Marian hadn't felt so happy in years, as she felt tonight sitting beside Robin in his forest camp.
Robin was a perfect host, polite, charming, funny, sincere, attending to her every need. And all the while, the smile on his face and the glow in his eyes when he looked at her, told her she'd been wrong in thinking his feelings for her didn't run deep.
"Be careful," she warned her heart. And then, "I don't care! If I'm a fool for loving him so hopelessly, so be it! I just mustn't let him see, is all."
And so, unsuccessfully, she tried to hide her feelings.
The venison was delicious, the wine superb, but Marian barely tasted it, so transported was she by the depths of Robin's handsome blue eyes, the incandescence of his smile, and the warm stirrings within her from the golden tones of his voice.
Robin had said that he wanted her to "truly get to know his men," and she felt it was time she gave them a chance, rather than judge them so harshly.
Much, of course, she'd known from childhood, and she was pleased that he was silently performing his role as servant, working hard to help make his beloved master's dinner a success. Yet she worried for him, too, for Much, who loved to eat, hadn't sat down with the rest of them to enjoy the feast he'd worked so hard to prepare.
"Aren't you hungry, Much?" she asked, kindly.
"Me? Hungry? Oh! Well, yes! But I need to make certain you have everything you need first, milady, before I-"
"Sit down, Much," Robin said smiling, aware for the first time that Much was still working. "I'll take care of our guest."
"Thank you!"
Luckily for Marian's ears, Much didn't begin to chatter endlessly on, he was so happily engaged in stuffing his mouth full of venison.
Marian turned her attention to Djaq, fascinated by the pretty young Saracen woman who lived in the forest with a group of men, and fought beside them, fearlessly. She found her to be quiet, sincere, highly intelligent, yet possessing a sense of fun that could give even Allan a run for his money. She found that she liked her.
"May I ask you a question?" she ventured, hoping not to offend her. "Do you miss your home, and want to return?"
"I do not want to go back, while the fighting rages on," Djaq replied. "My family is gone, and so, I make my home here, alongside my friends, who are my family now."
"Are you happy?" Marian wondered.
Djaq did not hesitate. "I am happy to help the poor who need us. I have never done as much good as I do now, under Robin's leadership. These are good men, and yes, I can honestly tell you that I am happy."
"You have a purpose," Marian realized, understanding.
" 'Let yours be the doing of all good deeds.' "
Marian watched, uncomfortably, as Djaq's eyes met and held Robin's in mutual understanding and regard. "Pardon?" she asked, hating how weak her voice sounded.
To her surprise, Robin took one of her hands in his and began gently stroking its top with his thumb. Looking deeply into her eyes, as if he were imparting something really important, he told her, "It's from the Quran. A saying my men and I try to live by. I think you do, too."
The touch of his hand and the intimacy in his eyes and voice made speech difficult for Marian.
Between bites, Much at last spoke up. "That doesn't mean we don't still try to 'Love our God with our whole heart, and love our neighbor as ourselves.' Depending, of course, who that neighbor is."
"And do you still try to 'Love thine enemy?' " Marian teased him.
"WHAT?" Much exploded. "Surely, we don't have to...Unbelievable! Do we, master? Please tell me, we're not commanded to...?"
"I'm afraid it's true, Much," Robin grinned at him. Turning grim, he added, "Though it takes a better man than I, to love-"
He broke off, remembering his promise to Marian, not to mention Gisbourne's name.
To break the tension she felt her words had caused, Marian turned her attention toward Little John. Robin still held her hand in his.
"We've met before," she said to the giant. "Do you remember?"
Everyone looked at John, wondering.
John had not been drinking wine, but ale loosened his lips. "The lass struck me down with my own staff," he explained, in good humor. "A strong arm she has."
Wide eyed and laughing, Robin looked to Marian to explain.
"He tried to rob me, he and his friend, while you were on Crusade," she told everyone.
"Roy," Little John clarified with affection, almost past hurting for the brutal death of the man who had been like a son to him. "The lass rode alone into our forest, then fell in the stream, in winter, and I fished her out. She thanked me by knocking me senseless."
"So, you see, I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself," Marian told Robin, proudly.
"I can't believe a big brute like John let a woman get the best of him!" Allan snorted with laughter. "If I'd been along, that wouldn'ta happened!"
"Don't be so sure," Marian warned him, smiling. "You shouldn't underestimate me."
She was having a marvelous time. Without thinking, she squeezed Robin's hand, gazing fondly into his eyes.
Stay with me, Marian, Robin was thinking, gazing longingly back at her. Stay with me, and be my love.
But he knew she wouldn't, not even if he begged her on bended knee. Her father needed her, and her father would always come first.
They were alike in so many ways, he realized, thinking again how perfectly designed they were for one another. Her duty toward her father wasn't so different from his, toward his king, that had driven them apart in the first place.