Epilogue

It was a lovely spring morning in Locksley, and the sun shone brightly in the blue sky. The air was clear and warm, and birds sang soft lullabies. The people of Locksley crowded in the courtyard facing the manor, near the Locksley Manor; they were talking about the most important event in Nottinghamshire – the wedding of Robin Hood and Maid Marian. There were several long tables in the courtyard, and Thornton commanded Mary and other servants to bring dishes, platters, and goblets, serving the tables for the feast after the wedding ceremony was over.

In the two years, Robin Hood and Maid Marian had become the heroes of Nottinghamshire and England, who had lived in Sherwood Forest together and had fought against Sheriff Vaisey of Nottingham, assisted by the merry men – Much, Allan-a-dale, Little John, Will Scarlett, and Djaq, the young Saracen woman saved by the outlaws from slavery. Numerous bards in Nottingham and in many other shires sang songs about Robin Hood and the outlaws, and so their adventures and fight against tyranny and oppression had been immortalized in words.

Many things happened since the fateful Saracen attack on the King's camp in Acre and Robin's subsequent return from the Crusades. As Guy of Gisborne's identity had been discovered and a ceasefire hadn't been ruined, King Richard had quickly made peace with Saladin. The King and his party had departed from Acre in five months after the Saracen raid, heading to England to deal with the Black Knights. Unfortunately, King Richard, Robin, and some of the King's loyal knights had been captured near Vienna by Duke Leopold of Austria whom Richard had slighted after the capture of Acre. Before Richard had been taken into captivity, he had ordered Robin to leave and find Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine to launch political negotiation about his release.

Robin had done exactly what the King had asked. Disguised as merchants, he and Much had traveled to Aquitaine from Austria and had notified the Queen Mother about the King's capture. Queen Eleanor had said that Richard's release from captivity had been a matter of a purely political nature. Robin had tried to persuade the Queen that the Earl of Leicester, several other loyal men, and he himself could have returned to Austria to launch a rescue attempt and release the King. But Eleanor had insisted that they do nothing, recommending that Robin go home and stating that she would send a messenger to him with the news about the negotiations with Duke Leopold.

When Robin and Much had returned to Nottingham, Robin had reclaimed his lands without any trouble as Guy of Gisborne hadn't been there, his corpse buried in the sands of Acre. Everyone had been happy to see their rightful lord alive, hoping that life conditions would improve with Robin's return. Sheriff Vaisey had outlawed Robin on the second day after his return when he had saved four innocent men from hanging and had escaped into the woods, where he had gathered the band of outlaws to fight against the Sheriff until the King's return.

Before he had been outlawed, Robin had paid a visit to Knighton Hall, intending to talk to Sir Edward of Knighton about the events in the shire in his absence. Although Marian had met Robin and Much with a bow in her arms, targeting Robin, and they had been chased away from Knighton, they had been able to talk on the evening of the same day after the Council of Nobles. Edward and Marian had already known about Robin's heroic actions on the night of the Saracen attack because King Richard had sent to them Roger of Stoke who had carried a royal message for Sir Edward.

Robin had given Edward and Marian a long, detailed story about the Saracen attack and the Black Knights Club headed by Sheriff Vaisey. Edward and Marian had been surprised to learn about the conspiracy of many Englishmen against the King, and they had been absolutely shocked to learn about Guy of Gisborne's participation in regicide attempt and his death in Acre. During their first secret meeting, Marian had been cold to Robin, but she had been worried about him, asking him many questions about the attack and his recovery. Robin had been amazed that Marian had been unmarried, and he had known from the first moment that she had been waiting for his return; her obvious concern for his heath had been a sign that she had still cared for him.

After Robin had been outlawed, the Locksley estates had been given to the Earl of Durham, one of the Black Knights; the Earldom of Huntingdon had reverted to the Crown. For some time, Marian had acted as Robin's spy in the castle, but her sources of information had been limited as she and her father hadn't been in Vaisey's favor. In the end, the Sheriff had designed a vile plot to rid of all the nobles who had been loyal to King Richard, and Sir Edward had been killed. Marian had been arrested by Vaisey, and Durham had wanted to marry her in exchange for her freedom; Robin and the outlaws had rescued Marian, and she lived with them in the forest since then.

