Fic - "Birthday" - Robin Hood
Title: Birthday
Rating: K
Author: radiotardislive
Summary: Set pre-series 1, when Robin is a young boy. Mathilda helps Robin get ready for Marian's birthday feast, no matter how resistant her young charge is to having a bath...
Pairings: Slight Robin/Marian, because how could I resist? :D
"Master Robin! Master Robin!" Mathilda shook her head, her arms folded across her chest, as she stood in the doorway of Locksley Hall. Her young charge was forever disappearing off with Marian or Much, either to play soldiers or to invent and carry out some new mischievous game.
"Master Robin!" She bellowed once again, and this time, her call was answered.
"Coming, Mathilda," shouted the young boy, and Mathilda soon saw two boys trudging around the side of the hall, their clothes sopping wet and their hair plastered to their foreheads.
"What have you been doing? You're soaking!" She put a hand on Robin's shoulder to feel the wet material.
Much, honest as ever, felt it was his duty to explain, for Robin certainly wouldn't, standing by his side as he usually did, a grin on his face. "Robin dared me to swim to the bottom of the pond."
Mathilda looked horrified. "But the pond is so deep! You could have drowned!"
"Oh, we wouldn’t have drowned, Mathilda. I can swim like a fish; Father says so." Robin puffed his chest out proudly.
"That as may be, but he'll still whip you both if he finds out."
Much shuffled around, focusing his gaze on the floor, whilst Robin looked up at her with wide eyes. Sadly, he had learnt the charm of his eyes, and how to put such an ability to use many years ago, and so he was not surprised when Mathilda simply shook her head again, and huffed loudly. "Come along then, Robin, you need to get washed and dressed."
"I am washed," he moaned, as he always did at the mention of a bath, "I've just been in the pond."
"Even more reason why you need a proper wash," she instructed, and gave him a nudge towards the door. "You'd better get home, Much."
"All right. Bye, Robin."
"Bye." Robin was still grumbling to himself, glaring up at his nurse maid, as Much turned and made his way back to the main part of the village where he lived. His mother, God rest her soul, had died several winters back, but he still had a father, who although often ill, worked on Lord Locksley's land. The two men shared a close friendship, for they had both lost their wives when their boys were very young, and so Much and Robin had grown up together, and Much's father was often a guest at Locksley Hall. It was expected that when Much and Robin were older, Much would become Robin's manservant, though in the boys' opinion they would always remain close friends as they were now.
With Much making his way homewards, Mathilda closed the door, and ushered Robin towards the stairs. "Have you forgotten why you are getting ready to go out, Robin? It is Marian's birthday today!"
At the mention of his friend's name, Robin perked up. "I forgot, since father has banned me from seeing her for such a long time." He gave an exaggerated sigh.
Mathilda looked amused, as they reached the top of the stairs. "Robin, two days is not a long time."
"It is to me," he protested, and gave another doleful sigh.
The two children had been banned from seeing each other until Marian's birthday feast, on account of their most recent scrape. They had stayed out all day, and had refused to come home when instructed. Therefore, they had managed to get themselves locked out of Nottingham Castle, where Edward and Marian were staying in the winter months, and, too tired to walk back to Locksley, they had fallen asleep outside the castle gates, and were discovered curled up together in one of the alcoves around the walls, in an old blanket. The Sheriff and Lord Locksley's anger had been quite terrifying, though they had in fact been so relieved to find their children again that after the punishment had been sentenced, they had been quite lenient with their children.
Robin and Mathilda had now reached Robin's room, and Mathilda was busy instructing servants to heat some water up, and to carry in a tub for Robin to have a bath in. Normally, he would have just had a cold wash, but Mathilda didn't think she could inflict a mildew covered Robin on Nottingham Castle, not on Marian's birthday night.
When the hot water was carried in by one of the maids, mysteriously, Robin managed to disappear under his bed, and it was not until Mathilda dragged him out of there, flailing and moaning, that he eventually was put into the bath. Mathilda made him soak for a few minutes, and wash himself, before she pushed his head underwater for a second to get his hair completely wet, and then getting onto her knees, began to wash his hair with the water and rose petals the maids had brought.
"Really, Robin, you do get up to some adventures. Why can't you be sensible and sit at home and learn your Latin like all the other boys."
