Gisbourne, still bound to a tree, was sleeping fitfully when Robin led Marian, Djaq, and Tuck to him. Guy's horse had deserted him, returning to Locksley on his own.

Marian stared at the man who claimed to love her, yet had hurt her in so many horrible ways. She felt no pity looking at him, only concern for her husband and a sense of revulsion.

Djaq immediately held Guy's wrist to feel his pulse. "It is not so weak as I expected," she said. "He will survive, Robin."

Robin looked grim, wanting Gisbourne dead, just not this way.

Djaq and Tuck immediately set to work, first drugging Gisbourne so he would not easily awaken, then digging out Robin's arrow points from Gisbourne's arms and legs and cleaning and sewing up his wounds.

Robin led Marian away while the others worked. "I'm sorry I lied to you," he told her, the weight from his conscience lifted from him. "It won't happen again. It's one of the things I pride myself on, that I've always been honest with you."

"Openly, you mean. You know we weren't honest with our feelings in the past."

"People who remember say everyone knew we loved each other before we realized it."

"When did you first know you loved me?"

"The moment I first saw you."

"Robin! We were children! And you said you wouldn't lie to me again!"

"I didn't lie, Marian. Something I'd never felt before swept over me, the first time I saw you. I was on the hill over Locksley, practicing with my bow, when your father brought you to my house. I ducked down so you couldn't see me, so I could keep looking at you. You were so beautiful."

She was pleased. "So you spied on me? You just said other people recognized our love before we knew it, and now you claim you were in love with me from the first?"

"I was! But I forgot, once we became friends."

"That's hardly flattering, Robin."

He grinned, the first smile she'd seen on him all day.

"When did you really know?" she pursued, smiling back at him.

He thought, enjoying his memories of her. "I've always loved you, Marian. I've always been happiest when we're together. What I said was other people claimed they knew it before we did, not that it was so."

"Hmm. I believe you're still hiding something, Locksley."

He laughed. "Alright, if you must know, I must have been sixteen or seventeen when you first starting wrecking havoc on me, so I couldn't stop thinking about you. "

"I'm glad I wrecked havoc. It must have been quite pleasant for you."

"How do you know it was pleasant?"

"You wrecked plenty of havoc on me, too, even if I didn't love you instantly."

"I had to win you, did I?"

"I liked you. I thought you were a handsome boy, and charming, but my father was my hero then. When you came down the hill, I looked out the window of your house, and I couldn't understand why you were shooting a man's weapon, while your people gathered around you to watch and cheer."

"I was trying to impress you."

"By showing off with your bow. But eventually... Do you remember the time we were playing in the woods and you hurt your ankle, showing off by trying to back flip off a tree too tall?"

"No."

"You must. It was only a season or two after my father became sheriff and we moved to the shire. I had to help you back to your house, and the whole village fussed over you. Thornton was concerned and your father was stern, and I'd never seen you scolded before. I knew then I loved you."

"I remember now. I had to stay in and hobble about for a week. I knew you loved me, Marian. You were my Wren, my sweetheart, unlike any other girl I'd ever known."

"You were good, and kind. You treated the lowliest peasant with the same regard you paid to my father. And you were such fun to be around! How could I help but love you?"

He took her in his arms, smiling down at her. "I suppose if we'd fallen in love as adults and not been betrothed, we might have admitted our feelings sooner. I probably would have. You'd be swarmed with other suitors, and I'd have told you I loved you, before anyone else could sway you."

"Perhaps, but I doubt it, Robin. You wouldn't believe anyone else could win me over you. You took my love for granted, you know."

"Never again, Marian. I lost you once...twice, believing you had died. My love for you is warmer now, deeper and more precious."

His voice sent warmth rushing irresistibly through her, even before they kissed. She melted into him, loving him with all her being.

She grew serious. "Since we're confessing, I need to tell you. You may not lie to me, Robin, but I've lied to you."

"When?"

"Numerous times. For instance, I promised you I wouldn't do anything in Locksley when the mercenaries invaded your village, all the while planning to help as the Night Watchman."

"Marian!"

"What?"

He sighed, putting aside his anger. "It doesn't matter, after all we've been through." He was still angry, though not at her. "So that's how Gisbourne caught you."

"Yes."

Robin thought a moment, then quietly asked, "What about our vows, Marian?"

"Our marriage vows? I've never broken those, Robin! And I don't consider your mistake with Isabella breaking them, either, since you believed I was dead."

His face looked troubled. "No, I mean, saying them in the first place. Did you want to marry me, or were you only being kind?"

Marian stared at him in disbelief. "Where did you come up with that? Of course I wanted to marry you! Wasn't I the one who had to press you to recite them, both times? I love you, Robin. Do I really need to do a better job, proving it?"

He smiled. "I should answer you 'no,' but where would be the fun in that?"

She stopped his chuckle with a kiss.

"That's a very good start," he teased. "And you didn't need to press me. I just couldn't remember all the words."

Marian sighed in his arms. "I wish we could take our honeymoon. I still need time to heal, and I didn't realize it before, but you do, too. What happened to me affected us both, Robin. I'm sorry I never considered what you've been going through."

"I'm alright."

"But you're not. Not really. You wouldn't have done what you did today, to him."

"I've wanted him dead for years, Marian. Everything he's done to you, to us, to Locksley, to England! He's evil. He poisons everything he touches."

Tuck approached them, clearing his throat. "Excuse me," he said. "Gisbourne's awake, and wants to speak with you, Marian."

"Tell him no!" Robin shouted, his anger flaring.

"What can he want with me?" Marian asked, turning pale.

"Perhaps he wants to offer an apology. Would you deny him a chance at redemption?"

"No, it's just..."

"Whatever he wants to tell her, he can say to me," Robin snarled, then turned and strode toward Gisbourne.

"Robin!" Marian followed her husband, praying there would not be a repeat meeting of what had already occurred between the two men.