"Robin, rein the horse. Rein the horse! Rein the horse...now!"
Robin finally heeded Marian's request, riding in front of her on the back of a single "borrowed" horse. They had nearly reached Knighton, and Marian wanted to dismount and talk before they reached her home. She knew Robin well enough to guess he would try and follow her straight to her bedchamber for their discussion, but she thought it wiser to meet in the shelter of the trees, away from possible spying eyes and ears.
She threw one leg over the side of the horse and slid to the ground before he could help her down. Not that he would have helped her anyway...there had been times in the past when she had enjoyed his courtesies, and other times she had felt competitive of him, causing her to scorn his assistance to prove herself capable of anything he could do. He knew she was perfectly capable, and admired her for it.
He jumped down as well, secured the horse to a tree, and turned his adoring smile on her.
"You saved me again," he admitted. "You are an amazing woman, Marian."
His praise stunned and delighted her. It was something she had sought her entire life, even when she pretended his opinion didn't matter.
"You needed help," she replied simply. "I can't let Much have all the fun now, can I?"
He laughed. "Thankfully, Much isn't even aware I was in trouble, and I think it wise not to bother him with the story."
"So you can avoid a scolding!"
"No," he grinned, "to spare him anxiety!"
But he hadn't run after her, talked his way onto her horse's back, and ridden miles out of his way just to joke about Much. He'd come with a goal in mind...to kiss her lips once more, and renew their love.
In spite of her constantly pushing him away since he'd returned from war, he was completely and utterly head over heels in love with her, not that he'd ever admit it, even to himself. All he knew was he couldn't stop thinking about her, even at night, when thoughts of her kept him from sleeping. Her denials of their mutual affection confused and baffled him, for he was certain she still cared. She must!
She was stubborn...that was it. She was justifiably angry that he had left her for war, but he felt it was time for her to put aside her anger. She had more than made her point. Now, he needed to convince her how much more fun life would be if she'd just forgive and forget and be his sweetheart again. But she wasn't easily won...not Marian. Well, then, it fell to him to try. He took a deep breath and summoned all his charm.
"You're full of surprises, did you know that? I saw you in no less than two disguises tonight."
He kept staring at her with that disarming smile of his, gazing adoringly at her from his drop dead gorgeous blue eyes. If she didn't watch out, she find herself right back to where they'd been before he'd thrown it all away to dash off into battle. But if she was to go there...and she'd considered it more than she was willing to admit, she needed to hear two things from those "full lips" of his. She needed an apology, and a true confession of his feelings. Then and only then would the air be cleared and she could give her heart to him again.
She turned earnest eyes on him, waiting and longing for the apology.
His next words, meant to charm, had the opposite effect.
"You know, Marian, how you managed to fool anyone by your disguises is beyond me. Despite a very convincing accent, your natural grace made you an unconvincing kitchen girl. I knew it was you immediately! And as for the Nightwatchman..." He laughed provocatively, "how anyone could mistake you for a boy defies imagination!"
"You did," she argued.
"Once."
"Twice!"
"Only because it was dark. I couldn't see you properly."
"For your information, it was broad daylight, remember? And you didn't only see me; we fought. As I recall, we were clasped together, rolling down a hill before I beat you, but you still thought I was a man!"
Robin fell silent. Not only did he not want to admit she had beaten him, but he was embarassed her disguise had fooled him. He quickly conquered his embarrassment by claiming, "If I had known it was you, I would have enjoyed that fight a whole lot more!" He chuckled as he repeated, " 'Clasped together rolling down a hill.' How could I have missed the fun in that?"
His words, coupled with the puckish twinkle in his eyes, infuriated her. This was not the direction she wanted this conversation to take. He needed to be brought down a peg or two.
"You refuse to take life seriously, don't you, Robin? You seem to think the entire world and everything in it was created for your sole amusement. Goodnight."
She turned to go, but was stopped when he lightly gripped her arm.
"Marian, wait! One kiss before you go."
His sudden request took her completely off guard. He'd never begged for a kiss before. He hadn't needed to. It wasn't his style.
She stared at him speechlessly, listening for what he might say next, her mouth suddenly gone dry.
"One kiss only, I swear!" He slid closer, and lifted a lock of her hair, fingering it tenderly.
He had no idea how much she wanted to. "Robin," she said, her voice coming out small and choking.
Their lips brushed, but she gave a gasp as he pressed for more. She drew away in confusion.
No! No! She wouldn't! Not without an apology! She would teach him once and for all he couldn't regard her the way he viewed the rest of the world. She alone would not be his plaything! She alone would be taken seriously.
"Goodnight," she said, more angry than she'd been in many a day, mostly at herself for nearly succumbing.
He stared after her retreating form, more confused and baffled and in love than ever before.