Walking hand-in-hand with Robin, Marian was pleasantly surprised when her husband suddenly stopped his steps under a flowering pear tree.
In full blossom, the tree was as beautiful as this spring day in May...her birthday. And it wasn't only the weather that was perfect today...everything about her first birthday as Lady Locksley was perfect. Robin had seen to that.
"Why are we stopping?" Marian asked, believing it was only to share a few more private, romantic kisses before joining their villagers at the outdoor feast that would culminate the celebration of her birthday.
Pulling her close as while holding her around her waist, Robin smiled adoringly down at her.
"If memory serves," he began, a twinkle in his eye, "this was the tree where I taught you to shoot."
"Your memory's getting rusty," she teased, wondering what was up."You know it was an apple tree."
His grin began at his eyes and lit up his entire face. "Was it?" he asked, feigning ignorance. "Must be lack of sleep. When did Matilda say we can expect Ellie to start sleeping through the night?"
Ellie, or rather Ellen, named for Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine, was their infant daughter, a miracle child since Marian had been told she would never bear children after Gisbourne stabbed her in Acre. Adored by the entire village of Locksley, she was a remarkably good baby who completed her parents' joy.
"Don't blame Ellie for your lack of sleep," Marian said coyly, remembering with pleasure last night in their bed.
Robin chuckled, then turned serious as he leaned down to share those kisses Marian had been wanting since they paused under the pear tree.
"Happy birthday, Wren," Robin said tenderly, using her childhood nickname.
"Hadn't we better head home?" Marian asked, knowing the village was waiting. "You have no trouble sauntering in late for things, but I prefer to be on time."
" 'Sauntering,' " Robin repeated, grinning. "Since when do I saunter? Anyway, I stopped here for a reason."
"What reason?"
Stepping back, Robin looked up to survey the tree's branches covered in lacy white blossoms. "Remember how we used to shoot down apples and pears?"
"From my father's trees at Knighton. Yes. But you aren't going to shoot anything today, unless you want to somehow shoot down a bouquet of flowers."
"Flowers would be nice," Robin said, grinning, "but where would be the fun in that? What would you say if I shot down a lovely green pear instead?"
"I'd say you're a better archer than you think. You know it's impossible. That tree won't bear fruit for another month, at least."
"I say there's a pear up there, a lovely green pear, like I said. And I intend to give it to you."
"Alright, Locksley, since you're determined to show off with your bow, shoot. I still say you'll only bring down a cascade of petals."
Marian had never told him, but she loved watching Robin shoot. He made it look so effortless, so natural, and maybe it was for him. He always credited God for his gift with the bow. Yet she also knew how much he had practiced shooting when he was a boy.
He looked beautiful now, taking aim at the branches and releasing his arrow. Almost instantly a small package dropped at her feet.
She should have expected it, but she drew in her breath anyway. "What's this?" she asked. "You know I don't like surprises."
"Nothing but a green pear, Marian," Robin grinned, looking pleased with himself. "Open it and see."
She couldn't help feeling excited as she opened the box, remembering how once long ago Robin had given her a box containing nothing, tied up in green ribbons.
He'd certainly improved as a gift giver since then, not that she cared overly for gifts. Opening the box now, she uttered a gasp when she saw it contained a pair of exquisite emerald earrings.
"A green pair," she realized, not knowing what else to say. "Thank you."
Robin smiled adoringly at her, happy at her pleasure from his surprise gift. But there was one more surprise he had hidden in the meadow. "Try them on," he suggested.
Thrilled and excited now, Marian tucked her hair behind her ears and put on the earrings, then looked to him to see if he liked them.
"Well?" she asked, when he only smiled at her.
"You look gorgeous," he answered. "In fact, you look so gorgeous, it's not fair you can't see for yourself. Now, how can we remedy that?"
"I'll look in the mirror later, when we get home. We need to go, Robin. We're late for the feast."
