"Besides, I..." she hesitated, averting her eyes "... I don't want to travel back and forth through time." She looked up and met the professor's compassionate gaze, cursing herself inwardly for her cowardice. "I've faced a lot of things in my life, Professor, but this is one experience I don't want to repeat if I can help it. He-" she broke off as the sound of hoofbeats thundered suddenly across the valley.

Kendra whirled in the direction of the noise, terrified that more of the sheriff's men had followed them. With relief she saw there were only three horses, slowing to a walk as they approached. To her astonishment, riding the first was Marian, of all people, followed by an obviously wilting Robin Hood, and Friar Tuck, quite uncomfortable on his bony steed, which looked none too happy at hauling his hefty load.

"Marian!" Kendra cried, running to her friend's side and helping her dismount. "Whatever are you doing here? How did you find us?"

"Robin can track anyone, anywhere," she said, laughing and shaking out her hair. "But where is Navarre?" Marian asked, peering around. "Robin said he recognized his horse's tracks."

"Yes, he was here, but he's gone." Kendra turned and saw Robin limping up to her, his face set in lines of exhaustion, one arm held across his middle. "He's-"

"A moment, Kendra. Sit down, love," Marian crooned to Robin. "Is there any fresh water? He would insist on coming as soon as he could even sit up without falling over, though I ordered him not to." She peered at Kendra. "You do not look well yourself. You are pale beyond belief."

"I will get water," Cennach said, and moved quickly into the house as Robin eased himself down on a broad, flat rock.

Friar Tuck came puffing up behind them, his usually jolly face set in dark lines of fatigue. "Looks like a battle was fought here." he said, glancing around at the dark stain of blood still evident on the ground. "Was the sheriff-"

"He was here, but he got away." Tiny black spots were dancing in Kendra's line of vision and she willed them mentally to stop.

The outlaw stood slowly, the steel in his eyes matching his voice. "Where is Navarre?"

Kendra tried to clear her thoughts as the weakness she had felt earlier swept over her again. Slowly she formed the words, pushing back the encroaching blackness.

"He fought Garrick, but he escaped, and now Navarre has gone to find Richard." A sudden surge of strength sent her a moment's clarity. The bullets. There had been six to start with. She had fired one at Navarre. The sheriff had fired how many? Two? Four? She wasn't sure. The wave of blackness shimmered in front of her. If Navarre were killed, if Garrick used the gun on him-she took a deep breath and when she spoke her voice was limp with fear. "He has the gun, Robin, and he's gone after the king."

Robin's face paled and Kendra saw a dart of pain enter his eyes. She swayed and he took her arm, guiding her to the flat rock. "I must leave at once," he said softly.

"Oh, no, you won't," Marian said, her stern tones causing Kendra to rally a bit and raise both brows in surprise at the change in the maid once meek and mild. "You are too weak to do anything of the sort."

Robin sighed with exaggerated patience. "Marian, do not think I will allow my love for you to make me into a coddled egg," he snapped. "My king needs me and I will leave as soon as I rest a few moments and water my horse."

Marian fumed, then spoke again, in a petulant voice. "And how long do you suppose you will last on a long journey to Normandy, in your condition?"

"He will not have to travel to Normandy," Friar Tuck said. "Word has come to Prince John from Phillip of France that, as he put it, "the devil has been loosed." Richard has been ransomed and is due to arrive in England any day. Once here he will be crowned in a new coronation ceremony in Canterbury."

Cennach handed Robin a dipper of water and the outlaw took it gratefully.

"Prof-I mean, Cennach, this is Robin of Locksley," Kendra said. The older man bowed to Robin, who inclined his own head respectfully.

"Magda spoke well of you," Robin said. "I wish there were time for pleasantries, and I do not wish to be rude, but have you anything to eat, my friend? I must leave at once but we have not eaten since early this morning."

"Yes, of course, I will prepare something." The professor turned and went into the house.

"Where is Magda?" Robin asked abruptly.

