Chapter 6

Love in the Woods

Robin continued staring into space, lost in his dark thoughts. Marian watched him with a concerned expression. The pain seized her heart at the thought that she had never seen Robin so vulnerable before. She had been accustomed to seeing the brave, arrogant and self-assured Robin, a famous hero and a cheeky rogue, but now Robin was only a young man who carried deep regrets in his heart and heavy burdens on his shoulders without complaints.

Marian cupped his face and kissed him on his lips. This time it was not a passionate kiss, but a gentle kiss, reassuring him of her love, of how much she wished to be his harbor from all the pain he was hiding in his heart.

She drew back and looked into his eyes. "Robin, I love you with all my heart, and nothing will ever change my feelings for you," she said truthfully. "I don't care how many people you killed and what you did. I love you with all your strengths and weakness, despite all your mistakes and for all good deeds you did for England and the people." She smiled. "I love you, my Robin!"

Robin smiled affectionately. "I love you so much, my Marian." But then his smile quickly vanished, and suddenly his cheeks were burning with shame. "Forgive me if I have ever hurt you."

"You hurt me when you left for the Crusade, but I have already forgiven you."

He looked hopeful. "You have really forgiven me, haven't you?"

"Yes, I have." She was still holding his face in her arms.

"Marian," Robin whispered. "I love you so much – I love your more than life itself. I cannot imagine that I will ever lose you again. I need to be with you every day, every hour, and every minute. I cannot imagine my life without you, my love. I cannot live without you."

She heard that Robin often called her name as if she were his only saving grace in the world, and her heart pounded harder. "You will not lose me again, Robin."

Robin leaned forward and kissed her on her lips, giving her another soft and reverent kiss, a kiss full of hope. "I will never let you go, my beloved Marian. We are meant to be together."

Marian had told him that they'd had forever when she had been dying in his arms, but a happy life together on earth was a much more tempting thing. "And we will be together, handsome."

He smiled slightly. "Yes, my Marian, my love."

"You are my Robin." There was a laugh in her voice.

"Your own Robin," he corrected with a smile.

"Yes," she said with a smile.

Robin smiled back at her longingly. "You are my own Marian." His head lay on Marian's chest and he could hear the rhythmic pounding of her heart.

Her smile became large and sensitive. "Only yours."

Marian hugged Robin, and he kissed her on her forehead; then they lay back on the bunk.

"What dream did you have, Robin?" she inquired cautiously.

Robin stiffened. "It was the dream about the Saracen attack," he whispered against her breast.

She kissed him on top of his head. "Please, don't fear to talk to me."

"The night of the Saracen raid was a difficult one." He moved out of her embrace. His throat constricted, and it became painful to breathe as the images of the past resurfaced in his mind. "When Guy stabbed me, I was sure that I was dying; I was scared to die on that night."

"It must have been a horrible experience."

He emitted a heavy sigh. "I still don't know how I saved the King," he said in a shaking voice. "I don't know how I managed to get to the King's tent before it was too late." He trailed off, collecting his composure. "Guy stood above King Richard, ready to strike a fatal blow. I was weak and was losing blood, but I fought with him for the King's life and my own life as well."

Marian placed her hand on his left side, on his puckered scar. This time, Robin permitted her to touch him there, though he flinched at her tender touch: he had never liked when she had touched him there because it reminded him of his failures, but today was an exception for him.

She felt her heart skip a beat at the thought that she had nearly lost Robin on that night while she had been in England and hadn't even suspected about that. "Robin, you saved the King's life and you survived your almost mortal wound. This is all that matters."

Robin swung his gaze to her, amazed. "How do you know that it was almost a fatal wound?"

"Did you forget that King Richard ransomed me from captivity?"

"Ah, I should have guessed. Did he tell you something about me?"

"He spoke a lot about you." Robin had already begun to open up to her, and a torrent of hope surged through her that they could reach a new level of understanding they had never had before.

"What exactly did Richard tell you?"

"The King told me how heroically you saved his life from Guy despite being so grievously wounded. The physician was astounded that you were able to fight with the assassin because men usually either die on the spot or cannot stand on their feet with such a wound. He said that you almost died in fever."

