"Marian...Marian."
Marian awoke to Robin's voice softly speaking her name. For a moment, she wondered where she was, then remembered they had reached Tegernsee and Count Friederick's summer home. "What time is it?" she sleepily asked her husband.
Robin, she noticed, was already dressed in his rich clothing from the French Court. He gazed at her with an adoring smile. "Nearly eight," he told her softly. "Time to eat."
"That's right, the count said we'd dine at eight. I'm so hungry!"
"Think of Much! None of us has had a proper meal in days. You look very pretty lying there. Where did you find that robe?"
"There are all sorts of women's things to wear here." Reluctantly, she rose from the bed. Never, not even in the French Court, had she slept in a bed so comfortable. "Where's my gown?" she asked.
"A maid servant took it to be laundered. She said you could choose from an assortment of other dresses. And on that tray are jewels for you. Your friend the count is sparing no expense to make you happy, it would seem."
"I'd be happier if he'd let me wear my own gown! Those dresses belong to other women, Robin."
"Such as the one we met leaving here today?"
"Her name is Lady Helena. I asked the maid who prepared my bath about her. She's been the count's mistress these past five years!"
Robin looked amused. "And you're indignant because that means he was in that relationship last year, when he visited Nottingham. You need to be careful of these 'men of the world,' Marian. They collect women like we collect stolen treasure."
"I'm not indignant," she lied, looking at her reflection in a sheet of polished metal while pulling a comb angrily through her hair. "I just don't want to wear someone else's dress."
Standing behind her, Robin snickered, knowing Marian had experienced no difficulty in the past stealing a dress or other piece of clothing off a clothesline and wearing it, even before she'd joined him in the forest. He stopped laughing when he noticed her eyes looking at his reflection. "I love it when you look at me in anger," he said.
She groaned, and he tried to make amends.
"You'll get your dress back, fresh and clean," he told her, coming behind her and holding her around her waist. "In the meantime, enjoy being pampered. You deserve it." His face grew sorry. He wished he could be the one to spoil her, instead of making her endure the rough life of an outlaw. He could at least make tonight all about her, taking his time to make sure she was pleased, instead of rushing through lovemaking like an animal, as he'd surprised himself and her by doing earlier today.
He decided he would ask her to go for a walk around the lake with him after they'd dined. With the moon and stars reflected on its shining waters, and the mountains surrounding them, Tegernsee was a perfectly romantic setting. He would enjoy taking time for romance, loving her as he did, but first, he needed to speak with the count about his mission to rescue the king.
Marian realized that Robin did not want to waste time waiting for her to be ready. "Go on," she told him. "I'll be along shortly."
Gratefully, he kissed her before departing.
When at last she did appear, self-conscious in some former mistress's gown and jewels, she saw that she was the last of Robin's men to arrive for supper. No one was seated at the table, but all stood around Robin and the count, wine or Bavarian beer in hand. Little John really enjoyed the Bavarian beer.
"At last!" Count Friederick cried, leaving the group to approach her. "You are late," he scolded, with the mock sternness she remembered him using in Nottingham, making her laugh. He bent over her hand to kiss it, then looked up to quietly add, "But the sight of you is worth the wait." He stood, his eyes at the same height as hers. "Your being late is a very good sign," he whispered.
"What sign?" she whispered back.
"It means our affair will be long lived."
She gasped, surprised, amused, and indignant. "There is no affair," she told him.
"Do not be so sure."
She could not be angry at him. He seemed so harmless, and was as funny and playful as she remembered him. She would have little respect for him, if she hadn't known what a good fighter he was. And she was eternally grateful to him for helping them steal the sheriff's money last year.
Robin was watching them, his eyes hard with jealousy. How ridiculous, she thought. The count was a friend, nothing more, just as Allan, or Much, or Little John, or Will were her friends. Robin certainly wasn't jealous of them.
The count led her into supper, as if she were his guest of honor. He placed her on his right, with Robin at his left, while he sat at the table's head. The rest of the outlaws sat where they wished, on either side. Much, of course, sat himself beside Robin.
In spite of being hungry, Robin paid little attention to his food. He began by telling the count, "Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine is raising ransom money to free her son. I know he's not your king, but anything you wish to contribute would be helpful."
Count Friederick noticed Robin eye the jewels Marian was wearing. He wondered if Robin, living the life of an outlaw thief, was tempted to steal them. Better make them a gift to the fair Lady Marian, he decided, even if they would end up as ransom.
Robin continued. "What do you know about Aggstein Castle?"
The count was surprised. "It is a dangerous place," he answered, making the outlaw leader's eyes gleam. "The most uncivilized place in Austria. I would avoid it, at all costs."
"I heard our king might be there," Robin said.
Count Friederick made the sign of the cross over himself. "Then God help him. It is owned and occupied by Kuenriger Aggstein and his sons, known as the robber barons."
"Why robber barons?" Robin asked, when the count turned away to pry Marian with more wine.
