As Thornton led Robin and Marian back to Locksley Manor, the children were surprised to note the entire village of Locksley assembling before Robin's house to hear Lord Malcolm's announcement.

Robin waved to Much, then caught up to Will Stutely and showed him his bow.

"Let's hold our contest right after my father's speech," Robin told him. "Everybody's already here to watch."

"We'll see," the bowman gruffly replied, not sharing the boy's lack of concern over what the lord of the manor might have to say. Because he was worried, he scolded, "Where's your cape? Thought you had sense enough to know when it's cold!"

"I gave it to Marian to wear," Robin explained. "She was shivering."

Will looked at the small girl wrapped in Robin's cape, who was already joining her father beside Lord Locksley.

"Get!" Will barked. "Can't you see, everybody's waitin' for you?"

Everyone was indeed waiting for him, which suited Robin fine. He picked up his feet and ran, then slowed his steps to take his place with easy dignity by his father's side, enjoying the attention of the crowd.

Meeting his father's eyes, Robin couldn't read what dwelt behind them. There was no trace of the sterness he expected to find there, for making people wait. Instead, there seemed to be a wistful longing, a touch of regret, almost a pleading apology. Robin gripped his bow tighter.

Lord Malcolm turned his face to the crowd assembled before him. "Good people of Locksley," he began, lifting his voice. "It has been my God given privilege to serve you as your lord for many years, and I pray I have always been a just and fair master over you."

"You have, Your Lordship!" a voice in the crowd called back, followed by a resounding chorus of "Ayes!"

Lord Malcolm smiled, somewhat sadly. "And now," he continued, "I have been called by His Majesty King Henry, to serve him, across the waters in Ireland."

"Ireland?" The question was repeated in hushed voices throughout the crowd, as everyone, Robin included, tried to process the news.

"As some of you may know," Lord Locksley resumed, "some years ago, our gracious king helped free the Irish from invading Normans. In return, the High King of Ireland, Rory O'Connor, swore fealty to King Henry, thus becoming his vassal. Unfortunately, Norman invaders have returned, and war has broken out again on the Emerald Island. His Majesty has requested that I join him in helping to keep Ireland in Irish hands."

A thrill shot through Robin. His father was going to fight alongside the King! He felt proud, and only wished he were older so he could go, too. His archery competition with Will was forgotten in his visions of glory.

"While I am away," Lord Malcolm continued, "I leave you in the capable care of Lord Knighton, Sheriff of Nottingham. Although he will not be residing here, he will look in on you from time to time and handle any disputes that might arise between you. Of course, Thornton will continue to oversee the manor, and I ask you to continue on with your daily lives, as though I were still among you. I also ask for your prayers for myself, and for my son while I am away."

Marian felt a surge of fear at hearing those words. Robin wasn't going to Ireland, too, was he? She couldn't wait for the speech to finish, so that she could learn for certain.

To her relief, Lord Malcolm concluded by saying, "Good people, I leave you in two day's time. There is much to do before I go, but for the next two nights, we feast together."

So saying, he turned and walked inside his manor house, followed by Robin, Marian and her father, and all the household servants.

...

"Did you hear him, Marian?" Robin whispered excitedly, as the two small families filed into Lord Locksley's study, for a private meeting together. "He's going to fight for the King!"

"Are you going, or staying?" Marian wanted urgently to know.

"I think I'm staying. Why? Do you think he might take me with him?"

"You want to go?"

"Wouldn't you?"

Marian almost tore Robin's cape from her shoulders and flung it at him.

"Marian?" Robin cried, confused by her anger.

The children had to end their conversation before it turned into a full blown argument, for Thornton had closed the door, leaving the four nobles alone together.

...

(Note: I recently discovered old stories explaining how Robin's father died, and preferred their details to the outrage presented in the Blood Brothers episode of Series 3. In some written legends, Robin's father dies in battle in King Henry II's Irish campaign, leaving Robin an orphan at age 12. My stories have always said he became an orphan at 10, so I am sticking with that age. I did some quick research and learned that King Henry fought in Ireland much earlier than when this story takes place, but then I was happy to learn that he returned there in 1177, which is only off by one year from my adventure! The name I gave the Irish King is historically accurate, as are the events why King Henry returned to fight there. I decided to keep the name "Malcolm" for Robin's father, since it would have been a family name. The first Earl of Huntington was born in 1031, and his name was Malcolm.)