He stopped a little way into the meadow, unsure of how close he would be allowed to approach. The sun blinded him as he stood in the open, the golden rays of a setting sun casted a brilliant glow upon everything it touched. Time had dulled his recollection of the specs of red and the warmth her deep chestnut locks radiated every time the sun touched them. However his memory of her eyes had never faded. Those deep blue, sapphire oceans that he had always adored had remained fresh in his mind since the day he left and had haunted him wherever he roamed in far off lands.
She stared at him through wet eyes, noting the subtle changes time had made to his face. He embodied the strength and courage of a warrior but to her he also had the gentlest of hearts. She wanted to call out to him but her voice stuck in her throat and courage failed her.
Her eyes still displayed the visible signs weeping as they stubbornly remained red and slightly swollen. He noted that she constantly tried to wipe them whilst furiously blinking, trying to regain her composure in front of him. It broke Robin's heart to see her try so hard to hide her true feelings from him when only a few years ago she could never keep anything from him, an open book that only he was able to read. But now she shut everyone out, especially him, and that cut him like a knife to his chest.
As Robin continued to look at Marian he realised that her face spoke of the deepest sorrow within her, and her attempts to disguise them only emphasised the pain she constantly felt. For the first time he saw her fragility and recognised the monumental strength it must take to hide such feelings for so long. He reflected on the times she had been dismissive or sharp and felt ashamed when he realised that he had taken things at face value. He had never noticed the pain in her eyes or the sadness which echoed in her words. She had told him "everything is a choice", and although said in anger, he could now hear the hurt of his rejection when she had spoken those words.
She had been waiting for one of his witticisms and grew increasingly wary when he failed to say anything to her. All of a sudden the world seemed to turn silent, no noise or sound could be heard. There was no one and nothing there but them. She realised that she didn't have the energy to rebuff him or play any kind of games like they so often did. In that one moment since he had entered the field she realised that she just needed him.
The wind gracefully touched the branches on the nearby trees, breaking the surreal silence that had made a single moment seem like an age between them. In the distance they could hear the church bell start to toll for the villagers to attend evening mass, and the sun's glow still bore down upon the earth enveloping it in calm warmth. The grass whispered around them as the breeze continued to touch their island, and the tranquillity of the scene seeped into her to remove all doubts from her mind.
He watched as she raised her arm and held out her hand to him. Never had such a small gesture meant so much.
She had been nervous to display her need so openly and nervous of what his reaction would be. But when she saw his eyes light up with tenderness and watched him walk over to her, she knew that nothing had changed for him. He clasped her hand in his, making a silent vow that he would never let it go ever again. Not even a God could force him to lose her hand again.
He ran his other fingers through her hair, stopping to cup her face with his hand. Concern etched all over his face and gentleness emphasised with every movement. She could no longer keep her sorrow contained, and tears began to run silently down her cheek.
Never leaving her gaze Robin wiped away the tracks, wishing he could take away her pain so easily. These past years of constant pressure and turmoil had worn her down and she had had no one to turn to. She had given everything to help those around her but received no support in return.
"Robin" she whispered with uncertainty. Her voice seemed so small and timid, as if it were the ghost of her as a girl calling to him.
"I'm here" he simply replied, taking her into his arms.