Chapter 14

Outlaw camp

"Where's Robin?" Marian asked, she'd been helping Much clean away after dinner and hadn't noticed him slip out.

"Not sure sorry," Will replied curtly, Marian looked stunned. Robin hadn't spoke to her since they had headed back to the camp after saying goodbye to Carter. The rest of the gang also wouldn't look at her.
"Djaq?" Marian pleaded. Djaq simply shook her head and got up from her seat. Marian sighed. "John, have I done something wrong?" John snorted almost a smirk, confirming she had in fact done something. "Will somebody please tell me what is going on?"

"Ha." Much finally offered. "You disobey my master, and then and then.. you kiss Gisborne and you think everything is fine." Much said throwing down his spoon. "Unbelievable."

"This is about Gisborne?" Marian sounded confused. "I only did that to save Robin, he knows that." Much mattered something under his breath that Marian did not hear. Everyone else stayed quiet, so she headed into the forest to find Robin.

She finally found him in the pool, not far from camp, taking a bath. She wondered whether she should come back later, but reasoned this would only get worse the longer it was left. "Can I sit?" Marian asked tenderly.

"Im surprised you want to see me, your concern was nothing for me today." Robin replied bitterly.

"That is not true and you know it."

"Of course, you were only saving me by kissing Gisborne."

"Robin please."

"Please what. You can't love two men Marian!" Robin slapped his hand across the water and dove under the water. Marian edged closer to the water and rolled up her trousers dipping her legs into the water. Robin rose in the same place he stood before, he stood waist deep in the pool. Marian glanced across the water and saw his clothes, a shirt, an undershirt, his trousers, boots and socks. He must be wearing his undershorts. When Marian looked back Robin was stood a lot closer to her.

"Trust me Robin." Marian whispered, Robins face twisted as if he had a horrible pain inside. He stepped closer so he was standing between Marian's legs, the tops of his shorts now showing. He raised his hand to her cheek and ran his knuckles over her creamy flesh.

"I do trust you Wren." Robin gave a sad smile.

"You haven't called me that in a while." Marian returned his sad smile with one of her own.

"We aren't children anymore." Robin shrugged. Marian's brow creased, this was the first time he acted his age in a long time.

"Im sorry, I thought I was helping." Marian looked down to her feet that were dangling in the water beneath her. Robin lifted her chin, although Marian kept her eyes down.

"Look at me." Robin whispered. She raised her eyes to his. "Tell me the truth." Marian nodded her answer. Robin took a deep breath. "Do you love him?" Marian didn't hesitate,

"No Robin, I love you and only you. It's always been you. When we were young, when you were at war, when you came home and now Robin. I have always loved you and only you." She pleaded for him to understand. "Why don't you believe me?"

"I do Marian, I do believe you!" Robin said, "I love you too Marian, I will always love you." He seized her around the waist and lifted her into his arms holding her tightly. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't doubt you." He whispered burying his head in her neck planting gentle kisses. "Im so sorry." And finally Marian realised that this wasn't only about Gisborne, something else was upsetting him.

"Hey look at me." Marian whispered running her hand down his arms as her legs are wrapped around his waist. Robin looked up, with an expression Marian had only seen a few times. "What else is bothering you?" Marian asked gently. Robin tightened his arms around her back, he sighed finally giving in.

"Today when Carter and I fought in the barn, I told him if he thought it would give him peace then he should kill me. For a moment I thought he was going to and all I could think was that I had been horrible to you, we hadn't said a nice word all day, I tied you up, I told you to go cook me something and I told you to stay in camp. If I had of died…" Marian placed a finger on his lips.

"But you didn't die Robin. So don't let it eat away at you. I know you love me Robin, it took you a while to tell me, but you finally have and now I know. Sure it was a little hard to believe today, but I know, I've always known." Marian smiled and Robin returned her grin.

"Are you wearing a shirt underneath this one?" Robin asked pulling at the blue fabric she was wearing.

"Yes why?"

"Good take it off, I want to take a bath with the women I love." Robin grinned at her and kissed her gently. He held her tightly whilst Marian tightened her legs around him and started to undo her shirt, she carefully pulled it off as not to get it wet. The shirt underneath was only thin but at least it covered her. Robin smiled at her his eyes not leaving hers, he took her shirt from her hands took a few step towards the river bank and then threw her shirt with his clothes. Robin turned and smiled at Marian, eyes filled with love, earlier fears and anger gone.

