Chapter 7

Brotherhood

It was a chilly and misty morning, likely to end in rain, like many autumn mornings often ended in England. It was one of those mornings when even happy people take refuge in their hopes and dreams. Wrapped in each other's arms, Marian and Robin sat under the great old oak, where they had buried the King's one-legged messenger and where Robin had proposed Marian for the second time; they came there after breakfast which they didn't miss for the first time in many days.

"Did you talk to Kate?" Marian broke the silence.

Robin sighed. "Yes, I did."

"What did she say?"

"I apologized and asked Kate to leave the gang. Now she can return home, to her mother." He felt guilty because he had never wanted to hurt Kate.

"Did she agree?" Her voice was tense.

"She didn't protest."

Marian was relieved that she wouldn't have to tolerate Kate's sulky glances anymore. She was free now to enjoy the minutes of happiness with Robin. "It is for the better," she murmured."

"Kate is young, and she has a long life ahead. She will get over her infatuation with me very soon." He paused a little while, and then added: "She cannot love me as deeply as she claims: you cannot love someone whom you don't know well and don't understand."

"Maybe she loves being Robin Hood's girl," Marian said with some irritation.

Robin didn't want to speak about Kate, but the distress with which Marian spoke urged him to say something. "I'm sorry that I hurt you and Kate."

She turned her glance at him with a sad smile. "Let's try to forget about that, handsome."

He smiled back. "That's the best decision."

Overwhelmed by loving tenderness, Robin and Marian clasped each other in a tight embrace. It was a moment of real happiness, a moment of glowing warmth in their hearts, and a moment of realization that they were finally together and that nobody would separate them again.

"I love sitting here," Robin drawled, his blue eyes twinkling as he stared into Marian's sapphire eyes. "We should come here more often." He chuckled. "I mean you, me, and my bow."

Marian bit her lip, not quite certain how to deal with his barb. She looked at Robin's recurved bow that lay on the ground near them, and then her eyes flitted quickly to his face and back again to the bow and the quiver of arrows. Prince John had officially declared Nottinghamshire the area ruled by the most dangerous outlaws in England, and there was still no Sheriff in the town; yet, they still feared that they could be attacked, and if they left the camp, they were armed to the teeth.

As Marian stared at Robin's bow again, a gleam of amusement appeared in her eyes, and she suddenly knew what to say to him. "I hope you are not going to profess your undying love for me here and right now, by comparing me to your weapon. It would be too old for my liking, Robin."

Robin looked perplexed, but then the faint line of amusement curved his mouth, and his eyes were dancing with laughter. "Instead I can say that I love my bow more than I love you, Marian."

A little frown marred her forehead as annoyance shot up through Marian. He was laughing at her and was again winning, she thought with a childish offense. "You are incorrigible!"

"But you love me when I'm bad."

"Oh, yes, I do."

"Ah!" Robin said, looking at her with new attention. "My love, I have an idea."

"Do you want to be more heroic, Robin Hood?" Her voice sounded stern, but her eyes were sparkling.

"Let's run a race, like in childhood."

Marian laughed at his offer so hard that tears appeared in her eyes. Suddenly, she was transported back to the carefree days of her youth when Robin, Much, and she had spent countless hours in the Sherwood, playing their wild and noisy games. One of such games was having a race through the forest; if Marian, Robin, and Much had participated in this game, Robin had always won, while Much had always lost the competition. Marian had been very fond of the game.

"Why are you laughing at me?" he asked, confused.

"You are still recovering. You are in no shape to run wildly in the forest."

Robin looked offended. "You must be joking, Marian."

"I'm very serious."

"No, you just fear that I will win again."

"You know that I'm not a coward," she protested.

Robin shook his head. "I'm not sure. You seem to have lost some of your courage lately."

"I haven't lost anything!"

"Then prove that," he challenged.

"Alright. I will do that."

