Well, then, here I am. I'm sorry this took awhile... I have many good excuses but I'm not going to clutter up space with them. Thank to my reviewers! As follows: Jessie D, elizabeth marrain, Rawr I'm A Toaster, and BirdGirlMTU

Read, Review and Enjoy!! (RRE)

Robin was confused to the point of being shocked. It had seemed that Marian had been infuriated with him, but here she was clearing ground for a fire, claiming that it might get chilly and ordering him to find some dry wood. She shouldn't have been there at all. Why had she outlawed herself? She had answered this question already, but her answer had only further confused him. He gave up trying to figure Marian out, deciding it was a useless pursuit. He would concentrate on the fact that she had cared enough to come there with him.

That night, under the canopy of trees, with a small fire sending wisps of smoke into the darkness, Marian presented him with an idea. "What if we formed a village here in Sherwood?"

"What?"

"While I was in Nottingham Castle I noticed things. There's injustice all over the place, and we could provide an escape from it. Every man who wanted to could bring his trade and family here and make a home for himself. In time we would have everything we'd ever need, and not just us but the families too. If it got to the point that we needed more space we could scout out more sites and there could be a few different camps. It would be perfect."

"A village here in Sherwood? They'd all have to be made outlaws, Marian. What man would that for his family?" Robin knew for a fact that if he had a family of his own he wouldn't want that life for them, which was one reason why he hadn't wanted Marian stuck here. He wondered where her idea had even come from. Did she actually mean it?

"I think that there are people who would rather be outlaws than be forced to live under such harsh laws," she responded. "So…?"

"No."

"What do you mean, 'no'? It's a wonderful idea."

"We're not doing it. I don't think anyone would want this for themselves." Robin snapped.

"I did," Marian said. "I wanted to run away from life's problems…unfortunately I didn't leave one of them behind." She paused for a moment. "I'm breaking our engagement."

Robin hadn't expected it to stay in place anyway, but that she had called it a 'problem' didn't help. "I knew you would. But you have to realize that by breaking it you won't stop my loving you. I always will." He was glad that he had been able to say that so calmly, but then he had known since yesterday that he wouldn't be getting married.

"Could you try and not make it obvious?" Marian asked. "It would make things easier."

"I can try." 'Try' was a good way to put it, knowing that it would be more than a bit difficult. Even now, it was more than mere struggle not to reach out and tuck her stray hair blowing in the wind after escaping her braid. He was more than aware now that one kiss wouldn't be enough. He needed her to the point of obsession, even if she didn't share the same feelings. It couldn't possibly be healthy, but what could he do about it? Nothing; she was out of his reach now, and was sure to stay there. At least she was with him, however difficult it was for him.

He didn't breathe one word after that. The uncanny silence continued until what once was a fire turned to red embers; submitting itself to be a shadow of its former glory.

--*--

That night sleeping wasn't a problem for Marian, or so it seemed to Robin as he watched her from his side of the now gray coals. She didn't know what an angel she was; and now he couldn't tell her. He couldn't tell her that she had been the one to give him back the will to live, and the motivation to come home.

Now, thanks to his outlawry Marian was all he had left in the world. Locksley was no longer his, he had no other friends, his family was no longer his family, his life was not protected by the law. Everything was lost except Marian.

Fate had put the sheriff's cousin in his path yesterday. He didn't want to remember those few minutes of his life; those moments of rage had cost him everything. It had been a warm day, beautiful, with gentle rays spewing from the sun. He had been on his way to Fitzwater Manor, because he hadn't forgotten Marian's birthday. His mother had told him that he should go see her, and give her something for the occasion. He hadn't bought anything; the last present he'd given had been thrown to the ground. Although, he had taken to carrying it with him wherever he went, stowed away in the pouch at his belt.

He had his sword on his hip, just for the sake of the familiar weight. Since his horse was being unruly, and was dangerous to anyone on foot who was on the road he had decided to cut through Sherwood; it would be shorter and save time and lives. He didn't get very far there either, as a man stopped him. The other's mount was a chestnut color, dull compared to Robin's black. "Where do you think you're going, stranger?" The Norman French the other man used sounded genuine and pure, but Robin thought it was an ugly language.

"To see a friend," Robin said, deliberately replying in Saxon. "Surely, you wouldn't grudge someone such a simple pleasure."

