A war of the heart.
Marian's heart hassened when she heard the hoof beats outside Locksley Manor. They had been married a mere three months when King Richard had asked Robin to return to the Holy Lands to help negociate the peace treaty. Marian had allowed him to go on one promise. That if he was not returned within a year that she herself would sail to the Holy Land to retrieve him. And Robin knew she meant that promise all to well. He had been gone seven months, but finally he had returned. Marian could barely hold her excitement as she ran down the stairs like a child. She had just reached the bottom step when the door burst open. She froze and stared at the man that stood within the door way. He had changed. His hair longer covering his eyes slightly. His stuble more scruffy than usual. But the one thing that had not changed was that smirk. The smirk that melted her heart ever time. The one that made her buckle at the knees almost sending her crashing to the floor.
'Well. Are you not glad to see your husband returned healthily from war.' Robin smirked out stretching his arms indicating to himself.
Marian could barely remember moving her feet before she was locked into an embrace with Robin. 'I've missed you.' She smiled as she hugged him tighly.
'I have missed you to.' Robin smiled as he breathed in the smell of her hair. Lavender, her favourite scent to bathe in. 'Hmm. You smell good.' Robin smiled.
'More than I can say for you.' Marian laughed pulling out of his embrace but never removing her arms from around his neck. 'I'll have a bath made for you.' She smiled and walked away into the kitchen to tell the maids.
Robin sighed as he undid his belt buckle and put it down on the table. He sat in the chair and rubbed his hands over his eyes. He was tired. Tired of the war that no one wished to fight. The war that had taken hiom for the second time away from his new wife. He had waited so long to be back in her arms. Her warmth felt so inviting it felt like home.
'They have began to make your bath.' Marian smiled from the door way as she walked into the room and sat on her husbands lap.
Robin wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in close never wanting to let her go. This was where he belonged in the arms of his wife under the roof of his Manor.
'I am so glad you are home. It has been very boring here without you. I even thought about taking up embroidery again.' Marian giggled.
'God what have I done to my wife. Embrodiery? Now that would be tragic.' Robin laughed as Marian nudged him. 'And what shall we do to occupy ourselves after my bath?' Robin smirked.
'Oh I am sure we can think of something.' Marian smiled.
'My Lord your bath is ready?' A maid said as she entered and then left the room.
Robin turned to Marian with his usual mischevious glint in his eyes. 'Care to join me?'
'Hmm....i'll get the bed warm.' Marian winked as she walked up the stairs.
Robin chuckled as he shook his head watching the woman he loved depart the room. He got up and made his way to the bathing chamber.
Marian smiled as Robin entered the bedroom, his hair wet and clinging to his head as he wore only his trousers. She gaped at his torso. He had always been muscular but this new body put his old one to shame.
'It has been along time since I shared a bed with you.' Robin smiled as he looked at his wife laying under the covers.
'It has been a long time since you have done anything with me.' Marian answered somewhat sadly.
Robin realised her shallowness and climbed under the covers with her. 'A fact that I plan to change tonight.' Robin smirked as he leaned down and kissed Marian passionatly on her lips.
Marian smiled as Robin spooned her and pulled her closer to his naked flesh. They had been apart to long. Man and wife that had barely had the time to become so. In their prolonged lust and desire for each other they had spent most of the night making love. Proving to each other that their love had not died, nor will it ever.
'Marian.' Robin whispered.
Marian giggled as his beard tickled her neck. 'Yes.'
'I have a confesion to make.' Robin sighed sadly.
'What?' Marian asked frowning but not having the power within herself to face him.
'I was gone a long time in the war.' He started but did not know how to break the woman he loved heart. 'I fear I may have strayed from you.' He said looking down in shame.
'Strayed?' Marian asked turning slightly. Her heart was beating faster than what it was when he returned home.
'I longed for a woman's warmth. I took another woman to my bed.' Robin whispered guiltily.
Marian sat up in shock and turned to her husband. Her heart was breaking. She had only just been given him back only to loose him again so quickly. 'You bedded another woman.' She gasped as her throat dried.
'Yes.' Robin hung his head in shame.
'You are not apart from me for a year yet you cannot be true.' Marian shouted as she sprung from the bed and pulled her night gown over her head. 'And then you have the disgust to bed me!' She shouted outraged.
'I tried Marian. I just missed you so much.' Robin pleaded.
'Obviously not enough.' Marian bit. 'I never strayed Robin. I stayed faithful to you.'
'I know.' Robin said looking away from her eyes. He could not stand the hurt in them.
'Was it just the one time?' Marian asked. But the sad and guilty look in Robin's eyes tore her to pieces. 'How many?' She asked as tears welled her eyes.
'I didn't keep count.'
'That many.' Marian laughed as tears consumed her soft rosy cheeks.
'It was not like that Marian.' Robin said trying to convince her.
'How many women?' She did not know why she asked these questions. She knew their answers would only further her pain. Yet she had to know.
'One.' Robin said plainly.
Marian turned to him and gasped. 'I think that hurts me even more.' Perhaps if he had visited a sarcean brothel where the woman were plain and easy she would have believed it were for pleasure and not the actual woman herself. But the fact that he had visited the same woman's bed on countless times hurt her worse than any blade could.
'Well I hope that you enjoyed her warmth. Because you are no longer going to share my bed.' Marian said.
Robin turned and looked at her in shock. 'Marian please. I love you she meant nothing.'
'She meant something Robin. She meant more than nothing for you to deystroy our marriage over.' Marian answered coldly.
'You cannot leave me Marian or else you will be shamed and see as a whore. You will have to go to tavern.' Robin stated.
'We shall share the same house but never the same bed. I will take residence in one of the guest bed chambers' Marian explained heading for the door.
'I have never stopped loving you.' Robin whispered.
'Even when you were loving her.' Marian said before leaving the room.
Robin moaned in frustration and punched the matress of the bed. He had loved her more than anything. He had longed for her while he was gone. He had picture her face upon his mistress when he had bedded her. But once more he had lost her.