The True Story of Lady Marian

By Rolando José Olivo

Lady Marian is the most beautiful and intelligent woman in the kingdom, envied by the nobles and worthy of being the Queen of England. Several aristocratic suitors have tried to conquer her, but her heart belongs to an outlaw from Sherwood Forest. Robin Hood or Little John? And being the only daughter with no other heirs to protect the family's wealth, her father, the Baron of Arlongford, will not approve a marriage to someone who will not be recognized as a future Baron by the King.

 

Furthermore, Lady Marian is no longer a maid. Twenty-eight years old and trapped in one of the most difficult missions of her life, she must decide: a marriage to Sir Stephen of Trent? Or run away to marry the great love of her life, in Sherwood Forest? Her decision does not surprise anyone, but her new life is not what she dreamed, and she must make great efforts to fulfill her existential mission, fighting against oppressors and helping those most in need.

 

Participating in other adventures and making difficult decisions, after the murder of her father, she must discover if her romantic relationship with Robin Hood is fireproof. Will she stay in Sherwood Forest? Or will she return to Arlongford Castle? Everything seems to indicate that the secret marriage of Robin Hood and Lady Marian is inconvenient for both and they must fight against their own feelings, in order to move forward with their lives. In any case, not only Robin Hood became a legend, another arose, that of Lady Marian.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rolando José Olivo
• Release date: Jun 5, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224280964

Rolando José Olivo

[e-mail] Instagram: @rolandojolivo Systems Engineer with 3 postgraduate degrees: Master's Degree in Applied Economics, Diploma in General Management and Specialization in Management of Social Programs (Summa Cum Laude). Work experience in companies in the oil sector, occupying these positions: Planning and Logistics Manager, Project Coordinator, Financial Advisor and Consultant. Consultant in the economic and financial area. Writer of books on economics, management, self-help, novels and Christianity, among others.

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Copyright

Title: The True Story of Lady Marian.

Subtitle: And Why She Broke Off With Robin Hood.

Copyright © Rolando José Olivo, 2024.

Sixth edition of June 2024. First published in Spanish as: La verdadera historia de Lady Marian: Y por qué abandonó a Robin Hood. Translated by Rolando José Olivo.

Historical fiction and romantic novel.

Robin Hood, Lady Marian and their related characters, mentioned in ancient texts and in The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood, are in the public domain.

The cover images are the following:

1. Woman in a dress:

Image purchased from Freepik.

Credit: italoparnaiba5.

ID: user129433403.

Download date: March 15, 2024.

https://www.freepik.es/fotos-premium/vestido-maxi-aireado-flotando-contra-telon-fondo-00628-02_155119012.htm

2. Trees in the forest:

Image of the public domain.

Credit: leemurry01.

June 29, 2021.

https://pixabay.com/es/photos/%C3%A1rboles-bosque-campo-verde-rural-6374899/

Dedication

To the American writer, artist, illustrator and professor with extensive knowledge of medieval stories and legends, Howard Pyle (1853-1911), who in his best seller The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood (1883), developed a sensational story that reflects the legendary Robin Hood, in an extraordinary way.

The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood was the inspiration for this publication.

Prologue

Dear reader.

This literary work is a spin-off of The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle, in which the story of Lady Marian is developed, complementing the previous book, precisely with that relevant character that is missing in the aforementioned best seller (there she is only mentioned twice, in Robin Hood's thoughts).

It should be noted that in The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood there is a chronological order and various clues that allow to deduce the year of birth and year of death of Robin Hood. In this regard:

1. Robin Hood kills a gamekeeper and flees to Sherwood Forest at the age of eighteen.

2. Ten years later, he meets his nephew, Will Scarlet, and in October of that year, he meets Sir Richard of the Lea.

3. A year later Sir Richard of the Lea visits Robin Hood to pay his debts, and after April of the next year, Robin Hood, Little John and one of the King's archers are the champions of the tournament. So, Robin has lived as an outlaw for twelve years and is thirty years old.

4. A decade later, King Henry II dies. Historically, that happened on July 6, 1189, and Richard the Lionheart is proclaimed as the new King of England. Therefore, Robin Hood is forty years old and was born in 1149.

5. Historically, after the death of King Richard the Lionheart, on April 6, 1199, John I is the new King of England. At this time, Robin Hood is fifty years old.

