Chapter twenty-four:
Robin's POV:
My eyes were crusted from sleep, and my limbs ached in a good way. It had been a long time since I had woken up actually feeling well-rested.
In the Holy Land, you were either woken by the suffocating heat, a scorpion crawling up your leg, or the battle cries of other soldiers in the distance.
The comforting warmth of the sun shone through the gaps in the leaves, illuminating the dying fire. Listening carefully, I realised that the camp was asleep. I'd forgotten how peaceful the forest was, the birds twittering away and the soft shake of the leaves in the summer breeze.
My relaxed lungs filled up with the fresh morning air, I knew where I wanted to go. What with the situation I found Nottingham in when I had returned, I'd barely had enough time to breathe, let alone have a few moments to myself. Reaching down to pick up my bow and arrows, I stopped and left them on the grassy floor. It would be nice to not have to be on edge, for once. Leaving my weapons behind could be potentially dangerous, if someone tried to attack me, but I was willing to take this little risk. For my own peace of mind mainly, but also for the growing ache in my shoulders.
Taking my time on the walk, I headed to the clearing I had spotted days ago, when we were searching the forest for a place to camp.
The trees had seemed so tall when I was little, and running through this forest felt like I was surrounded by giants, forever towering over me. It was a little game Much, Marian and I used to play. The three of us were great warriors, on our way to battle the evil giants who had invaded our land. Our little games went on for hours, only stopping when the light began to fade and the stars began to appear. Sometimes we didn't even realise the time, and Marian's father had to come looking for her. He was never angry though; he was just glad we were all having fun.
It was peculiar, to say the least, walking through the forest again. With just a small trick of the light, my eyes saw three little children chasing each other, running through the trees. Their wooden swords raised, shouting; "For Sherwood!".
The trees began to thin out, and the clearing came into view. Trees surrounded it, as if they were shielding its peace and tranquillity from the harsh world outside of the forest. A river, coming from deeper in the forest, bled into a small stream. Taking a seat on the grass, I cupped my hands and dunked them into the river, the cool water trickled down into my throat.
It was heavenly.
This must have been the clearest water I had ever drunk. It was like it hadn't been tainted by evil in the world. Laying down, hands behind my back, I watched as the water rippled slightly with the breeze. The morning sunrise was like a painting; the way the soft clouds rolled over the crystal blue sky, and how the sun gave the clouds a golden lining, as if heaven was just behind them.
If I were able to draw, like Marian could, I would sit here and sketch all day. A refreshing wind blew gently through the trees, making the leaves dance. Even the trees were happy here.
The sea-blue sky and gold in the clouds made me picture Marian's eyes. When she grinned and they creased up, l could see the pure joy hidden in their beauty. That was exactly what she was, a flaming ball of raw emotion. Everything that she felt; she felt it to the maximum.
Which I guess is why she was so upset about me leaving. Although, her resentfulness did seem to wear off a little yesterday when we had spoken. She didn't want to feel angry at me, but four years of longing turned into bitterness and she couldn't help that. See, even now, when I could be thinking of anything else, my mind always drifted to her.
To the way her laugh carried all the joy in the world within it.
Marian's POV:
After our last meeting, I hadn't been able to get Robin out of my mind. All I could picture was his evergreen eyes and his tousled light-brown hair, shining in the sun light.
Desperate not to think about him, I tried everything. Reading books; his voice read the words out loud. Sword practice; his hands were grasping mine, and helping me swing. Sleeping; his body was lying next to mine.
Then came the inevitable; drawing. It was the one hobby I had kept up since my arrival at the castle. I'd dropped it into a conversation with Katy, and the next day there had been a set of pencils and a load of paper. All of this was in a basket, with a note on it, saying:
"For you, may your daydreams come alive!"
Since then, every time I couldn't sleep, I would draw instead. Pages and pages, just from the things in my memories. Sherwood forest, the tranquil clearing I had been in once, Much sitting by the campfire, my mother, my father and William, Katy even posed for some!
But there was once face which appeared more than any other. Sometimes he was smiling, sometimes he was laughing. Then there was my favourite one; two boys stood beside each other, one with an arrow by his foot. They both looked like they had been scared. Then, there was a girl, hanging upside down from a tree branch, a bow in her hand.
