"Excuse me, Friar. May I speak with you?"
Friar Tuck, Sheriff Knighton's Confessor, looked kindly upon his lordship's lovely daughter as she stopped him in the inner bailey of Nottingham Castle.
Tuck had known Marian since she was a small child, and had watched her grow into a beautiful, kind young lady with depth, integrity, and principles. Extremely fond of her, he had been worried over her recent illness, and was sorry to see her looking so despondent now, though he understood her sorrow's source. After all, he had been planning to perform the young couple's wedding ceremony, before Lord Locksley left on Crusade.
"Of course you may speak, my dear. It always gives me pleasure to talk with you! Tell me, what can I do for you, Little Flower?"
Marian almost smiled. "You haven't called me that in years, Friar. I'm not a child any more, you know."
"Indeed I do! You have grown up to be a fine young lady, but you see, it makes me feel old to admit it. Forgive me my sentiment, and tell me what you need."
Taking a deep breath, Marian looked appealingly at the kind, fat friar. "The church does so much good for the poor," she began, boldly. "I was wondering, is there something I could do, to help you?"
So! Is that all you need from me, Little Flower? And here I thought it was something serious!
Tuck's response to Marian was tempered by an indulgent smile. "You needn't worry yourself, my dear. You and your father already give generously to the Church, as well as setting a fine example of Christian morality. Really, there's nothing more we need from you."
"But I want to help. There must be something I can do, to be useful to others."
"Continue doing what you already do. You're young, Marian. You ought to be enjoying yourself, with other young people. Let us older folk of the cloth worry about the trials and tribulations in the world."
Frustrated that he didn't understand, Marian's words rushed out like a flood. "But I don't enjoy young people's company! At least, not the young people here anymore. I want to do more than think about what gown I should wear, and which gentleman is eyeing what lady. I'm sick of gossip and meaningless chatter. I want to help people, and make a difference! I can't go to war and free Jerusalem, because I'm a woman, but there must be something I can do here!"
Even though he knew her well, Tuck was still surprised by her passion. Of course, he realized. You miss Robin. You wish you could have gone with him, like Much. Well then, I'll find something you can do, to make you feel better.
"Would you like to help the sisters at Ripley Convent embroider altar cloths?" he asked, thinking she'd be pleased.
"Isn't there something more direct, that doesn't involve embroidery?" she asked. "I don't mean to sound ungrateful, but...Why is it always men who think I'm good for nothing but to embroider?"
Poor Friar Tuck looked so abashed, Marian hid her frustration. "I'm sorry, Friar," she told him. "I'm not quite well, yet. Forgive me."
"Of course I forgive you. Perhaps, if you're still a bit weak, you should rest."
Hesitating to go, Marian looked at Tuck, blurting out, "I need more than superficial forgiveness, Friar! I need absolution!"
Hearing Confession was something Tuck was able to do. Accompanying Marian to the chapel, he took his place in the Confessional and waited, fearing the lass had strayed with young Robin, before they were united by the sanctity of marriage.
"Bless me, father, for I have sinned," Marian's voice spoke out clearly.
Tuck's response was more than rote, for he truly cared about her welfare, and for Robin's. "What is your sin, my child?"
He waited nervously, for she seemed to be struggling to find the words to make her confession. At last, she said with a sob, "I have sinned by loving too well! I love him, Friar, even more than I love God!"
...
(Note: I borrowed the idea of Marian claiming to love Robin "even more than she loved God" from the movie Robin and Marian, because I thought it fit here. Thanks to all of you who send me words of encouragement for my stories.)