The trumpets blared in the warm sunshine, the laughter died down into small, happy smiles as the villagers waited for their beloved Sheriff to appear with his wife.
And when they did, Marian's mother was wearing a blue silk gown with silver beading across the chest line and sleeves. A white cloak hang at her back, stopping just before it touched the ground, her hair was curled into ringlets that flew past her cheek bone and fell down to her shoulders.
Clapping began and the pair stood in front of their chairs and nodded.
The clapping stopped.
'Thank you for attending our annual summer fair, we hope you have a tremendous time here and we wish you safe journeys home.' Edward's speech came to an end and he and his wife sat down on their thrones.
The laughter and dancing instantly started again, so many happy faces...
'Can all contestants for the show jumping enter the ring and proceed at a gentle trot around the ring, betters, get your bets on these stunning horses this afternoon!' Came a cry from a not far man who was announcing the first event. Show Jumping.
Marian squealed in delight and walked her horse over to the ring, she entered into it and began to trot around the dirt inside the ring which was filling up with competitors.
There were shouting and praising coming from all over as people began to rush towards the betting both.
Marian was delighted to hear calls coming from many mouths, 'I bet Lady Marian!' and 'Wooo! Go my Lady!'
Another trumpet blared and the riders filed out of the arena, Marian obediently followed.
'Can contestant number 7 please enter the ring and begin the course!' The announcer called.
A young girl of around 13 with long blonde hair trotted out into the ring. She was mounted onto a black gelding who had his mane plaited down.
There was another announcement... 'And she's over the first three jumps as clear as the blue sky!'
Marian cheered along with the other watchers when the girl came to the last jump.
But unfortunately, her horse dodged the jump to the right and the girl fell off sideways, instantly there were people to help her up and catch her horse.
'Ahh, Elizabeth and Milton have failed to complete the course by dodging the last jump and causing a fall, weldone though!' The announcer concluded.
Marian started to worry...
'Elizabeth is all alright, she just has a scuffed knee!' The announcer reassured but Marian's mind was reeling...
Marian's thoughts and feelings blurred into reality as more and more competitors went for their turn but within about an hour it was Marian's turn...
'Okay folks! There is only two finalists at the moment with a total of four entrants left! So will Lady Marian please enter the ring and complete her course!'
Marian hesitated... and walked out into the arena, eyes were all locked on her and her mare.
'Good luck to our Lady who is contestant 16, on her beautiful mare, Phillipa'.
The cheering died down into thick, tense silence.
Marian gulped and kicked on her horse as they approached the first jump.
She arched her back and pushed her heels down, lifted up and leant forward as they cleared the wooden framing.
Her breathing was rapid...
'That's Lady Marian over the first jump successfully, now she's coming up the the second...'
Phillipa was starting to sweat as Marian steered her round towards the second jump, she made a clicking noise with her mouth and teeth and kicked again.
The mare broke into a steady canter and picked her hoofs up...
Once again, Marian breathed in and sat forward off of the saddle, her hands, a tight grip around the reins, moved up her horses neck and they soared over it.
It was the same for the next three jumps and then the announcer's voice arose...
'This is the last jump for Phillipa and Lady Marian, will they make it?'...
Marian coughed and wiped away a bead of sweat that had formed across her head. She sent out a single pat onto her stead's shoulder leant down to kiss her head.
She whispered... 'Come on gal, let's do this' though her voice was shaky and her hands moved in towards the saddle again.
She weaved around some jumps and started into a small canter, the jump ahead of her.
It was 1m6cm high, much, much higher than the rest. (3 foot 5)
Her chest heaved up and down and she started to feel sick, her stomach rolled...
The canter formed into a gallop and the silence was enough to cover a gun shot...
Thud, thud, thud, thud... came the sound from the horses hooves, the only sound that was only heard though the silence...
Her father and mother tensed up in their seats and Edward moved onto the edge of his seat with frustration.
Marian felt Phillipa tense as well and she closed her eyes for a split second, focusing on the steady breathing of her horse compared to Marian's rapid, uneven breathing.
Then, it happened so quick...
Phillipa's front hooves pounded the ground and she went back onto her hind legs, a rear?
Marian clutched on for dear life as her horse reared, 30cm away from the jump, Marian started to slip off the saddle, she closed her eyes shut tightly, expecting the worst... And just a she though she was going to fall to her fate, she plunged forward, but not at her own will, and Phillipa leapt over the jump and came to a small trot, which then decreased into a stop.
Marian practically fell off the saddle and onto the floor...
She heard screaming and her fathers voice, frail and worried.
It was then, she blacked out...