Marian's cheeks were flushed with excitement at the prospect of dancing at Nottingham Castle's masked ball.
She wore her finest gown, the scarlet velvet one with the jeweled band at its neckline, and she wore her hair up to disguise how short it was. The mask she wore was small, for she didn't wish to hide much of her face lest she too closely resemble the Nightwatchman and lead wise eyes to suspect.
Entering Nottingham Castle's Great Hall on light feet, she looked eagerly about the candlelit chamber. She was intrigued to meet the foreign guests, having heard much about them.
Sir Guy de Lusignan had fought with Robin and Much in the Holy War. Perhaps he could travel back to King Richard and tell him about the unholy state of Nottinghamshire, and the King would hasten home and restore Locksley to its rightful lord! Marian prayed it would be so.
She was also excited about meeting Sir Guy's famous wife, Lady Sybille, the Countess of Poitiers. Lady Sybille's beauty was legendary, and far fetched stories had sprung up about her, claiming she was half woman, half fish, and would exchange her legs for a fish tail if ever she was submerged in water. Why such a thing would appeal to men was beyond Marian, but she rolled her eyes and scanned the room for a glimpse of the famous beauty anyway.
The music was lovely and she longed to dance. Not a soul approached her to ask for the honor, however. Sir Guy of Gisbourne had marked her for his own, and no man was brave enough to challenge his claims, unfounded though they were.
Would Gisbourne dance? Marian doubted it. But surely, if she let him know how much she wanted to, he might. She decided to wait to speak to him until he approached her. Gisbourne stood too close to the sheriff, and Marian really did not wish to socialize with Vaisey, if she could help it.
A tall man and woman entered the hall, heralded by trumpet fanfare. Although masked and supposedly incognito, the couple were announced by the herald as Sir Guy de Lusignan and Lady Sybille, Duke and Countess of Poitiers. The entire company bowed before them.
Marian lifted her head to look curiously at Lady Sybille, who had removed her mask to allow everyone present to gaze upon her. Marian agreed that the woman was certainly a beauty. Tall and slender, graced with perfect curves, she wore her thick dark hair long and flowing. Dark eyes framed in thick black lashes flashed under arched brows, staring haughtily back at the people staring at her. Her complexion was pale and creamy, her scowling lips blood red, and her neck long and graceful. She reminded Marian of a stuck up swan, not a fish.
Sheriff Vaisey hurried to approach his foreign guests.
"Welcome to Nottingham!" he crowed. "I trust your stay will be everything you want it to be, my lord...my lady."
"This ball should amuse my wife," Lusignan muttered quietly. "I would prefer we get straight to business, Sheriff."
Sheriff Vaisey grinned maniacally. "Of course! My wish, as well, My Lord. We can retreat to my chamber at any time, and discuss the business of putting Prince John on the throne in place of his brother. But first, allow me to introduce Gisbourne. Sir Guy, meet Sir Guy."
The sheriff laughed, pleased at his attempt at humor. Unfortunately for him, neither Guy had a scrap of humor. His little joke fell flat.
Lady Sybille stared at Gisbourne, extremely pleased by what she saw. Dressed entirely in black, too proud to hide his face behind a mask, Sir Guy of Gisbourne was everything she thought a man should be. Tall, strong...handsome...dangerous. Cold and cruel? She hoped so. She waited expectantly for her husband to depart, so she could have a word in private with this Gisbourne.
As men and ladies danced to the strains of flutes and lutes and tymbols, Marian sighed in exasperation, frustrated that Sir Guy of Gisbourne did not approach her. Was no one brave enough to dance with her? She might as well be one hundred years old, for all the fun she expected to have tonight. She might as well just go home!
Just as she was turning to leave, she felt, rather than saw, a pair of eyes staring at her. An unexplained sense of excitement...of adventure and romance, welled up inside her, causing her heart to beat faster and her face to break into a smile. She looked up expectantly and scanned the room.
Where was he? He was here...she could feel him looking at her! She couldn't explain how she knew Robin was present...she just knew it as clearly as she knew her own name.
She spied him at last. The unmistakeable blue eyes she had loved her entire life twinkled back at her from behind a very elaborate mask. What was he wearing? He looked every inch a lord in his magnificent golden doublet, and she couldn't take her eyes off him as he approached her with his customary catlike grace.
"My lady," he bowed, "you are far too beautiful not to be dancing. If I could have the honor, you would make me the happiest man alive."
Shivers of pleasure shot up and down her spine and butterflies collided in her tummy, but she was thrilled and excited beyond measure.
"It would be my pleasure, good sir," she answered, thrilled at the familiar feel of her hand clasped in his strong, sensitive, calloused one.
Robin had meant to find out just what Sir Guy of Lusignan was up to visiting Nottingham, but he had temporarily forgotten his mission the moment he saw Marian. In fact, everything was forgotten in the joy of seeing and being close to her again. He breathed in the sweet smell of rosewater clinging lightly to her hair and skin, and felt himself transported.
Watching him, she was reminded what a magnificent dancer he was. His elegant carriage, athletic agility and manly grace placed him above all others present, and was enough to make Marian nearly melt inside for love of him. But no...she reminded herself she didn't care. She was no longer a silly girl who was susceptible to outward appearances and charms or manly grace or beauty. Still, he was a sight to behold, even wearing such a mask.
She realized she was grateful for the mask, for if they were dancing together like this and she could see his face, who knew what might happen! Yes, the mask was certainly a safeguard! Still, she couldn't dismiss the way her heart was pounding in her chest or the strong aura of magic filling the air. She felt as though she and Robin were floating above the crowd, and she loved the way he didn't take his adoring eyes off her face.
She was having a marvelous time, and felt happier than she had felt in years.
"You shouldn't be here," she whispered, not unkindly. "Didn't I just free you from the dungeon?"
"I needed to be here."
The ensuing pause was heavy with meaning.
"Why?" she asked, hopeful of hearing the right words.
He seemed to be at a loss for words. If Robin were dancing with any other lady, charming flattery would easily come tripping off his tongue. But Marian! She was so different from other women! He didn't want to ruin the moment by saying the wrong thing again.
Slightly shy and embarrassed, he confessed the truth. "I just wanted to see you," he said simply. "I miss being close to you."
Marian was surprised. And touched. And happy and thrilled and delighted and proud. Now, she was the one at a loss for words.
But words weren't necessary. The music was so beautiful, the candlelight made everything shimmer, and the world felt right as it hadn't felt in years, with Robin's eyes gazing so adoringly at her through the slits in his mask, and his wonderful hand touching hers as they moved as one together in the dance.
He danced so well, so superior to any other male, that Marian grew afraid he would attract attention. "Robin," she whispered, "please be careful! If the sheriff or Gisbourne discover you're here..."
She tore her eyes from his handsome form, and was surprised to see Gisbourne ignoring her. Guy of Gisbourne seemed totally and completely absorbed in Lady Sybille, the "Melusine" of legend. The sheriff and Guy de Lusignan were nowhere to be seen, but the sexual tension between Gisbourne and "Melusine" was so intoxicatingly thick, Marian could feel it all the way across the room. She stopped dancing, confused by the looks passing back and forth between the couple.
"What does he think he's up to?" Marian asked aloud.
Robin allowed his eyes to follow Marian's gaze. A jealous bolt of anger shot through him. The magic of the night had just been shattered.