They leaped to their feet. She didn't have time even to blink before he took a step to her and slipped his hands around her waist, pressing her to himself. He bent his head and kissed her on the lips, and she eagerly returned his kiss. The kiss lingered as Robin was kissing her with a growing intensity, his exploring tongue filling her mouth, inflaming both of them with passion.

Robin broke the kiss and pulled away from his wife, creating quite a distance between them. Marian's first coherent thought, after the sweet delight of being in his arms, was that she could see his familiar cocky smile on his handsome face. She shot him an annoying look and gritted her teeth, but he laughed at her and then grinned wickedly, tilting his head to one side.

"At times, I want to teach you a lesson, Robin."

Robin's grin widened. "I like kissing you – this is so nice. We should do this more often."

She blushed. "No, Robin!" she cried out. "We have already become a laughingstock of Sherwood when they… found us together in… a bed. They understand why we missed so many breakfasts and dinners. They always look at us with wry smiles…" She paused, breathless from her enthusiastic and indignant speech. "Soon Much will murder us because even he is losing his patience."

He flashed a cheeky smile. "They envy us, my love."

"It doesn't matter, Robin! We should be more discreet!"

"No, we shouldn't. We are married."

Marian stepped forward and gave him a quick jab to the ribs with her elbow. "You are an arrogant and shameless rogue, Robin of Locksley! I swear I will make you pay for that!"

He looked absolutely innocent, enjoying their heated discussion. "I like when you look at me in anger," he teased, his gaze lingering on her flushed cheeks; then he locked his gaze with hers. "You have a chance to beat me in a race, Marian of Locksley. Shall we begin, my love?"

"Be prepared, Robin." She stood straight in the same line with him. "Ready?"

"Always." He put on his back his quiver and his bow. "And you?"

"Always," she echoed.

"I always know how to get what I want," Robin said, his lips curved in a sly smile. "When I kissed you, I wanted to make you angry and more determined to run a race with me."

Marian felt like a fool at that moment. She should have guessed that he would do something to enrage hear to push her to do something outrageous; he had always acted in the same manner. She couldn't help it but feel furious with him, yet crazy with delight over her little good fortune to make him pay. She had already decided what she would do and how she would outwit him in their game.

"Fool," she snapped in an angry ecstasy. Then she jumped forward and started running.

Marian was running so fast that the only thing she was sure of was that she would never cease to run unless she saw that she had left Robin far behind. She was heading to the clearing where they had often watched sunrises in their early youth, when Robin and Much had collected her from Knighton Hall for strolls in the forest in the dead of night, of course, without notifying Sir Edward.

Robin was running next to her, not wishing to let her win. She noticed that his movements were adroit and quick, thinking that he was probably physically stronger than she had initially thought.

The forest glittered in the autumn sunlight, and the trees were swayed slightly by the cold wind. Looking straight ahead and running along the familiar path, Marian was trying to decide which way to choose at nearby crossroads, so that Robin could lose her in the woods and then could find her on their clearing. Already out of breath, Marian turned to the right and continued running, her mind so entangled in her task to win that she no longer knew that Robin wasn't with her.

Soon Marian reached the clearing and stopped near a meadow. She looked around, trying to catch her breath and enjoying the air of the woodland. And then she clenched her fists, her expression stunned, her eyes full of disbelief – she saw Robin on the opposite side of the clearing.

Robin was casually sitting on a log, his legs stretched out, with one leg crossed over the other, and there was a large cheeky smile on his face. Robin had won the race, and he was very pleased with his victory. Marian was lost for words, not knowing how he had managed to outpace her.

"How did you get here before me?" she inquired as she approached him.

Robin flashed a triumphal smile. "My love, you wanted to outsmart me by taking the shortest path to the clearing, but you have forgotten that I know the forest better than you do because I have been living here since my return," he declared. "Sherwood is a magic place: the paths in the woods are like a labyrinth, and you can never be sure that you are taking the shortest one."