Robin looked up, at the sky that was glowing pink and scarlet-gold as the sun was rising from behind the trees. He knew that he had been too close to death on the night of the Saracen attack, and he had been really scared on that night. He had feared that he would fail to save the King. But he had feared death very much because he hadn't wished to die before he'd had another chance, even if only a single chance, to ever see Marian again.

"In the Holy Land, I could have been killed many times. I faced great danger every day," he informed, willing to open the depths of his heart to the woman he loved so much. "I wasn't afraid of dying for King Richard and for England. I would have gladly given up my life to save the King or one of my friends." He sighed. "But I still was afraid of death."

"There was the reason for that," she pointed out.

Robin turned his gaze to her. Marian gasped as she saw his eyes shimmering with tears. There was so much deep-rooted pain in his eyes that her heart thundered wildly in her thorax. She shut her eyes for a moment, understanding for the first time in her life how deep Robin's emotional scars were; when she looked at him next time, her own eyes were watery. She raised her hands to his cheek and, with her bare fingers, wiped the streaming tears from his cheeks.

He smiled, feeling how her fingers caressed his wet cheek. "Do you know why I survived in Acre? Do you know why I wasn't killed in all the battles I fought and why I didn't die of fever?"

"Tell me." She wanted to know.

Robin sighed. Marian's statement that she would love him despite all his mistakes moved him to the core, and he felt that he needed to give her true response. But it was extremely difficult for him to share his fears and insecurities, even with Marian. He felt defenseless as he wasn't unprotected by his mask of a cheeky rogue, but he was willing to be candid because Marian deserved that.

"It is true that I almost died," he managed to respond. "I was sure that my hours were numbered when my wound became infected." He sighed. "I feared to die in Acre before I could see you again."

Marian blinked her eyes at the sight of the bowed sandy-haired head. "Robin…" She was unable to continue as hot tears stung her eyes and her throat felt tight.

"Marian, you saved me in the Holy Land from death and despair."

Marian arched a brow. "I saved you?"

Robin looked into the woodland, his eyes taking into the leaves on the crowns of trees which were turning all the colors of the rainbow as autumn chilled the air. He didn't speak for some time, his mind racing, and he felt her hand begin a slow drift down his chest, drawing featherlight patterns across his skin; her actions brought him back from his thoughts and made him smile.

He swung his gaze to her, his eyes distant. "The holy war was bloodthirsty, and many people died during the siege of Acre. I buried many comrades; some even died in my arms. I often wasn't sure I would see another day." Fresh tears of pain and anguish glistened in his eyes. "Before I went to fight in all my battles, I thought of you, Marian. You were my guiding light among bloodshed and death which surrounded me from all sides."

Marian smiled through tears. "Robin…"

"I have always loved you, Marian," he whispered, looking into her eyes. "I loved you when I left for the Holy Land and you broke our betrothal. I loved you during all the five years I was fighting the pointless war which I began to hate once I realized that there is no glory on the battlefield."

Marian gave Robin a warm smile, her heart beating so fast that she thought it would spin right out of her throat. Her emotions were in turmoil since the beginning of their conversation, but his admission surprised and impressed her. He even didn't know how much his words meant to her.

She had once believed to think that he hadn't loved her enough when he had chosen his duty to the King and his chance to chase after glory over his duty to her and the people. She had hated him for leaving her, and she had even wished him to never return from the war when rumors about his love affairs at court in Aquitaine before his departure to Acre had traveled to Nottingham. She had been outraged that Robin had already been with other women, so soon after the cancellation of their betrothal, thinking that he hadn't loved her at all.

Now Marian knew that she had been mistaken. She became older and wiser, and she had learned that Robin had always loved her too, even if there had been many other women in his life while he had been away. His unexpected confession once again made her realize how desperately and deeply she loved him – beyond any reason and beyond measure. Robin Hood was the love of her life, and she knew that she would never love another man. She also knew that she was the love of his life, and she no longer had any doubt that he had loved her and only her.

She could almost hear the crack-crack-crack of her self-control, and the only thing she wanted was to embrace him. She instinctively leaned closer to Robin, so close that she could feel the warmth of his breath. His blue eyes shone like sapphires, looking into her soul. She bent her head; she kissed him, and he eagerly kissed her back.

