CHAPTER XII
HOW MAID MARIAN CAME BACK TO SHERWOOD FOREST; ALSO, HOW ROBIN
HOOD CAME BEFORE QUEEN ELEANOR
But Robin Hood, he himself had disguis'd,
And Marian was strangely attir'd,
That they proved foes, and so fell to blows,
Whose valor bold Robin admir'd.
And when he came at London's court,
He fell down on his knee.
"Thou art welcome, Lockesley," said the Queen,
"And all thy good yeomandree."
Now it fell out that one day not long thereafter, Robin was
minded to try his skill at hunting. And not knowing whom he
might meet in his rambles, he stained his face and put on a
sorry-looking jacket and a long cloak before he sallied forth.
As he walked, the peacefulness of the morning came upon him, and
brought back to his memory the early days so long ago when he had
roamed these same glades with Marian. How sweet they seemed to
him now, and how far away! Marian, too, the dainty friend of his
youth--would he ever see her again? He had thought of her very
often of late, and each time with increasing desire to hear her
clear voice and musical laugh, and see her eyes light up at his
coming.
Perhaps the happiness of Allen-a-Dale and his lady had caused
Robin's heart-strings to vibrate more strongly; perhaps, too, the
coming of Will Scarlet. But, certes, Robin was anything but a
hunter this bright morning as he walked along with head drooping
in a most love-lorn way.
Presently a hart entered the glade in full view of him, grazing
peacefully, and instantly the man of action awoke. His bow was
drawn and a shaft all but loosed, when the beast fell suddenly,
pierced by a clever arrow from the far side of the glade.
Then a handsome little page sprang gleefully from the covert and
ran toward the dying animal. This was plainly the archer, for he
flourished his bow aloft, and likewise bore a sword at his side,
though for all that he looked a mere lad.
Robin approached the hart from the other side.
"How dare you shoot the King's beasts, stripling?" he asked
severely.
"I have as much right to shoot them as the King himself,"
answered the page haughtily. "How dare you question me?"
The voice stirred Robin strongly. It seemed to chime into his
memories of the old days. He looked at the page sharply, and the
other returned the glance, straight and unafraid.
"Who are you, my lad?" Robin said more civilly.
"No lad of yours, and my name's my own," retorted the other with
spirit.
"Softly! Fair and softly, sweet page, or we of the forest will
have to teach you manners!" said Robin.
"Not if YOU stand for the forest!" cried the page, whipping out
his sword. "Come, draw, and defend yourself!"
He swung his blade valiantly; and Robin saw nothing for it but to
draw likewise. The page thereupon engaged him quite fiercely,
and Robin found that he had many pretty little tricks at fencing.
Nathless, Robin contented himself with parrying, and was loth to
exert all his superior strength upon the lad. So the fight
lasted for above a quarter of an hour, at the end of which time
the page was almost spent and the hot blood flushed his cheeks in
a most charming manner.
The outlaw saw his distress, and to end the fight allowed himself
to be pricked slightly on the wrist.
"Are you satisfied, fellow?" asked the page, wincing a little at
sight of the blood.
"Aye, honestly," replied Robin; "and now perhaps you will grant
me the honor of knowing to whom I owe this scratch?"
"I am Richard Partington, page to Her Majesty, Queen Eleanor,"
answered the lad with dignity; and again the sound of his voice
troubled Robin sorely.
"Why come you to the greenwood alone, Master Partington?"
The lad considered his answer while wiping his sword with a small
lace kerchief. The action brought a dim confused memory to
Robin. The lad finally looked him again in the eye.
"Forester, whether or no you be a King's man, know that I seek
one Robin Hood, an outlaw, to whom I bring amnesty from the
Queen. Can you tell me aught of him?" And while awaiting his
answer, he replaced the kerchief in his shirt. As he did so, the
gleam of a golden trophy caught the outlaw's eye.
Robin started forward with a joyful cry.
"Ah! I know you now! By the sight of yon golden arrow won at
the Sheriff's tourney, you are she on whom I bestowed it, and
none other than Maid Marian!"
"You--are--?" gasped Marian, for it was she; "not Robin!"
"Robin's self!" said he gaily; and forthwith, clad as he was in
rags, and stained of face, he clasped the dainty page close to
his breast, and she forsooth yielded right willingly.
