Chapter six:

Marian's POV:

From then on, Much, Robin and I were the terrible trio. We caused chaos everywhere we went. Every day, after breakfast and my chores, I went straight into the forest to meet my two best friends.

Over time, Robin and Much started to come around my home for supper. It wasn't long before my parents absolutely adored Much and Robin, as much I did! Much helped to cook and joked around with everyone, while Robin charmed my parents and played with William.

Two years passed and my feelings for Robin didn't weaken, and neither did our friendship. By now, Robin was at least two heads taller than me and was becoming more muscular by the day!

Much was only a head and a half taller than me and wasn't as muscular as Robin, but he had grown into his body more. I had only grown to about the height that Much was when we first met. Although I hadn't grown as much as the other two, I was still smarter than the both of them and even more head strong than before!

One day, when Robin and Much were having supper at mine, Much and I were in the front room, sitting by the fire and playing with now four-year-old William.

My little brother looked up to the boys, he was always begging me to take him with me to the forest, just to see them. William was my shadow, wherever I went, he tried to follow, my only peace was in Sherwood, with my friends.

Robin was joking around with my Mother, in the Kitchen, laughing over something Robin said. My Father was reading a book on the other side of the living room. Much turned to me while still tickling William, with a bemused expression on his face.

"What?" Laughing, I asked.

"I know you two have feelings for each other, you know?" Smirking, he nodded his head towards the window where I could see Robin and Mother laughing.

My stomach dropped when I realised what he meant.

"W-what I have n-no clue what you are talking about." Defensively, I retorted.

My cheeks were getting hotter by the second.

"You and Robin!" he whispered, chuckling.

"Robin and I don't have feelings for each other! That's absurd Much, we're just friends!" Folding my arms, I tried hard to sound sincere.

"Don't try to deny it Marian! I've seen the way you look at him when you think no one is watching, you have a sparkle in your eyes!" Much told me with his eyebrow raised.

"Alright, alright, I can't deny it any longer! There's no point in hiding it from you anymore." Sighing, I was defeated.

"Yes! You admitted it!" Much laughed. "He feels the same way about you, Marian." He said, passing me Will, who had fallen asleep on the floor.

My eyes widened at the news.

"You're joking Much, right?"

"No, he looks at you with the same twinkle in his eyes, every single time you smile!" Much informed me, "He told me not to tell you because he didn't think you would feel the same way. But I knew you did!" Excitedly, he told me.

Laughing, I stroked Will's hair and smiled.

"You should talk to him about it, Marian." Much whispered as Robin and Mother came through the door, still laughing.

Before I could protest, Much motioned for me to stand. He then took a sleeping William off of me to give to Sarah, another servant who puts Will to bed and helps around in the Kitchen.

Then, Much shoved me towards Robin with his hand.

Stumbling over a rug, I was on my way to the floor, when Robin caught me and pulled me back up again, but not fully. He just held my there, making me lean close to him.

He looked into my eyes and smiled.

Gently pushing off of him, I stood up fully and laughed.

"Thanks for catching me, I tripped over the rug."

Robin just smiled sheepishly and shrugged.

"Marian, is there somewhere, we can talk privately?" He asked me quietly, so that my parents wouldn't overhear.

"Um- yes! I know somewhere, follow me." Leading the way to my bedroom, I held his hand.

What was he going to tell me?

Robin's POV:

Marian was leading me upstairs, to find a place we could talk privately. The only time I had ever been upstairs, was that night I had snuck out to give Marian her ring.

I had never seen her take it off, and it always made me smile, seeing her wear it.

We walked into her bedroom and closed the door behind us. The walls in her room were simple but were filed with pictures which Marian must have drawn.

Most of the pictures were of the forest, the light coming through the trees, or the way the moon lit up the puddles which were left after it had rained. But one painting in particular caught my attention.

It was of two green eyes, my eyes.

On the other side of the room there was a dresser with a mirror and a chair. Walking over to dresser, I dragged the chair over to her bed.

"Do you want to sit, so we can talk?" I asked, hopefully.

"Alright?" Marian questioned, with a suspicious look on her face.

"Marian, I've been wanting to talk to you about this for a long time," twiddling my thumbs, I began the speech I had been practising.

"I have actually been putting off talking about this because I'm scared of what your reaction will be."

"Robin, what is it?" Marian asked, sounding concerned.

"It's just, I like you a lot Marian. I have since we first met. However, recently since we've been spending so much time together, I feel like I need to get this off of my chest."

Sighing, I continued, "I don't just like you as a friend anymore. I think I love you, Marian. Well, actually, I know I love you." Struggling to get the words out without stumbling over them, I rambled as I tried to explain.

"Well, Robin, I don't really know what to say." She looked into my soul with those dazzling eyes, "But I know that I feel the same way about you!"

Marian beamed as I jumped up.

"Oh, thank God! I wasn't sure how you felt at all but Much has been pressuring me to do this for years!" Practically screaming, I gushed.

After talking for some time, we went back downstairs to find Much sitting with Marian's parents, talking about the right type of bow to get Willian for his upcoming birthday.

"You don't want to get him one that's taller than him, he won't be strong enough to lift it, let alone aim!" Much explained.

He looked over and gave us a knowing glance, Marian giggled and I smiled. Marian gave me a quick, subtle wink before she went to sit next to her Mother and help explain how the length of an arrow can determine how far it goes.

Smiling to myself smugly, I sat next to Much and whispered in his ear so that Marian wouldn't hear,

"Told you I'd do it, she felt exactly how you said!"

"What did I tell you Robin? I hate to say it but, I told you so!" Much exclaimed, struggling not to shout.

Stealing a glance at Marian, I felt my heart skip a beat. She was so beautiful staining in front of the fire, the way it caught her hair was breath taking.

Much and I walked home shortly afterwards, I replayed everything she told me in my head.

This was the greatest night of my life; I don't think I stopped beaming until I was fast asleep!