"And I don't know all of them," she concluded.

"Definitely."

She threw up her hands in frustration. "Well, you have won!"

Robin beckoned her to him. "Come to me."

She seated herself on a log next to him. "What?"

"You didn't demonstrate your courage, and you deserve a small punishment. I know how you can make up for your attempt to trick me."

"Do you want me to hit you or slap you across your smug face?"

He laughed. "Then you should tickle me. It would be a sweeter revenge."

Marian gave him a pointed look, but she was smiling: he had always been able to crawl under her skin by firing his snarky barbs at her. "I prefer to hit you. It is so romantic when wives hit their husbands," she said mockingly. "And if I hit you, it will hurt very much, Robin."

Robin folded his arms over his chest. "Will you aim at my stomach or at my chest?"

She let her gaze travel down his body. "Lower, my darling."

He laughed outright. "Point taken," he said. "I already want you to do that."

She shot him an irritated look. "Will you stop fooling yourself and me, Robin?"

"Never, my love. Otherwise, there would be the fun in that?"

Robin smiled. He had always loved their bickering and squabbles. Marian was one of the few people who could keep him on his toes when he was shooting his barbs here and there. He admired Marian's tongue and her quick and eloquent responses. He had always enjoyed their jests that were even a part of their serious arguments. Even if they had long and angry arguments, there was a simmering passion behind their words, which ultimately prevailed over displeasure.

Marian knew that she had been defeated in the race and in the jesting match as well. "At least I will never be bored with you."

Robin scrambled to his feet and came to her. His arms encircled her waist, and he assisted her to her feet, and she stood up. "You owe me a kiss," he whispered. "This is your punishment."

As he pressed her tightly to himself, she could feel his hardness against her hips, and it made her feel like she was on fire. She was certain that her entire body would have been scarlet with shame if she herself hadn't wanted him so badly at that moment, as much as he wanted her.

Marian had already understood a while ago that it would never be easy to satisfy Robin's passions, and she welcomed the challenge. Yet, she still often found herself embarrassed at the thought that her own nature was as passionate and craving for indecent experiments as Robin's. Robin had told her that there had been nothing bad in her desires and he encouraged her not to be restrained and reserved in intimacy with him, and she was grateful to him, yet still feeling ashamed of herself when she gladly reciprocated Robin's advances.

Marian laughed lightly. "I will not protest, husband. I think I may like it."

Robin was beaming. "Oh, you will like it, wife."

Robin could only stand and stare at her beautiful face, longing to have her in his arms, to rain kisses over her rosy mouth, to never let her go, and protect her like the most precious thing on earth. He leaned forward and enfolded Marian in a powerful embrace; then he tenderly kissed her on the lips, his heart hammering harder in delight as her lips parted and she kissed him back.

Robin was head over heels in love with Marian. He was truly ensnared by his gorgeous wife, feeling that his love for her had grown stronger and deeper after their reunion, after they had almost lost each other to death. Marian became everything to him: now she was his world and his life, and he loved her more than he had ever loved her before. He loved her beyond measure, beyond the boundaries of the world and beyond everything reasonable he had ever known.

As he broke the kiss, Robin drew back, still holding her in his arms. "I love you," he whispered.

Marian smiled lovingly. "I love you too, handsome," she murmured.

Robin closed his eyes and kissed Marian again, gently at first, but with fierce passion as it lingered on. But the kiss wasn't a long one. Marian moved out of Robin's embrace as they heard the rustling of the leaves, understanding that they were stirred not by the wind, but by the people who were approaching the clearing. Soon the familiar voices came from beneath the trees, and Guy and Archer swung out of the branches.

"What a sweet surprise!" Archer greeted them, grinning impishly. "We have found our lovebirds!"

