Upon reaching his outlaw camp, Robin slowed the horse from a gallop to a canter to a trot, and finally, to a walk. Maggie, however, slung on her belly over the back of the horse, did not slow her swearing objections against him.
"You high and mighty son of an Earl," she screamed, accurately naming his birthright, but meaning it to offend. "Get me down off this bouncing bleedin' bag of horses#*t before I spew my dinner down its side. And if I do, I hope it flies back and hits you in your rich boy face, in chunks!"
"No need for that," Robin laughed. "I've already suffered the indignities of being bitten by fleas today, not to mention being pissed on by Sheriff Vaisey. And so, Maggie, I thank you for showing me mercy, and withholding your vomit."
"What the hell are you sayin' now, Rich Boy?" Maggie asked, completely confused. "Talk plain, can't you?"
"Is this plain enough? Your wild ride through Hell is finally at an end."
"What?"
"We've arrived," Robin explained, laughing.
Pulling Maggie down from the horse and setting her on her feet, Robin turned his eyes on the others in his camp. Each and every face he saw stared back at him in bewildered bafflement.
"Meet Maggie!" Robin proclaimed, laughing as he spoke.
Much was the first to recover the use of his tongue. "Master? Surely not! Not Allan's Maggie!"
"One and the same," Robin grinned. "Maggie, this is Much."
"Much of what? He don't look like much to me!"
"Unbelieveable!"
"No need to be unkind," Robin cautioned the harlot. "He's very much, which you'll discover soon enough." Robin winked at his friend, appeasing him. Turning to the giant, Robin continued his introductions. "And this is Little John."
"Ha! Much, when he innit. Little John, when he innit. Next, you'll be tellin' me your name is 'Handsome.' "
"Matter of fact, I have been called Handsome," Robin grinned, remembering fondly how Marian used to tease him with the nickname. "Not in a long time, though," he added, somewhat sadly.
"Where's the one who's never seen a naked woman?" Maggie asked, still tucked tightly within Robin's belted cape.
"This, Maggie, is Will Scarlet."
Will tried unsuccessfully to hide his embarrassment. "I have, though," he stuttered.
"Have what, dearie?" Maggie asked.
"Seen a woman. Naked. Well, almost naked. It was an accident, though." Will's glance shot toward Djaq, then away from her just as quickly. He blushed as red as his surname, and Djaq's cheeks colored prettily under her dusty brown skin.
"Why is she dressed like a boy?" Maggie asked, staring hard at Djaq.
Robin cleared his throat. "Because, he is a boy. This is Djaq, from the Holy Land."
Maggie continued staring. "That innit no boy."
"A young man, then," Robin hastened to lie.
"That's a woman, same as me," Maggie affirmed. "Any a you what think different, are daft. Allan innit fooled, is he?"
Robin, not knowing what to say, indicated Lady Cecily, who was standing, blinking her eyes in disbelief, at the sight of the henna haired whore standing next to Robin of Locksley.
"Now, this is a woman," Robin hastened to explain. "A lady, moreover. Maggie, may I have the honor to present Lady Cecily of Edwinstone? Lady Cecily, this is Maggie. She saved my life."
"Your life!" Much cried. "Robin! What happened?"
"Long story, Much," Robin said, "better suited for another day. Were you able to pass out the money?" he asked his men.
"We were, with no help from Allan!" Much had been waiting for hours to tattle. "Wait a minute! If Maggie's with us, then where is Allan?"
"I'm here," Allan spoke up, arriving at last.
Maggie, with arms still strapped to her sides, wiggled forward to greet him with a kiss.
"Whoa! Look at you!" he laughed.
Lady Cecily, frowning, seized the opportunity to draw Robin aside. "I'll try not to judge you on the company you keep," she told him. "I'm glad you're back. I've had...quite a time without you."
"My men treated you well, I trust," Robin guessed, wondering what could be wrong. Allan, after all, had been in Nottingham, with him. None of the others would have said or tried anything amiss.
"It's not what they did or didn't do," Lady Cecily tried to explain. "It's simply..." She sighed, lifting her eyes to his in a beautifully rapt expression. "You understand, surely."
"I'm afraid I don't," he said, coldly. "What cause have you to complain?"
"Oh, Robin! Please don't be distant! This is all so strange to me! Please," and she lightly took his arm, "take me to your house, so that I may at least see where I'm to pass the night."
"Sess," Robin told her, softening, "I have no house in the forest. You'll sleep here tonight."
"Here?" She dropped his arm and shivered. "In the open? Like an animal?"
"You'll be safe, I promise. I'll stand watch over you myself."
"But, but...oh!"
Lady Cecily swooned, and fainted dead away.
"Much!" Robin called, "bring water for Her Ladyship!"
"Yes, Master!"
While Much hurried to help his master, Maggie leaned toward Allan and giggled, "Didn't know you lived with lords and ladies! No wonder you can't wait to come see me!"
"That's not the reason," Allan said, smiling.
"Well, can you take me home, now? I know you only just got here, but-"
"Home? This is your home now, Maggie."
"You're jokin'."
"No. Sheriff wants to hang you, same as he does us. He saw you help Robin Hood escape. You're an outlaw now, Maggie."
Just like Lady Cecily, Maggie swooned and fainted, too.