Marian was awoken by a gentle rocking movement.

Confused, she opened her eyes to see the sun just starting to rise from behind the hills in front of her. She frowned trying to remember where she was when a voice from behind her said:

"Good morning my love"

She turned around to see who had spoken and received a shock. As she turned her head, she noticed she was about 5 foot above the ground, and was moving. Marian let out a frightened yelp and squeezed her eyes shut again. She felt strong arms grasp her around the waist from behind to prevent her from falling.

"It's okay Marian, I've got you"

Cautiously she opened her eyes again. The shock seemed to have brought her sleepy mind into focus and this time she registered that she was on a horse, walking slowly towards Nottingham Castle.

"I didn't want to wake you, you looked so peaceful" came the voice again, and then, closer to her ear "and gorgeous" it whispered.

She whirled around, purposely letting her loose hair whip him in the face, to see Robin grinning at her. "Good morning" he repeated, softly

"Good morning yourself" she replied, planting a tender kiss on his lips and turning back around to lean against his chest. Her head rested naturally where his shoulder met his neck. Robin was holding the reins in one hand; the other arm was wrapped protectively over her stomach, his hand resting on her hip. Marian felt perfectly at ease with the world and she let out a little sigh of contentment.

"How on earth did you get me up here?" she asked.

"Little John lent a hand."

Marian blushed at the thought of Little John seeing her in her nightdress, but then she remembered she wasn't wearing one, she had slept in her clothes. She voiced this thought to Robin who laughed heartily.

"We outlaws do not have such luxuries such as a separate outfit for bed, my lady, besides, we would freeze!"

Marian nodded in agreement, remembering how cold she was last night, even with a certain someone's body heat adding to her own. She shivered at the memory and Robin, thinking that she was cold, refused to relent until she had taken his thick cloak from him and wrapped it around her shoulders.

"When did you become so chivalrous?" she grumbled, though she was grateful of the cloaks warmth.

"Does a man need a reason to cosset the woman he loves?"

She felt a smile spread across her face at the mention of love. Though it had been months since they had (finally!) declared their love for each other, the words still made her stomach flutter, despite the countless times he had told her since.

"We're nearly there my love" came his voice in her ear. "I'm afraid I cannot escort you back to your room, as I would be seen."

"Of course." she replied, "I would have forbidden you to anyway, it would be far to dangerous"

He pulled on the reins to stop the horse before dismounting and reaching up to help Marian down. This time she let him take her in his arms. She gazed into his eyes and opened her mouth to speak, but didn't get the words out before he was kissing her. Knowing that it would be days before they next saw each other, Marian lost herself in his kiss. She committed everything to her memory. The gentle caress of his lips on hers, his smell, the soft prickling of his beard…

They broke apart and he set her down.

The sounds of Nottingham awakening reached their ears.

She handed him back his cloak.

He re-mounted his horse.

"Goodbye my lady" he said, kissing her hand "For now"