I kept my drawings in a stunning box Katy had given me for Christmas. It was dark oak, with delicate gold swirls lining the drawers. It held my pencils, paper and drawings, I kept it hidden in my wardrobe.
Come to think of it, I hid a lot of things that were precious to me. It must have been because I was sad someone would take them away, just the people I loved had been.
A knock at my door dragged me out of my thoughts, and dread filled my stomach.
Getting up from my seat on the bed, I smoothed down my hair while looking in the mirror. In the hope that if I took to long to answer the door, whoever it was would give up and go away. But, as usual, my luck seemed to run out.
"Um, Lady Marian? Are you there?" Guy's voice sounded through the door.
"I'll be there in a second Sir Guy!" I said, trying not to sound disappointed.
Opening the door, I saw Guy standing there, with something covered by a silk sheet.
"Good morning, Sir Guy…"
"Uhh… good morning, Marian! Please, you really don't have to call me Sir. But, I have got something for you," Guy said in answer to my raised eyebrow.
"Oh, you really didn't have to do that, S-…Guy!" Feigning being surprised. Knowing that it was only another of his weird ways to attempt to woo me.
He ripped the sheet off to reveal a birdcage, and inside it was a small, white little canary! It had little black eyes and cloud-white feathers.
"Oh, my goodness," I exclaimed, genuinely surprised now, "Guy it's gorgeous! Does it have a name?"
"No, not yet. I though you would like to name him."
"Oh, thank you… please, come in," stepping aside, he grinned at me, as he strode in and carefully put the birdcage on my desk.
Once I had closed the door, and walked over to the cage, I had a proper look at the bird. He was so sweet! His little black eyes contrasted to his bright, white feathers.
"You said it was a him, how did you know?" Guy shrugged his shoulders, still grinning as he scratched the back of his head.
"The man at the market said only males could sing, or something."
"Have you heard him sing yet?"
"Not so far, I think he might when he settles in a little though, I'm sure you'll take great care of him. I just figured that you might need a distraction after everything that's been going on recently."
"Guy that's so thoughtful of you! Thank you so much!" This act of kindness genuinely was thoughtful, if a bit rushed.
Does he think he can just show up at my doorstep with a bird in his hands, and I'll swoon and immediately marry him?!
That's really not how it works, especially when I see the horrible things he does to the children and villagers. Guy doesn't even know me, he's never once asked me what my hobbies are, or had a real conversation with him that wasn't small talk. All he sees is a pretty face, who he thinks he can convince to marry him.
The door creaked open, and a feeble guard stood there, looking at Guy. "Sir Guy?"
Guy appeared to be agitated, "Yes? What do you want?"
"It's umm…" the guard's skin was pale and his hands were shaking.
Why was he this scared of Guy?
"Spit it out boy," Guy snapped.
"We uhh,… n-need your help- its urg-gent! In cell 15…" The guard stuttered his message.
"Fine, I'll be right there- leave us!" Guy dismissed him away with his hand.
"Is everything okay?" Asking, out of pure curiosity. There must be something big going on if they needed him this urgently.
"Ah, its alright. Nothing I can't handle, that's for sure!" he puffed out his chest, "Just some girl in the dungeons for showing impertinence."
"Oh, really- what did she do?" This could be bad, I bet she'd only stood up for herself!
"Just didn't know her place, or how to respect her superiors."
"What will happen to her?" Opening my eyes wide, I feigned shock, no doubt he would kill her, but perhaps I could stall him long enough to set her free.
"It's off to the chopping block for her," he said absent-mindedly, as if taking someone's life was an everyday thing! He was becoming more and more like his father!
"Oh dear, that's awful!" Willing them, tears lined my eyes, we'll see how he will handle this!
"Well, not rea-, oh I mean… yes, yes terrible business! I wish I could do more to stop this, but that is our justice system." He changed his reply once he saw my teary eyes, how foolish.
"It's horrible, such a waste of life! How old is she?"
"A little older than you, about my age I'd say." He moved closer to me now, almost going for an embrace! "It's okay Marian, don't worry! Just leave it to us men, we'll figure it out."
Pulling away just in time, I wiped my eyes and said something about the guards needing him.
"Oh, yes, of course I should probably see to that. Uh, I hope you like your bird!" Hurriedly, he grabbed my hand and kissed it. The spikes of his barely-there beard cut into my hand like needles.
