Later that night, Marian sat up in bed, wanting to help her husband, but wishing he could put aside his plans for a few hours and join her.

Much had told the gang all he knew of their narrow escape today, and Marian, knowing she might have lost Robin, longed to be close to him. His mind, however, seemed completely preoccupied with his duty to King and country.

Robin paced the small room of their forest shelter, his head formulating plans to rescue King Richard. "We'll need horses, both to get to the coast, and after we arrive in Normandy. It'll be quicker to travel over land until we reach the mountains. Then we might have to book passage on a boat, depending on the roads."

Marian stifled a yawn, not from boredom, but simply because the hour was late. "Where exactly are we going?" she asked.

"Ask me when first."

She rolled her eyes. "Alright, Handsome. When?"

"As soon as Tuck returns from Leicester. I expect him back tomorrow. Princess Johanna might know something about her brother's whereabouts, and every bit of information is crucial now."

Marian looked away, somewhat hurt. The one and only time she had met Her Royal Highness, youngest sister to King Richard and Prince John, widow of the late King of Sicily, now wife to England's Earl of Leicester, the two women had despised one another. Jealousy had turned Johanna spoiled and cruel, more like her brother John than Richard. Yet Robin counted her a friend, insisting she would do all she could to help her favorite brother, the king.

Robin noticed the hurt in Marian's eyes. "It's alright," he said soothingly, sitting beside her on the bed. "Johanna was never a threat to us, Marian. No one can threaten our love." He smoothed her cheek with his thumb and kissed her lips.

She returned his kiss with an intensity that spoke of her need for him.

He understood her desire, wanting her always, but felt it his duty to think of the king at this moment. "I love you," he told her sincerely, "but I can't give you my full attention, until I think this through."

Marian felt disappointed, but she loved the hero as well as the man she had married. Longing to be a hero herself, she repeated her earlier question. "I ask you again, Robin...where are we going?"

"That's the difficult part. I'm not exactly sure."

"Much said Isabella told you where the king is."

"I think she lied, Marian. She said Aggstein Castle, but the name meant nothing to the sheriff when I mentioned it. Vasey would know where Richard is before Isabella would. It was his scheme to hold him captive, after all."

"So that Prince John might remain regent, and be crowned king if Richard dies without an heir. We have to save him!" She thought for a moment before asking, "Should we begin at Aggstein Castle, do you think?"

"It would be better to have someone with us who knows the country. I was thinking of your friend, Count Friederick."

Marian couldn't help smiling. "Bavaria borders Austria. Friederick travels extensively, gambling. I think that's a wonderful idea, Robin, if we can find him."

Robin was pleased. "I saw Aggstein on a map. It's just south of Bavaria, along the Danube River. Do you know where the Count lives?"

"His home is in...Munchen, I think he called it."

"That's Munich. It's Bavaria's capital."

"But he urged me to visit him at his summer home, a place called..." She thought for a moment, trying to remember. "Tegernsee," she recalled at last. "He told me it's almost as beautiful as I am."

Robin had an uncomfortable moment of jealousy, but his drive to save the king helped him put it aside. "I saw Tegernsee on the map, too," he told her eagerly. "It's on an Alpine lake, just north of Aggstein. If your friend the Count happens to be there, he can tell us all about the castles in the region. Do you think he'll help us?"

"I think so. I believe I can convince him to join our side, Robin. He did before."

"You'll be my secret weapon, Marian, should the Count prove difficult. You're impossible to resist."

"You're having no trouble."

Robin, feeling he had half a plan, grew happy and confident. Putting aside his work to devote himself entirely to his wife, he took her in his arms and teased, "What's this about him urging you to visit?"

"Jealous?" she asked.

"Of that undersized German?" He laughed, then lay on his back, giving a good imitation of the count. "Ach! Meine Dame, you must come visit me at my summer hideaway. Your eyes are bluer than the Alpine sky."

"He's very charming," Marian teased him proudly.

"I'm charming."

Marian lay over him, her hands in his hair. "He's wealthy," she continued.

"I used to be."

"And funny."

"I'm hilarious, when I want to be."

"He's a good fighter."

"Not half as good as I am." Robin rolled her over so that he now lay on top of her.

Marian aimed to win. "He isn't vain."

Robin grinned, then smugly said, "I wouldn't be either, if I looked like him."

"Robin! Don't be unkind."

"Can he do this?" He caressed her body and kissed her, slowly, deeply, making her tremble and long for more.

Breathlessly, she answered, "I don't know. Should I find out, when we visit him?"

Robin snickered happily, then sat up and pulled his shirt off over his head. Marian stopped being playful when she saw the bruises from Gisbourne's beating. "Robin, you're hurt!"

He looked down at his bruises. "Gisbourne broke my bow today, beating me with it. Luckily, Luke the Bow Maker supplied us with plenty more Saracen bows."

Gently, with heartfelt sympathy, Marian kissed each bruise. "My poor, beautiful Lord of Locksley. Whatever happened to your sword?" she asked him softly.

"My Saracen scimitar?" He sighed. "It's somewhere on the bottom of the Meditterrean. I threw it overboard, on the ship returning home."

"Because you believed me dead?"

He nodded, remembering the anguish he'd felt during that horrible time. "I wanted to fling myself into the sea so I wouldn't have to feel anymore, but I threw my sword instead."

"I'm so sorry you had to suffer, Robin."

"It's over. You're here, I'm here. Nothing can separate us again, my love."

"Nothing."

They kissed again. She undid the lacing on her nightdress and let it slip off her shoulders. Robin caught his breath, excited and moved by her loveliness. He remembered the words he had told Gisbourne, that he and Marian had been made for each other. Nothing in the world could be truer to him than that.

...

The following day, the gang visited Locksley, passing out money and trying to meet needs before their upcoming trip abroad.

Gisbourne was already in Nottingham, and Meg, as the new Lady Gisbourne, was making her position felt.

The kindly Thornton, Locksley Manor's steward, explained Meg's behavior to Robin and Marian. Hidden among freshly laundered bed linens hanging out to dry, Thornton said, "She changed overnight. She lords her position over everyone, except of course her husband."

Robin tried to be fair. "Let's hope she softens. It's only her first day as lady of the village."

"She has no idea how to behave," Marian said. Jealous that Meg now held what Marian considered her own rightful place in Locksley, she added, "Someone needs to teach her manners."

"Will the village be alright?" Robin asked. He'd already informed Thornton of his gang's upcoming voyage, and realized he ought to leave some of them behind to continue their work in the shire.

"We'll manage somehow, Robin, without you," Thornton said.

"I won't desert you. Some of my gang will be here, to help where needed."

This was news to Marian. She wondered who would stay and who would go. She felt relieved there would be no argument about her going. She was needed after all, to help with Count Friederick.

They watched as Meg pushed Thornton's daughter Bridget from the house. "I told you I wanted it done right! You can't eat, until you fold it the way I want, you lazy slovenly girl."

Thornton took special offense at his hard working daughter being scolded. "I can bear all things, Master," he told Robin. "I learned, serving a cruel master."

Meg began ordering the guards. "Get those filthy peasants off my property! Let them dig their own wells if they're thirsty." She stormed back into the manor.

"It should be interesting, when Lady Isabella returns," Thornton said. "I anticipate sparks, with both women wanting to act as Lady of the Manor."