Much Horsemaster!
Title: Much Horsemaster
Pairing: Much/Marian, Robin/Marian
Characters: Much, Robin, Marian, the rest of the gang!
Rating: U-PG.
Word Count: 4329
Disclaimer: Characters are all owned by the BBC, I have nothing to do with them and make no profit from this document.
Author's Note: I wrote this in a few days, and it's actually based on a dream I had about Marian trying to jump some jumps, and the gang
come along and rescue her, so it's a bit random. Thus we get some horsey terminology and what not. I really love exploring
the friendship between Much and Marian, and this comes from that, I think there should be more Much and Marian stuff! Also
what went on between all the characters when their parents were still alive, and before Robin and Much went to the Holy
Land. Hopeyou enjoy reading it ('tis a bit of a whopper!), and obviously comments and reviews, good or bad, always welcome!
Marian took a deep breath, then set herself up for the jump. She was trying to train her mare, the grey she had been given for her 18th birthday, when her mother was still alive, to jump. It was not that the horse did not know how to jump, but they were both inexperienced at jumping high or wide jumps. Marian thought that in her new profession as secret helper of the poor, it would be a good skill to have. Her father had shown no support of her jumping, even though he did not yet know about the Night Watchman. He thought it was the preserve of gambling young men, not well bred young women. As a result she had ridden off into the hills around Nottinghamshire, away from even the smallest villages. She took great pleasure in her isolation. She had left all her problems behind her, and she had a pleasant task ahead of her; she was not the sort to take joy in idleness. She had set herself up a jump with specially designed fences she kept in the woodline of the field. She set it quite low, and cantered the mare over it a few times, and then dismounted and raised the jump. She climbed back on, turned the mare to give her a long run up, and then cantered towards the jump. She went into jump position over the jump, and nearly closed her eyes, not liking the height of the jump. They landed with a thud, and cantered on. Marian looked back, and the pole was on the floor. She sighed, but she had expected it, so was not too bothered. She jumped off, and put the pole back up, and went round to try again.
On the thirtieth time of putting the pole back up, at a rather decreased height, she was beginning to regret her decision to not enlist a maid to come and help her. She mounted up again and went round on a wider circle to give the mare yet more room to see the jump and prepare herself. She thought the jump was now small enough for the mare to get her bearings, and take the jump properly. But when she got to the jump, the mare did not take-off when expected, and deer hopped over the jump, which threw Marian completely out of balance. She hardly had time to think before she hit the ground with a thump, and hardly realised when she heard a shout.
'Marian!' Her ears were ringing, and when she tried pulling herself back up, she gave up because the stars were shooting in her eyes and her head swam. She lay back and screwed her eyes shut. She felt hands on her, and opened her eyes instantly. She drew a sigh of relief when she saw Robin leaning over her, and his gang behind him. She smiled.
'Oh, it's just you.' She shut her eyes again, and breathed deeply.
'Are you alright?,' Robin asked, concern apparent in his voice.
'Yes, I'm fine, just a bit dazed.'
'Come on, let's settle you down,' Robin said, lifting her into his arms, and walking to the side of the field. He rested her down, leaning against a tree. 'Are you sure you're ok?'
'Yes, Robin, I am fine.' Robin brushed hair from her face, and sighed.
'You shouldn't be doing things like this Marian, what if you had been really hurt and we didn't turn up?'
'I'd be fine Robin, I can look after myself. I'm very good at falling off.' They chuckled, and Robin nearly hugged Marian, then realised what he was about to do, and drew back. Much was holding the mare's reins, and Robin turned to him.
'Let's have a go, see what I can do.' Much gave him a leg up (to spare the horse's back) and he trotted her round to the jump, before breaking into a canter and jumping cleanly over it.
'That was beginner's luck!,' Marian called to him. Much sat next to her, and the others stood in a group around them, watching Robin put the horse through her paces. He went back over the jump, then over again, then called back to them.
'Put it up would you?' Allan and Will ran over and put the jump up by about half a foot. They ran back to the group, and Robin took the mare over. They knocked the pole straight away, with her front hooves. Will put it back up, but Robin knocked it again.
'Begins to get boring about now doesn't it?,' Marian called.
'You're telling me!' He went over the fence again, but knocked it. He growled, and kicked the mare. He trotted back over to the group. 'She's useless.' He dismounted. 'What are you trying to get her to do this sort of thing for?'
'It's a safety issue. The better she can jump, the more easily I can get away.' Robin looked both worried and sceptical. 'Don't look like that Robin! I'm just trying to look after myself!' Marian joked, and tapped him on the arm. He smiled, and sat on the other side of Marian, moving closer, so they were sat up against eachother. The mare just stood in front of them, looking a bit confused.
'What are you going to do with her then?,' Allan asked.
'I can't do anything with her, I'm just going to have to put up with it if she can't jump. I could never get rid of her. Maybe I need to start training her up as a racer,' Marian joked. Much stood up, and started lengthening the mare's stirrups. Will held the right stirrup as Much climbed into the saddle.
