Chapter Seven:
The Duke and Francis soon became a regular visitor to Lord Fitzgerald's manor.
Marian found herself drowning her sorrow of Robin's departure into her newly revealed friendship with Francis.
Both young men were very much alike.
Marian sometimes felt rather guilty of her friendship with Francis.
Was it considered a disloyalty to Robin?
No, no, she didn't think so.
Francis was a nice young man and Marian enjoyed laughing (they rarely fought) and exchanging witty verses in each others' company. Their fathers seemed very happy (and even relieved?) at their friendship. In fact, they encouraged it as much as they could.
Looking back, Marian found that she often discovered a stab of pain whenever she viewed her father's reaction to her friendship with both men.
Oh, Robin.
He had not written a single letter to her.
Was something wrong?
In Derbyshire:
"Robin, we must present you tomorrow to the town sheriff. Try to do something nice with your clothes, won't you?"
Robin sighed.
All that his uncle ever wanted was power. Obviously, he just wanted to introduce Robin so that he could have something else to brag about.
"Yes, Uncle."
Oh, how he missed Marian.
He missed their talks, their fights, their times together.
He was sure that they would be the happiest time of his life.
With a jolt, Robin realized that he had not yet written to Marian.
"How selfish of me," he thought aloud. Sitting down, he started composing a letter.
Dear Marian,
Life here is very tedious and I miss you terribly. How are you? I hope you're not missing me too much? Yes, I know you're laughing at that. Don't pretend that you're not. But don't spend too much time moping around. I'll be back before you know it. Yes, I do mean that. Take good care of my handkerchief. I look after your ring carefully. It looks different with a polish every now and then. I hope you're having a jolly time. Make some new friends. That shouldn't be hard. You're really quite social (when you don't bash people up). If you see my family, please send my greetings. I know that is highly unlikely, but try anyway. My uncle wishes to present me to the town sheriff tomorrow. I do not want to go. I'd much rather stay with you and laugh away the time, to dance under the trees and beat you at a duel. Don't smirk at my fanciful thoughts. I'm allowed to have them too. I am very sorry that I have forgotten to write. I was extremely busy. Please don't hold that against me. I did not mean to, and I promise that another letter will come back to you, soon. Send my regards to your father (although he probably doesn't want them for me). Forgive the fact that this is a very short letter. They will be longer in the future. Don't forget me.
Much Love,
Robin.
He smiled as he slid it into a creamy envelope and sealed the opening with red wax. It cooled and molded into the Locksley family crest.
He didn't like the pattern very much, but then again, who was he to complain?
Thinking about Marian made him happy and sad.
What was she doing right now?
(o) - O - (o)
"Where are you?" she called, laughing through the thick, black blindfold.
"Over here!" he called, running away from where he had been, minutes ago.
"Oh, Francis! You've gone again. I don't think I'll ever find you!"
Francis laughed, his golden hair glinting in the sunlight.
Nearby, a bird called, its sweet music humming in the air.
"That's the whole point!" he replied.
"But then the game would be completely pointless!" protested she.
He smiled and sat down. "Come on, Marian. Try harder."
Marian pulled off her blindfold slowly, her smile fading a little. Robin had always said those words to her.
Francis frowned. "What's wrong?"
Marian looked up.
"Oh, nothing. Just remembering…something…"
Francis sighed. "All right then. Would you like a drink?"
Marian shook her head, her fingers trailing the grass. He jumped into the cool shade of the house while she stayed outside, thinking about Robin and what he was doing.
She still hadn't received a letter. Something had to be wrong. But what if Robin really had forgotten about her? Was he happy to leave her and dance into Derbyshire with girls on each arm?
He was a handsome boy. He would have no problem being married.
But had he really forgotten about her?
(o) - O - (o)
"My Lord! My Lord!"
Bernadette swept across the dewy plains, waving an envelope in her hand.
"It is a letter from the Locksley boy! Lady Marian will be pleased."
The Lord Fitzgerald swung around, his eyes shining with the talk of his daughter and happiness.
Yes, Marian had been pining for some while. She had lost weight, hardly smiled, and even started crying when she thought no one was near her.
But he could still hear his daughter's sobs at night. Their rooms were not so far away.
He caught the letter, his fingers tingling with excitement. Marian would be ecstatic when she received the letter. He turned to race away for Marian. But something blocked him.
It was the long shadow of the Duke.
"Remember, Edward. You promised me."
The Duke's face was snarling, condescending, and twisted.
Yes, thought Lord Fitzgerald. But that was when I was a power hungry maniac who didn't think tuppence about my daughter.
As if reading his mind, the Duke replied quickly, "You signed the contract. I have it in writing."
The Lord Fitzgerald stared miserably at this man, his blood pounding in his ears.
The Duke held out his hand and his finger twitched.
Lord Fitzgerald hesitated.
The Duke snapped his fingers impatiently. Very slowly and reluctantly, the Lord Fitzgerald handed over the letter. The Duke snatched it out of his hand and ripped open the seal. The Lord Fitzgerald watched with a lump in his throat and tears swelling in his eyes.
His poor, poor Marian.
What had he done?
After the Duke had finished examining the contents, he handed it back to the Lord Fitzgerald arrogantly, as if it were a piece of filth his royal fingers could not bear to even brush against.
"Destroy it." he said simply.
The Lord Fitzgerald swallowed and said. "I will, later."
The Duke stamped his foot hard against the base. It gave a muffled ring through the stone floor.
"Destroy it, now. Marian must have no connection with the Locksley boy. She must forget about him. Destroy it."
The Lord Fitzgerald thought about his daughter.
He was ruining her. He couldn't bear to watch this. But he also couldn't bear to see his title, land, and money swiped away from him and leave him and Marian penniless on the streets. He couldn't do that to his daughter. He knew the Duke had an immense amount of power. He could do anything he liked to him.
Their family was a speck of dust on his waistcoat. It would be easy to brush off.
The Lord Fitzgerald inhaled deeply.
Forgive me, Marian, he thought. I promise to make it up to you later.
With that, he intercepted the letter, seal, and envelope.
The fire was burning brightly, it destructed so much already.
He stood by the fire, gazing hypnotically over the glittering embers. They fizzled, and cracked and jumped.
With an enormous effort, all the time thinking about his daughter, the Lord Fitzgerald sent the letter fluttering onto the fire.
It lay for a moment, and then shriveled into a charred mixture of dust and heat, the wax melting like the tears sliding down Lord Fitzgerald's face.
AN: I liked this chapter, even though it was a tad short. Review and I'll update soon!