As soon as the Council of Nobles was dismissed, Robin approached Sheriff Knighton. "Forgive me, sir," he began, "for keeping your daughter out so late the other night. It was my entirely my fault, not hers."

Sir Edward looked at his daughter, then back at Robin. "I appreciate you shouldering her blame, Robin, but you are both at fault. Marian knows better than to put pleasure over duty, but she forgot to do so that evening. She knows it, and has accepted her punishment of not leaving the castle for a week."

"With respect," Robin pursued, "was it not also her duty to remain with her future village and take part in their celebration? My people love her, sir, and her presence gave them joy that cannot be measured."

"There are entirely too many celebrations in your village if you ask me, young man."

"We have a lot to celebrate."

"You will rue it, I'm afraid. One day you will run out of money, and what will my daughter do then?"

"Sir Edward, do not be concerned about my finances! A happy, well fed village is a successful one. Marian will never lack for anything, I assure you."

"I hope you are right. And I forgive you both. But it is my sister who was really put out the day of your party. I suggest you make your apologies to her."

"Thank you, sir. I will do so."

All during the exchange, Marian and Much stood across from one another, watching in silence. Marian broke her silence now by telling Robin, "I will take you to her now. Excuse us, father."

Happy to be alone with her fiance, or to be more exact, almost alone, for Much tagged a few short steps behind them, Marian charged right into the topic that had upset her during the council. "You looked disappointed, when we learned there will be no war."

Robin stopped walking. "I was, briefly," he admitted, "even being conflicted about the cause. I was looking forward to proving myself in battle. You would not understand."

"Because I'm a woman?"

"Yes."

Marian grew angry at his words and his smugness. "You would rather risk your life and see England torn apart, just so you could show off your fighting skills?"

Robin's temper rose to match hers. "I said, 'briefly.' I did not want civil war any more than you did! But if there was to be a war, part of me looked forward to it, I'll admit. It's what I've been training for these past several years, Marian. And I'm a good fighter. One of the best."

"And now your new toy has been taken away, leaving you disappointed."

"War is no toy, Marian. It's glorious."

"Glorious? Glorious to kill or be killed, to possibly never return home to the people you claim to care about?"

"To die in battle would be a glorious death."

"The way your father died?"

Robin's father had died fighting in the Irish rebellion when Robin was only ten years old, leaving him an orphan. Robin had hidden his grief from Marian then, and from his people, allowing himself to cry only when he was alone. But he was proud that his father had died a hero. "It's better than playing it safe, staying home and letting others fight for you," he answered angrily.

"You mean my father, don't you?" Marian asked angrily back. "Just because he never went to war...I thought you said you respected him."

"I do. But he might have taken part in the Second Crusade when he was young. Even Queen Eleanor fought there, alongside her husband."

"The Queen fought in battle?"

"A battle. The rest of the time she inspired the troops in the Holy Land, dressed as a warrior Amazon in leopard skins. My father said she was beautiful."

Marian was amazed. She would not mind Robin fighting a war as much, if she could fight by his side. But it was impossible! No woman but Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine could achieve that! Besides, there wasn't going to be a war, thank God!

"You must not care for your people the way you say you do," Marian continued, "if you think so little of your own life that you seek a hero's death."

"I don't! Seek death, I mean. And I do care for them, more than I say."

Neither said another word. Much stared at both of them, his wide blue eyes darting back and forth between them, not understanding the meaning hidden behind their words.

They continued on through the castle in silence, each stealing glances at one another, absorbed in thought. Reaching Aunt Mary's chambers, Marian asked Robin to wait for a moment before letting the guard announce him. She didn't want him to see her wedding gown or any of her other garments being constructed by the ladies sewing with her aunt.

She loved her wedding gown, being lovingly stitched by Lady Audrey Glasson. It was a rich golden brocade, with a hint of green, the Earl of Huntington's colors. It had a lower neckline than she was accustomed to wear...not obnoxiously low, but lower, and long tight fitting sleeves. It was simple but elegant, and nearly completed. When Marian tried it on for fittings, she felt beautiful, and worthy to be made Lady Locksley, Robin's wife. She planned to wear it with her mother's lace veil that her father had meticulously saved.

Thinking about her wedding day, her heart grew light.

"I'm sorry I was angry," she said to Robin, wanting the guard and Much far away, so that she could kiss him.

"I'm sorry, too," he told her, wanting to kiss her as well.

Addressing the guard, Marian said, "Give me one moment inside the room, before announcing Lord Locksley."

"Very good, your ladyship," the guard answered.

Marian smiled lovingly at Robin before disappearing inside her aunt's quarters. Their argument was over, for now. Neither one could expect it would reemerge in the near future, after Richard ascended to the throne and the Third Crusade began.

...

(NOTE: Queen Eleanor really did take part in the Second Crusade, and did dress as an Amazon in leopard skins. I don't remember if she was married to her first husband, King Louis of France, or her second, King Henry II, at that point. But she was an amazing woman! Look out, Little John!

This seems to be a good place to end this story, but I'm having too much fun writing it, so I think I'll continue on, even though I ought to end it here.)