THE AFTERMATH

In the immediate aftermath, the gang were swept into a whirlwind of activity that did not relent for a number of days. The king was jubilant at Vaisey's demise, believing wholeheartedly that he had slipped and fell. The fact that Dulcina had pushed him was omitted from Robin's final account of the events, something that Roana, Allan, Guy, and Peyton were happy to reinforce.

King Richard was keen to string Vaisey's broken body up at the entrance to the town as a warning to other traitors, but, even though Carter and a small group of guards scoured the banks of the river for two days, they found no trace of Vaisey's body. It was therefore assumed that he'd been carried much further along in the undertow, or had become caught on sunken trees underwater, meaning his body would forever remain in the murky depths.

"Where he belongs," Lionheart concluded, and nobody could disagree.

After Vaisey had fallen, Devereux met Dulcina at the bottom of the steps leading down from the battlement, and the poise she had shown since Vaisey took her captive dissolved into tears as she collapsed into his arms. Overwhelmed by a combination of shock, guilt, fatigue, and secret satisfaction, she allowed him to guide her to the nearest chamber, where she poured her heart out. Devereux, who adored her beyond all reason, forgave her instantly. His dislike for Vaisey had been festering for quite some time, along with his disappointment in his son and heir, William of Bridlington, and, while he was filled with sorrow to learn of William's death, he also realised that it was for the best. William would never have been the heir he wanted, and his continuation along his chosen path would only have presented Devereux with more grief and disappointment.

"He was a bad seed," he confessed to Allan and Roana when he and Dulcina met with them the following day in Nottingham Castle's solar. "And he would only have worsened." He smiled at Roana. "I don't blame you at all, my dear. I understand that you were incredibly brave."

Roana gave a small, self-conscious smile and Allan drew her to him, an arm around her shoulders, sensing her guilt.

"I am sorry, though, my lord," she said. "I know I've robbed you of your only heir, and I feel terrible for that."

There was a slight pause as Devereux and Dulcina exchanged shy glances, and Devereux cleared his throat.

"Actually, you haven't..." he began, and placed a proud palm on Dulcina's stomach.

Roana gasped and placed both hands over her mouth as a delighted grin spread across her face. She met Dulcina's eyes and the two women began to laugh.

"What?" Allan said, puzzled.

"I knew it!" Roana said, excitedly. "When we spoke in the room.. I think I guessed then. That's amazing news. Congratulations to you both!"

"What?" Allan said again, looking from Roana to Devereux before his gaze rested on his mother. "You don't mean... you're not...?"

His eyes dropped to Dulcina's stomach, and she laughed even harder.

"You're gonna have a brother or sister, my boy. What do you think of that?"

Her accent was deliberately broad, and he stared at her in amazement, a grin playing on his lips before realisation dawned on him.

"What, you mean you and him...?" He gestured from Dulcina to Devereux and then flapped his hands around indecipherably. "You mean you still...?"

For once, he seemed lost for words, and Dulcina helped him out in her own inimitable A Dale way.

"You mean, do we still have sex? Well, of course we do, son. You younger generation didn't invent it, you know!"

"Ma-a!" Allan looked disgusted, and Roana and Devereux dissolved into more laughter.

The following day, King Richard summoned Robin to the Great Hall at Nottingham Castle, where he was in attendance with his personal guard and royal retinue. He was preparing to leave for Normandy, where King Philip of France was encroaching on his territory.

"War seems to follow me, Robin. Or maybe I follow war." Lionheart laughed heartily. "Whatever the case may be, I have to protect my lands, and I need my best men with me. Robin, will you fight by my side?"

Robin remembered a time when fighting by his king's side had been the ultimate of goals; when war and glory had seemed like the only way forward for a young nobleman like him. But those days were long gone. He had fought more than enough in the past eight years, and the time had come to lay down his arms, marry Marian, and become a family man.

"Fighting by my lord's side has been a great achievement for me, sire, and I cannot thank you enough for the opportunities you have presented me with. But regretfully, on this occasion, I must decline. I am weary, and I fear Marian may kill me herself if I leave her again."

Richard gave another booming laugh; he was, by then, familiar with Marian's assertiveness, and greatly admired her for it.

"She is an asset, Robin. Look after her well."

"I intend to, sire," Robin replied with a small smile.

The king sat up and leaned his elbows on the table before him, suddenly all business. "If you intend to stay, I do have an opening that I need to fill with somebody I can trust above all others." He looked at Robin, seriously. "If you're interested, that is."