6. Robin Hood, known as the Earl of Huntingdon, who supported King Richard in the crusades, disappointed by his death, returns to Sherwood Forest. Before long, he fights against the men of the Sheriff of Nottingham and the new King, dying after trying to recover, in a convent.

Therefore, in that story, Robin Hood lives between the years 1149 and 1199.

And this spin-off begins when Robin Hood is thirty years old, several months after chapter 15, How Sir Richard of the Lea Paid His Debts, of The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood, and a month and a half before the events of chapter 16, Little John Turns Barefoot Friar.

Next this novel, The True Story of Lady Marian: And Why She Broke Off With Robin Hood, is presented.

Happy reading!

Chapter One. Little John's Rebellion

Sherwood Forest.

Nottingham, England, February 1179.

"HAVE A GOOD LAIR! This is my most sincere wish... spoke Little John, addressing the group of Robin Hood's merry men. He was accompanied by Will Stutely and Will Scarlet, two of the great leaders of that band. This has been very difficult for all of us. I have been working with you for almost eleven years and now that Robin has gone out to enjoy one of his terrible adventures, we can talk calmly without fear of being punished. Ha! Ha! Of course, I hope not only we have a good shelter, but plenty of food and drink, and we lack for nothing. But... I'm going to have to put my good mood aside! And I'm serious... I don't know how to say it, dear brothers..."

Terrible adventure? Allan a Dale questioned this. He went on a rescue mission, alone… and asked us to trust him.

There was a brief pause. Little John looked at the ground, showing signs of being nervous and defeated, and in a few seconds he raised his head again to look at his beloved compatriots. He took a few small steps and almost fell, as a result of his obvious fatness and state of panic. It wasn't easy to rebel against Robin Hood! Even if he was many miles away. He tried not to give importance to that incident nor did he want to respond to Allan a Dale, while certain laughter and murmurs could be heard from the background. However, he let out a groan of pain and it was obvious that he was walking slowly and was not that athlete who defeated Robin Hood before accepting his job offer. Rather, he resembled the impostor who lived for several months in the Sheriff's Castle, spending almost all of his time eating and drinking. He didn't even know that some of the merry men called him, behind his back, as John the Bear.

What day is today? Does anyone know? Little John tried to dispel the strong gazes that stalked him.

February twelfth, replied Allan a Dale, who was almost in the middle of the group of more than forty merry men, whose disappointed face reflected his unconditional loyalty to Robin Hood and gratitude for his recent marriage and being able to live with his wife, the beautiful Ellen, in this beautiful forest.

Good! What day is today?

Monday, answered Allan a Dale, without hesitation.

Do you remember this because your wedding was just the day before, nine months ago? Oh! Merry friend, Allan a Dale, you will see that my mind is better than my body, and it does not lose agility even with food or drinks...

Of course! You are rejuvenated because Lady Marian is your lover! Hypocrite! Shouted a voice from the back, which could not be identified because other men, beyond the middle, more than twenty feet behind Allan a Dale, were too closer, forming a horizontal line, as if they were soldiers of a Roman legion, which prevented Little John and the two Wills from seeing him.

Little John shivered, trembled a little, as if it were an intensely cold night, although he quickly regained his composure.

Thank you for reminding me the date, merry friend! By the way… Who is your loyalty to? A distraught Little John pretended not to hear anything, while Will Stutely and Will Scarlet made their way through the crowd, one from the left and the other from the right, in order to capture the slanderer.

To Robin Hood and his merry men! Confirmed Allan a Dale. Little John… Why do you want to divide us? We must be one group! It doesn't make sense for one side to be under Robin's command and the other under your command. Do you think the forest can split in two? Or that the deer will respect your boundaries? Or that our guests will be able to decide which side of the forest they will be entertained on? Little John… Why do you want to divide us? You can't fight the Sheriff or face any of his henchmen, even having the best merry men.

More likely... Robin Hood is worth more than twenty, thirty or forty of us! Maybe he is sad, discouraged or in a bad mood, but no one can beat him! Are you hoping for a miracle? Little John... Age is affecting you... your fatness and your other vices. You have a great weakness for women and for all the pleasures of life! Why don't you change your attitude? Why don't you confess to the friar? Oh, Little John! Why don't you appreciate everything Robin Hood does for us? What do you think?

