"No, Master! You can't just go running off through the forest, as if Gisbourne hadn't wounded you! You can't! Because...if something happened to you...if something happens, I'd just...I'd..."
"I'll be fine, Much."
Robin, intent on leading his gang on their midnight mission to help the poor and gather food, studied the blade on his dagger; then, satisfied, sheathed it at his hip.
Across the camp, Marian was listening. "Much is right," she said privately to Djaq. "Unless you tell me otherwise, Robin mustn't leave camp tonight."
"He is not ready to lead us yet," Djaq confirmed. "I have told him, but he will not listen."
Although concerned, Marian understood Robin's refusal to let a mere injury deter him. Hadn't she herself been up and about well before her body had healed, after Gisbourne had wounded her?
"Do not worry," Djaq said kindly, seeing the frown between Marian's lovely brows. "We do not want to resort to it yet, but Little John is ready to keep Robin here, if we must."
"How?"
"Once before, when I was captured, he punched him and tied him to a tree."
"No," Marian insisted, thinking she ought to welcome the suggestion, to pay Robin back for having recently tied her up. But her heart was especially tender toward the man she loved, due to his wound. She refused to allow anyone to hurt him further, even if it was to save him. "Anyway," she mentioned, determinedly, "I have a better plan."
Leaving Djaq, Marian walked to Robin, who put down his bow to smile lovingly into her eyes.
"It's madness for you to go tonight," she told him, firmly. "Do you realize that?"
"Don't worry about me," he said to her, still smiling. "Like I told you before, I can take care of myself."
"Yes, when you're well! But you're not, are you?"
"A scratch. Besides, it's only my side."
"And your head! Uh! No wonder you won't listen to reason!"
"Shh! It's alright! I'll be fine, my love."
Marian let herself be gathered in his arms, happy to feel him against her. Then, almost meekly, she appeared to submit.
"Alright, then," she agreed, surprising him.
Stroking her hair, Robin was wishing the others weren't around, so that he could kiss her. He felt pleasure in holding her close, and relief that she had given in without a fight. His relief, however, was short lived.
"And what is my assignment tonight?" she asked innocently, her cheek resting on his chest.
She felt Robin tense, and his fingers stop caressing her hair.
"Tonight, Marian," he said, expecting a battle of wills, "you're staying here."
He couldn't see the small, self-satisfied smile on Marian's lips. He'd said exactly what she wanted to hear, playing right into her plan. Lifting her face, she looked directly into eyes, saying, "Alright, Locksley. I'll make you a deal. I'll stay, but only if you will, too."
Immediately, Robin realized he'd been tricked. Chuckling, he grinned down at her. "Very clever!"
"Well...?" Marian asked.
His gaze turned passionate. "How can I refuse your offer, to spend a few hours alone with you?"
"So you'll stay?"
His grin grew boyish. "I was thinking Djaq was probably right, when she told me I should stay."
Marian made a little impatient groan, rolling her eyes, yet she was delighted at his answer. "Should I tell the others, or should you?"
...
Robin was all business, giving his men instructions, yet the moment they were gone, and the camp was shut up again, he turned to Marian with a look of pure love lighting up his handsome features.
Her face answered in kind, and the long, lingering look passing between them seemed to mingle their two souls together.
He kissed her slowly...tenderly, yet with an underlying eagerness that thrilled her.
"I've been tormented all day," he confessed, "wanting to do that."
She felt tormented still, more so than before he'd kissed her. But she tried to hide her desire, believing him too hurt to give in to passion.
Out of necessity, she'd grown skilled at lying to Gisbourne, but Robin could read her eyes, and guessed her thoughts.
"I really should be in bed," he breathed, temptingly. "Trouble is, I don't want to go, without you."
"You're wounded."
"Through the heart, if you say no."
"Fool!"
The word sounded nothing like the scornful accusation she'd flung at him, when he'd first returned from war. It was loving and playful, lilting and trembling all at once.
She wanted nothing so much as to love him now, wrap him in her embrace, cocoon him in her tender warmth, so that he could rise from his bunk as if on wings, healed and whole again. But he was hurt. It wouldn't be wise.
He was hurt...almost killed. That thought alone made her cast her reservations aside. She had to "kiss him better."
A quick struggle out of their clothing was followed by an act of loving so tender, yet so intense, it took their breath away. Grateful kisses followed, and intimate, gentle caresses, and whispered words of love, cut all too short by the imminent return of the gang.
When they did arrive, laden with food and happy hearts at having distributed money to the needy, they all celebrated with a feast. Marian felt completely content, wearing a ragged outfit consisting of a dark green shirt and brown pants and vest that Djaq had snagged for her.
The skirt of the detestable red gown might make a pair of lovely little cloaks for Mark and Maggie, two Locksley village children she'd seen shivering last winter.
Taking a bite of a jaunt of lamb while Much related the night's adventures, she looked up to smile back at Robin, who couldn't seem to take his smiling eyes off her.
Allan could keep his comfortable room at the castle. As for her, she'd never trade life in camp with Robin and the rest of his gang for anything.
This night, she had no idea that she would trade it again all too soon, to save the man she loved once more.
