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Right here we go, the next chapter I hope you enjoy and please review lol

Chapter 8 - Last Chances Missed

Over the many years that Robin had known Marian, and what ever happened in the future he knew this was a night he would never forget. As soon as he heard Marian's sweet voice utter the four words that frighten and exhilarated his heart, he knew without thinking that he would do something stupid. And that's exactly what he did, he overreacted when he should of poured out his heart and soul to her, at the time she needed to hear it the most, the last time, the last chance he may have ever of gotten to tell her his true feelings.

"Robin? Robin are you listening to me?...Robin? Robin hello can you hear me?" The voice of this angel sang to him in his daze. His eyes weren't focused on her but he knew she was looking at him with concern, it was laced in her tone. Concern and worry.

Marian's innocent expression turned into a frown when Robin didn't reply. She felt her anxiety levels rise when he didn't make eye contact with her. A lump began to form in her throat as her breathing quickened. I knew I shouldn't of said anything, he won't even look at me Her frown turned into a scowl Look at me... Look at me! She mentally screamed Please say something...

Finally blinking his way out of his shocked trance Robin releases the tight hold he had on Marain's shoulder and begins to shuffle away to the edge of bench. His eyes still not making contact with hers as he takes a deep breath and clears his thoughts.

He was uncomfortable she was sure about that, his whole manner had changed in a matter of seconds. The once cockily, arrogant and confident Robin was now extremely self-conscious and stiff. It felt like an eternity had past by the two young lovers but it had only been mere seconds, not even minutes had pasted and yet Marian felt like Robin hadn't spoken to her in years.

"Please" She begged most earnestly in a tiny whisper, she was lucky that the wind hadn't carried the sound off into the night sky "Say something" Her head was bent down slightly, she barely had enough courage to make any attempt at eye contact with him.

"What do you want me to say?" His voice was strange somehow, like it didn't belong to him. This made Marian feel uneasy but she carried on. There's no turning back now She thought with confidence.

Although her voice seemed to lack her usual characteristic confidence in her next reply, her voice seemed to break "Anything is better than nothing" She sighed deeply in the awkward silence.

Robin let out a long sigh of his own, he hadn't even realised that he was holding his breath until now. What was he suppose to say? That yes it was true, they were betrothed? And yes he was so far beyond head over heels in love with her? No he couldn't do it, his friendship meant too much to him to be destroyed by his unrequited feelings. Besides he had decided a long time ago that the feelings that Marian harboured for him was no more than love for a friend, at the very most.

Marian watched Robin carefully when he was deep in thought and tried to decipher what he was thinking. Probably thinking of the politest way of rejection Marian thought sadly. The cold night air started to take its tole on Marian's bare skin again and when it looked like he wasn't going to reply anytime soon she interjected calmly "Please... tell me" She hesitated for a second before asking again "Tell me what you feel"

Robins eyes automatically widened, still cautious of Marian's puzzled and unsure gaze. What do I feel? How could I put what I feel down in words He argued with himself. He knew for a fact that earlier in the evening he had complimented her on being a proper young lady but the truth was that was a lie. She wasn't a proper young lady, she wasn't even close. She was still so young, they both were and Marian, his small fragile little Marian still had time to grow into her womanly body. Her beauty hadn't hit its peak yet. And yet she was still the most enchanting girl he had ever seen almost like she had been craved by angels, heck she was an angel in human form. Her dazzling eyes the colour of sapphires or maybe tanzanite seemed to glow at him in the dark, he could easily get lost in them. Not to mention her supernatural personality, he had seen the way she treated and talked to the people of Knighton she was always so polite and warm towards them, not like some of the other nobles in the neighbouring villages, who wouldn't even spit on there villages even if they were on fire. No Marian had more grace than that, even with Much and Eve they weren't seen as her equals and yet she treated them with respect as if they were her brother or sister.

Robin thought hard for a second, he was her friend too. Could his father be right? Could Marian love him in the same way he loved her? No he was wrong, his father was wrong, because it all suddenly became clear to the young Prince, it didn't matter whether Marian loved him or not. He was the Prince and the future King she would probably just pretend to love him. This had been planned by there families from the start it didn't matter whether Marian loved him or not, her parents would force her to pretend. She was probably in on it right now, making a fool out of him! Who cares about the Prince's feelings it all comes down to politics in the end, having to marry into the right social group. And as he told Much earlier in the party

"Much I am the Prince, it's only natural for Lords and Ladies to throw there daughters at me"

"I don't understand"

"Well they want them to marry well and what finer offer is out there than a Prince?"

Robin breathed deeply, his face the picture of bitterness "Do you really want to know what I feel Marian?" His voice strange again holding no element of love or tenderness.

"Yes, I do" She asked startled by his harsh tone.

"Well I think that you are a fool" His eyes finally landed on hers, and for once in his life his eyes conveyed something Marian would of never thought to see aimed at her. Not only did his eyes highlight the harshness and the bitterness in his voice but they almost had implied hatred and disapproval in them, but worst of all the one emotion that stood out most more than the rest was hurt. He was hurt or hurting inside. And Marian didn't understand why.