Robin made a face. "The other boys are boring."
Mathilda hid a smile. Both she and Lord Locksley were secretly glad he wasn't such a good child, for then he would not be the endearing Robin that they all knew and loved.
"Now," she exclaimed, once she had finished, "I've got out your best tunic, and your trousers are washed, for once," she added, with a grimace, "so get dressed quickly."
Robin got out of the bath gratefully and changed quickly, looking aggravated at the cleanness of his trousers. He tugged his blue tunic until he didn't look half as noble as he should have done in it, and then he was pleased with himself.
Mathilda beckoned him over to come and sit on his bed whilst she dried his hair for him with a towel.
"Matty," he said, using his affectionate name for her, "did you know that Marian and I are going to get married when we're older?"
She laughed. She knew that Sir Edward and Sir Robert planned for their children to marry in the future, and it was lovely that the children were so fond of each other they had decided they would marry without full knowledge of their parents' plans, even at the tender age of eight. "Are you, Master Robin."
"Yep. We’re going to have lots of children, mainly boys, and a few girls, though they're not allowed to be all girly," Robin added, "they have to be just like Marian, and we're going to live in the forest."
"What about Locksley Hall, Robin. What will become of this place?"
"We'll come here regularly, to see Father, but we want to live in a house in the trees, so we can see the stars." Robin tugged his head away from Mathilda's hand, as she attempted to brush some of the unruly locks out of his eyes, with not much success.
Mathilda chuckled. "I'm sure you will marry Marian, Robin. Of that I am certain."
"Why?" He asked, turning around, and there was such an innocent look in his enquiring eyes that Mathilda felt she couldn't answer in any other way apart from honestly.
"Because only a very few lucky couples share something as special as what you and Marian share."
"What's that?" asked Robin.
"You'll find out, soon enough," said Mathilda, straightening up. "Now come on, otherwise you'll be late. Have you got your present for Marian?"
Robin ran about the room like a hare for a few seconds, searching in drawers and cupboards for his present, before he finally found it, wrapped up in a pretty red cloth. "Got it," he breathed, clutching the parcel tightly to his chest.
"Good boy," Mathilda smiled, "now come on, downstairs, quickly."
They arrived downstairs to see the door open, and the evening peering in through the doorway, the velvet blue night sky carpeting the heavens, and pinpricks of silver light that were stars, gazing down hopefully and excitedly, knowing what a merry evening it would be. The torches were lit leading down away from the hall towards the main roads to Nottingham, and Lord Locksley was waiting by the door, doing up his cloak.
"Ah, there you are, m'boy." He gave Robin a pleased smile as he looked down at him. "Mathilda has managed to work her magic to make you look presentable, once again." He gave Robin's nursemaid a wink. "Thank you, Mathilda."
"Not at all, my lord." She smiled back. Lord Locksley had a very open atmosphere in his house; he didn’t want any of his servants to stand on ceremony, and as long as they showed him respect, he was pleased if they all treated him like a good friend. This philosophy seemed to be one that Robin would have with his servants, when he became Lord of the Manor, from the friendly relationships he had with all the servants. However, the servants all loved him dearly, for he was such a character, so it was hard to imagine a household where Robin was not on good terms with his servants.
Thornton approached with Robin's cloak, and handed it to Mathilda who did it up for him, fastening the brooch not too tightly, for she knew how he complained if it was so: ("Ouch, Matty, it's biting my neck!") She gave him a pat on his head, and warned him, "be good," just like his mother would have done. Then Robin squirmed out of her grasp and ran to follow his father out of the door, and towards the carriage which was waiting for them outside, to carry them to Nottingham.
"We may be back quite late, Thornton, so don't all wait up for us," Lord Locksley smiled at the servants assembled to watch them go for the evening. He raised a hand in farewell, then ushered Robin into the carriage, and got in himself.
"Now," he said, his voice low, "promise me you won't get into any pickles tonight, young man. This is Marian's birthday feast."
"I promise." He grinned, bouncing about in his seat with the excitement of seeing his best friend again for a whole evening.
Lord Locksley laughed at the agitation his son was experiencing, a deep booming laugh that carried out of the carriage, as the carriage driver encouraged the horses to start trotting, and they left Locksley. The moon beamed down, and the flames in the torches danced as they passed them; tonight, there was a party in Nottingham.
