"That," Robin said, entering his bedchamber back home in Locksley, "is what I call a good day's work."
Most of his villagers had returned to their cottages, his children were tucked safely in bed in their own nursery, and Robin was looking forward to spending the night alone with his wife.
Marian, however, fresh from her bath and combing her dampened hair, purposely ignored him.
"Don't tell me you're still angry," Robin pleaded.
"I'm waiting for you to apologize."
"What for? Protecting you?"
"I'm perfectly capable of protecting myself."
"Agreed, with a weapon in hand. But we didn't have weapons, Marian, not at first."
"So you ordered Little John to sling me over his shoulder, like a sack of turnips."
"It kept you safe."
"When are you going to respect me?"
"I do respect you!"
"Do you? Really? Your behavior says otherwise."
Robin paced several steps then turned and faced Marian. "Marian, I'm sorry. I love and respect you. You told me once, years ago, one of the reasons you agreed to marry me was because I truly listened to you, and valued your ideas and opinions. I still do, now more than ever. I need you, my love! And that is why I didn't let you fight today, until you had a sword to fight with. The situation was far too similar to the time you saved the king, and ended up...I thought you ended up dead."
Marian, moved almost to tears at Robin's raw emotion, swallowed back the lump in her throat. "I agreed to marry you both times, Robin, because I love you. Now, more than ever," she breathlessly added, echoing his words to her.
No further words were needed as the couple came together in expression of their love and commitment, each finding the other more precious and beautiful than life itself, and their complete union of body and soul more precious and beautiful still.
...
The following week flew by, with Robin and Marian busy attending to the needs of their village in preparation of their journey to Aquitaine.
On the morning of their departure, the little girls kissed Moonlight's wet nose more than once, as Ellen assured him, "We'll come home soon. Be a good kitty while we're away."
"My kitty," Grace added, which only meant she loved him.
The family was to travel to the coast by coach, then hire another coach and horses after crossing the channel. Robin would prefer going on horseback the entire route, but had to make concessions due to young age of his daughters, Marian's "delicate" condition, the children's nurse, and the presence of the queen.
Queen Eleanor, on her way to Windsor Castle, travelled with them. The children's nurse was so amazed to ride in the same coach as the famous Eleanor of Aquitaine, she spoke only to the children, in a whisper.
"How I should love to ride horseback," the queen sighed, as the coach rumbled southward. "But alas, nothing but a calm, put-to-pasture palfrey could suit me now," she lamented. "I'm an old woman, Robin, though younger than I was, thanks to you, and especially Big Bear."
"Your Majesty could never be old," Robin gallantly told her, believing it.
"I am, though," she admitted. "My long winded stories of my past attest to my years, more than my hair which has never, I am pleased to say, turned grey."
"I love Your Majesty's stories," Marian told her. "Your boldness and fortitude inspire me."
"You, Marian," the queen reminded her, "have shown plenty of boldness and fortitude yourself, in your young life. A perfect match for young Locksley here, in every regard."
Marian's gaze met Robin's and held there, lovingly. She remembered his marriage proposal, when he'd told her he felt she had been made for him. And she remembered their friend Sarah, a cleaning woman in Nottingham, describing them as "birds of a feather."
"Your little girls are darling," the queen said. "They take me back to when my 'devil's brood,' as they were called, were small. By the way, we should stop in Leicester, and visit Johanna. She would enjoy seeing me, and you as well, Robin. You were always such a favorite of hers."
Leicester was a mere twenty miles south of Nottingham and Marian definitely did not want to see the princess, who still harbored unrequited feelings toward Robin, but the queen's wish was a command. Arriving there, the coachman slowed then reined the horses outside the Earl of Leicester's castle.
Robin stepped from the coach and offered his hand to help the queen descend, then Marian. Ellen wanted to jump to the ground by herself, which she did before running off to chase a butterfly. Robin and Marian turned their eyes away from the coach to watch her, not knowing the nurse would not be lifting Grace out to them.
Grace, wanting to follow her sister, tried to jump but tumbled out instead, bumping her head on the ground. She raised a wail and was lifted into Marian's arms, and comforted.
"Let me kiss it better," Marian told her, as Robin stood close by, knowing a bump to the head could be serious and needed careful watching.
"Oh, my," was all the queen said, surprised such loud wails could come from such an otherwise delightful child.
Ellen raced back, wanting to help "kiss Gracie better," and in no time the two little girls were playing together under the trees.
Robin helped the nurse from the coach, who apologized for letting Grace jump.
"It's my mistake, for looking away," Robin told her. "Not yours."
"And mine as well," Marian added.
"No wonder your servants are so loyal," Queen Eleanor said. "Let us go in now, and surprise my daughter."
Marian took Robin's hand, then squared her shoulders, knowing the princess's greeting would be less than friendly, at least toward her.