I’m so sorry that this took so long

I’m so sorry that this took so long. I have been so accursed as to contract the dreaded Writer’s Block Most Foul! After weeks of wrestling with this foul ailment, I have managed to scrape through with chapter 3 of Follow Your Heart. Once more, I thank everyone who has reviewed so far. Bear in mind that this is my first attempt at Robin/Marian. In this chapter, I will finally introduce Leliliq! Have a cookie if you can spot the LOTR line in this chapter!

Disclaimer: I (sighs) don’t own Robin Hood. Leliliq is mine. Ask if you want to use her.

Note: In the end of “We Are Robin Hood! We saw Allan head back to England with a basket on his back which may have contained Lardner so he would be in the Camp by now.

“How is Robin?” asked Marian anxiously. “He is still out cold I’m afraid” replied Much

solemnly. It had been nearly a full hour since Robin had unexpectedly fainted upon

seeing his wife returned from the brink of Death.

“Can you leave us for a moment please?” asked Marian “Yes, of course” said Much “and Marian . . . it is good to have you back” so saying this, Much gave Marian a big hug and left them alone. Marian looked at Robin’s face again. He didn’t look entirely unconscious because his face would twitch and brief expressions of pain would appear before disappearing again. He was not unconscious, merely deeply troubled and in pain. In mourning.

It broke Marian’s heart to see a man as strong as Robin like lose hope and will like this. “Do you remember when you told me that you were going with the King on his Crusade?” asked Marian, as if Robin could hear her. “I knocked you out and Much had to drag you out of Locksley”. For a moment Marian smiled a watery smile before completely falling apart on him.

“Oh Robin!” she cried “Why did I have to put you in this position?!” By now the rest of the Gang had noticed her emotional collapse and could only look on helplessly. Much had slumped against the wall of the Camp and cradled his head in his hands. It was obvious that he was mustering all of his self control to keep himself from crying. Allan looked uncomfortable and merely stayed silent and stared at the floor. Little John’s face looked grim and sad, his eyes betrayed his sadness. Will, no stranger to feelings of soaring love and unendurable heartbreak seemed to radiate empathy. Beside him, Djaq’s eyes were swimming with unshed tears for her friend. Carter had seen many horrors in the Holy Land yet even this most battle-hardened Crusader looked deeply troubled at the scene before him.

Robin’s eyes snapped open. He lay there for a moment before realising that someone was lying on his chest, crying uncontrollably. Memories of what had happened before everything had gone black rushed back to him so quickly that it made him nearly black out again. Will, Djaq, Carter . . . Marian. The person on top of him sensed his movement and shortened the gap between their faces to a few inches. Robin lightly touched Marian’s face. He didn’t dare close his eyes lest she disappear again.

“I know your face” murmured Robin. A brief, fleeting smile came to the lover’s faces before they closed the gap and met in a deep but passionate kiss. When their lips met, it seemed that the world had become a bit more bright and complete despite the best efforts of the Sherriff and the Black Knights. Upon seeing this, everyone present let their feelings out in whichever way felt best.

Allan’s cheeky grin and merry laugh leapt through the freezing air of the Camp, Much punched the air and gave a hearty cheer, A single tear ran down Little John’s face as he was reminded of the Wife and Child whom he had left behind, Will and Djaq were hugging each other ecstatically, spinning each other around whilst Carter crossed himself and muttered a silent prayer of gratitude.

“I have missed you so much my Love” whispered Robin, hardly believing that the twisted skein of Fate had brought back Marian. He wore a funny little grin on his face that looked akin to someone having recently been clubbed on the head by a heavy mace or hammer. A gently “cooing” sound dragged them back to the real world once again. Djaq quickly brought a small wicker basket from the folds of her forest-green Hijab and opened it. A small flurry of grey feathers scurried out of the basket and gently fluttered up to one of the shelves where it sat down next to another resident bird of the Camp.

“Ah” said Allan upon seeing the pigeon find Lardner’s well concealed roost. “This” said Djaq, pointing at the new arrival “is Leliliq. She is Lardner’s mate and we have carried her all the way from Bassam’s eyries in Acre. When we returned from England, we decided to bring her back with us.”

“Unbelievable!” shouted Much as he saw them settle down in one of his cooking pots and, like Robin and Marian, blissfully reunite with the other.

Okay, that was a short chapter but I promise that I will make them longer and more explanatory. As always, I like reviews but constructive critiscism only please! That little blue button is just a click away. It’s that simple. Click it. (Whispers) You know you want to!

Have A Nice Day!

The Spirit