Fine Lines

Chapter 2: Choices

Marian was furious with Robin. Really, he said he wanted Jennifer to know him, but what sort of example was he setting when he became an outlaw and then promptly get himself arrested? She almost wished he hadn't saved his life with her dagger when he'd made his show in Nottingham.

'Nothing?' asked Much, looking between Marian and her father.

'What can I do? I warned him, this sheriff…' replied Edward.

'Yes, my lord, but…'

'He should have listened to my father, now he is an outlaw,' exclaimed Marian sharply.

'I know, my ladyship.'

'And not a very impressive one,' she continued.

'That is…' protested Much indignantly, but Marian sent him a withering glare. 'Forgive me,' he said, 'that is not fair. He is most impressive.'

Marian sighed. 'He is caught…after just one day.' She sat on the arm of her father's chair, suddenly tired. 'Does that impress you?'

'He gave himself up to save tongues,' replied Much.

'Tongues?' asked Marian incredulously.

'In Locksley…the Sheriff was cutting out people's tongues until somebody told him where Robin was.' Marian exchanged a glance with her father. 'I hate the Sheriff,' said Much, standing, 'and I hate you if you aren't going to help Robin.' He walked to the door.

Edward stood. 'Young man…' Marian rose to stand next to him. 'I will speak in court of course, but your master has doomed himself. His fate is…resign yourself.'

Marian ignored the pang in her gut at the words and looked at Much as he turned to her again.

'In the Holy Land, my master had dreams. He spoke your name.'

Marian felt rather than saw her father look at her as she tried to keep her face calm.

'Goodnight,' said Much before he left Knighton Hall.

Marian sat heavily in the seat her father had vacated; she didn't know what to think. Things had become much more complicated since Robin had returned, but she couldn't say that she wanted him to hang. Deep down she knew she wanted Jennifer to have his presence as a father, and herself…what idid/i she want?

'Marian,' said her father carefully, 'just what is between you and Robin?'

'I don't know,' she answered truthfully. 'I loved him before he left - you know that - and now… If there's a chance then Jennifer should know her father, but not while he's gallivanting around as an outlaw.'

'I do not think he gave himself much choice.'

Marian looked at her father sharply. 'Everything is a choice, everything we do.'

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Marian couldn't hide her disgust as she looked around the dank cell. She scowled as Robin was pushed into the room and stumbled in front of her.

'Where is it?' she asked.

'Where is what?'

'Please! The ring my father gave you years ago before he knew the wickedness of your heart.' Robin frowned in confusion.

'Madam, I told you before, asking doesn't usually work,' said the jailer in a voice as slimy as his face. 'I'll do his thumb.' He walked to the wall and picked up a thumbscrew.

'Will those work?' asked Marian.

'These?' said the jailer in surprise. 'They're lovely.' He slapped the thumbscrew menacingly together.

'When he speaks, will you hear?'

'Well, of course.'

'Well that I cannot allow. You might get there first and steal the ring.'

The jailer looked at her in surprise. 'Madam, I can assure you I'm a man of simple pleasures. Inflicting pain, that's enough for me.'

Marian cringed inwardly. 'Maybe, but if the ring is not where he tells me, suspicion will fall on you and that would be unfair. I will speak with him alone first. You may go.'

'I can't do that,' replied the jailer.

'Wait outside,' said Marian firmly. 'He cannot escape and he will not dare attack me.'

'No, I-'

'Leave.'

'Yes, your ladyship.'

At last the jailer left Marian alone in the room with Robin. 'You are an utter fool,' she hissed.

'You said that already,' replied Robin mildly.

'Oh, you listened? I also told you confronting the sheriff wouldn't work. You didn't listen to that,' said Marian angrily.

'I did not have much choice.'

Marian huffed in exasperation. 'Oh, everything's a choice, everything we do. Grow up.'

Robin put his hands on his hips, ready for an argument. 'I prevented unjust hangings, I protected people from my village.'

'Oh, that will make your death romantic.'

'It would make it honourable,' retorted Robin.

'Honourable? And what about the people you are so honourably protecting?' Robin folded his arms as he stared at her. 'Who will protect them when you're dead? What is it about men and glory, glory above sense and above reason?' muttered Marian.

'It is principle,' replied Robin.

'Principle is making a difference and you can't do that if you're dead,' said Marian, thinking about the Nightwatchman, her own small way of making a difference. 'You could have stayed here in the first place instead of following your king to the Holy Land if you'd cared so much about your precious people.' She was fully aware of Robin watching her and struggled to keep her composure. 'But you didn't, you chose war, you chose glory.'

Marian looked away as Robin leaned in close. 'What is this about?' he asked.

'It is about you saying that…you care about the people of Locksley when…the truth is you ran off to battle thousands of miles away. You say you want Jennifer to know who you are but she can't do that when you are outlawed.'

A tear rolled unbidden down Marian's cheek and Robin gently wiped it off. She flinched and slapped his hand away, remembering all too well how she'd melted the last time he'd touched her so gently.

'You had something on your cheek,' said Robin quietly.

Marian looked away pointedly even as her traitorous body craved more contact. 'You left me alone and with child while you were off gallivanting in the Holy Land.'

'I wasn't gallivanting,' protested Robin. 'It was war, people needed me.'

'And I needed you,' admitted Marian, although the words cost her greatly. 'You have no idea how much I have been through in the last five years, and then you come back as though nothing at all has happened and no time has passed.'

'I didn't know! How could I know that you were with child?'

'You would have known if you'd stayed.'

'I had to leave.'

Marian didn't answer and instead pulled a knife and some keys from the bag she held. 'Right, this is what we do. Stand by the door, I'll scream, in he comes, you strike him and run. I've paid a man on the east gate, you'll not be seen in you leave now before day watch. Take these.'

'I cannot go unseen,' protested Robin.

'Well, you cannot go seen!' retorted Marian. She was risking everything to help Robin to escape, and she wasn't about to let him throw it back in her face for some stupid, inoble/i reason.

'I cannot let the Sheriff win!'

'Have you not heard a single word I've said? Besides, you cannot be a part of Jennifer's life if you are dead!'

'Marian,' said Robin softly, just as there was a loud clatter behind the door.