"Good visit with Marian?" Much asked Robin, as soon as he noticed the outlaw leader reappear in camp.

Robin couldn't stop smiling. The delightful kiss he had shared with Marian, despite it having begun in pretence, warmed his heart and made it soar.

"Not bad," he answered, grinning. "She agreed to help find Cecily a safe place to live."

His words brought a smile to Much's face as well. "Well! I must say, I am glad! Some of us have endured quite enough of Her High and Mightiness around here."

"Has Cecily mistreated anyone?" Robin asked, deeply concerned.

"Well, not in words. Not in deeds, either, for that matter. But the way she looks at us, or more accurately, doesn't look! You'd think we're a colony of lepers, instead of a band of bold and fearless defenders of the poor!"

"You can't fault her for not looking," Robin smirked, relieved his men had suffered no real insults.

"And what exactly is that supposed to mean?" Much demanded to know.

Robin snickered, then mimicked one of his friend's frequent sayings. "I'm not saying anything," he answered smugly, then turned and began walking proudly away. Walking on air, more accurately, as his mind dwelt on Marian's kiss.

Much ran after him, pulling him back down to Earth. "Oh! And I suppose you think you're a sight for any woman's eyes, with your hair grown shaggy, and your-"

"My hair?"

"-and your scruffy beard, and your dirty clothes! That's right! You heard me!"

The accusations were delivered in sport, for Much was thrilled to see his master so happy.

"Marian seemed to like what she saw," Robin boasted, his grin broadening.

Much's jaw dropped. And then, a slow grin spread across his face as well, as he stared into his master's twinkling eyes.

"What did I tell you?" Much asked, clapping a hand on Robin's shoulder and playfully punching his chest. "I knew Marian would come around! I knew it! Oh, she was mad, but didn't I tell you she couldn't stay mad forever? Didn't I? Of course, Marian being Marian, she'd have to give you a thorough piece of her mind for leaving her, but her heart is yours, Robin. Always has been...always will be! I knew it! Oh! This is wonderful! I suppose we can look forward to seeing a lot more of Marian around here, now that you two have mended your tiff."

A shadow gathered over Robin's brow, and stayed there. "We're not out of the woods yet, Much," he said sadly. "In fact, I'm not at all certain where we stand."

"What do you mean, you're not certain? Didn't you just say-"

"I was mistaken, alright?" Robin snapped, more curtly than he meant to. He turned and strode away, leaving Much to pull at his cap and wonder, "What did I say wrong? Unbelievable!"

...

Lady Cecily sat as gracefully as she could on a fallen tree trunk, her skirts spread prettily around her. She did not go to Robin, but waited for him to come to her. As he approached her at last, she lifted a smiling face to him.

"You cannot know how glad I am to see you," she told him. "I miss you so much while you're away."

"I was only gone an hour or two," Robin said, uncomfortable by the lady's admitted feelings. "Anyway, I'm back now, and I've got some good news for you."

"Please, sit beside me while you tell me. This log has plenty of room, even though it lacks comfort."

Robin sat beside her, saying, "Well then, I trust what I have to say will bring you all the comfort you need."

"Are my lands restored to me?" Cecily asked eagerly.

"Not yet, Sess. Nothing that good. But, I have enlisted the help of a very responsible person, who will find you a safe place to live in no time at all. Just think! One or two more nights in the forest, and then, I believe, you'll have that cozy comfortable bed you've been craving."

Cecily stared stonily in front of her. "You're sending me away?" she asked, with dread.

"Isn't that what you want?" Her unhappy reception of his news confused him.

"No. Not unless you come with me." She turned and grabbed his hands, surprising him and making him feel even more uncomfortable. "Robin, please! We could be so happy together, at the Court of Aquitatine! We could live according to our rank and station! Surely you won't continue to give up that wonderful opportunity, just to pass out a few measly coins to those miserable people."

Robin rose to his feet and stared angrily down at her. "Those so called measly coins help keep those people alive. More to the point, they keep their hope alive, inspiring them to make it through another day, while they wait, just as you and I do, for Richard to return to England and set things right."

"I didn't mean to anger you, Robin! I'm only telling you the truth! You think you're helping, darling, but it's nothing! Nothing much, anyway. The peasants are hardy. Those who aren't strong would most likely die anyway, of sickness, or overwork. The others will only grow stronger through their misfortune."

"You can't mean what you're saying."

"I don't mean to belittle what you're trying to do. But, please, think! Is it truly worth living in these horrible conditions in the forest, risking your life daily, to pass out a few coins or a few bites of food? To peasants!"

"I don't expect you to understand. And you don't need to help any further. As soon as possible, you will leave us, so that you may live 'according to your rank and station.' "

Cecily hated it that Robin was so angry at her. He was stubborn, that she had always known, but she had never seen his anger turned on her before. The only way she knew to regain his affection, not realizing she had never truly enjoyed it, was to make herself as beautiful as possible, under the foul conditions of the forest.

"I'd like to wash my hair," she told him suddenly. "Where is that soap Marian gave us?"

He remained silent, guarding his tongue to prevent him from saying something he would later regret.

"Please, Robin," Cecily pleaded. "I asked you where the soap is. I want to wash my hair. I'd like to make it beautiful again, to please you."

Still, Robin refused to answer.

"Well, if you will not tell me, I suppose I will have to endure it in it's present condition. Even smelling of smoke, and leaves, and such, it's still far lovelier than Marian's cropped mess."

"Utter another word against the woman I lo-" Robin stopped himself, and took several deep breaths, trying to master his temper. He had been planning to threaten Cecily would be made to leave his protection, should she insult Marian again, but his near admission of his feelings for Marian stopped his word flow. "Never insult Marian again," he commanded instead. "Do you hear me?"

Cecily was silent, frightened by his anger. Still, it was passion, aimed directly at her, which might not be all bad. After he calmed down, she could weep, and perhaps he might put his arms around her, and who knew where it might lead?

Robin walked away, but quickly returned, bringing her the soap. "Forgive my temper," he said, coldly. "Enjoy your bath."