Later that afternoon, the gang met at the camp in the forest for what would be the last time. It was a beautiful day after the overcast and dismal weather of the past week, and sunlight lay in patterns on the forest floor, finding its way insistently through the latticework of leaves far above. Yet the chill of autumn was in the air, and the colours of the flora were already changing from green to russet and bronze and gold.

A bittersweet melancholy permeated the group as they gathered around Robin beside the fire pit they had sat around so many times before. It was the end of an era, and, although the past three years had not been easy, they would miss their lives as outlaws, and their time spent with each other.

"The king is spending the next couple of days at the palace in Clipstone, but then he'll return to Nottingham on his way to Portsmouth. He plans to hand over the keys to the town," Robin explained, then gave a bashful grin and held out his arms. "You're looking at the new High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire."

There were cheers and exclamations of surprise and celebration. Much hugged Robin tightly, pleasure evident on his face.

"The king couldn't have chosen a better person for the job," Little John said definitively, and there were murmurs of assent.

"Does that mean...?" Much looked hopeful, and Robin laughed.

"Yes, Much. I've spoken to Richard. You get Bonchurch."

Much couldn't prevent the huge grin from spreading across his face, and he turned to clasp Eve's hand and pull her to him.

"Back to where it all started," he told her, and she blushed.

"About time too," Allan interjected. "He hasn't shut up about Bonchurch in all the time I've known him."

Everybody laughed, even Much.

"I have positions for all of you, if you'll join me," Robin continued. "Will and Djaq, I wasn't sure about you two. Will you stay?"

Will and Djaq smiled at each other meaningfully, and Will spoke up.

"We'll stay for a month or so. Then, we'll journey to Scarborough to visit my dad and stick around there for a while. Eventually, though, we'll be heading to the Holy Land."

The others exchanged surprised glances, and Much looked dismayed.

"You'll mean we'll never see you again?"

Djaq shrugged. "Who knows, Much. We may be back. You never know."

"It won't be the same without the old gang," Allan said, looking slightly misty-eyed. "We'll miss you, I suppose."

"You won't have time to miss us now you're married, Allan," Will said with a laugh. "You'll be knee-deep in babies soon, if I know you and Roana."

There was laughter, and Allan had the grace to look embarrassed, while Robin winced and made a play of holding his hands over his ears.

Allan glanced around for Roana, but she and Marian were taking a last walk around the camp and talking weddings, probably. Marian and Robin were due to marry at the weekend, at St. Mary's church in Nottingham, and Marian was extremely excited.

"What about you, John?" Robin said. "I do need a garrison captain to assist my new master-at-arms, Burne. Would that suit you?"

Little John smiled, his expression unusually beatific. "That's very nice of you, Robin, but I'm too old for all of that now. No, I'll be heading out of the shire, I think."

"You going to look for Alice and Little Little John?" Allan asked, referring to Little John's wife and son, but John shook his head.

"Alice is happy with Luke. I won't encroach on that. No," he cleared his throat, self-consciously, "I'll be heading to Scarborough with Will and Djaq. I'm going to make a go of it with Annie, if she'll have me."

Will and Djaq smiled broadly, and Robin clapped John on the back heartily.

"Annie? Who's Annie?" Allan was baffled.

"My Auntie Annie," Will clarified. "Her and John got, um, close when we were last in Scarborough."

Realisation dawned on Allan's face and was quickly replaced by a knowing grin. "Oh, yeah? John, you dirty dog. Why am the last person to hear about this?"

"I know the feeling," Much said, nodding in tart agreement.

"So, come on - tell all," Allan said with a lecherous air. "I hear she's a right looker with a great figure. Is that right?"

As he was speaking, Roana and Marian re-entered the camp, and Roana raised her eyebrows in mock anger at his words. She moved to Allan's side and cleared her throat loudly.

"But obviously, that wouldn't matter to me as I have such a beautiful wife," Allan continued seamlessly, then looked around as if in surprise. "Hello, my darlin', he said, throwing an arm around her shoulders and pulling her close. "I was just talking about you."

Roana rolled her eyes with a smirk, before digging her fingernails into his stomach, revealing a ticklish side to Allan that nobody had ever realised existed.

"Now, that's something new," Much exclaimed, before he, John, Will, and Djaq advanced on Allan, who turned tail and ran.

They gave chase with Roana and Eve following behind, and Robin watched them go, laughing and shaking his head. He turned back to Tuck, Guy, and Alice.

"Latecomers to our little gang," Robin said. "But no less important. Tuck, I'm planning on reopening the chapel at the castle. I need somebody to oversee the services, and keep the place in order. Interested?"

"I'd be honoured, Robin," Tuck said with a smile, inclining his head. "But I'd also like to divide my time between the castle and other small villages throughout Sherwood, if I may. There are many who need support now that the reign of Vaisey is over."

