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Post by Robin Hood on Jul 3, 2009 16:57:14 GMT 1
Robin stopped his slow progress towards camp at her words, caught in a rare moment of indecision. Eventually, he decided he could not let her have the last word. He could hardly allow her such a victory. It would not be right. However, he would certainly not be making any sort of apology. If anyone was in the wrong here, it was she.
Turning back to face her, he spoke. "Have you not heard, Marian? I am the legendary Robin Hood. I shall always see you coming."
Watching her distracted actions at her horse's side, Robin could not hold back a triumphant grin. She did not wish to leave, argument or no.
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Post by Marian Fitzwalter on Jul 3, 2009 17:08:56 GMT 1
Marian turned when she heard his footsteps stop, waiting to see exactly why. She watched him, waiting for him to speak with her eyebrow raised, then rolled her eyes when he eventually said what he wanted to say. Typical, he wanted the last word but it always was something to make her laugh about rather than think about.
"Legendary, maybe. Smart? Not so sure," she was teasing of course, but she had to say whatever she could think of that would sound good. "After all, how long did I sneak around as the Night Watchman without you realising? Quite a few."
She noticed the grin on his face, and couldn't hold back the glare. Turning back to her horse, she tightened the sadle, not wanting to look at him when she spoke again.
"What are you smiling at?"
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Post by Robin Hood on Jul 3, 2009 17:14:03 GMT 1
Robin laughed in triumph at her words. So she had questioned his intelligence, sure...but it brought him great delight to have her call him legendary, he could not deny.
"So, you acknowledege that I am legendary? Perhaps that is why I had not discovered your secret heroics, Marian. It is hard not to notice something when it is always in shadow."
As soon as he said the words he regretted them, they had been harsh. And yet, here she was saying she did not think him smart.
Her next question caught him off guard, he did not think she had noticed his grin. "I was just wondering why an experienced rider such as yourself, my lady, was taking so long to prepare her horse."
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Post by Marian Fitzwalter on Jul 3, 2009 17:23:34 GMT 1
Marian stopped in her work when he spoke of her being in his shadow. Yes she may not be free enough to do what he could, but that didn't mean she didn't help just as much. And she had been helping long before Robin had even returned from the Holy Land. Taking a deep breath, she kept her eyes on her horse. She wasn't sure if she was angry or upset, but it seeped right through her.
"Perhaps I should put myself more at risk and publicly help as you do."
Of course she wouldn't, and knew he would disagree desperately, but that didn't mean she couldn't say it. It annoyed her sometimes, when he acted like what he did was far more important than the work she took part in. Nottingham had hope because of her long before Robin took over.
Marian was glad her back was towards him when he spoke again, her frown being changed for a smile for a moment. Their arguments often ended up like this, with one of them turning back on the teasing, the other soon forgetting the argument.
"I am just taking my time before I have to go back to the castle."
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Post by Robin Hood on Jul 3, 2009 17:35:00 GMT 1
At her reaction to his words, Robin sought desperately a way to make things right again.
"I did not mean what I said, Marian. Do not think that I would want you to do that. I do not wish you to take more risks."
He realised she helped, and yet it was different. She could not do as much, whilst ever she kept up this charade in staying in the castle, staying closer to Gisborne.
In many ways, he thought, it would be easier for her to let the Night Watchman go. Did she not see that she already did enough? Truth be told, he thought she was already taking too many risks, even without playing the part of the masked hero of the people.
Her words once again brought their argument back to the familiar bickering they were both so used to.
"Oh? Perhaps the lady wishes to stay in the forest and play outlaw for a time?" He spoke the words in jest, and yet he could not deny that he longed for such an occurrence.
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Post by Marian Fitzwalter on Jul 3, 2009 17:45:25 GMT 1
Marian sighed when he apologised in the only way Robin could. She had learnt that he found it hard to say 'Sorry', but had come to realise that he had is own way of saying such a thing. Brushing her hair back from her face, she turned to look at him for a moment, the look on her face making it obvious that she accepted that form of apology.
