Disclaimer: I do not own Robin Hood, as it is the property of the BBC

A/N - Well, here it is!

Also, I'm not really sure what Much's surname is, but I've gone with Miller, because in the old legends, he was Much the Miller's son.

And for Izzie McCool, no the third series hasn't started yet in the UK, it's due back in Sprin (unfortunately, the BBC aren't being any more specific than that :o )

Chapter 41

At midday, Ava stood in the hall outside and room in which she was about to get married, with her father, and with Djaq.

Bassam came to her, from the wedding room. ' All is ready,' he said with a kind smile.

Ava nodded breathlessly,' Thank you,' she managed to splutter.

' Well this is it,' Djaq said with a grin. Djaq would be walking down the aisle before Ava and Allan, and had inisted on scattering the traditional saracen petals on the ground.

' Before we go,' Allan said,' I have something to say.' He turned to face Ava, and brought one hand up to her cheek, cupping the side of her face. ' I am so immensly proud to be able to call you my daughter, and I want to know that you're going to be happy for the rest of your life in this match. '

' I am, oh, I am,' Ava assured him.

' I wish you all the luck in the world, and I'm only sorry that I'm losing a part of you today,' he sighed sadly.

Ava kissed his cheeks,' Dad, I'll always be here. My marriage cannot change the fact that I'm you daughter. I love you and that's never going to change. Don't think of it as losing a daughter - you're gaining a son. '

Allan rolled his eyes,' Yeah - I'm gaining a Much. Hoorah for me,' he said, mock-enthusiastically.

Ava giggled, ' C'mon on, let's go. '

Djaq opened the door the the great room, the nodded at the musicians who were sat at the back of the room, close to the doors.

As the maid of honour began to walk down the aisle a soft, mellow tune on a flute played. It was sweet, slow and set the mood for what was to be a wonderful event.

When Djaq reached the other end of the room, she stood on the left.. Much and Robin - Robin being the best man - stood on the right. The King Richard stood in the middle, ready to conduct the service.

Once Djaq had stopped moving, it was Ava's time.

The music changed to a more regal, grand sounding march-style piece. It was played by a fiddle, flute, dulcimer, tambourine and recorder.

Ava slipped her arm through Allan's, and began to walk slowly down the aisle.

Her face was lit up by a radiant smile, which reached right into the depths of her eyes. Her skin was made to glow by her sheer happiness.

She looked this way and that, locking eyes with many of the people there. It was a relatively small gathering - the couple, Allan, Robin, Djaq, Will, John, Carter, the King, Bassam, some of Bassam's servants, and a few crusaders whom Much had seen since their arrival in the Holy Land - crusaders he and Robin knew from their time serving in the crusade.

At the head of the room, Much breathed out slowly,' She looks stunning,' he whispered to Robin.

Robin clapped a hand on his friends shoulder,' Well done, my friend. You are very lucky. '

Ava did indeed look and feel more spectacular than she had ever before done so. Her dress was the purest shade of white, and ws floor-length, with a few feet of material which trained out behind her. The bodice was covered in a fine, delicate lace, which was also along the hem, and covered the elbow-length sleeves. She wore a small tiara on top of her head, which Djaq had dug out - it had belonged to Bassam's late wife.

Ava reached Much's side, and gave him one of her lovely gentle smiles, and he kissed her cheek.

' You're gorgeous,' he told her quietly, to which she responded with a mere blush.

From Much's other side, Robin winked at her.

King Richard began to conduct the wedding service,' May the grace and the peace of God the father, and his son Jesus Christ, and the presence of the Holy Spirit be with you all. '

' And also with you,' chorused everyone else.

' Dearly beloved,' he continued,' we are gathered here today, to celebrate one of the happiest occasions in the life of Much and Ava. Marriage is a most honourable state; so too, may this marriage be adorned by true and abiding love. Who brings this woman to this man. '

Allan held up Ava's hand,' I do,' he announcing, kissing her hand before placing it in Much's, and taking his seat.

The King continued,' Ava and Much, although life is a gift given to each of us as individuals, we also learn to live together in harmony. Love is a gift to us from our family and friends. Through these gifts of love we learn to ourselves to gift it back. Learning to love and live together is one of life's greatest challenges and is the shared goal of a married life. '

Much winked at Ava.

' Mankind did not create love; love is created by God. Therefore, a husband and wife should not confuse love of worldly things with that of Godly love of one another. For even if worldly success is found, only love for one another will maintain a marriage. The measure of true love is a love both freely given and freely accepted, just as God's love is unconditional and free. '

Ava winked back.