"That sounds perfect, Tuck," Marian said, approvingly.

"And lastly, Guy." Robin turned to his former enemy, noticing the changes in the other man that could no longer go unnoticed. His hair was now shorter, his clothing lighter, his whole demeanour relaxed in comparison to how he had been before. His misdemeanours in the Holy Land, and in Nottingham under Vaisey's rule, had gone to the grave with the former Sheriff. As far as Robin was concerned, the king didn't need to know the identity of his failed assassin all those years ago in Acre. Guy had changed and was being presented with a second chance.

"I know you don't want to return to the castle," Robin said. "But I have it under good authority that Clun Hall is to be renovated and I'll need somebody to take charge over there. A quiet village with hardworking serfs, and the perfect place to start a family." He smiled at Alice, then looked at Guy. "What do you think?"

Guy smiled, an action that came much easier to him these days. "I'd be honoured, Robin."

Two days later, the king formally handed the keys to Nottingham town and the castle over to Robin in a ceremony held on Castle Rock. Villagers and nobles from all over the shire attended, and there was much rejoicing, which lasted for the whole weekend as Robin and Marian finally married at St. Mary's Church. Marian was radiant in a pale blue gown that matched her eyes, and Robin was the happiest he had ever been. Afterwards, the couple retired to their newly re-furnished chambers at the castle and weren't seen again for the rest of the weekend. It didn't stop the celebrations though, and John and Burne were still sending people home days later.

Little John, Will, and Djaq stayed on at the castle for a month, assisting with the training of the new guards and, in Djaq's case, working with the local physician so she could impart some of her knowledge. She also helped Marian to decide on a colour scheme for the redecoration of the castle, which Marian had been itching to do for years.

Much and Eve moved into Bonchurch Manor, and it became the happiest, noisiest, and most chaotic house in the whole of Nottinghamshire. There was always something delicious cooking, and villagers were welcome at all times of the day. In time, Eve would bear Much a number of children, but for the time being, they enjoyed their life as earl and lady of the small manor. They became close friends with Guy and Alice, who lived nearby, and spent a lot of their time in Clun, assisting with the renovation of the hall. Alice was present for the birth of all seven of Much and Eve's children, and she and Guy relished time spent in the riotous environment of Bonchurch.

After a quiet wedding ceremony at Locksley's tiny chapel, Guy and Alice were keen to start a family themselves, but it wasn't to be for a long time. Guy began to worry that he was being punished for past atrocities, but eventually, Alice fell pregnant and bore him twins, a boy and a girl. He couldn't have been prouder, and became a devoted father.

Marriage for Robin and Marian was a wondrous, often tempestuous, union, and Marian's stubborn side never did dissipate. Although Robin despaired of her at times, he loved her wholeheartedly, and wouldn't have changed her for the world. In a matter of months, Nottingham Castle was a much changed fortress, with sumptuous tapestries draping the walls, and beautiful soft furnishings adorning the once cold and forbidding rooms. Eventually, it became evident that the relentless redecorating was, in fact, an urge to nest, and, ten months after their wedding, she gave birth to a son, a beautiful, dark-haired boy with an unusual arrowhead-shaped birthmark on his arm. As a result, he was christened Archer, and would be followed two years later by a second son, Edward Malcolm, named for both Marian and Robin's fathers. A daughter was never forthcoming, but Marian had always been a man's woman, and it suited her to be the only female in a family of men.

Her father Edward and his wife Arable were offered a beautiful house in the English quarter of Nottingham, but they eventually returned to Second Chance and made a home there while Knighton Hall was being rebuilt, funded entirely by Guy, who had burned it down all those months ago in a fit of rage at Marian's rejection of him. Guy was no longer recognisable as that angry man.

And, lastly, Roana and Allan.

As the future Lord and Lady Filey, they were at a loose end as Roana's uncle Robert was certainly not ready to relinquish his title. Therefore, Robin gifted them Locksley, albeit temporarily. Ensconced at Nottingham Castle for the foreseeable future, he had no need of Locksley Manor, and Roana moved back into her childhood home with Allan as her husband and lord.

A month after the events in Nottingham, they and the rest of the gang accompanied Little John, Will, and Djaq to Scarborough, where they were joined by Robert and Eleanor at Scarborough Castle for the wedding ceremony that everybody had been denied. Roana and Allan repeated their vows before a priest in the chapel at the castle, and Devereux and Dulcina hosted celebrations that lasted for a week.

