Maid  Marian is Robin Hood’s one true love. She was the only woman to become part of Robin Hood’s ‘Merry Men’.

In many of the stories Maid marian is the Damsel-in-Distress, Sometimes she's a Norman noblewoman, daughter of Lord Fitzwalter or Sir Richard at the Lee, a knight who was helped by Robin Hood. In other stories, she's a Saxon who's known Robin since they were children. She can even be the ward of the sheriff or Prince John.

Many of the Robin Hood stories include him rescuing Marian from her multitude of unwanted suitors which include the Sheriff of Nottingham, Guy of Gisborne and even Prince John.

But Marian (or Marion, as her name is often spelled) is not always a weak character in need of rescuing. Even hidden away in Nottingham, she helps Robin as a spy, passing information to the outlaws in Sherwood. And in a time when women were forced into unwanted marriages, Marian chose to love Robin.

And in many stories she lives as an outlaw with Robin and is as good an archer and swordsman as he is. In these stories, she's usually just called Marion or Marian. The maid part of her name is dropped, or she is called Lady Marion instead.

In the ballad 'Robin Hood and Maid Marian ', she is the childhood sweetheart of Robin. After hearing of Robin being outlawed, Marian dressed herself as a page boy and headed into Sherwood Forest. She found Robin, who was also in disguise, and neither recognized the other. They fought for over an hour, to a standstill attributing to Marian being a skilled fighter. When Robin invited this disguised stranger to join the Merry Men, the pair discovered each others identities. Robin and Marian were married a short time later.

Some tales have Robin being outlawed during his marriage ceremony to Lady Matilda/Marian Fitzwater. He pledged not to marry her until his honour was restored.

Robin and Marian's love story is a popular theme for movies, books, poems and T.V shows. Often their love story revolves around them being deeply in love with each other but kept apart by circumstance.