Lady Marian

Lady Marian portrayed by Lucy Griffiths, is a character in the BBC television serial Robin Hood. She is the daughter of the former Sheriff of Nottingham. Marian is twenty-one years old, and in contrast to most Robin Hood legends, is not described as Maid Marian, but rather Lady Marian. "In those days [21] would be considered quite old to still be a maid," actress Lucy Griffiths explained in the Radio Times preview."^[1] She was engaged to Robin before he went to fight in the crusades but is visibly cold and aloof toward him on his return, although in episode twelve she admits that she considered him a hero even while calling him a fool. She was initially disapproving of Robin's outlaw status because she believed that the best way to fight injustice was to work inside the system. However, she aids him in his fight against the Sheriff by frequently spying for him and giving him inside information that she has picked up in the Sheriff's castle, and from Guy of Gisborne. Marian also fights the Sheriff in her own right, disguising herself as the Night Watchman and giving the poor food and supplies.

Marian is undoubtedly beautiful and carries some status with her, as the daughter of Edward, the old Sheriff. For those reasons, Gisborne, a dispossessed lord and Vaisey's right hand man, falls in love with her quite obsessively. From the beginning, she frostily resists his attentions and gifts, unable to look past his murderous ways and cruelty. But as time goes on, her status and beauty aren't the only reasons why Guy wants her - he finds himself wondering if her pure heart and empathy could end his compulsive evil and bring about his redemption upon marriage. In the first season, she is coerced by Guy into agreeing to marry him when King Richard returns to England. Though she does not love him, she does agrees to the union to protect both herself and her father from his wrath.

Marian is head-strong and no-nonsense, if often derisive of Robin's arrogance and cocky attitude towards her. But despite this, her love for him is evident as the series progresses, and they share many tender moments in secret.

When King Richard appears to return to England (but is, in fact, an impostor), Marian must fulfill her promise to marry Guy, and he immediately prepares their wedding. In one final act of defiance against him, she dresses as the Night Watchman and attempts to steal from him, but he stabs her as she makes her escape, unaware that she is Marian. Djaq nurses her and manages to revive her when she goes into cardiac arrest. Soon after though, Marian apparently dies, and the penultimate episode of the first series ends with Robin mourning over her body and confessing his love for her. It is revealed in the following episode that her body merely shut down as a result of a concoction that she had been given by Guy's physician Pitts.

Regaining her health shortly afterwards, Marian arrives to marry Guy. The wedding is interrupted by a frantic Much, who informs her that the King is an impostor, and that it is a ruse by the Sheriff and Guy to weed out the Sheriff's enemies. In the hope that she will forgive him, Guy admits that he knew of the plan, but Marian punches him and flees the wedding. Robin rides up on horseback to greet her and Much, and Marian rides off with him. When they arrive at the castle to expose the Sheriff's plot, she and Robin kiss.

In the second series, Marian and her father are under house arrest in Nottingham Castle. Marian cannot travel out of the castle without an armed guard, although she has managed to avoid one due to Robin's men creating a diversion, or her being allowed a day off by Guy. With these methods of avoiding an armed chaperon, Marian manages to successfully deliver information to Robin. It is evident that Robin and Marian's relationship has grown stronger; however, Marian seems to be in a love triangle with Robin and Guy. Guy is still ignorant of her being Night Watchman, and Robin's informer, and harbours deep feelings for her. However, she remains faithful to Robin. Also in the second series, she is discovering several uses for her beauty and her role as a Lady - with the leading advantage being able to manipulate Guy's feelings for her. She keeps him believing that he still has a chance to win her heart - to stay close to him and get information to help Robin.

When her father dies, she agrees to join Robin in Sherwood Forest, despite several heated arguments as to whether it is the right thing to do. They eventually are able to see the bigger picture - it isn't about what made them happy but about keeping Nottingham safe and looked after.

In Lardner's Ring, Episode 9 of the series, Robin proposes to Marian. She accepts his hand and his ring, although by the end of the episode, she is once more back in the castle with Guy. Later on, she hides the ring from Guy, wearing it only in private.

In the final episode of series 2 (We Are Robin Hood!), Marian shields King Richard as Guy advances on the injured King. She admits her relationship with Robin and how she would rather die than be with Guy, to which he responds by attacking her, thrusting his sword into her. Only after this does Robin arrive as Guy retreats with the Sheriff. Marian marries Robin while she lies dying. She then dies in her husband's arms and is carried to her grave.^[2][3]

Lady Marian returns as a ghost as Robin is dying in the last episode 'Something Worth Fighting For Part 2'.

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