NEXT! :-D
. . . .
Robin did not glance up as he sat alone at the fire as she re-entered the camp as dusk began to gather.
"I'm not going to ask where you've been because John told me," he said quietly, almost as though he were speaking to the embers, "What I would like to know is what took you so long. I was getting ready to set out after you."
"I can take care of myself," Marian informed him a trifle coolly, she bit her lip and paused as she fought with her pride before continuing in a slightly subdued voice, "I went to get new clothes and I fell asleep on my bed. I am sorry to have worried you."
"Next time you go you tell me first and then take one of the others with you," he kept his voice even and his eyes on the coals, "I know that you worked alone for a long time, but as part of the gang you have to work with it."
"I'd be more than happy to, if you would let me!" the exasperated tone in her voice gave away the expression on her face.
"Everyone has a different job, none is more or less important," Robin finally glanced up at her, "And everyone has to obey the rules. Especially the one that says that nobody goes to Nottingham alone; regardless of the reason."
"Robin," Marian sat down beside him, "I know that you have all of your rules for a good reason. But I can't stay here like this all the time. I feel like I'm suffocating! The boredom of having nothing to do is killing me; at least in the castle I was constantly doing something, even if it was only trying to outwit the Sheriff."
"And Gisborne," Robin added, searching her eyes as they settled on the fire.
"And Guy." she nodded, keeping her face expressionless in spite of the pang the admission gave her. For some reason deceiving the sheriff did not seem as wrong as deceiving his right hand man. She shook herself and turned to face the outlaw, "Don't be angry, Robin, please?"
"I'm not angry." he shook his head and jumped to his feet, "But I am going to ask you to stay at the camp for the next few days until you have had time to decide whether or not you want to play by the rules. If you get bored we have plenty of work to do."
Marian compressed her lips and glared at the fire. She rarely allowed herself to really and truly glaring at anything - preferring to keep her emotions out of everything as much as possible - but she was so annoyed with herself for having fallen asleep at the castle... Her thoughts were broken by a gentle hand and a kiss on her forehead. She looked up into Robin's kind eyes and she felt her anger slipping slowly away.
"I am sorry," he whispered earnestly, "I just need to know where you are so I can make sure that you are safe."
She smiled slightly and watched as he walked away, but his words had less comfort in them than she willed herself to believe.
. . .
"Ah, Gisborne!" the Sheriff greeted him quite cheerfully the next morning, "Do me a favor and send a message to Lady Marian, will you? I've got a celebration planned for tomorrow and I don't think she'll want to miss it."
Guy raised an eyebrow, "A celebration, my lord? What is the occasion?"
"Hood is going to die tomorrow precisely at noon," he grinned and walked briskly towards the door before turning and glancing at his lieutenant, "Make sure that you have her meet us here, and that she leaves the nuns behind. They might not be able to handle the... proceedings with equanimity."
. . .
Allen glanced about, wishing that he knew exactly where each member of Robin's gang was so that he could avoid all except the one he had to speak with. The silence of the woods, broken only by the rustling of his feet in the dry leaves, weighed in on him as he drew nearer to the camp. Finally reaching it, he saw Marian sitting with her chin in her hands staring right at him blankly, while Much busied himself around the camp muttering something about helpers that didn't work.
A moment later Marian's eyes focused in and an interested look came over her face. Glancing over at Much, who's back was turned, she got slowly to her feet and walked towards where Allen stood, semi-hid by the trees.
. . . .
Yippee! I'm almost ready to get to the really INTERESTING part of the story! :-D
