Title: Secrets and Lies
Fandom: BBC's Robin Hood
Notes: Inspired in part by Canne's 'When the Bough Breaks' and comments made by Marian in episode 5, Turk Flu. (and a few other specific comments made throughout the series)
Disclaimer: Anything recognisable isn't mine, please don't sue. I'm only a poor student. You won't get any money off me. I do own, however, Anne and her family, and Alice. But that's it!

Enjoy.


Marian stared dully at the food on the tray in front of her. She had absolutely no inclination to eat anything. Gently, she placed the tray on the small stand beside her bed attempted to bury herself beneath her blankets once more.

It had been a full month since his departure and yet she still couldn't think of him without the ache in her chest coming back. Damn Robin, she couldn't even hate him, not really. She had certainly tried, after all he did break their betrothal just a month before their wedding. She had most people fooled, but she couldn't quite fool herself.

She still loved him. Foolish and reckless as he was, she still felt for him. And was trying desperately to mask her worries for his safety with anger.

She'd been doing better recently, but today... today was a bitter reminder that Robin was in the Holy Lands, along a large part of her heart.

This should have been their wedding day.

Marian fiddled with the old pendant she still wore, the one that Robin had given her when they were still both children, and wondered if he remembered what today was meant to be. Or was he too busy trying to find glory, fighting in a war thousands of miles away. And running away from me, she thought bitterly.

A quiet knock on her door interrupted her thoughts, and she heard her father's voice call her name softly.

"Marian?"

"Come in, Father," she replied.

Edward looked worried as he entered the room, his sharp eyes darting from Marian, curled up in her bed, to the tray of untouched food on the stand.

"Marian, you must eat something if you want to get well," he reminded her gently. "Have you had the medicine the physician gave you?"

"Sarah made me take it earlier."

"Are you sure you wont eat?" Edward tried one more time.

Marian just shook her head. "I'm just not hungry, Father."

Edward sighed, and went to take the tray to return it to the kitchens when Marian spoke up again suddenly.

"Do you remember what today was meant to be?" she asked softly.

Her father paused, mentally kicking himself for not realising the reason behind Marian's particularly morose mood today before now. "Your wedding day."

A single nod was all the reply he got.

Edward leant forward and kissed her on the forehead gently. "He was a fool to leave you, my daughter. One day, he will see that too." He then picked up the tray and left Marian to her own thoughts once more.

What she failed to mention was that she was scared that her illness was more than the physician had diagnosed. Probably because she had not been entirely truthful when telling him what her ailments were. If she was right... her reputation would be in shatters, and as Sheriff of Nottingham, her father would suffer as well. And Robin, thousands of miles away in the Holy Land, wouldn't have the slightest idea of the mayhem he'd left in his wake.

Her bleeding was late. She and Robin had only... been intimate... once, about a month before he'd cut and run. They were betrothed after all, they hadn't seen the harm in bending the rules. They hadn't counted on war taking him away.

But now, seventeen, unwed and possibly carrying Robin of Locksley's bastard child, Marian was cursing over their foolishness.

She desperately needed to find a way to either confirm or discount her fears. Without anyone, especially her father, finding out.


A week later, Marian ducked behind the stables as her cousin's young children raced out of the house. It wasn't that she was avoiding them especially, more avoiding everyone for the moment. She needed time to think and gather her thoughts.

That, and she didn't think she could face so vivid a reminder of the secret she carried in her belly.

And that was why she had escaped from Nottinghamshire to visit her cousin Anne and her family, although she had told her father that she merely need to get away for a while. He of course, had suspected that part of her desire to leave was to distance herself from memories of Robin—memories that would pop up without warning all over the place. If he was going to think that, she wasn't going to correct him.

Anne had been ecstatic to see her once again. Six years older than Marian, the two of them had been great friends, running wild around Nottinghamshire with Robin and Much on her visits to the area. Even after her marriage, the two of them had kept in constant contact and Anne was still Marian's greatest confidant. Which was why Marian had come to her this time. She would understand.

The night after she arrived in Northamptonshire, she broke down and related everything thing that had happened in the last few months; the betrothal, Robin going to war, her worries and fears, and her suspicions. Anne had promised her that she would find a midwife who could determine whether or not she was with child, and one who could be trusted to keep her mouth shut.

Which was why she now was hiding, as she desperately tried to regroup. Marian sank to the ground and buried her face in her hands, not even trying to hold back the tears. She was pregnant, and she had no idea how she was going to handle this. Her father would be livid, she would be disgraced, and Robin—miles away in Palestine—wouldn't have a clue.

Marian lowered a shaky hand to her belly and rubbed it anxiously. It was hard to believe that there was a child inside there. Her child. Her and Robin's child. "What am I going to do, little one?" she whispered.

"Marian?" Anne's head popped out from around the corner. Taking in Marian's tear-stained face, she rushed over and cradled Marian in her arms. "I would assume that Alice confirmed it rather than contradicted it then," she stated softly.

Marian nodded. "What am I going to do, Anne?"

"You are going to stay here and get through this," she said firmly. "I will help you through this Marian, I promise you. You'll get through this." Marian clung to Anne like a lifeline, wishing rather than believing it to be true.


Reviews are nice...