-1One cell
(Robin and Marian.)
Robin had been in the forest with Marian when the Sheriff's guards had come upon them. They had put up a good fight, knocking at least four of the guards out. But then Marian got caught by one of the guards, Robin noticed this and lost his focus on the guard he was fighting who then knocked him out.
He awoke as they were being taken to Nottingham in a prisoners carriage. He looked around to see Marian sitting , she was looking at him but appeared to be day dreaming. 'Great' Robin thought, when Gisbourne and the Sheriff find out that she was with him, they will hang her straight away. Robin started thinking of ways to get Marian out of this mess.
Marian looked over to check that Robin was still ok. And to her surprise had found him conscious. 'How long has he been awake.' Marian thought to herself. 'And why hasn't he said anything? He looked deep in thought as though something was puzzling him. He had his hand up to his mouth biting his thumb. He always did that when something was troubling him, since he was a child. Marian laughed a little at the memory. Robin's mother would always tell him off for doing it, saying that it was not good manners, then Robin would give a pout, and wait until his mother had left, then resume on his thumb biting habit.
'Robin?' Marian asked uncertainly.
He looked up. 'Tell them that I kidnapped you.' He said straight to the point.
'What!?' Marian asked shocked. Why did he want her to lie to them.
'If you say that I kidnapped you then, they will not hang you for being caught with me.' He said moving a little further closer. 'They will not think that you are part of my gang.'
'But I am Robin.' Marian said getting annoyed. For months he had wanted her to join his gang, and now that she had he would never let her admit it.
'Yes, I know. But if the Sheriff found that out then he would hang you without a second thought.' Robin said softly.
'Robin, you want me to lie?' Marian asked sternly.
'Yes'
'Robin you've been the one yelling at me for lying. Lying about Gisbourne about my father about being the Night-watchman. Now that I am with you and telling you the truth, you want me to lie again. Robin you can't have it both ways.' She yelled.
'Please Marian…' Robin tried but she would not let him finish.
'No Robin. I will not lie to them. I can't believe you! Just because it has got a little bit dangerous you want me to run back into their arms. The same arms that you have been yelling at me for being in.' Marian was so angry at him, that she would gladly let the Sheriff hang him.
Robin new that there was no way that he was going to win, this argument. The anger in her eyes told him that. She was mad at him and she had every right to be. He had wanted her to stop lying, and using her father as an excuse. He had wanted her to stop lying about her feelings for Gisbourne. And he had wanted her more than anything, wanted her to come live in the forest with him. And now that she had done all those things and was now in the forest with him, he was asking her to lie and go back to that man that he hated so much.
Suddenly the gates to Nottingham opened. Robin looked at Marian but she was still looking away from him in anger.
'Ah Robin Hood' The sheriff said approaching the stopping carriage. He peered inside. 'Owe. And who this? Why it's the Lady Marian.' The Sheriff said, with plain enthusiasm in his voice.
'I kidnapped her on the North Road. She said she was headed to an Abbey. But why waste so much.' He looked her up and down with tasteful eyes. 'Talent'. He finished. Marian looked at him angrily.
'He did not kidnap me. I left the castle and went with him in my own free will.' Marian replied with a tone of victory in her voice. That was meant only towards Robin.
'Take them to the dungeons.' The Sheriff said walking back inside. Two guards came and took hold of them of both sides. While another four surrounded them. Robin new that there was no point in fighting. They were largely out numbered. They were escorted and put in a cell together.
'What was that about?!' Robin said as soon as the jailer had left the room.
'What?' Marian said turning to Robin and acting as though she had no idea what he was talking about.
'That! In the courtyard. I was trying to save you.' He said getting more annoyed by the second.
'Well maybe I do not want saving. Besides I did not say that I was with you or your gang. I just said that I went with you, on my own free will.'
'Marian why did you just not agree with me?' He asked sadly.
'Why do you treat me different from the others?' She challenged him back.
'What? I do not treat you any different from any of the others.' He said.
'Yes you do Robin!' Marian stated back.
'No I do not!'
'If it was Djaq or Will or anyone else with you today. Would not have made that lie up for them. Would you have tried to lie to the Sheriff to get them free?' Marian asked. His silence answered her question. 'No. You wouldn't have. Because they are different, they are not me. Robin you must treat me as an equal.' She said silently.
Robin knew that she was right, that he did protect her more than the others. But what she didn't get was that he had to. Without her he didn't want to live or fight. Without her he wouldn't care what the Sheriff did. The only reason he fights is for the thought of what future they might have when all this is over. Get married go to Locksley, have children, grow old and die together. And without her that future wasn't possible, so there was no need to fight for it.
'Still you disobeyed me.' He said softly and went and sat in the corner. Marian huffed and threw her arms up in frustration, then started pacing the floor.
Back at camp the others new that something was wrong. Robin and Marian had been gone for hours. And they were never gone for that long. They always had an argument which resulted in one of them retuning to camp, very angry. But this time none of them had returned. The gang set out to look through the forest for them, or even a sign of them. But there was none. Will had then gone to Locksley village, and heard news that Robin and Marian ha been caught and taken to Nottingham. He retuned to camp with the information and they had all gathered their things and began making their way to Nottingham.
Robin and Marian sat at either side of the cell in silence. Robin sat in thought. While Marian sat with her heart breaking. Why couldn't they just be together. He had never been so close but felt so far away before.
'Is this how it will always be?' Her soft voice broke through the silence like a smooth knife. Robin looked up to look at her face.
'What do you mean?'
'Us. Will we always be like this. Arguing constantly. It seems we can't be together for more than five minutes, without being at each others throat.' She said bluntly.
He sighed not truthfully knowing the answer to that question.
'What if we do get married and live together at Locksley. Will we be arguing like this all the time?' She asked.