Oh! Merry brother Allan a Dale... I love you as much as a son... Your words hurt me! I hope you take them back… And apologize! Why do you question me? Why do you want to betray me? Do you want to go with Robin? If so... go! I'll let you go in peace... Go away with your wife! But, what you have here, you won't have anywhere else...

I am not questioning you nor betraying you. What I want to know is why you want to overthrow Robin and take the best men to your side... Explain the situation to me! I'm all ears, it's not a question of giving an apology or leaving my home, which is more mine than yours! But if you don't reflect... We will fight a duel... To the death! If required.

Little John was still nervous and his face was not pleasant. He never thought that his protégé, Allan Dale, would confront him, on those terms, in front of the merry men. The situation demanded that at least one of the two should give an apology or both fight, as two alpha males do for control of a herd. Obviously, Little John was in no condition to face another fighter, even more agile and younger than him. His salvation came in an unexpected way.

No! My love, don't do that! A strong female voice boomed, very close from Allan a Dale. It was the beautiful Ellen, who in a few seconds approached him, hugged him and rested her head on her husband's shoulders, crying: Stop! No! You will die in combat... And Robin is not here.

Another voice emerged from the background.

But I am here! And I will always be at your service... Just as I married you, I am responsible for protecting your union for the rest of your lives, like… it must be! Yelled the aggressive and uncharismatic Friar Tuck.

Thank you! Said Ellen, who turned to see him, still with her face full of tears.

Little John remained silent, but he was observing the three closely, and when he saw that Allan a Dale looked at him with a bad face, hugging his wife, he stared at him with a penetrating look, expressing: Well! Allan, before we engage in combat, do you want some explanations? Do you want to know why we are here? That's a long story...

I want to listen it! Even if we are here day and night without eating or drinking or resting, even the lady deserves a good explanation for your miserable behavior! Yelled Allan a Dale, defiantly.

We want to hear it!

We want to hear it!

We want to hear it!

We want to hear it!

We want to hear it!

We want to hear it!

We want to hear it!

Almost all of the merry men shouted those words, over and over, for several seconds. Little John blew a horn that was tied to his waist, similar to Robin Hood's, and everyone fell silent. Even more merry men appeared, led by the tough Arthur a Bland, who practically surrounded the others. While some did not take their eyes off Allan a Dale, Ellen and Friar Tuck.

Enough! Stop! Of course, I called to explain the situation. Let me talk! I ask for peace, meanwhile... Peace, merry men! Peace, Allan a Dale! Peace, Friar Tuck! In Robin Hood's absence, I am still your boss, and you must obey my orders. These exclamations of peace were an imitation of the style of Robin Hood, who several times, to avoid a massacre, simply shouted with a face of fury and pain: Peace, Little John! Although the message was understood by all the merry men, who, in those moments, remembered their charismatic and beloved leader.

Everything was calm with the expectation that Little John was going to tell the truth.

Well! This will contribute to peace, I am going to explain it to everyone. But I tell you that the problem is Robin's obsession with Marian... That's why he's not the same as before!

Little John could not continue speaking because Will Scarlet, Robin Hood's nephew, who was never loyal neither grateful to his uncle, brought the offender tied up. It was Midge, the miller's son. Upon arriving where Little John was, and aware of the tense situation, Will Scarlet saw the leader in charge of the gang and then his great friend, the other Will. He turned his head from side to side, while his gaze rested on Little John or Will Stutely, but after doing this, about twice, he looked back, feeling Arthur a Bland, and Friar Tuck almost over his back. Everything happened very quickly and it was evident that Arthur a Bland had betrayed Little John.

Despite his physical limitations, Little John retained his intellectual abilities. He knew what he had to do to ensure peace and order.

Peace, Will Scarlet! Let him go! Let him return to his group. I want peace! Peace, Arthur a Bland! Peace, Friar Tuck! In those brief moments, in which Little John had to deal with Will Scarlet who was hesitant to release his prisoner, he understood the frustration and despair that the so-called King of thieves had felt on other occasions, when he was ready to torture or murder his enemies, while Robin Hood opposed his evil deeds.

Will Stutely untied the beloved miller and let him go. He preferred to stay with Allan a Dale and Ellen, who looked like the true representatives of Robin Hood. An almost simultaneous wink of an eye between Allan a Dale and Arthur a Bland was perceived by the cunning Little John, who could not hide the fact that his hands were trembling.

