Chapter thirty-one:
Marian's POV:
My splintered wooden sword still clutched in my hand, I raced in the opposite direction of the camp. Robin was on my tail in mere moments. In the hope that he would trip, I veered away from the well-trodden path and onto the untouched, root-covered forest floor. That was one advantage to him being much bigger than he was at fifteen; I remained nimble.
After a few more minutes of sprinting, I took quick look around. It appeared that I had lost Robin, even though I could have sworn I'd heard his footsteps a few moments ago. It was then I noticed I was standing by a large stream. The water was a beautiful crystal blue, like the sky on a warm summer's day. Moss surrounded the calm water, I stroked it with my fingers and it was softer than anything I had ever felt before. Looking ahead, it seemed to lead on further.
A cool breeze pushed me forward; as if beckoning me to follow the stream; like a mother pushing her child outside to play. Laughing lightly, I obeyed and eventually I came across a clear stretch of land. A perfect circle of sunshine was shining on the ground. Stepping into the pure light made me feel like a giddy little girl again, pretending I was the heroine of a fairy tale, as if I could do absolutely anything. Warm, delicious sunlight overcame my face and a gentle breeze played with my hair.
The river I followed wrapped around the bottom of the clearing, getting wider as it went, and continued on for as far as my eyes could see. I knelt down in front of it, my borrowed sword beside me and listened. My ears were filled with the whoosh of water over the pebbles at the base of the stream, the twittering of blissful birds above me, the sound of leaves brushing against each other, and just as I had suspected, the quiet breathing of Robin.
Robin's POV:
It didn't take long for me to catch up with Marian, not too surprising, seeing as I only gave her two seconds to run. She whipped between trees and leapt over stumps, giggling as she went, like a wood nymph finally back where she belonged.
At one point she used her sword to hit a low-lying tree branch, meaning I was absolutely covered in leaves roughly a second later. She was too smart to just let me chase her; Marian never went down without a fight. Simply running and hoping she would slow down enough for me to catch her was futile; I would have to try another way.
Exclaiming, I pretended my shirt was caught on a bramble, and saw her race off out of the corner of my eye. That would slow her down for a bit.
A few minutes later, she paused beside a familiar-looking stream. The light from the water danced across her face, making her appear as if she were glowing. Smiling slightly to herself, she brushed the moss underneath her. Marian stood up again and looked around for me again, luckily, I had found a tree wide enough to hide me from her view. Seemingly satisfied that she had lost me, Marian continued on, her pace slowed.
The trees towered above us, always watching with their ancient eyes. Beside me, the river sung as its water played around with the small stones; tossing them around like a child playing catch. Marian walked, like she was the fairy queen of the forest, and I her king, following her until the very end. Between us was a magical hold not even death could break. We moved in a majestic dance; she would turn, thinking she would spot me standing there, and I would always hide at the last possible second.
Marian eventually walked into the clearing I had discovered a few days ago, studying the river that wrapped around the bottom of it. She stepped tentatively into the clearing; the light made her hair appear as if it was alight with golden flames. From where I was standing, I could only just see the pleased smile that was spread across her face, her freckles seemed to shift with the movement. Marian approached the stream at the far end of the clearing and sat down, leaning her head back, so that it was parallel to the sky.
I wanted nothing more in that moment than to kiss her; she was positively glowing with happiness that she resembled a goddess. But it was more than the way she looked; it was the way her keen eyes studied the individual leaves on a tree, the fact that her eyes lit up when she shot a perfect bullseye with her bow, how her laugh made my stomach flip. There was no doubt about it, that was the woman that I loved with every inch of my being.
A twig cracked under my boot and her eyes flung open with a mischievous glint in them. I hadn't realised I had even come out of my hiding place, let alone got so close to her.
"I didn't think you'd be too far behind," she giggled, looking up at me.
Marian's POV:
Robin's poor attempt to sneak up on me was futile to say the very least, but I accepted his hand up, leaving my sword on the ground. "Well, I didn't want what little time we have together to go to waste," he smirked at the fact my hand was still in his.
Feeling my face heat up, I seized the opportunity at hand. Slowly, I spun the both of us around, as if in a slow dance so that his back was to the stream.
"If you wanted to dance with me, my dear, you only needed to ask." Robin teased, dropping his wooden sword and leaning more towards me.
"Dancing wasn't exactly my intention," he didn't have enough time to even look confused, as I took advantage of his off-centre balance. Wrapping my leg around his knee, I brought it closer to me, sending him flying back into the water with a huge splash! The expression on his face was priceless! He looked completely bewildered and surprised that I had fooled him so easily.
I couldn't help but laugh hysterically at the look on his face, I laughed so much in fact that I even snorted! Katy would be appalled; I could almost hear her saying "Marian, be more ladylike!" I hadn't properly laughed like that since before Robin and Much left. Of course, Katy and I had our fair few giggles, but I'd forgotten how good it felt for such a pure laugh to escape my lungs, even if it did sound like the noise a pig would make.
"Marian!" Robin half yelled, half laughed, "I can't believe you did that, you little sneak!" I leant over my stomach, finding it difficult to breathe through the laughter.
