Marian disliked being in Nottingham. The castle bore none of the warmth of Knighton Hall. More distasteful to her was the fact that she could not easily slip away and was instead forced to sit at her embroidery. In short, Marian was bored.

When she heard the horses approaching, she rushed to her window, expecting to see Robin and Much. Instead, she was greeted by the sight of Lord Locksley and his manservant.

The two men dismounted and Locksley gave his reins over to his manservant and headed into the castle.

Marian sat down heavily on her bed and picked up her discarded embroidery, disappointed. Robin and Much had not visited her since Lady Locksley's burial, three weeks ago. She had not been surprised at first. However, as time wore on, she found herself missing Robin more and more. It was Robin she missed, she realised. The thought annoyed her and she jabbed the needle into her finger by accident.

She sighed and set down the needlework. Perhaps she should see what Lord Locksley was doing here. The man had seemed more disheartened than she'd ever seen him. Her decision made, Marian rose and left her room, heading for the Great Hall.

She paused in the stairway, hearing Lord Locksley speaking, his voice low and full of suffering.

'I must send him away, Edward. He must learn how to lead.'

'Can he not learn that in Locksley?'

Marian peered into the Hall, making sure she stayed hidden from sight.

Lord Locksley was sitting opposite her father at a small table that had obviously been brought in by the servants. The man was staring down at the table where his hands lay. Edward was watching him with a look of such compassion in his eyes that Marian wanted to go to her father, as though he needed comforting.

'You have seen what Robin is like,' Locksley said, wry amusement showing weakly in his tone. 'He requires discipline. A stronger hand than I can offer at present.'

'What of the understanding between your son and my daughter?' Edward asked gently.

Locksley ran his hands over his face, sighing. 'He will only be gone for a few months.'

Marian could not see the man's face but she heard in his voice that there would be no swaying him on this matter. Robin would be sent away.

'My friend…' Edward began.

'The boy is too much of his mother!' Locksley said suddenly, his voice a low hiss. He rose abruptly and began to pace. 'His eyes, Edward… His eyes are exactly hers and I cannot bear it! If I cannot even look at him how can I teach him to lead?'

Edward regarded his friend for a moment. 'Have you told Robin of your intention?'

Locksley sighed and sank into his chair once more. 'No. But I think he knows. He always seems to know.' He looked up at the sheriff beseechingly, 'Edward, please understand, Robin must go away. I promise you it will not be for longer than a few months, we will have the wedding upon his return, but he must go. I cannot bear him near me!'

Marian found herself holding her breath. After an interminable amount of time, her father nodded. Marian fled.

She had intended to go back to her room, but instead found her steps carrying her down into the stables. She saddled her horse and rode out of the gates, the blazing look in her eyes daring anyone to stand in her way.

-*-

When she reached Locksley, she dismounted and ran to the door. She entered, expecting to find Thornton; instead she was greeted by Much.

Much looked as though he had not slept at all in the three weeks since she had seen him. He was clearing a table of a largely uneaten midday meal.

'My Lady,' he greeted.

'Much,' she gave him a quick smile in greeting. 'Where is…'

'Robin?' Much interrupted. 'That is exactly what I would like to know. He does not sleep. He does not eat. How he has the energy to disappear from sight is a question I will never-' Much turned to face Marian, only to find her gone. 'Charming!'

-*-

Marian pushed her horse to a gallop into the forest. He was in here somewhere, she knew. How she knew was something she still did not quite understand.

At his mother's funeral, standing in the rain, Marian had slipped away from her father's side and stood by Robin's. As the priest said his final words over Lady Locksley Marian had felt Robin grasp her hand and squeeze it tightly.

If anyone had noticed this not-quite improper gesture, they had said nothing. Marian had found herself dizzied by Robin's hand on hers.

Afterwards, when everyone had left, Marian's father stayed a while, speaking in a low voice with Robin's. Robin had conveniently disappeared, and Marian sat alone for a time. Finally, realizing her father would be a while yet, Marian rose and left Locksley manor as quietly as she could. She found Robin up on the hill sitting with his back against a tree. His bow lay discarded on the ground beside him, alongside an empty quiver. He had been shooting arrows in the darkness. When he ignored her presence, Marian sat down beside him.

