If we stand side by side (all night)
There's a chance we'll get by (and it's alright)
And I'll know that you'll be live
In my heart 'til the day that I die

'Cause you were born to be my baby
And baby, I was made to be your man

(Song is Born to be my baby by Bon Jovi)

He had been conceived during a storm, on a night when rage and desire had prevailed. And he was born in the heart of lightning, and it seemed that the storms would be destined to rule his future.

A terrible slash of lightning tore across the sky, and Mauve, Queen of Sherwood, gasped out and screamed. Pain, swift and never ending, seized her. She bit her lip trying not to scream out too much. She knew that this birth would go well, she thought to ease her mind. She didn't want to frighten her husband, the king Conall. The pain seemed to grow stronger and peaked and would then slowly begin to fade, and she could take the time to breathe. She closed her eyes and smiled, remembering the night this precious child had been made.

They had ridden too far and had been caught out far from the walls of the town, out by the caves in the far part of the forest, when the storm had crested. She had been upset with Conall, over what she could not recall now. But anger had never been a deterrent to them, nor was it that night. Breathless, fierce words had merely quickened the intensity that inflamed their passion.

She could remember it all so well. He had yelled something, then laughed and quickly brought her into his arms. She had also yelled back at him, but the argument was quickly gone the second his lips had landed on hers. In the fury of that storm, they had landed on the ground, and together in that cave in the forest, while the storm raged around them, they had created the life that was at this moment trying to come into the world.

"Oh dead God!" Mauve screamed again as another pain seized her, followed by fear. It had been so hard for her to have their firstborn, David. She had prayed that this second child would come more easily. But now she burned again, the pain feeling as if it would cut her in half.

She felt her mother's gently touch upon her brow,"Why, Mother?" she whispered. "Why must it be so hard?"

Allana smiled softly at her daughter as she tried to hide her fear, "Tis not easy, love, to give life to the cubs of such a Lion." Allana looked up. He was there, in the doorway, the Lion of Norway, the King of Locksley. He glanced at her and at Mauve, and then the great, towering blonde king made his way to his beloved's side.

"I am here, my Queen. Fight for me, fight for me once again. Give me a second son."

She smiled. He thought of her fragile beauty and of the strength beneath it. Her eyes were a deep blue, as boundlessly rich as the strength inside her, the strength that had entrapped his own heart. That strength that would belong to all their children.

She held tightly to his hand, glad that he had come to be at her side. "A girl this time?" She managed to laugh.

He shook his head slowly, "Nay, another son."

"A son?"

"Aye, for Declan told me so."

"Oh!" She gasped, but he was beside her and she didn't scream again. She locked her finger with his and drew her strength from him. A new pain seized her like a heated brand, and she gasped with relief for the babe had fought his way near birth. "He comes!" she cried.

Conall had been with her when their first child was born, and he knew to hold her tightly, once, and then again. And suddenly she laughed and cried and he kissed her, for she had expelled the baby, and Allana assured her that it was indeed another son.

"And is he beautiful?" she demanded.

"Beautiful beyond belief," Conall assured her. Mauve's woman quickly wiped the baby and handed him to his mother. Mauve's eyes widened at the sheer size of the infant. "More blonde hair!" she whispered and Brian laughed, kissing her. "I fear you will have to wait for a daughter, love." He teased her.

She groaned in mock protest. "You speak to me at this moment of more children?"

"As soon as it's physically possible," he whispered back, laughing and they both felt warm. He thought that their love was so good, it was everything in life. Love was indeed life.

"And his eyes-"

"Blue, too, like his sire's," Allana said with a sigh. She winked at Conall, and they continued to look down upon their babe.

The babe lay between his mother and father, with his grandmother looking on. His eyes were alert, his fist pounded against the sheets, his mouth was open, and his voice was in high command. "Ah, this one is demanding," Conall said with a laugh.

"Like his sire," Mauve said. She was in completely in love with her son. She settled back against the pillows and started to nurse her son. Conall stroked her hair a few times thinking how lucky he was to have found his soulmate. He noted that Mauve's eyelashes were closing every so much. He started to take their also sleeping son now from his wife, but Mauve woke up quickly, she wrapped her arms around their son quickly, "No, don't take him. Not yet." She whispered, and he knew that she was afraid. Not so long ago, after their first born child, David, had been taken away by one of Conall's enemy. Conall had killed him for taking their child from them, but Mauve had never gotten over the fear that David, and now their newest child might be taken from her once again.

