SHERWOOD FOREST

Robin eventually stopped walking beneath a large oak tree. It was well on its way to losing its leaves in the cold weather, so the bare branches high above them were clear to see.

Beneath it, large rocks which had once been arranged so carefully, lay scattered by animals as they searched for what they could smell underneath.

The sight of the grave she had built made Marians stomach roll.

"Why have you brought me here?" She demanded.

Robin dropped her hand to walk to stand close to the trunk.

He dropped his bow and quiver and stared at her, his hands on his hips, and took a deep breath. "Together we are stronger… that's what I said here, when I told you that I had promised your father I would protect and look after you…"

"Do not bring him into this." Marian's voice was low.

"When I proposed to you and you said yes…"

"A mistake I would not make a again now I know you are overprotective and rash." She snapped.

Robin scoffed and shook his head angrily, but his gaze showed her he was waiting with impatient expectance, waiting for her to speak.

She shook her head and looked away, "I won't apologise."

"Why?" he demanded, "Because you know I am right… you should not have put yourself in danger that way, or the baby… "

"I am not made of glass Robin." She snapped.

"Our baby…."

"Stop it."

"He found you, anything could have happened!" Robin threw his arms out in a wide gesture to the enormity of the risk she had put herself in.

"You should be thankful I left when I did."

"Thankful?"

"Yes! The crown is scented, that's why I washed it when we returned to camp; that's how he tracked me with dogs…"

"Dogs!"

"If you had left in the morning as you planned to he may well have found the camp… then what would we have done?" She demanded.

"That…" Robin snapped but found himself at loss for words. He clamped his mouth shut and took in a deep and angry breath through his teeth before turning his back on her, seething.

Marian was furious at him for turning away but he reeled back to face her.

"You could have taken someone with you!"

"What like you would have taken me?"

"We are a team Marian."

"No we aren't." She snapped, "You can pretend we are, but there really isn't a we…"

"Everyone treats you as one of the gang…"

"Yes but you don't!" She screamed and some form of realisation seemed to dawn on Robins face as she continued to shout.

"I am your wife, all I wanted was for you, when we returned from the holy land, to hand me a dog tag and say welcome to the group… but you didn't… you fussed over me… made me out to be weak and womanly… something I am not…"

"Fussed over you?" Robin snapped, "You had been stabbed."

Marian's voice cracked through her shout, "I still don't have a dog tag… to everyone else it doesn't matter as I am one of the gang but to you…"

She shook her head, "I'm just your wife."

Robin stared at her and her voice dropped from shouting but it was still raised.

"I went because I was angry at you, for holding me at arm's length from the gang all the time, and because I knew that it would only get worse as I get more with child…" Her voice cracked, "and because I thought that that was what it was going to take to get you to just…"

Robin said nothing, his anger melting as she continued to speak, her eyes glistening with moisture.

"But all I did was prove you right… I shouldn't have even tried..." She sounded disgusted with herself and looked away.

"I…" Robin was at a loss for words.

"It doesn't excuse what I did, how I put our baby in danger I just…" She swallowed and took a breath, still not looking at him. Her arms folded around herself, "I want to be a part of your gang."

"You are." He said firmly, "never doubt it."

"But how can I not?" she put her hand over the bare skin of her neck and chest which he could see.

He walked over to her and pulled a dog tag from his neck, and held it up between them.

She swallowed, "Really… you mean it?"

He nodded, "But a compromise first… I will not put you under house arrest at the camp when there is no need, if you promise to take it easy, not to fight anyone, and not to run off by yourself to Hull for example…"

She sniffed, "When there is no need?"

"When we are only going to the villagers for drop offs, or to Nottingham town…."

She stared up at him, "Thank you."

He swallowed and handed her the dog tag. She took it in her palm and glanced down but then back up; and she saw the tears in his eyes.

Robin loathed himself for pushing her so far away from him, not from Robin, but from Robin Hood…

"I only wanted you to be safe." He whispered.

She put her hand on the back of his neck and pulled his forehead down upon hers.

"I know." She whispered, "and I did not mean what I said... about you fussing over me when we returned…"

There was silence for a few seconds before she broke it.
"Robin?" She whispered, "Djac told me when I got stabbed that I may never bear children… do you think…" Her voice broke.

He hushed her gently.

"What if something happens?" She sniffed.

"We cannot think like that." He cupped her cheek, "we mustn't…"

"I'm frightened of what might happen." She whispered so quietly he barely heard it.

"My Marian, frightened?" He chuckled over the fright in his own eyes, "you aren't frightened of anything…" he wrapped her tighter in his arms, "and you shouldn't be now."

She nodded and pressed her lips to his.

He swallowed and both of them closed their eyes, "I love you so much."

She sniffed, "I love you to."

He slowly wrapped his arms around her back, clasped over the base of her spine as hers hooked around his neck, their lips upon each other's.

It was delicate and careful, as though he did not want to hurt her.

They pulled apart and she smiled up at him and swallowed.

"Together we are stronger." She whispered.

He kissed her forehead and leant his back against hers.

"Now and forever my love."

SO! Robin and Marian have reached a truce of some kind and are as in love as they were at the start of the episode.

THE FINAL EPISODE LIST IS ON MY PROFILE NOW

Every Episode except "we said some things" has a trailer beside it – if you have already viewed the "The Ties That Bind" clip – then I have updated it and added another bit of spice to intrigue you all hopefully!

So the next episode is up now on my profile (just the opening chapter obviously!)

CHECK IT OUT!

COMING NEXT: CROSS FIRE

(Trailer link for this is on my profile.)