"Take Maggie back to the forest," Robin ordered Allan.
"Aren't you comin'?" Allan asked.
"Not yet. I need to sort things out with Marian first."
Robin tried to hide his anger toward Maggie, sprung from the stupid, hurtful lie she had told Marian. Reminding himself the young woman had actually meant well but had only been confused, he conquered his emotion and bid Allan a friendly farewell. But Allan wasn't quite ready to leave yet.
"Say, Robin, what if Maggie doesn't go back to Sherwood?" he asked. "What if I take her back to Gropecunt Street instead?"
Robin studied the young woman seriously. "Is that where you want to go?" he asked her, his kind eyes filled with concern. "You don't have to lead that life anymore, Maggie."
"Aw, I'm used to it," she quickly replied. "It's easy money, lyin' on your back, when your customer innit twisting you up in some other God help you position. Did I just make you blush? Damn! Wait till the other girls hear, I made Robin Hood blush!"
Robin had indeed blushed. He felt full of sympathy for Maggie and wanted to continue sheltering her in the forest, for he couldn't understand why she might prefer her other way of life to living honestly, even among "outlaws." But Allan understood.
"Maggie says it'll be safe for her to go back to Gropecunt Street now, and I think she's right," Allan explained. "The sheriff's not gonna remember what she looks like! And he's sure as hell not gonna visit her there, not with his fancies leanin' in a different direction." Allan chuckled, a bit uncomfortably. It was always pleasant sport to laugh at Vaisey, but none of the outlaws felt comfortable discussing the rumors of Vaisey's leanings.
Robin looked sadly at Maggie, wishing he could better protect her. "If it's what you truly want to do," he agreed, "then I suppose this is goodbye."
"Goodbye," Maggie said brightly. "For a snotty nosed lord, you're not half bad." Pointing at Marian's bedroom window, she added, "I hope you can get her to forgive you."
"I hope so, too," Robin sighed. Putting on a gentle smile, he continued. "And Maggie, if you're ever in trouble, just make your way into Sherwood. My men and I will find you, and help you in any way we can."
"Thanks. But I have a feelin' I'll be seein' plenty more of Allan, won't I, Duckie?"
"Only to check in and make sure you're still safe, of course," Allan lied smoothly. "Ready to go, Maggie? Come on, then. I'll see you back at camp, Robin. Don't let Marian push you out her window. You might fall on your family jewels, and you wouldn't want to damage those!"
Luckily for Allan, Robin's head was filled with so many thoughts of Marian, he hadn't paid attention to Allan's words, nor to his following conversation with Maggie.
"Aw, he won't be needin' 'em anyway," Maggie chortled. "Not if Her Ladyship won't never forgive him!"
"There's plenty of other women in the world, Maggie," Allan told her.
"Like Her High and Mightiness? Naw, there innit no other one for him, I can tell. Now, take me back home. I wanna show the girls my new dress."