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Post by Marian Fitzwalter on Jul 6, 2009 12:21:46 GMT 1
Marian laughed at his words, shaking her head at the things he was saying. She hadn't laughed like this, properly, since before King Richard left, since Robin left. After days of constant laughter, she had instantly stopped when things seemed to go wrong. But now, with Robin, it was as if he had never left. As if King Richard was still on the throne and all was right, and the life she thought they would have had started.
"Perhaps, but they would not work either."
She had forgotten that they were at his camp, her mind focusing completely on being with him. Their surroundings were lost to her, the desperate need to get back to the castle was no longer so desperate. And the temptation to stay, never go back to the castle, was very strong.
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Post by Robin Hood on Jul 6, 2009 12:30:04 GMT 1
"They would not work? You do not wish to hear of how you make me feel as if I am amongst the stars?", Robin sighed dramatically.
"A pity. I shall have to save the line for a girl better suited."
Though he could never, ever admit it out loud, for the sake of his foolish pride, Robin loved moments like this. He felt free, as if he and Marian could not be touched.
And yet, time marched on, and he knew the longer she stayed, the more danger she was in. And he could not let harm come to her. He would rather spend a day locked in a room with Gisborne.
"Marian...loathe as I am to say it, the hour grows late. Early, in fact. If you were discovered, I could not..."
He trailed off here, unwilling to admit such things out loud.
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Post by Marian Fitzwalter on Jul 6, 2009 12:47:50 GMT 1
Marian raised her eyebrow as he mentioned using the lines on another girl. For a moment, she wasn't so sure if he was teasing or not, but looking at him, she could see the cheeky smile. Pretending to take him seriously, she looked at him without a smile.
"You can if you like, but as I'm sure you'd know, I would no longer visit."
She was playing along of course, that was until he mentioned what she had been putting off for as long as she could. Sighing, she looked at the ground, knowing that she had to go. Even though she desperately didn't want to.
"You are right. I must go," she looked up, glancing at him, really not wanting to leave. "I will try and get more food to you as soon as I can. I promise."
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Post by Robin Hood on Jul 6, 2009 12:59:57 GMT 1
"Oh? You think I should find myself another? Perhaps some wild spirit, living in the forest. One who longs for the life of an outlaw?"
He was attempting to maintain the lighthearted air of their conversation, and yet was finding it harder and harder. Her next words, yet again, reignited his worry for her.
"I do not ask for such promises, Marian. Just promise me that you will stay safe."
Robin once again placed his hands on her shoulders, his hold full of a sudden and desperate need for her to hear his words.
"I need to know that you will be safe." At these words, Robin could not say more, and as quickly as he had taken hold of her, he relinquished his hold, and had to look away, breaking eye contact.
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Post by Marian Fitzwalter on Jul 6, 2009 13:12:20 GMT 1
Now she knew he was joking, and she couldn't help but respond. Shrugging, she tried to look not bothered by it. After all, she knew she could get back at him.
"And perhaps I can find myself a man of nobility and have a life of comfort."
She knew how possible that was, but she also knew she would never leave Robin. She couldn't. She had many offers from men throughout the years he was gone, her father approving of each of them. But she couldn't agree, and she often told herself that they weren't suitable to her. But she knew the real reason was because they weren't Robin.
She found herself in Robin's tight grasp again, though he knew how to hold her tight but be gentle. It was times like these she realised just how desperate he was, and how much he needed her to respond in a way that suited him.
"I promise you I will stay safe."
He needed to hear that, even though she knew she would not stop helping others, and therefore was always at risk. Then he stepped back, letting her go. Taking that as her hint to leave, she stepped back, heading back to her horse.
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Post by Robin Hood on Jul 6, 2009 13:20:39 GMT 1
Even though he knew that she too was joking, her words were painful. Perhaps she could find a suitable nobleman. And with Gisborne nosing around, her search would not be so difficult.
He could not fully tell, when she made her promise, but he was certain she was only saying it to appease him. So she could leave.
As she walked away, he tried desperately to think of something to say, but came up short. He had exhausted all possibilities. Picking up the sack at his feet once again, Robin let out a long, exhausted sigh. Another time, then. As ever.
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Post by Marian Fitzwalter on Jul 6, 2009 13:29:20 GMT 1
Marian could hear him behind her, he hadn't walked away yet. And she knew she couldn't leave him with things so uncertain. She knew her words would hurt him, after all it was more likely for her to find a nobleman than he would find a female outlaw. After all, she was surrounded by them daily. Before getting on her horse, she turned to look at him.
"I did not mean that. There is no one else I'd rather..." she sighed, not knowing how to say it.
There was, however, a way she could convey just how much she wanted to be with him, and it was her turn to grasp him. Reaching out, she placed her hands either side of his face, then reached up, kissing him lightly at first before deepening it slightly. She just wanted to stay here, in this embrace, but she knew she could not. The bag in his hands proved that, she had to go back to the castle, and he had to deliver food for the villagers. But she did not want to pull herself from his kiss.
