Robin and Much were close on the tracks of a wild boar in Sherwood Forest. Seth was accompaning them on their hunt, but he was purposely lagging far behind, barely within sight. Not because he was tired, or slow, but because he resented them. He resented them for cautioning him to stay close, but mostly he resented their friendliness. It was easy for them to be friendly, he felt...they had everything, and he nothing!
Suddenly, a high pitched squeal pierced his ears, and he froze in terror at the sight of a huge boar bursting through foliage and rushing directly towards him. Stiff hair bristled on its back...sharp tusks aimed straight for his gut! Shaking violently, Seth lifted his bow, but his arrow dropped to the ground before he could release it. There wasn't time to cock another...there wasn't time even to run. He shut his eyes tightly and prepared to be gored.
But he wasn't. He heard the unmistakable whoosh of an arrow, a squeal that was almost a scream, and a heavy thud. He fearfully opened his eyes to see the dead boar resting less than a foot from him. He could feel its body heat. He could smell its blood. An arrow with striped fletching lodged in its back, having pierced its heart from behind, killing it instantly.
The two lords were by his side now.
"Are you alright?" Lord Locksley asked, putting a hand on his shoulder to steady him.
Seth could only nod.
"It's lucky for you, you had Robin Hood here to protect you!" Bonchurch crowed.
"There is no Robin Hood," Seth scowled. "It's only stories."
"You have just insulted your rescuers, young sullen face, I think you'll find," Much told him. "We saved you...twice in your young life already. And when I say 'We,' I mean 'We.' 'We are Robin Hood!' "
"Come on, Much," Robin interrupted. "We've caught our boar. Let's go home."
The boy had suffered a scare and needed comfort. Not only that, but the sun was beginning to set, and he'd promised Marian he wouldn't be late...again.
...
Hours later, Marian pulled a brush vigorously through her hair over and over again. Night had fallen, and she was preparing for bed...delaying going to bed actually.
She purposefully kept her back to their bed, averting her eyes from the not to be missed half naked form of her husband, who lay propped up on elbows, watching and patiently waiting for her to join him. Fully naked, if truth be told, once the blanket pulled past his waist was removed.
Normally, Marian wouldn't care a whit about the condition of her hair when Robin awaited her like this. And she didn't care tonight. She was merely stalling. Something was holding her back from joining him in the marriage bed...something weighing heavily on her mind she needed to discuss before she could crawl in beside him. But how to begin?
He began for her, as she hoped he might. Surprisingly, he didn't say anything cheeky about her taking so long to brush her hair. Ever since they had lost baby Richard, he avoided cheekiness when she appeared upset, opting instead for respectful concern.
"Come to bed, my love," he said, simply and directly. "I want you."
The heat in his voice sent a warm rush of desire through her, but she pushed it down. She put the brush down as well and faced him, glad he had stated his honest feelings. Tonight was a night for honesty, not for love making.
"Robin," she began seriously, "We need to talk first."
He raised his eyebrows and gave her an inquisitive grin. "Well then, come talk over here. I swear I'll listen, and even answer you back, if you'd like. I just want to hold you, Marian. Come here."
His need of her drew a satisfied smile, and she sighed happily as she climbed into bed. He drew her close and held her tenderly against his chest.
"Now, what's so serious you'd rather brush your hair than talk to me?" he asked, brushing the top of her hair himself with his lips.
"It's about Seth."
His lips stopped kissing. He had not expected that.
"Seth? What about him?"
"Robin," she began slowly, "I think you're spending too much time with him. I find it odd you took him with you hunting today...odder still you invited him to eat with us at our table tonight, and arranged to teach him to shoot tomorrow. I think..." She drew a deep breath before spilling out her next words in a rush. "I think you're trying to substitute him for our son...for our Richard."
"I think you're wrong," he stated firmly, his wound from losing their baby reopening.
"I think," Marian continued gently, "I believe you remember saving Seth when he was an infant, and you...like I said, you're confusing the two boys in your mind, wishing you could have saved..." Her voice trailed off at the sight of his hardened eyes.
"I haven't been neglecting you or the girls, have I?"
"Of course not."
"Then what's the problem?"
Marian tried to be gentle. "The problem, Robin, is Seth. I don't want him around our girls. I don't want him around me. He's...depressing. He may even be dangerous."
Robin stared at her grimly. "Because he's like his father? Because he is, in case you haven't noticed."
"I've noticed," she said, her voice rising. "And that's exactly why he needs to go."
He pulled away and uttered a scoffing laugh.
"What?" she asked.
"I should think you, of all people, would want Seth to stay."
"What is that supposed to mean?" Before he could answer, she continued. "I learned my lesson about Gisbourne, Robin. Later than I should have, but I learned it at last. He couldn't be saved...not by me, anyway. He made his own choices, and they were wrong ones."
His insecurities and jealousy toward Gisbourne, buried for so many years, came rushing back like a flood. "You should have learned that years ago, when you were busy scolding me for the mistakes I made. 'Everything is a choice,' you said. Then why did you let Gisbourne off the hook for the choices he made, Marian? Why did you excuse him for his violence and his treachery, over and over again? Just because he showed you a softer side, because he wanted you, shouldn't have blinded you to his faults. But then, you know what they say...'Love is blind.' "
Marian stared at him in defiant disbelief. "I never loved Gisbourne, Robin. How dare you even imply that?" With a furious tug, she pulled the blanket off him, leaving him completely exposed. Clasping it to her chest, she lay down and rolled over onto her side, turning away from him.
"Go find someplace else to sleep tonight," she commanded. "And put on some clothes, for once. No one wants to look at you like that."
"This is my bed, Lady Locksley," he reminded her coldly. "You are here by my permission."
She whipped back around, meaning to say something cutting. But the moment their eyes met, they both melted.
"Robin," she cried softly, "what are we doing?"
"I did not mean that," he confessed sadly. "None of what I said." He took the blanket from her and tossed it aside, then wrapped her in his arms.
She snuggled against him as closely as possible, but continued to hold her ground. "All the same, Seth has to go, Robin. You saved his life...twice. There's nothing more you can do for him."
"He's a boy, Marian," he insisted, stroking her hair. "He can change. Gisbourne was...Gisbourne was grown...capable of making his own choices. But Seth's a child! Let's help him, Marian. Trust me, this has nothing to do with our lost child."
"Robin, have you forgotten it was Gisbourne who killed our first baby, the one I was carrying when he stabbed me? Have you forgotten how he might have killed Ellen, kidnapping her and locking her in a chest?"
"Seth is not Gisbourne, Marian, but he might grow up to be like him, if no one intervenes. Trust me on this. Help me to save him."
Marian bit her lower lip. This seemed all wrong. Their roles from the past had been reversed.
Robin's eyes were so clear, his purpose so defined. Fighting against her inner voice warning her it couldn't be done, that it would only bring trouble, she told her husband she would help him.
