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Post by Robin Hood on Jul 12, 2009 17:27:12 GMT 1
Robin laughed in surprise at her question. He had not expected it, though he supposed he deserved it, really. He had embarrassed her earlier.
"When did I first know..." He trailed off, pondering the question. When the memory of the moment came to him, he smiled, closing his eyes for a moment and picturing it before looking back down at her, still holding her close.
"Well, a promise is a promise. I admit, I have known for a long time that I have cared for you, and of how special you are to me. Love is different. I was never quite sure if I loved you, before I left. Do you remember, not long after I returned, when I was wounded by the arrow, and you stitched my arm? You seemed so frustrated with me, that day." Robin laughed, for he could still recall every word, and every look from her.
"You pulled on the thread, and asked if it hurt, do you remember? When I said it had, you said good. I knew that very second, Marian. I knew then that I loved you."
Feeling as if he had revealed in the last few minutes more than he ever had to her, Robin looked away from her, out into the distance in the forest. He almost dreaded her reaction, and was trying very hard to resist the urge to step out of her hold.
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Post by Marian Fitzwalter on Jul 12, 2009 17:38:41 GMT 1
Marian didn't take her eyes off of him as he spoke, half expecting him to make some joke about it. However she did not expect him to be serious about it, to tell her the truth. She remembered that moment so well, worry was taking over her at the time but she couldn't let it show. She couldn't let him see how much he affected her still, despite what she said. She had missed him, and to see him hurt and then see the wound that caused him to be sent back to the Holy Land, she so wanted to hold him and take care of him. But then, she couldn't allow herself to make him think he still had that hold on her.
"All this time and not once have you said to me? Months of knowing and you haven't spoken the words 'till now."
It was then her grin got wider, seeing him avoid her gaze. He looked so worried about what she had said, perhaps thinking she was going to reject him. Reaching up, she gently cupped his cheek, turning his gaze to meet hers.
"I love you too."
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Post by Robin Hood on Jul 12, 2009 17:47:09 GMT 1
Forced to look back at her, Robin could barely resist the urge to squirm, wanting to run into the trees and hide from her like a child.
Then she spoke, and at those four simple words he released a breath he may as well have been holding since they began this conversation. He opened his mouth to speak, but could not find any appropriate words to say, so promptly shut it again.
Robin was a man of action, he always had been. Never able to stay still for more than a moment. And they said actions spoke louder than words, so...
Placing his hands on either side of her face, Robin pulled Marian into a kiss, full of the longing and unspoken words of so many months spent wanting her close. Once they broke apart, he once again pulled her close to him, holding her in a tight embrace, thinking how it would be perfect to never let go.
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Post by Marian Fitzwalter on Jul 12, 2009 17:52:17 GMT 1
Marian watched with a grin as it was clear he had no idea what to say. That was something she thought impossible, that she could shut him up for once. Before she could comment on it, or even give him a cheeky smile, she was pulled close to him, her lips meeting his. She found her arms wrapping tightly around his neck, letting all her feelings pour out into this one simple action.
When he pulled away from her, her breath was heavy as she tried to get it back. His arms were around her tight, and she had never felt safer than she did in that moment. It was just perfect. She ignored the cold, ignored the wind blowing at her hair and underdress because in that moment she didn't care. All she cared about was holding onto Robin as much as she could, making him realise just how much she loved and appreciated him.
She had to make him realise that he meant the world to her.
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Post by Robin Hood on Jul 12, 2009 17:59:09 GMT 1
Much as he thought it would be perfect to stay this way forever, Robin's thoughts caught up to him as they stood locked in their embrace. Hugging Marian in the forest for all eternity seemed like an ideal situation, but it would hardly solve England's problems. And now, Marian had the answer to her question, she had sufficiently embarrassed him, and Robin considered the subject closed for the time being.
Stepping back from her arms, Robin walked to the branch where her dress hung. Pulling it free, he brought it back to her.
"You should get dressed, Marian, the wind is cold. The last thing we need is for you to get sick."
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Post by Marian Fitzwalter on Jul 12, 2009 18:02:35 GMT 1
Marian nodded, agreeing with his concern. The last thing she wanted was to get ill here. Taking her dress from his arms, she stepped into it, beginning the many ties and fasteners and the front, and the ones she could reach at the back. Smiling a little, she glanced up at him.
"Could you help me. I can not reach all the way up."
She tried not to look to embarrassed about asking him, but there was only so far her hands could reach to be able to fasten her dress tight enough that it wouldn't collapse if she made any movement. Waiting for his answer, she made sure everything else was secure, tucking her hair behind her ears as once again the wind blew it about.
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Post by Robin Hood on Jul 13, 2009 1:19:17 GMT 1
Robin nodded, moving to stand behind her. Taking her hair in one hand, he draped it forward over one of her shoulders, out of the way.
