"Good morning, Lady Marian."

Walking happily through the castle corridors, sixteen-year-old Lady Marian of Knighton was treated kindly and respectfully by all she met. As the only daughter of the Sheriff of Nottingham, she was used to such treatment, and she smiled kindly back.

She hadn't time to stop and speak to anyone today. Robin of Locksley was offering free archery lessons as a service to the town, and Marian did not want to be late.

Marian did not need to attend Robin's lesson. She knew how to shoot, having pleaded with her father to hire a marksman to teach her, but Robin did not know it. Taking part in his lesson today would be a way to impress him, not to mention enjoy spending more time together. For despite being betrothed, there never seemed to be enough time they could spend with one another.

Turning into a quiet corridor, Marian heard whispers and stopped her steps.

"I love you."

"I love you, too."

It was a guard and his sweetheart, a kitchen girl. Marian grew flustered, having unwittingly come upon them unannounced. She held her breath and took a few steps backwards out of the corridor, so they wouldn't know she had heard them.

The couple parted and went their separate ways, and Marian was able to continue walking.

How nice for them, she was thinking, to say and hear such words! It was natural, wasn't it, to speak them...when you cared? Then why hadn't Robin?

Arriving at her father's office, she watched the two sentries stand aside and allow her to enter.

Robin! She hadn't realized he would be here, speaking with her father.

Marian held her breath. Robin's manservant Much looked at her sideways through the corners of his wide blue eyes, and Marian stood as silent and motionless as he, listening while her father questioned young Lord Locksley.

"Young man, I fear this scheme of yours will fail," her father was saying. "Your heart is in the right place, but I have to think of my daughter. You are engaged to her, are you not?"

"I am, Sir," Robin answered, "but it will not fail. My village is the most prosperous in the shire for a reason. I only mean to build on its prosperity."

"By contributing more of your wealth toward helping your people 'help themselves,' as you put it? It is unnecessary. Your duty to your village is to protect your people, not raise them up! You are a dreamer. I fear your schemes will cost my daughter, when she becomes your wife."

"With respect, Sir," Robin clarified, "Marian will lack for nothing. Even if I were to sacrifice some of my wealth in the beginning-"

"We will speak of this later. Here is my daughter now."

Marian stepped forward to lightly kiss her father's cheek. She exchanged smiles with Robin, wondering what plan he had put forward that her father found so objectionable.

Robin wished he were alone with Marian, so he could kiss her. She looked beautiful, and he would like to present his plan to her and hear her opinion. But first, he needed to hurry to the archery butts outside the castle, where he had promised to teach both lads and men how to shoot.

"If I may borrow your daughter, Sir?" he asked the sheriff. Turning to Marian, he asked, "Care for a short walk outside? I have an appointment on the green, to teach-"

"I know. I put my name on your list, to learn some of the finer points of shooting."

"You?"

"Are you surprised?"

"But you're a-"

"A woman. What? Can't a woman learn to shoot, as well as a man?"

"If she's strong enough to pull back the bowstring, but-"

"You know I'm strong." Lowering her voice so her father could not hear, she asked, "Would you care to wrestle me again, and find out?"

Out of respect for her father, Robin hid his snickering. His eyes, however, shone with pleasure.

"Go," the sheriff told them, tired of hearing them flirt in their unusual and unique fashion. "I have work to do."

Both of them felt happier together than apart, and they made their way out of the castle, through Nottingham's streets, and onto the green. Robin held Marian's hand in his, and they continued challenging and teasing one another along the way. Much trailed silently behind them, carrying Robin's bow and quiver.

People in Nottingham stopped to look at them. Such a beautiful young couple, so obviously happy and in love!

"Can you ride with me, after the lesson?" Robin invited.

"Only a short ride," Marian answered. "I'm expected to sit with my aunt and work on embroidery."

Sir Edward's elderly widowed sister was visiting from Kent, helping Marian with her trousseau. The two women had little in common, but Marian strove to be polite and respectful to her aunt, grateful for her visit and her assistance.

Arriving at the green where a line of archery butts stood, Robin was pleased to see a large crowd already gathered. Marian rolled her eyes at the number of young women lined up to watch, knowing they were only interested in the handsome instructor. Men of all ages had gathered to watch as well, all of them admiring young Lord Locksley's incredible skill with the bow. Young lads and men stood about excitedly holding their bows, waiting to begin the lesson.

"You didn't bring a bow," Robin said, smiling down at Marian.

"I'll use yours. May I go first?"

Robin chuckled. There was no one like her! No other woman had thought to sign up for lessons.

"Stand so," he told so, showing her, wanting instead to place his hands on her hips to adjust her stance. His palms and fingers itched to touch her, but he forced himself to focus. "That's right! Now, hold the bow like this..."

This was more pleasant. He was able to stand directly behind her, surrounding her body with both his arms, to show her the correct way to hold the bow.

Marian appeared to be all business, but Robin felt almost dizzy, standing so close and touching her, breathing in her scent. Moments passed.

"Master!" Much's voice warned. "There are other people waiting, you know."

"Right! Now," Robin said again, returning to reality, "pull the bowstring smoothly, like you're combing your hair."

The crowd laughed, further breaking the mood. Robin stepped away and watched Marian prepare to shoot.

She looked gorgeous holding his bow, her face focused, determined to hit the target.

"Remember to take a breath first," Robin advised, finding his own breath uneven, moved as he was by her beauty.

She loosed her arrow, then turned to smile proudly at his amazed face.

It wasn't a perfect bulls eye, but her arrow throbbed in the center ring.

"Who's next?" she asked proudly, more pleased by her fiancé's amazement than by the cheers of the crowd.