After Marian had been outlawed, she had been very close to Robin, and it had been only a matter of time before they had renewed their betrothal. At first, Robin and Marian had been quite distant from each other as she had been unable to forgive him for leaving her for quite some time. Robin, Marian, and the outlaws had been involved in many risky adventures, stealing the Sheriff's money and ruining his plans to delay King Richard's release from captivity. After a couple of near-death experiences, Robin and Marian had confessed their love for each other and had reconciled.

At first, the Sheriff had no idea that Guy Gisborne had been captured in the Crusaders' camp, thinking that his right-hand man had probably perished in a shipwreck on the way to or from Acre. Later Vaisey had received news from one of his spies in the King's close entourage that the masked Saracen, as the King's men had labeled Guy after his secret had been uncovered, had been killed in Acre during his attempt to escape. He had also learned that Guy had almost murdered Robin who had barely survived his almost fatal injury. One of the Sheriff's informants had been the man who had notified Leopold of Austria about the King's presence in one of the local inns near Vienna.

The news about Guy's fate had become a mortal blow to the Sheriff's pride and ego because he had realized that Robin had known about the Black Knights before his appearance in Nottingham. Vaisey had gone berserk with rage, and his hatred for the bold outlaw had flared up in his heart with an unprecedented strength. The Sheriff had always hated when someone played games with him, but Robin had done much more – he had pretended from the beginning and had outsmarted Vaisey one every occasion when the evil man had made up new plans to dethrone the rightful King.

The Sheriff had fiercely hated Robin Hood, sending countless search parties to the forest to find the outlaws' camp. Each of such search parties had been led by the Earl of Durham, the new Lord of Locksley, and someone who was known as Archer who had become the Sheriff's master-at-arms after Guy's disappearance. But Durham, Archer, and all other men had always failed to find Robin, Marian, and the outlaws, and the Sheriff's displeasure had been growing exponentially. Several times, Vaisey had increased the bounty on Robin's head, hoping that the peasants, whom Robin had fed and protected, would betray him, but the people had always loved their hero too much.

Robin, Marian, and the outlaws had assisted the Queen Mother to collect the King's random. When Prince John had come to Nottingham to grease the hands of local nobles with lavish gifts in order to buy their loyalty, the outlaws had stolen all the collected taxes from the strong room and the Prince's gifts as well. Robin had met with Roger of Stoke to arrange the delivery of the treasures to Queen Eleanor for Richard's ransom. Months had passed, and, finally, the Queen Mother had sent to Nottingham her most entrusted messenger with the news that the King had been released and would soon start his journey to England.

Soon King Richard had landed in Sandwich, where he had been met by his loyal noblemen and knights. Robin, Marian, and the outlaws had also been there. Richard had been overjoyed to see Robin, and he had engulfed him into a warm hug. The King was aware of Robin's adventures in the woods, and he had told all the lords and ladies in attendance with a large, cordial smile that Robin was the hero of the Holy Land and the legend of England. As Robin had introduced Marian as his betrothed, Richard had embraced Marian as well, calling her the belligerent and courageous Maid Marian, as well as the best match ever for Robin Hood. Royal pardons for Robin, Marian, and all others had been issued on the same day when the outlaws had met with the monarch.

By the time the King's troops had arrived in Nottingham, Vaisey and the Black Knights had taken hostage the civil population. The siege of Nottingham had been short but bloodthirsty. The final assault on the town had been led by the Earl of Huntingdon and the Earl of Leicester. The final battle with the Black Knights had been led by Archer and the Earl of Durham, but the King's forces had easily overpowered the traitors. Those who hadn't died in battle had been captured and executed on the same day in the central courtyard near the castle; the surviving Black Knights had been hanged, drawn, and quartered, including the Sheriff and his right-hand man, Archer.

The King intended to urgently leave for London to meet with Prince John, and, thus, Robin and Marian's wedding was scheduled for the next day after the siege. King Richard insisted that he give Marian away to Robin because Sir Edward of Knighton had been dead and because he had been Robin's legal guardian after Sir Malcolm of Locksley's death in the fire at Gisborne Manor. The former outlaws and the villagers of Locksley, who had been permitted to enter the church, watched Richard leading Marian to the altar and giving her hand to Robin with tears of joy in their eyes.

