Chapter 10

Locksley orphanage – early august 1192

"Sister Mary!" Marian shouted, the door was locked, this wasn't surprising as it usually was, what was surprising was that no one had answered when she knocked. "Sister Mary please, open the door. It's me. It's Marian." Marian shouted again banging on the door, she had her hood up so nobody would see her. She looked around her to make sure there wasn't anyone watching her. She went to knock again but Sister Mary opened the door before she could.

"Hello Lady Marian, now is not a good time I am afraid." Sister Mary sighed, she looked tired.

"Please I have not seen my son in months." Marian paused as sister Mary did not appear to be listening. "Sister, is everything alright?"

"I am afraid that all the boys are unwell. And we aren't sure what is wrong with them."

"Are they alright? How is Daniel?"

"None of them are life threatening ill, and Daniel is the of the strongest out of all of them."

"Well he is one of the oldest here." Marian smiled. "Do you need some help?"

"No my lady, you might catch it."

"Im sure I'll be alright." Marian smiled and gently pushed past the nun. She walked into the main hall after having deposited her cloak onto the hangers by the door. She gasped as she saw 8 out of the 12 young boys who lived there lying on temporary bunks, many looked pale. She scanned the room for Dan to find him sat by his friend, Mark's bed. "You said none of them were deathly ill." Marian said, as she slowly walked across the room to her son, ensuring she kept her voice low and quiet.

"I was trying to make you go. I do not want you becoming ill Lady Marian." The nun answered.

"I will be fine." Marian smiled and crouched beside Dan. Dan was 5 years old and very intelligent. "Hello Dan, how are you feeling?"

"Mother!" Dan shouted wrapping his arms around Marian's neck and Marian smiled.

"How are you feeling?"

"I am feeling very well thank you." He said slowly, he looked up to Sister Mary and she nodded her head. His nice light up and a smile stretched across his fresh face. He did not look as pale as the others.

"Hello Mark, how are you?" She said sitting on the chair next to his bed, Dan sat on her knee. Mark coughed harshly; he was a few months younger than. Marian winced as he coughed.

"I am alright." Mark croaked, Marian handed him some water.

"Good." Marian smiled.

After a few hour of helping the nuns in the orphanage, Marian grabbed her cloak from the hanger. "Thank you Marian for all you help today." Sister Mary said. "It was wonderful to be able to have a rest knowing that the boys were in good hands."

"You're welcome. If you need anything don't hesitate to come and get me. I want to help." Marian smiled. "Look after him." she said as she turned to look at Dan who was entertaining Mark.

"Don't worry we will." Sister Mary said, "Thank you once again." Marian smiled and pulled open the heavy door. She turned once more to see her son and smiled at how caring he was. She walked towards her horse and pulled herself into the saddle, she waved to Sister Mary before she kicked on her horse and headed home to Knighton.

Knighton

"Marian there you are. I was worried about you, I did not think you would be this long." Edward said as Marian unsaddled her horse. She had a stable boy but had always preferred to do it herself.

"Neither had I. The
boys are not well. Thankfully Daniel is not badly effected but some of them… it was terrible."

"And you went inside?" Edward conformed.

"Of course I needed to make sure Dan was alright."

"And what if you become unwell?"
"Then so be it." Marian replied. "Where is Adam?"

"He is with his brother having some dinner." Edward answered not impressed with his daughter's behaviour.

"Thank you." She smiled and headed into the servants quarters.

She walked into the dining hall of the servants quarters and smiled when she saw them all eating. Sophia looked up from her plate and saw Marian. She quickly stood and the rest of the table followed, the sound of the table moving as the servants tried to stand quickyl

"Lady Marian how can we help." Sophia said.

"You can start by sitting back down and continuing with your dinner." Marian smiled and crossed the room to sit on the side.

"So how was Daniel?" Adam asked after swallowing a mouthful of food. Marian watched Sophia glare at him and open her mouth to scold him.

"It is alright Sophia, I came to speak with him anyway." Marian smiled, Sophia relaxed and continued to eat her dinner. "Has the cow calved?" Marian asked. Adam having taken another mouthful shook his head. He scooped up more food and ate it quickly, continuing until his plate was clean. He swallowed hard and took a swig of ale. "Sorry I did not mean to rush you." Marian smiled jumping down. She knew Adam would finish quicker if she went down there.