"Yes, thank you again!" With that, the gorilla was gone, and all that was left was me and the bird. I would have to remember it was cell 15 the poor girl was being kept in!
The bird hopped around in his cage, pecking from the seed tray at the bottom. The cage itself was made of thin, white metal wire which went straight upwards and curved out at the top. Two branches stretched across the cage in opposite directions, so that he could fly to either one of them. There was a little door at the front, I presumed it was for letting the canary fly around once it was trained.
How on earth do you train a canary?!
The little bird twitched its head from side to side, and let out a little chirp.
"Hello there, little one," I crouched down and smiled to it. "It seems like we're rather stuck together now." His little eyes looked deep into my soul; I could tell he wanted nothing more to get out of this cage. Then, an idea struck! "Maybe if I close my window, you can fly around for a little!"
He seemed to brighten up a little at that, and hopped up and down.
"Well, I should probably name you first, so you have something I can call you back with…" he held his head to one side, as if thinking, goodness he was adorable! "Okay, how about, when I say a name you like, you sing?"
He whistled a little at that.
"Mmmh… oh! How about David?" The little bird said nothing.
"Umm, okay, you don't like that one… How's Phillip?" The silence continued.
"Ah, I've got it! Avery!" With that, Avery sung his little heart out, he hopped from his branches, whistling and chirping. "Do you like that name?" Asking, I laughed at his happy chirping.
"Well, Avery, now that we are properly acquainted, I suppose you could have a little fly around!" Quickly, I went to the window and closed it. The next thing I knew I was lifting the tiny hatch for the door and then there was a bird flittering around my room!
Avery short from the cage the minute I opened the door, and zoomed everywhere. He went low and high, examining his new home, and all it had to offer. At one point, he went to the very top of my bed and sat there for a bit, looking down on me, with his cute little eyes.
After about fifteen minutes of flying, chirping, and laughing, the latter from me, there was a quiet knock at the door. Katy didn't wait for a reply before opening it and walking inside.
She was wearing her sun hat, and had two big baskets in her hand. No doubt there was a rubble of children behind her, waiting to go fruit picking again.
"Marian, why is your face red? Are you alright?" Katy looked at me, concerned.
"What? Oh, yes aha I'm fine! But there is someone I want you to meet!" Waving a hand in front of my face, like a fan, I announced.
"There's someone her-ahhhhh," her question was cut of by a shrill scream. Katherine dropped the baskets, as Avery flew down from the top of my bed and was now flying around a screaming her.
"Katy, Katy! Calm down, it's only Avery!" I waved my hands out, trying to calm her down. "Avery, come here, please," Avery stopped fluttering around Katy and instead flew into my open palm. "Come here, little one, back in your house you go." Gently, I put my hand inside the cage and let him fly to one of the bars.
"Marian, do you mind explaining why on earth you have a pigeon in your bedroom?" Katy's face was in a red flush and her hair was a mess.
"Avery is a canary, not a pigeon, and he was a gift from the gor-uh, I mean Guy." Fumbling, I tripped up on Guy's secret nick-name.
"Why did he give you a bird?" She asked, smoothing down her hair and she came over to give Avery a proper look.
"Probably one of his attempts to ask me out again." Sitting her down at my dressing table, I began to brush out her hair.
"Did it work?" Seeing a particularly brutal knot, I tugged on it a little, to which she exclaimed; "Ouch!"
"Did it hell! I'm not going out with some stuck-up, obnoxious man who terrorises everyone and thinks all women are fit to do is raise children and wear nice dresses!"
"Hey, it was just a suggestion! But come on Marian, you've got to start looking for a mansome time, it might as well be someone as rich as Guy." Katy looked up at me in the mirror, with her "You-know-I'm-right" face on.
"Enough Katherine, I don't need a man to feel fulfilled, especially one a repulsive as Guy!" She looked slightly defeated, which meant I had one this time.
There was a great load of shuffling going on outside of my room, we had both completely forgotten about the children! Running over to the door, I flung it open to see all six of them looking up at me, beaming.
"Hi everyone!" Crouching down to their level, I continued; "Who wants to go fruit picking?" A series of "MEEE! s" rang throughout the small crowd.
