When I awoke the following morning, I immediately saw a large bouquet of wildflowers on my dresser. I hurried over and smiled when I read the note accompanying them,

"Welcome home, Princess. Meet me at Noon in the Den, Robin."

I got dressed quickly and ran downstairs, eager to see Marmaduke and sample his cooking once more. The food at the lodgings had been reasonable, but our landlady wasn't anywhere close to being Marmaduke's equal. I spent the morning playing the piano. The music came to me easily as if the house was glad to see me again and Uncle came in to praise my playing. I moved across on the stool for him to sit beside me and he joined me in a duet.

I recalled that time I had questioned him about the house and he had walked in tears from the room. So much had happened since then; so many barriers had been broken down in such a short time.

It was soon time to meet Robin and I hurried eagerly to the den, carrying my present for him. It was empty when I got there and I sat by the entrance so that I could listen to the sounds of the forest as I waited for him. He was wearing the band across his face when he arrived, as he had been when I first met him and he had a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.

"Princess," he greeted me. "You got my message then?"

I smiled at him and held out my hands for him to take in his.

"The flowers were beautiful, Robin. Such a lovely welcome." Then as I thanked him, something occurred to me. "How did they get into my room?"

He grinned at me in reply.

"You used the secret passage?" I guessed, shocked that he had been in my room while I slept. "How did you find out about it?"

"Loveday mentioned it once, and I went exploring," he explained. "You don't really mind, do you?"

I considered his question and finally admitted that I didn't, although secretly I worried in case I spoke in my sleep, or even worse, drooled. He seemed to sense my unease,

"You looked so peaceful, Maria. I was afraid that I would wake you but you didn't stir at all. I thought the journey must have tired you."

I smiled at the sincerity in his voice and then suddenly remembered my gift for him.

"I have something for you." I announced. Robin looked at me in surprise. "Here!" I gave him the package and he smiled happily.

"Shall we go into the den before I open it?" he asked, and before I could answer, he had disappeared inside the tree. I followed him quickly and found him standing at the door.

"Wait!" He said as I reached him, and reaching into his pocket, he drew out a strip of cloth. He turned me around and bound the cloth around my eyes.

"Robin?" I felt panic rising up in me. I reached out for him and my hands encountered his chest. He laughed softly and then kissed me on the nose.

"Don't worry, Princess. I am here." I felt his hands take mine and he gently led me through the door into the den.

"Is anything different?" he asked me and I allowed my senses to focus on my surroundings.
"I can hear something," I told him. "I don't know what it is, it's pretty though." I concentrated harder. "It smells really nice too! Can I see?"

I felt him remove my blindfold and I blinked my eyes as I looked around. The den had been transformed in my absence. There was now a wooden log fashioned into a table by the side of our couch. There were shelves on the walls by the figure of the first princess. Wooden chimes hung from the ceiling and pots of flowers adorned the whole den.

"Oh!" I breathed.

"Do you like it?" he asked nervously.

"Oh Robin, it's beautiful!" I felt tears come into my eyes. "Thank you so much. What a lovely surprise."

"I have something else for you. Close your eyes again." I did as I was told although I was very tempted to peek, especially when I felt his hands gently brush against first my collar bone and then my neck. What was he doing? "You can open them now."

I looked down and saw that he had hung a little silver robin from a red ribbon around my neck. The workmanship was intricate as its features were pronounced and it was adorned with a red garnet to imply its red breast. It was beautiful. I found that I couldn't speak.

"Do you like it, Maria?" he sounded anxious at my lack of response. "It was my mother's."

The words made his gesture even more poignant and I felt tears begin to well up inside me. I still couldn't speak, but I looked up at him and he must have seen what he needed to read my mind because he drew me to him and held me tightly for a few moments. I was so happy to see him and be with him that I slid my arms up to his neck and held on to him in return.

"I missed you." He admitted as he began to release me. I still had my arms wrapped around his shoulders and I pulled his face down to mine so that we were touching cheek to cheek,

"I missed you too." I breathed. I hadn't really realised how much until we were back together.

He led me to the couch and we sat side by side as he started to open his own present. He felt the soft material as he took the cravat from its wrappings and he looked enquiringly at me.

"I thought you would like to wear it for the wedding." I explained. "It's the same colour as my dress."

"Then I shall be honoured to wear it, Princess. It is certainly very fine." He wrapped it around his neck and asked in clipped tones, "How do I look?"

I couldn't help giggling at his expression, "very handsome" I managed finally before giggling again. He gave me his most haughty look,

"Thank you. Perhaps you would do me the honour of dancing with me?"

I nodded in assent and he stood, bowed formally to me and then opened his arms. There was little room in the den to dance, but we managed a few turns before we collapsed laughing on the sofa. It was good to be home.