Kissing him was so sweet, she nearly forgot her intention to warn him of the sheriff's latest plot. Safely hidden behind the hanging cloths of a market stall, they felt they could go on kissing one another forever, if there was only enough time.
"I brought you a present," Robin smiled down at her, his voice as soft and adoring as his gaze was passionate.
The freshly picked strawberries wrapped in a square of white linen looked juicy and sweet, but the thought of Robin in danger made the cloth resemble a blood soaked bandage, with its crimson stain of juice. Besides, there wasn't time to enjoy them! Marian wasn't tempted to taste a single berry, feeling a need instead to warn Robin of the new threat upon his life.
"Robin," she said, so intently he grew as serious as she. "You're in danger. The sheriff is offering five hundred pounds to anyone who can...who can kill you and bring him your body."
"Is that all?" he grinned, his mood playful again. "That's old news, Marian. He started with twenty, and it's grown steadily ever since. You're not thinking of turning me in, I hope! Five hundred pounds could buy you a lot of horse, making my gift today seem pretty paltry. No wonder you rejected my strawberries!"
"This is no joke, Robin! And I didn't reject your gift! We haven't the time to eat them, that's all! You need to be aware, any stranger could be hunting you. The sheriff sent notices to all the surrounding shires. Promise me you'll be careful."
Her concern filled him with tenderness. Putting down the strawberries, he took her in his arms and gently kissed her. "Don't worry about me. But thank you for the warning. I'll be sure not to trod on anyone's toes in the marketplace today."
"You'll be careful?"
"I won't take a step without looking over my shoulder first."
"Be serious! Someone could plunge a dagger into you, without you knowing it!"
"I'll be fine, my love. Stop worrying. Now, I was thinking, is there any chance you could get away, to Bonchurch? You could look after me there...keep me safe, until this blows over."
"Bonchurch? Robin, this isn't the time-"
Before she could finish, a small, dark headed figure darted between the hangings, into the stall. In an instant, Robin pushed Marian behind him, and stood ready to defend her. But he relaxed when he recognized Daniel, the former stable boy at Knighton Hall, now an honorary member of his gang.
"Sorry to interrupt," Daniel told them, puffing the air out from his chubby cheeks. "I thought you should know, there's a stranger in the market, asking what Robin Hood looks like."
Robin felt Marian grip his arm. "You see?" she asked.
He didn't want her to worry. He certainly didn't! In fact, he was intrigued, and amused. He only hoped he could get to the man first, before Much struck up a conversation with him. Peering through the drape, he said to Daniel, "Good work, lad! You are my eyes and ears! Now, which man is he?"
"There!" a proud Daniel whispered, pointing to a bearded, middle-aged, sturdily built man in rich merchant's garb.
"Stay here." Pulling his hood up over his head, Robin threw Daniel and Marian a wink and a grin, then darted away from the cover of the stall, heading boldly toward the stranger.
Marian's heart tightened in her chest, and her, "No, Robin! Don't confront him!" was heard only by the boy by her side.
"You're his eyes and ears, too, milady," Daniel told her, comfortingly.
"We'll have to be his prayers now," Marian answered, draping an arm around the boy's small shoulders.