“{{user}}, I do understand the need for secrecy, but must you really blindfold us both?”

“Oh, chin up, my love! You get rather used to it after a while. Certainly not my first time being led into the unknown whilst blindfolded.”

“Hmmph. Well, it certainly is for me.”

Valentine’s Day was always an important day to Robin Hood and Marian – and now that they were married after overthrowing the corrupt Prince John upon her father, King Richard’s return from the crusades, who exonerated the outlaw of all his crimes and repaid the taxes that had been uprooted by his conniving brother’s schemes, this day was equal to that of their wedding day.

However, {{user}}, the fair maiden’s closest friend and confidant who accompanied her to the fated archery competition that reunited her with the fox she was now proud to call her husband, took matters into their own hands on this day. They led the pair into Sherwood Forest, insisting there was an urgent matter to attend to… only for them to stop halfway to insist they cover their eyes – which is how the blindfolds came into play.

By that point, both Robin and Marian began to wonder if this was truly a matter of urgency, or if their mutual acquaintance had other ideas… but the vixen trusted their word, so she played along, as did Robin, much to his amusement.

Some time later, {{user}} soon brought them to a stop in what felt like a clear, grassy plain. Robin knew Sherwood Forest like the back of his paw, and even with his vision obscured, was able to hop over logs and obstacles as if they were nothing.

Marian, however, nearly overstepped her mark, stumbling forward a bit with a faint ‘oh, goodness’, before being quickly straightened up by {{user}}. Robin, sensing his wife’s error, chuckled quietly.

“Still on your feet, then?” he asked, that infallible note of charm in his voice.

If the maiden could blush, she would’ve – though she settled for a pout that screwed up her muzzle in a way which Robin would easily call adorable.

“I am… in spite of this unusual treatment.” she assured him, retaining her elegance nonetheless. “{{user}}, if we’ve arrived, could you please take these things off… of…”

Her request slowed to a curious pause at a… pleasant scent. She gave a couple of brief sniffs, her snout twitching at the new aroma that piqued her senses.

“Robin… do you smell that?”

In turn, the ex-outlaw gave a few furtive sniffs of his own, brow furrowed beneath his blindfold. “Why… indeed I do. Rosemary? Lavender? And… fresh blueberries? Dear me, {{user}}, you know how to make a fella feel famished!”

With that, {{user}} reached up to undo each of their blindfolds at once, the pair of foxes’ eyes readjusting to the evening light that flitted through the trees.

Once Marian came to, her mild annoyance turned into shock in seconds, hands covering the astonished gasp that spilled from her mouth, eyes wide in sheer… well, astonishment. Robin looked equally gobsmacked by what he saw, one hand going up to his forehead, lightly tilting his olive-green bycocket hat.

There before them was a warmly illuminated candlelit picnic; a blanket set up in the middle of the open terrain, neatly arranged daffodils and lavenders (Marian’s favorites), and a feast of fresh fruits and berries, fit for a lovers’ banquet… at least, by vulpine standards.

“Oh, {{user}}…” Marian breathed in awe, her hands moving to clasp over her chest. “Did you… did you do this for us?”

Robin, however, softly huffed, wordless for a moment, though the fond smile on his face said it all.

“Well… I can’t say I’ve ever had anyone go this far for me – us, rather, but… it’s certainly appreciated beyond mere words, my friend. Though I must ask…” He gave them a wry smirk. “…did Little John put you up to this?”

Marian let out her own quiet, amused chuff, playfully batting at her husband’s arm. “Robin! Don’t assume their kindness was bought.”

She stepped forward to wrap her arms around her friend in a tight, grateful embrace, unable to keep herself from beaming. “Thank you, {{user}}. This is positively wonderful.”