As usual, I apologize for how long this chapter took to write. Not only do I have school and a life, but I'm also writing two other stories besides this one. This was originally going to be a chapter from Rowan's POV again, but I just kept writing her too angsty, and she's really not an angsty person, so I decided to make a change and write from Marian's POV.

I just thank everyone who is willing to put up with me for the sake of this story. You're the reason I keep writing. On with the story!


The Lady Marian of Walcott, formerly of Locksley, was not happy. Robin had woken her at the very break of dawn, so early that no light filtered through the trees to even distinguish night from morning.

Naturally, when she had glared at him, he had innocently reminded her of his promise to take her to Locksley at dawn. He was right, of course, even though when he said it he was just trying to convince her to go with him, so she didn't argue. What really annoyed her about the situation was Robin's energy. He had still been awake when she fell asleep the night before, so how could he possibly have more energy?

She stood slowly, groaning a little as her muscles twinged. Looking around, she saw that the camp had emptied during the night. Only a few outlaws remained around the fire, patching their trousers in the dim light.

Next to her, Robin shook her companion, Sir Edward, to wake him. Even in her tired state, Marian noticed that Robin was far less gentle with the knight than he had been with her. Sir Edward awoke with a roar, reaching immediately for the sword that wasn't there. Robin easily ducked under a flailing fist. "A bit irritable this morning, I see."

Without realizing what she was doing, Marian smiled at Robin's banter. Sir Edward, however, was not amused, and became even less so when Robin bound his hands behind him and wrapped a length of cloth around his head as a blindfold. When he protested (mostly by insulting Robin's ancestry), Robin leaned in with a smile on his face and said quite cheerfully, "Would you prefer to be gagged too?"

That shut Sir Edward up immediately, and he followed quietly as Robin hoisted him to his feet.

"Are you going to tie me up, as well?" Marian's voice was calm, but had a thread of steel that told Robin he better not even think about it.

He looked up at her with the ghost of a smile. "Now, what would be the use in that?"

He turned to the knight and ordered him to stay put as he ducked into the hollow of the Great Oak. He emerged with Sir Edward's sword and handed it to Marian. At her raised brow, he smirked. "I'm hoping you value our old friendship at least enough not to stab me."

"I suppose I can manage that." She followed as Robin led Sir Edward to the edge of the clearing, where, to her surprise, she found her gelding tied to a tree. The horse looked well-fed and well-rested, and, to her chagrin, she realized she hadn't spared a thought for her horse since she left him on the road the day before. The animal nickered softly when she reached him, and she stretched out a hand to stroke his neck. "Thank you for taking care of him."

"Well, it wasn't exactly me who took care of him. Now, either stand aside or help me."

"What?" Marian spun to face him, only to find him attempting to heave Sir Edward into the saddle. With a final hefty shove, Robin managed to get the red-faced knight onto the horse. Robin pulled out another length of rope and tied the blinded knight securely to the saddle. "Now," he grunted at Marian, untying the horse's reins, "are you coming?"

Bemused, Marian hurried to catch up. As they turned toward Locksley, she cast one backward look at the outlaw camp. Despite the truly awful singing, she had actually enjoyed the night before. She had forgotten how much she loved this forest, and now that she was here, she wasn't entirely sure she wanted to leave. Glancing to the side, she caught sight of Robin and the feeling only got stronger. Aware of the dangerous path her mind was going down, she looked away and forced herself to think about home.

The small group travelled through the forest in silence, although Marian did hear Sir Edward grumble under his breath a few times. The sky had lightened considerably by the time they reached the edge of Locksley. Despite her recent confusion, Marian's heart lifted when she saw the familiar manor house at the other end of town. Leading the horse, they skirted around town, where many of the villagers were up and setting out to work in the fields.

Once they neared the stables, Robin smacked the horse on the rump, sending him galloping across the grass with Sir Edward clinging to the saddle. His bellows cut sharply through the morning air.

"Well," Robin turned to her, "at least your father will know you've arrived."

Marian cocked her head. "Did you really need to do that?"

Robin shrugged. "Might not have been the best thing to do," his face grew serious, "but I wanted to talk to you before you left. Without Sir Bellows."

Marian was shocked. He wanted to talk to her? It seemed he had spent the past half a day trying to avoid speaking to her. Robin looked away, and his jaw clenched.

"Who is he?" He spat.

"What?" Marian was taken aback.

Robin gestured impatiently after the knight. "Him! Sir Bellows!"

"Sir Edward?" Marian asked, confused. "He's my husband's brother."

Robin's jaw loosened, and then immediately tensed again. "Why didn't your husband escort you?"

A weary ache settled over her. Less than a day with Robin and she was baring her worst pain to him. "My husband died of Lung Fever two months past."

The only time she had ever seen him more shocked was when she had told him that she was betrothed. For a moment he didn't say anything. He dragged his hand across his face. When he spoke, his voice was weak. "Marian, I'm sorry."

"You couldn't have known."

"This isn't just a visit, is it? You've come home to stay."

All she could do was nod.

"Oh."

Silence fell over them again, and neither of them could meet the other's eyes. Just as the tension became unbearable, there was a commotion across the green. Several men poured out of the side door of the manor, including an older man that she recognized as her father.

"You should go." Robin whispered. He reached out, so quickly it could have been her imagination, and squeezed her hand. Before she could respond, he was gone, slipping away through the trees. Letting out a deep breath, Marian turned with a smile to face her father, putting thoughts of Sherwood and Robin Hood out of her mind.


*In case anyone was wondering, Lung Fever was what they called pneumonia*