This fanfic idea comes from the prompt I choose to do for the Bingo Ficathlon at the Robin Hood Fan Community forum.

The prompt was: "Marian accepts Guy's proposal at the end of 'Walkabout', both thinking that Nottingham is about to be destroyed. It doesn't happen. Now they're both left wondering what's next. Will Marian actually go through with the marriage this time? And if not, how in the world does Guy deal with the loss a second time?"

To explain the beginning of this fanfiction, I did a video "It's Our Fight". (You can see it at dolphen3's channel on Youtube.)

English is not my first language. Brokenheirloom, I think I can't thank you enough for all the wonderful work you keep doing! I love so much working with you!

To all the amazing persons who send me reviews or MP: thanks so much for your reviews so sweet and great! Thanks too for the favorites and the new followers! I can't believe how this story seems to please you, it's warm my heart so much!

I need to apologise for the delay this week. I have serious health issues and sometimes, it took the best of me so I can't do anything... I try to fight it but it's not always possible and sadly that what happened this week. I hope you will forgive me and that you will keep even that your interest for the story. But I can't promise you that it will never happen again, sorry. Thanks for your comprehension.

Like I said, I wasn't in the better shape to write this week so I'm afraid this chapter is a lot less interesting than the others... at least, it's the one I like the less. But I hope it will not be too bored and that you will enjoy reading it.

Chapter 7:

I had left the castle and my husband behind me a half hour before, and was traveling slowly on my mare into Sherwood Forest. In a few minutes more I would be with Robin and the rest of the gang. Robin…what could I say when I was with him again? How would I react? Did I have to tell him about the wedding? Of course I had to! But did it have to be immediately, or could it wait a while…? And most importantly, how would he react? I was sure he would hate Guy more than ever now.

Guy…

I sighed deeply at the thought of him. I had just left him a half hour before and it was already as if I'd been missing him all of my life. I tried to reason with myself but it didn't work as well as I would have hoped; one thing was certain – I was not ready to face Robin so quickly. I needed a little time alone first.

That was when I realized I had taken another path than the one I had intended; I was face to face with the ruins of my beloved home, the place I came into this world and the place where my mother had drawn her last breath. Knighton.

What remained of this once-peaceful and beautiful place were pieces of wood, piles of ashes and some scorched stones. I couldn't contain the sadness that overwhelmed me at the sight. Perhaps I should have left, but I couldn't. I dismounted without thinking and tied my beautiful mare – the one Guy had given me as a gift several months before. Oh, why is it I can't think of anything without relating it to Guy? I wondered, feeling a shudder of loneliness like never before. After stroking the mare's delicate mane for a moment I walked slowly to the ruins which were once my home.

I should have been angry at Guy as I was every time I thought of what he had done, but after the night before…oh, that night, I thought, sighing deeply, shocked at the wave of emotion and sensation that flooded through me. After that night I understood why he acted like he did and I felt ashamed to have made a fool of him so many times that he finally couldn't help but want to hurt me on purpose, while all he ever really wanted was to protect me and have me for his own. He did very well on both matters, I thought, blushing crimson while a tiny thrill settled in the pit of my stomach.

I walked around the ruins and finally found a spot where I could be near the house without putting myself in any danger from falling debris. It was a corner of the house where two walls had been built of stone and had stood fast against the hungry fire. I slid against one and curled up into a ball, too weary to move again for a few moments. Dawn was quickly approaching but I wasn't on a schedule so I decided to enjoy the few remaining minutes of quiet before joining the always-noisy gang at last.

As soon as I was settled my eyes grew heavy and I dozed off, still tired from the late night before and Guy's passionate display of his desire for me.

Earlier that morning:

I woke up just before dawn and found myself surrounded by two strong arms holding me tight against his chest. How I loved being nestled so close against him! I loved to feel his chest rise and fall with the rhythm of his breathing, how his heart beat strong and steady within. It was soothing, relaxing, and it had been absolute torture to slip out of the warmth of his embrace, the chill of the room freezing me without the heat of my husband's body to keep me warm.

I slipped into my dress as quickly as possible, not allowing my eyes to leave Guy as he slept soundly, enjoying the sight of his handsome face for a few moments longer before I left. When I went to my own room to gather my things before departing, I stared at my wedding ring but couldn't resign myself to leaving it behind. I had put it on my finger again the night before and everything that had happened since then made it feel as if the ring had always been on my hand, so well it fit me. I would probably take it off when I was with the gang, but at least I would have it with me.

How could everything have changed so drastically in one night? Yes, I knew I was a married woman and I was no longer a maid, but I was now a real woman…a woman who had been well and truly bedded by a man who loved her more than anything, and who had showed her how passionately he loved her.

Marian, stop! I chided myself. You need to leave now. If you continue to fantasize like that, you'll never leave and you know you have to!

