The Wayward One - Chapter 3
Title: The Wayward One (Chapter Three)
Author: glorious_clio
Rating: PG13
Warnings: none; pre-series
Summary: Marian stays behind after Robin abruptly breaks their engagement and goes off to the Holy Land. What happens to those left behind? This is not a romance.
Characters: Marian, mentions of Robin, OC's
Disclaimer: I do not hold any ownership over the BBC's version of Robin Hood.
In your world I have no meaning
Though I'm trying hard to understand
And it's my heart that's breaking
Down this long distance line tonight
o0O0o
Robin and Marian were in Nottingham, planning their nuptials. Well, she was planning. He was employing everything in his power to distract her.
They were going over the menu with the head cook of Nottingham castle, a beefy man with an enviable mustache, but not a hair on the top of his head.
"I am employing someone else to make the desserts," Marian said briskly, knowing he would not take offense. He had known her since she was a little girl. She dismissed him; he had work to do and they had taken up enough of his time.
"Marian, can we not find something more... interesting to do?" He brushed a loosened tendril of hair behind her ear, cupping her cheek.
She batted his hand away.
"We have responsibilities; I cannot plan this wedding alone," she reminded him.
"Plan what? Priest - the one in Locksley. Menu? You just finished planning. My father is providing minstrels. I assume you have a dress. Aldith is your witness, Much is mine. You have already agreed to marry me. What is left to plan?"
Marian thought, "Um, flowers..."
"Wildflowers picked the morning of by the village children."
"Oh, er... decorations?"
"Banners," he said simply. Robin kissed her, wasting no more time.
She allowed him to kiss her, enjoyed it even, but kept a wary eye out. They were alone, it was true, but in the Great Hall, and if there was anything true of the Great Hall, it was that it was a high traffic area...
Just as she was about to give herself over to his lips, she heard a door burst open.
She and Robin leaped apart, trying to hide guilty expressions.
"My Lord Sheriff," greeted Robin.
"Father?" Marian questioned.
"I have just sent the messengers. There is to be an emergency Council of Nobles meeting," Sir Edward said distractedly, not really registering who was in the Hall.
Robin had begun arranging the chairs in the Hall in their customary circle.
"Father? What is going on?"
"Oh, thank you, Robin, but I'm sure a page can do that," Sir Edward commented.
"It is no trouble, my Lord." Robin continued.
"Father! What is this?"
Sir Edward turned, as if noticing his daughter for the first time.
"King Henry. He is... he is dead. Richard is to ascend," Sir Edward said sadly. "Long live the King," he added as an afterthought.
Marian sat heavily in a chair that Robin had placed. "Oh," was all that she could manage.
Henry II's reign was far from ideal, but he had been King all her life.
Now there was a new King. How strange.
Robin knelt next to her and took her hand. "Marian, if this is true, I must go to London. Richard will want all his knights to stand in brotherhood."
Marian turned to look into his eyes.
"I promise to be home before the wedding," he smiled at her, but she could see sadness in his eyes.
"I hold you to your word," she told him.
He kissed her cheek.
"I must go find Much and ask him to get us ready for travel. I will be back when my father arrives to attend the Council, but then I must depart for London," he promised Sir Edward.
"Go, young Robin."
Marian said nothing, but her eyes followed Robin out of the Hall. He was as true as his word. The moment the solemn council was over, he kissed Marian tenderly and left for London. She barely had time to slip him one of her riding gloves as a token to carry with him.
And so he was off to London, for an elaborate coronation, and she was left to finish planning their wedding, which Marian could not help but feel would be anticlimactic after the pageantry of the Plantagenets. But there was nothing for it.
A few days later, Marian and Sara were lining her hope chest with lavender and packing her linens when a messenger arrived from Locksley Hall in the form of the Earl's page, Addy.
"What is it?" Marian asked, knowing that Robin had not yet returned.
"It is the Earl, my Lady," Addy said solemnly. "He has taken ill."
"Has Matilda been sent for?"
"Yes, my Lady. He just thought you should know."
"Has a message been sent to Sir Robin?"
"Nay, my Lady. The Earl did not wish to alarm him."
So he thought to alarm her, instead? She was not yet his daughter in law. "Thank you for this news," she said tossing him a coin.
He sketched a bow and went back to his horse.
