Chapter 37

Nottingham Castle

Marian rose from the bed early hours of the morning and ran to the bowl that was in her room. She emptied the contents of her stomach and slumped against the wall next to it. Robin had stirred when he felt her leave the bed and now was sitting looking up at her. Most nights when he would stay she would wake in the morning feeling sick.

"Marian, please let me take you to a physician." He said worried for his future wife's health.

"No Robin I am fine. I feel brilliant now." She said rising from the floor to join him in the bed. He wrapped his arms around her and sighed.

"Marian, this isn't normal."
"Robin, please." She pleaded with him, tears starting to brim in her eyes. Robin looked to see tears streaming down her face.
"Why are you crying?" He asked completely confused, she was never like this something was really wrong with her and now for a little over a week she had been ill.

"Because you won't listen to me." She sobbed.

"Sshh, it's alright. If you don't want to go I won't make you." Robin soothed. He held her too his chest gently rubbing her back and then the bells rang 4. "Time to go." He sighed. Marian moved from his chest all traces of tears gone, he looked down at her. "It's only a few days until your birthday." Marian smiled to him knowing what followed after his birthday.

"That means its only one extra day until our wedding." Robin smiled back to her. He leaned across the bed having dressed himself and kissed her passionately. "I cannot wait to marry you Marian."

"I can't wait either." She sighed, relishing his touch, lately she had been going from completely contented to severely aroused in a blink of an eye. She pulled his face down to her again and their lips met. Robin moaned with pleasure. She pushed her weight onto him and rolled them over so she was straddling Robin. Robin's hands began to explore her back. She continued to kiss him her tongue exploring his mouth. Marian could feel Robin arousal growing as well. He pulled back staring at her with wide eyes.

"Marian, I really should be going." He whispered.

"You said so yourself the nights are longer." She whispered covering his mouth again. "It will be dark for hours." She moved her mouth to his cheek and then down his neck nibbling as she went, Robin gasped squeezing her body tighter to his. Marian gasped as she felt him she quickly pulled his shirts over his head, Robin sat up with her still in his lap pulling her body closer to his burying his head in her neck. Marians head lolled backwards with delight. She shifted in his lap as he lay back down and she quickly pulled his trousers down. Robin's head was swimming from Marian's sudden passion, he completely lost himself when they became one.

Marian was singing as she strolled through the castle corridors. Allan was sat in an alcove and laughed to himself.

"Having a nice day." He asked Marian, as she walked passed him. Marian jumped and immediately stopped singing.

"You scared me." She said turning to face him.
"IM not surprised. Look Marian be careful." Allan warned.

"Why?"

"The sheriff has noticed a change in you, he's not as gullible as Gisborne Marian. If you start prancing up and down these corridors his suspicious is only going to grow. He doesn't believe that you and Robin aren't having something to do with each other."

"How do you know?" Marian asked suddenly concerned.

"I overheard him and Gisborne talking, and just so you know, from today onwards there is always going to be a guard on a post, no change over anymore. He needs to be careful." Marian gasped at Allan's statement and then began to cry, even she did really understand why she was, leaving Allan even more confused.

"Hey, don't cry." He said rubbing her arm. "You just need to be more careful." Marian sobbing worsened, Allan stood opened mouthed, and he awkwardly pulled her into his arms and gave her a hug. She sobbed into his shoulder getting tears all down the front. "Marian come on don't cry. Look it will all be ok." Marian lifted her eyes to his.

"You think so?" Marian asked sounding like a small child.

"Yeah sure." Allan said. "Now go ride your horse or something."

"Thank you Allan." She smiled and continued down the corridor.

"Marian."
"Sir Guy."

"You've been crying." He said.

"Yes, I stubbed my toe on my door." Marian replied smiling, she suddenly grew faint. "Guy." She mumbled before she fell to the floor.

She awoke in her room to find Gisborne and the Sheriff's physician leaning over her.

"Marian, Marian I bought you a physician." Gisborne said as Marian sat up.

"No, no need." Marian refused. "I'm quite alright."

"Well I will be the one to judge that." Blight piped. "Sir Guy, if you will excuse us." Sir Guy nodded and left the room.