ææææææ

There was a blissful silence in the church as everyone looked at Robin and Marian standing near the altar and listening to mass. When Marian and Robin had become betrothed again, they hadn't sought to disguise their feelings when they had appeared in Locksley, bringing food and medicine for the peasants. Everyone was convinced that the brave and honorable outlaw and his lady were deeply in love, although few of them were aware of the real nature of their sentiments.

King Richard stood to the right from Robin, staring at his grand favorite from and feeling honored to be the one who joined Robin's life with Marian's by giving the bride away to the bridegroom before a priest could join their hearts and souls forever. Robert de Beaumont, the Earl of Leicester, and Much, the new Earl of Bonchurch, also stood very close to the altar; other outlaws stood among other guests in a distance. Eve, Much's betrothed, stood nearby, her eyes attached to Much as her mind was building the pictures of her own wedding in a chapel in Bonchurch.

Little John was together there with his wife Alice and his son Little Little John. Little John had reunited with his family after the death of Luke Cooper from fever about six months ago and after getting a royal pardon. Will Scarlett and Djaq stood in a light embrace, looking at their friends and dreaming of their own wedding. The young Saracen and the carpenter from Locksley were an unusual sight for the people and, unfortunately, not everyone understood and accepted Will's choice of a bride because of prejudices. Will and Djaq had fallen in love at first secretly and then had been pushed by Robin and Allan to confess their feelings for one other.

Allan was there with his young fiancée Kate of Locksley; they looked at one another as love-struck fools, wishing to be at the altar where Robin and Marian stood at that moment. Kate had worked as a servant girl at the castle, and she had joined Robin Hood's gang after she had been outlawed for helping the outlaws escape from the dungeons. She had quickly fallen for Allan during her brief time in the forest. Kate's family – her mother Rebecca, her young brother Matthew, and her little sister Maggie – stood in the corner with other guests. Not every peasant of Locksley was admitted inside the church mainly for safety reasons as the King attended the wedding, and Kate's relatives were permitted access only because Kate was one of Robin Hood's gang.

After his own wedding with Marian and the King's departure from Nottingham, Robin had promised to personally marry Much and Eve, Allan and Kate, as well as Will and Djaq as the Earl of Huntingdon and the highest-ranking nobleman in the shire. Robin had planned to revise marriage vows for Will and Djaq because neither of them wanted to convert, and, thus, wedding ceremony had to be changed to take into account differences in their religions in the way that their marriage would still be recognized by the English law and by the Saracen law.

Annie, a young servant girl from Locksley Manor and Guy of Gisborne's former lover, was in the church as well. On the day of his return, Robin had realized whom Guy had spoken about. Determined to keep the word he had given Guy, Robin hadn't thrown Annie out of the manor and had intended to take care of her. He even hadn't told her how Guy had died, thinking that the child should be spared the shame of knowing that his father had been a high traitor.

Annie had given birth to a healthy son Seth, and Robin had become the boy's godfather. Annie had had to leave Locksley after Robin had been outlawed, but she had returned to the village together with her young son Seth when news about the King's return had reached her. Annie had adored Robin Hood from the bottom of her heart because he had signed the deeds transferring the former Gisborne lands on Seth's name. Now Seth was known as Seth of Gisborne.

As only several days passed since the day of the siege, the King's troops were still stationed in the town. Many of Robin's old war comrades and his men from the King's Private Guard, including Sir Legrand de Maulevrier and Sir Roger of Stoke, were in attendance. Each of them was honored to watch the legendary Captain Locksley join his life in holy matrimony with the love of his life.

Legrand, King Richard's secret conspirator in the plot to remove Guy from the world of the living, had different thoughts, remembering the night of the Saracen raid and the afternoon of Guy of Gisborne's escape from the King's camp; he didn't pity Guy, thinking that the day of Robin's wedding would have probably never come if the King and he hadn't dealt with Gisborne in Acre.

The priest looked between Marian and Robin, ready to begin the wedding ceremony. "Dearly beloved," he addressed to the congregation, "we are gathered together here in the sight of God to join together this Man and this Woman in holy Matrimony; which is an honorable estate, instituted of God in Paradise, and into which holy estate these two persons present come now to be joined. Therefore if any man can name any just cause, why they may not lawfully be joined together, by God's Law, or the Laws of the Realm; let him now speak, or else hereafter forever hold his peace."

