Chapter Four

Much sighed as he shifted in his saddle. A sigh that was matched by his friend. Robin glanced back at his companion.

"Are you alright?"

"W-what? Why?" Much rushed to escape his thoughts and mood.

"Well, we've been on the road for over an hour and not once have you complained of hunger or attempted to sing."

"Oh, oh right….I'm hungry."

"Nice try but it doesn't fool me, what's wrong?"

Much gave him a look. Robin stared, puzzled by the expression, usually it took very little to get Much to complain. However with a friendship of over ten years it didn't take long for him to recognise the sadness in his eyes.

"Oh." Robin sympathised as he saw how deep the hurt went.

"Oh!" he exclaimed as he figured out the reason for said sadness.

"Eve." He finished simply.

"Eve." Much sighed again.

"It's been a year, Robin. A year! How do you get these out of your head? How do you stop yourself from thinking about her?"

Robin looked down and turned his horse.

"You don't."

Much hurried to catch up.

They travelled for another hour, each in their own thoughts; silence ruled the air, broken only by the sight of Bonchurch.

"Ah, welcome home, Lord Much." Robin gleefully called.

Much's eyes and heart lifted at the sight of his new and rightful home. It had been eight days since the King had entered Nottingham and seven since things had been set right. Well, almost everything. The outlaws weren't officially pardoned yet, a celebration was to take place tonight in recognition of all the loyalty they showed to King and Country and Eve had yet to appear. For the whole week Much has switched from sleeping at Locksley Manor and Bonchurch. In between these times, he has skewered the land looking for her, yet no one has seen hide or hair of her. Much had yet to give up though, he was still practicing what he would do and the words he would say to her when everyone else slept. Or at least when he thought they were asleep.

Before his thoughts could go any further, they were cut off by Robin.

"Hello, what do we have here?"

"Wh-what?" Much followed his friend's gaze to the figure hunched over the vegetable patch outside Bonchurch Manor.

"Hey!" Robin yelled as they watch Much's vegetables getting stolen.

Their head shot up at the sound, picking up the food, they attempted to run but not before Much caught a glimpse of the Golden haired lass.

"Robin, it's her!" Much scrambled off his horse, getting his foot stuck because he refused to take his eyes off the fleeing figure.

"Wait!" he called "Robin, do something, she is getting away!"

Robin reached behind him for his quiver of arrows, grabbing two, he fired them in quick succession, pinning an arm to the door of the house.

Much finally freed himself from his saddle and rushed forward, only to retreat back, jump and slap the back of Robin's head.

"Ow! What was that for?"

"For shooting at the love of my life!"

"Shesh...not like I killed her."

Now while all this was being said, Eve was attempting to pull the arrows out of her selves and door, not caring or hearing what the two were taking about. She sank to the ground, her arm sticking up like a teacher's pet in a classroom, as a shadow fell upon her.

"Let me go! When the master returns you'll-"

"I am the Master, well I will be, I receive my titles tonight." Much decided to have a little fun with this (Evil basket!)

'No! What of Much?' She thought desperately.

"What?" she tried to look upon the face of her capture but the sun and his hood prevented her. She struggled against the arrows. Years of deception urged her to keep him distracted by thinking her a helpless damsel, while she tries to get her knife out of her gown.

"Please Sir, release me, you don't understand, the people are starving, myself and my mother included."

"Then have it."

"What?"

"Take it." He held up a carrot.

"No."

"Why not?"

"You may act as nice as you please but I know that this is a trap and I am not so easily fooled."

He laughed.

"Do not mock me, you- you impostor!"

"Impostor?"

"Yes you are not the real master of Bonchurch. The real master was a true noble man, decent honest and true!"

"And how do you know if I possess such qualities, for we have only just met?"

"You fired arrows at me!" She managed to pull one out and waved it threateningly at him

"Actually that was me" came a sheepish voice from behind the couple.

"Oh great! Another one."

"Yes. He is my…servant and he shall be punished for his pigheadedness."

Robin snorted which he turned into a cough at the look he got from Much. Now if it was a girl there, she would have put an end to this charade, forcing Much to revel himself. However since this is Robin who (despite the looks and bravery and skills and, well I could go on.) still acts foolishly from time to time, he decided to play along.

"I'm sorry my…master but you must get ready for the feast in honour of the King's return"

"The King has returned? The real one?" Eve gasped, hardly daring, hardly hoping after the disappointment of the last situation involving the 'King.'

"Yes. How could you not know? For eight days the villagers of Nottingham haven't stopped celebrating."

"It would seem so, for they have been to busy to spread the news. We haven't heard from Nottingham for over a week. I doubt anyone has left there."

"Ah, you may be right."

Eve stopped pulling at the last arrow and tried once again to look upon the face of her captors but only managed to see their outlines. She was very tempted to ask about Much but the knife in her pocket reminded her that he may still be an enemy.

"Now you really got to let me go. I need to see the King."

