The first rays of sunlight had just begun to pluck at the edge of nights inky darkness as Marian Fitzwalter gently closed the door. The small village was still, not even the maid who milked the cows was awake yet. Marian lifted her hood up over her blond hair, then retrieved the basket she had hidden in one of the bushes the afternoon before.
Quietly she crept past houses, lest she rouse their sleeping inhabitants. Her father had spent the night in Nottingham on business, which had allowed Marian to sneak out of the house. But if any of his tenants were to see their Lord's daughter sneaking away at the break of dawn, then it would surely get back to her father. That would lead to awkward questions. Questions which Marian couldn't answer.
As the sun began to rise on the horizon Marian trudged across the open fields, the hem of her cloak and dress were wet with dew. It would have been far easier and quicker to have ridden, but there was no way that she could have sneaked out of the village on horseback. Besides a horse would have betrayed her noble status to any passer by, and Marian could not risk being discovered. As she wondered through the fields, basket in hand, the casual observer would only see a woman from the village going to collect herbs or mushrooms.
Eventually the trees of Sherwood forest appeared in the distance. Marian's heart leapt at the very sight of them, it wouldn't be much longer now.
To a passing traveller one tree in this forest would have seemed like any other, yet Marian didn't break her stride as she reached the forests edge. She had trod this path enough times to know her way almost instinctively.
As she weaved in and out of the trees, Marian couldn't help but think how much everything had changed. The first time she had come hear, months before, it had been autumn, and the forest floor had been a sea of brown and orange leaves that had crunched beneath her horses hooves as she rode.
Autumn had given way to winter, the trees standing as dark sentinels against the pure white snow. Marian had had to battle winds and snow drifts to make it this far.
But now the trees basked in the spring sunshine, their great green leaves unfurling as blue bells sprung up among their roots. It suddenly all seemed so alive.
Nor was it just the forest that had changed. Marian could scarcely recognise that women who had ridden into the forest what seemed like a life time ago. She had been terrified the first time she had set foot in this place. She had heard the rumours of the outlaws who lived her, that it was not safe for noble folk to tread its paths. Had it not been for that sudden thunder storm, and her horse bolting, carrying her into the forest, the woman she was would never have dared venture in. Now it called to her with a song as sweet as a morning lark.
"Good Morning Mistress Fitzwalter" A jovial voice called out to her from among the trees.
Marian jumped with fright, "Dear God Will! You scared me half to death!"
Will Scarlett emerged from the trees, bow in hand. "Sorry Mistress" he said, though he grinned from ear to ear, pleased that he had been able to sneak up on her.
Marian lowered her hood, revealing her long blond hair. It didn't matter now if she was seen, being seen with a known outlaw would be enough to condemn a noble lady or a peasant girl. Besides, Will's keen ears would hear anybody sneaking up on them.
"How are you Will?" Marian asked the young man.
"I'm well mistress, or as well as any of us can be at any rate." He smiled warmly at her. Though Marian thought there was something fixed about his normally care free grin. Looking at him more closely she noticed that his scarlett coat was frayed at the cuffs and collar, his normally carefully placed hair was tangled and dishevelled.
"Are you sure Will? You don't seem yourself." Marian asked with genuine concern. She was fond of the roguish Master Scarlett. She had always seen him as someone much like herself. Though the young man had never spoken of his childhood, his speech and easy charm spoke of a privileged upbringing. The sword at his waist could have been stolen from a knight, but the skill with with Will wielded spoke of long hours of practice. Like her he had found himself cast out from the world he had known, or had at least fled from it. Yet he had always been cheerful and merry in his new life, a happiness that Marian herself aspired to. But to see him so despondent fuelled her own doubts.
Will smiled "It has been a long winter, that's all. Now that spring is here, our fortunes shall rise."
"I'm sure they will." Marian smiled at him, trying to sound encouraging. She fished inside of her basket "In the meantime perhaps this will help" She offered him an oak cake.
The young man took it gratefully, "Mistress you are an angel sent from heaven!"
Marian laughed "High praise indeed Master Scarlett."
"Well earned Mistress Fiztgerald." He smiled at her knowingly, "but it is not me you have come here to see."
Marian felt herself blush, but Will just smiled kindly at her. "You will find my cousin in camp."
"Thank you Will."
The outlaws camp was another fifteen minuets walk through the increasingly dense forest. Yet even as the path grew more difficult Marian's heart soared.
From deeper in the forest she could make out the sound of voices and laughed. The unmistakable deep boom of Little John's voice echoing beneath the tree tops. Marian headed towards the sound, her heart beating faster in her chest, it wasn't much further now.
Then movement to her right brought her to a stop. A figure appeared from amongst the undergrowth. The figures hood was pulled low, but Marian recognised the green tunic and knee high boots.
"Robyn" Marian breathed the name.
Then the figure was gone, disappearing back into the undergrowth.
"Wait" Marian called "wait!"
She hurried up the slope. She felt suddenly breathless, though whether that was from the sudden of exertion or from the sight of Robyn, she wouldn't have like to guess.
As she reached the top of the slope she caught sight of Robyn again, striding through the trees, cloaking billowing.
Marian pulled up her skirts with her free hand as she hurried after the outlaw. "Robyn, wait!" She called. But Robyn kept walking.
As the trees began to thin, Marian came to a stop. In front of her the forest gave way to a sun drench clearing. It was here that Robyn Hood stood waiting, facing away from Marian, staring up at the sky as though drinking in the sun's warmth.
Marian placed her basket on the ground. She knew this place, knew it well. She and Robyn had been here more then once before. Marian ran her tongue over her bottom lip as snatches of memory raced though her mind. Memories of flesh pressing against flesh, of soft moans of pleasure, of sheer undiluted bliss. Something deep inside Marian squirmed at the very thought of it.
She walked out into the clearing, not saying a words, but then she didn't need to. Nothing moved in Sherwood Forest without Robyn Hood knowing.
"How are things in Nottingham?" The outlaw asked lightly, still facing away from her.
"Tense" Marian relied "the people are angry, but the sheriff's men are everywhere. They are sure that Robyn Hood and his men are getting help from people in town."
Robyn laughed softly. "So he's still sticking to that story then?"
"Apparently the good sheriff can't handle the thought that of being thwarted at every turn by a woman" Marian replied.
The figure lowered her hood and turned to face Marian, revealing a long narrow face with high cheek bones. The hardness of her tanned face tempered by her soft brown eyes and button nose.
Robyn's brown hair brushed the tops of her shoulders as she shook her head "men are such fools. He thinks convincing everyone that Robyn Hood is a man is going to make it easier for them to catch me?"
