Marian finds a feather on a morning stroll. A conversation with Robin ensues.
Feather
The summer sun was quite warm, even for the morning. Marian kept to the shade as much as she could as she walked the town. During her weeks as a 'guest' at the castle, she'd adopted a morning walk, watching the people of Nottingham go about their business as she stretched her legs.
It was too easy to fall into malaise at the castle. Her head had to stay clear, lest she make a misstep.
From time to time Guy would join her, but that was rare. His mornings were busy with the running of the guard, managing security and the castle, and acting as Vaisey's personal shadow. Like most days, she was followed by her main guard, Hosker, one of Guy's highest ranking men. Marian could see why Guy assigned him—he was quite skilled at being nearby but out of her sight. It was a gift that gave her the illusion of privacy.
It was a dangerous gift. Marian never forgot that.
But the sky was clear and people's faces were sunny. Marian felt warmed by a smile here and there as she passed shops and stalls.
A grandmotherly woman pushed open her shutters and leaned out.
"A posey, my lady?" She held out a little bunch of flowers. They were nothing more than some wildflowers and a few vine roses tied with twine, but they were lovely.
"Why, thank you! They'll brighten the table later." Marian held out a coin in gratitude.
"Naw. They grow free and so I give them free. Good to see you smiling again, my lady."
Marian blinked, and found her tongue again. "Nottingham is not without charm." She held up the little bouquet. "My thanks again, good lady."
She walked away, mindful of the guard and returned to her usual route. As she walked, she sniffed their wild perfume and fingered the little flowers. At the base where they were tied, a funny pattern caught her eye, and she tugged at a bit of twine.
A feather. Not just any feather, a striped feather trimmed for a fletching.
She stared at it.
"My lady?" Hosker was at her side. "Are you well?"
Marian kicked at the ground theatrically. "Of course, just have a bit of gravel in my shoe. I can't seem to shift it. I think I'd like to return to my chambers to deal with it."
"Of course my lady."
.
Hosker left once her door was closed. She was, after all, only one of his assignments.
Marian set the clutch of flowers down and plucked the feather from the stems. "Well, I'm back," she said to the room.
Rustling from behind a tapestry. "Did you enjoy your walk?"
Robin stepped out and made a little bow. Marian ran to him and embraced him, thankful for a friendly face.
"How on earth did you get in? Vaisey keeps every gate so guarded!"
Robin grinned. "He does not guard the chutes."
"The what—oh my lord." Marian waved her hand, trying to push the smell away.
"Yes, it takes a moment to really hit you. Sorry."
Marian shook her head. "No, no. Nevermind that. How is everyone? Djaq, Much, Will and John? Are they well?"
"They're all fine! Djaq has helped Much with his cooking and now we don't mind it so much. She's taught him to forage better and we've had less sickness from bad greens. We managed to heist some burlaps and wax, so we made a mostly leak proof tent. John is a better hunter than he knew, and we eat hare once or twice a week, and what fish we catch that he doesn't leave for his wife makes it in the stew pot as well.
"We made a small heist yesterday, and gave it out to the folk of Clun. I expect the soldiers might come back in the next day or two, but we got a piece out of them."
Robin hesitated. "Though, if you've got some soap and wine to spare, we could use it. Djaq needs them to clean a cut Will got. He's starting to fester."
"Of course." Marian sprang into action and hunted up items. "Things are well enough here, but the politics are worse than I ever imagined. My father is not well enough to keep up, so I find I must assist him most days."
Robin gave her a sad smile. "He could hardly have better counsel."
Marian paused. "Thank you. I do what I can, and have managed a few small victories." She returned with several cakes of soap.
"Such as?"
"Vaisey wanted to levy a tax on rabbit farming. I told my father to demand that the tax be levied only at the time of sale, rather than on the number of animals a farmer has."
Robin thought. "That's brilliant. They'll be able to feed their families."
"And maybe even a few forest men."
Robin laughed, but the sparkle in his eyes faded. "I saw you as the minstrels played. Are you still-" He could not finish, but nodded his head towards a Gisborne banner on the wall.
Marian looked at her hands. "Yes. Yes I am."
They were both quiet.
"Come with us."
Marian gripped the table's edge. "What?"
Robin took her hand, prying her fingers from the wood. "You could come with us. Run away to the wood and live free."
Marian pulled her hand away. "Free? You talk to me of hunger and disease and say you're free?"
"You don't have to marry him."
"And what happens to my father? Or do you plan to take my frail, aging father to the wood as well?" Marian pressed her palms to her aching head. "I have no choice."
Robin folded his arms across his chest. "Everything is a choice."
"Choices have consequences."
"But we help people!"
"I help people!" Marian stood, pushing away from the table violently. "In a single council meeting I ensured that people will have a source of meat and be able to pay their taxes. And no one died! That is what working from the inside can do."
Robin sat stiffly. "I cannot believe you would give yourself to him."
"I give nothing." Marian took two bottles of wine from her table and wrapped them with a bit of fabric. She set them in a bag and handed them to Robin. "What I get in return is the ability to make change."
Robin tucked the soap into the bag with the wine and stood.
Marian sat. "I do not want to be angry with you."
"There has to be another way," Robin pleaded. "I still love you, Marian."
Her vision blurred. It was all so unfair. No matter what she did, no matter how much she accomplished, there was always this. Marian blinked away her tears.
"I know. But I fear it is no longer enough"