Robin made his way back toward his temporary camp in Sherwood, crestfallen and confused by Marian's rejection. What had he done wrong? For that matter, what had he done right? He'd certainly not impressed her by his mockery of Aylesbury! She had taken it as a mockery of herself, but that was the last thing he had wanted to do.
Marian had been completely cold, oblivious to his charms. What had happened to her over the last five years? She used to be so ready with her smiles! In the past, he could easily amuse her, and he would laugh and she would smile, gazing fondly into each other's eyes until his laughter died down, and he would press his smiling lips to hers. But it hadn't worked tonight!
She seemed to have lost her sense of humor. Everything was so serious to her now! He couldn't believe she hadn't fallen for his comment about being a good kisser because of his full lips! The Marian he remembered would have rolled her eyes and thrown him back a witty comment challenging him to prove how good a kisser he could be. He would have been more than happy to oblige, and she would have teased him some more...maybe saying he could definitely improve with practice, which would be just the comment he'd want to hear. And they would have practiced and practiced...hour upon hour, sometimes until the sun came up!
But here he was, the moon still low in its ascent, and he was all alone in the forest, for she had shut him out. Out of her room, out of her sight, out of her heart, out of her life! He just couldn't comprehend it. The bewilderment, the loneliness, the emptiness he felt were so intense, it felt as if he had been punched in his gut by LeGrand.
She needed to laugh again. Conditions were bleak...horrrible under Sheriff Vaisey and Prince John. All the more reason to find and grasp at fun, so she wouldn't grow old and grim before her time! Not Marian! Not his lovely, loving young woman!
She was spending too many hours in Gisbourne's company...that was the problem. No wonder she rarely smiled any more! The thought of her being in Gisbourne's company stole the smile from Robin's face as well.
Gisbourne the grim. Gisbourne the grasping, grabbing, greedy thief of everything that was Robin's. His house, his lands, his property! And now he wanted his lady as well? Not on Robin's life! He vowed he'd show Sir Guy of Gisbourne he couldn't have everything belonging to Robin. Robin would take all of it back...somehow.
Now, what to start with? What could he regain from Locksley that would benefit his men most?
He knew in an instant what he wanted first. His horse...his entire stable of horses. They were valuable, beautiful creatures...the finest steeds in all of England. He remembered when some of them had been foals. They were almost part of his family. Seeing Gisbourne dig his spurs into their sides left a bitter taste in Robin's mouth.
There was no doubt he felt helpless without his horses. All the distances he and his men covered, aiding and feeding the poor, were too far on foot. If they only had Robin's horses, think of the good they could do good!
The more he thought about it, the more he longed to have his horses again. But he and his men couldn't just walk into Locksley and demand them back. He'd talk to his men tonight and think up a plan.