"Marian!"
Robin lowered his voice to quietly call out her name as he peered into Marian's bedchamber window, wondering where she could be. Whistling below hadn't brought her, and so he had boosted himself onto her window's outside ledge, no easy task wearing his cape as a skirt. But her bedchamber was empty.
Or at least, it had been, until her father had heard him call for his daughter.
Sir Edward strode through the door and across the room, to come face to face with Robin at the window.
"Young man, what do you think you're doing, coming here at this hour, summoning my daughter? And what in the name of all things holy are you wearing?"
A sudden unexpected gust of wind ruffled Robin's cape, revealing more of him than Sir Edward wished to behold.
"You dare to visit my daughter, with nothing whatsoever on your legs?"
Robin found his tongue at last. "Sir, forgive me. I meant no dishonor. This cape is all I have to cover me, until I'm able to secure a pair of trousers."
Sir Edward relented, but only slightly. "Even so, Robin, you should have stayed away until you are decently dressed. I am glad Marian is not here to see you!"
"Where is she, sir?" Robin asked, looking appealingly into the old man's eyes.
Lord Knighton looked grim. "Marian is out, playing protector to the people of Wadlow tonight. I only pray she will return safely, before The Nightwatchman is seen. The sheriff's men have orders to shoot her on sight."
"Don't worry, sir," Robin said, full of purpose. "I'll head to Wadlow now, and see her safely home."
"That will not be necessary. Forgive me, but the less contact you have with my daughter, the better."
"Sir Edward?"
"I am serious, Robin. You need to forget Marian, and let her lead her life."
Robin froze, stung by the old man's cruel words.
"I cannot, sir!" he cried, more passionately than he meant to sound. "I swear to you, I will see her home safely tonight. Goodbye."
Before Marian's father had a chance to object, Robin had disappeared into the darkness.
...
The Nightwatchman was grieved. The village of Wadlow had so much need, but there was so little she could do! Wadlow, Clun, Nettlestone, and Locksley were four villages under the protection of Lord Locksley, but that was Gisbourne now, meaning deprivation, neglect, want, and brutality for their people. Good, honest people who, in Marian's lifetime at least, had never known anything but kindness, generosity, and fairness. Marian leaned her shoulder against the outside wall of a delapidated cottage and heaved a sigh, blinking back tears.
A familiar voice, infused with tender concern, spoke softly in her ear, startling her.
"You are making a difference," Robin assured her.
Marian spun around and faced him, her face covered by her Nightwatchman disguise. The kindness in his eyes somehow banished all the anger she felt towards him, and she allowed herself to lean into him and be comforted.
Time stood still while they rested in each other's arms. Years of longing and anger melted away. For a few, precious moments, all too brief, they clung to one another, enveloped by the strong unique bond that had always united their hearts.
"Bless you, Nightwatchman! Bless you, Robin Hood!" A woman's voice from inside the cottage interrupted their blissful embrace, and they stepped apart.
Marian had finished her rounds in the village, and needed to head home. Holding Robin's hand, she located her horse, removed her mask and scarf, and was about to bid him goodnight, when she noticed his strange attire.
"I'm sorry I took your clothes," she told him.
"And I'm sorry I behaved so foully, I deserved for you to take them." He grinned at her, half heartedly. "Truce?"
She hesitated. Truce? Could she ever forgive him for leaving her? But that was not what he was asking forgiveness for tonight.
"Truce," she agreed.
She smiled, somewhat sadly. "I'd offer to let you ride home with me, but I doubt you know how to ride sidesaddle."
Robin grinned wholeheartedly at that. "All the same, I promised your father I'd see you home. It'll be a slow ride for you, I'm afraid, but would you mind much if I tagged along?"
Marian handed him the horse's reins. "I'd enjoy a walk tonight."
Side by side, with Robin leading the horse, they began their bittersweet walk toward Knighton. Neither felt the need to speak, wanting to hold onto the mood as long as possible. At last, Marian asked, "Why did my father ask you to bring me home?"
"He didn't. I volunteered. But I think he was glad I did. He loves you, you know, Marian."
The all too important word hung heavy in the air between them. A thousand ways to ask for it shot through Marian's mind. "And what about you?" or "Is he the only one?" or "And whom do you love?" all collided together on the tip of her tongue. But her pride held back the words.
"And I love him," she offered instead, at last.
Everything remained unspoken between them, but feelings ran strong. Marian felt almost dizzy from the powerful beating of her heart. It ached within her chest, her longing for him was so deep.
She had to stop these feelings, before she broke down and cried.
Reminding herself he didn't truly care for her, she forced herself to talk "business."
"Maddie the widow needed medicine. I hope what I brought her will ease her sickness."
"I'll have Djaq look in on her tomorrow."
"Djaq? What can the Saracen boy do?"
Robin carefully chose his words, preserving the secret of Djaq's gender without lying to Marian. "Djaq knows medicine, having had a physician for a father."
"Good. That will save me from bandaging your wounds, the next time you're hurt in a squirmish."
"But you're so gentle with a needle!" he teased her. "I suppose I had that coming, too," he added, remembering how she had deliberately hurt him when stitching up an arrow wound.
"Are you apologizing again? Twice in one night! I can't believe it."
"I'll write the King. Maybe he'll declare this a new holy day."
Her heart ached anew. How she had missed his flippant, harmless teasing. Life was nothing but grimness, want, fear, and death now. And yet, just being with Robin made things brighter. She couldn't handle it.
Thankfully, they were close enough to see Knighton Hall silhouetted against the night sky.
"Well, goodnight," Marian uttered coldly.
"Thank you for letting me tag along," Robin said, not wanting to have this end. "And thank you for helping."
Fighting back tears, she only nodded, then turned and ran toward her house.