The shadow of the woods was fresh and welcoming, like a green roof over their heads. Robin looked up, with a little smile: he loved that place, it felt like home, almost more than Locksley Manor.
He thought to his house, and wondered how his life would change after the wedding.
He and Guy would share a room, while Isabella would get another one, while Lady Ghislaine would take his mother's place at Malcolm's side.
Robin sighed. He didn't want that. He wanted his mother back, or at least to know that his father was keeping her memory in his heart like a sacred relic. But Guy was right, there was nothing that he, Robin or Isabella could do about it, and they ought to be happy that their parents could find love and happiness again after losing so much.
He glanced at Guy, who was standing at Isabella's side, all serious and quiet.
He's going to be my brother. And she my little sister.
Robin found the idea so strange, that he couldn't say if he liked it or not. He had always been a sociable kid, always trying to get the attention and the love of everyone, but he never had a real family, except for his father.
Isabella was a shy, sweet creature, and Robin felt a sudden tenderness for her, remembering the scene of a few days ago, when she had been so upset that she had been sick. Guy was always protecting her, and Robin felt that now it was his duty too.
He didn't dislike the idea. She was a year older than him, but hes couldn't help thinking of her as a little sister.
While Robin was looking at the little girl, Guy turned and met his eyes. The older boy gave a small, sad smile at him, as if he had read his thoughts, then they both turned to look at their parents who were getting married.
Malcolm put a ring around Ghislaine finger.
It was done. The two adults where husband and wife, and now Robin had two siblings.

Guy sat on the grass, eating a little cake and watching at the villagers of both Locksley and Gisborne: everyone was happy, dancing and eating, glad that the lord and the lady of both villages united in holy wedding.
Guy was still suffering for his father, wishing that his mother didn't have the need to marry again so soon, and that their family could be the same it was before his father went away to war. But he couldn't be angry or too sad when his mother was smiling again after months and months of sadness.
Deep inside he felt some resentment towards her, thinking that she shouldn't be so merry when her first husband was dead and buried, but he couldn't help feeling some relief too.
It was over.
His father was dead, the uncertainty ended. He was no more at war, or sick, and Guy could stop worrying. The worst had happened, and there was nothing that he could do about it.
It was sad, heartbreaking, but he felt also as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders.
Now that Malcolm had married his mother, Guy was no more the only man of the house.
He was just a kid again, with the only duty to grow up and train to become the heir of Gisborne and a brave knight like his father, in time.
Robin reached him, and came to sit at his side. He was holding a honeyed cake in each hand, and he gave one to Guy.
"Father told me to bring one of these to you."
Guy nodded to him.
"Thank you."
Robin munched on his cake, silent for once, and Guy looked at him. He never liked when he used to show off, but the younger kid now looked troubled exactly as he was.
Guy thought that maybe Robin wasn't always so sure of himself as he wanted to show.
He's just a kid. My younger brother, now.
"Where is your bow? I've rarely seen you without it."
Robin sighed, clearly unhappy.
"My father forbid me to take it. He said that he doesn't want to risk accidents during his wedding day."
Guy chuckled.
"He had a point."
"I'm the best shot of the village, you should know by now!"
"It's still not safe to carry a weapon when there are so many little kids running around." Guy paused for a moment, then he smiled. "But Sir Malcolm wouldn't object if you use your bow in the forest, would he?"
Robin looked at him, with a bright smile.
"Oh, I'm sure he wouldn't mind! That's a good idea!"
He jumped to his feet, ready to run home and take his bow, but he stopped and turned back to look at Guy.
"Do you want to come with me? I could teach you some tricks, so you could become a better shot."
Guy rolled his eyes, Robin was being a show off again. He was tempted to refuse, then he realized that Robin had asked him to go and play with him, without being forced by his father.
It wasn't something that happened often.
For a moment Guy thought that he couldn't go, that he had to take care of his mother and his sister, but he realized another thing: he didn't have to.
Ghislaine was with Malcolm, and Isabella was sitting near their mother, with flowers in her hair, looking at the show of the jester and laughing. She didn't need him, now. Nobody needed him to be the man of the house.
Guy felt free for the first time since his father left to go to the war, many years ago.
It didn't matter if Robin was being the usual cheeky show off, he was free to go and play in the forest, to spend the rest of the afternoon just having fun.
He smiled back at Robin.
"Yes, I'd like to. And I'll take a couple of wooden swords from home before we go, so we can play with them too."
"But it's not fair, you're taller and stronger than me! You'd surely win in a sword fight!" Robin complained.
"And you are a better shot than me. Maybe we can learn something from each other."
Robin looked at him, in awe. Instead of competing, they could use their differences to improve themselves.
"So we'd both become stronger!"
Guy smiled at him.
"It's a good idea to cooperate if we have to be on the same side, don't you think?"
Robin nodded. Being family with Guy wasn't so bad after all.
"I will show you all the special places of the forest where you can find wild apples and sweet berries. But you must promise you won't tell anyone or the other kids will eat them all."
"I promise," Guy said, solemnly. "And I'll teach you to recognize the herbs. Maman taught me which ones are useful to treat the little wounds and how to use them."
Robin held his hand out to Guy, with an open, sincere smile.
"We have a deal, then!" He said, and Guy took his hand.
"Yes, we have. Now let's go to play!"
"The last one to arrive to Locksley Manor is a donkey!" Robin yelled, beginning to run, and Guy followed him immediately.
"Hey, it's not fair!" Guy's voice was menacing, but his expression was amused while he raced with Robin, enjoying that run.
They were rivals, they were friends, they were family, sort of.
But mainly they were just two kids who were having fun playing together.