Marian awoke and dressed for breakfast feeling altogether better than she could remember feeling in a long time.

When she walked into the breakfast room, she smiled at the sight before her. Djaq and Will were sitting very close to one another, smiling and talking quietly. John was sitting at the end of the table, eating his breakfast with gusto; occasionally shooting long-suffering looks in the direction of the young couple.

Marian cleared her throat. Will moved away from Djaq, blushing furiously. Djaq merely looked amused and nodded a greeting to Marian. Little John smiled into his breakfast.

Marian took a seat and began to eat her breakfast. Deciding not to remark on Robin's absence, she asked, 'Where is Allan?'

'Still abed,' John remarked.

'Very clever,' Allan's voice drifted into the room, closely followed by its owner. 'A Dale, abed. Very witty, John.' He sat down and began to eat. 'Where's Robin?' He asked, his mouth full of bread.

Little John's response was characteristically terse. 'Out.'

'Out?' Marian asked. 'Where?'

'John knows. He says he's been told not to tell us,' Will said, having recovered from his embarrassment.

Marian looked at John, obviously about to ask, but forbore when John shot her a look. Instead, she turned to Djaq. 'What of Much?'

'He is well. I was concerned this morning, Robin woke me to tell me Much had a fever, but he seemed to come through it.'

Marian smiled. 'Do you know when he will be well again?' It seemed to her that Little John shot her a knowing look as she spoke, but the man said nothing.

'He will not be well enough to return to England for many days yet, perhaps several weeks. But Much is strong, I believe he will be up and complaining very soon.'

Will was watching Djaq with unrestrained admiration provoking a groan from Allan.

'Not bein' funny, but its not gonna be much fun back at camp with you two making puppy eyes at each other! Robin's bad enough but at least Marian puts him in his place.'

'Hear, hear!' John growled.

'Thank you, Allan,' Marian said, raising her glass to him. She sat back and ate her breakfast, letting the outlaws' banter wash over her. Since she had left the forest, she had truly missed these people.

When her father died, Little John had been a comforting fatherly presence. She knew that – in the rare moments when he was not being a leader – Robin also regarded him as such.

Djaq had been that rare thing for her – a female friend who understood her need to fight, and indeed, one who was as skilled, sometimes more so, than she. Djaq also understood the value of her independence, something none of the men could comprehend.

She looked at Djaq now, caught up in Will, happy to have him watching her, and making sure he continued to do so by throwing occasional smiles in his direction. Will, for his part was studying Djaq with the same intensity Marian had seen on his face when he was working, the love he felt obvious in his expression.

Two things had puzzled her, on that terrible day when the sheriff went missing in Sherwood Forest. Firstly, why Robin had sent Will to protect her, she had known, of course, that, being the quietest member of the gang, Will would be far less likely to be recognised. However, she had been sure that there was something else behind Robin's decision. Secondly, she had wondered at the fire in Will. The absolute surety that Robin would find her, no matter where she went, no matter if she was wed to Gisbourne.

'Where ever you go - where ever you go - Robin will move heaven and earth! He will find you!'

Will had been certain because he understood completely how Robin felt. And Robin had trusted Will because he knew this.

She turned, as there was the sound of someone entering the house. Her eyes on the door, she completely missed the amused look Allan sent Little John.

'Good morning, everyone,' Robin said brightly, entering the room and taking a seat beside Marian. He began to pick at the remains of her breakfast, stopping only when he realised they were all staring at him. 'What?'

'Where have you been?' Marian asked.

'John wouldn't tell you?' Robin responded, amusement sparkling in his eyes.

'Robin!'

'I have been into town.'

'Isn't that dangerous?' Marian asked.

'Bassam sent someone with me. I was perfectly safe.' Seemingly finished with her breakfast, Robin rose. 'I am going to see Much,' he announced, then headed out of the room.

-*-

Sometime later, Marian walked along the corridor, heading for Much's room. She stopped just outside when she realised she could hear Robin talking quietly. She peeked around the doorframe, careful not to be seen.

'The King will make you officially the Earl of Bonchurch and we shall go home.' Robin sighed and rubbed his hands over his face. 'But first you must wake up, my friend. I spoke to Djaq and she says you're just sleeping, but…' He trailed off and sat in silence for a moment before continuing. 'Was it like this for you? When I lay in my fever? I only remember the dreams. Is that where you are now? Do you dream of home? As I did?'

'In the Holy Land, my master had dreams,' Much had said. 'He spoke your name.'

The words had stung Marian then but now they made her smile. The smile faded as she wondered what – or who – Much would be dreaming of? Before they had returned, Robin and Much had known nothing of the state of Nottinghamshire, of England. Robin had been right to dream of going home. Now, however, things were different. They knew they were going home to the forest, not to Locksley or Bonchurch.

Then Robin spoke again. 'Do you dream of Eve, my friend? I swear to you, we will go home and we will end this. I'll not play games with the sheriff anymore. I will talk to the king. He must be made to see that he is needed at home. And if he comes home, you can go to Bonchurch. And I can go home.' Robin sniffed and rubbed his eyes. Marian realised he'd been crying. He looked up at Much, smiling slightly, some of the playfulness returned to his eyes. 'Look, Much, its like this,' he said, speaking slowly, as though talking Much through a plan he was making up as he went. 'I've told Marian we have to wait until you're well to get married, so you have to wake up. We do not want to give her the chance to change her mind.'

Robin stood and walked over to the sideboard, where something lay wrapped. Marian watched as he unwrapped the object and deposited it on the chair beside the bed. As Robin began to move towards the door Marian turned and moved quickly, concealing herself in a nearby doorway.

Robin walked past her, obviously lost in his own thoughts. Curious, Marian entered Much's room, her eyes immediately falling on the object Robin had placed on the chair.

She smiled, her suspicion confirmed. On the chair lay Much's bright shield. Whole and unbroken.

-*-