"They capture and steal from anyone foolish enough to get near their castle, and... harm all women. Then, if their victims cannot pay, they throw them from the top of the castle into the gorge."
"Lovely people," Much said sarcastically, his mouth full of sauerbraten. After the first few bites, he liked it very much.
Count Friederick wished to flirt with Marian, but Robin continued plying him with questions.
"Do they know you?" the outlaw asked. "Would they let you into their castle, to gamble?"
"They are not players. They are thieves only. Rough, deadly men. My advice to you, Robin Hood, is to keep far away."
"I wish you hadn't said that," Much sighed, knowing that would only increase Robin's desire to go there.
"What do you know about the castle itself?" Robin asked, relentless in his pursuit to free his king. "Can you draw me a diagram, or at least describe its structure?"
"Later, after we finish dining. Too much talk of business at the table will give me indigestion! And you're not eating! You must keep up your strength, if you wish to fight Baron Aggstein."
Robin was grateful for what he'd learned so far. He knew he would get no further information while they dined, but would press on to know more after supper.
But after they had dined, the count wanted to play cards. "I will teach Lady Marian," he insisted. "She is lucky, I believe, and a fast learner. How I should like to school you, milady, in many games."
Marian blushed at the obvious implication, and Robin grew angry.
Count Friederick told him, "You must learn patience, Robin Hood. Life is so much more enjoyable, especially for the ladies, if you do not rush things."
Now it was Robin whose face flushed red. How did the count know of his bedroom debacle, he wondered. His words had to be a mere coincidence, he realized, relieved.
The count continued speaking. "You cannot free your king tonight. I will tell you all I know, but first, we play!"
He snapped his fingers and a servant appeared, presenting a deck of playing cards on a silver tray.
"Before we begin," the count said, shuffling the cards while Robin's men curiously watched, "allow me to tell your fortunes."
Robin appeared bored and frustrated. Marian hesitantly said, "It is a tavern trickster's game, surely."
Allan perked up, wishing to learn another trick that might prove useful some day.
"Indulge me," said the count. "It is only for fun. All of you could use some fun, I believe, to help you relax and better do your duty to free your king."
Put that way, Robin did not appear quite so impatient. "What do you want us to do?" he asked.
"Each of you draw a card, but do not look at it until I say. I will tell you what it means. Lady Locksley may begin first."
Marian showed the Queen of Hearts. "Of course!" the count cried. "Your card is clear. You are a queen who captures all men's hearts." He gazed at her awhile, smiling what he deemed his most charming smile, with a hint of something naughty beneath its surface.
"Next card," Robin said, impatiently.
"Now for Djaq," the count instructed.
Djaq turned over a two of hearts. "You will give birth to twins," the count said, and she and Will looked at one another in surprise.
"Now me," Allan said, showing a jack of diamonds.
"A knave who does all he can for money."
Much and Little John laughed out loud, but Allan was sore.
"That one you got wrong," Marian said, not wanting Allan hurt.
Little John's card was a king of hearts. "You may not be a king, but there is a queen who loves you," the count told them, making it Little John's turn to look embarrassed.
Will had a two of diamonds, and the count predicted, "Your twins will one day be rich."
It was Much's turn, but he resisted. "Oh, no," he said. "This is weird. You're too spot on, except for Djaq's twins, unless of course she really is having them. I don't want to know what you say about me."
"Go on, Much," Robin said unpleasantly. "The quicker this ends, the sooner we return to what's important."
Much revealed an ace of clubs.
"Land!" Count Friederick said. "You will soon become landed gentry."
"Bonchurch!" Much happily exclaimed. "I knew it!"
Robin impatiently flipped over his card, finding all this nonsense a waste of precious time. Stunned silence greeted his revelation of the ace of spades, the symbol for death.
"It is a silly game," Count Friederick said nervously. "A tavern trick, as Marian said."
"Trade with me!" Much cried. "Please, Master! You take the club, and let me have the spade."
"It's a trick, Much," Robin said, angrily. His men were distressed, and Marian was pale. Turning to face the count, he said, "You don't know me, if you think some card trick can frighten me away from attacking Aggstein."
"It was a trick," the count admitted, "but that was not supposed to be your card. I meant for you to have the ace of diamonds, showing you would come into riches."
Robin tried to control his impatience. Why the count couldn't tell him all he wanted to learn tonight, so that he could think up his plans, was testing his temper. That, and the attention the count was paying Marian.
Marian still looked pale, and Robin decided to take her on that walk he planned now, to restore her and calm his own impatience. "Excuse us," he said. "I'd like a breath of air. Join me?" he asked her gently, extending his hand.
Marian gladly took it. Like him, she hadn't appreciated such a waste of time, and a scare that Robin might die. "Supper was delicious," she told the count politely. "Thank you, and goodnight."
The count mused, watching Robin lead Marian out into the romantic moonlight. He decided to give them a moment before joining them, not wishing to miss a chance to show Marian the lake.