She had to speak to the King, she had to get Much pardoned or at least find out where he was. She also needed to give him a piece of her mind for giving away Much's title. She didn't care if he was the King and Much was technically an outlaw still. All men are equal in the eyes of a woman when it comes to telling them off.

"Very well but first…" he bent down pulled the arrow out her shelve and the door. It was the chance Eve was waiting for.

She lounged forward, taking him down, holding a knife to his throat.

Robin reloaded his bow, aiming at her, the horses snorted and pranced. Nobody moved.

Silence except for the heavy breathing of Eve, Robin and Much.

The adrenaline left her and she was now longer fighting blindly and she finally saw the wide, twinkling eyes of Much.

Much was not a simple man and many times in the Crusades he saw men charge blindly into battle. He knew it was better to let the adrenaline wore off, rather than retaliate for fear of hurting the two of them.

"I was only going to suggest a bath."

She stood quickly, she finally saw what she longed to see for over a year, Much…and she just attacked him.

"My Lord…" She stated as she sunk to the ground, Much who reached out for her, grabbed her elbow and ended up on his knees in front of her.

"None of that please." Much smiled, "And none of them either." He brushed her tears away with his thumbs, even as his own tears fell.

"You found me." She whispered.

"I said I would."

Their arms found their way around each other and she buried her head into his neck. Much pulled her to him and began to rock her back and forth as their tears overcame them both. To them it was eternity and yet only a moment when Robin cleared his throat.

"Sorry to interrupt but the King will be arriving shortly at Locksley Manor." The joy of his home's name could be heard in his voice, "Best not to keep Marion waiting." The joy in his voice increased ten-fold.

"Must you interrupt a moment like this?" Much called exasperated.

"The profession of a good servant." Robin answered teasingly.

'HA! Revenge for all the times you interrupted me and Marion.' He thought.

"Go on ahead. We'll catch up."

"Very well, 'Master'" Robin sniggered before cantering off. Neither moved.

Eventually Much stood and helped Eve to her feet. He squeezed her hand before letting go to retrieve his horse.

"Shall we?" he indicated to the horse.

Eve wrung her hands.

"I-I don't know."

"What? Why?"

"I was a spy for Vavsey. I was ordered to betray you, seduce you and then betray you."

"Well aren't we all glad only half of the plan worked."

"I did not seduce you!"

"No. You are right. It was you who fell for my charms. I am after all…" he placed his hands on his hips and tilted his head to the sky, picking invisible dust off his jumper.

"…Irresistable."

The horse snorted, Much turned offended as Eve burst out laughing.

"Hmmft! Some loyalty." He muttered as he returned to Eve. Gathering her hands in his, he said,

"Don't worry about the others. Just be yourself, because if they see what I see…they're going to love you."

Eve looked up.

"You love me?"

"Oh." Much replied, he hadn't realised what he said.

"I-I shouldn't have said that!"

"Are you regretting what you have said?" She went to pull away but Much stopped her.

"I regret that I haven't got a ring or that we weren't in a more romantic setting but I don't regret the words. I meant it. I mean it. I love you, Eve."

She smiled.

"I love you too. Hey, we have a sunset, that's romantic."

"You're right. We have to ride off into it!" he cried excitedly.

"Much!" her cries were cut short as he jumped onto his horse and swung her up.

She sighed before settling her back against his chest, humouring him.

Much kissed her forehead before setting off.

"Er, Much?"

"Yes my love." Love… he could get used to that.

"Aren't we meant to go the other way, I mean Nottingham is that way, North."

"Shush, I'm trying to be romantic."

"Oh………Isn't the sun in your eyes?"

"Romantic! Yes it is but work with me here."

She laughed, with him…she could get used to that.

After a while, they did turn North to Nottingham. Where Much, Robin and the others were pardoned and albeit a bit hesitantly by the other nobles, Eve was welcomed by the outlaws with thankful cries that they no longer needed to hear anymore romantic rehearsals from Much in the middle of the night.

Much flushed as the others chuckled.

"You practiced for her?" Djaq and Marion yelled simultaneously.

He nodded.

"Awww" the three girls exclaimed, before Marion and Djaq slapped Robin and Allan upside their heads, for not doing something equally romantic. Allan tried to lie and charm his way out of Djaq's glare, while Robin complained about getting hit twice in one day and that of course he practised but he did it in secret.

"Why keep your romantic side from your future wife?" Marion asked.

"I saved you from Guy's wedding."

"No I did. You provided a horse!"

"It was a romantic horse!" then realising the absurdity of the answer he sat back sulking.

"If I may demonstrate how to be romantic Robin?" Much smiled, walking around the table to help Eve out of her chair. He led her onto the middle of the hall before dipping her for a passionate kiss.

Cries echoed all around but were lost to the couple, who were too busy lost in the kiss, in each other.

And thus that kiss was a symbol of their lives starting over anew. For Much finally understood Robin's words when they sat on the hill, one year ago. He had his stomach full, his land and title returned to him, money in his pocket and yet he only received total happiness by giving something away. He understood that a roof over his head wasn't a home. His home is here, in his arms, was his home…his heart.

Eve….the queen of his heart.