"Of course you did. You always do it." Adam smiled and grabbed his waistcoat from his peg.

The pair were walking out to the cow field so Marian could see the cow that was due to calve soon. "So you never did answer me." Adam said.

"What was the question?" Marian replied, she did not even know he had asked one.

"I asked how Dan was."

"He is unwell, all the boys are."

"Oh, do they know what is wrong?"

"Sister Mary did not say." Marian replied, Adam nodded.

"There you go, it's that one there." He said pointing to a cow who had isolated herself.

"She will not be long now." Marian smiled and turned to head back to the barn.

Marian woke the following morning feeling rather ill. She had not been this ill since she had been grieving for both Robin and John. She got herself dressed slower than usual as the room was spinning around her. She grabbed the window ledge to steady herself. Fresh air, that was all she needed, she let go of the ledge and made her way down the stairs. She crossed the room steadily and sat at the table. Sophia presented her with a plate of food, the colour drained from Marian's face and she almost leapt from her seat to the run out the house. Marian made it out of the house, she fell to the floor clutching her stomach. Then the contents of her stomach started pushing their way through, burning her throat as they moved to her mouth. Vomit spewed from her violently and once she was sure there was no more she tried to stand, only to fall back to the fall. Adam was walking across the yard towards the house, when he saw Marian lying on the ground. He broke into a sprint and skidded to the fall next to her. She was lying face down in the dirt, not moving.

"Oh god," Adam gasped. "Marian! Marian, look at me!" He shouted, gently turning her over. Marian groaned, her eyes were shut and she looked deathly pale.

"Marian!" Adam shouted shaking her gently. Her eyes snapped open, and she rolled quickly heaving, the acid from her stomach burning her throat. Her eyes shut again and she fell into Adam's arms. He scooped her up just as Sophia came out of the house. She gasped as she saw Marian. "We need to get her to her room." He said quickly. Sophia nodded and pushed open the door. "And fetch Matilda, quickly." Adam nearly sprinted up the stairs with Marian, he loved this girl like a sister he would do anything for her, and he was thinking of what Robin would do to him if anything should happened to… No it wouldn't, he would not allow it.

He gently laid Marian down on the bed as Sophia rushed into the room with some bowl of cool water. "Who has gone for Matilda?" Adam asked.

"Mark is going, he is just saddling a horse." Sophia said, as she began to wipe Marian's brow that was beginning to sweat and her temperature had risen sharply, she had a fever.

"There is no time to saddle a horse, she is burning up." Adam said and ran down the stairs to the stables.

"Adam, I'm nearly done, I just have to put his saddle on." Mark said.

"There's no time." Adam said.

"You cannot ride Red without a saddle, he is young, and you will be thrown off." Mark replied, fetching the saddle.

"Just watch me." Adam said as he launched himself from the floor onto Red's back, this startled the 4 year old and he shot forward, Adam was on his back with the reins ready to go before he had a chance to become unbalanced. He was already at the tree line by the time Edward had discovered what was going on.

Sherwood Forest

"MATILDA! MATILDA!" Adam shouted frantically riding through the forest to where he believed Matilda's cottage rested. "MATILDA!" As Adam turned the next corner Robin was stood there with the Saracen, who Adam knew to be a girl, and Will. The sudden sight of the outlaws caused the young horse to spook and rear, easily throwing Adam, Red turned and ran but was caught by another outlaw, Much.

"This is an ambus… Adam!" Robin stopped. "What are you doing?"

"I do not have time for this." Adam said taking Red reins.

"Wait tell me what is going on." Robin demanded. Adam sighed he needed to find Matilda.

"Marian is sick, really sick. I have to fine Matilda." Adam rushed. He jumped back onto Red's back. Robin had turned to speak to the Saracen. Adam went to kick on the horse but was stopped by Robin's voice.
"We can help you, Djaq knows medicine." He said. Adam nodded, then so did Robin. "Take Djaq with you, I will go back to camp and get another horse." Adam nodded, and Robin helped Djaq onto the horse.

"Hurry Robin!" Adam said as he kicked the horse, travelling at breakneck speeds back to Knighton. Adam had always been annoyed when Marian had insisted he ride bareback and laughed when he fell off. But now he was so glad that she had done.