' Today is truly a glorious day which the Lord hath made - as today both of you are blessed with God's greatest of all gifts - the gift of abiding love and devotion between a man and a woman. All present here today - and those here in heart - wish both of you all the joy, happiness and success and the world has to offer. '

Much grinned at her like a lovesick puppy, only to see that she shared his expression.

' Now,' said the King,' who pledges Ava to be married to Much? '

' I do,' Allan said.

' And who pledges Much to be married to Ava? '

Since there was no parent around for Much, it was his oldest friend who took the role.

' I do,' said Robin.

Robin and Allan then came forward and each lit a small candle that was on the table at the front of the room.

' These candles represent the individuality of Ava and Much at this very moment. And now we will hear a reading from a friend of the couple. '

Will came to the front of the room, holding a small piece of paper, and spoke. ' I'm going to read out something which I found a while ago and thought would really reflect the love our two friends share. So - "You shall be together forever.
You shall be together when the white wings of death scatter your days.
You shall be together even in the silent memory of God.
Let there be spaces in your togetherness, and let the winds of the heavens dance between you.
Love one another, but make not a bond love; let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.
Fill each other's cup, but drink not from one cup.
Give one another of your bread, but eat not from the same loaf.
Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone, even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music.
Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping.
For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.
And stand together, yet not too near together: for the pillars of the Temple stand apart, and the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's shadow. '

The couple smiled - they had asked Will to read something out because he was so close to Ava, and had stood in for her dad, when he wasn't around.

The King also smiled, and moved the service along,' In this sacred and joyful moment, we call upon the highest in you, Ava and Much, the divine inner presence that brought you to love and has chosen for you the sweet commitment of marriage. For you we ask every blessing of this moment; a confirmation of the wisdom of your choice; great happiness on the path that is set before you; discretion, kindness and care as you walk upon it, strength to live out your purpose, grace and peace through each step of your journey, and beloved family and friends to support you. '

Ava looked around at her beloved friends and family, and felt so grateful to have them all in her life.

Then came the first key moment,' And now for the declaration - Ava, are you here to ask Much to be your partner, your lover, your friend, and your husband. Do you take Much to be your husband, to have and to hold, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to honour and to cherish unconditionally. Do you agree to foresake all others and be faithful to Much in the name of the father, and of the son, and of the holy spirit? '

' I do. Absolutely, I do,' Ava nodded, her eyes beginning to show up with tears.

The King turned to Much, ' Much, are you here to ask Ava to be your partner, your lover, your friend and your wife. Do you take Ava to be your wife, to have and to hold, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to honour and to cherish unconditionally. Do you agree to foresake all others and be faithful to Ava in the name of the father, and of the son, and of the holy spirit? '

' I do. I do with all my heart,' Much beamed.

The King continued,' As you travel on this journey of life together, you will always remember that the true measure of success, the true walk to joy and peace, can be found within the love you hold in your very hearts. Always remember the key to that love. '

Much squeezed Ava's hand tightly.

Then came another major part of the process.

' Who holds the rings? ' asked the King.

Robin nodded,' I do,' he said, and then held up the two rings in his hand to show the congregation, and then held them out to the King in the palm of his hand to be blessed.

' Let us bless these rings! These symbols of perfection .. perfection that never ends. These are the rings that Ava and Much will wear for the rest of their lives, and that express the love Ava and Much have for each other. We grant that this love will be blessed with unity and commitment. Ava and Much, you now dedicate yourselves to each other. '

Ava then held out her hand, and took a simple golden band from Robin. She then took Much's hand, and slid the wedding ring on half-way, keeping hold of his hand as she said her vows to him.

Her eyes locked on his as she spoke,' We entered each others lives and have experienced love and happiness.
Today I am confirming my promise for all of my life to love and respect you, to be faithful and honest with you, to give encouragement, strength and trust, and to stand together in our times of both joy and sorrow. '

Her eyes welled up again as she continued,' I pray that our home will be one of love and understanding and patience .. not to remain the same, but to grow better and stronger with the passing of time, and through the love we have for one another.

A stray tear dripped down her face, and she smiled, as Much brushed it away with his free hand. ' Our lives have become joined with the times that we have shared, and will be more complete by the memories ahead, ready to be made. I am promising from this day forward that I will be your wife, to walk with you through all of your tomorrows. '

More tears fell silently, and through her smiles, Ava couldn't believe just how estatically happy she was. ' I love you, and with this ring, I thee wed. '

She slid the ring to the end of his finger, and secured it in to place.

