There was a reason that rabbit was a common feature on the outlaws' menu. John had many snares and traps throughout the forest. Marian was running frantically checking each one with Djaq trying to keep up. "I found one!" Marian held the rabbit up in the air like a prize.
Djaq smiled at her, "do not get too attached. We will have to kill her."
Marian shrugged, "she wouldn't be the first furry friend thrown in a stew. Let's get her home." Marian was petting the small creature as the made their way back, "so how are you and Will?"
Djaq smiled, "we are courting."
Marian squealed nearly causing the rabbit to jump out of her arms, "that is so exciting. Is that what was going on when you guys walked off yesterday?"
"He gave me a present."
"I'll just bet he did."
"Marian, marriage has given you a dirty mind," she playfully swatted at her friend. "He made me a comb with a lily carved in it."
"And," Marian prodded.
Djaq blushed, "and we kissed. Quite a bit. He is an amazing kisser." She looked over at the other woman, "Marian, what am I supposed to do? I do not know how to be courted."
Marian smiled, "I think you are doing just fine. There are no rules and regulations when it comes to courting. Well there are, but I do not think that you or Will plan on going too far. Other than that do what makes you happy. If you like going on walks, or giving him gifts, or having intimate dinners than do it. The most important thing to remember is to enjoy yourself."
Once they returned Djaq tied up their four legged friend and prepared her homemade syringe while Marian drank two full flasks of water. She was quickly becoming agitated, "any other time and I would have no problem peeing, but when I need to nothing will come out. Do we have any more water?"
Djaq looked around, "no, but I think you have had enough. We just need to wait for it to pass. Remember to take this cup with you when you have to go."
Robin and Will returned from their hunting trip empty handed. They stopped at the entrance when they noticed a leash in Djaq's hand attached to a small rabbit. "Djaq, since when do we bring dinner to the camp on a leash," Robin asked.
Djaq looked down at the creature tying one end of the leash to her cot, "she is Marian's." She grabbed two water pales and looked at Will, "we are out of water. I thought you might want to come with me."
Will smiled and took the pales from her, walking back out in the cold. Robin rolled his eyes. The entire way back Will had been talking about warming up by the fire, and one look from Djaq sends him back out into the cold wind.
Robin looked at his wife, "what did she mean, 'she is Marian's'?"
Marian hated to lie to Robin, but she could not bring herself to tell him yet. She wasn't even sure one way or another. She could tell a little fib, and then explain it further once she knew the results. "Well, we found it in one of John's traps, and thought she would be good for supper. Not tonight of course, but in two nights. Right, in two nights she will make a good dinner."
"She? Since when do we check dinner's gender," Robin asked teasingly.
Marian was becoming frustrated, "oh just drop it Robin. I have to go."
Robin tried to wrap an arm around her, but she narrowly dodged him, "but."
"Robin, leave me be. I have to go relief myself," she said as she walked out of the camp.
Robin just stood there and watched her walk away, "but what do you need a cup for," he whispered. He was beginning to think that his beloved wife had lost her mind. One thing was for certain, things were never boring with Marian around.
Robin looked towards the east as he heard soft footsteps crunching through snow. Will and Djaq were returning with two full water pales. Will leaned over and placed a soft kiss on the top of her head. He smiled to himself, marveling in this new found relationship. She was quite possibly the most amazing woman alive and she chose him. He promised himself that he would not let her down. Djaq blushed a deep crimson when she noticed Robin watching them, "where is Marian?"
Robin shrugged his shoulders, "she said something about relieving herself and ran off into the woods with one of our good cups. I think all of the forest air is messing with her head."
Djaq nearly threw the water pale at Robin, water sloshing around the camp, "I need the rabbit." Djaq scooped up their fluffy tailed friend and her kit and ran outside leaving two very baffled men.
Robin looked at Will, "never say I didn't warn you. Women," he shook his head, "completely mad."
---
Marian woke feeling feverish. She carefully untangled herself from Robin and stepped outside to cool off. As soon as she stood up she felt a sudden rush of nausea sweep over her. She ran as far as she could from the camp before she fell over on her hands and knees. Her stomach lurched as tears began to form. She cried silently as her body violently convulsed, expelling the remainder of her dinner. After her stomach was emptied she covered her mess up with clean snow. This meant nothing, she told herself as she began to shake. She was not pregnant. She couldn't be. This was not how it was supposed to happen. She didn't know if the raw burning in her throat was from vomiting or sobbing.
She had spent many lonely nights dreaming of what her life would be like as Robin's wife. They would be happy inside the warmth of Locksley, watching their one to four children through the window as they played outside. Sometimes the number of children changed; particularly on days when Robin annoyed her. There were many times that she thought she would only be able to handle one of Robin's troublesome offspring, but when she thought of his smile and his eyes being reflected in the faces of their children she couldn't help but want a dozen or so.
It was not that she was pampered, or longed for a comfortable life in a manner house. On the contrary, she loved the forest and the freedom it provided. Her biggest concern with having a child right now was the possibility of raising the baby alone. Their lives were very dangerous; Robin's most of all. She did not think she could live without Robin. Her nightmares were filled with a hundred different ways that the Sheriff could have him killed. A child was supposed to have both of it's parents, and Robin could not slow down and play it safe just because he was a father. It was not his way.
