Okay, uh, there was a mix-up when I was sending documents to my beta, and he didn't get this one, so it's a bit raw... sorry. Thank you again to shiloh fan for reviewing the last chapter! I'll say the same about you of you review this one... Or any other chapter...

Oh yeah, and this is the first of four new chapters if you didn't notice!

Robin saw Marian leaning against the Great Oak, wearing the homespun again, with a look of wrath painted on her face. Knowing he would be the receiver of her wrath anyway, he said, "Please, don't be too angry." It was all for nothing of course, he knew that; she'd be angry no matter what he said or did.

"I might consider it if you say that everything that happened yesterday wasn't real," she said, her tone low.

"I'm sorry, I wanted to tell you, but—"

"'But' what? 'But' I wouldn't understand? 'But' you weren't sure how? Come on! Those don't even qualify as a good excuse, much less a reason for you to go die in the desert without telling me." Her expression hadn't changed. Marian didn't seem to understand that he didn't want to go to war. Why would he? Somehow, he had to make her see that.

"I would have told you."

Marian stood before him, her eyes full of hurt. "My father leaves in two weeks. That means you are too." Her voice was quiet and menacing. Suddenly her palm connected forcefully with his cheek. Robin knew he deserved it, and that Will was going to laugh about it later if he found out.

"You insulted me by not telling me sooner, so I'm keeping my promise." That had only been the second time she'd hit him, despite all the slight insults he cast her way through the years. But then, she had known those were in the name of good fun and she had thrown several insults back. This time it was different.

"I know, and I'm sorry," he said, his cheek stinging.

"Quit apologizing! I don't want to hear you say those words." Marian stomped back to the oak, and settled herself into its roots. Robin joined her, while forcing himself to keep silent, since he didn't want to upset her. This silence stayed for fifteen minutes, each second dragging itself by. Robin breathed in the air, knowing that he wouldn't get another chance to after that day. It was his last day with Marian under Sherwood. He couldn't possibly come in the weeks following; he was going to be so busy preparing for the crusades.

So as not to waste time, he echoed his thoughts aloud, "This is my last day here."

"I'm not going to believe that," Marian said in a cold voice tinged in sadness.

"I wish I could say the same." His life was dramatically altering, and so was hers thanks to him. He hoped whoever she was being sent to wouldn't destroy her personality and ruin her. That would be too much. He'd never forgive himself. But then if she had been forced to marry anyone else, would her spirit have been crushed by that man anyway? He couldn't know, and hoped he had made the right decision.

Marian was silent again, and he couldn't take it anymore. "Do you know who you're being sent to? And when?"

"No, but I'm going a week after you leave for the Holy Land. Are you surprised? Or did you already know how soon I was leaving?" There was no emotion in her voice; it was as blank as her expression.

"I asked you didn't I?" He realized that his voice was too admonishing. Marian would react to it for sure. Robin waited for it, but nothing happened. Marian was sitting very still and staring into the empty air, her eyes not seeing anything. He found himself staring at her, trying to take everything about her in all at once.

In a few minutes time she caught him. She narrowed her eyes briefly, but didn't say anything. Robin didn't look away, but kept his eyes exactly as they had been before, not wanting to miss anything.

"Enough," Marian said, elbowing him harshly. There was no glare though. She didn't seem mad, which surprised him. She could have slapped him again without it being out of turn.

He wanted to know what she was thinking at that moment. It was tempting to ask, but instead he said, "I, uh, probably should go home. I wasn't supposed to come at all today. There are things I have to do."

"Like what?" She betrayed absolutely nothing with her tone.

"Sword practice. I want to stay alive after all." He stood, not ready to leave but knowing he had to. "If I do stay alive, I'll see you who knows when. Goodbye, Marian." He realized how much he loved the way her name sounded in his mouth and wished she'd say something to make him stay longer, but she didn't. Robin began to walk away, not knowing what else to do.

He had left the clearing before he heard her call for him to wait. Marian ran up to him, and said, "You didn't say goodbye. You can't leave without saying goodbye."

"But I did," he responded, confused.

She shook her head. "This is how people say goodbye." Suddenly Marian's arms were around him, and he felt at least twenty feet off the ground, even though his feet were planted on the earth. "Goodbye," she said just above a whisper. Quickly she ducked out of the hug, taking several steps back and crossing her arms. "That's how you do it."

--*--

Marian watched him walk away, wanting to run after him again. She wanted to beg him to stay for a while longer. "Please don't go," she whispered at his now far off, retreating back. "I'm not ready for you to leave me here. Not yet."

How did I do? PLEASE... please tell me!