Locksley Manor contained the only mirror Marian had ever seen...a large sheet of beaten metal. Only the extreme upper classes had the luxury of looking at their reflections, and glass mirrors in England were almost unheard of. But Robin had once observed Princess Johanna's pleasure at peering at a true, undistorted vision of herself in a glass mirror from Venice, and ever since, he had wanted to give one to Marian.
"Not until you see how the earrings suit you."
"I can't do that, until we're home."
"You could if you look in the water."
In spite of all Robin's thoughtful and generous caring today, Marian felt herself growing annoyed. Her husband had never cared how late he was to things, no matter how much it irked her.
But there was nothing to do but walk across the meadow to the river Trent and pretend to see her reflection, though with its waters rushing from recent spring rains, she knew it would be impossible.
Ever ready to argue, Marian resisted. "It's impossible to see anything in the river today. Let's go, Robin."
"As impossible as it was to bring a 'pear' down from the tree?" he asked, snickering.
"What are you up to now?" she asked, intrigued despite her desire to be off. "Another surprise gift?"
Robin's smug grin was tempered by loving admiration for his wife. "Did I ever tell you how astute you are, my love?" he asked.
Smiling, Marian grabbed Robin's hand and ran to the river bank, letting him guide her to the exact spot.
"Look in the water," he advised, enjoying her excitement.
"There's something..." Marian began, spying something under the water's edge.
"I'm glad it didn't wash away," Robin laughed. "I tied it to that boulder, just to make sure."
Fascinated, Marian reached under the icy water and pulled up another box, this one larger than the last one and dripping from having been submerged.
"What is it?" she asked, opening it, then froze in amazement when she caught her own face staring back at her.
She had never seen herself so clearly before. It was as if she were truly looking at another person, and her image took her breath away.
"How...?" she asked, not knowing such an object as the mirror she held in hand existed.
"It's from Venice," Robin told her, moved by her obvious joy and amazement. "They're famous for making glass there. A sheet of pure silver behind it shows you a clear a clear picture of yourself. Didn't I tell you, you look gorgeous?"
Marian couldn't answer. So, this was how she truly looked. She knew her features from the metal mirror at Locksley, but she had never seen how glowing and radiant she looked.
She credited marriage to the man she loved for her radiance. "You've given me myself," she told Robin, emotionally. "It's as if I can see into my soul." Mastering her emotion, she quickly added, "And that's not dribble."
He laughed, taking her in his arms again. "I'm glad you like it."
"I do. You didn't buy it just so you could look at yourself, did you?"
"Why does everyone accuse me of being vain?" He winked at her, and her smile turned even more radiant. "Come on, my love," Robin added. "Let's go home."
...
Marian's birthday feast at Locksley was an extremely happy event. And since Marian loved Robin so much, she wanted to do something special for him as well.
Knowing how very much he loved archery competitions, she told him that the only thing that could make her day any better was to shoot against him in a friendly contest.
"I've practiced a lot, since you taught me to shoot apples," she told him.
"Why even try?" Much asked, his mouth full of beef. "No one can beat my master."
"I'm not your master any more, Much," Robin reminded him. "We're equals now, remember?"
"I keep forgetting! I mean, I know I'm Lord Bonchurch, and Eve's my wife and everything, which is unbelievable if you think about how we were outlaws just a few months ago, scraping by in the forest! But I've looked after you for so long, it's hard not to...But anyway, Marian, why shoot against Robin. Nobody can beat him."
"I can try."
"I accept your challenge," Robin said happily, rising from the table and springing into action.
In no time, he'd announced the contest and helped set up a target and torches to light it. His villagers were delighted by the prospect to watch their Lord and Lady shoot, always proud of Master Robin's amazing talent with the bow.
"Ladies first," Robin said gallantly, standing aside to enjoy Marian's effort.
Love swelled within his breast as he watched her. She was everything to him, and he couldn't be any happier married to her than he already was. As he'd told her when he proposed, she seemed made for him. And now, she seemed determined to beat him at archery, if only this once.
Never had Robin lost an archery competition on purpose, but he decided to do so tonight. He loved Marian so much, that he didn't want to do anything to disappoint her.
He didn't think that by losing on purpose, he would do just that.