A silence ensued. Robin and Marian shared annoyed glances, not pleased that the official part of the ceremony was such a long and boring procedure and that they had to wait to get married. As nobody said anything in response and impatience was gnawing at everyone, the priest continued.

Robin wasn't listening to the priest's monotonous voice, and his lascivious eyes were focused on Marian's face. His intense gaze drank in Marian's gorgeous appearance from top to toe. She looked beautiful in her white silk dress with a small train and a low-cut square neckline, which she had hastily chosen for the wedding, but he preferred to see her without any clothes. Robin had loved her during their five years in the Holy Land, but after their reconciliation his love for her deepened and strengthened. Marian was the love of his life, and he thanked God that he had been given a chance to be with her after their long separation.

Marian intercepted Robin's gaze that stopped on her neckline, and she rolled her eyes at him. Robin flashed the most charming smile which she had ever seen on his face in response, and her heart started hammering harder. Marian smiled, thinking that Robin was the most handsome man in Nottingham. She had chosen the wedding attire for Robin – a dashing dark blue brocade doublet and trousers of the same color that matched the color of his eyes. Marian had never stopped loving Robin, but it had taken her quite some time to forgive him for leaving her and trust him again.

Marian and Robin concurred, and they could read that in their eyes. Seven years.

Seven years. It sounded like forever to them, but that was the number of years that had passed since the day of Robin's first proposal to Marian. It was a long and serpentine path for them to the day of their wedding, but now they were on the threshold of the new and happy life. They were not outlaws anymore, but perhaps one day their adventures in Sherwood Forest would continue. They were Robin Hood and Maid Marian, the heroes of England and fighters for justice, and together they were stronger, able to conqueror the whole world and defeat all their enemies.

The priest proceeded to the final part of the wedding ceremony. "Heavenly Father, creator of all things both in heaven and earth, we humbly ask thee to bless this union, may these thy servants seek goodness all the days of their lives, may they be strong in defense of what is right, may they be united as one even as thou art with God. May they be numbered amongst thy sheep. We humbly pray in the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen."

Robin winked at Marian, his heart hammering harder. She rolled her eyes at him again, relieved that the priest was looking into the prayer book and didn't see the lascivious glow in his eyes.

"Do you, Lord Robin, take Lady Marian as a wife?" the priest asked.

"Yes, I do," Robin replied, smiling affectionately. "I, Robin, take you, Marian, to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness or in health, to love and to cherish till death do us part."

"Do you, Lady Marian, take Lord Robin as a husband?" the priest continued the ceremony.

"Yes, I do," Marian responded with a beaming smile, her heart pounding harder in delight. She paused before speaking the vows that would tie her to her beloved Robin forever. "I, Marian, take you, Robin, my beautiful, beautiful Lord of Locksley, to be my wedded husband. I promise to love you and to cherish you on earth and later in heaven. For now and forever, till death do us part."

Robin slipped a large sapphire wedding ring onto her finger. "Marian, receive and wear this ring as a symbol of my trust, my respect and my love for you," he said in a silken voice.

Marian smiled radiantly. "Robin, receive and wear this ring as a symbol of my love for you," she said as she put a similar sapphire ring on his finger.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife," the priest finished the wedding service.

ææææææ

King Richard watched the exchange of marriage vows with a large, content smile. He was happy because of Robin's happiness. Looking at Robin's smiling, glowing face, Richard thought that he had done a right thing when he had ordered to kill Guy of Gisborne in secret. At times, he felt remorse for taking Gisborne's life in secret, when the man hadn't been given a fair trial and couldn't defend himself. Yet, every time when he remembered the feverish and dying Robin calling Marian's name, his remorse was gone as he justified himself by the thought that he had protected Robin from Guy's hatred and had probably even saved Robin's life.

"Robin," the King said, looking between the bride and the bridegroom. "You may kiss the bride."

Robin smiled. "This is what I'm going to do with my wife."

"My husband," Marian drawled slightly, savoring the sound of every word.

Robin took a step to Marian and wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her next to him. His lips found hers, and he kissed her with a great tenderness. Wishing to feel a sensual delight of tasting him, Marian parted her lips and let his tongue penetrate her mouth. Seeking for deeper intimacy, he pressed her to himself tightly, his exploring tongue filling her mouth, inflaming both of them as his hands slid down her back and helplessly her fingers tangled in his sandy head.

