General disclaimer to all things Robin Hood.

A/N: Takes place after a thing or two about loyalty. Not my best i think and the ending is pretty lame. Enjoy

Marian pushed her horse as fast as he would go as she galloped out of the stone gates of Nottingham. She had to get away. The stone walls that she had found herself in for the past few hours were stifling. She hated being in that cold grey world where the heart of evil lay. She pursed her lips as she wondered if she would have to spend more time there as Lady Gisborne.

Lady Gisborne

One would think that by now she would have gotten used to the idea, but even thinking about it left a slightly bitter taste in her mouth. To think that this would be her fate. Forevermore shall she be the smiling gracious wife who only has enough mental capacity to smile and nod. She shook her head as if to shake the thoughts away as she focused all of her energy on the road before her. She wasn't sure as to where she was going, her only goal was to get away, to feel like she could be in control of something. Something where she had a choice.

Everything is a choice, everything we do.

Her words that Robin so cruelly used against her haunted her like a ghost. Her practical side told her that marrying Gisborne was the right thing to do. He did love her and had security to offer her and her father. Besides, matches were made everyday with no affection involved on either side. And who knows, perhaps she could change him, make him see that he had the ability to be a good man. After all, she could do worse.

You could do better.

Marian rolled her eyes at the thought. By now she had slowed her white horse to a halt. She didn't want better, she wanted-

Suddenly something poked her in the back. She looked to the ground and found a blunted arrow with stripped fletching. She got off of her horse and bent down to grapped the arrow. As she stood up she found herself standing face to face with Robin of Lockesly, grinning from ear to ear.

"Well, hello Marian." called Robin's cheery voice. He had his bow swung over his should and he walked down to meet her. Marian pursed her lips, showing her displeasure. Of course, the displeasure wasn't in seeing him, is was the pleasure she felt in seeing him that made her upset.

"I thought I told you to never shoot me again." she snapped as she pushed the wooden arrow against his chest, much like she had the first time he had been so bold as to get her attention in such a manner.

"Shoot you?" he said, his voice and face full of confusion, "I didn't shoot you. It must have been someone else." he shrugged his shoulders and examined the arrow, "Good arrow though." after running his fingers along the fletched end, he tossed it into his quiver filled with identical arrows.

Marian narrowed her eyes and glared at him. "Really, this arrow just fired out of nowhere and hit me." she said sarcastically. What was he playing at, she wondered, "Come on, Robin, I know it was you."

Now he looked offended, "Marian, I'm telling you it was not me." a smirk tugged at the side of his mouth, "Besides," he continued, "You have no proof."

"Yes I do, that was your arrow." she half laughed as she answered, still unsure of why he was denying it.

"Okay, well then let's pretend I burned the arrow, then what? No one would believe you, no one else saw." his eyes glittered with amusement.

She thought for a moment, "You were the first person to happen upon me after the incident-"

"So, I say I was out hunting and found you here." he countered

Marian clenched her fists and her teeth and asked, "What is this about?"

Robin saw that she was getting very annoyed, but he had a point to proove, "Look," he said patiently, "Just humour me okay?" his eyes pleaded with her like a lost puppy.

Marian raised her right eyebrow, "Robin, the fact that you are not on your back in pain, is proof enough that I am already humouring you." Robin thought she was going to remount her horse and leave, but she stayed where she was, as if giving permission for him to continue.

"So," he said slowly, "How do you feel?"

"Right now? Extremely annoyed that you are keeping me here for nothing. How do you think I feel?" she looked at him like he was completely stupid

"I mean now that no one will believe that I shot you?" It was like pulling teeth trying to get the right answer out of her.

Marian really had no time for this, "Frustrated, angry and betrayed, obviously." she said simply.

"Why?"

"Because even the people I trust the most will not believe me." she practically shouted

Robin smiled sadly, "Now you know how I feel." he sighed.

A wave of realization hit Marian like a blow to the face. How could she have not seen that coming? He was still earnestly trying to prove his actions against Guy. For how long would she have to deal with this? Didn't he realize there was no way out for her now? Besides, she wasn't even sure if it was Guy who stabbed Robin in the Holy Land.

Her voice lowered considerably, "That is not the same."

Robin's face turned into stone, "It is exactly the same." he said forcefully. He walked straight up to her and stared into her blue eyes. She felt the tiniest of trembles vibrate through her body. When he looked like that, she knew he was capable of doing anything and although she wouldn't admit it to anyone, he intimidated her. She resolved to look at him with the same intensity. He could not have the upper hand, she thought. Just then, she saw the tiniest hint of tears glistening in his eyes as he whispered, "Why can't you believe me?"

Tears now filled her eyes as she answered quietly and sadly, "Robin, I can't."

Robin looked up to try and hold his emotions at bay. When he looked back to where Marian should have been, he saw that she had begun walking to her horse, "Can't or won't?" he asked

Marians hands that had been previously employed on her horses saddle now slid down in anger. "What difference does it make?" she countered, looking distressed, "I am marrying him, Robin. I have to believe that there is some good in the person I am going to spend my life with. Please, don't rob me of that."

Robin looked at her in surprise. Still, she will stand by him. He couldn't believe it. He put his hands on his hips in anger. "What about Lambert? I saw how that hurt you. You think that there can still be good in him after that?"

"We resolved that, thankyou very much." She stated coldly. In truth she had not fully recovered from that incident. True, she had attempted to set the facts straight with Guy, but the fact that an innocent man was dead still haunted her.

Robin said nothing but hmphed in response. He gave her a look that said, as if I'll believe that.

Marian had enough of this. She was tired of being under interrogation from Robin. It was time for her to turn the tables.

"Oh and you are the perfect man are you? Tell me, was it the good in you that made you want to kill him?" she watched him go immediately into a defensive mode.

"He tried to kill the King!" he shouted. Hadn't they already been over this before?

"You tried to kill him!" she yelled back in the exact same tone. Stalemate, she thought. Now, she should be smirking with victory, but she couldn't. Treason and murder were nothing to smirk and gloat about.

And he kills me, Robin wanted to say. He kills me everytime he looks at you with affection, everytime he kisses your hand and everytime he calls you his. Robin grimaced at the thought.

An uncomfortable silence fell between the two of them. They just stood facing each other for a long moment, trying to work out what the other was thinking. Finally, Robin let, out one final sigh, cast Marian one final mournful look and turned to leave. She took the hint and prepared to mount her horse. Just before he walked off the path, he tossed the blunted arrow at her feet.

"I would have believed you." he said quietly and she knew he meant it while smiling sadly inwardly at the irony of it.

They parted in silence.

TBC? its up to you

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