Part 21

On arrival in Buckingham's estate which lay in the heart of the shire, the outlaws hid within the confines and shadows on the stables. They had a fair view of the manor house from their hidey hole between the horses and at least it was better than camping outside. The stable held warmth which was not available when sleeping round a camp fire in the middle of November. Hidden in a dark corner, Robin used some off cuts of wood to plan out the attack.

"You sure this is the layout of the main hall?" Allan asked.

"Yes," nodded Robin. "I have been here before although not for some time."

"Alright." Allan responded.

"We will enter the room from this side door and surround them, with our bow and arrows poised. Will, you will stand here, Djaq, here, John here, Allan here and Much there." He told them pointing with the tip of an arrow where he wanted them to be positioned.

"What about me?" asked Marian, quietly but with some resentment in her tone.

"Here," he added.

"But that is behind you, what good will that do?" she enquired.

"You can't fire with a bow and arrow Marian." He told her softly but surely, with a glimpse at her mutilated hand.

She glared at him her eyes flaming angrily, and snatching his bow and quiver walked out of the barn. Robin looked back at the gang to meet them all nodding in the direction she had taken and he shook his head.

"The plan…" he restarted.

"The plan can wait a little while. Marian can not." Little John told him.

Robin sighed meeting the looks of the rest of the gang who echoed Little John words and he rose and went after her. He located her shielded from the manor in a small clump of woodland and remained silent as he watched her load his bow. Her left hand could not grasp the bow correctly as he predicted and she wrestled to fit the arrow into the frame, he smiled a little but his heart also wept for her anguish as she struggled in vain. When she eventually positioned the arrow she soon discovered she was without the strength or the coordination and she dropped both bow and arrow as her fingers failed to curve round and she let out a long groan in frustration.

She leant her back against a nearby tree and shut her eyes, and Robin retrieved his weapon propping them up against the tree and then stood facing her. She felt him before she saw him.

Still with her eyes closed she said. "Do not say I told you so."

"I would not dare," he whispered. "I did not say for you to stand behind me because I do not want you to fight, but only until we have showed ourselves. If you had stayed until I finished speaking….. If you had listened you would know what I had planned as our next strategic move. But…"

"I went charging off," she finished for him. "Well it doesn't matter I can not it seems defend myself with a bow now."

He took her hand and drew it up to his lips for a kiss but it did not dispel the sadness in her eyes and with a caress of her cheek he said. "You will join us in the fight."

"But not with the bow." She replied wryly.

"No. I think you have proved to yourself now that it isn't possible. And you know it does not change the way I feel about you, in fact it makes me love you more."

Marian gave him half a smile and he chuckled knowingly. He sighed heavily and answered, gently. "You think you have problems."

"What?" she asked him with a confused wave flickering across her features.

Robin looked at a gnarled root of the tree which she leant against his heart feeling a weight that he had not discussed with anyone. Marian remained silent for his reply she sensed he was struggling with something and thought it best to let him speak in his own time.

With another deep sigh he looked up and met her gaze and said. "Nottingham. Nottingham was razed because of me, people lost their lives. Two infants were orphaned and more perished besides."

"You did your best; I know that is not very comforting right now. But I ran away and surely that was cowardice, I should have stayed and fought to the bitter end."

"No!" He exclaimed, then in a softer tone added. "No. If you had died….. If I had lost you….."

"You nearly did anyway."

"But I did not, Marian….I need you by my side."

"I am here, did we not join in hand fasting?" she said with a smile which curled upon her lips and was infectious.

"We did. Much will not let the matter rest until we find a priest though," he said with a chuckle.

"We have more important things to deal with right now. We have to save England from the Black Knights."

Robin nodded thoughtfully and said. "Will you return with me and we will go through the plan again?"

Marian nodded in reply with a resolute sigh and bestowing a look of tender emotion he drew her into the safe haven of his embrace. There she sought comfort and strength while he found the same from her presence, her soft body against his in the chill of the afternoon. He rested his chin upon her head; there was no need for words. Being still with Marian helped him to put everything into perspective somehow and gave him the will and the motivation to carry on.

Robin kissed her absentmindedly on the top of her head and she whispered into his chest. "I love you." Then they both found solace in one another's embrace.