Kendra felt the pain anew as she told Robin the terrible news of the old woman's death. When she finished, the outlaw's lips were pressed tightly together and fire flashed in his blue eyes. Marian moved to stand beside him, her arm linked through his, offering support, as Friar Tuck stood nearby looking helplessly dazed.

"Magda, dead?" he whispered.

"Damn the man!" Robin swore, slicing the air with his fists. "I will cut out his black heart when I find him!" He cursed again, roundly, then sighed and ran one hand through his hair in frustration. "Cennach!" he called out. "I must be on my way!"

Kendra crossed to Robin and laid one hand upon his arm, her eyes flashing with determination. "I'm going with you."

The professor appeared at the doorway of his home, holding a cloth sack, his face wreathed in concern. "Kendra, I beg you to think of your baby."

"Baby?" Robin opened his mouth, shut it, then opened it again as he stared wordlessly at Kendra. Marian stared as well, her lips forming an oval, her blue eyes blank with shock. Kendra sighed, then started to tell them about Magda's final prophecy, when Friar Tuck spoke up, his voice filled with grief.

"Where is Magda's grave?" he asked. "We must pay our respects."

"Aye," Robin agreed, finding his voice, "she helped us so often in Sherwood that I often jested and told her she must begin wearing Lincoln green."

"We have not even had time to bury her," Cennach said apologetically.

"I will bury her," Friar Tuck said, fingering the cross hanging from the chain around his waist. "Please, take me to her."

"Forgive me, Father, for not helping you," Robin said, patting the priest on the shoulder, "but I must go, I must stop him." The sorrow in his eyes shifted to steel. "We are not so very far from Canterbury." Robin took the sack of food from Cennach and walked back to his horse as Marian followed, arguing a blue streak. At last he turned and placed both hands on her shoulders, gazing down into her eyes, effectively silencing her.

"I will go," he said. "Now stop this childishness and be silent as becomes a maid. Come, kiss me good-bye and I'll bring you something pretty from Canterbury."

Kendra stifled a laugh as Marian's mouth dropped open. The young woman recovered quickly however and stamped her foot as she glared up at the smiling man.

"Something pretty from Canterbury? Think you that I am a child? That you can wave a pretty ribbon in my face and I shall leap for joy and clap my hands and do your bidding? Get you gone, Robin of Locksley, and I care not if you ever come back."

She turned away from him, arms folded decisively across her chest. Robin laughed and pulled her back around and into his arms, planting a kiss firmly on her unyielding lips. She glared up at him, then squealed indignantly as he slapped her bottom before turning to mount his horse.

"You-you-you outlaw!" she spluttered, and lifting her dainty foot, slammed it into his own posterior.

Robin spun around, his eyes wide with shock. He burst into laughter and kissed her again. "Ah, Marian, I knew there was spirit in you. I shall be back before you know it."

"Wait, I'm going with you," Kendra said. "It will only take a moment to change my clothes." Robin shot her a startled look and Marian turned to her in alarm.

"Kendra, you mustn't," Marian said in horror. "You might lose the babe!"

"I have been telling her that very thing." Cennach crossed to her side.

"Poppycock," Kendra scoffed. "Women in the twentieth century ride horses, swim, do aerobicize, all the way to term." Just thinking about her modern counterparts filled her with a new sense of her own ability and Kendra stood, relieved to find the bout of weakness had passed. She was a strong woman and must stay strong, not allowing the antiquated beliefs of these backward people to influence her actions.

"Aerobicize?" Marian said, rolling the word over her tongue.

"All right, Kendra," Cennach conceded, "but what about returning to your own time? We have not yet discussed this and there is much you must know. For one thing, there may not be a lot of time left to you."

"What do you mean?"

"It will take time to explain."

"Time! This may sound funny coming from a time traveler, but I don't have time for this right now," Kendra said, exasperated.

"Kendra," Marian interrupted, "you have told me much about where you came from and you will be much better off giving birth there. Do you know how many babes never see their first birthday here?" A sob caught in her throat. "Oh, Kendra, if I could have my child in a place as clean as you have described to me, I would not let anything stop me."