"I would rather not take that amount of risks, but there is so much more I could do."
Marian sighed at Robin's words, looking down at the ground as she got her thoughts together. Walking to him, she reached out, rest her hand gently against his face. Keeping her eyes on his, she tried to show just how much she meant her words.
"I wish I could, Robin. I wish we didn't have to hide away, that every time I saw you there's no risk. But I can't. If I am found with you, we risk so much. England would lose you, and where would their hope go then?"
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Post by Robin Hood on Jul 4, 2009 3:09:12 GMT 1
Robin had to wonder if she did this on purpose, frustrating him whenever possible. She still did not seem to understand. Yes, she could do more, but that did not mean that she should. He worried enough for her as it was. He felt as though half of his time was spent worrying for her.
However, seeing as she had seemed to accept his words, he decided to let it go. For now.
Robin sighed quietly, his eyes closing slowly as he allowed the sensation of everyhing that was Marian to wash over him, leaning his face into her palm ever so slightly.
Her words, her rejection, stung him more than the cut of the sharpest dagger. Just because he understood, did not mean that he wanted to.
Covering her fingers with his own, he lingered for a moment before removing her hand, holding both of hers in his, their arms outstretched between them. Could she not see what she did to him? How much he needed her? Seeing her leave, again, would be unbearable. How long this time before he could see her again? Days? Weeks?
Dealing with it the only way he knew how, Robin gave her another mischief filled smirk.
"Perhaps I do not want to shoulder the burden of England's hope any longer, Marian. Perhaps I wish us to run away together."
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Post by Marian Fitzwalter on Jul 4, 2009 22:35:59 GMT 1
Marian watched as his face seemed peaceful for a moment, a light smile across her face. She liked making him happy, calming him after the day he had, his status as England's only hope would tear any man down. But not him, not yet anyway. He had stayed strong, and was the reason many were able to sleep at night with less of a worry. She may not show it, but she was proud of him. Unbelievably proud. He had no fear in showing what was right, stood up in public for those who needed him. She only wished she had that bravery to be able to stand up and fight alongside him. But she couldn't not yet.
"Oh Robin, in a perfect world that would be an offer I would take. But England needs you, England needs us. You're their only hope and I would not dare take you away from them. The King will return soon and..." she took a deep breath, wondering if she should continue or not. After all, he would press the matter until she replied anyway so it wasn't as if she had much of a choice. "Then we can go anywhere. Wherever you choose, without the worry of what the Sheriff is doing to Nottingham or what Prince John is doing to England."
Of course, she knew he wouldn't have expected that, the smirk he gave her before he spoke gave that away. But she had to be honest with him. Squeezing his hands, she stepped closer, kissing his cheek lightly. He often spoke of kisses speaking volumes, and she could clearly hear that one promising a thousand times over.
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Post by Robin Hood on Jul 5, 2009 14:18:36 GMT 1
Robin had to laugh at her words, for they almost mirrored his own. To run away and forget the sheriff, forget everything that was wrong with England...
And yet he knew he could never do that. He cared for the people, he cared for Locksley, his home no matter what the law said. He could never turn his back on the responsibilities that he had chosen for himself.
Robin let out the breath he hadn't realised he was holding when she kissed his cheek. All he could smell, all he could feel, was Marian. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her forward into a hug, his cheek resting against the top of her head, breathing her in.
"This perfect world you speak of Marian, it will exist. King Richard shall return, then everything else shall follow, and we will be together. I swear it."
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Post by Marian Fitzwalter on Jul 5, 2009 23:28:41 GMT 1
Marian let herself sink into his embrace, letting her arms slip around his. Closing her eyes, she let his closeness soothe her, all the thoughts in her head stopping for a moment of contentment. She listened to him speak, listened to his promises that she had so much hope in. It was one of the good things in her life, the hope she had of her future with Robin, a future she wished she could start now but knew they couldn't. They couldn't be together as she wanted them too, not now. England had already lost a lot and she did not like the thought of more being lost.
