Marian braced herself against the cool window frame, enjoying the chill night air on her face and the warmth of the fireplace at her back. She still wore the midnight cloak and her simple green gown underneath, having been too anxious to even consider preparing for bed. Her hands had finally ceased their trembling, but she could not stop shivering. Despite the cries of agony and blood splashed across the courtyard, it was Robin's dark eyes, black with fury as he had pinned her against the castle doors that haunted her relentlessly. Although she would never admit it to him, he had frightened her. She brushed a stray tendril of hair out of her face and looked up at the moon, now clear and bright in the aftermath of the storm.

There was a soft knock at her chamber door; Marian did not turn. She had sent Lucy to see Lady Cecily to tell her everything that Marian had seen. Marian would have gone herself; in fact she wished she had the comfort of the elder woman's compassion, but it was too dangerous for her to be seen with anyone tied to Robin tonight. The knock came again and Marian remembered that she had locked her door after Lucy had departed, fearing that Avian might try to seek her out in a fit of worry over Will.

"I'm sorry, Lucy, I forgot it was locked," she called, withdrawing the key from her pocket.

"It's probably for the best that it was," said Robin as she pulled open the door. Her hand froze on the latch and for a moment all she could do was stare at him. How had he gotten inside the castle? Why would he dare such a ridiculous stunt after that horrible battle? Conflicting emotions of exasperation and relief battled for dominance, and she knew not whether she wanted to berate him for coming or thank him. She stood there so long that after a while, Robin glanced over his shoulder uneasily.

"Marian, it is rather dangerous for me to be standing out here in the corridor in the home of my mortal enemy; I would greatly appreciate it if I could come in." His sarcasm determined which route her emotions took and scowling she opened the door wider to let him in. As soon as he was inside she closed the door, locked it, and turned on him.

"What are you doing here? It's bad enough you joined in the fighting after all that your mo—" she caught her tongue between her teeth and held her breath for the span of a heartbeat before correcting her mistake, "men have been through without you. Gertrude risked her life by reviving you and what did you do as thanks? At the first opportunity for danger you rushed off to throw yourself in the thick of it. She and I did not go through all the trouble of rescuing you only to have you try and kill yourself!" Her voice was steadily rising and Robin ducked his head while making a silencing gesture with his hands.

"Aye Marian, I know that I shouldn't have come, but I had to. Will was going to lead a full-blown attack on the castle and he has no head for strategy. He could have gotten everyone killed and then there would be more than just three men in the hangman's noose. As for coming here tonight; I had to speak with you, to apologize for what happened on the steps."

"I don't know what you mean," she said coolly. He stroked his chin thoughtfully.

"I apologize for not having more faith in you. Any man in the heat of battle would have drawn the same conclusion I did if he saw you rescuing one of his enemies; that jailer helped torture me to near madness and Heaven help me I should like to return the favor. And as for my conduct towards you, well…I can't in good conscience say I'm sorry for the chance to hold you in my arms." He grinned and Marian quickly turned her head to avoid being taken in by his charms.

"This is no time for games, Robin. Is everyone all right? Is Will all right?" She did not miss the subtle clench of his jaw when she mentioned his cousin's name.

"Aye, everyone is safe. There were few injuries, none of them fatal. However, the smell of war is in the air. I cannot stop what is coming now."

"But they are your men," she countered swiftly. "Order them not to fight." Robin swung away from her and strode to the window.

"It doesn't work like that. The only reason they follow me is because they think I will lead them against Giles. That is what I promised. If I try to turn back now, my men will do battle without me and many lives will be lost on both sides."

"Very well then, but why are you telling me?" she asked after a moment, dropping her eyes to the floor. He leaned a shoulder against the window frame, surveying her for a long moment with a strange half-smile on his face.

"Why am I telling you?" he repeated softly, sounding amused. "Well, as proved by our little scuffle on the stairs, you can't resist jumping into the mouth of danger any better than I can. What is coming will not be some simple rescue. You won't be able to feign innocence while aiding me the next time. I would prefer it if you didn't join in at all." Finally, it was Marian's turn to smile and she stepped toward him, folding her arms defiantly over her chest.

"Your preferences have very little impact on my decisions, Robin Hood. I would have preferred you stay in seclusion until you had fully recovered, but we see how well that turned out."

"I am well enough now," he shrugged. Marian tossed her head and moved away from him to stand by the fireplace so that they stood on opposite sides of the room. He was cast in the night's darkness and she glowed from the light of the flames. She kept her back to him, but something in his silence made her uneasy. His gaze burned into her, daring her to turn and face him, but she knew that if she did she would somehow regret it.

"Tell me, Marian," he said quietly. "Who orchestrated my release from the dungeons? I do not doubt your ability to free me from the castle, but I do think it a bit of a stretch that you could have known about Gertrude living as far in seclusion as she is without some sort of intervention."

He knows, thought Marian. Her head came up and she looked around suspiciously. His face was expressionless; his eyes studied her closely.

"What does it matter how I got you out, be grateful that I did," she said evasively, lifting a shoulder in a faint shrug. His eyes darkened and one corner of his mouth twitched, whether in amusement or irritation she could not guess.