Rating: K
Author: radiotardislive
Summary: Set pre-series 1, when Robin is a young boy. Mathilda helps Robin get ready for Marian's birthday feast, no matter how resistant her young charge is to having a bath...
Pairings: Slight Robin/Marian, because how could I resist? :D
"Master Robin! Master Robin!" Mathilda shook her head, her arms folded across her chest, as she stood in the doorway of Locksley Hall. Her young charge was forever disappearing off with Marian or Much, either to play soldiers or to invent and carry out some new mischievous game.
"Master Robin!" She bellowed once again, and this time, her call was answered.
"Coming, Mathilda," shouted the young boy, and Mathilda soon saw two boys trudging around the side of the hall, their clothes sopping wet and their hair plastered to their foreheads.
"What have you been doing? You're soaking!" She put a hand on Robin's shoulder to feel the wet material.
Much, honest as ever, felt it was his duty to explain, for Robin certainly wouldn't, standing by his side as he usually did, a grin on his face. "Robin dared me to swim to the bottom of the pond."
Mathilda looked horrified. "But the pond is so deep! You could have drowned!"
"Oh, we wouldn’t have drowned, Mathilda. I can swim like a fish; Father says so." Robin puffed his chest out proudly.
"That as may be, but he'll still whip you both if he finds out."
Much shuffled around, focusing his gaze on the floor, whilst Robin looked up at her with wide eyes. Sadly, he had learnt the charm of his eyes, and how to put such an ability to use many years ago, and so he was not surprised when Mathilda simply shook her head again, and huffed loudly. "Come along then, Robin, you need to get washed and dressed."
"I am washed," he moaned, as he always did at the mention of a bath, "I've just been in the pond."
"Even more reason why you need a proper wash," she instructed, and gave him a nudge towards the door. "You'd better get home, Much."
"All right. Bye, Robin."
"Bye." Robin was still grumbling to himself, glaring up at his nurse maid, as Much turned and made his way back to the main part of the village where he lived. His mother, God rest her soul, had died several winters back, but he still had a father, who although often ill, worked on Lord Locksley's land. The two men shared a close friendship, for they had both lost their wives when their boys were very young, and so Much and Robin had grown up together, and Much's father was often a guest at Locksley Hall. It was expected that when Much and Robin were older, Much would become Robin's manservant, though in the boys' opinion they would always remain close friends as they were now.
With Much making his way homewards, Mathilda closed the door, and ushered Robin towards the stairs. "Have you forgotten why you are getting ready to go out, Robin? It is Marian's birthday today!"
At the mention of his friend's name, Robin perked up. "I forgot, since father has banned me from seeing her for such a long time." He gave an exaggerated sigh.
Mathilda looked amused, as they reached the top of the stairs. "Robin, two days is not a long time."
"It is to me," he protested, and gave another doleful sigh.
The two children had been banned from seeing each other until Marian's birthday feast, on account of their most recent scrape. They had stayed out all day, and had refused to come home when instructed. Therefore, they had managed to get themselves locked out of Nottingham Castle, where Edward and Marian were staying in the winter months, and, too tired to walk back to Locksley, they had fallen asleep outside the castle gates, and were discovered curled up together in one of the alcoves around the walls, in an old blanket. The Sheriff and Lord Locksley's anger had been quite terrifying, though they had in fact been so relieved to find their children again that after the punishment had been sentenced, they had been quite lenient with their children.
Robin and Mathilda had now reached Robin's room, and Mathilda was busy instructing servants to heat some water up, and to carry in a tub for Robin to have a bath in. Normally, he would have just had a cold wash, but Mathilda didn't think she could inflict a mildew covered Robin on Nottingham Castle, not on Marian's birthday night.
When the hot water was carried in by one of the maids, mysteriously, Robin managed to disappear under his bed, and it was not until Mathilda dragged him out of there, flailing and moaning, that he eventually was put into the bath. Mathilda made him soak for a few minutes, and wash himself, before she pushed his head underwater for a second to get his hair completely wet, and then getting onto her knees, began to wash his hair with the water and rose petals the maids had brought.
"Really, Robin, you do get up to some adventures. Why can't you be sensible and sit at home and learn your Latin like all the other boys."
Robin made a face. "The other boys are boring."
