He comes across her, purely by accident (and there's no one around for him to lie to). Stopping, he watches her as she's putting up wet laundry, something a servant should be doing (but of course Marian wants to do it.).
He smiles as he watches her, his heart drumming against his rib cage in the way that's so familiar since...well...since he's known Marian.
For a second, just a second, he lets himself believe that that's their clothing she's hanging, that she's waiting for him to return home, that it will be his bed she'll be sleeping in that night.
Once, they thought that would happen. Now, he doesn't know when it will happen. (He can't say if, he can't.)
That because he's headstrong and doesn't always think and she's too kind and loving, and they're both too stubborn, they're giving up the only thing they've every really wanted. Giving it up so they can help people who can't help themselves. Because, above all, that's what they are. They are people who help others, and put them ahead of themselves, no matter what it costs.
It makes him mad when he thinks about it too much, too often, too long, so, he doesn't. Instead, he pretends that soon will come and happily ever after does arrive to those who wait.
Quietly, as he does everything, he weaves his way through broken branches and dry grass until he's behind her. Placing his hands over his eyes, he whispers, "Once upon a time, there was a noble thief and his lovely maid...."