:) smiley, it's good to be back. Thank you everyone for the reviews, you're the best!
Sorry for how bizarre this chapter is, I wanted to show how Marian has been changed and how she isn't so certain of Robin's love any more. How everything that has happened to her has affected her. Sometimes one person can only hold so much pain.
This chapter is dedicated to Magpie287, Thank you Robyn for being so patient this is for your b-day and your symptoms!!! :) Happy b-day
Enjoy...
Chapter 11.
As Marian sat by the lake she considered her situation, it was a bizarre one, she knew. She sat, by a lake that she had played at as a child, outlawed, doubting the love of her husband with her 'murderer's' head cradled in her lap.
Guy had fallen into a deep sleep, nothing would have woken him, but Marian did not remove him from her. If she was being honest his presents there was almost a comfort, which was wrong in itself. She should not be getting comfort, surely, off a man who had almost killed her twice?
Her thoughts came back to Robin, as always. Why had he been like that this morning? Was that what he wanted in a wife? A good little housewife who would cook and clean and stay silent? Surely she could never be that. But the thought of not doing so hurt her many times. Firstly because then Robin might not want her. His thoughts might drift away from her if she could not do all that he said. And that would surely mean leaving him. As much as she threatened to go to Jessica, the thought now of being forced to do so made her heart break just thinking about it.
There was also the thought that, the second she was gone, her space would be filled. Kate or Isabella, she knew, would immediately step into her position. Not that she had much of a position now.
She screwed her eyes up in frustration. She really had no choice. But she despised her choice, it was made by the new Marian. The Marian, which had been created ever since that first day, when Robin had kissed Kate. The new Marian had a weak and vulnerable heart, one that had seen so much sorrow and pain that it could take no more. The heart that loved Robin to the ends of the earth and beyond and because of that; would do anything for him. And there and then Marian swore, that she would not let the old Marian go, not if it was the last thing she did.
It was eleven-o-clock when Robin, Djaq and Kate arrived back at the camp to find it deserted, with the exception of Marian.
She sat meekly on one of the logs, which was not how Robin had expected. The camp was neat as well, all of the beds were neatly made, the swords sharpened and the weapons polished. There was something bubbling in a pot over the steady fire. Marian sat, stirring it gently and did not look up when they entered. In fact, she barely registered their presence except smiling a little at Djaq, before turning back to the pot.
Kate went through to the back of the camp to gather some water and have a drink, she did not seem to have noticed Marian's change in mood.
Robin watched her carefully. He really wasn't sure what to make of this. It was so uncharacteristic of Marian to be like this, so silent and unemotional. So, well, so like a real housewife was.
Djaq was also watching Marian, a worried expression covering her petit face.
Still working silently Marian made her way to the kitchen and picked up three bowls. She hesitated for a second, before resolutely placing a fourth on the counter next to her before bringing the other three over to the pan.
Carefully she poured the bowling hot stew from the pot into the bowls and handed them around. Kate just returned in time to take hers off Marian.
Once Marian handed him his Robin smiled widely at her. He was regretting his words to her earlier. They had been harsh and uncalled for.
"Thank you." He said, gratefully taking the much needed stew. He sniffed appreciatively. "It smells gorgeous." He praised gently, although Marian made no sign of hearing him and only kept her eyes downcast.
He watched her still as she made her way to the counter and brought back the fourth bowl, filling it with a small amount of the stew.
This was wrong.
It was not like Marian to do this. Her portion of the stew had to be at least a third of what they had. Why was she doing this?
There was silence as they ate, Robin and Djaq still casting worried glances at Marian. Once they had finished eating Kate went back for some more water, the camp was silent again before a moan interrupted it.
"Ugh, there's no more water!" Kate's voice echoed through the quiet of the forest as she came back into the main camp and glared at Marian, as if it were her fault the water had all gone.
Robin frowned and waited for Marian to reprimand Kate. But instead she blushed and, her eyes still downcast, hurried from the camp passing through it seconds later with two empty water buckets in her hands. Before he could stop her she was gone.
The uncomfortable silence returned.
Finally Robin heard a slight groan and got up to walk to the edge of the camp, seeing Marian down at the bottom of the hill, struggling to hold up both of the buckets in one hand where the other clutched at her raw wound. Her face was twisted into a mask of agony but the second she saw him she moved her hand away from her wound and quickly took the other bucket. She then started to struggle quickly up the hill. Try as she might her face was still twisted in agony.
He had had enough. Running he came down the hill and took the two buckets from her hand, marching with them up the hill. His face like thunder.
She ran to catch up with him.
"I'm really sorry." She muttered in a low voice. "I-I did try it was just too heavy, I promise I tried..." She trailed off.
Robin gritted his teeth together and continued.
Once they reached the camp he dumped the two buckets of water so violently that water slopped over the sides and onto the floor.