Did I really want know that? Did I truly want to leave? At this moment, I wanted nothing more than to crawl back into bed and wake Guy by putting my hands everywhere on his body, to make him want me again, until he made love to me and I forgot everything except the two of us.

Marian! What have you become? How can you talk like that? One night of lust and you start thinking like a common wench! Aren't you ashamed of yourself?

Well, I was honestly torn by the answer. No, I wasn't ashamed at all to want and need my husband as much as I did now. And yes, I was truly troubled by the way my body and my feelings had run away with my reason and good sense.

Two days before, if anyone had told me that I would marry Guy, make love to him and LOVE it so much that I was almost desperate to have him again, I would have laughed at them, called them a fool and probably felt my stomach turn with disgust. I certainly wouldn't have believed it.

And now here I was, awake to the pleasures of the marriage bed and the passion that he'd stirred in me…but that was wrong! It was so good, but so very wrong. He made me discover lust, carnal desire, and as ashamed as I was to admit it, I think I would probably always love making love to him – I'd certainly let him do it as often as possible, I thought with a blush.

But marriage wasn't based only on carnal pleasure…I needed to love and admire my husband. Yes, I was in awe of Guy yesterday for all he'd done for me and for Nottingham, but now that the Sheriff was here again he was back to being the puppet of Vaisey rather than the wonderful, strong leader he'd been. I was right when I decided that he needed time to think as much as I did. I needed to consider my everyday life with him and not just the hours we could share in bed, tangled together, with him buried as deep inside of me as possible…

I sighed so deeply it nearly made me lightheaded. I couldn't help but walk back to the bed we'd shared and, with a feather-light touch I slipped my hand over his soft hair and brushed my lips against his cheek. He moaned my name in his sleep and I moved away quickly, fearing I'd wake him, but then he started to snore quietly. I gave him a tender smile and reluctantly left the room, moving fast for fear of my resolve melting before I could escape the castle, fighting the urge to go back to bed and attack him with the ferocity of my desire.

Finally, when I woke from my brief nap the sun was already well-established in its course; it was time to go find Robin. But before, I decided I needed to clean up a little – I left in a hurry this morning and didn't take the time to wash. I followed the little path behind what had been the house and arrived at the small pond where I used to bathe in my younger years. After checking to make sure that there was no one nearby, I stripped out of my gown, keeping my shift for privacy, and entered the water. It was cold – not too cold as to be unpleasant, but enough to wake me up fully and to fill me with energy. I started washing myself and grew aware that each inch of skin I bathed had been touched by Guy's hands, kissed by Guy's lips, nipped by Guy's teeth, licked by Guy's tongue…it was almost as if I was erasing every trace of him on my body, making the most intimate moment disappear – even if the most important change that took place inside of me remained. What distressed me most, though, was that I wouldn't have his scent on me. I had felt so safe, so comfortable surrounded by his scent and now I would have to do without. I felt, somehow, forsaken.

Regain yourself, young lady! You were brave before, that didn't go away overnight – you will certainly manage!

Of course, I would, I thought to myself. But I never thought I could feel so close to another so quickly that being apart felt as if a piece of myself had been stolen.

Oh, please, don't get so sentimental. You're the Night Watchman! It was your choice to leave, now you need to deal with it.

I couldn't bear being lectured by my inner voice, so I finished washing up as quickly as possible, changing into my 'forest wear' – a pair of trousers and a long tunic that was slit up the sides to allow freedom of movement, The color was sea green, and suddenly my heart skipped a beat when I remembered that one day Guy had told me it was his favorite color on me. I'd had this made to please him, wanting to play him for a fool as always at the time; but now I wanted more than anything to show him how proud I was to wear his wedding ring and in a gown that was his favorite color.

My wedding ring! Reluctantly I slid it off of my finger and tucked it into my bodice, safely pressed against my heart between my breasts. Here, nobody would find it and I was certain not to lose it, and having it close to me was almost as good as having it on my finger, I thought as I mounted Shadow, my beautiful mare, and started off in the direction of the camp.

Shadow…everyone asked me at first why I chose that name for her. I didn't have a good answer at first, only that it fit her perfectly, but now I knew. Guy was always near me, whether I could see him there or not – not spying on me (like Robin seemed to from time to time!) but protecting me, looking after me. He had been like my shadow, always at my side even if I didn't know it, and it surprised me to realize that I'd never felt awkward or afraid or irritated by his behavior; now that I was gone I didn't have his soothing presence and I missed it. But calling this most precious gift – well, the one he gave me before last night, I reminded myself – 'Shadow' had seemed so natural to me.

You are not alone, Marian! I addressed myself, raising my chin. You have your courage, your determination, and more than that you have Shadow, your wedding ring and the love of the most passionate man alive. It's more than most women have today. So keep holding on, make up your mind and do it. The quicker you make your choice the sooner you will either be free or in his arms again.

