All in the Merry Greenwood excerpt (gen)
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Nottingham took with him the best of his guard, tenscore knights in bright mail. For added safety, he brought Marion and her lady. The way led through Sherwood and it was well known that Robin Hood never harmed a lady, Saxon or Norman, noble or common.
He rode beside Marion, braving Bess's scowls. The princess hadn't been out of the tower since Lammastide, except to fill her ceremonial function at his table for the great feasts. He had missed her company.
Marion looked about eagerly, taking in the sunshine and the songs of the little birds. She cast occasional glances at the knight who led her palfrey. Nottingham rode in closer and smiled at her.
She would be a fine wife, if he could persuade King John to the idea. She was beautiful and dainty, all the things a good lady should be. She was slender though. Phillip liked buxom women and he worried about the narrowness of her hips. Lovely though they were, he wondered if they would pass many strong sons and pretty daughters for him. He did not dwell on his great fear that she would scream and bleed her life away in childbed like so many slim women.
He smiled again, imagining a day like this in the future with her beside him and no glowering Bess. In his mind, two tall sons rode behind him and a third led his sister on a palfrey. A fourth rode in a sling from his saddle and Marion's belly swelled with the next. He reached over and took her hand, still smiling.
She squeezed his hand lightly and returned the smile. “It is a lovely day for a ride, my lord Nottingham. And I haven't been to Lincoln in ever so long.”
"Please, Your Highness, call me Phillip,” he managed, a little uneasy in her company. She was pleasant, but not terribly intelligent he decided. That was all right. Clever women like the late Queen Eleanor could be a great burden for their menfolk. “I'm glad you enjoy it. Perhaps we should ride more often? Together?”
She smiled at him more. “I like to ride.” She sent another sour look at her guard. “Although, sometimes I wish it were proper for me to truly ride instead of merely being led about sitting on a horse. I rode as a child, but now, I sit quietly and am led.”
Awkwardly, Phillip suggested, “Perhaps out in the courtyard? No one will see.”
Marion smiled and nodded. A flutter of scarlet caught her attention and she pointed at the robin redbreast who perched on a low branch and sang loudly. “Isn't it sweet? Singing just for us.”
"It's warning us off its territory, my lady.”
"Indeed I am!” came a hearty voice from above them. Robin Hood, all in Lincoln green, swung onto a low limb above the road directly before them. He bowed to Marion. “Welcome to Sherwood, my lady.” From the forest around burst scores of bowmen, all in Lincoln green, arrows on the string. “Now allow me to welcome you into my domain, Lord Nottingham. Peacefully.” He bowed to the Sheriff. “It is my hope you and your men will join us for dinner.”
Nottingham gestured for his men to stand down. Their swords would not be so quick as the clothyard shafts and he would lose them all ere Robin was touched. He sighed, knowing the outlaw had the better of him. “Lead on, then, to your dinner.”
Robin himself took the reins of Marion's palfrey and Little John took the Sheriff's reins. Robin gestured and Will led Bess, with all the men trooping after. Through the paths of the forest and over many twists and turns they led them until the sun was high in the sky.
At the end of it, they came to a glen where stood the largest oak any of the visitors had seen. Beneath it, the clearing bustled with men and smelled of good food.
A grand feast met the visitors' eyes. Heaping platters of rich venison and roast boar sat on a low trestle under the branches, amid heaps of pasties and bread. Large kegs of ale and beer stood by.
Robin helped Marion dismount and led her to the center of the head table. Phillip followed closely and seated himself on her other side. Bess seated herself on Phillip's other side, clearly unhappy at being so far from her girl, and Little John sat beside her. Robin smiled at Marion and bowed to the Sheriff.
"My lord, my lady, if it pleases you, be our honored guests.” Robin beckoned Will to have the food served out.
The small man in red poured out mugs of the beer for Robin and the Sheriff and then presented goblets of wine to Marion and Bess. “Your very good health, my ladies.”
The platters came around. Robin speared two pieces of the venison and a pasty that he set on Marion's half of their shared trencher. Nottingham took his share, for it all smelled marvelous.
"Will, music for my guests.” Robin gestured and the red-clad man came forth again. He sang a song in Breton and then in French. Nottingham scowled at the choice of a love ballad.