He put his hands tentatively on the hip bones, trying to hold her away from his lower body, and then broke the kiss because they needed to talk. They had never been as frank with each other as they were now, and each of them knew that it was one of the greatest mistakes they had committed in their relations. But now it became too important to share what had happened to them. Each of them was a part of the new emotions coursing through their hearts.

Robin pulled away, a smile spreading across his handsome features. "Marian, I loved you even more at the moment when you targeted me from your bow on the front steps of Knighton Hall."

She draped her arms around his neck. "I should have fired an arrow at you."

He grinned sheepishly; his tears had already dried. "You would have missed, my love."

She shot him an annoyed look. "I'm not as deadly with a bow as you, but I'm much better than others."

"Your archery skills are better than those of the king's soldiers."

"Really?" She was surprised to hear that.

He chuckled. "Of course, my Nightwatchman."

She giggled. "I wanted to shoot you so much, Robin!" she exclaimed. "You were so full of yourself that I wanted to wipe that cheeky smile out of you face!"

He smiled teasingly. "My love, don't pretend – I know the truth. You would have never done anything that could have deprived you of a chance to see my charming smile again."

"You are right. I would have never shot you," she conceded, smiling back at him.

His grin widened. "And you would have never done anything that can wound my male vanity."

Her blue eyes flashed in anger. "One day you will pay, Robin of Locksley!"

Robin's expression changed into sadness. "I have already paid a high price for all my choices."

She felt guilty. "I'm sorry. Now I know what you survived through."

"It's not your fault," he said firmly. "You were right: everything is a choice, and it was my choice to abandon you and the people and join the Crusade. I'm alone responsible for my choices."

Marian knew what bothered him. "Robin, I know that you killed countless Saracens in the Holy Land, but it was the holy war and you served the King. You made a mistake when you went to the Crusade, but you were young and you didn't know many things you understood later."

"I should have stayed in England. I should have married you," he persisted.

"You made a wrong choice, but it made you a man you are now," she said in cheerful tones. "I'm very proud of you, Robin. You saved the King's life many times, you served England extremely well, and you sacrificed everything for the sake of your people when you returned to England."

There was a surprisingly modest smile on his face. "Yes, I did many great things for the King." He grinned. "My love, are you praising me? You once said that I'm a fool!"

She frowned at him. "You know that I have never considered you a real fool."

"Yes, you told me about that in the cave when you thought you were–" He abruptly broke off.

"When I thought that I was dying," she finished.

He was unable to talk about her death. "Yes."

"And I told you the truth, Robin."

Robin pulled her into his arms, and pressed her to himself so hard that it almost hurt them both. Her arms encircled his back and clasped him tightly against her. As he buried his face into her hair and muttered words of love into her ear, Marian felt herself smile with a bright smile. She didn't wish to move, feeling as if she belonged in his arms.

"In the Holy Land, everyone considered me a hero, and everyone envied that I had great royal favor," he continued after a long pause. "I was Captain of King Richard's Private Guard, the King's chief general, and I deserved my position because I proved myself as an outstanding warrior and a skilled military strategist. I received many praises and medals from the King." He trailed off and cleared his throat. "But nobody realized that I paid a high price for glory and favor."

"I know, my darling," she breathed.

"The price is my troubled conscience," he said uneasily. "I killed many people in the Holy Land." He paused, feeling numbness overcoming him. "When I killed the first Saracen in my first battle, I felt that I would never be the same young man who once dreamt of glory."

Marian let out a sharp intake of breath. "And how did you… cope?"

"I got accustomed to killing for England and for the King. Later, when I was disappointed in the holy cause, I killed to protect the King from his enemies and survive in that hell."

"You were a soldier, and you killed on the battlefield," she countered.

Robin shifted a little, stretching his legs across the bunk, then settled back against her side. "But I still killed people. And when you kill, a part of your heart dies," he said in a far-away voice.

"We will save the King, and then it will be over."

He laughed bitterly. "Will it really be over, Marian?"

"Why are you saying that, Robin?"