"It's me, my beloved," Conall assure his wife. "Let me take him, so that your women might clean you up and your mother help you bathe."

The smile she offered him was beautiful and trustful. "Robin," she murmured. "He is to be Robin."

Conall was pleased with her choice of a name, "Robin," he agreed softly.

He carried their newborn babe to the window and stared down at their son. The infant's hair was thick, and his eyes open were a pure blue.

"You'll be one to please," Conall murmured.

"A fine Viking Warrior indeed," came a new voice.

Conall started and stared hard at the ancient old man who had entered the room. Declan. A man both ancient and ageless. He had served Allana's father, the King of Ireland, he was her loyal man and therefore Conall's as well.

Declan could move like smoke through time and space it seemed. He had come from his home in the forest, though no one had sent for him. He had known that Robin would be born this day. The lightning crashed just then, and its light fell upon the babe, and he seemed to glow in his father's arms.

"A Viking?" Conall grinned and shook his head, indicating his sleeping wife upon the bed. "Don't say that too loudly, his mother would not like the sound of it."

Declan touched the boy's face. The baby grabbed his finger and squeezed hard.

"David is Irish, like his mother. Through and through. One day, Lord of the Lions, he will follow his sire and make a fine King of Ireland. But this one, this Robin, you have given him a Warrior's name that he will need in life."

Conall frowned. He sensed some warning from the Druid Declan, and he held his newborn son closer against him, as if he could somehow protect the boy from the future.

"Speak up!"

"You know better than to growl at me. This child, is yours. A Viking Warrior like his sire, he will ride the seas of the world. He will know the art of battle and his battle arm will parry any assault of steel or otherwise. Yet with the power of his skill of his mind and that of his sword arm, he will rule many. He-"

"He what?" Conall's voice was tight, for though he already loved the child in his arms, Robin was a second son. For him to rule after him, meant danger for his brother, David.

Declan, sensing Conall's fears, shook his head. "His destiny lies in other lands. He will face very grave dangers."

"But he will overcome those dangers!" Conall insisted.

Declan stared at Conall. They did not lie to one another.

"He is ruled by Odin. He will ride the sea to great thunder and storms, and so will the tempest enter into his heart and into the world where he will seek his true destiny. When he is grown, there will be darkness...but-"

"But what?"

"There will be a light too." Declan's face was grave. "Aye, he will be much like his sire. Danger will follow him, for the passion of his nature, but..."

"But what?" Conall demanded.

Declan smiled at last, though his eyes remained solemn. "Train him well. Train him to know how to protect him and those around him. Make his sword arm strong and his hearing sharp. As he goes through life, he will meet a terrible for."

Conall looked down at his son who was looking at Declan as if he understood every word he spoke.

"He has been born with honor and courage. Give him wisdom, my lord. Then set him free, for he must, like his father, find his own heart."

Conall was frowning, "Stop being cryptic."

"I don't mean to be, my lord. I give you what I can see. I see him in victory. And like his sire before him, he too, will meet a woman with such beauty and fire inside her to match his. She will challenge him at every turn. She will bring danger, and yet she will also bring salvation. She will be a passionate creature. Triumph will fall well within their reach, if-"

"If?" Conall asked.

"If they are able to find one another." Declan answered.

"But will they?" Conall demanded.

"They are fated to be together. She will be his match in every way. Their children could rule wisely. But there are others that will conspire to keep them apart."

"Where is this woman who is fated to be his match?" Conall demanded.

"Far from here. I don't know where at this moment, but if these two shall meet. There will be such a roar from the fates, one where good will prevail over this evil. One where lands will be joined. If your son meets his soulmate, his heart will be united with this one woman, forever."

Declan smiled and walked away slowly, leaving his lord to spend time with his newborn son. Conall looked down at his son, "Find her, Robin. Find this one who will evidently fight you, but will love you with her whole being."

Declan walked down to his room, saying out loud as he did so, "The future is theirs, and it will be an interesting duel. To see if the new Lion can tame the Vixen, or," he smiled as he continued his stroll, "if the Vixen can tame the Lion."