Without even stopping to regard the other two women, he grabbed Marian's hand and pulled her in the opposite direction. To the lake where they had played as children.
When they finally stopped he spun around to face her. His face had to be one of the most terrifying things Marian had ever seen. It was painted in fury and anger. Directed at her.
She winced, was he really this protective of his water? Jeesh...
"What did you think you were doing?" He hissed, sounding dangerously like Guy.
"I-I'm really sorry." Marian appealed to him, for once looking him in the eye. "I didn't mean to, I- I just couldn't carry them, they were too heavy for me, I..."
He cut her off. "I mean, why were you carrying them in the first place?"
Marian looked nonplussed. "B-Because Kate said that there wasn't enough water?"
"And why were you dong what Kate told you to do?"
"Oh," realisation swept over her face, then fear. "I am so sorry, I did not realise you did not want me to take instruction from anyone but yourself." She watched her feet.
"What?!" Robin stared at her. "What the hell are you talking about? Since when do you ever do what I say?"
Marian blushed a deep red, but said nothing, her eyes still pointing downwards.
"Marian," Robin sighed in frustration. "Why are you suddenly doing all the housework and cooking and cleaning and stuff?"
"You said you wanted a wife who did as you said." She said in a small voice. "You wanted a good housewife."
Robin was shocked into silence. She would become a housewife, for him?
"I'm sorry if I'm not very good." She apologised anxiously.
She would give up her beliefs, for him?
"Please, just give me one more chance I promise I'll do better!"
She would cook stew, for him?
"I-I thought you would..." she seemed to take a deep breath. "Love me, if I did..."
Robin looked down then, she was looking at him with huge, anxious, fear filled eyes.
Groaning loudly he swept her up into a deep kiss. It was soft and gentle, yet firm. It was caring and loving, yet desperate. It was kind and calming, yet slightly frenzied. He pressed into her, allowing their tongues to dance together, moulding himself to the shape of her body.
Finally they separated for breath.
"My silly, silly Marian," he breathed softly. "I love you just as you are and there is nothing either of us can do about it."
Then he frowned. "But you were in pain, what is wrong?"
"I am fine." Marian shrugged off his comment automatically, she was glad to be her old self again.
"Really?" He raised a sceptical eyebrow.
"Yes." She said firmly.
He sighed and sat onto the grass, Marian joining him a second later.
"I can't believe you did all that." He said finally, in a low voice. "Just because of what I said."
Marian sighed and smiled slightly. "Neither can I!" She joked lightly.
"But, you doubted my love for you." Robin said slowly, "after all those times I told you I loved you, you doubted me."
"Not you, my love," she explained. "Myself. I doubted that I was good enough for you."
He frowned at her. "How can you ever say that? You are an incredible, smart, brave, courageous, caring, kind, beautiful woman." He caressed her hand and brought it to his mouth. "Never doubt that." Gently he kissed her soft skin.
They sat next to each other for a while, by the lake, neither talking, just enjoying each other's company.
Finally he broke the silence."So, what did you do today?"
She smiled at him.
"Nothing really, I sat around here for a while," She laughed lightly. "Not very useful, I know."
"What were you doing here?" He asked curiously.
"Just thinking." She evaded the question slightly.
"What about?" He leaned forward and wrapped his arms around her.
"You." She said honestly.
"Me?" He stared at her, "why were you thinking about me?"
She smiled at him, "what, other than the fact that I can never stop thinking about you?"
"Well, other than that obviously." He said teasingly.
" About what you said, this morning." She confessed. "And what my father would have said."
Unshed tears glazed her eyes and Robin turned her and gently kissed them away.
"What would your father have said?" He coaxed softly.
"He would have agreed." She whispered sadly.
"No!" He pulled her closer still, and rested his chin upon her head. "No, Marian. He loved you for who you were, he just worried about you. Like I do." He took a steadying breath. "I'm sorry for what I said this morning, and the beliefs it led you to. I just worry about you, and the thought of putting you in danger..." He trailed off and shook his head.
Gently she took his face in her hands and moved it so that she was looking straight into his eyes.
"Robin, my dear, my love, I appreciate your care." She said quietly. "But, I cannot be mollycoddled all my life."
He sighed and nodded. "I know, it just feels so wrong to put you in any form of danger at all."
Marian smiled at this. "And that is your instinct my love. But I cannot spend all of my life at the camp. There is danger everywhere."
She hesitated for a second.
"I-I met someone today." She admitted hesitantly.
"Really, who?" Robin sat up a little more and turned to face her.
"Guy." She whispered.
Ooo, how will he react?
I actually enjoyed writing this one, so review and tell me if you enjoyed it too! I think I know where the next few chaps will be going so that's okay!
Luv 4eva
Ray
xxx