Robin and Marian both were hungry for the taste of each other and they could have continued kissing for a longer time, if the disconcerted priest hadn't coughed nervously to attract their attention to him and break the magic spell. The newly wedded couple parted reluctantly and stood rooted, looking at each other and smiling slightly, their breathing uneven and their hearts thundering in their chests.

Marian lowered her eyes, her cheeks flushing; embarrassment flooded her to the core. "We are very sorry," she said quietly. She would have gladly continued kissing Robin if they had been alone at that moment; now she was angry at him for putting them in such a precarious situation.

Contrary to Marian's fears, King Richard, all of the former outlaws, Robin's friends, and other guests were smiling cordially. Nobody gave disapproving and irritated looks despite quite an inappropriate behavior of the newly wedded couple. Everyone was delighted to see Marian and Robin finally married, openly expressing their love for one other.

Robin grinned wickedly, looking into her sapphire eyes. "Finally, I have made an honest woman out of you, my love," he said, taking her hand in his and lacing their fingers together.

Marian wasn't a virgin: she had given herself to Robin when they had lived in Sherwood. One evening, Marian and Robin had found themselves strolling in the woods far from the outlaws' camp, enjoying the freshness and sweetness of early spring. They had wanted to spend some time together, without being watched by anyone. Appeased by the twittering of birds in a sweet chorus as if to cheer them with a hearty delight, Marian and Robin had come to the clearing where he had proposed to her for the second time. Drawn to one other by the desire of great magnitude, they had started kissing, and soon their passion had exploded. They hadn't returned to the camp that night.

The guests who stood close to the altar quickly understood the meaning of Robin's words. The priest looked abashed, shaking his head disapprovingly. King Richard and the Earl of Leicester only laughed, their eyes twinkling. Much stood with his mouth open like a large hole, his cheeks red as he disapproved of Robin and Marian's intimate relations, and he had even told his former master several times that Sir Edward would have been ashamed of Robin if he had been alive. Little John, Will, Allan, and Djaq only shook their heads, not being astonished by the revelation.

Marian's cheeks turned crimson. She would have slapped Robin hard across his grinning face if they hadn't been in the church. "Robin, you are impossible. You …" She stumbled with words.

Robin looked absolutely innocent, as if he hadn't exposed their little secret. "Yes, my love?"

Astonished with his misconduct, Marian wanted only to slap her husband hard across his smug face. "You are a fool, Robin of Locksley," she said between clenched teeth.

Robin flashed a facetious grin. "Maybe I'm indeed a fool," he fired. "But who is more foolish – the one who calls you a fool or the one who keeps silent?"

King Richard smiled mirthfully. "Oh, Robin," he said under his breath. "You will never change."

Robin tore his gaze from his wife and looked at the King, his eyes twinkling. "And why should I change?"

"No, you shouldn't, my friend," the Earl of Leicester interjected, smiling.

"I would have missed Robin of old times if you had suddenly changed," the King pointed out.

Much looked absolutely scandalized. "Robin, you cannot be so insolent!"

The priest stood abashed and speechless. He had always known that the young Earl of Huntingdon was a man of unorthodox ways, but never had he expected the hero to be so bold.

Marian wasn't at all delighted with Robin's gaiety and good humor; she could scarcely preserve the indignant gravity on her features. "One day, you will pay, Robin of Locksley," she promised.

"You know, my love, there is nothing in the world I wouldn't do for you," Robin replied, smiling at Marian's angry expression and looking into her eyes. "And if you promise that you will make me pay a high price for my indulgent behavior, then I promise in return that I will always pay you back and that our life will always be full of trouble even in peaceful times."

The King laughed at the exchange between the newly married couple. "You are a grand match," he stated. "Peace between you may be of short duration, but love is endless as we can really see."

It was King Richard who saved everyone from the awkwardness of the situation by prompting Robin to finish the wedding ceremony in the most unusual way – by taking his wife out of the church to the feast. An unusual man by nature with extraordinary tastes and habits for a nobleman, Robin understood the King's words literally and lifted Marian in his arms, smiling at her shocked face as he easily carried her outside. But Robin wasn't intending to attend the feast, at first wishing to go to the woods, to their clearing where so many important events had happened.