Robin didn't answer, and then lifted his eyes to Heaven. He was lost in thoughts about the past.

Robin was quiet for a long moment. The sun had already risen, and Robin permitted himself to study the clouds driving across the sky. Marian was silent too, and Robin welcomed the stillness of the forest that greeted them. He squeezed his eyes shut, swallowing his pain at the memories about the events in Acre when King Richard had ordered to execute him and the outlaws.

Eventually, he gazed at his wife, his expression grim. "Richard disappointed me in Acre," he supplied; a tide of pain ripped through him at the thought of the King's betrayal. "He didn't have any credible evidence that I was a traitor. He easily dismissed the facts that I had saved his life many times during the war." He sighed. "We all could have died because of his mistake."

Robin's reaction surprised Marian. "Robin, I talked to Richard after I had been ransomed and when I lived in the Crusaders' camp during several weeks before our departure from Acre. The King regrets his hasty decision very much."

Robin gave a hollow laugh. "I know that Richard repents of his actions, but it still means a little. If he hadn't strung us up in the desert, everything would have been different on that day: I had a perfect plan how to save the King and you, but he ruined everything," he said sorrowfully. "Richard asked me for forgiveness and I gave it to him, but I haven't forgotten what he did."

Marian eyed at him, amazed. "The King sent us to England to give you his request for help. Does it mean that you are not going to get him out of his prison in Austria?"

"I have thought a lot about Richard's situation," he began, then sighed. "Richard's captivity is a strictly political matter. We cannot just go to Austria and launch a rescue mission because there will be a war with the Holy Roman Empire if the King suddenly escapes. Then Emperor Henry with ally himself with King Philippe, and then their troops will attack the Angevin Empire together."

"And what are you planning?"

"I feel much better now, though I'm still not in the best shape."

Marian put her hands on his shoulders, almost feeling his bones under her touch. Robin lost much weight after Isabella had poisoned him. "You are definitely not very healthy."

Robin shook his head in agreement, frowning slightly. "Yes, it is true."

Robin couldn't deny that he hadn't recuperated completely from the poisoning. He had several sparring matches with Archer and Much in the last week, and he noticed that he had become tired more quickly after an intensive fight than he had ever felt before. When he complained to Djaq about the matter, she assured him that he would feel much better in several more weeks, and he only hoped that the young Saracen was right. His sword fighting style was based on agility, speed, and unique types of blows, and he hoped that it would be enough to fight if they were attacked.

"What are we going to do?"

"I feel well and I can travel, so I suggest that we depart to Aquitaine very soon. We need to find Queen Eleanor because she will be the one who will negotiate the terms of the King's release. We can do nothing without the Queen Mother."

She gave a nod. "I agree with you."

"Good. Then we will leave in a couple of days."

"What about the people here, Robin?"

"The people of Nottingham will not be as oppressed as they were when Vaisey and Isabella ruled the town," Robin said with confidence. "Prince John declared Nottinghamshire the most troubled area in England. He didn't send his troops here yet, and there is even no Sheriff in Nottingham now." He smiled smugly. "The Prince will always remember the siege and its outcome."

Marian nodded. "Well, Prince John fears that Robin Hood will kill his entire army if he sends more soldiers here. You destroyed half of John's domestic troops in England."

Robin averted his eyes; he didn't like that he had taken so many lives on that day. "I had to kill them," he murmured. Their deaths hurt the families of Vaisey's mercenaries, he thought with guilt, but then he reminded himself that those soldiers would have murdered all of them. "If I hadn't dealt with Vaisey and Isabella, they would have killed us."

"I know, handsome," she said, guessing his thoughts. "Don't blame yourself for what you did."

Robin smiled impishly at her, his eyes twinkling in mischief; she knew what was on his mind, and she smiled back at him. Her face was so closer to his now, and her pleasant scent, like spring lilacs, filled his nostrils, and he felt the tidal rush of desire, drowning deep. He brushed his fingers through her hair and then ran his index finger lightly along her back. She hit him playfully on his chest, the sound of her accelerated heartbeat becoming a drumming in her veins.

He winked at her. "Don't say anything, my love," he warned, and then took her by the shoulders to kiss her on the mouth. "We have talked enough. Now there is some time for fun."

