The stars came out and Robin stepped outside his camp, hoping for a few moments alone to try to think up various plans to rescue King Richard. Kate, discovering him, ran over to join him.

"Supper was awful," Kate complained. "Much is a rubbish cook."

"He did his best," Robin said gently. "I, for one, am grateful for anything to eat. There are too many people who will go to bed hungry tonight."

"I always used to be hungry, while you were gone at war. That's what I'm grateful for...that you came back."

"That's kind of you, Kate." Knowing he would get no peace, he decided, "I think I'll finish my ale by the fire."

"I'll come, too."

He resigned himself to her company. Heading to the fire circle, they were soon joined by Much, who had finished his evening chores and wished to spend time with Robin before bed.

Kate scowled at Much, but Much was his usual pleasant self. "Oh, hello, Kate. The three of us can talk about all the good times we used to have in Locksley! Well, not the three of us together. I only mean how nice the village used to be, when we lived there and you were lord, Robin. We should find Will, and he can talk about it, too."

"There's Will," Kate mentioned, "already sitting by the fire. But he looks busy, talking with Djaq."

"They do look cozy together!" Much approved. "Who would have guessed they'd be married?"

Will and Djaq were not the only two seated around the fire. At the opposite side, Marian was seated beside Isabella, and the two of them were smiling and talking. A deep foreboding came over Robin, and he wished he could pull Marian away.

"Go sit by Marian," Robin told Much. "You, too, Kate. I'll be with you in a moment."

He wanted a minute alone with Will and Djaq, to see whether they had overheard anything Isabella might have said. But the happy couple had other things on their minds.

"We've been debating names," Will told him. "What do you think of Daniel, if it's a boy?"

Robin was moved. "I think it's a wonderful name for your son. And a fine way to honor your father."

"I am glad I was able to meet him," Djaq added. "We are thinking of using my real name, if she's a girl."

"Saffia would be lovely," Robin said. "I'm really glad for the two of you. Have you shared your news with anyone else?"

"Not yet."

Robin realized they were both too shy about it to say anything. The only reason they'd told him was because he'd discovered Will making a cradle. "Excuse me," he said politely. "I need to join my wife."

He walked past the fire to the other side of the circle and answered Marian's smile with a concerned look.

The only seats among the group were either next to Kate or Isabella, so he chose to remain standing.

Marian rose and took his arm, easing away some of his tension. "Isabella was telling me about all the trees surrounding Locksley, where you carved our initials," she told him. "I never knew you did that!"

"I did," Much said. "Remember, Robin? Your father caught you at it, and put an end to it, saying you were...what did he call it? Defacing trees, and dulling your knife. As if trees had faces!"

"I knew a child had done it," Isabella said. "The carvings are low on the tree trunks. The bark has grown over, but you can still see the 'R + M' within a heart. I didn't tell you, Marian, what Guy's reaction was, the day I pointed them out to him."

"Knowing him," Much said, "he probably ordered the trees cut down!"

Isabella knew it was in her best interest not to scorn the idiot servant, as she wanted to. He had actually been grateful for her company while he prepared supper tonight, allowing her access to Marian's plate while no one had been looking. She was waiting now for the small dose of poison she had sprinkled over Marian's food to take effect.

She continued her story. "No, but he was so enraged he went on a frenzy, hacking away the hearts and initials with his sword. It was your fighting the tree trunk today, Lot, when you couldn't see, that reminded me of the story, and I couldn't wait to tell you, Marian."

"My wife doesn't need to be reminded of Gisbourne's anger," Robin snarled. "And his name is Much."

Marian gently pressed her husband's arm. "It's alright, Robin. I'm touched you carved our initials when you were a boy. I did my own carvings, but it was on apple peelings, not trees."

"Did you try to make the peeling into an 'R?' " Isabella asked. "I used to practice peeling apples with a knife to make a 'P,' for Prince Philip. He's King of France now, and I've never seen him, but I wanted to marry him when I was a girl living in squalor, in France, imagining myself a princess."

"I was peeling an apple in front of your brother once, and he mentioned knowing about trying to find the initial of the man the woman would marry. I wondered at the time how he knew."

"And did your peeling spell out a 'G' that day?" Isabella asked.

"I was still trying for an 'R,' and I couldn't let him see, so I ruined the peeling on purpose."

"Well, I never did it," Kate said. "We were so hungry, we ate all the apple, when we could get one, core and stem and everything."

"Not the seeds," Much said. "They're said to be poison!"

"They taste good," Kate said. "I ate plenty of them, and I'm not dead."

Robin stared hard at Isabella, so she gave him her most smoldering look. She thought about standing between him and the fire, where the light would shine through her nightdress and reveal her shape underneath, but worried that the vial of poison she'd strapped to her garter would show.

"We should ask our expert on poison," Robin said, glaring back at Isabella. "So, are apple seeds dangerous, Isabella?"

"They contain a very miniscule amount of arsenic, a deadly poison," she answered. "But not enough to do any harm."

Marian drew in her breath, frowning. "I'm feeling a little tired," she said. "I think I'll go to bed."

Isabella hid her smile, knowing that Marian felt worse than merely being tired.

"Goodnight," Robin said to the group, leading his wife away.

Once they arrived inside their shelter, Marian changed into the white nightdress identical to the one Isabella wore and lay down on the bed.

"I'd rather you didn't spend time alone with her, Marian," Robin said, removing his belt. Sitting down on the edge of the bed, he removed his boots and socks. "You were right about the way to handle her, I admit, but that doesn't mean we let our guard down."

Marian lay on her side, facing him. "Oooh, I'm feeling a little ill."

"Ill how?" Robin asked, concerned.

"I'm dizzy. And my stomach hurts."

His worry was replaced by hope. "Is this how you felt before?"

"When before?"

"When you were...you know."

"You aren't making any sense. It hurts!"

Robin realized she wasn't pregnant, but actually sick. "What do you need, Marian? Do you want Djaq?"

"No, it's just cramps. It must be something I ate."

Robin immediately suspected Isabella, but he knew she had not sat near Marian while eating supper. He had been busy while Much had been cooking, so he hadn't seen Isabella lurking about "helping" him prepare the food. "You didn't eat or drink anything later, around the fire tonight?" he asked.

"No, it must have been that stew Much prepared. Squirrel never agrees with me." She groaned softly. "I'll be alright, Robin. Just hold me, please."

Lying down beside her, he took her gently in his arms and kissed the top of her head. "Goodnight, my love."

Marian drifted off into a troubled sleep, but Robin lay awake, his mind active with plans and concerns.