'Put it down a bit, and put the back one in, a bit higher than the first one,' Much said to Will and Alan. Marian watched, and found herself liking this more authoritative Much. Djaq noticed this, and smiled to herself. Robin didn't, and smiled happily anyway. Much turned the mare and gave her a long, steady canter around the edge of the field and then directed her gently towards the fence, with squeezes of the leg as oppose to pulls on the reins. The fence was a spread, but only of two or so feet, so it was in essence quite a simple fence. The mare sailed over the fence with ease. They cantered round and went over it again (in the same direction). He trotted the horse over to them, and looked at Marian, speaking to her.
'You need to do spreads first, not height, so you encourage her to get the right shape over the fence. She's taking off in the wrong place, and not shaping right, which means she either hits it with her front hooves on the way up, or her dropped back legs on the way down. Feeling alright?.'
'Oh, yes, I'm fine,' Marian said, still pleasantly taken aback by Much's commanding manner.
'Much as I'd love to hang round and play games all day, we've got work to do,' John said, in his usual gruff manner. Robin stood.
'Yes, I suppose we better be off,' he said, sadly. Djaq stepped forward.
'It's all right Robin, you stay here. I'm sure John, Will, Allan and I can just about manage without you for an hour or two,' she said, with a tone of amused sarcasm. Robin looked to them for a moment, then nodded his head.
'Okay, if you're sure Djaq.'
'And I am, you two stay here. Marian may yet feel queasy from her fall.' Marian doubted it, but wanted Robin and Much to stay with her, so didn't say anything.
'Thank you Djaq. You all know what's to be done?'
'Of course we do Robin, we're not that bad!,' Allan said. They waved, and turned to walk back towards the villages. Robin moved back over to Much and Marian, and put his arms round her. Much smiled, and went round to take the mare over the fence again. Robin turned to Marian, and they kissed.
'When did Much become such a good horseman?,' Marian asked, as they settled back to watch Much and the mare.
'I don't really know. Natural I suppose. He schools our horses when he has the time.' Much hopped off the horse, and began adjusting the jump. Robin moved his arm from around Marian's shoulder and ran to help him. They raised both parts of the jump, and made the spread wider.
'Having fun over there?,' Much asked, chuckling. Robin laughed, and playfully hit Much. Robin held the opposite stirrup and Much mounted again. The fence was now as high as it could go, and stood at about four and a half feet, and over three foot wide. Marian looked worried; the last thing she wanted to see was Much wounded. Much cantered round, and got into a fast canter with a long stride. Robin sat back down with Marian, also looking slightly worried, but he knew Much was capable of it. It was the horse that was his worry. They cantered up to the jump, and for a moment Robin and Marian held their breath. The horse took off perfectly, and managed to spread over the fence. They landed elegantly, and Much pulled the mare into a trot, bending down and leaning on her neck, patting her, and verbally praising her. They walked over to Marian and Robin, and stopped.
'It's all about the way you train them. Can't expect them to do too much too soon. If they can manage a spread, they can usually manage uprights.' He dismounted, and rubbed the mare on the neck. 'She's brilliant really, very clever.' Robin smiled, proud of his friend, and Marian was rather impressed with him. She stood, her head fully recovered, and moved over to her horse, lovingly stroking her on the nose.
'She was the last thing my mother gave me.' None of them spoke, but Much put a comforting hand on her shoulder, which Marian acknowledged with a smile. She had known Much as long as she had known Robin, but still knew hardly anything about him. She did not know about his parents; whether they lived now or then, she had often thought he must be an orphan. 'Thank you Much, I had almost given up on trying to get her going.'
'Well I'm glad you didn't, because she's got a lot of potential. Brilliant paces. And as I said, very clever.' Much spoke jovially, and seemed to be reverting back to his normal self. Robin realised that Marian might be attracted to Much. He had always realised it. When they were young he had been worried about it. But over the Holy Land he had learnt a lot about himself, and Much, and their friendship. And since their return he had learnt a lot about Marian, and their love. There may be times when both of them were attracted to other people, (he recalled many flings with women on his travels, and Sarah, when they were only miles from home) and these may cause jealousy. But Much wasn't the same. They would both share everything, and if that meant him realising that Much and Marian would have a close relationship of sorts, that was fine by him. There were times when he had seriously worried that he would have to give up one for the sake of the other, so encouraging them to get on was high on his list of priorities.
'Mind if I take her out?,' Robin asked, of both Marian and Much.
'Of course not,' Marian said, stepping back.
