Chp 11
Marian sat in the empty dining room at Knighton Hall alone. She thought about what she had done earlier in the day. She had hurt him when she had brought the subject up of him leaving her for five years. She knew Robin was ashamed of that and that he always believed it to be unforgivable. But she had used his weakness against him. She had struck where she knew it would hurt. She thought about what he was feeling at this moment. He was probably relieved that he had gotten rid of her. That she was no longer his. That he was free.
Robin sat in the camp and gazed into the dying fire. The others had all fallen asleep long ago. But it did not matter how much he tossed or turned. He could not fall into a slumber. Probably because he knew what lay waiting for him there. There lay the nightmares. The ones with Marian walking down the aisle to a man that was not him. This man was a Prince. He had his royal ensignia proudly showing on banners around the richly decorated church. Where she wore and elegant gown that surpassed all others and made her way down the ailse to her future husband. But what is worse. Is that in this nightmare. She smiles. She laughes and smiles happily as she walks down the ailse to him. Robin is just something in her past. Something forgotten. That's all he is. One of those memories that you wish had never happened. That was the part of the dream that hurt the most.
He couldn't say goodbye like this. If things were to end. If he was to lose her. He didn't want her last memory of him to be one where he was walking away from her. Abandoning her. He got up and walked out of the camp and made his way to Knighton.
Marian sighed as she looked onto the large table. The room was dark and empty. Only the light that the moon provided from out the window lightened the room. How had life come to this? She thought that when she had married Robin that would be them together forever. Not only to be pulled apart a few months later. She wanted Robin. She always had. They were meant to be together, they had been together since they were kids. She wasn't just losing her love and her friend. But her soul and her heart. She would be nothing but a shell. He was the one that made her smile, made her laugh he was the only reason she had for getting out of bed int the morning. Knowing that she may never have to see him again made her want to rip her heart out and tear it to shreads.
'What are you thinking about?' Came the soft whisper from the open door that led into the dining room.
Marian shot her eyes up to the see the dark shadow of Robin leaning on the frame and looking at her.
'About the future.' Marian replied emotionless.
Robin walked into the room more so he could see her better. 'What about the future?' He asked as he sat on the chair opposite her at the other end of the table.
'Thinking about...how... I will be with him...and not you.' Marian said looking up to see his expression. She saw the relief flood his face and smiled.
'You accepted him.' Robin said plainly.
'So I have made my bed you mean.' Marian asked. She could tell that a fight was about to begin.
'Well in a way you have...with me.' Robin smiled from the other end of the table.
Marian smiled to. Yes she had lay with Robin, with him was with her reputation and respect. And he could gladly keep them.
'What are you going to do?' Robin asked.
'I don't know.' Marian replied sadly.
'Glass goblets.' Robin frowned as he lifted the goblet up from the table and examined it.
'Yes a gift from the Prince.' Marian stated as she looked at the other glass goblets that covered the dining table.
'Very easily broken.' Robin said as he dangled the glass over the floor.
'Don't you dare.' Marian said sternly.
Robin smirked and pulled the glass back over the table.
Robin watched her as she once more went into her own thoughts. She was so lovely when she just sat there. Looking the way she looked. Like she didn't have a care in the world. But he knew that was not true. He knew that behind those ocean eyes that shone bright and that smile that could hide anything, that beneath it all she was full of misery and worry. Misery for her up coming marriage and the fact that she didn't want to go through with it. And thw worry, the worry was for her father. He was in a dark, damp and cold prison cell. He was old, weak and unwell. And whether she faced or admitted it. He was dying and there was nothing she could do to stop it. He knew the many plagues of hurt and thought that crossed her mind.
'What do you want in life?' Robin asked deciding to save her from her nightmare thoughts.
Marian broke her train of thought and looked up at Robin who was looking at her waiting on an answer.
'To be with you...always.' Marian smiled.
'You have me. What else?'
'Erh.' Marian thought for a moment. 'For the people to be treated fairly.' Marian said looking at Robin.
Robin smiled as he stood holdig the Goblet in his hand. 'Then its done.' He said as he let the glass fall to the floor and shatter into millions of small pieces.
Marian looked at the floor in shock as she heard the glass smash. She looked to Robin her mouth open wide in shock. But then she smiled. She reached over and picked up a goblet closest to her. 'And what do you want?'
Robin smirked. 'For the king to return home.'
Marian smiled. 'Then its done.' And she to dropped the goblet and let it desend to the floor and demolish.
Robin picked up another goblet. 'What else?'
'For all the people to be paid fairly and to be taxed equally.' Marian smiled as she sat on the table.
'It is done.' The goblet fell and came in collision with the floor leaving it as shards.
Marian grabbed another goblet and held it up, waiting on Robin.
'For all of my gang to be paid respectfuly for their work and for them to be happy and have families.'
'It is done.' Marian smiled as another goblet fell from her hand and made impact with the floor.
Robin picked up another goblet. 'And?'
'For you to be pardoned and returned to Locksley.' Marian whispered.
Robin held the glass in his hand a moment longer. He to wished this would happen. He wished that he could be back home in Locksley with Marian and begin to start a family.
'Its done.' He whispered as he let the goblet fall to the floor.
'And you.' Marian smiled as she already held another goblet up.
'To be in Locksley...with you as my wife... and many annoying children running about.' Robin laughed.
Marian smiled as she thought about that future. Robin and her living together and being married. Having kids running around driving them mad. Robin teaching them how to use a bow. Marian looked at Robin again and smiled. 'Its done.' The goblet fell to the floor.
Robin bolted for Marian and grabbed her in a passionate kiss as the goblet smashed. Marian wrapped her arms around him as he held onto her by the waist. Marian wrapped her legs around him as he lifted her from the table. She began untieing his top as he began to unlace her dress.
Robin began to carry her through the house and up the stairs into her bedroom.
Marian smiled as she walked through the corridors of the Castle the next morning. She had been sumoned once more probably to meet the Prince and discuss their wedding details. She wished she could have stayed at home all day. She had awoken in the morning to Robin lightly kissing the back of her shoulder. She had smiled as his ruff beard tickled her. But as usual they had both had to get up and leave. He had to return to the forest and she had to return to the Castle.
'Lady Marian.' The Prince smiled as she entered the hall.
'Your Majesty.' Marian smiled.
'How many times have I told you. Call me Vlad.'
'What is it you requested me here for?' Marian asked politely.
'Well I thought that you would like to talk about our wedding details.' The Prince smiled.
'Oh. Well. Where are we holding the wedding. Here? Or at Knighton?' Marian asked, although this was the last topic she wished to be talking to.
The Prince began to laugh hysterically. 'Oh no my love. We will be having it far away from here.'
Marain wanted to throw up at hearing him call her his love no one called her that apart from Robin. But then she remembered what else he had said.
'Away from here?'
'Yes. In Russia.' The Prince smiled.
'Russia!' Marian yelled in shock. She can't go to Russia. What about Robin. She can't leave him.
'Do not worry my love you will be very happy there. Now I have work to do. You may return to what you were doing before.' The Prince smiled as Marian turned and hurried out of the room.
'My Lord. Lady Marian received a visitor last night.' Gisbourne informed the Prince.
'Yes. who?'
'Robin Hood.' Gisbourne growled.
'Well looks like giving her some freedom wasn't enough. But Marian will marry me, and be my wife.' The Prince said as he took a sip of wine. 'But bring me that Outlaw.'
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LMM xx