Guy sighed, not feeling as cheerful as Archer felt. He didn't like that they met Marian and Robin alone. Every time when the couple left the main camp and headed to their own small camp for a night or if they went to the woods to have a target practice or to pick up firewood, Guy felt his heart sink in frustration. He accepted that Marian had been lost to him forever and was a married woman, but he couldn't help but feel envious that Robin had Marian's heart while he had nothing.

"We came here to have a sparring match," Guy said, his expression unreadable, his eyes blank.

When Guy watched Marian and Robin together, he usually gave no sign of jealousy, though inside his heart was breaking. After they had found Robin and Marian in a provocative embrace in a bed, he took an oath that nobody would see any sign of his emotional state. Yet, if he witnessed Marian's tenderness towards Robin, he again fell a victim to jealousy, and he had to try very hard to hide his feelings. He gave credit to the celebrated couple for trying to be discreet in public, but even a small act of tenderness, like a touch of Robin and Marian's hands, made Guy jealous.

"So you found our clearing," Robin began uneasily. He always felt uncomfortable when Guy was in Marian's presence, knowing that Marian and Guy felt the same.

Marian tore her gaze from Robin's face and looked somewhere into the woods. "I bet it was difficult to find the way here," she said in a distant voice.

Archer stopped next to Robin; there was a large grin on his face. "This place is hidden quite well in the forest, but we found it a while ago and began to come here to practice swordplay."

"Archer likes this place," Guy supplied as he appeared at Archer's right. He stood close to his young half-brother, as far from Marian as he could.

"Marian, Much, and I have been coming to this place since our early childhood," Robin said, and a look of wistfulness crossed his face. "We played in this clearing and watched sunrises here."

Marian smiled wistfully. "We spent many happy moments here."

Archer sighed. "Pity I wasn't with you."

"I'm sorry that you didn't grow up with me." Robin gazed at Archer apologetically. "I'm sorry that our father abandoned you, and so I couldn't take care of you because I didn't know about you."

Archer smiled at Robin, his heart deeply touched by Robin's words. "It is not your fault, Robin." Robin and Archer had already formed a bond of friendship and brotherhood in the past weeks.

Guy hated Malcolm of Locksley. "Malcolm ruined too many lives. I hope he rots in hell."

"I'm indifferent to his fate. This man is not my father." Archer's voice was chilly.

Robin sighed heavily. "Guy, you and I met my father together when he revealed to us the truth," he said, glaring at Guy, displeased. "My father was a broken and dying man. I know that he grievously wronged the Gisbornes so long ago, but he paid for his cowardice and mistakes." He sighed again. "Don't hate him, Guy, and it will make your life easier."

Marian's eyes were fastened on her husband's face. "If your heart is filled only with hatred, it will eventually destroy you." She looked at Guy. "Guy, you reconciled with Robin. Now you have to let the past go."

Guy nodded. "I know," he said simply. He had achieved peace with Robin, but he wasn't sure that he would ever forgive Malcolm for what the man had done to the Gisbornes.

"Robin, do you want to have a sparring match?" Archer offered.

Robin smiled. "Why not?"

"Robin, please just be careful. Stop fighting if you are tired," Marian demanded.

"I will be fine," Robin told her in soothing tones.

Giving Robin a smile, Marian stepped aside. "Then I can leave you now," she blurted out impatiently, wishing to escape. She was trying to feel at ease in Guy's presence and she began to wear the air of a friendly attachment to Guy; but her attitude always changed to cold and almost hostile when she remembered how he had brutally stabbed her in Acre.

"I will find you later," Robin promised.

Robin, Guy, and Archer watched Marian cross the clearing and disappear between the trees. Then Robin turned his gaze at Guy, nodding at him and signaling that he wanted to fight with him.

Robin discarded his bow and his quiver, giving them to Archer for safe keeping. Then Robin unsheathed his scimitar, and headed to the middle of the clearing. Guy drew his broadsword, walking to Robin and stopping in a small distance from him, preparing to fight.