"I was merely–" She was interrupted by his searching mouth.

"No. Be quiet." He kissed her harder; her lips parted, and she began to kiss him back with hunger.

"Robin," she moaned his name between his kisses.

Robin flashed a roguish smile. "Yes, my love," he murmured against her lips. "It is me."

Marian gave him her most beautiful smile. "You are one-of-a-kind."

"No, you are," he retorted; then he kissed her fiercely again.

Almost agonized with her need to be united with him, Marian pushed Robin away and propped herself on one elbow. She gazed at him for a long moment, her eyes a smoky reflection of her desire for him. Then she leaned down and started placing kisses on his chest and his shoulders, her head covered by the blanket which she didn't remove to protect them from cold. Robin closed his eyes, enjoying her manipulations and gasping as he felt her hands go down his chest to his thigh.

Marian's head appeared from beneath the blanket. She started lowering her head, but then she pulled back, smiling wickedly; he then brought his mouth to hers to prevent her from teasing him again. She broke the kiss and smiled at him mystically. Then she grabbed Robin's shoulders and pulled him into a sitting position, straddling him. They sat in that intimate pose, the blanket still covering them, though it no longer was the main source of warmth between their bodies.

Robin traced her lower lip with his thumb. "My love, you were a quick learner," he mocked. "And you have become an experienced seductress; you can tempt even a priest."

"Incredible," she gasped. "I admire your nerve, Robin of Locksley!"

He raised his brows in amazement. "Why, Marian of Locksley?"

She liked the sound of her new name, but her face didn't betray her emotions; she feigned her indignation. "You dare tell me about such things," she growled, feeling the twinge of jealousy upon remembering how many women had always been at his feet and how many love affairs he'd had.

"Marian, you are my true love," he declared, gazing into her eyes. "When I was away, I didn't live in celibacy, but… you were always in my heart. I was hurting that you were not with me and that you were probably already married, thinking that we would never be together again. I tried to forget you, but I failed." He entangled his fingers into her hair and delivered a strong, fleeting kiss to her lips. He then added, "And I have always been faithful to you – during our courtship before the Crusade and after I returned to Nottingham."

"Even when I treated you so coldly after your return and when I was betrothed to Guy?"

Robin nodded. "Yes."

Guy tried not to stay in Marian's presence for long, and they were never alone, and she herself was rather distant to her almost murderer. It was difficult for her to forgive Guy for what he had done to her in Acre; she believed that it was enough she was civil towards Guy. Robin liked Marian's cold attitude to Guy, and that she no longer turned a blind eye to Guy's old sins. Guy accepted that Marian was Robin's wife, and that Robin and Marian loved each other. Yet, Robin didn't like talking about the past, still feeling jealous.

Her arms came around him. "My foolish and dear Robin," she teased him. "How can you be jealous to Guy?" She gave him an incredulous glance. "Didn't I prove that I love only you? I married you twice in the Holy Land – in the desert and when I was dying in Imuiz."

"Yes, you did." His voice came thin, guilty. "I'm sorry, my darling."

"What about Kate and Isabella?"

Robin glanced into her eyes, expecting to find a trace of jealousy but he could see only curiosity there; he didn't know that Much had already told Marian about his relationships with Kate and Isabella. Her words brought crimson color to his cheeks, and he felt a tart taste of guilt in his mouth. "I swear I have never shared anything more than… a simple kiss with them."

"I believe you." She was relieved that he confirmed Much's words.

He smiled. "Thank you."

"Why did you always need to be with so many women?" she spoke with measured displeasure. "I have to say that I have never liked that you flirted with village girls and ladies at the court when we were betrothed, even though I know that you were faithful to me."

Robin wasn't proud of himself, and he felt his cheeks burning with shame. "Marian, I was young and stupid. And women… always sought my attention, so I…" He stumbled with words.

"So you flirted with them and enjoyed their love and adoration," she finished.

"Yes," he acknowledged, albeit reluctantly. "I'm sorry."

She smiled, reveling in his embarrassment. "At least you admit that."

"Marian, I love only you," Robin said sincerely. "Only you."