Robin said, gleefully "You look like you could use some help!", and not wasting a second, he grabbed my wrist pulled me into the stream next to him!
"Robin NOOOOOOO!" I couldn't help but scream as the water seeped into my clothes. The water was surprisingly warmer than I had anticipated, although it was still a shock. Despite the stream being wider than it was further up in the forest, Robin and I were still very close. All Robin did was chuckle, "don't look so shocked, love, now we're even."
"Yes," I tried to avoid looking straight into his eyes but my gaze fell upon those gorgeous green spheres anyway. "…I beg to differ actually. I believe that's two points to me, and only one to you. Tell me, how does it feel to lose to me twice in one day?"
"I would lose to you a thousand times over if it meant I could see you smile every day," He absent-mindedly brushed a stray lock of hair behind my ear. His fingers were warm, despite the water coating them, "and of course to hear that snort of yours when you win, I must have forgotten you did that!" A grin of pure satisfaction swept across his face when he noticed my blush.
"And there I was thinking you were actually being genuine, Robin, how silly of me." I flicked some water onto his face and went to stand up, which was rather hard seeing as I was practically laying on top of him.
"Are you liking what you're seeing?" he chuckled, I hadn't realised I was still looking at him.
"No, in fact I was thinking of more ways to beat you, perhaps we should try archery next!" That made him smile, and it made me happy to see him so at ease.
The stones were slippery underneath my feet, and the moss on the bank wouldn't be any better to walk on with wet shoes. After nearly falling back in the water a few times, Robin managed to get out and offered to lift me out too. "How do I know you won't just drop me?" Asking playfully, I crossed my arms.
He gave me one of his mischievous looks, "How do I know you won't pull be back in?"
"I guess we'll just have to trust each other then," I uttered, reaching for his callused hand. His touch was still as warm and welcoming as it had been all those years ago. He pulled me up with what looked like very little effort and we both walked onto less slippery ground. I couldn't help but think of the way his smile made me giddy, or the way his hair his hair looked so soft I wanted to run my fingers through it. We made it to the centre of the clearing when we both realised, we were stilling holding hands.
But, neither of us let go.
That was the thing with Robin, nothing felt too forced or unnatural. It was quite the opposite really; being with him felt like the final piece of the puzzle being slotted in. His hand felt right in mine, like it belonged to nowhere else quite as much.
I looked up into his evergreen eyes, which were looking straight into mine and my grip on his hand tighten. His lips opened as if to say something, but nothing came out. The same happened when I tried. Even though neither of us could speak; we both knew what the other was thinking.
Robin's POV:
I gripped Marian's other hand and we moved together across the sunlit clearing, the music of the forest guiding us all the way. We did not need words to communicate with each other, we only needed to look into each other's eyes. The dance spoke for us, we did not trip of falter, and even if we had, the other would have caught us.
The gold in Marian's eyes shone like the sun through the trees, and her red lips were parted in a smile that looked as if it were meant for us and only us. I lifted and dipped her and chuckled when she giggled. We moved as a unit, twirling and spinning, until we were both out of breath and dizzy. When we eventually came to a stop, we still didn't let go of each other.
It felt as if it were just us alone in the wide world, me and my Marian.
I looked up to see the sky was darkening, "What time do you have to be back by?" I asked, brushing my thumb over the top of her hand.
"Considering I was never supposed to be gone, I'd say about three hours ago," there sad look in her eyes.
"Well then, I'd say I better walk you back." I began to lead her back into the forest and towards the castle. "There are dangerous outlaws about, you know!"
She walked with me, our fingers remaining intertwined "Is that so? Well, I'll count myself lucky I've got you to escort me back safely then. Although I'm sure I could take them on myself."
"I don't doubt it, I heard a rumour you've scarred one man's throat twice now, and in the same place!"
"True, and I can assure you though, he deserved it both times!"
Before I knew it, we were on the edge of the forest, looking over towards the castle. "You shouldn't come any further, Robin, you might be seen."
"I'll make sure you get in alright then I'll head back to camp to face the dishonour of being beaten at swordplay." I laughed, remembering the faces of the children.
"I sincerely hope you never live it down." She smiled, and I could tell she meant it.
"I can try and visit you, say… three days' time?" We had to be careful that no one at the castle suspected anything, so it would be wise to keep a few days in between Marian getting out and me getting in.
"That feels too long away, who else is going to put you in your place in the mean time?!"
"That's a good point, no one can do that like you can! Two days is the best I can do I'm afraid, I have to help kids at camp learn how to swordfight tomorrow."
"I think I'd be better at teaching that then you would!" Marian giggled, punching my arm lightly with her free hand.
"Of course, but then there would be too many people better at fighting than me and my ego simply cannot stand that."
"Understandable, see you in two days' time," she let go of my hand and went to walk away, but quickly turned around and wrapped her arms around my neck. "Until then, good Sir," Marian fake curtsied.
I kissed her hand and bowed "I shall count the very seconds, M'lady!"
My heart felt full and warm, maybe it was just from being in the sun for too long but my head couldn't focus on anything but the feeling of Marian's hand in mine. If this was what the rest of my life would feel like, then that was exactly how I wanted it to be.