"Why should you save the King?"

Dumbfounded, Robin repeated Allan's own question to him. "Because, Allan," he responded at last, as if the answer were obvious, "he's our King."

Allan smiled casually back. "Not bein' funny, but if Vaisey was King, would you risk your neck to save him?"

"He couldn't be," Robin said impatiently, still not understanding. "Richard is ordained by God to rule over us. The Archbishop of Canterbury anointed him and placed the crown on his head. I was there! I saw it!"

"Yeah. Well, a sprinkle of oil and a metal hat with a hole through its middle isn't worth us dyin', in my opinion. Sure, if Richard the Lion Fart comes back, you'll be a lord again, so I see why you're so eager to free him. But what about me, oi? What am I gonna have, besides a pardon?"

Robin let Allan's "Lion Fart" comment go, much as he objected to its blatant disrespect. He tried to understand Allan's point of view, but his blind devotion to the King made it extremely difficult.

"I hope you're not counting on that pardon," he said. "I know I'm not."

"What?" Despite trying to appear as though she hadn't been listening, Marian could not hide her surprise. She quickly left Bat's side and approached her husband. "Robin, what do you mean you're not counting on a pardon?"

"Yeah," Allan agreed, just as surprised as Marian. "You mean, after all this, there's a chance Richard Bloody Lion Fart won't pardon us? Not even you?"

"Especially not me," Robin said. "Think about it. Would you be an outlaw, if it weren't for me?"

"I'd be dead if it weren't for you," Allan admitted. "Will, too. But come on, you know the King will give you Locksley back, and all your other titles."

Robin didn't say anything, causing Marian to grow agitated. Looking her husband directly in his eyes, she asked, "He will, Robin, won't he?"

"We can only hope," Robin said, lovingly taking Marian's hands in his.

"But, Robin!" she cried. "After everything you've done to serve him! After everything you've given up! He has to pardon you!"

"He's caprious," Robin said simply. "It'll all depend on his mood. If the hunting's good, or he manages to compose a song without too much trouble, he'll remember me fondly, and grant us all pardons. But if John inspires his pity and family devotion, he might just blame me for upsetting the Prince, and we'll all still be outlaws."

"Bloody hell, we will!" Allan swore. "And as for thinkin' I'd risk my neck for him, not bloody likely! Ask Much to take part in your plan, not me! He'll do anything you say, just because it's you sayin' it."

Allan was angrier than Robin had ever seen him before. He strode away, then returned almost immediately. Pointing his finger in Robin's face, he shouted, "And all this time, I coulda sworn Much was the idiot! I was wrong! It's you, Robin! You're the fool, to follow such a bleedin' King!"

"He's a noble King, Allan," Robin told him, with calm dignity. "A great man, and an even greater warrior. But even he's not perfect."

Robin decided it best to give Allan some time to cool off. Besides, Marian was clearly upset, and he wanted to calm her before presenting his plan to Allan.

"Ride with me?" he asked his wife, tenderly tucking a stray strand of her hair behind her ear.

Marian nodded, and soon, she had both arms around Robin as they galloped madly away from camp on a single horse.

When the horse showed signs of tiring, Robin drew reign and leaped to the ground. Marian immediately followed.

"I sent my emerald engagement ring to pay his ransom," she said, her voice sounding angry and bitter. "I gave you away to him, to help him fight his war. I stood in the path of Gisbourne's sword to save him, and our baby died because of it. And now you tell me, he won't pardon you?"

"I didn't say that. I only said there's a chance he won't. It's not guaranteed."

There was a pause, while Robin let Marian digest the information.

A sudden terrible thought entered Robin's mind, and he asked, "You're not sorry you married me, are you, Marian?"

"Oh, Robin!"

Almost immediately, Marian was in his arms. "Oh, my love," she cried, kissing his face and neck, "Oh, my husband! My sweet, sweet husband!"

Words were not needed when kisses more accurately expressed the depth of her feelings.

"Can we let Bat sleep in one of the bunks?" Robin asked her passionately. "I need to be alone with you."

"Before you go get yourself killed, you mean?"

"I won't. I never do. But I need you, Marian." He paused, searching for the words to convey how full his heart was. "When I raise my bow," he explained, "I hardly know where it ends and I begin. I need to feel that with you."

"Yes," she breathed. "I need that, too."

Their mutual desire threatened to make them give in to what their bodies craved before they made it back to camp, but they stopped their kisses and pulled apart when they first felt, and then heard, the rumble of hoofbeats.

"Oh! There you are!" Much called cheerfully to them, from astride his horse. "It's lucky I found you here! Allan said he's ready to listen to your plan."