Doing up the last of the fastenings on the back of her dress, slowly making his way to the top, Robin found himself staring at her neck, unable to do anything but stare at the smooth skin. Once he reached the top of her dress, he rested his hands on her shoulders. Leaning down, he pressed a chaste kiss to the side of her neck before moving to stand in front of her once again. He gave her a gentle smile.
"Thankyou, Marian. I found myself in a foul mood and you have done much to improve it."
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Post by Marian Fitzwalter on Jul 13, 2009 1:31:13 GMT 1
Marian found her breathing speed up slightly, occasionally feeling his fingers brush against her sent tingles throughout her body. When he had finished fastening it for her, she felt his lips softly touch the skin at the bottom of her neck, her eyes closing for a moment. When she opened them, he was once again in front of her, one of the sweetest smiles she'd seen on him plastered on his face.
"I do try. I do not like seeing you in such ways," she said honestly.
Before they had told each other how they felt, she would not have admitted such things. Now, however, she didn't feel like he could embarrass her anymore, or that she could embarrass herself with her own words. How good it felt to be able to tell him her true feelings without the worry.
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Post by Robin Hood on Jul 13, 2009 1:39:04 GMT 1
Robin laughed, suddenly.
"I find myself oddly unsure of what to say or do next, Marian. I suppose I've rather changed things between us now, haven't I?" Robin's hand went unconsciously to his mouth, chewing on a thumbnail, a sure sign of his uncertainty.
Robin picked up his bow from where he had dropped it upon first arriving to talk to Marian, needing to be moving, and doing something with his hands.
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Post by Marian Fitzwalter on Jul 13, 2009 1:45:13 GMT 1
Marian kept her eyes on him, noticing his inability to stand still for the moment. Frowning, she thought overwhat he had said. He thought things would change now because of what they had admitted. Would it have to? Yes they would know a little more about each other but...
"In what way would we change?"
She raised an eyebrow, half wxpecting a suggestive comment. After all, she knew Robin far too well, and this was one of the opportunities he would not pass by. Then again, perhaps his nerves got the better of him, and his fidgiting would make him answer the question without thinking fully. Standing with her hands on her hips, she waited for his comment.
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Post by Robin Hood on Jul 13, 2009 2:20:20 GMT 1
Naturally, Robin's mind instantly went to a number of inappropriate places. Smirking, he spoke. "Well, aside from the fact that we would be..."
Then he paused. "No, perhaps not. I think I have seen enough of your fiery temper for one day." He winked after he said this, showing her he was not being entirely serious.
"Loathe as I am to admit it, I know I am hopeless at being honest with you, Marian."
Shaking his head, Robin laughed. "Why am I even saying that? You're perfectly aware of that, aren't you? I think I will worry more now Marian, of what you think of my actions. Of whether you are constantly mad at me for not sharing things with you. In truth, the thought of having to share my thoughts with another in such a way rather terrifies me. But you didn't hear that from me."
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Post by Marian Fitzwalter on Jul 13, 2009 11:20:27 GMT 1
Marian rolled her eyes, looking at him to show that she wasn't impressed. Of course, she had expected such a response from him, and couldn't keep up the seriousness in her gaze, and was soon giggling along.
"Better be careful Robin. You do realise if you anger me, you'll have to sleep at some point and who knows what someone can do when the other person is unaware," she teased.
She listened to him, a gentle smile on her face as he spoke. She understood that, the worry. She'd worry about what she said or did now as well, worried that she would end up angering him and being told to leave.
"Oh you didn't have to tell me about sharing your thoughts being terrifying for you, I already guessed as such. But you do not have to worry about your thoughts, or your actions. You know if I disagree I will tell you, but that is something we can deal with when the time comes. We can make decisions together."
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Post by Robin Hood on Jul 13, 2009 14:28:21 GMT 1
Robin raised a brow. "Make decisions together? I am not so sure about that one, Marian. I question the decision making abilities of one who would attack someone innocently sleeping."
Robin could not help but joke with her. It was so much easier than being serious. It was lighthearted, silly, and never went places he did not want to go.
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Post by Marian Fitzwalter on Jul 13, 2009 14:34:58 GMT 1
Marian laughed, looking at the ground for a the moment as he spoke. She understood the joke, glad that he knew she was joking about attacking him when he slept. Of course, she would never dare of injuring him. Not fatally anyway. A cheeky grin came across her face as she looked up at Robin.
"You have a right to, I suppose. Don't know how you can have me in your camp with that threat. You'd never sleep."
After that moment of seriousness, something she was slightly more comfortable with than Robin, it was nice to calm him down with the joking. It was something that she could use to get closer to him, to make him talk.
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Post by Robin Hood on Jul 13, 2009 14:38:53 GMT 1
Robin smirked. "You make a terrible mistake in your devious plotting, Marian. You assume that I do sleep. That is rarely the case. I will always be on guard for your attack."
After their earlier...encounter when they slept, there was a lot of truth to what he said, and yet it was good to joke about it.
"Tell me, Marian. Who have you been practicing these wicked tricks on?"
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