'I do not know. I do not think so. But' He trailed off.
'Do you love me Robin?' She asked.
'Of course. I couldn't live without you. I need you.' Robin said his heart hurting, he did not like this conversation, it was too close to the things that needed to be discussed, things that Robin had been avoiding. 'Do you love me?' He asked not really wanting to hear the answer.
'I tried to tell myself that I didn't. Tried to convince myself that you were gone.' Marian looked over at Robin and saw him look down in hurt. 'But that day that I opened my door and found you there with that teasing smile. I knew that I had never stopped loving you and that I never will. I just wanted to run into your arms that day, but I wouldn't let you have the satisfaction.' She laughed tears coming to her eyes.
Robin laughed a little to. 'And you tell me to grow up.'
They both began laughing softly. 'Please don't. I don't know what I'd do if you suddenly decided to become mature.' She smiled.
Robin looked at her his brows down. 'I am mature.' He stated defending himself.
Marian laughed. As stubborn as ever, she thought to herself. 'Yes as mature as I want you to be.' She got up and walked over to him, and sat down next to him, cuddling into his warm chest. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Robin looked down at her and bent down to kiss her.
'I love you Lady Marian. Never doubt that for a second.' He said after breaking the kiss.
Marian smiled knowing that this is what life would be like, when they were married, not arguing like they now do.
The gang had gotten their way into the Castle. At the moment they were trying to get to the dungeons to rescue Robin and Marian. Which seemed to becoming harder by the minute. First Will had walked into a guard, who had to be knocked out, then Allan had saw a young kitchen girl and began chatting her up, who in turn ran away calling for help, which meant that Djaq and Will had to go and calm her down from telling anyone that they were in the castle. But the worst part was when they had walked by the kitchen and Much had smelled ham. It had taken three of them to stop him walking into the kitchen.
Marian and Robin were still in each others embrace when the doors to the dungeon opened causing them to jump apart. Robin looked up to see Gisbourne trot down the stone steps. Marian heard him faintly groan.
'Marian.' He said coldly approaching the cell door.
Marian stood firmly by Marian's side.
'COME HERE!' He yelled when he noticed that she made no move to come forwards. She did so slowly a little cautious.
'Why are you with him?' Guy asked in a whispered voice so that Robin could not hear him. When she did not answer he motioned for the jailer to come and open the door. It was to late for Robin to act as before he knew what was happening Marian had been snatched out of the cell.
'Answer my question.' Guy mumbled.'
'Because he fights for what I believe in. He fights for the people who cannot fight for themselves.' Marian stated.
'And you love him.' Guy growled.
'No.' Marian stated easily. Before she knew what was happening. Guy had lunged forward and pressed his lips to her in a passionate kiss. Robin saw a jumped forward a few steps, then stopped when he realised that Marian was not trying to push him away.
Marian suddenly came to her senses and pushed Guy away and slapped him in the face. He looked at her angrily and then threw he back in the cell, locking it behind himself and charging out of the room.
Marian turned to Robin for some comfort but knew by the hurt and disgusted look on his face that, that was the last thing she would get from him.
'Why stop you seemed to be enjoying yourself.' Robin stated.
'Robin I did not want to kiss him.' Marian stated.
'Yeah, well it took you a while to decide on that thought.' He spat.
'Robin I am not having this same fight with you every time Guy and me are in the same room.' Marian yelled.
'No. You'll be too busy kissing him.' Robin replied. 'May be the Sheriffs right…women are lepers.'
Marian frowned walked over to him and slapped him right across the jaw.
'What don't I get a kiss before you slap me.' Robin said angrily.
Marian went and sat against the wall of the cell and Robin sat across from her on the other wall.
His cheek hurt from where she slapped it. He wanted badly to rub it but would not let her see the satisfaction of her hit on him. Perhaps he had deserved the hit, he may have pushed it to far it was just that seeing her and Guy kiss, and her not even trying to push away to begin with, hurt bad. Maybe she did like him. Perhaps she was just with Robin for the memory of their love or for pity out of him.
Marian was seriously angry. How dare he call her a leper. And then come out with that remark!
How dare he think that after everything they have been through that she has feelings for Guy.
She sat looking around the cell, looking anywhere but a him.
Robin felt bad. He should not have spoken so nastily to Marian. He wanted to apologise, but then he would admit that he thought that nothing is wrong. But he did worry that Marian may see something in Guy and leave him for her. That was his worst nightmare. He knew he couldn't stand loosing Marian to any man. But he would die if he lost her to Gisbourne. He was just about to apologise when he heard the doors banging open. He looked to the steps expecting Guy or the Sheriff. But to his surprise and relief, it was Much.
'This is a rescue!' He announced out of breath. Little John walked forward and opened the cell, with the keys he had probably taken off an unconscious guard. The gang looked at them confused when none of them said anything, or even made a move towards the cell door. Then when John threw it open, Marian stood and walked out of the cell.
'I'll see you all back at camp.' She mumbled in an annoyed tone as she walked past Much. He frowned and looked at Robin, who was still sitting on the floor. He looked at Much sadly. Much sighed knowing that they had had another argument. Also that it was a big one.
Robin got up and walked slowly over to them and they began making their way back to camp.
Marian had been back at camp for about half an hour now, and Robin and the others had still not returned. Much to her happiness. She really didn't know what to do. Lately they had always been arguing, it was not the way she wanted it.
She looked around her surroundings and sighed. This was not how she thought her life with Robin would ever be like. Not in the woods, with a bunch of men. She looked around her and realised what she had to do. Even though it would be painful, it was what had to happen. To save them both from becoming unbearable to each other, this is what she had to do….she had to leave.
Please review good or bad. Chapter 2 should be up soon.