Immediately afterwards, before the fixed gazes of his allies and adversaries, Little John began his speech:

Dear merry men, and also, dear Ellen, you too are a merry lady! We are brothers and companions. Real brothers! I want to clarify several things... But it's hard for me to say this!

A month ago, we were ninety-five merry men without counting this wonderful lady. Now we are about sixty... You know that fifteen deserted, they were Sheriff’s spies and the other twenty have been captured by the Sheriff. Unfortunately, all this happened in less than a month.

Little John stepped back a little and had to be held by another merry man, who kept him from falling. He continued speaking, ignoring the strange gazes over his face:

What's going on? He paused…

What happens to Robin Hood? He stopped again.

Robin Hood is hurt by Cupid and can't even lead the merry men anymore?

And he kept talking like that. Every time he uttered a sentence, he saw the faces of the others, hoping that they were more of doubt than rejection.

It is my responsibility to ensure the life and health of all of you, with or without Robin Hood!

What you don't know, now you're going to know... Last week, Robin, myself, and the two Wills cornered the fifteen traitors. I'm sure that the deserters were going to talk to the Sheriff to give him valuable information about our operations in Sherwood... and because of those spies, we have the other twenty men captured... they must already be torturing them to reveal important information.

I recommended Robin to kill these rascals, who have no honor or loyalty, and prefer to live supporting the oppressors.

So, what did Robin say? To our surprise, he mocked me and said: ‘Peace, Little John!’ My two big brothers, Will Stutely and Will Scarlet supported me, but refused to disobey Robin. He let those outlaws go to the Highlands, although he threatened them and I'm sure they won't return to England... But I didn't like that! In a few months, any of them may return... So, we must move our camp further north, but it will take a long time to get in and out of Sherwood. Was there a need for this?

One of the deserters is Guy of Gisbourne… He came to our forest disguised! What a disgrace!

Many murmurs were heard, so Little John waited a few moments and then continued: Yeah! That outlaw and murderer!

Robin... He knew him, letting him enter our beloved Sherwood Forest, putting our safety at risk, later he let him go as if nothing had happened... What a disgrace! I have asked Saint Dunstan for help.

And regarding a few days ago…

Robin… Who is almost unmentionable. He left alone to rescue the twenty merry men. Why didn't he allow us to accompany him? I told him, before he left: ‘I'm going with you, we need our best warriors, Will Stutely, Will Scarlet, Arthur a Bland, Allan a Dale, David of Doncaster, Wat the Tinker…’ ‘No! Little John, I will go alone.’ ‘What? Robin you went crazy…’ ‘Stay in charge! The beautiful Marian will help me.’ I continued arguing, but he didn't listen to me. His last response was: ‘Peace, Little John! You are left in charge of the merry men!’

Little John paused briefly. Will Scarlet gave him a jug of liquor and as he finished drinking everything quickly, he continued talking with the drink in his hand: Do you think that Robin with that clumsy and defenseless woman, Lady Marian... I don't care if Ellen listens to me... that they are going to be able to free our merry men? Do you think Robin is right in the head?

By his fault, spies and men of dubious reputation arrived and later deserted!

By his fault, Guy of Gisbourne knows us!

By his fault, twenty of our merry men were captured!

By his fault, we are now defenseless!

By his fault, the traitors went to the Highlands!

By his fault the dangerous Guy of Gisbourne is free!

By his fault, the traitors can return!

By his fault, the Sheriff may know something about our weaknesses and invade us soon!

By his fault, we must move to where it is almost impossible to live!

By his fault, we will be very far from the roads, and it will be very difficult to assault our clients!

Little John dropped the jug to the ground, which was left in pieces. But that wasn't important. He continued speaking: As I told some of you yesterday, there are two options, either you accept me as your new boss, or we divide into two groups, mine and Robin and Marian's, but I'm afraid that maybe Robin Hood will not return... I also want to go rescue our merry men! That's urgent!

After this speech, silence prevailed for a long time. The dilemma was considerable. Never before had the merry men considered that they should revolt against Robin Hood. There were two options: continue trusting the intrepid leader, no matter what happened, or accept the proposals of Little John, who to avoid a fight proposed separating the band into two groups, and wanted each person to decide which side he will be on.

By the way, where is David of Doncaster? Yelled Little John.

Suddenly, they were surprised by the sounds of horses' hooves. Some noticed that a car with some trunks, jugs of beer and groceries had been parked nearby. Neither Little John nor the others could