So this is AU. Marian never gets stabbed. She never goes out as the Night Watchman. Set during 1x12 and 1x13…I guess. Please read and review. Disclaimer: I don't own them.
Robin added another branch to the fire. Tonight he wanted to be alone. He left the gang at their usual camp, and found his own hideout. He managed to light a small fire, uncaring if the Sheriff's men found him, and found a substantial tree to tuck under. Sitting, watching the fire, Robin let his thoughts form coherent sentences for the first time that night. Tomorrow, Marian would be marrying Guy. Even though, Robin had confessed his love the night before, while Marian lay on what they both thought was her deathbed. Marian, his childhood sweetheart, had not cared. He had convinced himself that there was nothing he could do to stop the marriage, nothing he could do to stop her, to convince her that this was a mistake. He had tried to tell her so many times. Each time, he hoped that the words would stick. The idea that Marian wanted to marry Guy ate Robin up inside. The blue-eyed brunette was stubborn. She was adamant. If she wanted a way out of this unwelcomed union, she could find one. No matter how hard he tried, Robin could not see her simply agreeing to marry a man whom she despised. He was certain that she willingly walked into this arrangement.
Diligently, Robin shook his head. Tonight, he had left that world behind. He would face his problems tomorrow. The king was returning, and the sheriff needed to pay for what he had let Nottingham become. He wouldn't think of their happy nuptials, the ring on her finger, or the honey moon. He wouldn't think of the Lady of Gisbourne, and since his ill-fated return, Locksley.
Robin's thoughts shifted to his time in the Holy Land. Leaving Marian behind, his dying father, his life, firmly believing that he would find honor and glory on the battlefield, being a fool, for the battlefield was the last place you would find such things. Robin pictured Much, his best friend and confidant, gladly packing up the little amount of belongings he had, to follow his master on a fool's errand. Where would Much be if Robin hadn't been so selfish? Would he have a wife? A family? Where would Robin be? How long would he and Marian have waited to say their vows because, back then, their marriage was eminent? Bringing Robin out of his pensive state, a branch snapped in the distance. However, the ex-crusader didn't bother to turn around.
"You shouldn't be here." Intrigued by his ability to pick up even the slightest of disturbances in the wood, Marian quietly gasped.
"How did you know it was me?"
"Only my men know I am here, and they would be a lot quieter than you." Robin piled yet another set of sticks onto the blazing fire. "Besides," He started, not managing to look at her. "I…I hoped that you would find me, somehow."
Marian sat down next to him, taking care to fold her dress under her legs. When she was done fiddling with her hemlines, Marian tried to peacefully clasp her hands in her lap. Suddenly, her nails were not as clean as they needed to be; she started picking at every miniscule speck of dirt. Robin continued staring into the fire. "Shouldn't you be celebrating, somehow, your last night as a single woman?"
Marian's hands stopped fidgeting. "How am I supposed to celebrate?" She scoffed. "What am I supposed to be celebrating? I'm marrying Guy of Gisbourne." She picked up a stick, and stoked the fire. "Things aren't turning out like I thought they were going to. He isn't who I want to spend the rest of my life with." Marian's hands paused, abruptly. Slowly, she lowered them to her sides. With reserve, Robin entwined his finger in hers. "Marian, I…"
"Sh. Please, don't speak. There is no need for apologies or false promises. We have both made our own choices. We must be able to live with them."
"Marian, no. Do not act defeated. We will find a way out of this. I have to get you out of this." Robin brought her hand up to his lips. Chastely, tentatively, he let his lips linger there. Marian's other hand came up to caress his face. "Robin. Sadly, I've made my choice. I'm marrying Gisbourne, for my father's sake."
Robin looked at Marian. How she had grown. Robin always thought she was beautiful, but now words could not describe the way she made him feel. She had grown into an amazing woman, with as much need to help the poor as him. She couldn't stand by and watch this injustice. Whether it was delivering bread to the sick, or helping them as the Night Watchman, Marian was there for them in a way that Robin could never be. "Do you want to know my thoughts when I first came back from the Holy Land? When I saw you again?"
"If you are comfortable telling them to me, yes. I would love to hear them."
"Shock was my initial thought. I was shocked, yet so thankful, that you hadn't married. While I was taken aback by your still apparent beauty, at first all I could see was the life I missed. You showed me such disdain those first few days I was back. I played it off like casual flirting, but deep down I was petrified, petrified that I had lost my chance. Marian, things would be so different if I didn't need to prove myself. If I hadn't gone off to war, if I had stayed here…"
"Robin, there is no need for this. I know things would be different. Believe me. I imagine them often. However, Robin of Locksley, that does not mean that I wish for them to be that way. That is, I do not regret the decisions we have made."