Marian closed the door behind him and flew up the stairs, immediately to her desk. Sara gave her an odd look, but asked nothing. Robin must know, she thought. The Earl was old, and Robin should leave immediately.
Dear Robin,
I send you my love and my loyalty, but I also am obliged to send grave news. Your father's page, Addy was just here. Your father has taken ill. I do not yet know how ill, but bad enough that I was informed. Your father wishes not to trouble you, as is his way.
Come home.
Lovingly,
Marian
She folded the missive and sealed it, stamping her signet ring in the soft wax.
"Sara!"
"I am right here, Lady Marian, there is no need to shout," Sara replied, setting down the pillowcases she was folding.
"My apologies-"
"What has happened?"
"Earl Geoffrey has taken ill," said Marian simply. "Matilda is with him. I am going to Nottingham to be with my father, and to post this letter to London." Nottingham was closer to Locksley than Knighton was, and Sara knew this full well.
"Shall I prepare your things?"
"I have things enough in my chambers in Nottingham."
"Very good, my Lady."
"Farewell, Sara."
Without another word, and with only a nod at John, Marian was off.
Despite the letter, it was still several days before Robin arrived home, his horse foaming at the mouth, Marian heard. She waited patiently at Nottingham, not wanting to be underfoot at Locksley Hall. Robin would come for her when he could.
Two days later, rather two nights, he burst into Nottingham Castle, calling for her. One of the serving girls rushed up to Marian's chambers to fetch her. It had been pouring down rain all evening, and he was soaked to the bone; his teeth were chattering loudly. It did not stop her from springing into his arms.
"He lives," Robin murmured.
"Praise God," she whispered back. As much as she wanted to be his bride, she did not want to follow his father's corpse into his house. And they were both still so young. Too young be the Earl and Countess of Huntingdon.
She could feel him shivering.
Marian let go. "Come upstairs and dry yourself properly. I will wait in my father's study for you. You have much to tell me, but we cannot have you getting sick now."
"Yes," he agreed (meekly, Marian thought. The Earl's illness must have really scared him).
He did not take long in the chambers he and his father often used. Marian called for some wine to be warmed and brought to them, and any leftovers from supper. She stoked the fire herself, waiting for her own damp gown to dry.
Robin came in, looking much more comfortable (and much dryer). She settled down next to him.
"What of your father?"
"He lives. The fever is broken. There is some color in his cheeks. I asked him if we should postpone the wedding, but he is determined for us to carry it out."
"Ten days," Marian squeezed his arm. "He might be much stronger by then."
"That is my hope. There is something else I must tell you."
"Of the Coronation?" she smiled, eager to hear of London.
"No," Robin said gently. "After I received your letter, I approached his Grace, King Richard and bid him farewell. Before I left, he told me that he was going on a Crusade, and that should I decide to come with, he would happily make me Captain of the King's Guard."
"Robin, you cannot seriously consider..."
He shrugged.
Marian tried a different track, "Much would hate it."
"I would not make him come."
"He would die before he let you go off alone," Marian pointed out.
"I can learn to be a true leader," he argued.
"Your father can teach you that!"
"You are right, of course," Robin sighed.
Marian breathed a sigh of relief.
"I thought you might say that you needed me," he said.
Quietly, Marian responded, "You know that is not true, that I could get along with out you, or any man. But hear this, Robin. It may not be proper for a woman to say, but, I wantyou. And I can give no higher praise than that." She felt herself flush.
They did not linger much longer. He spent the night in Nottingham, then left for Locksley again.
A few days later, the Earl died suddenly.
Marian was still in Nottingham when Much came with the news. He burst into the castle screaming, "Lady Marian!"
Marian had not known what had happened, but she could tell by the look in Much's eyes that Robin needed her. She did not waste time packing anything. She threw herself onto Kay, her own true horse, and rode bareback all the way to Locksley, Much following behind.
She left Kay in the yard and burst without decorum into Robin's Hall.
It truly was his Hall, now, she could not keep herself from thinking.
Robin looked miserable. The staff was also near tears as the scurried back and forth, up the stairs and down again, preparing the body.
No words were spoken between Robin and Marian. She sat down beside him and he crushed her to him. She could feel him trembling with grief. Marian knew no words could help him. Instead she listened as he cried and tried to string words together. She did not try and shush him, just stroked his back soothingly, like she would a hurt child. She cried with him.
Finally, he broke away, and said "What am I to do?"
Marian's heart broke for him.