As soon as I arrived near camp and started to dismount, I was pulled off the ground by two strong arms surrounding my waist from behind and turned around in circles several times, making me laugh heartily.

"Finally, you came!"

"Robin, put me down!" I managed to say between laughs.

He put me on my feet, turning me around to face him, engulfing me in a big hug. It felt good to be in his arms, like home. So different from what I had felt with Guy – rather like meeting an old friend or a brother after a long absence.

Suddenly Robin released me from the hug and pulled me against him once more, this time claiming my lips hungrily with his. It startled me and I let out a small squeak of surprise, but apart from that I couldn't seem to figure out how I was supposed to react. But as soon as I regained my composure I pushed him away gently. He was wearing that trademark smirk – my God, did the two men in my life have to be so similar in so many ways? How was I supposed to NOT think of Guy if everything – even Robin – reminded me of him?

"Marian, Marian," Robin clicked his tongue at me and started to kiss me again, but this time I was ready to react and turned my head at the last second, his lips coming to rest at my cheek. Robin frowned. "That's not funny, Marian. I want to kiss you – I've missed you!"

"We should go to the camp first," I hedged. "I want to greet everyone."

"Later," Robin whispered as he started to lean into me, his lips and nose near the pulse point of my neck.

Oh, please God, not that, I prayed wholeheartedly, squirming to free myself before Robin could see it and pick a fight with me.

Earlier the night before:

After my failed attempt to get Guy to make love to me again, we'd fallen asleep but I woke with a start when I felt him move behind me.

"You're not used to laying with someone else," he smiled sleepily. "Don't worry, you'll learn quickly…"

He started to nudge his nose against the nape of my neck but then stopped, leaning up on his elbow and looking at my neck carefully.

"What?" I asked, a little worried by his behavior.

"Nothing," he grinned like a cat with a bowl of cream.

"Guy…what?"

"I think I might have been a little too…ardent earlier," he replied, unable to help the wolfish smile and my heart fluttered at the expression on his handsome face. "You seem to have a large and rather colorful love bite, my dear."

"What?" I said, pushing him away and running to the mirror to examine the large purple mark on my pale skin. "Oh, Guy…how am I going to hide this?"

"Wear a scarf, it will be gone in a few days," he assured me.

"Days?"

"Marian, it's late. Come back to bed please." Seeing the pleading look in his eyes and his opened arms, I couldn't resist and moved back into his embrace, snuggling against his warm chest. "Now, little one, try to sleep." He kissed my head tenderly and stroked my back while we drifted off into perfect peace and happiness.

I managed to get away from Robin long enough to wrap the scarf around my neck after forgetting to replace it when I was done with my bath.

"Why are you wearing that?" Robin asked pointedly.

"I took a cold and needed to protect my throat." I was lying, but it was just a little lie so it wasn't too serious, I thought. "Now, come on. I want to see the gang."

"Marian, I was so afraid of losing you yesterday…can't we just stay here alone for a little while longer?"

"We'll have plenty of time later, Robin. I was hoping to get your permission to stay for a while this time."

"Really?" He asked, looking like he was about to jump from happiness when he suddenly grew serious again. "What happened at the castle? Did Gisborne do something to you?"

I had to fight the smug, satisfied grin that wanted so much to appear, and I longed to scream YES! He did something to me, the most incredible thing, in fact, but I couldn't so I tried to be as convincing as possible.

"He did nothing except save everyone in the castle, including me."

Robin scowled when he heard the note of pride I couldn't keep from my voice. "I suppose I'm to add this to his list of…qualities," he said distastefully.

"Yes, you certainly can!" I said, trying to be as neutral as possible. "And you could be grateful to him, because like I said, he saved everyone including Allan and I."

"Allan?" he scoffed. "As if I cared what happens to Allan."

"Robin!" I reprimanded him. "Allan was quite courageous yesterday."

"He saved his own skin, the rat!"

"And mine, and everyone else's there." I was infuriated now. How could he? Robin wasn't even there yesterday – yes, he had searched and found the Sheriff but it was Guy and Allan who had dealt with Jasper and the soldiers when they started to attack us. I couldn't bear anymore of his disdain so I turned on my heel and walked to the camp, leaving Robin to follow behind me. I could hear him kicking at every stone along the way.

The gang welcomed me warmly even if they were a little disconcerted by my desire to stay here again – even for a short time – after the last effort at living in the forest. They gave me the bed Allan had used so I could put away my few things.

I was almost finished and about to join them again when I felt Robin's presence at my back. "I'm coming," I said gently.

"I know, I just wanted to be alone with you for a few more moments."

Oh, father, please don't let him kiss me again.

I turned to face him, giving him a tender smile and then I kissed him on the cheek. I had started to walk past him when he took my left hand to press a kiss to it.

"Marian…where is your engagement ring?"