"You're beautiful." Robin whispered.

"Put me down." Marian whispered.

"Why? I like holding you."

"I want to wash." Marian smiled. Robin laughed and gently lowered Marian into the water.

"STOP STOP!" She shouted as her thighs and bottom touched the water.
"What, what's wrong?" Robin's concern was obvious.

"It's cold." Marian frowned. Robin burst out laughing and shook his head at her. Then his eyes light up with mischief, he had an idea and Marian knew what it was. "Don't even think about it Locksley."

"Think about what Marian?"

"Robin of Locksley I swear…" But before she could finish Robin dunked himself under the water dragging Marian down with him. He quickly shot back up Marian still in his arms, clutching him tighter. When she regained her breath she struggled from his arms and turned away from him.

"Marian don't be like that it was a joke." Robin said reaching for her arm. She quickly turned and splashed him with water and laughed. Robin looked stunned for a moment, then burst into a grin. "So that's how you want to play." Marian smiled at him. He stood staring at her, then quickly jumped towards her. She quickly jumped to the side and disappeared under the water. Robin stood waiting for her to emerge. She appeared in the middle pool smiling.

"You'll have to do better than that." Marian laughed. Robin stalked towards her, he went to jump for her again, but stopped suddenly but Marian had already moved out of the way, and he quickly grabbed her waist from under the water pulling her into him. He held her back to his chest his arm hanging over her shoulders and holding her waist.

"Got you." He whispered, he kissed her on her neck then quickly lifted her into his arms. He held her high above the water grinning widely.

"No Robin, please don't." Marian said trying to contain her giggling. Robin said nothing instead threw her gently across the pond, Marian squealed with delight as she flew through the air, she landed in the water a few feet from Robin. As she stood in the water, Robin for the first time let his eyes move over her body. The water had made her clothes stick to her, revealing every single curve on the beautiful body. He had never seen such a beautiful women. He could only see to her waist line, but that was far enough. He worked his way back up to her eyes, such a lovely face, even with wet messy hair and flushed cheeks she looked beautiful. She was making her way slowly to him, she must know he'd been looking.

"Enjoying the view." She whispered as she got close enough to wrap her arms around his neck. She pulled him into her, his bare chest against her soaking clothes. Robin's breath was ragged, he wanted her. But she was pure and they were unmarried, he couldn't. She pressed her lips to his, pushing further into his body. Robin returned her kiss, running his hands down her back and resting them on her backside, he squeezed her gently and she moaned slightly. He lifted her up, never breaking their kiss, she wrapped her legs around him. Robin's hands moved from Marian's bum to her ribs his thumbs gently caressing the sides of her breasts. He moved his hands down sliding them under her wet shirt, gliding him up her sides across her skin. Marian pulled away from his lips moving her mouth across his jaw line, down his neck, she nibbled and sucked on his neck. "Marian." Robin moaned softly. He needed to stop this, but he wanted this and it was obvious she did too. But she had just lost her father. Her father, Edward would turn in his grave. Robin found Marian's mouth again, Marian moaned again. Robin moved his hands back down to her bottom. Marian tightened her legs around him and Robin squeezed again.

"Robin! Marian." Much shouted from the camp.

Robin pulled away panting and Marian also struggling for breath. Robin kissed her gently on the lips. "Perhaps we should go back, Much might come looking for us." Robin smiled.

"That would not end well, I have already been scolded by him once." Marian sighed, releasing her legs from Robin's waist. Robin caught her legs in one of his arms and supported her back with the other, whilst Marian held onto his neck. He carried her to the edge then set her down on the ground and climbed out himself. "Robin I don't have another pair of trousers." Marian said. He picked up his trousers

"You'll have to put these on for now. Sorry." He shrugged.

"They will do just fine. Thank you." Marian smiled. "Wait what about you?"

"It's alright, the gang is used to it."

"You stroll around in soaking wet shorts all the time?" Marian asked amused.

"You'd be amazed." Robin grinned.

"Turn away." Marian scolded. Robin laughed shaking his head and turned away. Peeling off her wet trousers and quickly pulling on Robin's, she also pulled off her wet shirt and put the other one on. "Ok done." Robin gave her a quick smile. He pulled on his boots and shirt and then took Marian's hand and led her towards camp, all the wet clothes in his other hand.