Robin breathed a sigh of relief, realizing he'd entered his bedchamber at just the right moment.

Snuggled against her mother in her parents' bed, Ellen was beginning to awaken from her early afternoon nap and stir. Marian, catching a well deserved nap as well, still slept soundly.

Chuckling under his breath at the sound of his beautiful wife's soft snores brought on by her pregnancy, Robin tiptoed to the bed and lifted the warm bundle that was his daughter, holding her against his full heart.

"Shh," he whispered. "Let's not wake up Mama."

"Did you have a nice nap?" he asked, carrying Ellen down Locksley Manor's staircase after changing her diaper. The spring in his step betrayed no sign of the recent wound to his leg. Robin's heart was overflowing, just from the sight of mother and child, sleeping peacefully side by side, in the home he loved.

"Are you hungry, Boo?" he asked, knowing Ellen usually had a light snack when she woke up from her nap. "I invited Daniel in, to share a snack with you."

"Dink," she answered, adoring this moment with her Daddy.

Daniel stood waiting by the table, which Mary had set with milk, berries, buttered bread, and several puddings.

"Good!" Robin smiled at his servant woman. "Looks like enough to feed every child in Locksley! Whatever these two don't eat, set outside for the village. Would have been fun to invite them all inside, but how would Mama sleep then?" he asked Ellen, grinning.

Contentedly watching the children eat, his thoughts wandered to the orphans. Marian had been true to her word, finding safe homes for them for the time being. The nuns had taken sanctuary in either Ripley or Kirklees Abbies, Robin thought with satisfaction, so all was solved on that account. Time to put another plan into action, and get Marian's new horse back.

"Daniel," Robin asked, "do you still have your slingshot?"

Mouth full of bread, Daniel could only nod his head in reply.

"Any chance I might borrow it?"

"Of course! Anything for you, Robin!"

"Good lad. I need it, to honor Ellie's request." Grinning at his daughter, Robin asked, "Ready for me to bring Pox home?"

"Yay!" Ellen cheered, clapping her sticky little hands in glee.

"What's your plan?" Daniel asked, longing to play a part in it.

Robin grew confidential, but there was a twinkle in his eye as he answered. "Seeing as how you're so trustworthy, I'll tell you," he said, grinning. "Now, Daniel, I could steal my wife's own horse back, but where would be the fun in that?"

"And, the king would just steal Pox back again."

"Smart lad! Not to mention, lock me in the dungeon again, and I've already spent more time there than I'd like to remember! So, I was thinking, I could convince King John to give me back Lady Locksley's horse, with a little help from your slingshot."

"You're not going to shoot pebbles at the king, are you?" Daniel asked, his mouth agape.

"Nothing so tempting as that," Robin answered, chuckling. "I only plan to turn Pox into the worst behaved horse in England. The next time I see King John on his back, your slingshot will encourage Pox to bolt, or better yet, throw His Majesty to the ground. Blunted arrows could accomplish the same magic, but pebbles leave no trace."

"It won't hurt Pox, will it?" kind-hearted Daniel asked.

"No more than a tiny sting. Well worth it, to trade the king for my wife as an owner!"

Daniel's eyes were wide, picturing Robin's plan in his mind. "Robin, let me shoot," he begged. "No one can outshoot you with the bow, but I'm good with the slingshot."

"So you are, but it wouldn't be safe for you. I'm sorry, Daniel, but I can't risk it. If the king suspected what was behind Pox bolting..."

"Be careful, then, Robin," Daniel told him seriously, pulling his slingshot off his belt and handing it to his master. "You mustn't let the king suspect it's you shooting, either."

"Don't worry about me. I can blend into the forest, remember, so he'll never know what hit him."

"I thought you weren't planning on hitting the king!" Daniel cried.

Just at that moment, Much strode through the door, took one look at Robin, and cried, "Oh, no! I know that look! That look means trouble!"