The third chapter. YAY rejoice, sorry that this took so very long, I've been a tad busy preparing for a Drama exam on Monday. Anyway, this has not been checked…I would love a beta, any volunteers? Anyway, here it is.

Disclaimer: I don't own Robin Hood, oh I really wish I did though.

Chapter 3: A mystery to him.

"ROBIN!" Marian's voice caused him to wince in such a way that Much could not help nor hide the smile that lit up his features.

"Yes my lady?" he turned to look at her, unable to hide a cunning, if not slightly cocky grin, his attempted innocent look totally lost on Marian, as he would tell her many years later that he believed that she could; 'see into his soul'. Little did Robin know of this though.

"Don't play innocent with me!" she scolded grabbing the ear of the older boy, he yelped and tried to twist away from her only causing himself more pain; "You think that, you'll get away with this?!" her voice caused Much to wince this time. She surely was angry with him.

"What is it exactly that you are accusing my master of doing?" Much asked, his tone nothing if not polite, Marian however shot him her very best dirty look, Much shrank back; "You are on your own I am afraid master." Much told him smiling slightly. This incident was mere months after Robin had asked Marian's father for her hand in marriage, they fought like children and certainly not like lovers. She pushed him to the ground turning swiftly on her heels and marching back inside. Robin never would find out what she was angry about; "Master," Much helped Robin to his feet while Robin himself watched Marian's retreating form; "are you alright?" he asked helping Robin to dust himself down.

---

They were inseparable, Marian and Robin would rarely be seen without one another, Much was usually not far behind. But it took Marian a whole year to be ready, or at least to say yes to him. The two of them had been sat on the hill looking over Locksley for about two hours before she could work up the nerve, Marian looked over at him uncertainly, Robin was sitting dangerously close to her; "Ask me again…" she whispered. Robin looked up at her, he wasn't sure what she was talking about.

"Ask you what again?" he asked his eyes flitted all over her face.

She blushed, and failed to hide the smile that reached her eyes; "You know, ask me…to," she paused; "ask me to marry you." Her eyes were now glued to her knees, not sure that she could look at him, the blush in her cheeks was growing once again leaving more than a rosy glow.

He was watching her almost too stunned to ask her; "You're sure?" he asked, she smiled at her knees and nodded, he licked his lips; "Marian, would you do me the honour of being my bride?" she looked up, tears glistening in her eyes, she nodded enthusiastically before throwing her arms around him. He laughed heartily holding her to him; "One question." He said as he pulled her away from him to look into her eyes; "why exactly did you refuse the first time?" he asked her, she smiled, knowing that he had been dying to ask her this for almost a year now.

"Pride." She told him simply as if that one word answer should have been enough for him. He was watching her, waiting for an added explanation.

"Pride?" he questioned, she nodded slowly; "I do not understand…" he told her still looking confused, she smiled, no amount of explanation would help him to understands the workings of her heart.

"Yes pride, you wouldn't understand." She told him getting to her feet and dusting off her dress, Marian blushed, she was to be married to her sweetheart; "So," she paused to pull him to his feet; "when shall we be married?" she asked him with a grin. She was fifteen years of age and very much in love with the young man who stood before her, he grinned and pulled her to him, he hugged her tightly and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. Perfect moments of contemplation that made their love so pure.

"We will be married," he paused; "next spring." She grinned against his chest. But of course they wouldn't be, the King would get in the way, Robin would feel that he were not worthy of her love. Not worthy enough to be her husband. He would follow his king and he would break her heart. They were blissfully unaware of this of course; in their minds nothing would ever push or pull them apart.

---

"I, am happy." Marian stated 3 days before her 16th birthday, she Robin and her Father had all sat down to eat when she made the statement, Robin had smiled at her over his cup, he knew what she was happy about, they would be married soon. They would be together he himself couldn't deny that he was happy as well.

"I am pleased for you my dear, I am very proud of both of you." Edward told his daughter and soon-to-be son in law. Robin could feel a blush rising to his cheeks, he was sure that he didn't deserve the blessing of the Sheriff, or in fact the love that his daughter offered to him. Earl of Huntingdon, Lord of Locksley, he held such prestigious titles, yet he did not feel as though he deserved them. He had inherited all that he had, none of it gained of his own accord. Robin looked down at his plate and sighed heavily, would his father have been proud of him? Was this what he wanted of his son? Robin excused himself from the table and went outside, Marian followed him.

"Robin?" she was worried about him, he could tell it without even looking at her, he smiled to himself, she cared too much about him.

"Go back inside Marian, I fear I may not be very good company tonight." He told her, yet she did not move, he should have known better than to think that she would actually listen to him. Marian never listened to him.

She took a small step towards him and reached out for his hand that rested at his side; "What is wrong?" she asked him pulling his hand and forcing him to turn around to face her. She was not about to let him walk away from her, not without a fight. She was to be his bride and she loved him so very much, so much that it hurt, and there was something he wasn't telling her; "Tell me." She pressed.

His eyes were downcast; "Would my father be proud of me?" he asked her, she nodded before he had a chance to finish and he found himself smiling knowing she was only saying it because it was what he wanted to hear; "I mean, I am Lord of Locksley manner, Earl of Huntingdon, because I am his son, I have nothing to be proud of that I have done myself, Marian do you understand?" he asked her, she shook her head watching him sadly.

"He would be proud of you Robin, you the estate so very well, I am sure…" he cut her off pressing his forefinger to her lips.

"I run the estate, but what else have I got to show for myself? Nothing, I," he looked into her eyes, she was so beautiful, the confusion in her eyes made his heart flip, he couldn't tell her now, he would wait, after her birthday.

"You?" she prompted him to finish his sentence, but he wouldn't, she would have to wait until another day.

"It doesn't matter," he whispered drawing her into his body, she relaxed against his embrace; "I love you." It was whispered into her hair so quietly that she unfortunately didn't hear him, he pulled her away from his body and looked into her eyes and smiled, before leaning in towards her. Their lips met sooner than he had expected, the force of her kiss almost knocking him backwards, he remained as steady as possible as he kissed, relishing the feel of her pressed against him.

A/N: There it is, they to be married. -sniff sniff- if only. You all know that the next chapter is going to be sad, I thought I should prepare you first. Anyhoo, reviews are lovely, no flames thanks.