Marian's beautiful blue eyes snapped open as she awakened with a thought.
Locksley Manor still contained chests of Robin's clothing. She had seen his unused garments herself. She had even stolen one of his shirts not too long ago, right under Gisbourne's nose. What could be more practical than to return to Locksley and secure a pair of trousers for Robin? And not only trousers! Why not steal away as much of his wardrobe as she could carry? He certainly needed more to wear than just the clothes on his back!
She would go to Locksley this very morning. After all, Sir Guy had been pressuring her to visit him there for months. Now, all she needed to do was to come up with a plan to actually get her hands on Robin's garments.
But first things first. She rose from her bed, bathed her body in rose scented water, and dressed herself in her prettiest gown.
She had a feeling whatever plan she developed would somehow benefit from Gisbourne's attraction to her. "Know your strengths and use them," Robin had counselled her in the past, when he'd given her lessons in fighting. And though she would have preferred her strengths to lie in her skill at arms, she knew her beauty held more power. No longer cursing it, she decided to use it to help her friend regain his clothing.
Now, for a plan! Marian decided she hadn't time to linger at Knighton thinking. There would be time enough to formulate her plan on her way to Locksley.
...
Robin and Much sat hidden in the tall grass atop the hill overlooking Locksley, gazing down on the village of their births.
Robin often came here, to ponder and think, and keep watch over the home and the people he loved. And of course, most of the time, he was accompanied by the ever faithful Much.
This morning was much like all other mornings since his return to England. One of Gisbourne's thugs kept watch in the "crow's nest" lookout, while others milled about in the yard outside the large manor house, watching for and stirring up trouble. One by one, wary villagers crept from their cottages to hurriedly fetch water from the wells or from the pond, then scurried back to their homes, shutting their doors as they tried their best to lock out Guy of Gisbourne's threatening eyes.
"Unbelieveable!" Much cried, as he did every time he witnessed the sad state of his beloved village. "I remember when gathering water for the day was a pleasant pasttime, with everyone visiting and socializing! Now, it's just...it's just...just horrible!"
Robin didn't reply. He sat silently looking down on his village, his face grim and determined, vowing to make things better.
He jumped to his feet the moment he noticed Marian astride Vesper's back, on her way to his house. Much tugged at the back of his shirt, pulling him back to the ground and out of scanning guards' sight.
"What's she doing here?" Robin asked himself out loud, as waves of jealousy washed over him.
"Marian?" Much answered, realizing he would have his work cut out for him now, trying to steady his master. "She's probably just come to...come to...I don't know!" Much struggled to think up a soothing explanation.
"I don't know!" he repeated, pulling his cap down over his ears in frustration. "But I'm sure she has her reasons, and they needn't concern us! Come on! Everything looks fine! Let's just head on back to camp, and see how our gang is doing this morning. Lady Cecily doesn't like it when you're away, you know!"
"Damn Lady Cecily!" Robin cursed, then quickly apologized. "I did not mean that." He hadn't taken his eyes off Marian, and leaped to his feet again when he saw Gisbourne step out of the house and greet her.
Much pulled him back to the ground. "Master, you can't let yourself be seen!" he cried out, fearful and exasperated.
Robin watched as Gisbourne led Marian inside the manor. "So," he said, "Marian's visiting my house, is she?" He hadn't failed to notice she was wearing her ivory colored woolen gown, the one that clung so enticingly to her gorgeous figure, illuminating, rather than hiding, some of her finest assets.
"Come on, Much," Robin invited, a hard twinkle lighting up his eyes. "That breakfast you served this morning was less than adequate. What do you say to us joining Gisbourne and his guest for second helpings?"
"What do I say? What do I say? Well! All I can say is...Master! Come back! You're surely not thinking of...Oh, no!" Much heaved out a cry of frustration. "Wait for me!" he cried, resignedly, then muttered under his breath, "And you claim trouble comes looking for you! Please!"