General disclaimer to all things RH blah blah blah.....

Anyways a huge apology to everyone that I have taken so00o0o0o long to update....I was incredibly busy these last few weeks (I was curling...thats right i curl lol) Thanks to everyone for their great comments on the last chapter. Hope you enjoy this one!

It was dawn when Marian sauntered up the steep hill to the cave, where she expected to find the outlaws sleeping. Her feet fell as heavily as the thoughts that lay on her mind. She had never felt so miserable in her entire life. The weather, of course, didn't help. Her damp clothes caused the gentle wind to chill her and she could feel the back of her boots scraping at her heals, no doubt forming the largest blisters ever created. All she wanted to do was to colapse infront of a warm fire and sleep for eternity.

No, that wasn't what she really wanted. Marian knew that she would walk for miles and miles like this, if it meant that she could undo the last day and a half, undo her marriage to Gisborne, and have Robin by her side. But, she could only dare to dream.

As she approached the cave, limping from her sore feet, she found only Much, who was building up the fire underneath a pot that had steam slowly curling from its liquid contents. The rustling of the leaves caused the ex servant to notice her.

"Lady Marian." he said, not sure how what tone to use towards her.

"Please, Much, haven't I told you to just call me Marian?" she asked wearily.

"No, you didn't." Much said honestly, looking down at his feet.

"Oh, well I meant to." Marian murmured as she walked into the entrance of the cave.

"You look-" Much searched for a word, "terrible." he ended lamely, clearly failing at his self appointed task to try and be truthful but not too harsh.

Marian smiled weakly, "I'm sure I do. Rain, wind and cold never did much for anyone's looks." Much returned the smile.

"Here, you should sit down." he said quickly, moving to rearrange the camp so that she might sit on a log, "I made you some mint tea. It's a little bitter, given the lack of sugar, but hot and refreshing." He clumsily ladled the pale green beverage into a cup and handed hit to her. Marian accepted it gratefully and sat down. The heat rising from the cup warmed her face, instantly making her feel a thousand times better. Slowly, she took a tiny drink and felt the hot liquid flow down her thoat.

"Where is the rest of the gang?" Marian asked after she finished taking a drink.

"They went to get an early start on some deliveries. We fell a little behind because of the rain." Much ansewered.

"Is Robin with them?" Marian tried to sound conversational.

"He's-" Much began hesitantly, "elsewhere"

"Will he be back soon?"

"I don't know." Much said honestly, rubbing his hands together anxiously.

Marian went to get up, "I guess I'll go find him."

Much took a step towards her, "Is that really such a good idea?"

"Why wouldn't it be?" Marian looked at him quizzically, "I have talk to him. I have to- explain to him-"

"My lady- I mean, Marian, I just really think that you should leave him alone."he looked at her earnestly.

"But why?" Marian persisted.

"Do you really want to know?" he asked.

"Would I ask you if I didn't?"

"No, I suppose not.." he trailed off, attempting to avoid Marians gaze. However, when he looked at her again, he found her looking at him expectantly. He looked upwards, as if praying to God that Marian wouldn't glare at him with the fire of a thousand flames once he told her. "I just think that you have said enough to him, alright?"

"What do you mean said enough? He barely let me talk to him. What has he told you?" Marian questioned, heat in her face rising with every word

"He's said very little. He only told us that you had nearly betrayed us." Much cried, holding his hands up in defence. "It's just, I know how he reacts to certain things, and, the way he reacted when he came back here, I know that he needs to be alone for awhile."

"But, I want to tell him-" Marian began

"What could you possibly have to tell him?" Much demanded, feeling the need to defend his master "What words could you say to him to take away all of his pain. You've pushed him past his limits. You shunned him when he tried to atone for leaving you, you're marrying his bitter enemy and now you've betrayed him." Every accusation felt like a blow to Marian's face and she felt smaller and smaller with each moment.

"I know." she whispered, sinking down onto the log that she had been sitting on. Much sighed, suddenly feeling an acute sense of pity for Marian, the woman his master loved.

"You don't know how much power you have over him do you?" it was more a question than a statement and held no anger or spite. Much's tone was soft and calm, but it did little to make Marian feel better.

" I don't think he knows the power he has over me." Marian said, through the slightest of sobs. "He's always there at the back of my mind. Everything that I do, he is always looking at me, judging me at every turn. I could have survived with my father's disaproval, but never Robin's." She sighed unsteadily and stood up. "I have to go." she said simply.

"I will not let you see Robin." Much said firmly.

"I wasn't going to." Marian told him. "You have convinced me of that much."

"Then where are you going?"

"I have to find a way to save my father and the money. I have to think." she ran her hands lightly through her tangled hair, as if combing out all of her miseries. Then she went to leave the cave. She could not, however, hide her limping.

"Marian, you are wounded." Much exclaimed, going to run towards her.

She waved him off, "It's nothing, just some blisters

"You can't go off like this-" he started.

She turned around and looked at him straight in the eyes, "I will not sit here and wait for my father to die. I got myself into this mess and now I'm going to get myself out." The fierce intensity in her eyes was enough to stop Much dead in his tracks. All he could do was nod. He knew that nothing would prevent Marian from doing something once she had set her mind to it. So, he admitted defeat.

" Is there a point in me asking you to be careful?" he asked.

"Yes." Marian said with a small smile, "It makes you feel better." With that, she walked out of the cave, fighting every urge to not limp.

Much could only watch her go.

Well, I think that this chapter is a little different from the others in the story....perhaps not as intense as the last one, but I needed to come up for air eventually. Please review!