"Give me your hand, mi'lady." Blight said. Marian held her hand up and blight examined it, pressing into certain points. "Now your foot." Marian kicked of her boot and held her foot in the air. Again Blight examined it. "Hmm all seems normal here." He poked her breast.

"Ow." Marian yelped. "How dare you?" She scorned wanting to slap the man.

"Hmmm, tell me my dear are your breast always so tender."

"Well I don't know, I'm not normally subjected to such poking."

"When did you last have your monthly purge?" Blight asked.

"That is none of your business."

"Are you expecting it soon?"

"Yes, yes." Marian said.

"Very good, once it happens it should all right itself." Blight said happy. He got up and walked to the door. He opened it to see Gisborne on the other side. "The patient will be fine, everything should right itself in a few days. Just rest and recuperation."

"Good, thank you Blight." Gisborne said. "Marian are you alright?" He asked as he stood in the doorway.

"Yes I'm quite well thank you." Marian smiled. "I would just like some rest."

"Of course I will leave you to it." Gisborne shut the door and walked down the corridor. Marian sat on the edge of her bed, she tried to remember when she was due and she was sure it was a week ago, she was late and she was never late. She need to visit Sophia.

Knighton

"Hello Lady Marian." Sophia said opening the door to Marian. Marian stepped inside and gave Sophia a hug.

"Hello Sophia, how are you?" Marian asked.

"Im quite well, how can I help you?" Sophia asked. Marian took a breath she couldn't just blurt out what she was thinking she would need to find a tactic.

"Well as you know, I and Robin are getting married in a few days." Marian said.

"Yes, Mark and Adam are so excited." Sophia smiled. "I've actually made you a lovely dress." Sophia said. "Would you like to see it?"

"Of course." Marian beamed. Sophia walked into the next room and then bought out a beautiful gown. It was white and covered in lace with a beautiful long train. The lace was in the pattern of the blossoms on the tree outside Locksley and Sophia had even crafted a vale to match. Marian fingered at the lace, it was beautiful, and she began to well up.

"Oh Sophia it's beautiful."

"I made it for your first wedding to Robin, you haven't changed shape much at all. Would you like to try it on?" Marian nodded, she swallowed and headed towards the back room. When she emerged Sophia gasped. "Oh Marian you look beautiful and it fits perfectly." She smiled. The door opened and Adam walked in. He gasped when he saw Marian stood in her beautiful white dress before him.

"Wow Marian, you look absolutely stunning. Robin is a lucky man." Adam sighed. "I'll leave you to it." Marian smiled to him and then turned to go back to the room to take the dress off and Adam went back out into the village.

Marian emerged in her ordinary clothes again and sat in the chair by the fire. "Why didn't you give it to me for Gisborne's wedding?" Marian asked.

"It didn't feel right. I made it for you and Robin and I always hoped that maybe that wedding wouldn't happen and this one would." Sophia smiled. "And I was right to hope." Marian smiled sadly. "Marian what's wrong?"

"What if I'm not a good wife?" Marian asked. "What if I don't do things right or when we go to court I don't fit in. When the king returns I'll be a countess. What if I'm not worthy?" Marian sighed sadly.

"Marian, there is nobody more worthy of that man's love and of the title you will gain. You are a beautiful person inside and out." Sophia smiled.

"Sophia, how did you know when you were carrying child?" Marian asked quickly. Sophia looked quite shocked.

"Well you miss your monthly purge is the start and your normally sick in the mornings, you can be dizzy." Sophia said. "Why do you ask?"

"I just worry that when the time comes I won't know."

"Don't worry Marian, you are going to be a fine wife. Sophia smiled.

"Thank you, Sophia. I best get back."

"Alright. When you need the dress you can come back for it." Marian nodded and walked towards her horse. She mounted the horse and sat in the saddle, Marian placed a hand over her stomach.

"Well we had better tell daddy about you at some point." She whispered to her belly and then headed back for Nottingham. Sophia had been stood in her window watching and she smiled to herself, she knew Lady Marian far too well to be fooled by her act, Sophia knew.