'Just give her space, and get her strides long and even before you take the jump, otherwise she won't prepare.' He held the stirrup for Robin, and then him and Marian stood watching as Robin went round and prepared for the jump. He cantered her round the field a few times first, so Marian sat down in the grass, crossing her legs. Much waited a moment, watching Robin prepare for the jump, and approach, and then he sat down when the horse had sailed over the jump. Robin's position was a little jerky, he too was not used to such high jumps, but they both survived, and the poles were intact when Robin looked back to check. He settled into schooling the horse, and Much sat down next to Marian, also crossing his legs. He began twiddling with the long grass at his feet. Marian took a deep breath of the clean, fresh Nottinghamshire air, and shut her eyes, smiling serenely. Neither of them spoke. She expected Much to be watching Robin, but when she opened her eyes and looked to him he was staring absent-mindedly at the ground a few feet in front of them.
'Just like the olden days,' she said, wistfully.
'Not quite,' Much said, quietly. Marian was a little thrown by that, but put her arm through Much's, and moved closer.
'So, when did you get so good with horses?' Much shrugged.
'No idea. Just am I guess.' There was silence, and Marian tried to think of something to say. Then she shook her head.
'Much, it's me. And you. We don't need to talk like this. How are things?' Much turned to look at her, and they looked straight into eachother's eyes. 'I know a long time has passed since we were close, but we are friends. And I hope that we always will be,' Marian added. Much sighed, and pulled her closer to his side, looking out to Robin.
'Robin is angry. Not openly, or at anything that can really be fixed. But there is always an undertone of anger to him. He's angry at what our country has become. Angry that we left to fight, supposedly for our country, and while we are away worms eat away at it and destroy it. He is angry that we left to fight for something we didn't understand and didn't believe in. Angry at himself for leaving you.' There was a comfortable silence.
'I am angry at him for leaving. You were all just pawns in the Pope's games. But I suppose you couldn't stay. But now you're all....you're all so damaged. Not one of the others has come home.'
'We're losing. We're not going to win it. We can't win it. In some respects, we shouldn't win.' Marian put her other arm around his arm, laying her hand gently on his shoulder. 'There's just no point to it. I'm just glad we got out of it. Don't know how much more we could have taken, even without Robin's wound.' Marian rested her head against his shoulder.
'How are you Much?' He took a deep sigh, and hung his head.
'All right. Better than I thought I might be. I thought the madness would take me. For weeks on the way home, and then still when we were here. I felt on the verge of the abyss, like my mind was hanging on to sanity by its fingertips. But it hung on, and now I've pulled myself back up. When Frank came I felt so helpless for him, I saw myself in him, and knew there wasn't really anything I could do for him.'
'You wouldn't have fallen Much. You're too strong of mind.'
'That's just it though Marian. I'm not. There are still moments when I think I'm going. The only reason I haven't is because we've got something to do. I've always got my mind on other things, there's always some distraction. I half dread this mess being fixed. Then I'll be left with a free mind, and I don't know if I'll be able to stand it.'
Robin looked back towards them. Marian was clutching Much's arm, but he was looking out into the distance. He trotted the mare round again, and headed for the jump.
'But it's fine, really. I hardly think of it, and the others help in some ways. I don't think they realise it, but they do.'
'They're such good people. It's odd having them around. It always just used to be us three. Now Robin's got a them as well.'
'I hated it to start off with. Granted, there were lots of others in the Holy Land, but it had always just been Robin and me, when it came down to it. Then they all turned up, and we stopped talking so much, and, well, I wasn't sure if any of them actually liked me.'
'I think they do Much, and I think they always did. They're just the sort that don't feel the need to show it much.'
'Indeed. Doubtless you are right, Marian.' He turned and looked at her, surveying her as a whole for the first time since he had seen her again on their return. She felt as if she were blushing, but if she was he did not comment on it.
'How wise you have grown up to be Marian.' His tone was wistful. He looked back out to Robin.
'Well, I think we have all grown into people we would never have imagined.' Much let out a sigh.
'Strange that it has happened so, well, quickly. Until only a few years ago, we all knew where we were heading, what we wanted, when we would get it.'
'Then the crusades happened. And at the time it never felt fast. It was agony at times, to begin with. Never knowing what had happened to the two of you. I tracked your progress to the Holy Land, kept a count in my mind of where you would be. Once you got there I gave up. Then the days merged together, the hours seemed to drift, no matter how much I had to do, no matter how many tasks I completed with a hope of passing time faster, it never did. And then the world began crumbling about me. Father was no longer Sheriff, and my quiet country life was slowly morphing into this mess. I had to forget about you, it hurt too much, and there was too much worry on the home front for me to cope with your grief as well. I gave up hope of your return.' There was silence for some moments, and then Much turned back to her.
'And Guy turned up.' Marian found herself holding her breath, so taken aback was she by Much's words. She felt hot tears pooling in her eyes, and begin to brim over. 'Oh, Marian, don't cry, I'm sorry, I didn't mean it!' Much took her in his arms in a tight hug, and put a hand against the back of her head. 'I really didn't mean it, I don't know why I said it.' She sobbed into his shoulder for a few moments, then pushed herself up, wiping her eyes.
'No, it's true Much. This has been what I have been fearing since the moment I set eyes on you both again. That you, Robin would feel betrayed. That I forgot about you because of him.'
