The temperate days of October soon gave way to bitter November winds, and grey, cheerless skies. But Robin didn't mind the weather. Although he missed his father and Will Stutely, he took vast pleasure in Marian's frequent visits to his estates, for Nottingham's sheriff always brought his young daughter with him whenever he checked up on Lord Locksley's heir and lands.
One damp chilly day, Robin and Marian were busy playing Hide and Go Seek with several other children from the village. It was Marian's turn to hide, and so far, no one, not even Robin, had found her. She was squatting uncomfortably, but triumphant, inside an empty rain barrel, listening to the voices of the others searching for her.
"Where could she be?" Much was crying, clearly worried. "If anything happens to her, Robin...I mean, Marian! She could be anywhere! What if she ran off into the forest, all alone? What if she-"
"She didn't, Much," Robin insisted. "Marian knows the rules. We have to hide somewhere in the village."
"And since when has Marian followed your rules?" Much asked.
Marian heard nothing on Robin's part. She smiled, picturing the look on his face as he thought over the implication of Much's words. At last, she heard him decide, "She wouldn't do it, Much. I trust her." And then, after a brief silence, she heard Robin say, "What?"
"I'm not saying anything," Much replied, with an air of superiority in his tone.
Marian cringed when she heard Kate's whiney voice saying, "We've looked for her long enough. It's my turn to hide now."
"Not until we find Marian," Robin demanded.
Much cleared his throat and told Kate, "You've got something hanging from your nose. Oh! Don't eat it! That is revolting!"
Marian cringed again. Kate often had a runny nose, and it was disgusting the way she would pick her nose and eat it.
All of a sudden, the lid to her barrel was yanked off, and Marian looked up to find Robin grinning down at her. "Found you, Wren!" Robin boasted, helping her climb out of the barrel. "Now it's your turn to hide, Kate," Robin told the scraggly blond, still grinning proudly at Marian.
"Close your eyes," Kate ordered, climbing into Marian's rain barrel the moment they weren't looking.
Kate would stay in the barrel the rest of the afternoon, waiting for Robin to find her, only emerging when she couldn't hold herself back any longer from having to pee. For something momentous happened that made Robin, Marian, and Much forget all about the game, and about Kate hiding.
King Henry himself came riding into the village, completely unannounced, but accompanied by several soldiers and high officials, as well as his youngest daughter, the Princess Johanna.
"Your Majesty, Your Highness," Robin said, dropping down on one knee with bowed head. "Welcome to Locksley."
Marian dropped a curtsey, but Much stood by, gaping open mouthed, at the sight of unexpected royalty.
The king, vigorous as always, leaped from his horse, helped the princess dismount, then approached his young host.
"Forgive this unexpected visit," he said, his face inscrutable. "We bring news from Ireland."
"Would Your Majesty care to come inside?" Robin asked, excited to hear news of his father.
"Lead the way," the king commanded.
Robin smiled goodbye to Much, then politely gestured to Marian to enter his house first, as if she was his "lady." Marian felt pleased and flattered, especially when she caught a glint of jealousy in Princess Joan's eyes.
Thornton was clearly nervous at the King's approach, but Marian's father responded to the surprise visit with calm dignity.
"Welcome, Your Majesty," he said, bowing. "Your Highness, my lords. Welcome."
King Henry, ever restless, did not take the seat offered to him. Instead, he called Robin to stand before him, and before everyone assembled, held out Lord Locksley's sword.
Robin and Marian were completely confused when the assembled lords and gentlemen bowed their own heads to him.
"My father's sword," Robin said, still not understanding. "Excuse me, Your Majesty, but where is my father?"
"Your father died a valiant warrior, giving his life serving his king and country. You, lad, must now assume his titles. You are now Lord of Locksley and Earl of Huntington."
Robin couldn't take it in. He'd heard the king's words, and saw the tragic looks on the faces of the servants and Marian's father, as well as Marian's surprised, sympathetic face, but it didn't feel real to him.
"But my father," he stammered, wide eyed. "He can't be killed. Stute wouldn't let them get him."
"Stute?" the king asked.
One of his lords clarified, whispering into the royal ear.
"Ah, yes, the archer," King Henry said. "He, too, died a hero's death."
Robin felt as if he'd been punched in the stomach. He couldn't breathe, not believing what he'd just heard.
"Go on, lad," the king was saying. "Take your father's sword. It's yours now, as is everything on your lands. You, Your Grace, have the priviledge of being the youngest Earl in my kindgom! I am sorry for your loss, of course, but take heart. Your noble father did not die in vain. Ireland now lies completely under my domain, and I mean for Johnny to have it. No more 'John Lackland' for my favorite son! Now, while I conduct business with the Lord Sheriff, I leave you with Princess Joan. When she learned I was coming here, she insisted I bring her along, and I never deny her anything, do I, Pet?"
"No, father, you do not," the princess agreed, smiling pleasantly at Robin.
"It seems you made quite an impression on her, boy, on her recent visit here with the Queen. She pestered me relentlessly to bring her here, just so she could see you again. What do you say to that, Robert?"
Robin blinked his eyes, in shock from the King's news. In a voice sounding strange and far away to him, he managed to say, "I am honored by Her Highness's regard."
His father's sword felt cold and heavy in his hands. He didn't know what to do with it. It wasn't his; it belonged to his father. Surely his father would shortly walk through the door, tell the King he was mistaken, and scold Robin for holding his sword. But even while he hoped it would be so, he knew in his heart it would never happen.
Princess Joan was telling him to hand the sword to Thornton, who took it from Robin with eyes nearly as surprised and sorrowful as Robin's.
"Where can we go to talk?" the princess was asking, and Robin, hardly knowing what he was doing, led her up the stairs of his home to his room.
Marian watched them head upstairs, feeling sad and hurt for Robin. As soon as her father became occupied with the King, she raced up the stairs after them, knowing Robin needed a true friend instead of a spoiled princess.