"That's a pretty definitive answer, don't you think Katy?" Turning around, I saw Katy, tickling Avery's chin through the cage!
"Earth to Katy?"
She looked up all of a sudden, and took her hand away. "Huh? Yes, I mean the weather's great!"
All the children laughed at that, and we headed off to the orchards. Katy was in front, holding five-year-old Michael, while Ben took my hand, at the back. The orchards never ceased to amaze. By the end of a couple hours of fun, we were walking away with two baskets full of apples, and six very full, worn-out children. The sun was warm on our faces, and the atmosphere was relaxing. In my hands were the fruit baskets, in Katie's was Michael, who'd dosed off from the warmth and tiredness.
After delivering the children and apples back to the kitchen, where the cooks promised us they would make an apple pie for tomorrow, Katy and I headed to my bedroom, to relax.
Once we were settled down on my bed after making sure Avery had some seeds and water, I caught Katy studying me.
"Do I have something on my face?"
She still didn't look away, "No."
"Then why do you keep looking at me?"
"You seem… different. Like something in you has changed, you seem… clear almost, like the cloud looming over your head has disappeared."
"I don't know what you're talking about, Katy." She was definitely onto my constant daydreaming of a ghost with evergreen eyes. It just so happened that I daydreamed when she was talking about which duke she could see with which courtier, and my daydreams where filled with only one thing: Robin of Locksley.
"C'mon, do you really think I'm that stupid? I know when my best friend is acting up, and don't think I don't notice how your eyes glaze over when I'm talking about Duke Salter and Lady Dermont, because I do."
"Look, I'm sorry Katy, but it just doesn't interest me!"
"Well, I'd rather like to know what does interest you, especially where that mind of yours drifts off to so often! I'm left here wondering if there is a man in your life, whom you're not telling me about."
"O-of co-ourse not! There is absolutely no secret man in my life!"
She sat up fully not and pointed her very manicured finger into my face, "I knew it! You can't lie to me, Marian! Who is he? Where is he from? How do you know him and for how long?"
"Katy, stop! Would it kill you to realise that I don't want a romantic partner in my life right now?!"
"Marian please, you know that I know you're lying. All I want to know is what has so suddenly swung my friend in a new direction. You seem happier, like you've just found something you have been looking for, for years."
Taking a deep breath, I tried to calm my heart rate. I didn't need to panic, it was only Katherine, my best friend.
Why did I feel to caught off guard by this and why couldn't I just tell her? Was it because I had tried so hard to forget about Robin, and more importantly the way I felt towards him?
Maybe, by telling Katy about the boy I had loved since I was a child, would confirm the fact that I never actually forgot about him, or the way his hair twinkled in the sun. That every time I read a book; it had always been Robin's voice reading the words I was hearing. When I went to sleep; it was always Robin's body I had pictured lying next to mine, keeping me safe. Every time I practiced with my sword, it was the giants Robin and I battled when we were little. It was his face I pictured every single time my eyes were closed. My drawings were taking up by one shade of green. He never left my mind; it was just that, I was only realising now!
"Katy, I haven't been completely honest with you," her eyes were filled with concern, yet curiosity. Careful to contain my even breathing, I got up from the bed and opened my wardrobe.
"When I told you about my past," I lifted the wooden box from my wardrobe and brought it over to the bed, gulping as I did so, "I left some part out."
"What do you mean, Marian?"
"I mean, that I left certain people out of the version I told you, who caused certain events. Two people, specifically." Carefully, I opened the bottom draw of the box, where I kept all of my sketches on Robin and Much, but didn't lift out the sketches yet.
"Why did you do that?" Katy grasped my hand, in comfort.
"Because I was very hurt at the time. These two people had just left me, and I didn't know when I was going to see them again. Coming here, I didn't want to think of them because it only made me miss them more, and after four years had passed with nothing from them, I-I assumed they both… had to… b-be…" I couldn't take it anymore, and bust into tears.
"Oh, sweetheart!" Katy pulled me close and rubbed my back. After I had stopped crying enough to speak again, I pulled back and took a deep breath.
With shaking hands, I picked up a well-thumbed piece of paper, from the very bottom.
"This, is Robin of Lockley." Katy gasped softly, and took the picture gently. "He is the love of my life, and he is back."