Marian tried to hide her disappointment when Robin kindly informed her that Will and Little John would see her safely home.
Why not you? she wondered. It would be so wonderful, were you to walk me home!
In the past, nothing could have stopped him from seizing the opportunity of stealing a few moments alone with her, especially after such a...Marian could only describe the evening in Sherwood as a romantic reunion. What game was he playing?
But she was wrong. Robin wasn't playing games.
Being an honorable gentleman, Robin had not mentioned his promise to her father to keep away from their property, as much as possible. He did, however, desperately want to kiss her goodnight, before bidding her goodbye.
"Thank you for coming, Marian," he said to her, trying to master the yearning in his voice.
"Thank you," she responded, just as breathlessly. "I wouldn't have missed it. It was lovely."
"And so are you."
The very air seemed charged with magic, and everything around them seemed to melt away, leaving them the only two people in the world. Their eyes drank in each other's smiling, adoring faces, and Marian felt a thrill tingle throughout her entire being, when Robin's calloused thumb began to gently stroke her cheek. She gave an involuntary gasp of longing and opened to him like a flower, when his thumb caught the bottom of her chin, lifting her face as his slowly lowered, to kiss her.
"Master?" Much asked, bursting in upon them. "Oh! Sorry! I just wanted to tell you, I've finished packing up the leftover venison, so John and Will can drop it off after they've taken Marian home."
"Thank you, Much," Robin sighed, puffing the air from his cheeks in an effort to maintain his patience.
Marian was perhaps even more put out by Much inadvertently spoiling their kiss, yet Robin's good nature rubbed off on her, when he shot her an amused grin, followed by a wink.
"Well, I'd best be getting home," she smiled, while Much stood loyally by Robin's side, unconsciously adopting his master's stance.
"Will, John, are you ready?" Robin called, contenting himself with a quick kiss on Marian's hand, accompanied by an impudent grin.
...
Marian was pleased that she no longer felt uncomfortable in Little John's presence.
The man, beneath his gruff, intimidating exterior, had a kind, gentle, generous heart, and Marian felt honored to finally know him. She sensed an overwhelming sadness within him that he worked hard to conquer, and she admired his bravery, having known loss and sadness herself.
But all that was over, now that she and Robin had made up.
The trip home was quiet, as Marian knew it would be, in Will and Little John's company. Neither man was known to waste words.
When they'd nearly reached Knighton, Marian said to them, "If you don't mind, I could help you deliver the meat."
"Robin wants you home safe," Little John insisted. But Will was more amenable.
"Do you mean, as the Nightwatchman?" he asked.
"Yes. Surely, three can do the work more quickly than two. If you'll give me some of the packages Much wrapped, I could deliver them tonight."
"No," Little John growled.
"It's a good idea, John," Will told him. "She's been the Nightwatchman for years. She...she used to bring us food, and medicine. Thank you for doing that, milady."
"Will, please. Call me Marian. We're friends now, I think."
"You helped keep us alive, you know. I owe my life to you, as much as I do to Robin."
Marian was extremely touched. "I'm sorry it wasn't enough," she said, her voice catching, as they both thought of his mother.
Little John wasn't happy, but he knew the lass well enough already to know he was beaten. "Here," he grumbled, handing her a few packages. "But no going to Locksley!"
"Don't worry," Marian smiled back at him. "Believe me, I have no desire to feel the sting of Gisbourne's sword or dagger again."
Indeed, she still nursed a slight limp from Gisbourne's wound to her thigh.
"You're not really going to marry him, are you?" Will asked her.
Marian felt her throat go dry, as it always seemed to, when confronted with her future. "We'll see," she answered, bravely. "Let's hope the King won't return, until Someone thinks of a way out."
Will smiled shyly back at her, knowing "Someone" referred to Robin. "He'll come up with something," he assured her.
Standing guard, Will and Little John watched as Marian, dressed so elegantly, pulled herself up like a boy on the bar outside her window, then climbed into her room. John cracked a smile when he noticed her wearing leggings underneath her fine gown.
She was a wise, practical lass, for all her finery. Her, he liked.
Will thought fondly of Djaq. Both women could fight like men, yet were entirely feminine. He sighed, already deeply in love with the pretty Saracen maiden.
John couldn't help thinking of Kate, who had recently spent time in their gang. Marian might sometimes dress like a boy, yet she always seemed a lady, while Kate, in her lavender gown and braid across the top of her head, tried desperately to appear feminine, yet moved and swore and acted like a boy. A whiney, bratty, attention-seeking boy, but womanly, she was not. John grimaced, shuddering.
"Come on, John," Will coaxed, rescuing the giant from his ghastly thoughts. "As Robin says, it's time to spread a bit of happiness."