After feasting on the buck Robin had shot in honor of Tuck's unexpected visit, Marian privately asked the friar whether he would mind taking her Confession.
"I agree readily, my child," Tuck responded, "on the condition that I first make a confession to you."
"What is it?" Marian asked, leading Tuck to a place of relative privacy.
"I wanted to let you know why I left the shire without telling you goodbye, just when you seemed to need me most."
It was true that Marian had needed Tuck's solid presence at that time, and she had worried when he suddenly turned up missing. Her father had assured her nothing ill had befallen the monk, but had said no more than that.
"I left upon the advice of your father, God rest his soul," Tuck told her kindly. "The new sheriff was suspicious of me for not telling him all I learned from your father's Confessions, and was planning to have me tortured to draw them out of me."
"Believing you knew plans to overthrow him," Marian said, saddened and angry all at once.
"And of course, I didn't. Had I been unscrupulous and told the sheriff what your worthy father confessed to, he would have laughed to hear such small sins. But Sheriff Vaisey had no sense of what drives good people to make Confession. So now you understand why I needed to disappear. I hope you will forgive me."
By way of forgiveness, Marian reached out to hold the corpulent friar in her arms. He was more family than priest to her, and it filled her heart with a sense of peace to have him back.
"And why did you return?" she asked politely.
Tuck laughed jovially at her question. "Everywhere I went, the talk is all of Robin Hood! The very name inspires hope, and keeps the downtrodden and oppressed going. I confess, at first I discounted the tales of this bold outlaw who robbed from the rich to feed the poor, but when I discovered he was Robin of Locksley, I took notice! No one but our Robin could do such brave, audacious, and clever feats! I had to journey here and see for myself."
"Robin wouldn't agree about it being 'no one' but himself. We're a team, you know, all of us in the greenwood."
Tuck smiled. Still competitive with Robin, was she? That should make for a lively marriage! It was a mighty good thing Robin was blessed with such a good nature! And sweet Marian, too, for that matter.
"Well now," Tuck said, getting down to business, "I believe you have something you wish to unburden to me, and to God."
"Several things, really. It's been a long time since I made Confession, father."
Tuck arranged his face to one of serenity, and waited, longing to offer absolution to this lovely young woman he loved like a daughter.
"Bless me, Father, for I have sinned," Marian began soberly.
"What sins have you committed, my child?"
Marian drew in her breath, then released it slowly. What she had to say was difficult, especially to one whose good opinion she valued so highly.
It helped that Thor and Ceasar lay stretched out at her feet. Brownie wouldn't leave Robin's side, now that they'd been reunited. Marian reached down to stroke Thor's head.
"I've lied, stolen, and even killed, father, but those crimes were done for justice, and therefore, do not burden my soul. What plagues me are my willfulness toward my father, and...and one other crime."
"Well, let us resolve the question of your willfulness first, shall we?"
Marian went on to tell him how the last words her father ever heard from her lips were, "I'm ashamed of you sometimes." She still had not forgiven herself for that, despite the comfort Robin brought her with her father's final message.
Tuck was touched, and pleased to be in a position to help.
"You have no idea how many times your father confessed to me the sin of pride."
Marian looked surprised. "My father was the least proud man I've ever known!" she objected.
"His pride was all for you. He was constantly bragging to me of your beauty and accomplishments, but mostly of your spirit. He admired you, my child, as much as he loved you. And I think you know how deeply his love ran."
Marian swallowed. "Thank you," she almost whispered. "You have no idea what that means to me."
Tuck only smiled. "There was something else, I believe?" he prompted.
Marian cast her eyes down on the two dogs at her feet. This confession was a bit more difficult to admit.
Taking a deep breath, she charged ahead. "I sinned carnally outside the marriage bed," she said, her words spilling out so quickly they almost seemed to trip over one another. "I offered myself to Robin before we were man and wife, and I...I think God's punishing us by not giving us children."
She lifted her eyes to Tuck's face, her expression pleading with him to assure her it couldn't be so.
Before he could offer her words of comfort, the sounds of shouting erupted from the outlaw camp. Ceasar and Thor lifted their heads, sniffing the air.
"What's happening?" Marian asked, jumping to her feet and running toward the shouts.
Tuck followed far behind, but when he reached the others, his eyes beheld Kate looking nasty and defiant, the others staring flabbergasted at her, and Robin sitting by the fire with his head in his hands.
"What's going on?" Marian demanded.
"Unbelievable!" Much shouted. "Kate's...Kate's burned the Pact!"