-1Edward looked at his daughter, and motioned for her to hide. She moved inside the closet and waited, as the door suddenly opened and she heard spurs jingling. "What do you want Gisborne?"
"To see if you have had any special company lately."
"You are not welcome here. I have nothing you want."
"Don't you now? I still want your daughter. We are a perfect match. Good/Evil , soft/hard, selfish/generous and together we make a whole person. I would change for her, make her proud of me."
"You have to change for yourself. You should have changed, and then you could have shown Marion the real you. If it exist, the good man that is."
"There is, but being soft, and weak doesn't help a man. Look at you? How you have fallen."
"I am just old, if I were younger…I'd still be sheriff. You will one day be old too."
"Yes with everything I ever wanted…all mine. Including your daughter. Next time she and I meet, she'll be mine forever."
Gisborne walked to the door, and left. He didn't look back as he mounted his horse and rode away. Edward shut the door and turned and looked at his daughter who had opened the closet door.
"Marion…maybe you should go to your cousins for now. Gisborne will find another girl and forget you."
"I'm not leaving Robin. I love you father, and will see you again soon." She gave her father a kiss on the cheek as she went towards the back of the house and left.
Marion rode towards Sherwood forest, and wished she had some nice, soft tasty cake. That and some quail, and milk. She could almost taste it as she rode into the green leafy forest. When she wasn't being sick in the mornings, she was starving. Being only six weeks pregnant she had a long time until she held her baby in her arms. She smiled…her baby, hers and Robins. Life was perfect.
"My lady…you will stop there." Marion dismounted and face the man with the twinkle in his eyes.
"Why should I?
"Because I would rob you."
She stepped closer to the outlaw leader. "Rob me of what?"
"He pulled her closer, and leaned and kissed her on the lips, then the neck and nibbled her ear. She put her arms around his neck, and smiled. Then he pulled his head back…"I would rob you of your soft kisses, smiles, touches, and your heart."
Marion touched his face, her thumb rubbing his lower lip. "You have that already my outlaw." She leaned up on her toes, as he pulled her against him, kissing her passionately. When behind them they heard a soft laugh, and whispers. Turning they saw the gang watching, and smiling.
"I don't mean to be funny or nothing, but do you think you should be doing that in front of a boy like Will?"
Will elbowed Allan in the ribs. Much smiled. "Come on, I have dinner almost ready to eat. You must be starved, I am, I haven't eaten in two hours."
"What's for dinner, Much?"
"Quail."
"I can't wait!" Marion let Robin go and followed Much. "Any chance of some milk or some cake?" The other's exchanged looks and then at Robin as they listened to Marion. Who just smiled affectionately after Marion.
Much later Robin sat in the dark, his back against a tree and Marion sitting in front of him, in his arms. He found it easier to let go of what happened in the holy land with Marion by his side. She was replacing his nightmares with sweet dreams. Allan was telling some tall tale, as Much was peeling an apple. Tomorrow he would go and get her something special to eat. Something sweet. He put a hand on her flat stomach, and could almost imagine he could feel something there. He hoped King Richard would return soon. He needed his estate back, for his family.
It had been a long time since he though of a family, especially not in the holy land. Death was the only thing one thought about, how close it was, how it courted you, haunted you even in your dreams. He could almost imagine that he was in his home at Loxeley sitting by the fire, as he held his wife. He loved the sound of the word wife, but only when it pertained to Marion. He wanted her to be comfortable, especially now. But where? He placed his head on top of Marions and dozed off with a soft smile on his lips.