Epilogue

Three Years Later

Sherwood hadn't changed. Fall had colored the leaves red and orange with tinges of gold here and there. It was still the same as she remembered it though. It was home. She rode her horse slowly, trying to keep her frantically beating heart under control. She hadn't seen him in three years. He had always been at the edge of her mind though along with the sun-dappled forest. She turned her horse off the path and headed toward the camp. The route was engrained in her head now. She'd never forget it. The clearing came into sight, and she pushed her horse into a trot, eager to reach her destination. She stopped short when she reached the clearing. It was empty. Not a trace that there had been any camp. Had they changed the location? She turned her horse and galloped through the forest, checking all the spots they had once called camp. Everything was gone. She sat still for a moment in the forest, letting the silence wash over her. Robin was gone.

She turned her horse toward Locksley, starting in surprise when the town came into sight. The village was flourishing. The people no longer looked hungry, in fact, they looked happy and well fed, their eyes and faces glowing.

"What has happened to Robin Hood?" she asked a woman who was passing by.

"Robin Hood the outlaw?"

"Yes."

"You've been away a long time," the woman said. "Robin Hood is just a story." She laughed. "You should talk to the Earl. He's up in his manor house." She pointed toward the house that Guy had once occupied.

Ivy sat staring up at the manor house. Robin wasn't just a story. He would never just be a story. She walked her horse up to the manor. Guy was no Earl, so who had taken up residence in the manor house? She dismounted, her feet carrying her up to the front steps. She knocked on the door. A stout maid answered, looking curiously at Ivy.

"Is the Earl in?" she asked.

"I'm sorry, he's just gone for a ride. Up to the hill, I think he said. He'll be back in an hour or so if you'd like to wait."

"No, thank you." Ivy backed away and the woman closed the door. Ivy mounted her horse again, riding out of Locksley. She felt disheartened. Robin was gone. It was as if he had simply disappeared. She rode on until she realized that she had come to a hill that rested on the outskirts of Nottingham. She looked up to see a rider sitting astride a bay horse at the top of the hill. He looked vaguely familiar. She stopped her horse to study him. That brown hair. The bow.

She kicked her horse into a gallop, closing the distance between herself and the other rider. He dismounted and stood waiting for her. She flung herself into his arms when she reached him.

"Robin!" she whispered. "I knew you couldn't be gone." He held her tightly, burying his face in her shoulder, and running a hand through her long, red curls.

"Ivy. I'd never leave. I've been waiting for you all this time."

"But a woman said you didn't exist," Ivy said. "She said Robin Hood was just a story."

"And so he is now."

"What do you mean?"

"After you left, things escalated with the Sheriff. In the end, he was imprisoned for actions against King Richard. A new Sheriff has been appointed – one who is both wise and kindly."

"That's wonderful! So you're not an outlaw anymore?"

"No, my title has been restored, and I'm a free man."

"Where is everyone else?" she asked.

"Little John went to live with his wife and family. Djaq and Will were married and moved back to her homeland. Allan is working for the current Sheriff and Much has a house of his own in Locksley."

"What about Marian?"

"She's fine. Her father passed away last winter, but she's taken over Knighton Hall. She's still very much the Night Watchman, only now she can give without fear of repercussion and without the mask." He smiled.

"And…" she was afraid to ask.

"Guy fled. I'm not sure where he is, but he wasn't imprisoned with the Sheriff," Robin answered.

Ivy nodded. "And what of you, Robin?" she asked. "Can you forgive me?"

"Ivy, I forgave you a long time ago," Robin told her, taking her hand. "I told you I've been waiting for you." He leaned down and kissed her. It was long and sweet, and Ivy felt a happiness flood over her.

"I've been waiting for you too," she said when they pulled apart.

"We don't have to wait any longer," he said. "You're here now."

"I'm not going anywhere." She tugged on the leather cord that hung around her neck, pulling out the tag he had given her so long ago. "I've kept this all this time. It marks me as yours, Robin. And that's all I ever want to be."

Thank you so much for reading! Wow, this has been a long time in coming, but here it is, my Robin Hood fanfiction complete! I was going to follow the season three ending a bit, but then I decided, screw it, I hate that season and that ending, so here we have it. Everyone's happy. The way I like it! I hope you've enjoyed reading. All your support is what kept me writing!