Baby Edward's bee sting did not prove serious. Fresh mud drew the stinger out and soothed the pain, but Robin and Marian completely missed Allan's highly entertaining and saucy tale.
Early the following morning, just before dawn, Marian woke her husband as he was about to cross over the threshhold to another nightmare. Marian was well accustomed to the signs of a nightmare approaching, and she was glad to be awake to save Robin from his chilling dream.
Looking all about his room to get his bearings, Robin breathed out a heavy sigh and raked his fingers through his hair.
"Thank you, Marian," he said haltingly. "I nearly went back there again."
"Come here instead," she invited, lying beside him and opening her arms. He slid into her embrace, letting himself be cradled in her arms.
The sound of birdcalls heralding a new day greeted them as they nestled together in their bed. It had been a warm spring night, and they had slept with the windows open. A soft breeze stirred the air.
"Hmm," Robin sighed. "I can smell a hint of your garden from here. Roses. Or is that you?"
Grinning, he burrowed his head playfully between her breasts and kissed her through her nightdress. Marian rolled onto her back and squirmed gently, smiling brightly. He moved up to kiss her lips.
Her eyes opened wide when he playfully grabbed her bottom. He was snickering as he kissed her, and she shoved at his hands and pulled away.
He continued grinning at her, his face wearing its most mischievious look.
Marian wasn't truly annoyed, but it was part of the game to pretend to be. "Robin of Locksley," she scolded, but she couldn't keep her own grin from breaking through her stern expression, "I offer you comfort and security, and you grab my...! How would you like it, if I-"
She reached behind him and squeezed his tight little backside as hard as she could. Soon, they were engaged in a competitive, romantic tussle.
Their conversation did not stop, even as they play wrestled, for Robin had a lot on his mind and needed Marian's advice.
"You need to keep the children occupied here today," he told her, between nibbles on her earlobe.
"Why?"
Robin stopped the game and looked at her seriously. "Do you remember the other day, when I said everything was well in Locksley?"
"Isn't it?"
"No, Marian, it's not."
"What is it?" she asked with genuine concern, leaning up on her elbows.
He pulled her back to him and wove one hand through her hair, letting his other hand slide gently up and down her back.
"Just rumors, I hope."
"Stop being so evasive, Robin. You can trust me. What rumors?"
He stopped his caressing and told her, "There are rumors of a witch living in Sherwood, Marian."
She scoffed, sitting up and shaking out her hair. "What's so unusual about that? Ever since I can remember, people have spread stories about witches living in the woods."
"I know. But I need to make sure there's nothing to the tales. Livestock have gone missing."
She gave him a look of disbelief. "Again, that's nothing new. Outlaws still roam the forest, Robin, though the bloodthirsty ones now living there aren't fighting for justice, just for survival. Who's to say they haven't grown tired of squirrel meat, and snuck into the village to steal something else for their supper?"
"You're probably right," he agreed, though he still looked worried. He hadn't told Marian about the unearthly wailings heard coming from the forest after dark, nor the plentiful figures fashioned from twigs strung up on trees.
To Marian's disappointment, Robin climbed out of bed and began dressing. "I'll stop by Bonchurch to collect Much, and he and I will see if we can put a stop to the rumors of witchcraft."
Marian leaned back on the pillows, watching him arm himself with knife, sword, bow and quiver. Her husband truly was taking the rumors seriously.
"Be careful," she sighed. "And if do you find a witch, don't let her cast her spells over you," she teased. "I expect you home before supper, the same Christian warrior who left his wife so unsatisfied this morning."
"Unsatisfied?" he chuckled. "Alright. I'll be sure to come back. You know how I love a challenge."
"Just stay safe," she murmured quietly, when he returned to kiss her goodbye.
He left her with the kiss as his only goodbye, and in almost no time at all she heard Arion's hoofbeats thundering away toward Bonchurch.
The sun had just begun to rise. Sighly heatedly, she rolled over in the bed, hoping to catch a bit more sleep before her children awoke to play in the sunshine of a new spring day.
