Hey there! Happy to have you reading this! I'm happy with how quickly I managed to write this one. Content's fun too. Rather depressing, but a bit of humor (as always) and some nostalgia too. I hope you enjoy it! Thanks going to last chapter's reviewers: Outlaw's Daughter, Marjatta, idkwhatmynameis, penspot, and Rawr I'm Toaster. Read, review, and enjoy.

The following day Robin watched Marian as she went about the business of the day. During the archery that morning, she didn't celebrate her improving accuracy, but instead winced as each arrow struck. She didn't eat, but stared into the fire, and not once did she smile. Not even a small smile, or an obviously fake smile.

It was unnerving for her to so unhappy when only yesterday morning she'd been almost bouncing in happiness. Her eyes didn't sparkle like they usually did; they were dull and lifeless.

"So what happened?" Much had asked when they had returned and Marian had collapsed into sleep.

"She was captured and on the way to Nottingham she killed the man so that she could escape."

"Oh. Well, why was she so upset? It's not anything so out of the ordinary."

Now, though, Robin saw that for Marian, it was. She saw that man's life as sacred and important. He had realized that last night and with that the barbarism of the Holy Land only seemed that much worse. The faces of so many Saracens and their dying screams had filled his ears, eyes, and mind and reminded him of everything he tried to forget on a daily basis.

In Marian's blank eyes, he recognized the pain that he had originally felt in the Holy Land. He had pushed it away, attempted to brush it off as an unavoidable part of life. Attempted. In the end, what he'd really wanted was to atone for it. Was that what Marian wanted to do now?

Atonement… There wasn't a way to take back what she'd – they'd done, but surely there was some way to take away the feeling of uncanny guilt that never seemed to leave.

Four days later and Marian was beginning to force Robin to insanity with her new habits. She said and ate hardly anything and then only at the bare minimum. Not a shadow of a smile crossed her face and the eyes that captivated him so easily were now dim and glazed.

Much cracked jokes more than usual in an attempt to bring her back but to no avail. It was like… like she'd vanished. If she didn't reappear and improve in two days he'd have to do something about that. This couldn't go on.

Archery the following morning took Robin by surprise. Marian missed. Completely and repeatedly. Not once did she even hit the tree much less the small target. She didn't say anything about it; didn't even act surprised. However, she did know exactly where to find each arrow after her round. The same with the following morning.

Robin made a decision to go back on his silent word after this archery session finished. She didn't have the rest of the day to 'reappear'.

"Much," he said. "I need you to go check the snares we set out."

Much's eyes flicked from him to Marian and back. One nod and he was gone.

Marian was calmly collecting all the arrows that had missed the tree, seemingly oblivious to everything but the simple task at hand.

He went to the opposite side and picked up the shafts there. He held them out to her. She didn't notice. "Marian? Arrows?"

She shrugged as if in apology and took them. Silently, she counted what she had and started to head back. Robin followed as she stored them with the rest, but put half in the quiver on her back. Abruptly, Marian spun to face him, anger sketching her posture and face. "Get it over with," she ordered. "Tell me off! Go on!"

"You aren't mute, after all." Although his voice exuded utter flatness, he was quite happy with the progress so far. She was displeased with him and showing it.

"No," she responded. As quickly as the anger had been there it was gone, replaced by the withdrawn and solemn Marian.

"Don't do that again!" His turn to be angry now. "This isn't you. And it's not doing you any favors."

She didn't say anything.

Robin raised his voice, not caring if anyone heard. "Marian! Look at me!" Marian did so and took an involuntary step back at the rage she saw. Her back was up against an elm, and she was not, in any way comfortable there, looking into Robin's eyes.

"What?" she asked quietly.

"I understand," he said, his tone more gentle than before. "I tried the same thing you're trying to do and it's not going to work. Reality is going to smack you in the face and you'll wish you hadn't."

She raised her eyebrows in question. "Hadn't what?"

"Gone into a shell. It won't work."

Her initial fury had returned. "What am I suppose to do, then? I feel filthy, Robin! All I ever see or hear is that man or what he said to me! I can't take it! Let me work this out, please."

Robin pounded his fist on the tree. "You can't live like this, anymore. It's been almost a week!" He leaned heavily on the hand above her head.

"Well, do you have any other ideas?" Robin could hear the desperateness in her voice beneath the angrily spat words.

"No, I don't. But we can think on that, can't we? That would be more productive than doing nothing at all, don't you think?"

Marian looked at the ground and back up. "I suppose."

"Good." Robin straightened, his arms falling back to side. "Now smile."

"Pardon?" Marian didn't get it.

"Smile. Grin. Laugh. Something to get you started on this new direction."

"I'm not your patient," she snapped. Nevertheless, Marian looked over at the Great Oak and back at Robin. "Race to the top?"

They exchanged a significant look that clearly said, "However childish, it's for nostalgia and old times." Robin took off running and leaped into the tree with Marian not a second behind him.

Much returned to have Marian drop down expertly from the Oak and admonish him for being late with supper, taking the rabbit and squirrel from him with a scowl. Apparently whatever Robin had done worked.

Marian didn't quite know what had triggered her sudden change. Or rather what about Robin's little speech had triggered her sudden change. Was it that he'd been so angry and furious? Or that he'd put all his thoughts of love and marriage aside? No. No, that wasn't it. It was the 'we'. He had been through the same thing, even if it had been handled differently, and was looking for the answer as well. If they were in this pit together, she knew that they'd make it out. Scratching their way to the top didn't seem near as hard. In fact she felt ready for the challenge.

? Was that annoying just now? I apologize; couldn't resist. Did you like it? Or maybe not? Either way, please please review!