Returning to Locksley, Roana settled into her role as lady of the manor with ease, but for Allan, it took more time to adapt. Much of the time, he wasn't sure if he should order people around imperiously or act like their best friend. Roana taught him how to balance both urges, and apply them both in much more moderation. She was a friendly and approachable yet firm and no-nonsense lady, and Allan learned much from her. Still, there were occasions when he lapsed, and she found him holed up in a cottage in Locksley village, gambling and drinking with new friends. She could never fault him though. The villagers loved him, but not as much as she did.

Three months after the wedding ceremony at Scarborough, their son was born, and Roana thought her heart would burst with maternal love as she cradled him in her arms, at long last. He had her eyes and a nest of black hair, which fell out not long after the birth and grew back in nut-brown curls. They named him Tom, after Allan's brother.

Allan was an extremely hands-on father, and he doted on Tom, who was a quiet and loving child. Allan, who had heard plenty of horror stories about parenthood, couldn't understand what all the fuss had been about.

A year later, Roana gave birth to their daughter, Daisy, and his opinion quickly changed. While Tom was a delight, Daisy was loud, precocious, and demanding, and she provided them with plenty of sleepless nights. Yet, she was also a joy.

Exhausted though he was, Allan was in heaven. If somebody had told him six months ago that he could love another female as much as he loved Roana, he would have scoffed at them. But he adored Daisy, and she adored him. She became his shadow, sharing his brilliant blue eyes, chestnut hair, and sarcastic humour. She even developed a propensity for lying, which wasn't quite as adorable, but her parents were determined to teach her right from wrong.

Aside from parenthood, Allan and Roana's marriage went from strength to strength, and they were rarely apart. Occasionally, they would take bows and disappear into the woods for a day or two, putting the abandoned camp to use while the nurse, or Much and Eve, looked after the children. They travelled to Yorkshire from time to time to visit Allan's baby brother, Arthur, and they fell deeper and deeper in love as the days passed.

Allan fulfilled a childhood dream by purchasing a (probably stolen) lute from a travelling salesman, and asking a minstrel he met in Nottingham to teach him the chords. Eventually, with the help of his new friend, he began to write songs, chronicling Sheriff Robin's rise to fame as the outlaw Robin Hood. He sang them to Roana and the children, who were much impressed by his talent and his deep, melodic voice. Once he'd gained confidence, he would visit local taverns and sing to the patrons, and his songs proved extremely popular. Gradually, the ballads of Robin Hood spread far and wide across the country, picked up by other minstrels and eventually passed down throughout the centuries for other generations to enjoy. Allan's more romantic songs were reserved for Roana only, and their bed chamber.

Their life together was idyllic, passionate, at times infuriating, but always happy. They were thankful every day for the events that had brought them together, and knew exactly who they owed their happiness to. If it hadn't been for Robin, Roana would never have ventured into Sherwood Forest on that fateful day in early April of 1193, and if she hadn't known and spoken to him in Nottingham town days later, Allan may very well have turned traitor and sold the gang out to Gisborne and the Sheriff. Things could have been so much different for the both of them, but fate had intervened to bring them together.

One evening in June, when the days were lengthening and the balmier temperatures of early summer brought welcome respite after a long winter, Roana and Allan left the confines of the manor and stepped out across the village green. The children were fast asleep and in the care of the nurse and Thornton, the old steward of Locksley. Villagers called out to them in greeting, and they paused to exchange friendly words before continuing on their slow journey.

Reaching the edge of the forest, they slipped into the trees and followed a familiar path through the thick foliage. Eventually, the greenwood opened up to reveal a vast meadow of wildflowers, and the couple sank into the deep flora, relaxing in each other's arms.

For a while, they didn't speak, but looked up into the still bright sky, watching scraps of cloud drift lazily across the cerulean blue above them.

"Do you ever wonder if other people are as happy as we are?" Allan asked drowsily, twisting a strand of Roana's hand around his finger before smoothing it out, and then repeating.

"I'm sure they are, but in different ways," Roana replied, equally as drowsy but with a certainty that they both believed. She sighed and nuzzled closer to him, and he kissed the top of her head.

"I think this happiness is all ours," she reiterated sagely, and he nodded.

She was smart, his wife. He had never met anybody so intelligent and strong and beautiful and courageous and decisive. And she was his. This life was his, and he was quite possibly the luckiest man alive.

"Would you change anything?" he asked quietly, hoping against hope that she would answer in the negative, but needing to ask anyway, for his fears still arose at times, even though he knew that there was no reason for them.

In reply, she slid her hand up his chest and pushed him back until he lay amidst the tall flowers. She straddled his hips, smiling down at him, her hair tumbling around her shoulders. He placed his hands around her waist, wishing he could hold her right there for as long as possible.

"I wouldn't change a thing," she murmured, and leaned forward to kiss him.