Archer settled on a log, then placed Robin's quiver and bow on the ground. "I'm an expert swordsman, and you have to fight well to please me. Don't disappoint me, brothers."

"Archer, it will be a beautiful swordfight," Robin promised. Then he lunged at Guy, raising his scimitar up in the air and attacking his opponent with a diagonal blow.

Guy parried the blow. "And a difficult one," he added through the din of clanging swords. He was well aware that Robin was more skilled with a sword than he himself was.

Guy and Robin traded numerous blows, each of them trying to disarm the opponent without causing harm. Guy attacked Robin with an overhead blow, hoping to knock out scimitar from Robin's hands, but Robin ducked and easily deflected the blow. Robin was launching new and new attacks at Guy, who ducked and blocked the blows. Guy was more defensive than attacking Robin because Guy failed to match Robin's speed and guess the type of the next blow.

Guy had noticed that Robin's sword fighting style had been extremely unpredictable and very adroit when they had fought in the King's tent in Acre. He had been stunned by Robin's bravery and valor on the night of the Saracen attack, as well as impressed by the murderous quality of Robin's swordplay despite the injury. Guy had also seen the same many times in Nottingham. Now Guy again had a chance to see Robin's excellent swordsmanship, thinking that Robin was an extremely skilled opponent despite the fact that currently, he was not in his best physical shape.

Very similar thoughts were running through Robin's head as he could see again the demonstration of his superiority in swordsmanship in his fight with Guy. He noticed that he felt stronger than a week ago when he had his last sparring match with Guy and Archer. Robin also didn't feel as tired as he had felt before after any fight or even after a long target practice. His physical condition had improved, and he was relieved because it worried him since his awakening.

Guy failed to parry Robin's next blow; his sword dropped from his hands. "Congratulations," he said without a touch of anger. He had long gotten accustomed to Robin's victories in their battles.

Robin sheathed his scimitar, and made a mocking bow. "At your service," he replied.

"Bravo!" Archer cried out; he rose to his feet and walked to Robin and Guy.

Guy smirked. "Always showing off," he said. "Will you ever change?"

Robin chuckled. "Why should I change if my show off entertains others and myself?"

"It can also annoy others," Guy assumed as he sheathed his sword.

"I like to make you angry," Robin teased. "I have always loved our little skirmishes."

Guy was interested why Robin hadn't killed him before because he'd had many chances and had almost always bested Guy in their fights. "Robin, you could have killed me many times since Vaisey had outlawed you," he stated. "Why didn't you do that? Did you want me to suffer in my misery?"

Robin smiled enigmatically. He had hated Guy since the moment when he had met him in Locksley; he had recognized him at first glance even after so many years of their separation. He had hated Guy even more after he had realized that Guy had attempted regicide and injured him in the process. After Marian's murder in Acre, Robin's heart was full of immeasurable hatred when he had set his eyes on Guy. But he hadn't killed Guy in spite of all his hatred and loathing.

Archer appeared next to Guy. "I'm also curious to know."

"It has nothing to do with my non-killing policy," Robin declared, a strangely soft smile playing on his lips. "Perhaps I just couldn't kill you even when I had a chance, Guy."

Guy frowned. "I don't believe you," he snapped irritably.

Guy found it hard to believe Robin's words. He had hated Robin fiercely since the day of the fire. After his arrival in Nottingham with Vaisey, he had dreamt of Robin's death because Robin had been the only obstacle on the way to becoming the permanent Lord of Locksley. Later, after Robin's return and escape into the woods, Guy had wanted Robin to be gone from his life even more because Robin had always been loved by the peasants and many nobles while he had been hated and despised by everyone. Even after Marian's death, he had wished Robin dead until Robin's father had freed them from bad blood.

"Guy, I'm a soldier and your former enemy as well, but I have always been quite sentimental," Robin elaborated, his expression kind. "I have known you since childhood, and it is always difficult to take a life of someone who once watched you playing with other children in Locksley."

