Four

Locksley kitchen's we bustling with servants. Much was going to and fro from each task making sure everything was running smoothly. Nothing could go wrong today, it was not allowed to. If it did, it put Master Robin's future at stake. A future Much very much wanted him to have. It would make his master happy in the thought of the nagging voice in his head, which had strived there for years would finally subside and go away.

Master Robin? Where was he? Much ran from the kitchen and searched the house hurriedly, Lady Marian would be here soon, and he could not risk Robin himself not being ready upon her arrival.

'Master?' he called out into his bedroom. 'Master are you there?' he heard the muffled Come In! of his master who was submerged in his closet.

'Ah Much, just who I needed. You know how important today is, now which do you think. The olive or the beige?' he held up two identical in style shirts in different colours.

'I do not think Lady Marian will mind Master.' Much spoke truthfully.

'Even so! I want to look my best to ensure the desired results!' He rushed about his bed chamber trying everything in his power to calm down. He kept putting his hand in his pocket and sighing. Much saw this every 5 seconds or so and shook his head.

'Then the beige master, it goes with the brown trousers better.' Much smiled and walked out of the room for his master to change. 'I shall go send for her lady now!' he said as he darted down stairs and fetched a horse and carriage, and a driver, from the yard of the manor.

Nothing can go wrong for my Master not today. This is meant to be. Much smiled, he had always seen it between them. Even when they were hiding it from everybody else, Much could still see it. He liked that his Master had found happiness so easily. Thornton had always told Much of how Robin had known Marian since he was five or six, Marian just three or four. Much, like everybody else in the households, knew of their parents arrangements. But it had been scraped a few years ago when Edward and James had seen their children together.

And in light of that day, Robin and Marian appeared to grow closer ever since.

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A carriage pulled up in the courtyard to Nottingham Castle. Marian did not know what was going on, and she did not like it at all. Robin had never kept secret from her before. Something inside of her tingled whenever she thought of the different possibilities. It always jumped back to one, but she shook it off. He would not. It just didn't seem to her the Robin thing, no matter how 'set in stone' the situation he wouldn't

888

'Master!' Much called from his look out position in the roof of Locksley Manor. 'Lady Marian's coach is approaching! Are you ready?'

Robin slipped his hand into his pocket in a panic. Okay it was there. Yes he was ready.

Much emerge from the hide, and came to Robin's bed chamber. 'All the food has been prepared and is ready for when you want it. As far as Thornton and I are concerned, when you and Marian are inside we are setting up the blanket and food by the pond, correct?'

Robin was lucky Much was so calm, or he seemed so, he remembered every detail. 'Yes, I shall meet Marian from outside. Then I shall bring her into the main room, giving you and Thornton about 2 minutes to set it up, is that enough time?'

'The food is ready to be taken so yes, that will be enough time.' Much smiled at his master. 'Okay, now go! Otherwise your Lady will be here and you will not be!' Much smiled at Robin once again. Finally my master will be happy. He smiled and turned checking that Robin was following him downstairs. He's so nervous, he has no reason to be, Lady Marian would be a fool to say no to him today. Not that she will anyway.

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Marian could see Locksley Manor now in clear view, and she also saw a figure emerge from the house, one that she had grow very attached to, close to, over the past year or so. She was 16 years old, only just, they had been so close for so many years, it seemed funny how over the last four they had grown even closer. Physically rather than mentally it would seem.

Mentally they still shared everything with each other, thoughts and feelings, worries and fears, loves and general pleases. It also pleased her to think of the future they would have together, she was getting ahead of herself, but if the one thing her mind referred back to over and over in her thoughts of what tonight had in store, those thoughts of a future were by no means in vain.

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Robin shifted on his feet more times in that one minute it took for Marian's carriage to reach the courtyard than he had ever done so in his life. The thought of this evening going belly up, were about ten to one, but he was still nervous. He had loved Marian for going on thirteen years; his world would collapse if she were to refuse his offer that night.

The carriage drew closer and he could see her. She was wearing what he would consider her most flattering and his favourite dress. It was cream, embroided at the hems with swirly patterns in different coloured threads. It clung in all the right places, even if Robin did think so himself, and he did. It made her look stunning. She had also made an effort with her hair. It was pulled back, but was loose out the back, curling at her shoulders and down her back, a real work of art.

It pulled up in front of him now, and instead of getting Thornton to open the door as he usually did, Robin himself made that extra effort as it seemed Marian had for him. Maybe she knew what was coming? Maybe Much had told her? No he wouldn't, he wouldn't ruin Robin's moment. Would he? No.

'Marian' Robin smiled, nodding at her as he offered her his hand to 'help' her out of the cart. Nobody knew why men deemed it necessary to do it, the women could walk perfectly well out of the carts, it just seemed like a polite gesture.