"Marian, why have you come?"
"I…Robin, I…" Marian took a deep breath. "I needed to see you, to…be with you. For once in my life, I wished to indulge myself in what I want. Robin, we both know we were made for each other, and now we both know we will never be."
"You can't say that."
"Robin, I have to marry Gisbourne."
"Why are you giving in so easily?"
"Robin, please. Tomorrow does not matter now. There is no world outside of this forest. There is only you and me, at this moment, together." Marian paused for emphasis. Hungrily, Robin kissed her. "I love you." Marian whispered between fervent kisses. "I always have loved you." She said while rummaging her hands through his hair at the back of his neck. Robin stopped to breath. Panting, Robin caressed her face. "There are two things that I am scared of. The effect you have on me. You are the one person in this world who could hurt me, the one person who could kill me. I hate feeling so vulnerable in front of you. Because of this effect, I cannot imagine my life without you. I, I" Robin attacked her with another kiss.
Marian maneuvered herself so Robin was pinning her to the ground. Slowly, she laid back. At first, Robin thought nothing of it, affronting her with kiss after kiss. He had been waiting for this, for too long. His passions were getting the better of him, and Marian let him feel every part of her. It was her intention in the first place. Marian was convinced that the act of love should be performed with someone you love, and she didn't love Gisbourne. Half-hazardly, Marian pulled Robin's shirt over his head. Her hands smoothed down his sides, reminded of his years of battle by the vicious scar down his side. There were many other scars adorning his chest, small simple scars that Marian lightly traced with her fingertips.
When Robin had first returned, he had found a baby. He had also gotten hit by an arrow in his arm. Marian stitched up the wound. That was almost a year ago. Marian could hardly believe the effect that living in the forest had had on Robin. He muscles were bigger, more defined. Although she wasn't complaining, his hands were rougher. His beard, although roguishly handsome, scratched her face. It wasn't what she had pictured as a young maiden, losing her chastity to Robin the future Lord of Locksley, but it was enough. It was more than enough.
As if awoken from a dream, Robin stared into Marian's eyes. "This isn't right." Hastily, he got up off of her. "You are to marry Gisbourne tomorrow. We are not married ourselves, and…and we are in the middle of a forest." Robin put his shirt back on.
Marian sat up. Surprising even herself, tears sprang to her eyes. "Robin, please"
Robin stood up. "I refuse." Marian let out a dry sob. "I cannot shame you so. No matter your feelings, you are Gisbourne's intended. He is to be your husband." Robin choked. "He is to be your lover." Quietly, Marian's tears began to fall. Soon, they began to soften Robin. He knelt down in front of her. "Marian, we cannot do this. It would ruin you."
"Robin." Robin tucked her head into the crook of his shoulder, soothing her tears. "Please, don't cry." Robin, unsure of whether he should share his next set of words with her, paused. "Marian, there are risks. What if you become with child? There is no way to protect you from that." Marian's tears were not being subdued. "Marian," Robin said in a whisper. "There is nothing more that I want, than to prove my love to you." Marian looked up at him. "Then prove it." "Did you not hear a word I said?" "I have thought this through Robin. The truth is, no matter how hard I try to deny it, tomorrow night I will be sharing a bed with Gisbourne." Marian swallowed, and cast her eyes down to the ground. "Who is to say that the child isn't his?"
"Everything about this is wrong." Robin said, while stroking Marian's hair. "It cannot be wrong. How can it be wrong Robin of Locksley? I believe that we have proven ourselves. We love each other. How can consummating that love be wrong?"
Robin shook his head. "No matter how hard I try to reason, there is one underlying argument, and that is the fact that I love you. I have loved you, and I will love you forever. You are mine. You are mine. And no matter what kind of vow you make tomorrow, God could never take you away from me." Marian nodded. "I love you, Marian." He kissed her. "Please, tell me if I am moving too fast…or if something hurts you. I," "Shh" Marian placed her finger to his lips. Robin kissed it.
No more words were exchanged. That night, Robin and Marian poured their hearts and souls into each other. With each thrust, Robin proclaimed his undying love. With every whimper and groan, Marian shed her sorrow from all those years away. Precious, chaste, and long-overdue, Robin and Marian made love, forgetting about what would come tomorrow.
Please review! I would love to hear what you thought about it. I set out to make it a rather long fic, and I managed about 2 ½ pages (yay!). If you would indulge me, I would love to hear what your favorite line was. Which one stood out the most to you. Thank you so very much!
