Perhaps you know the legend of Robin Hood. Perhaps you know me. I'm the one he fell for. His story was never mine to tell, but I can tell my story, one that will forever be entwined with his. I'm the Maid Marian and this is the story of me and my Robin Hood.

A biting wind woke me the next morning. My head ached thanks to my increased wine consumption the night before. Thankfully, someone had covered me with a blanket during the night. I reluctantly opened one eye and noticed that the blazing fire had turned to soft embers. My muscles ached as I peeled myself off the ground. What would Charlotte think if she knew I had spent the night on the forest floor surrounded by outlaws?

One outlaw was missing. I looked around for Robin and found him at the edge of the camp gathering firewood. I tiptoed toward him as quietly as I could over the leafy ground.

"Good morning, sunshine," he smiled happily at me.

"Good morning," I replied, watching him gather and cut the logs. Even through his shirt, I could see the rippling muscles of his lean back and strong arms.

"See something you like?" he teased, snapping me out of my reverie.

"I was just coming to say goodbye and to thank you. I had a wonderful time last night, but I should really be going," I whispered, ignoring his earlier comment.

"Someone expecting you?" he asked smartly. I felt anger boil inside me. Why did he always have to ruin the moment? He had no idea what I had to deal with!

"Goodbye, Robin," I said, swallowing my anger before gathering my things to leave.

"Marian, wait," Robin caught my hand before I mounted my horse.

"What, Robin?!" I whispered angrily. He sighed.
"Do you know your way home?"

I remembered how to get back to the main road. I nodded, knowing any words spoken would be that of anger.

"Be careful," he mumbled. I nodded again, mounted my horse, and rode out of the camp. Robin stared after me until we could not see each other anymore. I would never admit it to him, but I found his protective gaze comforting.

I made it back into Locksley before the sun burned away the morning mist, but already people were bustling around. I nodded to villagers before riding to the stable. I had barely dismounted my horse before the yelling commenced.

"Where have you been?!" some shrieked. I whirled around, fearing the worse, only to be met with a disheveled Charlotte.

"Charlotte," I sighed, clutching my heart, "You scared me!"

"I scared you?! Oh, I scared YOU?! I've been here since yesterday, when you should have been back, with no one able to tell me where you were! I was about to call Guy, Marian! You can't just wander off like that!" she had her hands around my forearms and was practically shaking me. An outburst like this coming from anyone else would have infuriated me, but this was Charlotte, prone-to-worrying, over-dramatic Charlotte.

"Charlie, I'm fine," I assured her.

"It was the outlaws, wasn't it?" she whispered a little too loudly. I hit her in the arm.

"Ow!"

"Be careful what you say!" I warned her.

"What are you even doing here?" I asked in a more normal tone of voice.

"You still have some explaining to do," she crossed her arms. I sighed. Silly of me to think she would simply drop the subject.

I ordered tea to be sent up to my room and had Charlotte follow me there. A hot pot was brought in moments later and we settled onto my bed. I was expecting Charlotte to ask about Robin and the outlaws, so I was caught off guard by her question.

"So what's going on with you and Guy? There are rumors swirling all around the castle!"

"What sort of rumors?" I asked cautiously.

"That he's going to propose! I thought you were in love with Robin Hood! What happened?"

I had to say, I was both happy and surprised that she didn't try to dissuade my feelings for Robin in favor of Guy. I think, deep down, that she knew he was not the knight-in-shining-armor he portrayed himself to be.

"I don't know," I sighed. She looked at me quizzically.

"You don't seem surprised to hear that Guy wants to propose. Did you know?" she asked. I nodded and relayed to her what happened at my father's house.

"Does Hood...Robin, know?" she mumbled after a moment.

"If he did, I can tell you I would not be here right now," I smiled to myself.

Suddenly, I heard a loud noise coming from out the window, as if something had just crashed. Charlotte and I exchanged glances before dashing to over to look out. We saw a broken box overflowing with cloth of every color of the rainbow. Another box revealed loads and loads of flowers.

I stole a look at Charlotte. She was clearly as confused as I was. She followed me out of my room and down the stairs without a word. People were already beginning to clean up the mess by the time we made it outside.

"Excuse me, sir," I called to the vendor, "What is the meaning of this?"

"Deliveries from Nottingham, Milady, for Sir Gisborne," he replied with a small bow to Charlotte and me.

"And what is the nature of this delivery?"

"A festival!" Guy's sudden, booming voice nearly made me jump out of my skin. I whirled to face him as he dismounted his horse.

"Guy, I was not expecting you back so soon," I curtseyed, attempting to hide my surprise. If I had spent any more time in Sherwood...well, I did not want to think about that.

"I have other matters to attend to but I thought I would drop these off. You seem to be in such a bleak mood, I thought perhaps a festival would liven your spirits!" he explained excitedly, clutching my hand in his. His touch felt like ice.

"And what would we be celebrating?" I asked. What was there to celebrate? Poverty, death, overall misery?

"Our return to Locksley!" he replied after a moment too long, as if he had just came up with the reasoning.

"There will be music and dancing! We could have crafts and perhaps a contest of some sort," he continued, but I was not listening. I knew what this was. This was Guy trying to win me over.

"So, what do you think?" he asked expectantly. Not knowing what to say, I merely smiled in return. That seemed to satisfy him, because he happily kissed me on the cheek and jumped back onto his horse.

"It will be a festival to remember, my dear!" he called before riding off.

A festival to remember? Of that, I was certain.

What awaits Marian at the festival? How will it play out with the outlaws so close? R&R!