Marian gazed up at the forest-green hangings that surrounded her (well, technically his) bed. She had been living at Locksley for three months. As they were engaged, this caused a few raised eyebrows in the court, but as Robin said, it was really none of their business whom she lived with anyway. He had insisted that she take his room, the master bedroom and that he would sleep in the (slightly less comfortable) guest room along the hall.
This arrangement had lasted about two nights before the temptation was simply too much for him, and Robin had crept along the hall to her room. This had become something of a routine, and she wondered how many nights he had actually slept in his own bed, not that he did much sleeping when he was in hers.
She was not a great believer in traditions, but she half-hoped he wouldn't come tonight, not only as she knew that she didn't posses the willpower to turn him away, but because of the traditions she told herself she didn't believe in. Traditionally, a woman was to remain a maiden until her wedding night. Well (she thought, smiling to herself) it's a little late for that, but could I not at least heed tradition for one night? Even from behind a façade?
She was so lost in thought that Marian had not heard the soft footsteps creeping along the hall, nor the door open a fraction and a body slipping nimbly into the room. She was unaware that Robin had entered her bedchamber until she heard him whisper her name into the darkness
"Marian?"
She turned over, startled to see him leaning over her.
"Did I wake you?" he asked, sounding only the slightest bit apologetic.
"No" she replied, "I wasn't asleep, just- thinking."
"About?" he prompted her, lifting a corner of the bedclothes and sliding in beside her.
"Tomorrow" she said turning to face him, "When I shall finally" she leaned in to kiss him "become your wife"
"And," he continued for her "When I can finally spend an entire night in your bed without having to leave before dawn."
She rested her forehead against his and sighed.
"You shouldn't be sharing a bed with me for any amount of time, Robin."
He grinned slyly. "It's a little late for statements such as those Marian."
He leaned down and kissed her again, deeper this time. She could feel herself falling for his charms (not to mention his hand skirting up her thigh) and stopped herself, pulling away.
"Robin, we can't, not tonight."
A look of concern passed over his face.
"Why? Is everything ok?"
She nodded, cupping his face in her hands.
"Then what's wrong?" he asked, drawing her closer to him and kissing her neck.
"We are getting married tomorrow Robin" she reminded him, drawing him away from her neck, "I'm sure you can last one night without me."
His facial expression was that of a child who has had his favourite toy taken away.
"I'm sure I can't," he told her, earnestly.
"Well, you're going to have to" she retorted, though her expression softened a little.
She placed a soft kiss on his lips before rolling over so that her back was to him. For a moment she thought he would leave, then she heard him sigh in defeat and enclose her in his arms. He murmured goodnight and returned her kiss. As she drifted into blissful sleep, Marian's mind played on the memory of the old noblewomen in and around Nottingham Castle as they gossiped about violent and savage outlaws, most frequently of the former Lord of Locksley, Robin Hood. She smiled sleepily at their reaction if they knew that she, Edward's outspoken daughter, had tamed the outlawed Robin of Locksley.