Mathilda hid a smile. Both she and Lord Locksley were secretly glad he wasn't such a good child, for then he would not be the endearing Robin that they all knew and loved.
"Now," she exclaimed, once she had finished, "I've got out your best tunic, and your trousers are washed, for once," she added, with a grimace, "so get dressed quickly."
Robin got out of the bath gratefully and changed quickly, looking aggravated at the cleanness of his trousers. He tugged his blue tunic until he didn't look half as noble as he should have done in it, and then he was pleased with himself.
Mathilda beckoned him over to come and sit on his bed whilst she dried his hair for him with a towel.
"Matty," he said, using his affectionate name for her, "did you know that Marian and I are going to get married when we're older?"
She laughed. She knew that Sir Edward and Sir Robert planned for their children to marry in the future, and it was lovely that the children were so fond of each other they had decided they would marry without full knowledge of their parents' plans, even at the tender age of eight. "Are you, Master Robin."
"Yep. We’re going to have lots of children, mainly boys, and a few girls, though they're not allowed to be all girly," Robin added, "they have to be just like Marian, and we're going to live in the forest."
"What about Locksley Hall, Robin. What will become of this place?"
"We'll come here regularly, to see Father, but we want to live in a house in the trees, so we can see the stars." Robin tugged his head away from Mathilda's hand, as she attempted to brush some of the unruly locks out of his eyes, with not much success.
Mathilda chuckled. "I'm sure you will marry Marian, Robin. Of that I am certain."
"Why?" He asked, turning around, and there was such an innocent look in his enquiring eyes that Mathilda felt she couldn't answer in any other way apart from honestly.
"Because only a very few lucky couples share something as special as what you and Marian share."
"What's that?" asked Robin.
"You'll find out, soon enough," said Mathilda, straightening up. "Now come on, otherwise you'll be late. Have you got your present for Marian?"
Robin ran about the room like a hare for a few seconds, searching in drawers and cupboards for his present, before he finally found it, wrapped up in a pretty red cloth. "Got it," he breathed, clutching the parcel tightly to his chest.
"Good boy," Mathilda smiled, "now come on, downstairs, quickly."
They arrived downstairs to see the door open, and the evening peering in through the doorway, the velvet blue night sky carpeting the heavens, and pinpricks of silver light that were stars, gazing down hopefully and excitedly, knowing what a merry evening it would be. The torches were lit leading down away from the hall towards the main roads to Nottingham, and Lord Locksley was waiting by the door, doing up his cloak.
"Ah, there you are, m'boy." He gave Robin a pleased smile as he looked down at him. "Mathilda has managed to work her magic to make you look presentable, once again." He gave Robin's nursemaid a wink. "Thank you, Mathilda."
"Not at all, my lord." She smiled back. Lord Locksley had a very open atmosphere in his house; he didn’t want any of his servants to stand on ceremony, and as long as they showed him respect, he was pleased if they all treated him like a good friend. This philosophy seemed to be one that Robin would have with his servants, when he became Lord of the Manor, from the friendly relationships he had with all the servants. However, the servants all loved him dearly, for he was such a character, so it was hard to imagine a household where Robin was not on good terms with his servants.
Thornton approached with Robin's cloak, and handed it to Mathilda who did it up for him, fastening the brooch not too tightly, for she knew how he complained if it was so: ("Ouch, Matty, it's biting my neck!") She gave him a pat on his head, and warned him, "be good," just like his mother would have done. Then Robin squirmed out of her grasp and ran to follow his father out of the door, and towards the carriage which was waiting for them outside, to carry them to Nottingham.
"We may be back quite late, Thornton, so don't all wait up for us," Lord Locksley smiled at the servants assembled to watch them go for the evening. He raised a hand in farewell, then ushered Robin into the carriage, and got in himself.
"Now," he said, his voice low, "promise me you won't get into any pickles tonight, young man. This is Marian's birthday feast."
"I promise." He grinned, bouncing about in his seat with the excitement of seeing his best friend again for a whole evening.
Lord Locksley laughed at the agitation his son was experiencing, a deep booming laugh that carried out of the carriage, as the carriage driver encouraged the horses to start trotting, and they left Locksley. The moon beamed down, and the flames in the torches danced as they passed them; tonight, there was a party in Nottingham.