"Breathe," she said. "Just try and breathe, in through your nose, out through your mouth. I will make the funeral arrangements, and I will postpone our wedding. Do not worry, my Robin. My father will help. For now, just breathe."
He wiped at his tears; he looked like such a little boy with that action. Marian's heart clenched, and she began crying anew. She had loved the Earl, too. And she had so wanted to be Robin's wife, as soon as possible. And now, she had to wait even longer. But it could not be helped.
Marian sat with him the whole night.
The next day, she was busy doing as she had promised. All of the preparations that were to be for the wedding instead went to Locksley for the funeral. The wedding was postponed another two months, for the autumn, and would be a quieter affair.
All was carried out, and Robin could only look at her with sad eyes, but he was terribly grateful. She knew. She always knew.
Or she thought she did.
After the funeral, he surprised her. It was not a good surprise.
He pulled her out of the Hall to the stables, away from the funeral party inside.
"I am leaving," he said.
"So soon?" Marian asked. "Where are you going this time?"
He bit his lip nervously and stroked the tendrils of her hair that had come loose from her elaborate hairstyle.
"The... Crusade," he said with difficulty.
Marian felt the breath catch in her throat. She took a step back, and her hair slid out of his hands.
"Much," she stuttered.
"He is coming with. I told him to stay, but he said no."
She was grasping at straws when she said, "Your manor, your responsibilities!"
"They will keep. I trust Thornton."
Me, she wanted to say. I was wrong. I do need you. But she choked on her own thoughts. She could not form the words.
"I hope... I hope you will wait for me," he said cautiously.
She reached out and slapped him.
He looked at her in shock and saw her clearly, for the first time in a week. "What was that for?"
"You utter fool," she told him. "I have done every thing that was needed around here, for you and now you leave for some ill-advised trip to your death? No, I shall not wait for you. I will not be promised to a corpse. For surely, if you go to that hot, dry place, you will die, Robin. If not your body, your soul. But if you see fit, go. Go, kill in God's name. Slaughter for His Son. But I shall not wait for you."
She turned on her heel and marched into the Hall to her father. No one would suspect her tears now were for Robin, not Earl Geoffrey. For her, it was suddenly a double funeral.
They never even said goodbye.
Author: glorious_clio
Rating: PG13
Warnings: none; pre-series
Summary: Marian stays behind after Robin abruptly breaks their engagement and goes off to the Holy Land. What happens to those left behind? This is not a romance.
Characters: Marian, mentions of Robin, OC's
Disclaimer: I do not hold any ownership over the BBC's version of Robin Hood.
In your world I have no meaning
Though I'm trying hard to understand
And it's my heart that's breaking
Down this long distance line tonight
o0O0o
Robin and Marian were in Nottingham, planning their nuptials. Well, she was planning. He was employing everything in his power to distract her.
They were going over the menu with the head cook of Nottingham castle, a beefy man with an enviable mustache, but not a hair on the top of his head.
"I am employing someone else to make the desserts," Marian said briskly, knowing he would not take offense. He had known her since she was a little girl. She dismissed him; he had work to do and they had taken up enough of his time.
"Marian, can we not find something more... interesting to do?" He brushed a loosened tendril of hair behind her ear, cupping her cheek.
She batted his hand away.
"We have responsibilities; I cannot plan this wedding alone," she reminded him.
"Plan what? Priest - the one in Locksley. Menu? You just finished planning. My father is providing minstrels. I assume you have a dress. Aldith is your witness, Much is mine. You have already agreed to marry me. What is left to plan?"
Marian thought, "Um, flowers..."
"Wildflowers picked the morning of by the village children."
"Oh, er... decorations?"
"Banners," he said simply. Robin kissed her, wasting no more time.
She allowed him to kiss her, enjoyed it even, but kept a wary eye out. They were alone, it was true, but in the Great Hall, and if there was anything true of the Great Hall, it was that it was a high traffic area...
Just as she was about to give herself over to his lips, she heard a door burst open.
She and Robin leaped apart, trying to hide guilty expressions.
"My Lord Sheriff," greeted Robin.
"Father?" Marian questioned.
"I have just sent the messengers. There is to be an emergency Council of Nobles meeting," Sir Edward said distractedly, not really registering who was in the Hall.
Robin had begun arranging the chairs in the Hall in their customary circle.
"Father? What is going on?"