'No, Marian, that's not what I meant.' Neither of them seemed to notice that his hands were on her waist.
'Yes, it is, Much, even if you didn't want to say it or realise that you were saying it. I did begin to notice him, but I never forgot Robin. If anything it helped me to remember him. The contrasts between him and Robin made me realise how much I missed Robin. But I cannot say that he does not....stir me. On some level.' She let out another sob, and Much put his arm round her shoulders.
'I think you are punishing yourself unnecessarily. It is natural that in the years that we were away you would have found someone else who took your fancy, on some level.' He said it with a little emphasis on 'some level'. Marian did not miss this, and they chuckled a little. 'I can only assume you never thought Robin shared your zest for loyalty on that front.'
'Oh no! I never thought Robin would be, would be,' she said, faltering for the words. 'Would be so. I can't think of a way of saying it without making him sound dishonourable.' They laughed.
'I know what you mean anyway.'
'It was not so much that I felt I should... save myself for Robin or anything like that, it was more that Guy is nearly the polar opposite of Robin. And yet I think in different circumstances they could be friends.'
'I do not know Guy as well as you, but I think you may not be all wrong. Robin grew up a lot while we were away. Learnt a lot about himself, and his attitude towards people. He befriended some unlikely people. People he would have been punished for befriending if it had been known.'
'The enemy?,' Marian said, in a sort of shocked whisper. Much frowned, looking again to Robin.
'Not exactly. It seemed such an inappropriate word. They would have been considered the enemy by the others, maybe even by the King, an unusually open-minded man himself, but really they were just ordinary people. And we destroyed their homes, only to find ourselves apologising and trying to help when the others had gone. We gave up in the cause a long time before we came home.' There was another long, yet comfortable silence. Robin had been taking the mare over the fence, but now walked her over to the brook at the bottom of the hill, so she could drink.
'And did you leave anyone behind Much?' Much sighed again, then laughed, turning to her.
'You would have known about it if I did. No, the only friend I left was you.'
'And since?' His face darkened, and he frowned, looking at the ground.
'Well, there was Eve. Dear, sweet Eve,' he added, almost to himself.
'You will find her Much, I'm sure of it.'
'I'm afraid I don't share your optimism. I have been so sure of hopes, and yet still had them dashed, I no longer much care for being sure of things like that.' Marian leant her head against his shoulder.
'And yet I'm still sure of it, Much. People almost always get what they deserve, and you deserve her more than anyone.' Slightly to her surprise, and his, she sat up a little, and put a hand on his chin, pulling him into a kiss. The kiss deepened, and then quite naturally they drew away again. Marian let out a sigh, and leant against him again. It seemed the most natural thing in the world for them to do, and it did not make them feel as if they had done something wrong.
'I know I can never love you in that way Much, and I know you will never love me in that way, for our hearts belong to others, but I would like you to know that I will never cease to love you. There will always be a special corner of my heart that is all yours.' He pulled her closer, and placed a kiss in her hair.
'I have always valued your friendship above almost all else, Marian. I would never forsake it.' They could say more, but both knew they did not need to.
Robin had of course seen them kissing. But he had expected it, and felt no bitterness. He had smiled at the sight of it, and then turned the mare towards them. He stopped nearly at their feet, and dismounted. They were still sat close, Much's arm around her shoulders.
'The light is beginning to dim, I think we should all be on our way home.' They smiled up at him, and Much carefully removed his arm from round her shoulders. He stood, and offered her a hand. She took it, and he pulled her up. She moved to the horse, and Robin held the opposing stirrup. Much held the mare's head, stroking her muzzle softly.
'Good bye Marian, we will see you again soon I expect.' Robin patted the horse and put a hand gently on Marian's leg before turning to leave.
'Robin?' Marian spoke, and Robin turned back. She beckoned him to her, and he walked closer. She bent down from the mare, and put a hand to the back of his head, pulling him into a deep and passionate kiss. Much smiled, still stroking the mare, whispering sweet nothings to her, but entirely aware of what was going on. Robin's hand was on Marian's cheek, and as she pulled away, he stroked it. She turned the mare, so Much was at her side.
'Fair well Much.' She ran a hand playfully through his hair, and then again turned her horse, breaking into a trot and then a canter. Much and Robin stood side by side, watching her canter down the hill. She stopped just under the woodline, and turned, waving to them, with a smile apparent on her face. They both waved back, their characters strangely reflected in their waves, in a way she did not fail to notice. Robin's was a single show of the hand, held up by his shoulder, whereas Much's was more of an actual wave, more childish and somehow carefree. She smiled to herself, and turned away into the woods. Robin and Much both found themselves sighing as she disappeared into the woods, and smiled. Robin playfully grabbed Much, despite his verbal and physical show of disapproval, and placed a sloppy kiss on his cheek. He then drew back, and they smiled at eachother, before they turned and began their walk home. For the first time in many months, perhaps even years, they shared a feeling of deep contentment; about the world they lived in, and eachother. They did not speak as they walked, but simply smiled, and enjoyed eachother's silent company.