Nottingham took with him the best of his guard, tenscore knights in bright mail. For added safety, he brought Marion and her lady. The way led through Sherwood and it was well known that Robin Hood never harmed a lady, Saxon or Norman, noble or common.
He rode beside Marion, braving Bess's scowls. The princess hadn't been out of the tower since Lammastide, except to fill her ceremonial function at his table for the great feasts. He had missed her company.
Marion looked about eagerly, taking in the sunshine and the songs of the little birds. She cast occasional glances at the knight who led her palfrey. Nottingham rode in closer and smiled at her.
She would be a fine wife, if he could persuade King John to the idea. She was beautiful and dainty, all the things a good lady should be. She was slender though. Phillip liked buxom women and he worried about the narrowness of her hips. Lovely though they were, he wondered if they would pass many strong sons and pretty daughters for him. He did not dwell on his great fear that she would scream and bleed her life away in childbed like so many slim women.
He smiled again, imagining a day like this in the future with her beside him and no glowering Bess. In his mind, two tall sons rode behind him and a third led his sister on a palfrey. A fourth rode in a sling from his saddle and Marion's belly swelled with the next. He reached over and took her hand, still smiling.
She squeezed his hand lightly and returned the smile. “It is a lovely day for a ride, my lord Nottingham. And I haven't been to Lincoln in ever so long.”
"Please, Your Highness, call me Phillip,” he managed, a little uneasy in her company. She was pleasant, but not terribly intelligent he decided. That was all right. Clever women like the late Queen Eleanor could be a great burden for their menfolk. “I'm glad you enjoy it. Perhaps we should ride more often? Together?”
She smiled at him more. “I like to ride.” She sent another sour look at her guard. “Although, sometimes I wish it were proper for me to truly ride instead of merely being led about sitting on a horse. I rode as a child, but now, I sit quietly and am led.”
Awkwardly, Phillip suggested, “Perhaps out in the courtyard? No one will see.”
Marion smiled and nodded. A flutter of scarlet caught her attention and she pointed at the robin redbreast who perched on a low branch and sang loudly. “Isn't it sweet? Singing just for us.”
"It's warning us off its territory, my lady.”
"Indeed I am!” came a hearty voice from above them. Robin Hood, all in Lincoln green, swung onto a low limb above the road directly before them. He bowed to Marion. “Welcome to Sherwood, my lady.” From the forest around burst scores of bowmen, all in Lincoln green, arrows on the string. “Now allow me to welcome you into my domain, Lord Nottingham. Peacefully.” He bowed to the Sheriff. “It is my hope you and your men will join us for dinner.”
Nottingham gestured for his men to stand down. Their swords would not be so quick as the clothyard shafts and he would lose them all ere Robin was touched. He sighed, knowing the outlaw had the better of him. “Lead on, then, to your dinner.”
Robin himself took the reins of Marion's palfrey and Little John took the Sheriff's reins. Robin gestured and Will led Bess, with all the men trooping after. Through the paths of the forest and over many twists and turns they led them until the sun was high in the sky.
At the end of it, they came to a glen where stood the largest oak any of the visitors had seen. Beneath it, the clearing bustled with men and smelled of good food.
A grand feast met the visitors' eyes. Heaping platters of rich venison and roast boar sat on a low trestle under the branches, amid heaps of pasties and bread. Large kegs of ale and beer stood by.
Robin helped Marion dismount and led her to the center of the head table. Phillip followed closely and seated himself on her other side. Bess seated herself on Phillip's other side, clearly unhappy at being so far from her girl, and Little John sat beside her. Robin smiled at Marion and bowed to the Sheriff.
"My lord, my lady, if it pleases you, be our honored guests.” Robin beckoned Will to have the food served out.
The small man in red poured out mugs of the beer for Robin and the Sheriff and then presented goblets of wine to Marion and Bess. “Your very good health, my ladies.”
The platters came around. Robin speared two pieces of the venison and a pasty that he set on Marion's half of their shared trencher. Nottingham took his share, for it all smelled marvelous.
"Will, music for my guests.” Robin gestured and the red-clad man came forth again. He sang a song in Breton and then in French. Nottingham scowled at the choice of a love ballad.
