Chapter 23: "Can we speculate later?"
Needing to know for certain Marian was safe, the young leader quit the camp and headed to Knighton Hall. The half moon peaked out from the clouds and provided some light for the swiftly traveling outlaw. The peace and beauty of the greenwood at night was lost on Robin; he was halfway to Knighton before he slowed down enough to notice.
Out of the quiet darkness Robin heard a man groan and the frightened whiny of a horse. Instinctively the outlaw plunged into the shadows; his eyes searching the darkness. A horse tugged nervously to one side as though it was snagged, but there was no obstacle where it stood. The breeze carried Robin's scent and the animal snorted and stomped his front hooves. Moving cautiously into the clearing, he took the horse's bridle.
Stroking his nose and whispering soothingly, Robin tried to calm the beast. "Shh...boy…what has you caugh…?" The word faded in his throat; on the opposite side of the horse the twisted body of the rider was held fast to his mount by the boot snared in the stirrup. An arrow pierced the man's throat, his purse strings cut.
"One of Gisborne's men," Robin said to the breeze, identifying the yellow plume in the helmet lying beside the dead man. Checking his tunic, Robin found a directive in Guy's hand ordering his sergeant at Locksley to take his complement of men to Knighton Hall in the morning to meet the Sheriff's guard.
Robin knew he must act quickly, and camp was more than a mile away. There was no time to go back for the others. He mounted the soldier's horse, but the creature was craving water and would not be controlled until its thirst was sated. Giving the horse his head, the animal went to a nearby stream and drank his full. Thinking only of Marian, Robin galloped toward Knighton until the exhausted beast could go no further. He left it and continued on foot.
Stopping within the tree break beside Knighton Hall, Robin's sharp eyes swept over the landscape. The climb to Marian's window would be easy enough; he had done it a hundred times. His wounded arm from the encounter with John's bear was practically healed. It was seeing her, being close to her that worried him. He worked his way to the main house, using the shadows to conceal his approach.
Safely inside, Robin remained near the window, trying to relax. The room was just as he remembered it. Marian lay sleeping on a mound of thick feather duvets and woven blankets where her large frame bed once set, her rhythmic breathing accentuated by the stillness of the night. She was beautiful beyond belief; her lips rosy and inviting, her delicate features framed by cascading, dark brown hair…
Long luscious hair! Robin cast his eyes heavenward, Marian had not taken vows! In his heart he knew she would not, could not. But, he remembered she had tried before to lock herself away in Rufford so his mind could not completely discard the possibility.
Robin's heart dwelled in his eyes as he gazed longingly at his heart's desire. It was a look he would not permit were Marian conscious. In no hurry to wake her, he studied her lovely face for a few minutes, etching this moment in his memory. He thought of the first time he climbed into this room, sneaking up the night after their betrothal party. Of course he had been here when they were children, but then he climbed the stairs to the door and Marian was still in pigtails.
The earl had given him a proper ring to present to his betrothed at the party, but Robin had another idea, too. Weeks earlier Marian picked up a pretty stone while walking along the river that divided Locksley and Knighton holdings. It was opaque, and looked like pink-colored milk to Robin, but his maiden liked it, and that was all that mattered.
Marian accidentally dropped her treasure when she noticed a baby turtle crawling clumsily across the stony shore toward the river. Squealing and pointing excitedly she told Robin to look just as the turtle slid into the water. Fascinated, Marian's inquisitive eyes followed the little swimmer until he vanished.
Robin cunningly pocketed the stone on the sly and the castle jeweler polished it to a glossy luster. The kindly old man identified it as quartz, and Robin thought it looked much better with a good polish on it. The jeweler pierced a small hole at the narrower end of the elongated stone, suitable to hang it from a leather thong. When his mother became aware of his intentions, she gave him a silver chain to complete the gift and Robin wanted to give it to Marian in private. Everything was much simpler then, no shattered dreams – only expectations.
Flames burned through a log and the sputtering fire disrupted his reverie. The dying embers cast a wraithlike glow about the room and the sense of lost time struck him like an enemy's dagger.
Tiptoeing quietly across the wooden floor Robin knelt beside Marian's pallet, gently placing his hand over her mouth. Her stifled scream faded and her widened eyes softened as she recognized the intruder; she knew his touch instantly.
"Shh..." Robin urged, removing his hand to reveal a brilliant smile.
"Robin!" Instinctively she threw her arms around him. As his body tensed, Marian withdrew pulling the covers around her.
Robin stood up, noticeably uncomfortable. "The Sheriff and Gisborne are coming to confiscate your father's lands. They are probably on their way!"
"…on their way?" Marian repeated, "What?"
"We should leave – now!" Robin's eyes pleaded; he sensed danger and did not want to dally, or argue.
Marian was enjoying the last night at her family home, sleeping peacefully in her own room. Bleary from the rude awakening she squinted at him, "Who is coming…the Sheriff? Why?"
"I do not know, Marian," he answered impatiently. "Can we speculate later?" His mocking tone of voice and exaggerated bow was intentional. Shall we?"
Robin thought he knew exactly why Vasey was coming, but he did not want to discuss it. Feeling caged and restless he wanted to go; he wanted to be in Sherwood.
Crawling out of her comfy pallet and ignoring his derision, Marian continued with her questions, "They are coming at night? Vasey…I doubt it. Why bother?"
"Perhaps they know you have left the abbey and hope to catch you here?"
Marian turned that thought over for a moment then looked at Robin, "You are right, of course." She conceded and he slumped against the wall near the window, sighing gratefully.
"Thank you. Now…can we please go?"
"I'll just be a moment."
Replying as she threw a shawl about her shoulders, Robin watched as she seemed to float as she walked toward the hearth; in the sparse light her white silk gown shimmered in the firelight. As she reached for the small velvet pouch on the mantle, the shawl fell to the floor; the silhouette of her shapely body visible against the translucent fabric.
In that instant Robin forgot how to breathe. "Please hurry," he managed to say.
"I have to dress!" Marian shouted, pulling the shawl around her shoulders again.
"Shh…quickly," he urged.
"Go wait in the hall while I change," she said pointing to the door.
"We don't have time for this, Marian. Grow up!" Oh that felt good, he thought. "I need to keep lookout; I cannot do that in the hallway!" Turning to the window Robin bit the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing out loud.
Marian turned her back to the window and unfastened the gown at the neck letting it pool at her feet. The sound of rustling silk enticed Robin to turn his head slightly, just enough to glimpse her out of the corner of his eye. As she pulled the brown dress to her waist, he saw an expanse of smooth, pale skin and the graceful curves of her back.
Earlier she packed clothes for the forest and a small bag of treasured mementoes; the bed clothes were to be stowed in the barn until she had a place for them. The fine fabrics were the last remnant of her life at the manor house and she wanted something to help her transition to her new, wilder life. Though impractical, the material would be more useful than a pretty dress.
"All right then," Marian said turning around. Robin quickly peered out the window, hoping Marian did not realize he was watching her.
She did, of course, smilingly smugly as she fastened her cloak. As they reached the outer door Marian stopped. "Wait! I've forgotten something."
She darted up the stairs to her room and with her gloved hand, pounded her fist against one end of a wooden plank in the floor and withdrew a small wooden box from the hollow of the other end. In the box were the betrothal ring Robin presented her so long ago and the stone necklace. Marian hung it around her neck beneath her clothing and tucked the tiny box inside her cloak.
Rushing downstairs she reached for her pack and looked at Robin. "Let's go!"
"What did you go back for?" He asked, curiosity getting the better of him. "The room was empty."
"Shouldn't we go?"
"Fine."
No one heard their escape.