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Part 85
June 1216
Marcus looked everywhere, just where could they be on such an important day as this? He scratched his head and scanned the village. It was decorated much the same as the day Constance had married Richard of Doncaster, with the exception that the feast and celebration would be a much grander affair.
Not in favour to go walking in the woods in his new outfit, Marcus had very little choice and headed out of the village. He chuckled to himself when he found them, they were fishing. It had become a custom since the house had burnt down for Robin to take Edward fishing every Saturday and today was no exception. He silently crept up behind them and made the biggest noise he could, startling them out of their wits.
"It is not funny," said Edward, ready to launch himself at his brother, but Robin held him back. "I almost caught my third fish."
"Well father will catch the wrong end of mother's tongue if you are late. Today means a lot to her."
"It means everything to me too," Robin said, the humour gone from his expression.
The boys nodded. Edward collected their fishing gear and carried it as they made their way back home. Marian met with them on the village green.
"We are back, not too late," Edward quickly said. Marcus ushered him away to get ready himself.
"You running out on me Locksley?" she asked, her head tilted to one side trying to read her husband's mind.
Robin smiled and ran his hand down her face in a light but meaningful caress. "Never."
He was about to lean in and kiss her when they were interrupted. "You can not kiss yet, it would not be right," Constance stood suddenly between them. Then she stepped back a little to allow Seth to join the conversation. "And why are you two not ready for this very special day?" she scolded.
"I…." Robin faltered.
"Have been fishing," Seth smiled, "I can smell fish on you from here."
"You will need a bath or at least a quick wash," Constance said shaking her head at her father. Honestly he was incorrigible, and it seemed that the Locksley gene had passed onto her brothers as well.
Constance linked hands with her husband; Seth. They had been married last autumn when Seth was just able to stand before the altar for the ceremony. He was still plagued by the result of his injuries, that Robin was convinced not many men would have survived. He knew that love had a funny way of bringing two people together.
Looking back on his life with Marian he remembered how at times Edward, Marian's father had not really approved of himself as husband material for his precious daughter. Robin had and did still to some extent feel that about Seth. Much would now and again bring up niggles he had with Robin's son in law, of how he could still turn out to be like Gisborne. However, Robin was a fair man and felt that so far Seth had proved he was all the man his father had not been.
The King had declared Seth unfit for duty after his own physician had been sent to examine the soldier. In view of this and in honour of his service to his country, the King had granted Seth, the lodge and lands at Bonchurch, perhaps to irritate Robin of Locksley and Lord Much. Neither retaliated. Much had realised that lands and power were not his thing anyway. As long as the King left him alone he was not bothered where he lived.
So in October 1215 Robin had given his daughter away again, this time to Seth. He had to admit that they were very close and seemed to cherish one another dearly. And really could he ask much more that that, after what happened with Richard of Doncaster?
"As you are both here together and before everyone wants to talk to you. We have something to say," Constance added, with a smile that she shared with Seth. Robin and Marian smiled at each other; both had an inkling where this was heading.
"Yes…" Marian said.
"We are delighted to share with you that Constance and I hope to present you with your first grandchild by Christmas." Seth said and felt he blurted out somewhat.
"I knew it," Robin and Marian said simultaneously, looking at each other. Then Marian turned and hugged first Constance and then Seth. Robin did likewise but with more restraint.
Seth and Constance shared a look and Marian asked. "There is more?"
Seth nudged his wife; this was not something he could ask his in-laws it had to come from his wife. Constance cleared her throat and asked gently. "We wondered, well actually I wondered how you would feel if we had a son, if we were to name him Tristan Robert, in memory of my two wonderful brothers and your much loved sons?"
Marian nodded and replied. "That would be a lovely tribute."
"Good," Constance said letting out the breath she was holding. "Now you both have to get ready, and you," she pointed to her father. "No peeking until I say so."
She took her mother by the arm and marched her back to the house. Locksley had been rebuilt and was more substantial than it had been before. This time it was constructed with local stone and built to last. Designed by Will and his son Dan, both who had chosen to remain in Locksley.
Seth and Robin stood a little awkwardly together; they were both about to start a conversation when Much appeared by their sides with his wife and young son.
"Hey Jack," Robin said ruffling his hair.
Jack smiled and asked. "What's that smell?"
Seth laughed and Robin looked appropriately hurt as Much wrinkled his nose and added. "Yes. What is that smell?" He sniffed the air close to Robin and said. "You stink. Of fish. You have been fishing again with Edward and today too!"
"Thank you for your close observations." Robin replied dryly.
"You need a bath," Much went on.
"So it would seem, my eldest daughter has already mentioned that to me."