Pairing: Much/Marian, Robin/Marian
Characters: Much, Robin, Marian, the rest of the gang!
Rating: U-PG.
Word Count: 4329
Disclaimer: Characters are all owned by the BBC, I have nothing to do with them and make no profit from this document.
Author's Note: I wrote this in a few days, and it's actually based on a dream I had about Marian trying to jump some jumps, and the gang
come along and rescue her, so it's a bit random. Thus we get some horsey terminology and what not. I really love exploring
the friendship between Much and Marian, and this comes from that, I think there should be more Much and Marian stuff! Also
what went on between all the characters when their parents were still alive, and before Robin and Much went to the Holy
Land. Hopeyou enjoy reading it ('tis a bit of a whopper!), and obviously comments and reviews, good or bad, always welcome!
Marian took a deep breath, then set herself up for the jump. She was trying to train her mare, the grey she had been given for her 18th birthday, when her mother was still alive, to jump. It was not that the horse did not know how to jump, but they were both inexperienced at jumping high or wide jumps. Marian thought that in her new profession as secret helper of the poor, it would be a good skill to have. Her father had shown no support of her jumping, even though he did not yet know about the Night Watchman. He thought it was the preserve of gambling young men, not well bred young women. As a result she had ridden off into the hills around Nottinghamshire, away from even the smallest villages. She took great pleasure in her isolation. She had left all her problems behind her, and she had a pleasant task ahead of her; she was not the sort to take joy in idleness. She had set herself up a jump with specially designed fences she kept in the woodline of the field. She set it quite low, and cantered the mare over it a few times, and then dismounted and raised the jump. She climbed back on, turned the mare to give her a long run up, and then cantered towards the jump. She went into jump position over the jump, and nearly closed her eyes, not liking the height of the jump. They landed with a thud, and cantered on. Marian looked back, and the pole was on the floor. She sighed, but she had expected it, so was not too bothered. She jumped off, and put the pole back up, and went round to try again.
On the thirtieth time of putting the pole back up, at a rather decreased height, she was beginning to regret her decision to not enlist a maid to come and help her. She mounted up again and went round on a wider circle to give the mare yet more room to see the jump and prepare herself. She thought the jump was now small enough for the mare to get her bearings, and take the jump properly. But when she got to the jump, the mare did not take-off when expected, and deer hopped over the jump, which threw Marian completely out of balance. She hardly had time to think before she hit the ground with a thump, and hardly realised when she heard a shout.
'Marian!' Her ears were ringing, and when she tried pulling herself back up, she gave up because the stars were shooting in her eyes and her head swam. She lay back and screwed her eyes shut. She felt hands on her, and opened her eyes instantly. She drew a sigh of relief when she saw Robin leaning over her, and his gang behind him. She smiled.
'Oh, it's just you.' She shut her eyes again, and breathed deeply.
'Are you alright?,' Robin asked, concern apparent in his voice.
'Yes, I'm fine, just a bit dazed.'
'Come on, let's settle you down,' Robin said, lifting her into his arms, and walking to the side of the field. He rested her down, leaning against a tree. 'Are you sure you're ok?'
'Yes, Robin, I am fine.' Robin brushed hair from her face, and sighed.
'You shouldn't be doing things like this Marian, what if you had been really hurt and we didn't turn up?'
'I'd be fine Robin, I can look after myself. I'm very good at falling off.' They chuckled, and Robin nearly hugged Marian, then realised what he was about to do, and drew back. Much was holding the mare's reins, and Robin turned to him.
'Let's have a go, see what I can do.' Much gave him a leg up (to spare the horse's back) and he trotted her round to the jump, before breaking into a canter and jumping cleanly over it.
'That was beginner's luck!,' Marian called to him. Much sat next to her, and the others stood in a group around them, watching Robin put the horse through her paces. He went back over the jump, then over again, then called back to them.
'Put it up would you?' Allan and Will ran over and put the jump up by about half a foot. They ran back to the group, and Robin took the mare over. They knocked the pole straight away, with her front hooves. Will put it back up, but Robin knocked it again.
'Begins to get boring about now doesn't it?,' Marian called.
'You're telling me!' He went over the fence again, but knocked it. He growled, and kicked the mare. He trotted back over to the group. 'She's useless.' He dismounted. 'What are you trying to get her to do this sort of thing for?'
'It's a safety issue. The better she can jump, the more easily I can get away.' Robin looked both worried and sceptical. 'Don't look like that Robin! I'm just trying to look after myself!' Marian joked, and tapped him on the arm. He smiled, and sat on the other side of Marian, moving closer, so they were sat up against eachother. The mare just stood in front of them, looking a bit confused.
'What are you going to do with her then?,' Allan asked.
'I can't do anything with her, I'm just going to have to put up with it if she can't jump. I could never get rid of her. Maybe I need to start training her up as a racer,' Marian joked. Much stood up, and started lengthening the mare's stirrups. Will held the right stirrup as Much climbed into the saddle.