"But Robin!" she exclaimed presently, "I knew you not, and was
rude, and wounded you!"
"'Twas nothing," he replied laughingly, "so long as it brought me
you."
But she made more ado over the sore wrist than Robin had received
for all his former hurts put together. And she bound it with the
little kerchief, and said, "Now 'twill get well!" and Robin was
convinced she spoke the truth, for he never felt better in all
his life. The whole woods seemed tinged with a roseate hue,
since Marian had come again.
But she, while happy also, was ill at ease; and Robin with a
man's slow discernment at last saw that it was because of her
boy's attire. He thought bluntly that there was naught to be
ashamed of, yet smilingly handed her his tattered long cloak,
which she blushingly put on, and forthwith recovered her spirits
directly.
Then they began to talk of each other's varied fortunes, and of
the many things which had parted them; and so much did they find
to tell that the sun had begun to decline well into the afternoon
before they realized how the hours sped.
"I am but a sorry host!" exclaimed Robin, springing to his feet.
"I have not once invited you to my wild roof."
"And I am but a sorry page," replied Marian; "for I had clean
forgot that I was Richard Partington, and really did bring you a
message from Queen Eleanor!"
"Tell me on our way home, and there you shall be entrusted to
Mistress Dale. While the first of my men we meet will I send
back for your deer."
So she told him, as they walked back through the glade, how that
the fame of his prowess had reached Queen Eleanor's ears, in
London town. And the Queen had said, "Fain would I see this bold
yeoman, and behold his skill at the long-bow." And the Queen had
promised him amnesty if he and four of his archers would repair
to London against the next tournament the week following, there
to shoot against King Henry's picked men, of whom the King was
right vain. All this Marian told in detail, and added:
"When I heard Her Majesty say she desired to see you, I asked
leave to go in search of you, saying I had known you once. And
the Queen was right glad, and bade me go, and sent this gold ring
to you from off her finger, in token of her faith."
Then Robin took the ring and bowed his head and kissed it
loyally. "By this token will I go to London town," quoth he,
"and ere I part with the Queen's pledge, may the hand that bears
it be stricken off at the wrist!" By this time they were come to
the grove before the cave, and Robin presented Maid Marian to the
band, who treated her with the greatest respect. Will Scarlet was
especially delighted to greet again his old time friend, while
Allan-a-Dale and his good wife bustled about to make her welcome
in their tiny thatched cottage.
That evening after they had supped royally upon the very hart
that Marian had slain, Allan sang sweet songs of Northern
minstrelsy to the fair guest as she sat by Robin's side, the
golden arrow gleaming in her dark hair. The others all joined in
the chorus, from Will Scarlet's baritone to Friar Tuck's heavy
bass. Even Little John essayed to sing, although looked at
threateningly by Much the miller's son.
Then Robin bade Marian repeat her message from the Queen, which
Marian did in a way befitting the dignity of her royal mistress.
After which the yeomen gave three cheers for the Queen and three
more for her page, and drank toasts to them both, rising to their
feet.
"Ye have heard," quoth Robin standing forth, "how that Her
Majesty--whom God preserve!--wishes but four men to go with me.
Wherefore, I choose Little John and Will Stutely, my two
lieutenants, Will Scarlet, my cousin, and Allan-a-Dale, my
minstrel. Mistress Dale, also, can go with her husband and be
company for the Queen's page. We will depart with early morning,
decked in our finest. So stir ye, my lads! and see that not only
your tunics are fresh, but your swords bright and your bows and
arrows fit. For we must be a credit to the Queen as well as the
good greenwood. You, Much, with Stout Will, Lester, and John,
the widow's three sons, shall have command of the band while we
are away; and Friar Tuck shall preside over the needs of your
souls and stomachs."
The orders were received with shouts of approval, and toasts all
around were drunk again in nut-brown ale, ere the company
dispersed to rest after making ready for the journey.
The next morning was as fine a summer's day as ever you want to
see, and the green leaves of the forest made a pleasing
background for the gay picture of the yeomen setting forth. Says
the old ballad--it was a seemly sight to see how Robin Hood
himself had dressed, and all his yeomanry. He clothed his men in
Lincoln green, and himself in scarlet red, with hats of black and
feathers white to bravely deck each head. Nor were the two
ladies behind-hand, I ween, at the bedecking.
