AN: This is a very angsty chapter be warned. I'm very happy with it.

When the outlaws made it back to their camp Robin walked away with hardly a word to anyone. Much of course worried but with a little persuasion from John decided to leave their leader alone.

Robin sat down by an oak tree and pulled the ring out of his pocket. It wasn't that fancy of a ring. Marian didn't like anything too fancy. It was just a silver band with a small blue stone that reminded him of her eyes. He remembered how every time he saw her wearing it he had been filled with pride and a little disbelief that she had chosen him. Mostly it had filled him with complete happiness. They had such a wonderful life planned out.

Looking at the ring now he couldn't help but recall the day they had first started going in different direction. The day he had told her of his decision to fight in the crusades. When he had ripped their pretty plans for the future apart. Of course he was too stupid at the time to realize that's what he was doing.

Anger he had expected. He did not expect the reaction he got. He had sent word for her to meet him in the same place where they had first kissed. When she had arrived his heart didn't light with joy as it usually did. This day it was filled with dread. His decision would hurt her he knew but surely she would understand his reasons for doing it.

Marian walked up to him lightly kissing him and surprised when he didn't return the kiss. She drew back studying him carefully. "Alright, Robin, what is wrong?"

He never could hide anything from her. She had always been able to see into his soul. Best to get this over quickly he supposed. "We will have to delay our wedding. I have decided to go with the King to the Holy Land"

He watched the emotions flash across her beautiful face first shock then pain and finally anger. "Why, Robin, are you that scared to marry me?"

How could she possibly think that when he loved her with every fiber of his being? "Of course not. I want very much to be your husband. It is every man's duty to follow his King. It's about honor."

She quirked an eyebrow at him. "Honor or glory, Robin? What about your duty to your people who need you here."

"I am doing this for you and the people of Locksley so I can be a better man. The people will be fine. Someone else will run my estate while I am away"

"You are already a good man and a good lord."

"Not good enough. I want to earn the people's respect. Why can you not support me on this?"

A tear ran down her face. "Because you are leaving me. What if you do not return?"

He walked over to her wiping the tear away with a fingertip. "I will return and we will be married just later that we originally planned"

She knocked his hand off her cheek. "And I'm just supposed to sit around and wait hoping you aren't killed?"

"Well, yes. Other men are leaving their wives and sweethearts."

Marian shook her head. "I am not other women though. I will not, cannot wait for you. If this means more to you than I do, if you are so willing to risk our future on this ridiculous thing then we are through."

Robin could only stare at her for a moment utterly shocked by her words. Then he got angry at her refusal to support him and understand he was doing this for her "I cannot back out now. I have already given my word to go."

Marian had swallowed hard trying to keep her emotions in check then she slipped the ring off and placed it in his hand. Her voice was filled with hate as she told him not to bother coming back.

She walked off leaving him staring at the ring and cursing her stubbornness. He refused initially to believe she really meant what she said. After all they fought fairly regularly and it was not uncommon for one to tell the other they never wanted to see them again. Their anger never lasted long. In a day or two at most usually within a few hours they would be back on good terms.

This time was different. Two weeks passed and she still refused to see him. Finally the day came for him to leave and she didn't even come see him off. He rode away wondering if he was making a huge mistake, the emptiness and ache in his heart growing with every mile between them.

He carried the ring with him into battle a reminder of what he was fighting for. He would come back soon, her anger will have cooled and he would charm her into forgiving him.

As months turned into years and in truth the possibility of reuniting with her was gone he had still clung to the fantasy that she loved him and was waiting for him. In the moments when reality crept in the ring still kept him going. He felt that if he could just see her again, even if she were happily married with a score of children, it will have been worth it. He promised her he would come back so he had to.

Memories of the past and hope for the future swirled in his head. For about the millionth time he wished he could go back in time and undo his mistake. Forget about glory or honor and just choose to stay with her where he belonged but there was no undoing the past. Now the ring which had once represented love and a happy life seemed to mock him only reminding him of his shattered dreams and the life he was meant to have.

They had said someday but what if someday never came. It was not an unlikely possibility that King Richard would never return. The fighting in the Holy Land was very brutal.

It was possible he would truly be waiting a lifetime and in vain for his dreams to become reality. Hope was a fragile thing. He had lived so long solely on the hope of a future with Marian that he didn't know how much longer he could without completely falling apart.

As the days and weeks passed he found himself missing Marian with an intensity that was painful. His arms ached to hold her. He would do anything just to hear her voice, see her brilliant smile, look into her amazing eyes. Instead he had to do with dreams of her and memories. And that fragile hope of someday.