Chapter Three

They reached camp about fifteen minutes later and were greeted warmly by Little John.

"So, you finally decided to return, eh, Robin?" he boomed, embracing Robin roughly and clapping him on the back.

Little John's name was a misnomer; he was anything but little. He was almost seven feet tall, weighed approximately three hundred pounds, and was wider than Robin and Will Scarlet put together. He was just big-boned. His long black beard and hair were always tangled, and he rarely just spoke anything—he shouted it.

He became even louder when he noticed Marian, who was standing shyly behind Robin.

"Ha! And who might this be?"

"Little John, this is—"

"Marian," Marian interjected. "Pleased to meet you."

"We sort of…ran into each other in the forest this morning," Robin explained, fixing Marian with a meaningful stare. She grinned at him sheepishly. "The sheriff is after her as well."

"Well, well, well," said Little John. "Guess she'll just have to stay here then!" He threw an arm around her shoulder and began to lead her further into the camp. Marian giggled a little nervously and glanced back at Robin, but went with Little John willingly enough.

As Robin watched them walk away, he noticed a few of the men peeking heads out of their tents or looking up from their work curiously, their eyes following Marian appreciatively. Robin found he didn't much care for the looks she was receiving.

He began to follow after her and John, shooting death glares at the men around him until they took the hint and returned to their tasks.

Later that night after supper, the entire camp sat around a large fire they had graciously constructed to welcome Marian to their settlement. After a few minutes of polite conversation, someone brought up the question of how Robin and Marian had come across one another.

"Well," Marian began, clearly enjoying all the attention. "I had been wandering the forest for three days and three nights, you see, trying to stay hidden from the sheriff." Her eyes were bright with enthusiasm. "I believed myself to be the only human occupying this part of the forest, so naturally, when I noticed Robin, I assumed he was one of the sheriff's men hunting for me. My sense of self-preservation immediately kicked in, so I lunged and wrestled him to the ground!"

Robin rolled is eyes. "Don't forget to mention that you were holding a dagger whereas I was empty-handed," he reminded, but the men shushed him.

"We fought long and hard," she continued, "and I almost had him, but then he threw me off him and we both jumped up and started circling each other!"

Her audience was riveted.

"Then we began to fight!" The crowd gasped. "We both got in a few hits, but then by sheer luck Robin overpowered me and removed my mask. You should have seen his expression when he realized his worthy opponent was a girl!"

Everyone laughed, especially Little John, who had taken a great liking to Marian. Robin scowled at him.

"That's not precisely what happened," Robin muttered, but no one heard him.

Everyone continued the conversation, asking Marian questions about herself, bragging about their many adventures and triumphs by outwitting the sheriff's men, telling jokes and vying for Marian's attention. She won them over effortlessly. They were all impressed with her bravery in facing Robin, and she kept them entertained with stories of her escape from the sheriff and her life beforehand.

She'd lived in the heart of Nottingham with her father and two older brothers for all of her sixteen years—her mother had died when she was an infant—but all three of the men in her life were off fighting in the crusades and therefore were rarely ever home. Most of the time she was alone. She easily won the sympathy of every man in the camp, with her sweet, clear voice and large brown eyes. But, as he rubbed the bruise on his arm where she had knocked into him that morning, Robin couldn't help but wonder if maybe she was putting on a just a bit with the helplessness charade.

"You know," Little John said to her, "you remind me so much of my daughter. She's just a couple of years your junior, and I think you two would get along nicely."

"Where is she?" asked Marian. "Why isn't she here with you?"

A shadow crossed over Little John's features. Robin knew how much he missed his wife and two children.

"She is still living in Nottingham with her mother," Little John explained. "It is too dangerous out here for them." He smiled sadly at Marian. "Not everyone is born a warrior princess like you, Missy."

Marian blushed modestly. "I'm no warrior princess," she said quietly. And then, more audible, "I'm so sorry. You must miss them terribly."

"Yes, I do," said Little John simply.

"So," Marian said, speaking to everyone. "Do all of your families live in town?"

The were nods and various yes's.

"All except our Robin here," said Little John.

Marian looked at Robin.

"Both of my parents are dead," he said, not meeting her gaze. "No siblings."

"Nor has he got himself a sweetheart!" Will Scarlet contributed cheerfully. "We've all just accepted that he'll die alone!"

Robin looked down, embarrassed. "I'm only eighteen, Will," he said defensively. "I've got plenty of time.

"And besides," he cut Will off before he could say anything else. "Being a wanted man on the run from the sheriff of Nottingham, I might not live to see nineteen, so it's a mute point, is it not?"

Everyone was silent for a moment as Robin's words sunk in. They all knew the truth in what he said; they were all aware that any one of them could die at any time. But hearing the thought that had been going through each and every one of their heads spoken aloud gave the words new meaning, made them more real somehow.

Little John was the one to break the silence this time.

"All the more reason to find a mate now!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the surrounding forest. Robin raised his head and saw Marian looking at him as John spoke. They both looked away at the same time, embarrassed.

"You want to experience life while you still can, boy." John continued. His tone had taken on a note of seriousness now. "Find as much happiness as you are able."