Chapter 3 enjoy people :)

Chapter 3

Knighton – April, 1188

It had been six months since the king had left for his crusade, taking many of the younger generation of men with him. Marian was sat at the table checking the ledgers of Knighton, her father had been extremely busy with Nottingham since the king left he had been treading on eggs shells to keep Prince John happy, a task that was not easily done. Marian could see the anguish on her father's face. "Father is everything alright?"

"Yes, I have sorted everything so I can now take back the ledgers give them to me. Now!" He growled.

"Excuse me, but I did you a favour and you treat me with disrespect. How dare you?" She said slamming down the ledgers before him. "Don't you ever ask me for anything ever again." She grabbed her cloak and headed out toward her horse.

She rode into Sherwood through familiar tracks and over fallen trees; she stopped at a familiar spot, the fallen tree over the river. She smiled at many memories of this fallen tree over the river, then her face turned to sorrow when she remembered that the boy that she had sat here with so many times was gone, and she was completely on her own. She was going to turn 18 in a few months, many of the noble's daughters she knew of were already married and with child. She took her boots off and pulled herself onto the log; she walked across and sat in the middle staring down into the water. "Oh Robin, why did you have to leave for a crusade? Like every other man in the country, you take up arms and follow your king." She sighed and picked bark of the tree, threw it into the river and watched it float away. "Crusader fever hey," she sighed throwing another piece. "Just like every other young man." Once again she threw bark into the river, a tear released from her eye and she quickly wiped it away, she chided herself, she had said no more tears and she had meant it.
She got up from the log put her boots back on and jumped down, she collected her horse from the water's edge and rode in the direction of Knighton, feeling calmer she knew she could face her father without screaming at him. She stopped her horse, and turned in the opposite direction, towards Locksley, she hadn't been to visit John Carty in a while, she wanted to check Locksley was ok and that he was ok. He was also getting older more frail, he tired easily and she rarely saw him leave Locksley.

Locksley

She rode into the stables and put her horse in the stall she had always had since coming on regular visits. Robin had taken his biggest horse, Alcott with him for him to ride and Much had taken Mason. There were 2 horses left, Robin's hunting horse and John's horse, she handed each an apple before noticing the back door of the stable was open. She walked through and saw John lying on the floor.

"John!" She shouted running across the yard to him. "John!" She gently touched his arm. "Thornton!" She screamed trying to get the attention of the house.

"Marian is that you?" John's voice was deathly quiet.

"John it is me. It's Marian." She gently rolled him over so he was lying on his back. "Thornton!" She shouted once more. She saw him run from the house and over to them.

"Master! Master Carty. Are you ok?" Thornton asked standing over Marian.

"Thornton help me get him inside. Send Mary for a physician." Marian said supporting John as did Thornton.

"Please that is not necessary." John had regained volume to his voice yet still sounded in pain.

"You do not just pass out on the floor for no reason." Marian insisted. "We will put you to bed.

Marian sat by John's bed side she gently patted a damp cloth on his forehead. "Marian please, I am fine." John insisted pushing her hand away.

"I do not call passing out fine." She sighed. "The physician said that you have an access of blood, so he made a small cut and took some blood out. He has ordered you several days of bed rest."

"See nothing serious." He smiled and Marian nodded.

"I am just worried about you that is all."

"And you need not,"

"I am still not sure." She sighed again.

"Please go home, get some rest you can come back tomorrow." He said taking the cloth from her hand and putting it in the bowl. "Go on."

"I will be back in the morning."

"I look forward to it." He smiled as she got up and left the room.