"It would seem you have been keeping secrets from me," he said, sliding away from the wall. Suddenly he appeared larger than usual, taking up nearly as much space at Little John. Marian swallowed, stepping back.

"And what are you accusing me of keeping from you?" Her eyes widened as he continued to walk toward her. A small smirk curled the corner of his mouth.

"Playing ignorant is not your style. I have been thinking about it for some weeks now. Someone with prior knowledge of the dungeon system would have to have informed you of how they operate in order for you to break in and out unseen. Now, I know about that little ruse that Aunt Cecily used to find out where they were keeping me. It was brilliantly done, but she would never have shed so many tears for me when she did not cry so hard for her own son. However, you would still need to know how the dungeons operate and someone other than my aunt would have had to tell you that. Logically it would be someone who had experienced incarceration herself. I say it was a woman because a man would never dream of sending you into such danger rather than go himself. Somehow you found out where my mother is even when I could not. Between you and Aunt Cecily I'm sure you managed to get word to her that I was in danger. Why did you not tell me?" She stood up abruptly, her long fiery braid swinging over her shoulder as she whirled to face him fully. He watched her silently, waiting. His cool reserve incensed her. Had she not done enough for him? Had she not risked her life for him on countless occasions? What right did he have to criticize anything she had done for him?

"When would I have had the opportunity to tell you? For over four months there was no sign of you!"

"At the festival you never said a word!" he returned, stepping toward her. Marian sent him a scathing look and turned her back with a wave of her hand.

"At the festival you humiliated me in front of all of Nottinghamshire! Did you expect me to do you any great favors after you kissed me like a drunken sailor and then mocked me to the crowd?" He fell silent. "I am not your messenger, Robin Hood. I am Marian Fitzgerald in my own right, and I am under no obligation to reveal everything I know to you. Yes, I know where your mother is, but she has asked me not to tell you of her whereabouts for fear that you will attempt to see her." Robin's head came up sharply and Marian pursed her lips together, regretting her phrasing.

"She has no desire to see me?"

"No, I misspoke," she said quietly and with forced patience. "She fears for you. You have made an enemy of the man who has confined her to a living hell for the past decade. Remember, the only view she has of you is the little boy she last saw. It's not her fault she misunderstands the man you are now." Robin swung away from her, bracing himself against the wall with both hands.

"Where is she?" he asked in a low voice.

"No, Robin. I cannot break my promise."

"Marian!" he cried in a hoarse voice. She felt the sound of it cut her to her very soul. He swung toward her and she saw the raw emotion on his face. This was not Robin Hood standing before her, but what remained of Robert of Huntington. Only now did she realize how complete the transformation was that had turned him into the legendary outlaw. His brow creased with pain and frustration as he squeezed his eyes closed against the tumult inside him. "She is my mother." Marian swallowed, holding onto her resolve.

"You still have your aunt and cousin. Is that not family enough?" Robin swore loudly and struck a book off a nearby stand. Marian held her breath.

"Yes it's family, but she is my mother!"

"Quiet, they'll hear you!" she hissed, glancing toward the door anxiously. "Robin, you are not yourself. Believe me when I say that she is safe where she is and wishes to remain so. Do not go after her." His head dropped forward onto his chest and he growled deep in his throat. Marian lowered her eyes and idly twisted the ruby ring on her finger.

He took a deep breath and raised his head, his eyes glowing like hot coals.

"If she has asked that I not come to her, then I will abide by her wishes, but will you talk to her in my stead? Tell her how grateful I am for all she has done for me and for freeing me from the dungeons."

"I did help," Marian added waspishly. Robin smiled.

"Aye, and I appreciate it with all my heart." She looked up suspiciously, not trusting that tender note in his voice. His eyes were twinkling again, despite the sadness in his gaze. "I owe you more than I think even I know. You are unlike any maiden I have ever met. You do not like pretty words and I will not give them to you now, though I have spent many long hours listing them to myself; however I will say this: I am honored beyond measure to have you as my ally, and I trust you with more than I have ever trusted anyone before." Boldly, he stepped forward and gently lifted her chin so she was forced to meet his eyes. She squirmed and tried to step back, which only caused him to smile wider. At last she sighed.

"Perhaps we misjudged each other," she said quietly. "We had good reasons to despise each other as children, but time has changed us for better or worse. There was a time when I hated the very thought of you, but I now know what it is that draws people to you and earns you their loyalty. And I must admit that you are the first person who has ever accepted me as who I am. If things were different and we met under different circumstances…" she trailed off, her cheeks flaming from shyness and embarrassment. Robin smiled and stepped back.

"Aye Marian, if things were different…" They stood there for a moment in awkward silence. She continued to twist the great ruby ring on her finger, feeling vulnerable in a way she had never before experienced. Robin looked away, the uncertainty between them palpable. He wrestled with himself for a moment, wondering if he dared tell her what he had truly come to say. As if she knew exactly what he felt, she glanced at him again and as their eyes locked, Robin felt something deep inside him break.

