple stood towering over her.
Kate and Robert were tight to their mothers side. They looked up at the man with wide eyes.
Marian looked down to see Kate's eyes on her.
Silently, she shook her head.
The child seemed to understand that she and her husband must remain hidden, as she looked up at her mother, and then at the man before them.
"Can you tell me what happened to the manor?" He demanded.
Mary was stiff with politeness, "There was a fire my lord. The lady and lord stayed in the castle until his death. She married the former Lord of Locksley; none of us know exactly where they are now."
"Does she come often?" His tone was harsh. Neither Robin nor Marian liked it.
Mary however, used to speaking politely to people above her station and above her care nodded. "Sometimes yes, although her visits are too scarce for me to predict when she will come next." She had anticipated his next question.
Her answer however, seemed to displease the man in purple.
His eyes narrowed and he reached harshly into his pocket and thrust a letter at her.
"I trust I can give you this." He spat as Mary took it from him.
"Keep it for the Lady when she next returns. It is important." With that he turned on his heels and marched towards his horse.
No one breathed as they galloped away.
When Robin an Marian immerged from their hiding place, as he other outlaws did, Mary was waiting for them.
Marian walked forwards and took the letter from the woman.
"I'm not being funny, but it can't have been that important for him to leave it with a wench." Alan said. Robin glared at him and he turned to Mary.
"No offense."
Mary paid him no mind and her eyes turned to Marian, who was staring at the letter in her hands.
"Marian?" Robin's voice was anxious. He appeared at her side and ran one hand through the back of her hair.
She swallowed and turned it over to show him the seal.
Robin froze and she looked up at him with wide eyes.
"It's from my Uncle."