Much uttered a non verbal noise and looked Robin up and down, clearly unimpressed. He spoke to Eve and said. "Take Jack. I will meet with you after I have made sure Robin is clean and smells sweet for Marian."
Much took Robin by the shoulder and steered him to his own house which stood adjacent to the manor. It was the only house in the village with two storeys apart from the manor itself and to a stranger would have caused some confusion. It was neither the house of a peasant, nor that of a noble either. It was a mishmash of the two and was just what Much felt most at home in.
The past year had flown by, he felt still as if he was in a dream. How could it be, that after so many years of heartache he was happy? He had a wife whom he loved and who loved him in return and they had a son; Jack. Jack was the little boy who Marian had rescued. Much had assumed that when she had saved him from death he would grow up to be part of the big Locksley clan. But as the events unfolded with the King, the signing of the Great Charter, Richard's parents betraying them and Seth being injured, the little lad had attached himself to Eve and Much. And with them he had stayed. Back then he never spoke, now he would not stop talking. Now Jack was constantly asking questions, what is this? What is that? Everyone agreed that it was a joy to see him flower and blossom, within his new family and the love they shared and gave each other.
Finally Robin had washed and was dressed in an outfit which Constance had designed and made for today. Much walked with him to the church.
"Does it feel funny?" Much asked.
"It feels as if I am a young man again, before the Holy Land. Before I knew of real sorrow and pain. Before I loved and lost Marian. Before I won her back…"
"You never lost her, you just thought you did," Much cut in. "And may I say I think it did your ego a little bit of good to have to woo her again."
Robin shook his head at Much and ended with. "It feels right."
Much just smiled as Robin walked past his friends, Little John, Alice, Will, Dan and Eve, where Much took his place. Then he walked on past his children until he was standing in front of the priest in the church. He took a deep breath, this was more nerve-wracking than the original, secret and rushed affair that he and Marian had called their wedding day twenty three years before.
Robin knew when Marian arrived as the crowd behind him fell silent. He could not help but turn and look into her beautiful face. Her dress was stunning as it should have been on their first wedding day but had not. When she reached him he took her hand and raised it to his lips, for a simple kiss.
The priest gave a blessing on the ceremony where Robin and Marian had chosen to renew their promise to each other. Marian and Robin stood facing each other, their hands clasped and resting over their hearts.
Robin said. "For today, for the past and for the future, you hold my heart. God has brought us together and has kept us together. May we be blessed as this time we renew our promises in front of our family and friends, not in haste or hiding. You are my world circled in my arms; I am blessed with your love and our beautiful children. You my wife are eternally mine and I am yours. Forever my love."
Marian smiled at him and replied. "I Marian, take you again, my beautiful Lord of Locksley. You are beautiful to me in every way, not just your face, which shows every line and contours of the journey we have been on together, but also your heart. Your heart is an open book. In it is written all that has come to pass between us and all that is to be. Forever."
To Marian and Robin it felt as though the world around them had slipped away, that they were not standing in front of a church full of people. This time as he caressed her face his fingers lingered, leaving a blazing trail of heat in their wake. Marian smiled at him and placed her index finger over his lips. He kissed it softly before moving closer to kiss her ardently.
Flushed from the kiss, Marian broke apart to see from the corner of her eye Much shaking his head at them with his hand across Jack's eyes. They walked hand in hand back out of the church into the sunlight.
Robin took a deep breath and turned round to face the congregation who were now standing behind them in the fresh air. With a wide grin he announced. "We the people have a feast, a celebration to begin. Let us be thankful we still have Locksley, that it can be passed on down the generations and that we have a home, a family, each other but most of all love."
The crowd began to mingle with old friends and family. Robin and Marian watched them walk to the trestle tables, laden with food. He sneaked his arm casually about her shoulders and pulled her close.
"Are you ready then Grandma?" he asked softly.
"A new era of our lives it seems," she replied gently, wishfully looking at their children in the distance.
"I am always ready for a new challenge," he replied, and he turned her to face him. "I love you my wife."
"I love you my husband. Where have the years gone?"
"Here," he said, covering her heart with his hand. She wound a stray curl about her ear and then rubbed her hand across his bristly face. "My love," he whispered and captured her mouth with another kiss. This one unobserved by the people, but with as much fire and passion as the kisses they shared all those years ago, back in 1193. "Let us go and celebrate our way, they will not notice we are missing for a while."
She smiled at his wink and cheeky glint in his eye. "I think they might miss us. But I will hold you to that for later. Come on Grandpa, let us celebrate." she replied as she led him by the hand into the throng of their family; loved, cherished and finally home.
The End.