As Robin carried Marian out of the church, they could hear soft whisperings and giggling behind their backs. Marian was angry at Robin, telling him to put her to her feet and even trying to fight with him, but everything was useless. As she understood that Robin was carrying her out of the village and into the forest, Marian hit Robin in the chest, but he only laughed at all of her attempts to free herself. There was a heat and energy in her anger that never failed to amuse him and make him wish to see her even angrier because their verbal skirmishes gave him a real pleasure.

"Put me on my feet," Marian demanded as she saw that they had already reached the outskirts of Locksley. "I want to return to the village for the wedding feast."

Robin shook his head, but there was a beaming smile on his face. "My love, if you eat a lot, you can put on some weight before the wedding night," he teased. "Then your white bridal nightgown won't fit you well, and that will make me very disappointed."

She blushed profusely. "You have no shame, Robin Hood!"

He sniggered. "Maid Marian, I don't see even a trace of shame in you when we are alone."

Marian shot him a fulminating look. "It wasn't me who made a laughingstock of us in the church by revealing what should have been kept in secret."

"I didn't say anything bad about us." There was a laugh in his voice.

Her anger abating slightly, the expression in her eyes softened as her heart had already startled melting at the sight of his charming smile that had always let him win the game. "Now everyone knows that we were–" She abruptly broke off, dropping her eyes to the ground.

"We were lovers before I married you," he finished.

Marian closed her eyes; her head sank on his shoulder. "Yes, they do know, you brazen man!"

"Only some of them," he corrected. "I spoke quietly, and not all guests heard my little confession."

"Thanks to God that not everyone heard you, Robin."

Robin laughed, openly enjoying their heated discussion and her embarrassment. "My love, please open your eyes because I like when you look at me in anger," he said in a mocking tone, his gaze lingering on her flushed cheeks. As she opened her eyes and stared at him with a challenge , he gave her an impish grin. "There is no other woman who looks prettier in anger than you, Marian of Locksley. I have to confess that I like making you angry and then reconcile with you."

"One day you won't be able to reconcile with me, Robin of Locksley." Although he was still carrying her, she gave him a quick jab to the ribs with her elbow, making him pause. "I won't be always as forgiving as I was when you returned from the Crusades."

Robin didn't speak for a long moment, contemplating his wife's beauty with eyes darkening in passion. Marian was undoubtedly the most beautiful woman he had ever met, and he was proud of having her as his wife. She possessed an otherworldly beauty and purity, both ethereal and entirely physical at the same time. Marian's sapphire eyes blazed with anger mingled with lust for him, and he could see lush sensuality in her every feature which battled with a depth of her spirit that seemed to spill out of her. In the golden sunlight, she looked so young and so beautiful.

"We will always reconcile because we are meant to be together," Robin said with conviction.

She gave additional fake harshness to the anger which clouded her expression, but Robin knew that it was a mask because she always kept her true feelings under coldness and aloofness. "You are so full of yourself, Robin," she parried, glaring at him, though the corners of her lips were quivering in a tiny smile. "One day you may find out that you have become too overconfident."

Robin winked at her. "I don't think so."

Marian looked around, her eyes taking in the green trees, green grass, and wild flowers which were putting forth their tender leaves and fragrant blossoms as if to charm them by their natural beauty, depriving them of their senses. She swung her gaze to Robin, giving him a mischievous smile he knew so well. As he wasn't carrying her any longer, she took advantage to make her escape from his strong arms and took a couple of steps backwards, her eyes never leaving his face.

"Now, Robin, tell me why have you kidnapped me from Locksley?"

Robin gave her a long look, feeling that he had only one desire – to kiss her deeply and never let her go. He took a deep breath and held the air in his lungs, trying to regain his emotional balance. "I have been thinking of something," he began. "I want us to go to our clearing, to our old oak."

Suddenly, her anger evaporated. Cocking an eyebrow at him, she smiled. "Why does Robin Hood wish to go there? Is it another trick of yours, husband?"

He grinned. "This time, it is not a trick, but a confession that my wife needs to hear."

She looked genuinely interested. "Then we should go."

