Mojitos with Merry Men (26 page)

The garden is beautiful, bursting with flowers—on the ground, climbing up pillars and trellises—and I bet the place is gorgeous by day. The sweet fragrances alone would make a blind man enjoy spending time here.

I see Marian on the far side of the garden, still an angel in white. She sits down on a stone bench and places her head in her hands. What is she doing? Is she praying? Geez. Here I'm thinking she's some horrible girl up to no good, and I've interrupted her time with God.

I'm almost ready to go back to the feast, when a tall, broad-shouldered figure makes me stop in my tracks. I duck behind a nearby shrub and watch as the dark figure makes his way over to Marian. She looks up and then rises to her feet.

A shiver creeps through me as I realize the figure is none other than the Sheriff of Nottingham.

I watch in shock as the two embrace. Are they just friends? Or…I remember Robin talking about catching Marian kissing someone in the garden when he first returned to England. Her uncle? Ha! Could the sheriff have been her lover? And if so, then…

I strain to listen to the quiet conversation.

"So?" the sheriff asks, pulling away from the hug.

Marian laughs, but the pleasant tinkling of Christmas bells has long disappeared. This laugh is guttural. Almost evil-sounding.

"So I did it, of course," she says, sitting back down on the bench. "Such fools. They'd not let a strange man into their den for a thousand pieces of silver—"

"Yet a beautiful woman they allow in with open arms."

"Aye. I had no problem at all convincing the guard that I needed to see Robin. The arrow worked perfectly as bait. You should have seen his round, greedy eyes. They forgot even to blindfold me as they led me straight to Robin's lair."

My heart pounds in my chest as I take in the words. Oh my God. It was a trap. Marian didn't want to see Robin because she missed him or wanted to rekindle their relationship. She's been in cahoots with the sheriff all along.

"And what about your former intended, the traitorous Robin of Locksley?" the sheriff asks.

Marian laughs. "Are you jealous, my love?" she asks. "For he has no claim on my affections."

"As it should be," the sheriff replies, leaning down to plant a kiss on Marian's cheek. "But how did he receive you? With any suspicion?"

"Nay," she says, shaking her head. "Though, oddly enough, he seems to have finally gotten over his silly crush on me."

"Oh?"

"Aye. He tells me he's in love with another. Some girl from a foreign land. It was quite disgusting how he babbled on about her."

Warmth floods my heart at her words. Robin told her about me? He told her that he loves me! I've been such a fool. Oh, why didn't I trust him?

"Jealous, my dear?" the sheriff returns with a snarky grin.

"Nay. He can rut his foreign girl until the day he dies," Marian declares. Wow, I can't believe I once thought she was some delicate lady. "Which, now that we have the location of his hideout, shouldn't be more than a moon."

"A moon? I shall not wait that long. Not when we are so close to victory."

"And what is your plan?"

The sheriff smirks. "First, we shall go to the villages of Donham and Trent, punish those vile peasants who accepted stolen silver from the outlaws."

"But if you kill the peasants, who will be left to bring in the harvest?"

"Aye, Marian," the sheriff replies. "'Twould be foolish to harm able-bodied men. We will take away their children, instead. Round them up and bring them back to Nottingham. We'll tell them if they keep aiding outlaws, they will never see their young ones again."

Marian nods. "And then?"

"Then we shall launch our attack on Robin Hood's camp, kill each and every one of those traitorous outlaws that have wreaked such havoc on our land. And if we have any trouble, we can always use the children to bait another trap."

"An excellent plan," Marian says. "You are truly brilliant, milord." She rises from her seat and throws herself into the sheriff's arms. They start making out, big time, but I'm no longer watching. I'm running back, my mind racing.

I have to warn Robin and his men!

I rush down the hallway, desperately trying to remember my way out of the castle. The place twists and turns into dead ends and alleys to nowhere. It's kind of like the hedge maze in
The Shining.

Voices around the bend force me to slow my pace. I must act natural, must not appear like I've been running for my life. Maybe whoever it is can help me find my way out.