He touched his nose to hers, exhaling as she exhaled, allowing their breath to mingle. He kissed her, and she responded by parting her own lips and letting his tongue into his mouth. His hands were roaming over her body, feeling her hot, delicate skin. He rolled on top of her, and then nudged aside her long hair to plant a thread of sucking kisses to her throat, fleeting at first, then harder, opening his mouth to savor her sweetness and giving her pleasure.

He would have gladly gotten rid of the blanket, but the air was chilly and he didn't want them to catch a cold, though he still intended to claim his husbandly rights now. He looked up at her, grinning at her glowing face, and drew his tongue up her neck to her earlobe. She moaned and canted her neck, letting him more access to her throat, so he took it. He tasted her and breathed her in and listened to the sounds of her heart pumping, rushing to match his own.

They both were eager for more, aching to be united, forgetting that it was a breakfast time and that Much would come soon to wake them up. They didn't care about the world and wanted to enjoy the moment. Robin penetrated her and she took him inside herself, and all other thoughts blew away. Her fingers clenched against his shoulders, she arched her back, and he heard a noise, a deep visceral sound of pleasure, which erupted from her throat. He nuzzled her neck and started moving slowly, easing further and further with each thrust, all their senses humming and vibrating through their bodies powerfully as pleasure was slowly building inside their core.

As they reached the release, they stilled, holding their breaths as the sensation lingered for a while and then slowly ebbed. When the passion that clouded his mind slowly faded away, Robin wrapped his arms around her torso, shut his eyes and held her tight, grinning like a fool. As Marian lay in his arms, she felt the utter bliss of their love in every part of her body and her heart.

She smiled tenderly. "I love you, my husband," she whispered.

Robin gave her his rare smile of endless tenderness. "I love you, my wife." He wrapped his arms more tightly around her, holding her as if he never wished to let her go.

There was a quiet rustle of leaves in the distance, and Much's voice called, "Get up! Breakfast is ready! I cooked two rabbits and venison for you!" he shouted. Then Much hurried to leave in order to avoid the same embarrassing incident that had happened several weeks ago.

Robin grinned. "Indeed, breakfast is the urgent reason to get out of the bed."

"We should go because Much would be offended."

"But before we go, I want another kiss. Just one kiss, my love."

Her eyes filled with emotion, and she laughed at him. "Fine, but only one kiss."

Robin claimed her lips with his, a kiss so rough and sudden and demanding that it hurt; she kissed him back harder. The kiss deepened, and many kisses followed, and a scarlet bright flame of desire flowed through them. Robin seduced Marian with his caresses, and they made love until they got completely exhausted. Marian couldn't resist Robin's advances because he knew how to taste her, to be as slow and gentle as she needed and as passionate and possessive as she wanted.

Later Much grumbled that Marian and Robin had missed breakfast again, and Little John shook his head disapprovingly. Guy and Kate were solemn and quiet, suffering from pangs of jealousy; Robin decided that he had to make Kate leave the forest for the sake of everyone in the gang and more for Kate's own sake. Others giggled and teased Marian and Robin, calling them lovebirds picking up berries in the forest when others didn't watch them.

Marian blushed as if in shame, but Robin only laughed at her, saying that they could do whatever they wanted as a husband and his wife. But even despite her embarrassment and her desire to murder Robin for his ability to seduce her so easily, Marian was happy because she had Robin only for herself for the first time in many years. The love of Robin Hood and Maid Marian was blossoming in the woods, and their hearts belonged to each other forever.

This chapter was about the love of Robin Hood and Maid Marian in the woods. They suffered too much and needed to relax before new battles.

I think that Robin needed to open up to Marian because they had never been entirely frank with each other. On the show, Robin never talks about war with anyone, even with Much, and he cannot look back because he hates the dark part of him he had seen in the Holy Land. I wanted Marian to understand Robin better, so this chapter was necessary to deepen their relationship.

I touched on the topic of Robin's relationship with other women. I think he didn't love others but had affairs when he was in the Holy Land. I'm sure he was always faithful to Marian – when they were engaged before the Crusade and when he returned and learned that she was unmarried.

Please leave a short review if you don't mind. I want to know your opinion. Thanks!