"Your child? Marian, you aren't-"

"No, no,"' she said hastily. She glanced up at Robin. "But we hope to have children, one day." The outlaw leaned down and took Marian's hand.

"Aye, my love, that we will, and every one of them will be strong and fair." He turned back to Kendra. "Now, young lady, will you be good?"

Kendra sighed and nodded. "All right. But I don't like it. Thank you, Robin," she added. "Please, will you give Navarre a message for me?" She looked down at her stomach, cradled beneath her hand. "Tell him that I love him."

A shadow crossed Robin's face. "Aye," he said softly, "if I have the chance."

Kendra frowned at his words, wondering if perhaps Robin had had a premonition of some kind that he wouldn't return, that he would be killed. She'd read of men going into battle having clear visions of their own deaths. But that seemed unlike the practical Robin Hood. She continued to ponder his words as the outlaw leaned down again and kissed a somewhat appeased Marian on the lips.

"I am sure Marian will want to see you off on your journey," he said, "and so will I, if possible. Where will the departure take place?"

"Wiltshire," Cennach said from behind them. They turned and he lifted both brows, his green eyes curiously gentle. "You have come full circle, Kendra. Your destiny lies once again upon the Abury plains."

Robin nodded, then reached for Kendra's hand. She glanced up at him, perplexed at the gentle way he lifted her fingers to his lips, and the stark pain she saw reflected in his eyes.

"I am sorry, Kendra. Perhaps you may take comfort in the fact that what I do, I do for England. I will spare him if I can." He dropped her hand and shot Marian a loving look, then spurred his mount forward and disappeared into the forest.

Kendra stared after him, his words sending a paralyzing fear coursing through her body. What had he said? He would spare him? He would spare whom? Not Garrick, certainly, for why would Robin think his life or death would concern her? Not Richard. Icy fingers gripped her throat and her eyes fluttered shut. She heard Marian cry out and Cennach as well, then strong hands were guiding her back to the house. She sank down on the front step and began to tremble.

"He thinks Navarre has the gun," she whispered. "He thinks it is Navarre who is going to kill the king."

The blackness overtook her after all.

After she regained consciousness, it took both Cennach and Marian to keep Kendra from jumping on her horse then and there and following Robin. At last she could see that her Struggles were in vain and she allowed them to take her into the house and tuck her, still protesting, into bed. The professor gave her a glass of wine to help her "brace up." Then he went out to help Friar Tuck in the grisly duty of burying Magda. Marian sat perched on the bed beside a pale Kendra.

"I must go after him," Kendra told her, taking her hand and pressing it fervently. "You don't understand. I was rambling when Robin first arrived and said something about Navarre going to find Richard. I was thinking about Garrick and how he had the gun and I blurted out, 'He has the gun'! Now Robin thinks Navarre is going to kill the king! Don't you understand what I'm saying?"

"Oh, I do not think he misunderstood you," Marian said in a soothing voice. "He told me that he and Navarre became quite close during their time together in the dungeon. I assure you, they are good friends now. Navarre even promised that he would ride to stop an assassin from killing Richard, although he knew it meant leaving you at the mercy of the sheriff."

"But don't you see-" Kendra seized the cool cloth Marian had placed on her brow and threw it across the room "-that's exactly why Robin may have doubts. Navarre didn't go directly to save Richard. He rescued me instead!"

Marian bit her lower lip and looked more anxious at that, then shook her head. "Robin would never hurt Navarre. He knows how much he means to me."

Kendra closed her eyes and leaned back against the pillow. It was no use. She would simply have to wait until everyone was asleep and then make her move. It was close to sunset already. She opened her eyes to tell Marian that she wanted to be alone for a while, only to find the young woman staring at her, her own eyes filled with pain.

"Kendra, are you sure you are with child?" Her voice was hushed and Kendra looked away from her stricken face, hoping she wasn't going to have to endure a lecture from a teenager on the evils of giving birth to an illegitimate child.