ææææææ

Walking into the depths of the woods, Robin and Marian glowed in the sunshine that penetrated the crowns of trees and fell on them. The morning became warmer as the sun climbed higher in the sky, and the forest shone like gold. There was absolutely no breeze, and not even a breath of air was stirring, but many trees waved slightly as if by the wind. Robin jested that the trees in Sherwood agreed with his course of action after the wedding ceremony and nodded at them in agreement; Marian's answer was a merry laughter.

They reached the clearing and crossed it, stopping near a tall, old oak which they called the "The oak of their love". Many years ago, Robin had kissed Marian for the first time under this tree. They had also parted their ways in this place when Robin had informed her about his decision to fight in the Holy Land. Standing under this oak, Robin had proposed Marian for the second time and had confessed that he had loved her despite the years of separation and war. Now Robin was going to make another confession on the same place.

Marian gave Robin a long, searching look. "What do you want to tell me, Robin?"

Suddenly all the bravado left him, and glanced away, looking at the other side of the clearing sprinkled with trees and bushes, which sloped gradually down to the River Trent. "Marian," he whispered, sighing deeply. "You know that I'm not good at making confessions, but I want to say something important."

She smiled. "Robin, pulling confessions out of you is like pulling teeth from a scared patient."

His lip edged up at one corner. "You are right."

"Speak, Robin."

Robin made a step to her and took her hands in his. "Marian, I have always loved only you," he said in a voice thick with emotion; he deepened his voice. "I have never stopped loving you." He raised a hand to her cheek and caressed it with his thumb. "I loved you when I proposed to you years ago, when I fought in the Holy Land, and when I returned to England. I don't think that there has ever been any minute in my life when I haven't loved you."

Marian felt tears stung her eyes. "I love you too, Robin," she murmured, enjoying the touch of his hand on her cheek. He was very gentle with her, caressing her as if she were made of glass, and she could feel his fingers tremble. "I have never stopped loving you, even when you left me heartbroken and departed to the Holy Land. I prayed for your survival in the Holy Land every day while you were away."

Tears came to Robin's eyes too, his heart was beating faster. "After our reconciliation, I told you about my love, but you still cannot imagine how much I love you and need you," he whispered as his arms encircled her waist, pulling her closer to him. "I love you so much – I love your more than life itself. I cannot imagine that I will ever lose you again. I need to be with you every day, every hour, and every minute. I cannot imagine my life without you. I cannot live without you, Marian."

Marian had never seen so many emotions in his beautiful blue eyes, and for the first time in her life, she realized how deeply he did really love her. "You won't lose me again, handsome," she answered, her heart pounding harder. "You are my past, my present, and my future. You are my partner, my friend, my lover, and my husband – you are everything to me."

He smiled, his eyes sparkling. "Yes, my Marian, my love."

She smiled. "You are my Robin."

"Your own Robin," he corrected with a smile.

"Yes," she said with a sense of possession.

Robin lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed her fingers, his two hands wrapped around her waist. Marian opened her mouth to say something to him, but he kissed her, his arms clutching her so closely she could scarcely breathe. She responded with matching hunger and passion. A feeling of sheer enjoyment swept through them as they froze in a tight embrace, kissing each other, now a husband and a wife. The tall old oak, woods, many other trees, grass, hills, and everything around them shone with a radiance that seemed of more than earthly beauty. It was the most blissful moment in their lives because they finally were home and belonged to each other.

Marian and Robin didn't know that Guy of Gisborne and Ghislane of Gisborne observed them from heaven. Watching them kissing with such splendid hunger, Guy felt a stab of jealousy in his heart; but he knew that it was no wise of him to be jealous because he was dead and because Marian had never loved him. Then, instead of burning jealousy which he could expect to feel again, a sweet wave of happiness submerged Guy. Guy felt as though the hatred he had once felt for Robin had been washed away into the great, infinite lightness he had never felt when he had been alive.

"What are you feeling, Guy?" Ghislane asked, looking at her eldest son. "I hope you don't envy them."

Guy turned his gaze to his mother. "I'm glad that Marian is happy with Robin. Now I know that she would have never been happy with me because her heart belongs to him." He paused, collecting his thoughts. Then he went on, his voice lower and huskier. "I'm glad that I died before I could kill Marian."

