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So, here's Chaper 9, with R/M as promised. Thanks again for all your reviews. Enjoy!

Much sat outside the old mine. It was cold and it had begun to rain. He felt miserable. There was nothing he wanted more than to be in a warm house with a fire and a bath. He tried to remember the comforts of his few days at Bunchurch Manor. However all pleasing thoughts were frozen cold when he thought of Eve. He loved her and wanted to be with her. But he knew he couldn't. Not yet. His only hope was that he would find her as soon as everything was over. He stared out into the darkness whe suddenly he heard soft footsteps on the leaf covered ground. Much immediately switched his mind to battle ready mode as he wondered who it could be. Guards would not be so quiet with all of their armour and they had no reason to be stealthy. Then, a swift punch came to his forehead. As he fell to the ground hazily, he saw a cloaked figure move into the entrance of the mine. Robin is going to kill me, was his last thought as his world swirled into blackness.

ROBIN

Robin walked quietly through the depths of the old mine. The faint light of the torch he held, revealed the wooden supports of the mine. He shuddered as he observed the deep scratches that marred the beams. The creature that inhabited the mine must be fearsome indeed. Robin rounded a corner and tried to peer as far into the darkness as he could. He could see no end to this maze. A low rumble of growls floated through the tunnel, but did not mask the sound of a twig being snapped behind him. He turned around abruptly but saw that their was a small glow from another torch around the corner he had just taken. Quietly wedging his torch in a crack in the rocks, he drew his bow and arrow to a ready position as he crept to the edge of the corner. With a slow deep breath, he swung around to face his attacker.

There was no one there.

Frowning and raising his eyebrow in confusion, Robin looked from side to side, seeing the torch that had observed earlier, but nothing to have caused the twig to snap. I must be going mad, he thought. Then he felt the tip of a dagger press against his lower back. He froze.

"Gotcha." a voice whispered with pleasure.

Robin immediately relaxed. "Marian what are you doing here? I could have killed you."

Marian laughed a little, "Robin, I am not the one with a dagger at my back. But you should have seen the look on your face." She removed the dagger and stepped back. Robin turned around to find her in her Nightwatchman clothes. The torchlight illuminated her eyes and showed the bright sparkle in them. Robin, however was not as amused as she clearly was.

"I am sure it was hilarious." he said sulkily as he put his arrow back in its quiver and held his bow by his side. "What are you doing here?" he asked again as he watched her take off her mask, "What are you doing?" he asked incredulously.

But Marian continued with what she was doing, it was fun to infuriate him, "So many questions," she sighed, "But I'll start with the second, No one can see me here save you and this mask is dreadfully uncomfortable." She took off her hood and shook out her dark hair. Robins fingers tingled at the memory of his hands running through it when he combed her hair as he watched it now, shimmering in the light of the torch.

"And the first?" Robin prodded her, shaking any desirous thoughts of her from his head-well most of them.

"I came to help." Marian answered as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"No," he said calmly, "You came becuase you were bored." he smirked at her.

She looked at him, confused, "What do you mean?"

He leaned closer to her, so close that she could smell him. He smelled of leather and the forest. She shifted uncomfortably. " You are tired of playing the dutiful maiden." his smile broadened, "You crave the danger." Now he had his famous Locksley grin adorning his face.

She looked at him, offended, "That's not true." she said evenly.

Robin feigned surprise, "Oh, it isn't? Then perhaps it is your fiancee that is not interesting enough for you." he supressed a little laughter.

Marian frowned, desperately thinking of a way to get back at him. So, she smirked herself and said in a throaty whisper, "No, Guy is very amusing." she leaned closer to him, lowered her eyelids a little and said seductively, "After all, I am stirred by him." she knew that using his words would gain her the higher ground.

Robin's mouth opened to say something, but nothing came out. He couldn't think straight when Marian looked at him like that. However, he quickly remembered what she had actually said and took a step back, angry and hurt. If she had stabbed him, it would have hurt less

"You don't mean that." he said quietly but earnestly.

Marian regained her composure, "Do you think I did?"

Robin looked at her sadly, "I honestly don't know. You were very convincing." he laughed a little at that.

Marian blushed, "I suppose I was."

His blinked, hope now flickering in his eyes, "So, you didn't mean it then?"

"If I did, it shouldn't matter to you. I am engaged to him."

The hope left, "So you keep telling me."

She sighed and looked at him, her features clearly distressed, "Robin, can't you just accept it? I made a promise, I must keep my word."

"I will find a way out of it."

"You can't!"

"Marian, can't you trust me? Can't you trust that I have things under control?" he asked her, frustration continuing to build.

"The only thing I can trust is that you think that you have things under control." she changed the subject, not wanting to discuss it any further. "Like now, for example. You don't know exactly what the Sheriff has in this cave."

Robin was unmoved, "I have my gang to help me, You don't need to be here."

She scowled for a split second "That's not your decision to make. You have no power over me, Robin of Locksley." her last words were more of a boast than anything, "Where is your gang anyway?"

"In pairs in the other tunnels of the cave."

"And you are alone?" she cocked an eyebrow.

"Not anymore, unfortunately." he teased.

She gave him a cold look, "Well, I am here now, Locksley, whether you like it or not." she stated matter-of-factly.

Robin rolled his eyes, then bowed with a flourish, "After you, then, my lady." he said sarcastically. Marian raised her chin slightly in the air, grabbed her torch and brushed past him. Robin couldn't help but smile.

They walked for sometime in silence, Marian infront of Robin around twists and turns untill the tunnel widened showing an entrance to a larger area. They could both see the faint outlines of numerous amounts of chests. Marian looked back at Robin and smiled. He returned the gesture and the both walked into the 'room'. Once they had entered, an iron gate, much like the one that had barred the entrance to the mine fell behind them.

They were trapped.

Both of their faces fell.

There, lying among the countless amounts of chests, lay one, two, three large animals.

And, by the sounds they were making, they were hungry.

TBC

I know, not the most desirable ending...But it get's better I promise! Please Review!