Part 29

1214

The celebrations were in full swing, with music, dancing and laughter filling the senses of those who partied into the evening. The bride and groom had left for their wedding night by then, but still the guests enjoyed the feast, socialising with friends, and family that they had not seen for a long time.

Will leant casually up against a tree watching Dan chat up a pretty fair maiden, then his eye caught hold of someone entirely different. This character was sitting on a tree stump with his head on his hands looking sadly at all that was going on around him. Remembering his promise to Robin, he pushed himself from his perch and went to chat with Much.

"Much," Will spoke softly, gently luring Much from his daydream.

"Will," Much replied, with a half hearted smile. "Did you enjoy the wedding today? How does it feel to be back in the place where you were born? Where we fought for so long for freedom."

Will sat down cross legged beside Much, the ground was damp but it went unnoticed. "Odd," was his single word response.

"Odd, why?" Much asked interested.

With a long sigh Will replied. "I have not been back to Locksley for thirteen years, it has changed, there are more homes here now. The manor has been extended, but my memories of what I had and lost here have not withered or changed at all."

"Djaq," Much muttered. Then it was his turn to sigh. "I know all about loss."

"I know, you and me, we have something in common. But I have a son and that must hurt you to see." He watched Much nod in the light that was provided by the torches which hung from several trees about the perimeter of the wedding venue. "But you do have your memories and because you loved Ann and Arthur you still have so much to give."

"I do? I do not feel as if I do." Much said, a forlorn expression upon his face.

"Much, you knew love once; you have it inside of you, to know love again. It does not have to be the same kind of love but it is in your heart buried within."

"Did you find another love after Djaq?" Much asked, needing to know if the words that Will were speaking were true.

"Yes but not in the concept of the love a man has for a woman. I found love in helping slaves. Slaves like Djaq, they are still brought over to England ever year, not from the Holy land, but from countries that we can only dream about their existence. I help to free them and set them up with a life for themselves here, in England. The love I had for my wife gave me the love and the desire to help those who were in a position she had once been in. Look outwards and not inwards and then you too will see that you can love again, somehow."

"Mmmmm," Much uttered letting Will's words sink into his mind. "You might have a point there. I have been known to wallow in my self pity and perhaps I have been too …too well taking Robin and Marian's hospitality for granted."

"Do not do anything rash," warned Will. "You will know when the time is right, it will call you and you will find the answer here, in you heart." Will added, placing his hand over his own heart to emphasis the point.

Much nodded slowly and then looked up to see that Dan had come up to them. Will took his leave, walking back to Robin's house with Dan by his side. Much breathed out deeply and chewed over Will's words.

Marian was swaying to the tune which was being played on a fiddle in her arms Abigail was sleeping, weighing her down. Much stood and took a deep breath, perhaps now was the time to start looking outward rather than inwards. He walked towards them and offered to take the little girl so that she could spend some time with Robin. Much knew one thing, time with the one that you loved was a precious gift and Robin and Marian should make the most of each moment they were lucky enough to share.

With the sweet smelling child in his arms he sat against a table leg and watched with a satisfied smile, the first for longer than he could recall. Marian walked up to Robin and caught his attention by cupping his elbow, he turned and faced her and even in the moonlight Much could see their expressions of fondness for each other. Instead of dancing to the music from the fiddle, they embraced and stayed like that a while, just content to have a small moment of the day to enjoy each other and be at peace without someone begging their attention. Much watched as Robin kissed the top of his wife's head and she settled into his embrace. With Abigail in his arms he finally felt as if he was letting go and perhaps he could move on with his life as Will had with his.