"Saddle up boys" Marian giggled at the two dishevelled teens that stood before her, one with a nasty cut down his left cheek and the other with a swollen eye that was becoming blacker by the second. They glared at each other as the smile faded from her face. "Robin? Guy? Are you two going to fight again? Because, well, I don't like seeing you both get hurt. And I'm getting fed up of making excuses for you both and fixing robins nose when you... Urm he... When it gets broken". She looked down embarrassed, scuffing the toe of her riding boots into the earth that had been turned to dust by the scorching summer sun. When she glanced up from beneath her lashes she saw the two boys still glaring at each other, Robin standing tall, his hair glinting copper in the sunlight and Guy, dressed in his rough black work clothes, slightly slouched clenching and unclenching his fists. Robin turned suddenly and bowed low to Marian. "Of course my lady let us ride. Though", here he glanced at Guy, "I think we should go slow due to lack of proficiency on some of our trios part". Marian pouted crossing her slim arms. "But Guy can ride fast. Besides. This is a much better way of seeing who gets to dance with me first" she said with sly grin on her face. She turned and pulled herself into the saddle of her mare in a fluid movement. The mare pawed the ground nervously, flicking her ears back in a gesture that reminded Guy of a deer ready to bolt. "Marian" a warning note entering his voice as he stepped forward intending to catch the reins. But he was too late. Robin was already in the saddle of his own horse which trotted forward between Guy and Marian. "Is it to be a race then my lady?" Robin smirked. "Yes Rob. But let me get a head start of say a few minutes?".