'Put it down a bit, and put the back one in, a bit higher than the first one,' Much said to Will and Alan. Marian watched, and found herself liking this more authoritative Much. Djaq noticed this, and smiled to herself. Robin didn't, and smiled happily anyway. Much turned the mare and gave her a long, steady canter around the edge of the field and then directed her gently towards the fence, with squeezes of the leg as oppose to pulls on the reins. The fence was a spread, but only of two or so feet, so it was in essence quite a simple fence. The mare sailed over the fence with ease. They cantered round and went over it again (in the same direction). He trotted the horse over to them, and looked at Marian, speaking to her.
'You need to do spreads first, not height, so you encourage her to get the right shape over the fence. She's taking off in the wrong place, and not shaping right, which means she either hits it with her front hooves on the way up, or her dropped back legs on the way down. Feeling alright?.'
'Oh, yes, I'm fine,' Marian said, still pleasantly taken aback by Much's commanding manner.
'Much as I'd love to hang round and play games all day, we've got work to do,' John said, in his usual gruff manner. Robin stood.
'Yes, I suppose we better be off,' he said, sadly. Djaq stepped forward.
'It's all right Robin, you stay here. I'm sure John, Will, Allan and I can just about manage without you for an hour or two,' she said, with a tone of amused sarcasm. Robin looked to them for a moment, then nodded his head.
'Okay, if you're sure Djaq.'
'And I am, you two stay here. Marian may yet feel queasy from her fall.' Marian doubted it, but wanted Robin and Much to stay with her, so didn't say anything.
'Thank you Djaq. You all know what's to be done?'
'Of course we do Robin, we're not that bad!,' Allan said. They waved, and turned to walk back towards the villages. Robin moved back over to Much and Marian, and put his arms round her. Much smiled, and went round to take the mare over the fence again. Robin turned to Marian, and they kissed.
'When did Much become such a good horseman?,' Marian asked, as they settled back to watch Much and the mare.
'I don't really know. Natural I suppose. He schools our horses when he has the time.' Much hopped off the horse, and began adjusting the jump. Robin moved his arm from around Marian's shoulder and ran to help him. They raised both parts of the jump, and made the spread wider.
'Having fun over there?,' Much asked, chuckling. Robin laughed, and playfully hit Much. Robin held the opposite stirrup and Much mounted again. The fence was now as high as it could go, and stood at about four and a half feet, and over three foot wide. Marian looked worried; the last thing she wanted to see was Much wounded. Much cantered round, and got into a fast canter with a long stride. Robin sat back down with Marian, also looking slightly worried, but he knew Much was capable of it. It was the horse that was his worry. They cantered up to the jump, and for a moment Robin and Marian held their breath. The horse took off perfectly, and managed to spread over the fence. They landed elegantly, and Much pulled the mare into a trot, bending down and leaning on her neck, patting her, and verbally praising her. They walked over to Marian and Robin, and stopped.
'It's all about the way you train them. Can't expect them to do too much too soon. If they can manage a spread, they can usually manage uprights.' He dismounted, and rubbed the mare on the neck. 'She's brilliant really, very clever.' Robin smiled, proud of his friend, and Marian was rather impressed with him. She stood, her head fully recovered, and moved over to her horse, lovingly stroking her on the nose.
'She was the last thing my mother gave me.' None of them spoke, but Much put a comforting hand on her shoulder, which Marian acknowledged with a smile. She had known Much as long as she had known Robin, but still knew hardly anything about him. She did not know about his parents; whether they lived now or then, she had often thought he must be an orphan. 'Thank you Much, I had almost given up on trying to get her going.'
'Well I'm glad you didn't, because she's got a lot of potential. Brilliant paces. And as I said, very clever.' Much spoke jovially, and seemed to be reverting back to his normal self. Robin realised that Marian might be attracted to Much. He had always realised it. When they were young he had been worried about it. But over the Holy Land he had learnt a lot about himself, and Much, and their friendship. And since their return he had learnt a lot about Marian, and their love. There may be times when both of them were attracted to other people, (he recalled many flings with women on his travels, and Sarah, when they were only miles from home) and these may cause jealousy. But Much wasn't the same. They would both share everything, and if that meant him realising that Much and Marian would have a close relationship of sorts, that was fine by him. There were times when he had seriously worried that he would have to give up one for the sake of the other, so encouraging them to get on was high on his list of priorities.
'Mind if I take her out?,' Robin asked, of both Marian and Much.
'Of course not,' Marian said, stepping back.
'Just give her space, and get her strides long and even before you take the jump, otherwise she won't prepare.' He held the stirrup for Robin, and then him and Marian stood watching as Robin went round and prepared for the jump. He cantered her round the field a few times first, so Marian sat down in the grass, crossing her legs. Much waited a moment, watching Robin prepare for the jump, and approach, and then he sat down when the horse had sailed over the jump. Robin's position was a little jerky, he too was not used to such high jumps, but they both survived, and the poles were intact when Robin looked back to check. He settled into schooling the horse, and Much sat down next to Marian, also crossing his legs. He began twiddling with the long grass at his feet. Marian took a deep breath of the clean, fresh Nottinghamshire air, and shut her eyes, smiling serenely. Neither of them spoke. She expected Much to be watching Robin, but when she opened her eyes and looked to him he was staring absent-mindedly at the ground a few feet in front of them.