"Marian, let there be no more secrets between us. Tell me truly why you were so upset when you thought my affection was for Avian." Caught off guard, she felt heat rise to her face. She mumbled something under her breath that not even with his keen hearing could Robin make out what it was.

"What did you say?" His voice carried a current of amusement.

"Why?" she said in a voice that was still soft but loud enough for him to hear. "Why after everything I have done must you constantly ridicule me? Why must you display my faults for all the world to see when I am already ashamed enough of them as it is? I was jealous, yes, but only because I risked my life to help you and you did nothing for me in return. For three months I endured Giles' attentions, waiting for the day you would return to distract him and make good on your promise to protect me from his suspicions. If I had to endure one more snide comment from Gisborn about my questionable loyalties or my infatuation for an outlaw who would as soon as rob me as look at me I was going to go mad. And after the hell I endured waiting for your return, Avian, pretty, simple little Avian, was the one who received the first word that you were back. Avian, who did nothing all winter but shamelessly flirt with every handsome face that crossed her path while pining over your disappearance as if she'd lost her favorite lapdog, was the one that your men went to such great lengths to send messages to. What did I receive as your spy? Nothing. I thought you were a man who admired courage and determination and skill, but it was Avian you asked after at our every meeting. And when at last you made your daring return at the festival I was just as happy as everyone else to see you alive and well. I cheered for you to win and protected you from the Sheriff, and as my reward you humiliated me in front of everyone for mere sport and a few cheap laughs. And then I had to watch you beaten like a dog in the streets and dragged to the dungeons. Every day the Sheriff 'entertained' us with details of your torture and what horrors he had in store for you next. All this I endured until I could bear it no more and I went and found the only person I knew who could help me rescue you. I went to the dungeons and saw what they had done to you. I heard you…and I saved you. Then tonight during that horrible battle I helped you free those men, and you had the gall to question my loyalty! And now, here before me, you ridicule me again! Robin, I am not the ice maiden that so many think I am. I have feelings and every bit as much pride as you have, yet you think nothing of picking fun at me for your amusement when I have done everything in my power to help your cause. Why? Why can you not treat me if not with the respect of one of your band, then at least the respect of a lady? Have I not earned it?"

Robin stared at her silently for a long moment, studying her flushed face and trembling lip. .

"Marian," he said at last. "Your 'faults,' as you call them, are the reason that I have been your willing servant these long winter months. Aye, I know what Giles and Gisborn put you through, and I did all in my power to stop them without giving myself away. I cannot deny that I used Lady Avian as a shield to hide what I truly felt, but that shield fooled both you and the Sheriff. I snubbed you in public and showered attention on her to convince them that you were not important to me. Avian is a rather simple child, and I knew they would not suspect her of conspiracy. I wanted to speak to you, truly I did. Those days that I spent disguised as Angelina while you spoke with my aunt were torturous. I wanted nothing more than to battle wits with you next to the fireplace all winter long, but it was impossible. It was dangerous enough that you singled out Aunt Cecily. If you were seen with a male servant that no one knew by name it would throw you back under suspicion. There is no point denying that you are by far the most beautiful woman I have ever seen and what happened at the festival was by no means meant to hurt you. Three months of being near you without being able to talk to you or reveal myself to you was more than I could bear. I saw the way Giles treated you and I couldn't let him get away with thinking that he had any claim on you. As for my incarceration, I apologize for any distress that may have caused you, but I thank you will all my heart for your efforts to free me. If not for you I wouldn't be here right now. And yes, I know how proud you can be, Maid Marian; I have yet to encounter a woman with more dignity and honor. I ridicule you because it is all I know how to do. I cannot give you flowers and poetry as you deserve, and I know that it is better if there is nothing between us. But there is."

"You are an outlaw, Robin Hood and I am a lady of high breeding and wealth. There is nothing between us."

"Do you think I risk life and limb to come to your chamber under the roof of my mortal enemy to declare my love lightly? Do you think I do this for sport? There is a war coming and I cannot promise that I will survive it, but before I die—if that indeed does come to pass—can I not hear the truth from you just once?" She stayed in her corner, her head bowed so that her hair curtained her face. Robin waited, watching her every miniscule movement for some indication of her thoughts. He swung away to stand by the window. Marian said nothing. Robin shook his head and turned back toward her, his face unreadable.

"You are the most incredibly maddening lass I've ever met. Never have I done so much for a woman and received so little appreciation in return." He stepped toward her again and dipped his head to drop a faint kiss on her cheek. "Farewell, my love." She jumped back, her eyes wide.

"Don't call me that! It's only one of your jests and I don't care for it. Now go before someone sees you."

Robin chuckled, looking down at her with another faint shake of his head.

"Of all things to be afraid of…" Smirking, he stepped back and bowed deeply. She narrowed her eyes.

"I am not afraid of you," she said in a low voice, clenched her hands into fists. He smiled.

"I know that, Maid Marian," he said with a trace of sadness. "You're afraid of yourself."

With that, he went to the door and disappeared as suddenly as he had appeared. She closed her eyes, feeling like an incredible fool.