"Oh, thank you, Robin, but I'm sure a page can do that," Sir Edward commented.
"It is no trouble, my Lord." Robin continued.
"Father! What is this?"
Sir Edward turned, as if noticing his daughter for the first time.
"King Henry. He is... he is dead. Richard is to ascend," Sir Edward said sadly. "Long live the King," he added as an afterthought.
Marian sat heavily in a chair that Robin had placed. "Oh," was all that she could manage.
Henry II's reign was far from ideal, but he had been King all her life.
Now there was a new King. How strange.
Robin knelt next to her and took her hand. "Marian, if this is true, I must go to London. Richard will want all his knights to stand in brotherhood."
Marian turned to look into his eyes.
"I promise to be home before the wedding," he smiled at her, but she could see sadness in his eyes.
"I hold you to your word," she told him.
He kissed her cheek.
"I must go find Much and ask him to get us ready for travel. I will be back when my father arrives to attend the Council, but then I must depart for London," he promised Sir Edward.
"Go, young Robin."
Marian said nothing, but her eyes followed Robin out of the Hall. He was as true as his word. The moment the solemn council was over, he kissed Marian tenderly and left for London. She barely had time to slip him one of her riding gloves as a token to carry with him.
And so he was off to London, for an elaborate coronation, and she was left to finish planning their wedding, which Marian could not help but feel would be anticlimactic after the pageantry of the Plantagenets. But there was nothing for it.
A few days later, Marian and Sara were lining her hope chest with lavender and packing her linens when a messenger arrived from Locksley Hall in the form of the Earl's page, Addy.
"What is it?" Marian asked, knowing that Robin had not yet returned.
"It is the Earl, my Lady," Addy said solemnly. "He has taken ill."
"Has Matilda been sent for?"
"Yes, my Lady. He just thought you should know."
"Has a message been sent to Sir Robin?"
"Nay, my Lady. The Earl did not wish to alarm him."
So he thought to alarm her, instead? She was not yet his daughter in law. "Thank you for this news," she said tossing him a coin.
He sketched a bow and went back to his horse.
Marian closed the door behind him and flew up the stairs, immediately to her desk. Sara gave her an odd look, but asked nothing. Robin must know, she thought. The Earl was old, and Robin should leave immediately.
Dear Robin,
I send you my love and my loyalty, but I also am obliged to send grave news. Your father's page, Addy was just here. Your father has taken ill. I do not yet know how ill, but bad enough that I was informed. Your father wishes not to trouble you, as is his way.
Come home.
Lovingly,
Marian
She folded the missive and sealed it, stamping her signet ring in the soft wax.
"Sara!"
"I am right here, Lady Marian, there is no need to shout," Sara replied, setting down the pillowcases she was folding.
"My apologies-"
"What has happened?"
"Earl Geoffrey has taken ill," said Marian simply. "Matilda is with him. I am going to Nottingham to be with my father, and to post this letter to London." Nottingham was closer to Locksley than Knighton was, and Sara knew this full well.
"Shall I prepare your things?"
"I have things enough in my chambers in Nottingham."
"Very good, my Lady."
"Farewell, Sara."
Without another word, and with only a nod at John, Marian was off.
Despite the letter, it was still several days before Robin arrived home, his horse foaming at the mouth, Marian heard. She waited patiently at Nottingham, not wanting to be underfoot at Locksley Hall. Robin would come for her when he could.
Two days later, rather two nights, he burst into Nottingham Castle, calling for her. One of the serving girls rushed up to Marian's chambers to fetch her. It had been pouring down rain all evening, and he was soaked to the bone; his teeth were chattering loudly. It did not stop her from springing into his arms.
"He lives," Robin murmured.
"Praise God," she whispered back. As much as she wanted to be his bride, she did not want to follow his father's corpse into his house. And they were both still so young. Too young be the Earl and Countess of Huntingdon.
She could feel him shivering.
Marian let go. "Come upstairs and dry yourself properly. I will wait in my father's study for you. You have much to tell me, but we cannot have you getting sick now."
"Yes," he agreed (meekly, Marian thought. The Earl's illness must have really scared him).
He did not take long in the chambers he and his father often used. Marian called for some wine to be warmed and brought to them, and any leftovers from supper. She stoked the fire herself, waiting for her own damp gown to dry.
Robin came in, looking much more comfortable (and much dryer). She settled down next to him.
