"It's true, milady," Much told a sad faced Marian, on her way to Locksley Manor to have dinner with Gisbourne and his guest, Lambert. "Djaq made the whole thing up, between her and Robin! She told us she led you to believe there was a relationship when there isn't one! Well, she told Robin. But I was standing right beside him, so you could say she told me, too."
"So, Djaq means no more to him than any other member of his gang?"
"Less than some...myself, for instance! But that's right! We all thought she was a boy at first, when she was locked in that cart with all the other Saracen slaves expected to work down the sheriff's mine. By the time we learned she wasn't a lad, she was already one of the lads, so, you see, she's a lad, to Robin, and to the rest of us. Remind me to ask her why she tried to fool you, Marian."
"I suspect she was meddling. Trying to force me to admit to something that simply doesn't hold true any more."
"What? I don't understand."
"Never mind then, Much. I need to go."
"WHAT? You mean, you're riding off to Gisbourne, when you just learned that Robin...?"
"Robin what, Much? Your information doesn't change anything."
"But, but, but...!"
"Goodbye."
"Unbelievable! I can't believe you!"
"What?"
"You and Robin have...you have...you have the deepest, best, most wonderful feelings for each other, and you're throwing them all away! Unbelievable!"
"Had, Much. A very long time ago."
"I'm not saying anything! I'm not saying anything! But, if I had someone as special to me as Robin is to you, I wouldn't go throwing her away, just because I'm proud and stubborn, which I'm not, I'm proud to say! Well, maybe not proud... Grateful! Yes, that's better! I'm grateful to say, I'm not proud. Or stubborn. Like you. And Robin. There! I've said it!"
Biting her lips, Marian swung herself onto her saddle. Then, breathing a sorrowful sigh, she looked down upon Much and said, "Robin always says you mean well, and I'm sure you do. And if you ever do find someone special, Much, I'm sure she'll treasure you, as you deserve. But I need to go now. Guy is not a man to be kept waiting."
"But, but, but...! He won't hurt you, will he, milady?"
"I can handle him, Much. Don't worry about me."
"You sound just like my master! Wake up, Marian, I mean, milady! You know you two belong together!"
"Goodbye, Much," she told him, fighting back tears.
Steering Vesper to face toward Locksley, Marian almost shivered as Much's final pleading words cut right through her.
"He speaks your name, in his dreams, Marian! When he's not having nightmares remembering Acre, that Hell on Earth, he's calling out your name, or murmuring it, in a voice full of longing! You ought to hear him! He might have given you up to fight for the king, and for God, to recover Jerusalem, but he never forgot you, Marian!"
Much's revelations were too much for her to handle. Without another word, she dug her heels into her horse's ribs and was off, trying to put as much distance between herself and the truth as she was putting between herself and the man who was proclaiming that truth.
If it were only true, what then? She couldn't desert her father! Besides, it wasn't. Robin would have told her himself. He certainly had plenty of opportunities to do so.
She hated crying, and fought back her tears, struggling to put Much's declarations out of her mind. She needed to keep her wits about her, when facing Gisbourne. She needed to be careful of her tongue, and stay alert, watching and listening for anything that might indicate an evil scheme of the sheriff's, so she could stop it.
Recalling Lambert's presence at dinner, Marian breathed a sigh of relief. It would be easier, in her present state of mind and raw nerves, not to have to dine alone with Guy. Somehow, she would ask Lambert about the mine, as she'd promised Robin she would.
Her heart felt heavy, as she remembered the sadness in Robin's eyes when he'd asked her about the mine. All he wanted was to help others, and he looked so beaten down, so tired, and hungry! The sheriff had turned the people against him, yet he wouldn't give up, sacrificing everything for their welfare.
Setting her chin, Marian vowed she would do whatever she could to win back the people's love for the man who was their help and their hero.