It had been such a bittersweet visit. The new Sheriff of Nottingham had personally asked her what he should do to help its people, which was as close to a miracle as Marion could ever have hoped for. But she told William the truth, which was that he could not accomplish anything at all that could not be undone just as swiftly. True reform takes time. But time was precisely what she was able to offer him.

It had meant changing everything. Leaving the community she had grown to love, leaving Robin. But those sacrifices were nothing compared to what she could accomplish, the lasting effects that would benefit them all. Not just for now, but potentially for generations.

“I was the one to convince him he should stay, that he could keep the power if he was able to properly support his leadership. Marriage was my idea, John.”

He looked both shamed and proud, a father who had underestimated his own daughter. He neither protested nor pouted, despite the enormous effort he had made to come find her. Instead he opened his hands and laughed. “Well, what in the hell am I doing here?”

Marion felt a weight lift from her, and she touched her hands to his cheeks.

He smiled and patted her softly. “Why didn’t you tell us?”

The question was alarming. “I thought you knew,” she said. “Sir Amon told me he brought you the news.”

“He did,” John nodded slowly, “but now for the life of me I can’t recall how he phrased it. He certainly didn’t give the impression it was your idea. But he didn’t stay long.”

Marion’s heart clenched. To think they had been worrying about her all this time. They had organized to rescue her, of all ungodly things. “I asked Amon to tell you to stay away from this, to not come after me. Did he not say that?”

“He did. But we thought you were just trying to protect us. Thought you were being selfless.”

“It was an order, John. I gave it for a reason.”

“We didn’t know.”

Marion cursed under her breath, that a misunderstanding could carry such consequences. “I’m so sorry,” was all she could say, “I thought he made it clear.”

John shook his head, sadly, but his pout pursed into a smile that let out his familiar laugh. “Well, damned if we didn’t have the whole thing wrong! We thought he locked you up in some tower and meant to marry you by force.”

“How on earth would that help him?” She joined him in laughter. “Who would respect a union made that way? It’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.”

“I don’t know.” He shook his head. “I don’t suppose we thought much about it.” John shrugged his shoulders as he put it all together.