"What of your father?"
"He lives. The fever is broken. There is some color in his cheeks. I asked him if we should postpone the wedding, but he is determined for us to carry it out."
"Ten days," Marian squeezed his arm. "He might be much stronger by then."
"That is my hope. There is something else I must tell you."
"Of the Coronation?" she smiled, eager to hear of London.
"No," Robin said gently. "After I received your letter, I approached his Grace, King Richard and bid him farewell. Before I left, he told me that he was going on a Crusade, and that should I decide to come with, he would happily make me Captain of the King's Guard."
"Robin, you cannot seriously consider..."
He shrugged.
Marian tried a different track, "Much would hate it."
"I would not make him come."
"He would die before he let you go off alone," Marian pointed out.
"I can learn to be a true leader," he argued.
"Your father can teach you that!"
"You are right, of course," Robin sighed.
Marian breathed a sigh of relief.
"I thought you might say that you needed me," he said.
Quietly, Marian responded, "You know that is not true, that I could get along with out you, or any man. But hear this, Robin. It may not be proper for a woman to say, but, I wantyou. And I can give no higher praise than that." She felt herself flush.
They did not linger much longer. He spent the night in Nottingham, then left for Locksley again.
A few days later, the Earl died suddenly.
Marian was still in Nottingham when Much came with the news. He burst into the castle screaming, "Lady Marian!"
Marian had not known what had happened, but she could tell by the look in Much's eyes that Robin needed her. She did not waste time packing anything. She threw herself onto Kay, her own true horse, and rode bareback all the way to Locksley, Much following behind.
She left Kay in the yard and burst without decorum into Robin's Hall.
It truly was his Hall, now, she could not keep herself from thinking.
Robin looked miserable. The staff was also near tears as the scurried back and forth, up the stairs and down again, preparing the body.
No words were spoken between Robin and Marian. She sat down beside him and he crushed her to him. She could feel him trembling with grief. Marian knew no words could help him. Instead she listened as he cried and tried to string words together. She did not try and shush him, just stroked his back soothingly, like she would a hurt child. She cried with him.
Finally, he broke away, and said "What am I to do?"
Marian's heart broke for him.
"Breathe," she said. "Just try and breathe, in through your nose, out through your mouth. I will make the funeral arrangements, and I will postpone our wedding. Do not worry, my Robin. My father will help. For now, just breathe."
He wiped at his tears; he looked like such a little boy with that action. Marian's heart clenched, and she began crying anew. She had loved the Earl, too. And she had so wanted to be Robin's wife, as soon as possible. And now, she had to wait even longer. But it could not be helped.
Marian sat with him the whole night.
The next day, she was busy doing as she had promised. All of the preparations that were to be for the wedding instead went to Locksley for the funeral. The wedding was postponed another two months, for the autumn, and would be a quieter affair.
All was carried out, and Robin could only look at her with sad eyes, but he was terribly grateful. She knew. She always knew.
Or she thought she did.
After the funeral, he surprised her. It was not a good surprise.
He pulled her out of the Hall to the stables, away from the funeral party inside.
"I am leaving," he said.
"So soon?" Marian asked. "Where are you going this time?"
He bit his lip nervously and stroked the tendrils of her hair that had come loose from her elaborate hairstyle.
"The... Crusade," he said with difficulty.
Marian felt the breath catch in her throat. She took a step back, and her hair slid out of his hands.
"Much," she stuttered.
"He is coming with. I told him to stay, but he said no."
She was grasping at straws when she said, "Your manor, your responsibilities!"
"They will keep. I trust Thornton."
Me, she wanted to say. I was wrong. I do need you. But she choked on her own thoughts. She could not form the words.
"I hope... I hope you will wait for me," he said cautiously.
She reached out and slapped him.
He looked at her in shock and saw her clearly, for the first time in a week. "What was that for?"
"You utter fool," she told him. "I have done every thing that was needed around here, for you and now you leave for some ill-advised trip to your death? No, I shall not wait for you. I will not be promised to a corpse. For surely, if you go to that hot, dry place, you will die, Robin. If not your body, your soul. But if you see fit, go. Go, kill in God's name. Slaughter for His Son. But I shall not wait for you."
She turned on her heel and marched into the Hall to her father. No one would suspect her tears now were for Robin, not Earl Geoffrey. For her, it was suddenly a double funeral.
They never even said goodbye.