Much beamed, and began to make his own vow to his soon-to-be wife.

He took her slender hand and slid the ring halfway done, as she had done to him - she gasped as she looked at it - it was really beautiful. Where her engagement ring was a small golden band with a sapphire to match her eyes, her new wedding ring was a thicker band, with a quite sizeable diamond in the centre, and a smaller one on either side.

She felt her eyes glued ti his as he spoke words which made her heart leap.

He said,' Ava, I want you to be my wife,
I promise to give the best of myself and to ask no more than you can give.
I promise to respect you as your own person,
and to realize that your interests, needs and desires are just as important as mine, '

By now, Ava was sobbing tears of her immense joy. Much's own eyes were welling up, and a broad beam filled his face.

He continued,' I promise to share with you, my time and attention,
and to bring joy, strength and imagination to our relationship,
I promise to keep my self open to you,
to let you see through the windows of my world,
into my innermost secrets, feelings and dreams.
I promise to grow along with you,
to be willing to face change,
as we both change,
in order to keep our relationship alive and exciting. '

He paused here, taking a breath before continuing, ' I promise to love you in good times and bad,
with all I have to give,
with all I feel inside,
in the only way I know how,
completely and forever ... because I love you, and with this ring, I thee wed. '

He pushed the ring to the end of her finger, and slid the engagement ring back into its place just above the new wedding ring.

' And now we hear a reading from a friend of the couple,' King Richard announced.

This time it was Robin who took his place at the front of the congregation. He looked pale and tired, and it was clear that he had been up most of the night - undoubtedly thinking of Marian, his lost love. Ava had to admire the way he would stand up in front of them all just after such a loss, and the sheer courage it took for him to do so.

Robin cleared his throat,' I'm going to read a piece about marriage, not only for Ava and Much, but for my own marriage, and in memory of the late, great, Marian of Locksley. '

His face contorted in pain, and Ava offered his an encouraging smile in the moment before he looked down.

He read,' Marriage is a commitment to life - to the best that two people can find and bring out in each other.
It offers opportunities for sharing and growth that no other human relationship can equal, a joining that is promised for a lifetime.
Within the circle of its love, marriage encompasses all of life's most important relationships.
A wife and a husband are each other's best friend, confidant, lover, teacher, listener, and critic.
There may come times when one partner is heartbroken or ailing, and the love of the other may resemble the tender caring of a parent for a child.
Marriage deepens and enriches every facet of life.
Happiness is fuller; memories are fresher; commitment is stronger; even anger is felt more strongly, and passes away more quickly.
Marriage understands and forgives the mistakes life is unable to avoid.
It encourages and nurtures new life, new experiences, and new ways of expressing love through the seasons of life.
When two people pledge to love and care for each other in marriage they create a spirit unique to themselves, which binds them closer than any spoken or written words.
Marriage is a promise, a potential, made in the hearts of two people who love, which takes a lifetime to fulfill.
Marriage is a sacrament of unbreakable and everlasting love.
Marriage will be, I am certain, very much suited to Ava and Much. '

As Robin took his place beside Much again, Much clapped a hand to his best friend's shoulder, in a gesture to show his appreciation and gratitide.

The King grinned,' Ava and Much, you have promised your love for each other by your vows, and the giving of your rings, and the joining of your hands. I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride. '

Much and Ava turned to each other.

Much placed his hands on his new wife's waist,' God, I love you,' he said with a gleeful smile, before capturing her lips and kissing her passionately. She allowed him to deepen the kiss, as the crowd cheered, and when they broke apart, she muttered,' I love you too.'

The King clapped his hands,' I present to you, Mr and Mrs Miller! '

The music commenced as Ava took Much's arms, and they walked back down the aisle, laughing as their guests threw petals over them.

In those few moments, Ava truly appreciated more than ever before, exactly what she had. She had someone who loved her more than anything, and would do anything for her. There was no one she would rather be with , and no one who made her feel so happy.

Knowing that they had to go home to a world of the Sheriff and evil Prince John, and Gisbourne, and the Black Knights, and cruel punishments, and unfair living was one thing. But going home to all these things was made infinitly better, by knowing that the love of her life was by her side.

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A/N: All together now - Awwwww.

Anyway - I need to know how you lot would feel about a few things.

1. Should I continue with the story? Would anyone read it if I did continue?

2. Should Will and Djaq stay in the Holy Land, or should they go home with the gang?

Feedback GREATLY appreciated.