"Get my horse; we ride out in ten minutes." Guy spoke sharply to one of his guards. He turned and walked through the palace courtyard, making sure his men were prepared for their mission of the day. It had snowed the night before, and at least six inches were covering the ground. He shivered and tucked his black collar more snugly around his neck.

You would think I would be used to this cold by now, he thought. After all, hadn't he lived in England for his entire life? I guess the weather in the Holy Land has spoiled me.

He was musing on this subject, thinking of the weather, and waiting for his horse, when he was jolted slightly forward by an icy object smacking against the back of his cloak.

"Ahh!" He steadied himself and looked around. "Who did that? Allan?"

Allan was leaning against a column, looking amused by this turn of events. "Not being funny, but it wasn't me."

Guy growled under his breath and peered around the courtyard. A partially muffled peal of laughter met his ears and he spun towards it.

There! A bright red cape, a flash of movement as a figure ducked behind the well to the side of the courtyard.

Marian. Must she be so immature? And she wondered why she was treated like a child often.

"Then don't ACT like one, my little red riding hood," he murmured. He marched to the well, brushed the snow off, and sat down upon the side.

"It appears we're all having fun this morning, doesn't it?"

Marian was sitting with her back towards Marian looked up at him, smiling, bright cheeked from the cold air. She was sitting with her back towards him. "Hello, Sir Guy."

"You hit me on the back with a snowball. I take it you did this intentionally?"

"Did I?"

He resisted the urge to shove a handful of snow down the back of her pretty neck.

"Yes. Yes you did."

"Why, I'm so sorry about that!" She laughed. "I assure you it was unintentional."

That did it. He would not be laughed at again. He scooped up some snow, and quick as a fox, he pushed it down the back of her cape.

She tried not to squeal, but he knew she couldn't help a small shriek as it trickled down her back.

"Now that wasn't fair!"

"Neither was hitting an innocent man with a snowball while his back was turned."

He got up and began to walk away, but whirled suddenly when he heard Marian's footsteps crunching in the snow behind him. She stopped guiltily and held something behind her back, presumably another snowball.

"Are you never to give this up?" He didn't mean to trip her, but suddenly she was sprawled on the icy ground, mouth wide open.

He placed his hands on her shoulders and whispered, "Now, an apology?"

His mistake. Marian had held onto her snowball, and now she reached up and rubbed it into his face.

He cried out and let go of her. "Mad girl!"

She made to get up, but Guy had rubbed the snow out of his eyes by that time, and caught onto her again.

"Apology. Or you're not going anywhere for some time."

Marian rolled her eyes. "And you're calling me immature?"

He didn't say anything, but leaned down, slowly, cautiously, and kissed the tip of her nose.

Her eyes widened, but she made no attempt to push him away. Encouraged, Guy then kissed her lips, closing his eyes, not caring about the cold ground or the chilly air. He could have stayed with her forever….

"Gisborne!" The sheriff's voice cut through the air. "Are you going to roll around on the ground like a dirty five year old, or are you going to join us this morning?"

Guy jerked back, stood up, brushed the snow off of his cloak, and helped Marian to her feet. He knew he was reddening by the second, but he couldn't help it. "I expect to see you later."

She curtsied and smiled up at him, face bright pink.

"And Marian?"

"Yes?"

"I still never received an apology."

"What makes you think you ever will?

With that, Marian rushed away, red cape streaming in the air.