The following morning, Robin's birthday, dawned bright and clear. It promised to be one of those sunny but crisp autumn days when the sky seemed bluer than ever before and all nature rejoiced.

Marian was working hard to finish Robin's present.

It was just as difficult for her to think of something to give him as it had been for him in London, when he'd struggled to find something to buy for her. Yet Marian knew that whatever she gave Robin, he would treasure. With him, it really was the thought that counted, not the gift itself.

He already owned everything he could possibly want. Marian suspected what Robin would truly like would be the bow he'd given her, but she could hardly give it back to him. He took more pleasure than she did from knowing she owned such a fine bow.

The only thing Marian felt Robin lacked was fine clothing. Not that he needed any to look good...he always looked good! But he dressed quite plainly for a lord of his rank and station, and he might enjoy wearing something a bit finer, Marian believed, if he was to receive it as a gift. Marian would never presume to try to turn him into a peacock like Martin of Aylesbury, but she decided to present him with a fine shirt she helped herself to make. She hoped he would like it.

Not trusting her own needlework, she privately hired Alice Little to sew the shirt from fine linen Marian provided. Marian was gratified to witness Alice's thankfulness at receiving the job, and Much helped out by sneaking Alice one of Robin's shirts so that she could size it perfectly. Marian's contribution to the shirt was creating the band of seed pearls that would trim the low, laced neckline. She was attaching this now to the shirt while imagining how handsome Robin would look wearing it.

...

Marian and her father arrived in Locksley in the late afternoon. The village was decorated, ale was flowing freely, and games were in full force.

Robin celebrated his birthday differently than other noblemen, who might step outside to receive their villagers' homage, but celebrated within their homes with only other nobles as guests. Robin celebrated outdoors among his village with games and a feast and tremendous fun. When Marian and Sir Edward arrived, the three-legged race had just ended and the archery competition was about to begin.

Much raced to greet them. "Welcome! If you will hand me your gifts, my lord sheriff and...and my lady, I will put them with the others. My master is most anxious for you to compete in the archery contest."

"Me?" Marian asked, surprised. "I didn't bring my bow."

"Robin said you could use his."

"This is highly irregular," Sir Edward objected. "My daughter doesn't wish to-"

"It's alright, Father," Marian decided. "I'd like to compete."

"Everyone knows who's going to win, of course, my lady," Much mentioned, escorting Marian and her father to the archery butts. "But I must say, we do love watching him shoot!"

Sir Edward inwardly groaned. Robin was such a fine young man, he believed, but such a show off, not to mention a spendthrift when it came to his village. Looking about him at the tables groaning under heaping platters of food, all paid for by Robin, Sir Edward worried anew for his daughter's welfare and happiness. Her dowry, the sum of which Robin had never bothered about, telling Sir Edward he wanted nothing but Marian herself, would probably be squandered on these serfs and peasants within a few months of the wedding!

Robin, seeing Much bring his newly arrived guests, greeted them fondly. "Sir Edward," he said first, respectfully, then gave Marian a radiant smile. "Marian. Thank you for coming."

"Happy birthday," Marian said, her heart full as she smiled back at him.

Sir Edward looked from one of them to the other. How they cared for each other! He sighed, worried their extreme happiness would be short lived once their money ran out and life became harsh.

Competing, Marian shot well and Robin was as proud of her as he was of his own amazing, perfect shots.

"Cake!" Much cried, having been waiting all day for it.

Only nobles had cakes for their birthdays, but Robin's was big enough for his entire village to enjoy. Cakes were round, to symbolize the circle of life, and coins or religious medals were baked inside them, as prizes. Sir Edward knew from Robin's previous birthdays that his cake would be loaded with sovereigns, so that his people could have them. Candles decorated the top of the cake, and were lit so that Robin could say a silent prayer and blow them out. Their smoke was thought to carry his prayer straight to God.

Jeffrey, the self-appointed comic of Locksley, was teasing Master Robin by pretending to sneeze, blowing out the candles as they were being lit before Robin had a chance. Both Much and Marian found it childish, but Robin laughed as happily as he had when he was just a little lad.

"One more sneeze and I'll put you in the stocks," Robin teased, his eyes twinkling, and his people laughed.

"But I...achoo! can't help myself...achoo!" Jeffrey protested. "Can I help it if your birthday falls during hay fever season?"

"Douse him in the pond," Robin joked, not meaning it, and Jeffrey laughingly backed away.

At last the candles stayed lighted, and Robin prayed his silent wish and blew all nineteen of them out. He smiled lovingly at Marian while his people raised a cheer.

Much's mouth was watering. "Cake," he said, licking his lips. "I love cake."

The cake was cut. Marian and her father were served first, and Robin took delight when his people discovered coins in their pieces. The girl Kate, the blond potter's daughter, complained that a coin broke one of her teeth. "Be still!" her mother Rebecca scolded. "That's a gold sovereign you bit into! It's worth a sight more than your tooth."

The celebration was interrupted by a courier's arrival. Sir Edward, expecting it was sheriff's business, called to the courier.

"The message is not for you, my lord sheriff," the courier announced, "but for the Earl of Huntington. I bring a message from King Richard himself."

The crowd gasped, but Robin was composed. "I am Robin of Locklsey," he said. "Please, stay and feast with us."

Robin took the message with King Richard's seal upon it and rejoined Marian and her father. "Probably a message to wish me a happy birthday," he said, feeling both proud and humbled by the honor.

Marian felt somewhat in awe. Imagine, she was thinking, the king remembering Robin's birthday, and sending a courier all the way from London to deliver well wishes! She squeezed Robin's arm affectionately.

Robin's face changed when reading the message. He first appeared surprised, then excited.

"What is it?" Sir Edward asked.

"It's war," Robin answered, his eyes lit by a strange inner fire. "Pope Gregory is calling upon all Christendom to fight to free Jerusalem. King Richard has taken the Crusader's pledge. He's asking me to join him as Captain of his exclusive Private Guard."

The color drained from Marian's face. "You're not going, surely," she said, her voice sounding hollow in her ears.

...

(Note: I did a little research on birthday celebrations during medieval ages, and found interesting facts about birthday cakes. I hope you also enjoy the information why cakes were and still are round, and about birthday candle wishes originally being birthday prayers. Very early in medieval history, the prayers were thought to ward off evil, because people believed someone was more likely to be harmed by demons on his birthday than on any other day, but that belief had passed away by Robin's time).