"You don't have to use that beastly language, there's no need. I can't understand a word you're saying." Few Normans ever took the time to learn Saxon. They didn't deem it worthy of their energy. Norman overlords could never understand their people as a result of this ignorance.

Robin repeated what he had said before in Norman French, although his Saxon accent could be heard clearly. Although Robin was proud of this fact, the Norman grimaced at it.

"There, now we can understand each other. Somewhat anyway." The Norman moved his horse closer, and Robin's own horse fidgeted, nervously. Robin backed it up a few steps to calm it. "A fine mount with high spirits. I like that in my beasts. Would you sell him?"

"No," he said bluntly.

"Don't be rude to me, Saxon. I want your horse, he's a beautiful creature."

"Exactly why I'm not going to sell him to you. You don't deserve him." The rudeness of it gave Robin a sense of gratification.

The Norman's eyes narrowed. "What is your name, Saxon? I demand you tell me. After insulting me you owe me that at least."

"Robin of Locksley. My horse will remain my own and I will continue on my way. You will continue to a be a Norman pig." With Robin rode on, not bothering to look back.

From behind him he heard the Norman scream: "Saxon scum!" Robin turned his horse sharply around, anger boiling inside. The Norman made his move; he drew back his arm and heaved a throwing knife. The blade found its way through the creature's right ear, and into its skull. Before the horse could react Robin leaped from its back. It gave a shrill scream, pranced a few steps, and fell to the ground. After a few writhing jerks it was still. "Since you wouldn't sell it, I've taken its life. I hope you've learned your lesson."

Robin was outraged, he drew his sword. "It's my turn to teach you then!"

That was when he had killed him. "Murderer," had been the word the man had spoken with his dying breath. Another man had appeared then, his bloodshot eyes taking in the scene. He looked like he was in his thirties.

"The king's favorite, an outlaw," the strange man rasped.

It had dawned on Robin then, what he had just done. And for what? Nothing. He ran. The man with the bloodshot eyes could be heard laughing behind him. Robin had never run that far, that fast. He didn't know where he was going, and it didn't matter, as long as he could keep himself away from the world. He didn't stop until he tripped over a stone and fell. Nothing looked familiar until he saw an oddly shaped boulder, covered in moss. The rock had two humps on its top, and it sat beside a ribbon of water that was no more than a trickle. He knew where he was, and where to go next.

He followed the stream north, until it disappeared into a cave. He stopped just outside the mouth when he heard snoring. Robin found the sleeping man with his head lolled against an elm. Beside the poacher were a bow and three arrows. He was an outlaw now, Robin reminded himself, so it didn't matter. He took them for himself. Hoping wolves or a bear weren't inside, he continued through the cave, which he knew would come out above the clearing where he now sat, staring at whitened coals.

A sharp, icy wind blew, and he shuddered. He wondered if Marian was cold. Glancing up he saw that she was curled beneath her blanket and shivering. Abandoning his own, he got up and went into the hollow of the tree. Inside the wind was completely blocked. He had been going to get another blanket for her, but now he had a different idea.

Gently, he shook her awake. "What is it?" Marian asked groggily, clutching at her blanket.

"Come on, you can sleep inside the hollow." Even with what few supplies there were, and the leftover firewood, there was still room for one person to sleep inside the tree. Marian got up walked the few steps inside, collapsed, and was instantly asleep.

Robin never did get to sleep. He did lean against the tree and doze during the early hours of the morning. When he did shake himself awake, the sun was visible through the density of Sherwood. He glanced into the oak to see if Marian was still asleep, but she wasn't there. He peered up into the tree's many limbs, and again he couldn't find her. He hoped she was within shouting distance as he called her name. There was no answer. He tried again in vain. This was just like her; to decide for herself what she would do.

So then....? *with flourish of cloak and British accent* "Review if you would kind sir/lady!" heehee!

Oh and I had an idea for another story; Robin Hood's Daughter. Alena (Robin's daughter) is thrown through time to modern day Florida at age eight. (This is in the past, of course. The story happens while she's sixteen) She's attempting to get back to her own time and home in Sherwood. I think it's cool and I hope you will too. However I'd like to stress that you should tell me whether or not you'd read it in your review!!!! *with puppy-dog eyes* please?