I turn the corner and find Elaine and Avelyn hanging out in the hall, talking in low whispers. They turn to acknowledge my presence and wave a friendly hello. Thank goodness I managed to win them over earlier with the camera trick. The last thing I need is for those two gossips to inform Prince John and his sheriff that I'd pulled an Elvis and was exiting the building.

"Could you please tell me the way outside?" I ask, trying not to sound too eager.

"Outside? Are you mad?" asks Elaine as she squints at me with worried eyes. "The sun has already set. Surely you do not want to leave the safety of our castle walls."

"Who knows the barbarian filth you may encounter outside of Prince John's protection?" adds Avelyn solemnly. "Scoundrels who would rejoice in the opportunity to soil a lady's honor."

"Ooh, yes—like Robin of the Hood," Elaine suggests with a wicked gleam in her eye.

"Aye!" Avelyn's face lights up. "Though for him, I would gladly sacrifice my honor."

"You would sacrifice it for far less, Avey," Elaine counters.

The two ladies giggle hysterically, and I resist the urge to roll my eyes. So silly. Still, I'm secretly pleased. My boyfriend is a total rock star, and now I know he only has eyes for me. How lucky am I?

Robin. My heart flutters as I imagine him sitting in the forest, waiting, hoping for me to return. Is he worried? Does he think I've been captured? Killed? Has he been searching for me?

I have to get back ASAP.

I force myself to laugh carelessly. "Nah, I'm not going outside for long," I inform them. "Just wanted to get a little fresh air."

"But we have walled gardens within where you can do that in complete safety," protests Elaine, who thinks she's being helpful. "D'you want me to show them to you?"

"Been there, done that. I think I was interrupting a romantic moment, though."

"A romantic moment?" Now I've got both girls' attention. The fashions may be different, but I can tell women haven't changed much in eight hundred years. "Between who?"

"Yes, Princess Christine!" Avelyn says, eyes shining. "You simply must tell us."

I grin. "Tell me the way out of the castle, and I will tell you all I know."

The girls look at each other, then nod and turn back to me. "Very well. But we still do not advise you to leave the castle gates till sunup. 'Tis dangerous for a princess."

"Sure. No prob. I'll wait till morning. I promise." I cross two fingers behind my back as I say this, hoping that this gesture still counts, even though it's likely not yet been invented. "Now where?"

Elaine points her small, white hand down the hall. "Go down yonder then take a left and then your next right. You'll see a wooden door adorned by a dragon crest. It leads outside."

"Thanks," I say, relieved.

"Now, do tell us! Do not hold anything back!" The two girls crowd me, faces alight with their eagerness for the big scoop.

I laugh, holding up my hands to playfully ward them off. "Okay, okay!" I cry. "Lady Marian and the Sheriff of Nottingham!
"

Their squeals are so loud I'm afraid they'll alert the entire kingdom.

"That naughty girl," Elaine says. "She kept it from us this entire time."

"How dare she not share her secret romance with her sisters?" Avelyn says, looking both pleased at learning the secret and offended that Marian had kept it from her.

I shrug. "Well, she's in the garden still, if you want to go ask her,"

"Ooh, shall we?" asks Elaine.

Avelyn nods in delighted agreement "Thank you, Princess Christine," she gushes. "For such a delicious tale."

"Yeah, sure. No prob. Anytime." I wave them off. They scamper down the hallway to go catch their friend. If Marian wasn't a traitorous wench, I'd almost feel bad for her. She's about to get outed.

They turn the corner, and I pick up my pace, heading in the direction they told me, praying for no more interruptions. If the sheriff's truly attacking soon, I don't have much time to waste.

*   *   *

I arrive near the hideaway about an hour later. I've worked my stolen horse too hard, and he's foaming at the mouth and soaked with sweat. I slide off of him and give him a thankful pat.

"Sorry about that," I whisper. "We'll make sure you get some
yummy carrots or something when this is all said and done."

"Who goe
s
there?" A man's voice cuts through the night

"It's me…" I cry, ready to say Christian. Then I remember I'm still dressed as a medieval lady. Maybe I should have changed back into my tunic and tights before coming here. No one's going to recognize me in my current ensemble. Except Robin, of course.

Little John and Much the Miller jump from the bushes, bows drawn and aimed straight at my heart. They circle around, suspicious.

