Chapter 26

Robin and Marian stopped at the top of the hill in front of the camp. She smiled as he kissed the top of her head. "Just as I remember." She smiled.

"Somethings never change." Robin said, "And if you listen carefully you can hear Much whining." They both fell silent and sure enough, could hear Much.

"He is my master and I demand to know who it is that has gone after him."

Robin and Marian laughed and she pulled her hood up.

"You know we could make him wait longer." Robin smiled turning in front of Marian, "I certainly wouldn't say no to some more quality time."

"Neither would I, but I hate to think the grilling they've been giving our friend."

"Which is who by the way?" Robin asked.

"You'll find out," She smiled. Robin matched her grin and then kissed her.

"Come on you." Robin grabbed her hand again and they walked towards the camp. Robin let her hand go and then opened the camp, Marian stayed behind him with her hood up and head down, hands closing around his shirt, he smiled feeling her behind him.

"MASTER." Much shouted as Robin emerged smiling. "Where have you been?"

"Making friends." Robin smiled. His eyes widened when he saw Carter. "Carter," He smiled, "I should have guessed." Robin felt Marian shuffle behind him, clearly nervous. He put his hand behind his back taking hers and leading her out from behind him. "Gang, I have someone you need to see." Robin smiled as Marian emerged from behind him.

"It cant be." Alan gasped and Marian lifted her head and took down her hood.
"I know you don't believe in ghosts Alan, so it must be." Marian smiled at her friend. He rushed forward and gathered her in his arms squeezing her tightly. The rest of the gang stood in shock.

"I knew." Alan said setting her down. "I told you all this time. She wasn't dead, now do you believe me."

"Much I have never known you lost for words." Marian laughed as much stood opening and closing his mouth like a fish.

"I…I…I." He took a breath. "My lady its good to see you." He stepped forward and gave her a hug. He released her and John emerged behind them.

"You, it is good to see." He smiled and hugged her too. Marian looked to the back of the camp where one more figure was stood. She couldn't make him out at first but when he stepped closer she saw him.

"Adam?" She asked.

"Marian?" Adam said rushing forward, Marian lunged forward, pushing past a still confused Much towards Adam, tears already forming in her eyes. Adam lessened the space as well and quickly opened his arms to receive her embrace. She buried her head in his shoulder and cried.

"Marian." He whispered and he began to cry too. "I missed you."
"I missed you too." She whispered. After hugging him for a few more moments she pulled back and wiped her eyes. "Wait…" She said, suddenly growing angry. "What are you doing in the forest?" She asked.
"It's a long story." Adam said sheepishly.

"A long story? What did I tell you? You cant be an outlaw." Marian said.

"Well I am Marian, at lot has changed since you've been gone." He defended.

"You were supposed to look after him." She turned to Robin.

"And I did." He laughed. "He's alive isn't he?"

"Don't laugh at me Robin." She said angrily. Robin shook his head and continued to laugh. He pulled her into his arms smiling.

"I'm sorry, my love." He said soothingly, still chuckling. "It's just good to have you home." Robin released her and took her hand. He turned to the gang and began to speak. "Right, im sure we all want to hear how these two got home, I certainly do. Me and Much will go and hunt, bring back a feast. John and Adam collect some firewood. And Alan, find some Ale. Marian and Carter get settled in. We only have one spare bed."

"That's ok, I'm sure we can work something out." Marian smirked looking to Robin. Robin winked at her and took off hunting with Much.

Sherwood

Robin practically skipped through the forest and it was all Much could do to keep up. Suddenly Robin froze and in one fluent motion lifted his bow and released an arrow. There was a squeal and then silence. Robin pushed through the shrubs to find a pig with a perfect shot.

"It's good to have you back Master." Much smiled as he emerged behind Robin.

"It's good to be back Much." He smiled. "Come on give me a hand." They began to tie the pig and were soon on their way back to camp.

"Robin, I am glad you invited me along, I was sure you would ask Marian." Much said.

"She needs time to settle in, beside I wanted to spend some time with my best friend." Robin smiled.

"Thanks Master. It's really good to spend time just the two of us again."

"Look Much, I know last time Marian was in the forest you found it hard." Robin stopped walking and turned to his friend.

"I didn't find it hard, she's your Marian." Much shrugged, Robin raised his eyes at him, "Ok, maybe it was hard, because it was you and Marian suddenly, not you and Much."

"And now I finally understand that." Robin said, "Well actually, Marian made me understand that before the Holy Land. But anyway," Robin sighed. "What I'm trying to say is, Marian is my wife Much. That means I'm going to want to spend time with her, just me and her. But that doesn't mean that I have forgotten about you Much." Robin said patting his friend on the shoulder. He picked up the one side of the pig and Much did the same. Robin started walking and Much followed, Robin continued talking again "It also doesn't mean that I don't want to spend time with you Much. I love our Much and Robin adventures. Just sometimes I may need a reminder." He smiled. Much nodded and smiled.

"Thank you,"

Robin smiled back to his friend and they continued to the camp.

Outlaw camp

Later that evening the gang gathered around the fire, eating and drinking. Marian sat next to Robin on a log snuggled closely to him.

"So Marian, come on. We are all dying to hear how you made it home." Alan said merrily.

"It's not just my story to tell." Marian smiled, she had hardly touched her ale, having not drunk for a long time.

"Carter doesn't mind, do you?" Alan said.

"Not at all." Carter laughed. Marian smiled to her friend.

"Ok, where do I start?" Marian asked.

"From the beginning." Robin said. "I want to hear it all." And so, Marian began to retell their story, with help from Carter, from the day she awoke in Lachlan's tent.