"I very much hope so, Robin."
Part of her was worried. Worried that the king would not return, leaving Prince John as the only heir. England would be ripped apart, not even Robin would be able to save it. but how much she wished this never happened.
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Post by Robin Hood on Jul 6, 2009 1:42:44 GMT 1
Feeling her return the hug, Robin tried to allow his worries to cease for a moment. He would not worry about the villages, the food they needed that his gang could barely provide, Gisborne lurking around every corner, every time he imagined Marian back in the castle, ready to lure her into some dark corner and...
No, she was here, and safe. Gisborne may have Locksley, and money. He might give her fancy gifts and see her whenever he chose, but Robin had...what did he have? He wasn't entirely sure. Her love? He thought so. Her respect? Well, that one was up for constant debate. One thing he had that Gisborne did not, was this...
Stepping back out of the hug, Robin grasped Marian by the shoulders and pulled her in for a passionate kiss, trying to burn every second of it into his memory before stepping back, and waiting for her outraged protests, which he always assumed would follow any impulsive actions on his part.
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Post by Marian Fitzwalter on Jul 6, 2009 8:59:44 GMT 1
Marian just allowed herself those few moments. She knew that she should head back, she couldn't be caught entering the castle again, but she couldn't tear herself away. Despite the threat of being found, this was the safest she had felt in a while, especially since she's been locked in the castle.
Suddenly, she was pulled out of her thoughts when Robin grabbed her close and kissed her. Shocked, she did not respond ubtil just before he stood back. Breathing slightly heavier than she was before, she kept her eyes on him, wondering what made him do something like that so impulsively.
"Robin," she said gently, a small smile suddenly coming across her face. "A warning beforehand would be nice."
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Post by Robin Hood on Jul 6, 2009 10:27:10 GMT 1
Robin's lips quirked, almost a smirk, barely restraining himself from laughing at the shocked, slightly dazed expression on her face. Placing his hands on either side of her face, Robin met her gaze, only just resisting the urge to kiss her again, just for good measure. Bringing the teasing tone back to his voice, for he struggled to stay serious, Robin responded.
"Forgve me, Marian", he spoke, with only the smallest amount of actual sincerity, for they both knew he did not regret his actions in the slightest,
"The moonlight shone in your hair just so, we do not know when we may see each other again, and you looked at me in such a way that I was overcome."
He was being flirtatious in a way that he knew that she knew was ridiculous, but what might he say to her? Never leave me again? Allow me to lock you away and keep you forever?
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Post by Marian Fitzwalter on Jul 6, 2009 10:48:57 GMT 1
Marian kept her eyes locked on his, enjoying this closeness far too much. She moved into his hold on her, standing closer to him as she listened to his words. Laughing, she glanced at the floor before looking back up at him. Only Robin could say such a thing and not make her roll her eyes and walk away. Mostly because she did not want to walk away from him.
"Words such as those do not suit you Robin," she said with a bright grin, her eyes full of affection for the man in front of her. "Perhaps when I was a young girl words like those you used managed to charm me, but now such attempts don't work."
She remembered those times well, when she was young and betrothed to Robin. Lines such as the one he just said worked so well on her, but now she had been subjected to them so many times it took a lot more to impress her.
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Post by Robin Hood on Jul 6, 2009 12:08:28 GMT 1
Robin laughed, delighted. For in truth, it pleased him that she had changed. That she was beyond such trivial, silly sentiment.
He rubbed his chin, feigning thoughtfulness. "It seems I must expand my repertoire, my darling Marian. Perhaps a line about the stars..."
He loved these moments with her, truly. He could pretend they sat upon the hill above Locksley, or in the fields just beyond Knighton, scheming, playing, dreaming of a happy future together. One that back then had seemed so certain.
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