'Just like the olden days,' she said, wistfully.
'Not quite,' Much said, quietly. Marian was a little thrown by that, but put her arm through Much's, and moved closer.
'So, when did you get so good with horses?' Much shrugged.
'No idea. Just am I guess.' There was silence, and Marian tried to think of something to say. Then she shook her head.
'Much, it's me. And you. We don't need to talk like this. How are things?' Much turned to look at her, and they looked straight into eachother's eyes. 'I know a long time has passed since we were close, but we are friends. And I hope that we always will be,' Marian added. Much sighed, and pulled her closer to his side, looking out to Robin.
'Robin is angry. Not openly, or at anything that can really be fixed. But there is always an undertone of anger to him. He's angry at what our country has become. Angry that we left to fight, supposedly for our country, and while we are away worms eat away at it and destroy it. He is angry that we left to fight for something we didn't understand and didn't believe in. Angry at himself for leaving you.' There was a comfortable silence.
'I am angry at him for leaving. You were all just pawns in the Pope's games. But I suppose you couldn't stay. But now you're all....you're all so damaged. Not one of the others has come home.'
'We're losing. We're not going to win it. We can't win it. In some respects, we shouldn't win.' Marian put her other arm around his arm, laying her hand gently on his shoulder. 'There's just no point to it. I'm just glad we got out of it. Don't know how much more we could have taken, even without Robin's wound.' Marian rested her head against his shoulder.
'How are you Much?' He took a deep sigh, and hung his head.
'All right. Better than I thought I might be. I thought the madness would take me. For weeks on the way home, and then still when we were here. I felt on the verge of the abyss, like my mind was hanging on to sanity by its fingertips. But it hung on, and now I've pulled myself back up. When Frank came I felt so helpless for him, I saw myself in him, and knew there wasn't really anything I could do for him.'
'You wouldn't have fallen Much. You're too strong of mind.'
'That's just it though Marian. I'm not. There are still moments when I think I'm going. The only reason I haven't is because we've got something to do. I've always got my mind on other things, there's always some distraction. I half dread this mess being fixed. Then I'll be left with a free mind, and I don't know if I'll be able to stand it.'
Robin looked back towards them. Marian was clutching Much's arm, but he was looking out into the distance. He trotted the mare round again, and headed for the jump.
'But it's fine, really. I hardly think of it, and the others help in some ways. I don't think they realise it, but they do.'
'They're such good people. It's odd having them around. It always just used to be us three. Now Robin's got a them as well.'
'I hated it to start off with. Granted, there were lots of others in the Holy Land, but it had always just been Robin and me, when it came down to it. Then they all turned up, and we stopped talking so much, and, well, I wasn't sure if any of them actually liked me.'
'I think they do Much, and I think they always did. They're just the sort that don't feel the need to show it much.'
'Indeed. Doubtless you are right, Marian.' He turned and looked at her, surveying her as a whole for the first time since he had seen her again on their return. She felt as if she were blushing, but if she was he did not comment on it.
'How wise you have grown up to be Marian.' His tone was wistful. He looked back out to Robin.
'Well, I think we have all grown into people we would never have imagined.' Much let out a sigh.
'Strange that it has happened so, well, quickly. Until only a few years ago, we all knew where we were heading, what we wanted, when we would get it.'
'Then the crusades happened. And at the time it never felt fast. It was agony at times, to begin with. Never knowing what had happened to the two of you. I tracked your progress to the Holy Land, kept a count in my mind of where you would be. Once you got there I gave up. Then the days merged together, the hours seemed to drift, no matter how much I had to do, no matter how many tasks I completed with a hope of passing time faster, it never did. And then the world began crumbling about me. Father was no longer Sheriff, and my quiet country life was slowly morphing into this mess. I had to forget about you, it hurt too much, and there was too much worry on the home front for me to cope with your grief as well. I gave up hope of your return.' There was silence for some moments, and then Much turned back to her.
'And Guy turned up.' Marian found herself holding her breath, so taken aback was she by Much's words. She felt hot tears pooling in her eyes, and begin to brim over. 'Oh, Marian, don't cry, I'm sorry, I didn't mean it!' Much took her in his arms in a tight hug, and put a hand against the back of her head. 'I really didn't mean it, I don't know why I said it.' She sobbed into his shoulder for a few moments, then pushed herself up, wiping her eyes.
'No, it's true Much. This has been what I have been fearing since the moment I set eyes on you both again. That you, Robin would feel betrayed. That I forgot about you because of him.'
'No, Marian, that's not what I meant.' Neither of them seemed to notice that his hands were on her waist.
