"Wockswey!"

Ralph of Wopping was terrified. He knew exactly why Robin of Locksley was striding angrily toward him, thunderous storm clouds on his face. But Ralph felt himself blameless. How could he have known his delicious gossip concerning Robin and Marian would spread like wildfire throughout the castle?

"There's a reason ridiculous, exaggerated falsehoods are called 'wopping lies,' " Robin said dangerously, his manservant right behind him.

"What why?" Ralph asked, trembling. "I onwy passed awong what you said you-ah-self."

Robin seized Ralph and put him in a chokehold. "I need you to tell everyone you told it was all a story."

"Wet me go, Wockswey! You'ah huwting me."

"Not until you swear you'll undo the damage you caused."

As if in answer to Ralph's silent prayer, another voice called out, "Release him, Locksley!"

"McClellan?" Robin was surprised to see a squadron of castle guards led by McClellan enter the room and surround him with their weapons drawn.

"Sorry, milord. We've been ordered to take you to the sheriff."

So, Robin thought, Ralph's lie had reached Marian's father! Because it was inevitable, Robin let Ralph go and allowed himself to be "escorted" by the soldiers to face Marian's father.

Much was horrified. Trailing along behind Robin and the soldiers, he cried out his objections. "You cannot treat my master like a...like a common outlaw! He's done nothing wrong!"

Several of the younger guards nudged each other, as if agreeing it wouldn't be wrong to take Lady Marian to bed, even if she was the daughter of the sheriff. But they were thankful they weren't the ones having to answer to the sheriff for it now.

They reached the sheriff's quarters, knocked, and entered. Sir Edward was pacing the floor, too agitated to sit.

"Go, all of you," he ordered his soldiers. "Leave Locksley here with me, alone."

The soldiers filed out but Much refused to leave his master. Sir Edward, not knowing how to begin, seemed not to notice.

At last he spoke. "There is no delicate way to put this, young man. Word has reached me that you have defiled my daughter!"

"I have not, sir!"

"Are you telling me what is being said is a lie?"

"I swear it."

Sir Edward breathed out a sigh of relief, nearly collapsing into himself. He sat upon a hard wooden chair, wiped his brow, then asked, "Are you to blame for these rumors?"

"I fear I am, sir."

Much was aghast. "My master did nothing wrong!" he couldn't help blurting out.

"My manservant is mistaken," Robin admitted. "I did do wrong. I spoke out of turn, against your daughter's good name."

"And what exactly did you say?" Sir Edward's anger resurfaced. "The story I heard is you boasted you had already...enjoyed her."

"No," Robin said. "My words were misconstrued."

"Then what exactly did you say?"

Robin felt sweat break out on his brow, his palms, under his armpits. There was no way he could tell Marian's father what he had said! It had been almost pleasant telling Marian, and she had been furious! But he owed Sir Edward the truth. Squaring his shoulders, he admitted, "I said I would have no problem performing on our wedding night, sir."

The sheriff went pale. "You dared discuss my daughter in such terms, with two other young men?"

"I did not think. I am truly sorry."

Sir Edward stood and began to pace the room again. "I am surprised at you! I do not think you worthy of my daughter's hand!"

Much could no longer be silent. "My master only said it because those two were trying to get him to go with them to carry on with the girls at the Trip! The one who talks like a baby told him Lady Marian would want him to know what he was doing on their wedding night, and my master said it wouldn't be a problem. That's all! He is worthy of your daughter! More than worthy! You should see how the ladies at King Henry's court try to tempt him into their beds, yet he remains true to his lady!"

"Is this true, young man?" Sir Edward asked Robin.

"It is, sir."

Sir Edward's brow wrinkled in thought. "Why didn't you tell me the entire story? It would have cleared you immediately."

"The other men were not here to defend themselves. I could not justly accuse them in their absence."

"And as to the ladies at the king's court?"

"Marian makes me a better man than I would be, I fear, without her."

"Indeed?"

"I want no other woman but Marian, Sir Edward, and I am more than willing to wait for her."

"I am glad, Robin. Marian would be destroyed if I were to end your engagement."

"No more than I would be."

"Well then, since I find you barely at fault, what do you suggest we do to clear my daughter's name? We cannot announce the complete story to all of Nottingham! It's an ugly situation, no matter how it's handled."

"I have a plan, sir, if you and Marian will agree to it."

Sir Edward was hopeful yet wary. "A plan? What is it?" he asked.

"Allow me to marry your daughter now."

"Now?"

Robin was more than eager to plead his case. "Once we are wed, no one will care anymore what they thought we did or didn't do before the marriage."

Sir Edward was adamant. "Out of the question."

"But, sir-"

"People will talk all the more, believing you had to get married!"

"But they'll soon learn it isn't the case!"

"Will they? What if she conceives right away? How will you explain a baby, born nine moths after the wedding?"

Robin's frustration showed in his voice. "Why should anyone care, what goes on between Marian and myself?"

"You cannot change what people choose to talk about. The question remains, how do we clear her name?"

"If there was something else for them to think about," Robin began. "Something big..."

Just at that moment, bells all over Nottingham began to toll. A courier from London burst through Sir Edward's door, got down on one knee, and announced, "Milord Sheriff, the king is dead! Long live King Richard!"