"Another one! It's like bleeding ladies' night around here these days," Much exclaims.

"Who are you, and what, pray, is your business here, milady?" Little John demands.

I look from one outlaw to the other, wondering how I'm going to get out of this. I guess I've got no choice but to tell the truth. Hopefully they'll be understanding. Who knows, maybe they'll find it all a big laugh. Maybe.

"It's me!" I cry. "Christian! Don't you guys recognize me?"

They give me the once-over. "Christian?" Little John cocks his head. "But you're a… He's a…" Recognition dawns on his face. "Why are you dressed as a girl, Christian?"

"Well, I've got a confession to make, actually." Might as well throw all my cards out on the table at this point. "I'm not actually a eunuch at all. In fact, I'm one hundred percent woman. I just pretended to be a eunuch because you have that sacred code thing, and I was afraid of getting kicked out of camp if people learned the truth." I laugh nervously. "Isn't that just so silly?"

Unfortunately for me, neither of the men looks very amused. In fact, they look downright ticked off.

"You have tricked us this entire time?" Much the Miller asks in an outraged voice, his fingers gripping his bow tightly. Uh-oh. This is not going as well as I'd hoped. Why can't they be happy about this, like they were when Much's wife got to stay the night? When Maid Marian showed up? Sure, Much's wife didn't get to stay longer, but—

"Robin will be sure to hear of your treachery, woman," Little John adds in a menacing voice I didn't know the jolly green giant could muster.

"Uh…" Ugh. What am I supposed to say? Should I admit that Robin was in on the secret most of the time? Or would that threaten his leadership at a time when he needs it the most?

I shake my head. This isn't about me. Not now. They can do with me what they like. My warning is much more important.

"Listen, guys, I can tell you everything later. Right now, we've got more important fish to fry. You're in great danger! Where's Robin? I have to warn him."

Little John shakes his burly head. "Nay. You will not see Robin until you explain—"

"What goes on here?"

I breathe a sigh of relief at the sound of Robin's voice through the trees. A moment later he appears out of the brush, his eyes widening as he sees me.

"This lady claims she's our Christian," Little John says, keeping the arrow in his drawn bow aimed at my heart. "That she's been tricking us all along."

I hold my breath, waiting for Robin's reaction. Everything about us, our relationship, maybe even our very lives hinges on his next move.

He stares at me for a minute, and I'm not sure if he wants to kiss me or kill me. He opens his mouth to speak, then closes it again, then opens it. I watch him struggle to decide how to handle this volatile situation. He knows the stakes are high. His future—and mine—hang in the balance.

"I have known for some time that Christian—Christine, actually—is a woman,'' he says at last. "'Twas I who demanded she keep it secret from you all."

Little John's face hardens. "You lied to us, Robin?" he asks, his angry voice tinged with hurt. "This whole time, you lied to us to protect a woman? You went against the sacred code we all signed when we banded together in the forest?"

Oh no, this is not good.

John throws down his bow in disgust. "You ask us to fight for you. To obey your rules and live under your command. To give up our lives if necessary to do what's right. And all along, you're flaunting your own indiscretion?"

Robin hangs his head. "I cannot make any excuses for my behavior," he says. "I only did what I thought needed to be done."

"Needed to be done?
Why?"
Much the Miller demands. "So you can sneak off and rut her senseless while the rest of us go without? I've sat alone in me tent each night, dreaming of me wife and child left behind in the village, all because of your insistence on us following the rule. And now I find out you've been breaking it all along?"

"'Twas not like—"

"Are you denying that you lay with her while she was a guest in our camp?"

Robin lets out a frustrated breath. "No."

This is not good. This is so not good. Sure, I didn't want to be Robin's dirty secret anymore, but I also didn't want him to completely lose everything he worked for just because of me. Especially not now. When everything is at stake.

"Look, it's not Robin's fault!" I try to protest. Much raises his bow and points it at me, a furious look on his usually friendly face.

"Quiet, woman," he demands. "You have done enough."

Little John sighs, his eyes sad, and turns to Robin. "I am sorry, old friend," he mutters, his voice laden with remorse. "But you know what I must do."