Guy hung his head in shame because he couldn't say the same about himself. If not for the necessity to reconcile with Robin in order to save Archer and defeat Isabella, he would have probably killed Robin in the end. "One day, your kindness may play a bad joke with you, Robin."

"I agree with Guy," Archer interjected.

Robin put a hand on Guy's shoulder, and the older man raised his eyes to look at him. "It is better to be kind and generous than hateful and bitter," he said with probably such a serious expression that Guy had never seen on Robin's face before. "If you treat others kindly or at least fairly, they begin to like you and grow to love you over time; this gives you a feeling of self-fulfillment and peace."

"You have always been a much better man than I can ever be," Guy said with respect.

Robin shook his head in disagreement. "You are mistaken, Guy. Your parents were good and decent people, and you were a good boy in childhood. But you… had to survive through many hardships which hardened your heart. For many years, you didn't realize the wealth of sympathy and kindness, but now you can unlock the goodness in your heart."

Guy was silent for a long moment. "You are exaggerating, Robin," he said at last.

"No, I'm not," Robin objected. "Kindness and generosity are always hidden in the soul of a child." He gave Guy a wink. "And you, Guy, were a better-behaved youth unlike me."

"You were a disobedient child," Guy retorted with a laugh.

"Oh, yes, I was," Robin answered with an impish smile.

Guy reminded Robin of his childish pranks; they all laughed together heartily. Archer particularly laughed with such hearted amusement, enjoying the tales about Robin and Guy's childhood. Something close to the bonds of brotherhood began to form between them, even between Robin and Guy.

There was a silly little grin on Robin's face as he looked between Archer and Guy. "My tricks and pranks could have sent Vaisey's whole army to run away into the woods without a fight."

Guy rolled his eyes, but he was smiling. "They could have driven anyone to insanity."

"Were you among them, Guy?" Archer asked out of mere curiously.

"I was a somber lad," Guy began. "I have never understood Robin's desire to always be in the center of attention. I didn't like when Robin was running around wildly in Locksley together with other children, bragging that he had shot a bird or had learned to shoot as well as his father could."

This time, Robin felt embarrassed. "Guy, I'm sorry for the arrow that injured that priest."

Archer had no clue what Robin implied. "What do you mean, Robin?"

"A small incident," Guy hastened to reply. "It doesn't matter anymore."

"As you wish," Archer conceded.

"But I was not right on that day," Robin said, his expression guilty.

Guy smirked. "But you learned a lesson, right?"

"I did," Robin assured him. "I never lied again."

Guy smiled. "Robin, I'm older than you, and I remember you very well in childhood. You were always a sweet lad, and you had your heart in the right place even when you were very young and didn't always do the right thing." He sighed. "You and I have always been different people."

Robin had a thought which he wished to share with Guy. "We are different, but not as much as you may think. If I had been banished from Locksley with nothing, I would have made different choices – I could have been more like you."

Gisborne laughed bitterly. "You would have never been like me, Robin. You would have been unable to do what Vaisey made me do, promising me power and wealth in return." He ran a hand through his hair. "You would have left Vaisey years ago because you are stronger than me."

Robin looked vulnerable for a short moment before his face turned blank. "I'm not as strong as it may seem," he whispered. "I wouldn't have survived in the Holy Land without Much who had always protected me and had risked his life to save me so many times. I couldn't have won the fight with Vaisey and Isabella without my friends and without you, Guy." A smile appeared on his face. "I cannot be very strong without Marian. She is my strength, and together we are stronger."

Archer chuckled. "Robin Hood and Maid Marian give each other strength."

Robin smiled dreamily as he stared into the woods, in the direction where Marian had gone before. "Marian is my 'everything'. I need her as much as I need air to breath."

"Robin, you love Marian, and she loves you," Guy stated matter-of-factly, but with a touch of bitterness. "You deserve her more than any other man does, especially not a man like me."