'Yes, it is, Much, even if you didn't want to say it or realise that you were saying it. I did begin to notice him, but I never forgot Robin. If anything it helped me to remember him. The contrasts between him and Robin made me realise how much I missed Robin. But I cannot say that he does not....stir me. On some level.' She let out another sob, and Much put his arm round her shoulders.
'I think you are punishing yourself unnecessarily. It is natural that in the years that we were away you would have found someone else who took your fancy, on some level.' He said it with a little emphasis on 'some level'. Marian did not miss this, and they chuckled a little. 'I can only assume you never thought Robin shared your zest for loyalty on that front.'
'Oh no! I never thought Robin would be, would be,' she said, faltering for the words. 'Would be so. I can't think of a way of saying it without making him sound dishonourable.' They laughed.
'I know what you mean anyway.'
'It was not so much that I felt I should... save myself for Robin or anything like that, it was more that Guy is nearly the polar opposite of Robin. And yet I think in different circumstances they could be friends.'
'I do not know Guy as well as you, but I think you may not be all wrong. Robin grew up a lot while we were away. Learnt a lot about himself, and his attitude towards people. He befriended some unlikely people. People he would have been punished for befriending if it had been known.'
'The enemy?,' Marian said, in a sort of shocked whisper. Much frowned, looking again to Robin.
'Not exactly. It seemed such an inappropriate word. They would have been considered the enemy by the others, maybe even by the King, an unusually open-minded man himself, but really they were just ordinary people. And we destroyed their homes, only to find ourselves apologising and trying to help when the others had gone. We gave up in the cause a long time before we came home.' There was another long, yet comfortable silence. Robin had been taking the mare over the fence, but now walked her over to the brook at the bottom of the hill, so she could drink.
'And did you leave anyone behind Much?' Much sighed again, then laughed, turning to her.
'You would have known about it if I did. No, the only friend I left was you.'
'And since?' His face darkened, and he frowned, looking at the ground.
'Well, there was Eve. Dear, sweet Eve,' he added, almost to himself.
'You will find her Much, I'm sure of it.'
'I'm afraid I don't share your optimism. I have been so sure of hopes, and yet still had them dashed, I no longer much care for being sure of things like that.' Marian leant her head against his shoulder.
'And yet I'm still sure of it, Much. People almost always get what they deserve, and you deserve her more than anyone.' Slightly to her surprise, and his, she sat up a little, and put a hand on his chin, pulling him into a kiss. The kiss deepened, and then quite naturally they drew away again. Marian let out a sigh, and leant against him again. It seemed the most natural thing in the world for them to do, and it did not make them feel as if they had done something wrong.
'I know I can never love you in that way Much, and I know you will never love me in that way, for our hearts belong to others, but I would like you to know that I will never cease to love you. There will always be a special corner of my heart that is all yours.' He pulled her closer, and placed a kiss in her hair.
'I have always valued your friendship above almost all else, Marian. I would never forsake it.' They could say more, but both knew they did not need to.
Robin had of course seen them kissing. But he had expected it, and felt no bitterness. He had smiled at the sight of it, and then turned the mare towards them. He stopped nearly at their feet, and dismounted. They were still sat close, Much's arm around her shoulders.
'The light is beginning to dim, I think we should all be on our way home.' They smiled up at him, and Much carefully removed his arm from round her shoulders. He stood, and offered her a hand. She took it, and he pulled her up. She moved to the horse, and Robin held the opposing stirrup. Much held the mare's head, stroking her muzzle softly.
'Good bye Marian, we will see you again soon I expect.' Robin patted the horse and put a hand gently on Marian's leg before turning to leave.
'Robin?' Marian spoke, and Robin turned back. She beckoned him to her, and he walked closer. She bent down from the mare, and put a hand to the back of his head, pulling him into a deep and passionate kiss. Much smiled, still stroking the mare, whispering sweet nothings to her, but entirely aware of what was going on. Robin's hand was on Marian's cheek, and as she pulled away, he stroked it. She turned the mare, so Much was at her side.
'Fair well Much.' She ran a hand playfully through his hair, and then again turned her horse, breaking into a trot and then a canter. Much and Robin stood side by side, watching her canter down the hill. She stopped just under the woodline, and turned, waving to them, with a smile apparent on her face. They both waved back, their characters strangely reflected in their waves, in a way she did not fail to notice. Robin's was a single show of the hand, held up by his shoulder, whereas Much's was more of an actual wave, more childish and somehow carefree. She smiled to herself, and turned away into the woods. Robin and Much both found themselves sighing as she disappeared into the woods, and smiled. Robin playfully grabbed Much, despite his verbal and physical show of disapproval, and placed a sloppy kiss on his cheek. He then drew back, and they smiled at eachother, before they turned and began their walk home. For the first time in many months, perhaps even years, they shared a feeling of deep contentment; about the world they lived in, and eachother. They did not speak as they walked, but simply smiled, and enjoyed eachother's silent company.