It took her a moment before she could speak again "What?... I mean er, what?" She asked confused and taken a little off guard by his rudeness.

"You heard I think you are a fool, a silly little girl" He spat bitterly he still hadn't taken his eyes away from hers. He was just so angry at the thought of Marian going along with the betrothment. He felt betrayed even though he had not proven or provided any evidence at what he was implying to her. All rational thoughts had long gone in Robin's mind and instead he had been blinded by his irrational stupidity.

Lost for words at Robin's strange outburst of truly damaging words Marian's upset turned quickly to anger "What are you implying? That I'm too young too stupid to understand what a betrothment really is, what it means!"

Marian anger alarmed Robin making him feel like a moron to her for being so unreasonable. He replied in a steady tone "I feel that you don't feel with your heart, you think with your head"

His answer only confused Marian more "What I don't understand, are you saying that I don't feel for you" Her last sentence was nothing more than a whisper.

"Yes" He stood up from the bench quickly followed by Marian, as he began to pace back and forth in a small line "Because that what a betrothment is, isn't it? From the moment we are born we are pushed together- No forced together and are made to feel compatible until finally we are in a position where we feel obligated to each other" Robin rushed finally standing still in front of her judging her reaction. His wasn't how he truly felt. He wanted to yell no scream at himself for being so stupid but his fear of her rejection was too strong a hold over him.

"Is that what you really think? Is there no feeling in you heart what so ever for me?" Her expression was blank, unreadable, not what Robin wanted to see. He wanted to see hope or some sign of love or true affection from her but he didn't, the blank expression remained.

This situation was getting out of hand the way it was turning Robin feared he may hurt her to the degree where she no longer wanted to be friends with him anymore, this thought frightened him "Marian we shouldn't be talking about these things it not-"

"Proper?" She finished in anguish "Tell me now Robin and I want the truth" Marian took a deep breath she had wanted to ask him this for a very long time, and it almost pained her to think of his rejection but she had to do it. She just had to.

She looked down at the floor then back to this dazzling blue eyes, fiddling with her fingers "Do you think are betrothment is stupid?" She backed out, her breath heaved in her chest, unsatisfied with not having the relief of the question off of her chest.

She had been panting loudy of a couple of minutes when she realised he had given no answer. His eyes darted to the floor when she looked directly at him, unlike her though he remained still his breathing even.

Marian was getting desperate now she pushed a long curl back over her shoulder "Do you find me attractive at all?" It came out almost like a whimper. He didn't answer her but he didn't have to she could read his expression like a book.

"Marian please" He finally spoke he shifted uncomfortable from foot to foot "Look I'm sorry I snapped at you earlier that was out of line but can we please just... just not talk about this anymore"

This was it, final conformation. Marian knew, she now knew. The one question that always seemed to be a mystry to her was finally answered. She tried her hardest not to cry, what good will that do she thought It will just make him more uncomfortable and feel more guilty.Marian truly believed that Robin her best friend didn't feel for her in a romantic way at all what so ever, in fact he never did. She only deluded herself into thinking that there might be a chance. But there wasn't, she did however let herself take comfort in the fact that he did love her as a friend. Although it wasn't quite a comfort at this very moment.

"Sure" She turned a little away from him sharply hiding her broken face.

"Marian" Robin said unsure of Marian's body language that what she was saying was true.

"Yeh sure what ever you want" She said quickly before trying to make her exit from the courtyard and more importantly there conversation. She just wanted to cry, leave, go home and cry.

"Maiden?" The lightness of his tone made her come to a sudden stop, that and the use of her nic-name. She turned around but still didn't deliver any eye contact.

"Its fine Robin I understand...." She utter knowing the next words she said would haunt her for the rest of her life"I don't... I...I don't love you that way either" There it was done in that one sentence, that one moment, two hearts were shattered as Marian forced out the words she didn't want to say.

From a distance she could hear someone calling her name. She finally looked up at him, his blue eyes now a blur with subtle tears. Marian bit her bottom lip in fear she might let out a sob "I better go" She indicated with her thumb.

Marian thought that Robin's tears were for her, for her unrequited love for him, but little did they both know that they both got the wrong end of the stick. The calling voice became louder, it was Marian's father Sir Edward of Knighton. A small whimper left her lips that she couldn't quite contain any longer.

"Bye" She sniffed.

"Happy birthday" She cracked a half smile. And then ran off back to the Main Hall where her father would most likely be.

Robin just stood there in silence staring at the space where she last stood, contemplating what just happened. He would never understand how much he had hurt her tonight. He would never realise that his words burnt and stung her now breaking heart. He just stood there unable to move from that spot, all he did was utter "Bye" But the retreating figure had already left.

Wow that was a really miserable chapter

But I really enjoyed writing it :D

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Robyn

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