"I need to leave you, men," Robin told his gang, once they were inside the city walls of Nottingham, ready to pass out money to the poor and needy. "You know what to do. I'll meet you back at the camp."
"But, Master!" Much, as usual, was full of objections. "Where are you going?"
Robin clamped a hand on his friend's shoulder. "I need to see Marian, Much. I owe her an apology."
"Well! More than one apology, I think you'll find! But all the same, do you really think you should be traipsing through the castle, Robin? If the sheriff finds you-"
"He won't. I'll be in and out before his toenails have a chance to dry. Now, be careful, men, and see that that money goes where it ought to. Don't let me down." Robin looked specifically at Allan, but his words fell on deaf ears. Allan a Dale had other intentions for that money today.
As soon as Robin was gone, Allan waved a jaunty hand at the others and crowed, "I'll be off, too. Don't wait up for me, neither."
"Where are you going?" Much demanded.
"You can find me in Gropecunt Lane. But don't come lookin'. I'll be busy relaxin' with Maggie."
Much sputtered, so outraged he couldn't spit out reprimands.
Innocent Will, who had never so much as kissed a girl in his life, blushed and looked ashamed. "Robin said no whores. This money's meant for the poor!"
"Do I look rich to you? And not bein' funny, but Maggie ain't exactly wallowing in wealth, neither!"
"Robin's trusting us, Allan!" Idealistic Will could not believe his friend would stoop so low.
"So, it's alright for him to go get him some from Marian, while we do all the work? I don't think so. Goodbye, gents."
Much found his voice at last. "Unbelievable! Robin is not 'getting him some' with Marian! I've have you know, Dunderhead, that Marian is as pure as the virgin snow! Well, almost. I mean, there were a few times, before we left for war, when I interrupted her kissing Robin in a manner that would have made the virgin snow blush! But it was, after all, only kissing, and they were betrothed, you see."
"Yeah? You can tell me all about it later, after Robin and me are so mellow, we won't care what you say. You heard Robin! He said he'd be 'in and out,' and I know what that means! I'm tellin' you, what's good for our leader, is good for his troops. That's us! So, if the rest of you are smart, (sorry, Much, that dunnit include you), you'll come with me and meet some of Maggie's friends."
With an angry cry, Much hurled himself toward Allan, but slammed into Little John's chest when the giant blocked his path.
"Let him go," John commanded. "The rest of us, we'll help the poor."
Allan left them to it, to saunter away, noisily jingling the money in his purse as he went.
...
Robin, meanwhile, was creeping silently through the castle, in search of Marian.
He found her at last, walking along an otherwise empty stone corridor. His heart leaped within his chest, as it always did at the sight of her.
She would be angry, he knew. She would give him a tongue lashing, steeped in venom. But he could take it. Honor and his heart demanded he tell her he was sorry.
"Marian!" he hissed out a whisper, from his hiding place against an unlit wall.
She froze, then turned slowly to face him.
"What are you doing here?" she snapped. "Was it not enough to mock me and listen to my private confession? Or do you think yourself so mighty now, you stand on level with God?"
"I'm here to apologize, Marian," he told her sincerely. "I should have stopped you, and told you who I was."
"You should have! That had to be the most dishonorable thing you have ever done in your life!"
Robin winced, glad she did not know acts he had committed in the Holy Land. Although he had argued with Richard until he was hoarse about taking the lives of more than 2000 unarmed prisoners in Acre, he had finally bowed to his king's commands and slayed them, as had Much. Much and he still suffered from nightmares from the dishonorable act. He swore that Marian would never know.
"It was dishonorable, and I am truly sorry. I had to come and tell you."
"You've told me. Now go."
"Marian, please! I hate it that we argue! Can't we be friends again? You were always the best friend I ever had, excluding Much."
Marian's heart, already stony toward him, turned to a block of ice. A friend, less than Much. That was all she had ever been to him. She knew it, else why would he have left her, near the eve of their wedding?
All he ever did was hurt her. She wouldn't take it any more. Though she wished no physical harm would ever come to him, she longed to hurt him, as he had hurt her. And she knew just the way to do it.
"I begged the sheriff to free Gisbourne, but he refused. Perhaps, if you truly wish to make amends, you can help me rescue him."
"What?" Robin's voice was loud and pitched high in utter surprise.
"Shh!" Marian ordered him, pleased by the effect of her words. "That's right. I intend to rescue him. You have men who can help, and vast experience. So, will you agree to help me?"
"Free Gisbourne? Why, Marian?"
"Why do you think?"
Until this moment, she'd had no intention of rescuing Sir Guy of Gisbourne. She still didn't. But watching Robin's displeasure was more satisfying than she could imagine.
He couldn't even speak, he was so angry. "Gisbourne deserves to die, Marian," he finally managed to utter. "Unless, of course, you find him a gentleman worthy to risk your own life for! You would do that? You would risk your neck, for Gisbourne?"
"I've risked it for you. I see little difference."
Robin paced, his cape swishing behind him. "Little difference?" he shouted, not caring who heard him now.
"I take it you're not willling to help?" She sighed, barely hiding her smug satisfaction at making him so furious. "You always were one to let me down, Robin. I suppose I'll just need to free him on my own."
She turned, and forced herself to walk, rather than skip away.
There! Let him see how it felt to be wounded in the heart, if he had one!
...
(Merry Christmas! The crude street name was actually a common one in most Medieval English towns, where prostitutes plied their trade. I did not make it up and do not wish to offend anyone.)