"I don't think that I deserve Marian's love, but I'm doing my best to make her happy. I will never let her down again," Robin remarked; and then there was a silence for a minute or two.

"Robin, I wish you happiness with Marian," Guy broke the silence. It was painful to say that to Robin, but he knew that Marian and he were just not meant to be together.

Robin gave Guy an admiring look, impressed by Guy's unselfish words. "Thank you, Guy."

Guy smiled slightly. "You are welcome."

Robin put his arms on Guy's shoulder, looking into his eyes. "Guy, I promise that I will speak with the King on your behalf," he pledged. "I will vouch for you and try to get you pardoned."

Guy gave Robin a skeptical look. "I tried to kill the King twice," he said, feeling wretched and guilty. "Robin, I'm a traitor to King Richard. I almost killed you in the Saracen raid. I almost killed Marian before the King's eyes. Do you really think that Richard may pardon me?"

"I will do what I can," Robin said resolutely. But there was a slight, barely noticeable tremble in his voice as he didn't know how the King would react to the news that his would-be assassin had suddenly switched sides. "Richard owes Marian and me his life, and I will remind him of this debt."

Guy looked bewildered. "Oh, Robin, I cannot imagine that you will tell the King that."

"I will," Robin said. "You have changed, and you deserve to be pardoned."

"But what if the King doesn't agree to pardon Guy?" Archer inquired, feeling nervous.

"Don't be silly, Archer. The King always listens to me," Robin said with confidence.

"It is very good." Archer was relieved because he didn't wish Guy dead.

"I will do my best to deserve your trust," Guy pledged.

Guy didn't tell Robin and Archer that he himself wasn't sure the King would not pardon him. Regicide was a grave crime punishable by death, and Richard was a cruel and cunning man who could destroy anyone if it had suited his purposes and interests. If the King had sent his beloved Robin to die in the desert without having serious proof, Guy feared that his fate would be worse.

Guy was grateful to Robin for taking him into the gang and letting him fight with the outlaws against Vaisey and Isabella. He was even more grateful for Robin's desire to speak with the King on his behalf. Robin had also overlooked that Guy's poison had almost killed him and hadn't shared this knowledge with anyone in the gang. Guy was happy that Robin wasn't his enemy anymore.

Kate left the outlaws' camp in the early afternoon. She didn't try to find Robin; she hated Robin for breaking her heart, though she understood that he was a married man. Kate resented Marian, blaming her for her shattered hopes to be Robin Hood's sweetheart. Before her departure, Kate talked only to Little John and Much, who wished her happiness and asked her to be careful in Locksley. Kate returned to Locksley and spent the evening weeping in her mother's arms.

Robin, Marian, Guy, and the outlaws left Sherwood next morning at dawn. They headed to Dover to embark on the ship and cross the English Channel; then their route lay through Normandy, Anjou, and the north of Aquitaine to Poitiers. They couldn't save King Richard from Austria, but they could help Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine collect a ransom for the King and they could thwart Prince John's plans to seize the throne while the King was in captivity.

Everyone expected the future to be one of those supreme moments in life when all they hoped for or delighted in would come true. Fears were all gone: they had defeated Vaisey and Isabella and had saved England, feeling that now they could do the most incredible things. Their heads were filled with schemes and speculations about the new plan – to collect the King's ransom and save England again because they knew that only they could do that.

There was some fluff for Marian and Robin. I like writing about their romance.

Guy and Robin needed a heart-to-heart conversation to finish their reconciliation. Guy accepted that Marian never loved him, so he wishes Robin and her happiness. It is a very noble act for Guy, although he is hurting.

Kate left the outlaws and returned to Locksley. She will re-appear in chapter 9 in an epilogue.

There is a shocking twist in the next chapter; not everyone is going to like it. Robin and Marian are not going to die, but not everything will be as good as Robin and the outlaws want.

Please leave a short review if you don't mind. I want to know your opinion. Thanks!