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Post by Robin Hood on Jul 6, 2009 13:47:57 GMT 1
Robin watched her as she watched him, standing near to her horse. And then suddenly, she had made her way back to him, and before Robin had a chance to blink, she was kissing him.
Robin was shocked, to say the least. It was one thing for Marian to humour him when he gave in to such urges, yet for Marian to initiate such a thing, well...he was equal parts delighted, bemused and bewildered. His own hands again dropped the sack of food, which seemed destined to spend the night anywhere but in his hands, raising them to tangle in her hair as he returned her kiss with equal force.
Once they had broken apart for the need to breathe alone, Robin could only stare at Marian, breathing heavily, unable to say a word.
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Post by Marian Fitzwalter on Jul 6, 2009 13:59:04 GMT 1
Marian found herself standing as close to him as she could when his fingers were entangled in her hair, trying to hold him to her as long as she could. Of course, they were soon running out of breath and both had to pull back, put she did not pull away to far. She kept as close as she could, her eyes closed for a few moments until she got her breath back. Slowly opening them, she saw Robin looking just as disheveled as she was sure she was, her fingers messing it up as she ran her fingers through it when they kissed.
"I wish I did not have to go."
Her voice was quiet, and only if Robin was paying enough attention would have been able to hear it. She knew she had to leave, but she wanted so much to stay, always stay. But what of her father? He would surely take any punishment if she left the castle.
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Post by Robin Hood on Jul 6, 2009 14:03:26 GMT 1
Robin had trouble forming any sort of response.
"I wish..." He paused here, and once again pulled her closer to him, tight in his embrace before whispering his desires into her hair, though of course he did not have to be specific, she knew exactly what he wanted,
"You know what I wish."
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Post by Marian Fitzwalter on Jul 6, 2009 14:31:27 GMT 1
Marian let him pull her closer, her arms instantly holding him tightly. She could feel his breath on her hair as he whispered his words to her. Her eyes closed for a moment, trying to compose herself. In that moment, if she hadn't took the time to think it over, she would have told him she was staying. But all those doubts and worries would not leave her.
"Soon. Very soon," she whispered back to him.
She really hoped this would come true. She would not tell him that it was all she thought about whilst he was in the Holy Land, the future she hoped for. Especially since she knew she was meant to be angry at him for leaving her. But she always had those moments of weakness when she wished it was all that simple.
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Post by Robin Hood on Jul 6, 2009 14:38:26 GMT 1
Stepping back out of her embrace, Robin took a slow, steadying breath. He did not wish to be abrupt, but he could not stand these maybe's any longer. Either she was staying or going.
Picking up the sack of food, he hefted it into the air, placing his other hand underneath it, removing the temptation of reaching for her once again.
"Go, Marian. Just go."
His words were abrupt, he knew. And yet he found he could not care.
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Post by Marian Fitzwalter on Jul 6, 2009 14:52:54 GMT 1
Marian watched him step back, the sadness in his eyes showing her everything he felt. She stepped away, her eyes not leaving his, until she got to her horse. Putting one foot on the stirrup, she got ready to leave, her thoughts running wild in her head.
Why couldn't she stay? He was Robin Hood, he could go into the castle without being caught a thousand times over. He could help and she could...
Stepping away from the horse again, she stayed by it, looking uncertain. What if she agreed to stay and he decided it wasn't the best idea. But if she never said anything, she would never know. And she was never one to hold back because of rejection, not a lot anyway.
"Robin. If I stay...can you help me take my father to safety?" she said, her voice unsure. She really was worried about his reaction, so much so she couldn't look at him. Not yet.
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Post by Robin Hood on Jul 6, 2009 15:00:56 GMT 1
It was probably a good thing the sack of food did not have feelings, Robin thought in passing, as it once again fell to the ground with a dull thud.
He stared at Marian, honest confusion etched on his features. "Marian, why are you doing this? If you speak in jest, this is truly a cruel game you play."
This time dropping to his knees, Robin set himself to the task of placing all the food back into the sack, yet again. He was beginning to feel as if this sack of food was a metaphor for so much more in his life. A constant battle.
He refused to meet Marian's eyes.
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Post by Marian Fitzwalter on Jul 6, 2009 15:06:30 GMT 1
Marian heard the sack hit the ground, and instantly took that to mean a bad thing. His words of disbelief hurt her so much, and when she turned around to look at him, he was focusing more on clearing than on her. Taking a deep breath, she tried to be brave, keeping her eyes on him.
"I need your word you'll help me get my father out of the castle, to some where safe. If I am to stay here, I need to know he is safe."
She thought over her choice of words, wondering if that was the best way to phrase what she wanted to say. Of course, nerves were getting the better of her. Coughing a little, she hoped to get his attention, but part of her thought him not looking at her made it easier.
"I want to stay. I can't keep walking away from you Robin, it hurts each time."
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