'You should not be here unchaperoned, my Lady,' Robin said, his tone flat and unemotional. 'People will talk.'

'Robin…' Marian began, willing him to speak to her. He was obviously feeling hurt and lost. She had hoped that he would speak his pain to her here, in the darkness.

'I am serious, Marian. You are not a child any longer. It is no longer proper for you to be alone with me.'

'Has so much changed in only a day?'

Robin glanced at her then, a brief flare of amusement in green eyes hidden beneath long lashes. Then he looked down into the village again.

After a few moments, Marian felt Robin's arm slide around her shoulders. She relaxed into his embrace and felt him turn and press his lips to her hair.

Now, riding along the Great North Road, she suddenly began to worry. What if Robin did not find her? What if he let her ride on, through the darkening woods until she gave up and went home? She would not see him before he left.

Perhaps that is what he wishes, Marian thought, perhaps he wishes to leave and never see me again. Perhaps he hopes that when he returns he will be able to find a way not to marry me.

Angry, Marian stopped her horse. 'Robin!' When there was no response, she shouted again. 'Robin!'

'You have heard, then?'

Marian turned to see Robin, apparently appearing from nowhere in the trees. She dismounted and ran to him, hurling herself against him.

Robin, shocked at her actions, took a few moments to recover, then slid his arms around her.

'It is not forever,' he murmured, his voice muffled against her hair.

'I was afraid you would go before I could see you.' She responded, her face buried in his tunic.

'I do not wish to go at all.'

Marian looked up at him, catching a look of fierce determination on his features. She reached up and put a hand to his cheek. 'You will go,' she said.

'Marian…' he murmured.

She pressed a finger to his lips, the bold move sending a frisson of something through her. 'You will go, and you will come back and then-'

'And then we shall be married. We've not yet spoken on this, Marian.'

Marian looked up at him in the dwindling daylight, forcibly reminded of the last time they had been in the forest together. She found herself tilting her head back, her eyes flicking between his eyes and his lips, inviting him to kiss her. 'I was not aware we needed to speak on it, Robin.'

Robin's mouth descended on hers and Marian found herself pressing closer to him, her hands sliding up into his hair, the way they had only weeks ago. She could feel Robin's hands on her, one on her back, pressing him against her and the other cupping the back of her head.

Marian felt as though she was falling. Falling with only Robin to hold her upright.

After what felt like hours, while at the same time seemed only seconds, they parted, breathing harshly. They regarded each other solemnly for a few moments, then Robin leaned down and pressed a kiss to her lips that was far more chaste than the last and said, 'I will take you home.'

-*-

It was fully dark when they reached Nottingham. Marian mounted on her horse with Robin riding behind. The guards watching the gate gave them a strange look as they rode through, one that Robin ignored and Marian returned with a glare.

They reached the stable and Robin helped Marian down from the horse in a display of quite unnecessary chivalry.

'Will you come inside?'

'I think you will be in enough trouble as it is,' Robin smirked.

'I meant to say goodbye to my father.'

Robin shook his head. 'I must get back to Locksley. My father has not yet told me that he wishes me to visit Huntingdon. I think he will do so tonight.'

'But you-'

'Much and I heard him talking to Thornton.' Robin ran his thumb over her cheek. 'I will go…' He kissed her gently.

'…and you will come back…' Marian said, kissing him this time.

'…and we shall be married.' Robin finished, kissing her again.

'Sounds like a plan.' Marian smiled.

Robin nodded and pulled himself into the saddle of her horse.

'Robin!'

'You didn't expect me to walk home, did you?' Robin asked, smirking at her, 'I'll have someone bring him back tomorrow.' He winked and reined the horse around, making it trot out of the stables, then gallop through the gates, startling the guards.

Go away, come back, get married. Definitely sounds like a plan, Marian thought.

-*-