'Robin,' Marian beamed back, greeting him with a quick kiss on the lips once she had landed elegantly on the hard ground. 'I trust all is well?' her heart flickered, that smile he wore always did it to her. Her stomach knotted, as did his. But neither really understood why.

'Oh it is,' he couldn't stop smiling, and his smile was contagious. Marian knew that she too would be grinning like mad woman from ear to ear. It was like this scene had been run through so many times, both knew what to do, both knew what to expect, except they didn't.

Marian took Robin's arm as they headed into the manor, chatting about the different things that happened since they had last seen each other about three hours before.

'My father is suspicious of you Robin, he is more anxious about this news of yours than I am. And I must say I am intrigued. I must ask you what it is.' Marian pushed; she needed to settle her mind, let alone her stomach.

'All in good time fair Lady, all in good time' A stall, a good one, but annoying all the same. Much had waited to see them enter the main living area of the house before ushering the other servants into the main village to set up the night's events.

'Robin I must insist, please tell me!'

'No, you must wait, a few minutes longer; you will like it I promise.' He smiled broadly, not that his smile had faded; it just got smaller a bit, but never faded. Robin see Much pop his head through the door silently and nod at him, about two minutes later. Here goes. 'If fair lady would care to accompany into the village, I would be most honoured.'

'I must say Robin, you are acting very strangely, please just tell me!'

'You must learn to wait.' Robin laughed

'Do not tell me what to do Robin' Marian frowned, but she was not angry about such things as she would normally get, which was surprising considering how annoying Robin was currently being. Why wouldn't he just tell her? She screamed inside her head, but wore a tired smile on her face.

'It is not time'

'Do not tell me when it is the time!'

'Just wait Marian! Trust me, it will be worth it!' The cheekiest of his grins flashed then, that annoyed her, him knowing something she didn't, that drove her mad!

Marian gave in with a sign and she followed Robin to the village. She saw several candles lain out by the pond, and a woven mat. So this is what the wait had been about. As they neared the spread of food and drink Marian's eye lit up. With her ever growing smile getting to about as big as it could get.

'Robin, this is,' she was speechless, that was a start, never had he managed that one before, 'this is…'

'Don't, if you can't' Marian smiled at this; it wasn't often that that happened either, that she smiled in response to an order. 'There is more than this, I mean; this was not the reason I asked you here.' Marian turned to him, a cute look of seriousness washed over her features. 'Do not fret, it is not bad, well, it should not be bad.' He laughed suddenly very nervous, 'At least, it is not to me.'

'Then I pray Robin, please tell me.' Marian took a hold of his hand, that usual spark shocked them both.

'You promise not to run away when I ask?'

'Robin, just ask me already!' Robin laughed, as did Marian, both nervous, now she knew what was coming and she had an answer.

'Very well,' Robin, with her hand still in his, reached into his pocket with the other and knelt on one of his knees. Butterflies surged through Marian's stomach; Here goes the rest of my life! 'Marian, these past few years I have never been happier, each moment I have spent by your side marks my heart, and I shall never forget a day. I have never loved any one else, from the age of six, I've never looked anywhere but at you, and it hurts. You're the twinkle in your father's eye and I can see why.' Just get on with it man! 'Marian, will you do me the greatest of honours, and marry me?'

Marian smiled, tightening her grip on Robin hand, 'I could not imagine, spending my life in the presence of anyone else.' Robin smiled, slipping the silver band onto her small finger.

'With this ring, I bid thy nearly wed,' he laughed, standing slowly, still with her hands in his grasp. Marian raised her hand to his neck, pulling him down to her level, kissing him softly, in thanks and appreciation. He hadn't disappointed her or her father. And he had been straight about it. That pleased her more.

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Much stood in the shadows of the village watching the events unfold before him. He saw Robin lower his form, and saw him stand after grabbing her other hand. He could tell this was a good sign and sighed, his Master would be happy. Butterflies flew around Much's stomach, Romance made him teary, and he could feel them forming in the corners of his eyes now. Then he saw her kiss him. A tear fell, a happy tear. Much smiled to himself and took one last look at the couple before him.

'My work here is done' he mumbled before slipping back towards the manor to leave his master and lady in peace.

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This was a day that Marian nearly cried, happy tears, but yet again her cheeks stayed dry. She felt the happiest she had in the 12 long years she's had known Robin, no matter how happy she was when she first laid eyes on him. How happy she was on their first venture, their first walk, their first Saturday outing, their first kiss. However good they had made her feel this had made her feel a hundred times better.

Robin was the same, unable to wipe the smile found his face as they sat within each others embrace eating the food lain before them. They watched the moon glint the ponds water silver, cast silver linings over the clouds and watched the stars appear. Neither dared wonder what they were or how they got their, but they both enjoyed the site, the company they were in.

Marian fingered her ring, looking at it every now and again sighing in happiness. She knew from then on, that not only would he be there for her, he would be there with her, by her side, forever.