Title: Lift the Wings
Rating: G (Quizilla E)
Word count: 250 words
Characters: Guy/Marian
Summary: In giving a present to Marian, Guy has a chance to correct a childhood mistake.
Disclaimer: Robin Hood is copyright to Tiger Aspect and the BBC. All Rights Reserved. No copyright infringement intended, no money being made.

A/N: Written from the prompt 'G/M; catharsis'.

--

When Guy was small his mother gave him a bird. She cupped her hands over his as he clasped this thing all fidget and feathers. But as she let go, so did he - he couldn't help it,- its struggling was too much for his small hands to hold - and it got away. He ran after it, chasing it around the room, hotter and angrier in the heat of summer noon until finally - he had it. He gripped it, tight.

The small bird struggled against his grip, and then suddenly - it was still. And the room was empty and quiet, except for his own hard breathing.

"I don't - I'm not sure - Guy, I don't like surprises," Marian says as Guy leads her blindfolded out the door. All the way she resists him with words and body. His hand is hard on her shoulder, holding her in place as he removes the cloth from her eyes.

But then he lets go.

One of her hands strokes along the horse's neck, her other lightly touching between the eyes, then moving down to the nose. The horse harrumphs, tosses its head, and Marian steps back quickly. For a moment they look at each other; stubbornness in both their eyes. Marian raises a thoughtful eyebrow, and stretches a slow hand out to run her hand through the horse's mane again. It shifts, but lets her.

She turns back to Guy, who hasn't moved from the door. She smiles. His heart lifts in his chest, a feather-gentle movement. He coughs, and smothers the sentiment.

--

end.