Thus the chosen party of seven sallied forth being accompanied to
the edge of the wood by the whole band, who gave them a merry
parting and Godspeed!
The journey to London town was made without incident. The party
proceeded boldly along the King's highroad, and no man met them
who was disposed to say them nay. Besides, the good Queen's
warrant and ring would have answered for them, as indeed it did
at the gates of London. So on they sped and in due course came
to the palace itself and awaited audience with the Queen.
Now the King had gone that day to Finsbury Field, where the
tourney was soon to be held, in order to look over the lists and
see some of his picked men whom he expected to win against all
comers. So much had he boasted of these men, that the Queen had
secretly resolved to win a wager of him. She had heard of the
fame of Robin Hood and his yeomen, as Marian had said; and Marian
on her part had been overjoyed to be able to add a word in their
favor and to set out in search of them.
To-day the Queen sat in her private audience-room chatting
pleasantly with her ladies, when in came Mistress Marian
Fitzwalter attired again as befitted her rank of lady-in-waiting.
She courtesied low to the Queen and awaited permission to speak.
"How now!" said the Queen smiling; "is this my lady Marian, or
the page, Richard Partington?"
"Both, an it please Your Majesty. Richard found the man you
sought, while Marian brought him to you."
"Where is he?" asked Queen Eleanor eagerly.
"Awaiting your audience--he and four of his men, likewise a lady
of whose wooing and wedding I can tell you a pretty story at
another time."
"Have them admitted."
So Marian gave orders to a herald, and presently Robin Hood and
his little party entered the room.
Now the Queen had half-expected the men to be rude and uncouth in
appearance, because of their wild life in the forest; but she was
delightfully disappointed. Indeed she started back in surprise
and almost clapped her hands. For, sooth to say, the yeomen made
a brave sight, and in all the court no more gallant men could be
found. Marian felt her cheeks glow with pride, at sight of the
half-hidden looks of admiration sent forth by the other
ladies-in-waiting.
Robin had not forgot the gentle arts taught by his mother, and he
wore his fine red velvet tunic and breeches with the grace of a
courtier. We have seen, before, what a dandified gentleman Will
Scarlet was; and Allan-a-Dale, the minstrel, was scarcely less
goodly to look upon. While the giant Little John and
broad-shouldered Will Stutely made up in stature what little they
lacked in outward polish. Mistress Dale, on her part, looked
even more charming, if possible, than on the momentous day when
she went to Plympton Church to marry one man and found another.
Thus came the people of the greenwood before Queen Eleanor, in
her own private audience room. And Robin advanced and knelt down
before her, and said:
"Here I am, Robin Hood--I and my chosen men! At Your Majesty's
bidding am I come, bearing the ring of amnesty which I will
protect--as I would protect Your Majesty's honor--with my life!"
"Thou art welcome, Lockesley," said the Queen smiling graciously.
"Thou art come in good time, thou and all thy brave yeomanry."
Then Robin presented each of his men in turn, and each fell on
his knee and was greeted with most kindly words. And the Queen
kissed fair Mistress Dale upon the cheek, and bade her remain in
the palace with her ladies while she was in the city. And she
made all the party be seated to rest themselves after their long
journey. Fine wines were brought, and cake, and rich food, for
their refreshment. And as they ate and drank, the Queen told
them further of the tourney to be held at Finsbury Field, and of
how she desired them to wear her colors and shoot for her.
Meantime, she concluded, they were to lie by quietly and be known
of no man.
To do all this, Robin and his men pledged themselves full
heartily. Then at the Queen's request, they related to her and
her ladies some of their merry adventures; whereat the listeners
were vastly entertained, and laughed heartily. Then Marian, who
had heard of the wedding at Plympton Church, told it so drolly
that tears stood in the Queen's eyes from merriment.
"My lord Bishop of Hereford!" she said, "'Twas indeed a comical
business for him! I shall keep that to twit his bones, I promise
you! So this is our minstrel?" she added presently, turning to
Allan-a-Dale. "Methinks I have already heard of him. Will he
not harp awhile for us to-day?"
Allan bowed low, and took a harp which was brought to him, and he
thrummed the strings and sang full sweetly the border songs of
the North Countree. And the Queen and all her ladies listened in
rapt silence till all the songs were ended.