"I honestly don't know, Marian. All I know is that Magda said I was, and I am beginning to suspect she spoke the truth." She brushed one hand wearily over her forehead. "Cennach says Magda was hardly ever wrong in her predictions."

"Magda always spoke the truth," the young woman said.

Kendra turned back at the strained sound of her voice. Marian's lower lip trembled and she looked as though tears were imminent.

"Marian," Kendra said, "what in the world is wrong with you? It's a baby, not the plague. Things could be worse."

"Robin seemed concerned," Marian whispered.

"Robin? I don't know why he should be."

"Then it is not... he is not..."

Come the dawn. Kendra groaned mentally. "Of course not, Marian."

Marian looked down at her hands, her lower lip still quivering. "I saw the way Robin looked at you while we were at his camp, and-and the two of you did walk together, unchaperoned in the forest quite often."

"I swear to you," Kendra said, squeezing Marian's hand lightly. "I never, ever had a thing with Robin. No way, not at all. He's a nice guy, but he's all yours. This is Navarre's baby."

The relief flooded across the young woman's face. "Oh, Kendra, I am so very glad. Does Navarre know?"

"No," she sighed. "I didn't have a chance to tell him."

"When will you be married?" Marian asked, now swelling with excitement. "You must let me help you plan everything. I have a lovely dress I've never worn. You are welcome to it, it is the color of violets and would look so well with your hair, and the girdle is gold. The surcoat is of a deep purple and-" she broke off, then frowned at Kendra. "What is so amusing?"

Kendra burst out laughing, fighting to keep from dissolving into hysterical tears. "You are, you sweet girl. Planning all of these wonderful things, but it's impossible."

"Why?" She studied Kendra's face and nodded. "I see, you think he will not return, but I say that he will. Robin will not kill him, and Navarre loves you more than anything. I have seen it in his eyes and when he returns I know he will marry you."

"Even if he comes back, I'm going home, Marian." Kendra's voice was tight with anguish. "I've asked him to go with me but he refuses." She stopped and covered her face with both hands. Going home. Leaving Navarre. How could one thought bring such joy and the other such grief?

"I brought you your bag," Marian said, her eyes soft with sympathy. She went outside and after a few minutes came back carrying the familiar leather satchel. "You left it behind and I thought you might need your things."

Kendra opened the bag and was surprised and pleased to find both of her cameras. "Thank you, Marian."

"Do you feel like coming outside?" Cennach said, poking his head in suddenly at the doorway. "We are going to have a brief ceremony for Magda."

"Of course," Kendra said, throwing the light coverlet off of her. She stood and took Marian's hand. "Come, Marian, let's tell her good-bye."

The forest did not lend itself well to digging graves since the ground was covered with bracken, bramble, tree roots, and rocks, but Friar Tuck and Cennach had managed to carve a shallow grave for Magda. As the brief service came to an end and the sun set behind the hills, the two men shoveled what dirt there was into the grave, then the four of them worked quickly to cover the grave with rocks to keep animals from desecrating the makeshift tomb.

"I'm afraid we have yet another task left to us," Friar Tuck said abruptly as he stood from his task and eased his back with one hand. "As we approached the forest, in yon glen we saw some of Garrick's men. Navarre must have killed them before he arrived here."

"That duty must wait until morning, my friend," Cennach said. "The night is not safe. Predators abound."

"Aye," said the priest, nodding. "I confess I feel no great compunction to make sure their souls reach a safe haven, wicked as that may sound. I will to bed. These bones grow wearier by the minute."

"The women will sleep in the small bedroom and I have coverlets on the floor in the larger room for us," Cennach said. "I will be in shortly." The priest said his good nights, then he rose and disappeared into the house, his shoulders still slumped dejectedly.

"I, too, am ready to sleep." Marian stifled a yawn. "Kendra, are you coming?"

Kendra turned toward Cennach, feeling infinitely tired and all too aware of how much farther she had to go before this night was over.

"Cennach, I know you are as weary as I am, but we can't put this off any longer." She moved toward the old man and laid one hand gently across his arm. "Tell me how I can get back home."

Chapter Eighteen.