When Guy had arrived in heaven, he had learned that there were only two alternative paths in his life – his death in the Holy Land or his death in the bloody siege of Nottingham together with Robin Hood. Ghislane had told her son about the second life path which could have been his if King Richard hadn't secretly murdered him, and Guy had been shocked to learn that he would have murdered Marian in a jealous rage if he had returned to England from Acre. He had also learned that God had forgiven him for his heinous crimes because he had become the King's victim. After all the shocking revelations about the deaths of his parents in heaven, he had stopped blaming Robin for his misery. Truth be told, now Guy was vastly relieved that he had died in Acre.

Ghislane smiled. "And you are at peace with God and your conscience, my son."

Guy smiled back at her. "Yes, I'm at peace."

A dark look crossed her face as her mind drifted off to her another son. "It is painful that my Archer was captured in Nottingham and then was executed." She let out a sigh. "But he betrayed England and the King. Robin didn't know that the Sheriff's master-at-arms was his half-brother."

"It is Malcolm of Locksley's fault," Guy hissed between clenched teeth. "Although he was looking for Archer, he failed to find him. He also failed to find Robin in time and tell him the truth."

"Guy, you have already understood that we cannot go against our destiny. If Archer had died so young and as a traitor, then it happened for a reason." Her voice sounded strained, and her eyes were full of tears because she was devastated, and her grief was enormous, but she had accepted Archer's fate. "Malcolm will find Robin later, but it will already be too late to change anything."

"Too late," he echoed.

Ghislane cast a brief glance at the kissing couple; then she gazed at Guy. "Guy, we have to go. Archer will arrive in heaven soon, and we need to meet and guide him."

Guy nodded. "Of course."

"Let's go," she prompted.

He lingered his gaze at Marian and Robin, again feeling jealous. "And what about them?" he inquired out of mere curiosity. "Will they be happy together? How many children will they have?"

"Robin and Marian have a long, dangerous, and adventurous life ahead," Ghislane replied, smiling down from heaven at the two heroes. "England and the people need them. Their mission on earth is not over."

Guy started speaking but broke off abruptly as a strong wind blew from the heaven, reminding them of the time to leave earth. Guy glanced down at Robin and Marian with a mixture of envy and jealousy, but his gaze quickly became warm and content. In the next moment, Robin and Marian broke their kiss and pulled away, and Guy thought that he had never seen such a happy light in Marian's eyes before. At that instant, he knew that his premature death was the price of Marian and Robin's happiness and the price of his own peace, and he was glad that he had paid this price.

In the future, Guy and Ghislane would come back to earth from time to time. Every time Guy would see Marian happy with Robin and their three daughters and three sons, he would be relieved that he had been killed by the King instead of surviving his trip to Acre and murdering Marian later. Guy would be happy to watch Seth grow up into a handsome young man who later would marry Robin and Marian's eldest daughter, finding it amusing that the blood of the Huntingdons and the Gisbornes would mix in the next generation. Guy would always be happy in heaven because Maid Marian and Robin Hood would be happy, and one day Robin, Marian, and Guy would meet in heaven, but it would be a tale for another story.

The end

I hope you enjoyed this story.

The epilogue is about the wedding of Robin Hood and Maid Marian. I decided that it would happen after King Richard's return to England because it is logical that they are getting married after the siege and the King's return. Although it is not Robin and Marian's love story, I gave them some private moments because I wanted to finish the story on a happy note.

There is a brief story about the events in Robin's life that followed his return from the Crusades. Robin was outlawed by Vaisey and became Robin Hood. There was no Guy of Gisborne in this story – there was Archer who became the Sheriff's master-at-arms. I didn't want to introduce Malcolm, so Archer's fate was sealed; I also wanted to be original, so I killed off Archer in the siege.

Perhaps, it is not what all of my readers, especially Guy fans, wanted to see in this story, hoping that Robin and Guy would work together after their return from Acre, but if that had happened, it wouldn't have been as original as this story. I don't hate Guy, and I think that he is an interesting character who can get absolution, but his redemption is out of scope in this story. My idea is that there were only two alternative ways in Guy's life, and if he didn't die in the pre-series, he would have killed Marian like it happened in the S2 Finale. But now Guy is happy in heaven, watching his son grow up into a fine young man and not regretting that he died in Acre.

Please leave a short review if you don't mind. I want to know your opinion. Thanks!

I hope you enjoyed this story.