Reflections in the water [Robin]

[Robin Hood/Will Arrow]

Robin laughed, the cold water hitting him and waking him up more. Living outside allowed him to take the coldness and the weight of the water more easily. He moved to grab Marian to help pull her up from the water.

He looked at her grinning as he moved to get them both out of the water. "Now isn't this an adventure. I really have missed our swimming dates. Luckily for you, I have a horse, and a warm fire, soup, and hot bath are a short distance away. Unless if the Lady objects." Robin smiled as he waited for her response. He figured that she was going to hate him even more, but it was part of his childish nature, and he was prepared to stay by her side until he was certain her heart was in perfect condition.

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Marian felt Robin pulling her up and out of the water, and when her feet touched solid ground she pulled away from him dripping wet and not sure whether to laugh or cry. "If I had my bow, I'd shoot you," Marian said glaring at Robin as she started to shiver.

"Well do lead the way then, for I will catch a cold if you leave me out here like this for much longer, and your merry men will have to come and see me while I'm ill." Wrapping her arms around herself as if to warm herself, Mariam moved closer to Robin, she couldn't hate him, but she would make him work for her heart, and that kiss that he had so wanted before.

[Robin Hood/Will Arrow]

Robin smiled, "your words hurt more than any bow could. And that I cannot take you with me when I leave." Robin looked at Marian and whistled for his horse, which quickly appeared next to them. He removed a thick blanket from the horse and moved to give it to Marian, "in exchange for your damp cloak, don't worry I won't look."

Robin adjusted things quickly and then waited for Marian to be ready. He moved to help her onto the horse, and after she was ready he would quickly ride them to her house. "I have already made arrangements at your home. As I believe you will find more comfort there than anywhere else, and then you can always get rid of me if you desire."

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"My words are the only defense I have Robin, for you know I could not actually shoot you. Some days I wish, but you know I could not." Taking the blanket from Robin, Marian cast her eyes down as to avoid his gaze. "You could take me if you wished," she said under her breath turning. "Everything is a choice, you choose to leave".

Changing out of her soaking wet cloak, Marian wrapped the warm blanket around herself. She let Robin help her onto the horse and settled into him. "I will also have proper clothes to change into," Marian teased, she wasn't about to tell him whether she was going to send him away or not, but Marian knew that she never could.

[Robin Hood/Will Arrow]

Robin smiled, "yes, I know you never could."

He heard her other words, it was so easy to forget that he wasn't welcome home anymore, that he was an outlaw. But that was why he could not stay, besides many people needed his help. "You know why I have to leave, I would be dead or in prison otherwise. And, a part of me wishes you to come but another couldn't bear the thought of putting you in danger. Yet, danger is here and out there in the world. I can't tell you to do anything. If you wish to come, then come. It is a hard life, no beds, or warm fires to come back to. And you're going to have to talk to your father as well. Or I can make arrangements to try and come back more often." Robin smiled at Marian, he didn't want to keep her out of his life, but he didn't want to put her in danger either. Yet, from what he heard she had been keeping Sherwood Forest safe, she was even a better fighter than some of the men.

Robin laughed, "I wait in eager anticipation to see the outcome of your proper dress for whatever occasion you are preparing for." Robin knew that when they arrived he would have to change into some fresh clothes himself, luckily he had notified the servants attending what his plan was.

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"I know why you leave Robin, what I don't know is why you don't come back more. You know my father and many of the nobles want to see your named cleared, and you know many of them would welcome you into their homes and protect you for all you've done." Marian didn't add that she wanted him around more, but she figured it wouldn't matter because Robin had his own agenda anyways.

"You know I cannot leave my father for long, no one else would be here to protect him, but I don't mind the outdoors as much as you'd think. Sometimes I think running away would solve everything, but then I remember my father and I know he can't fight for himself.

Marian rolled her eyes at Robin's words about what she would wear. "Well I won't simply be running around in my slip with a blanket over me because someone tossed me into the water." Marian huffed drawing the edges of the blanket closer remembering that she was still mad at him for that, and no matter how many feelings she had for him, she wasn't about to give into his charms that easily.

[Robin Hood/Will Arrow]

Robin chuckled, "so the Maiden does want me home then."

Robin turned around to face her, "okay. I will try my hardest to come back more often. It will be surprise visits though, much like this, but the swimming might not be part of it."

Robin nodded, turning to look at where they were going, "yes, I'm very glad you're with him, your father is a good man, he's done much to make sure everyone is happy and well off."

Within moments they were at her house and Robin slid off the horse easily. He turned to see if Marian wanted help down and he smiled at her words, "I can't lie and tell you that I wouldn't enjoy you running around in what you're wearing. But that would be breaking the gentlemen's rules."

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"If she does hood," Marian said with a flip of her hair, " she wouldn't dare admit that in front of you for fear of further inflating your already so big ego."

"I could live without the swimming, so I don't mind if it doesn't happen again," Marian said with a small smile. Truth be told, it had been thrilling to be pushed into the water, but she couldn't dare admit that.

"That he is, but you know he won't rest until your name is cleared either, he wants you back in control of your lands."

Jumping down from the back of the horse, Marian rolled her eyes at Robin. She wasn't going to give him an answer, and pushed past him into her house. Her father wasn't home, which wasn't unusual anymore, he was constantly with other nobles trying to fix things again, which left Marian home by herself most days and nights. "Make yourself at home," she said and quickly went up to her room to dress before any of the servants would see her in such a state of undress.

Reemerging a few minutes later, Marian was wearing a pale blue dress which matched the colour of her eyes. It was simple, but flattering, and her long dark hair had been braided and pinned up out of her way. Heading for the kitchen, Marian waited for Robin to reappear.

[Robin Hood/Will Arrow]

Robin laughed, "my inflated ego. I don't think I'm that bad, am I?" Robin winked at Marian. "None of the men want to take credit for anything, so it just happens to fall on me. Guess the side affect is having a big ego."

Robin grinned as he watched Marian get off the horse. He followed her into the house and called after her, "don't mind if I do."

He went up to the spare room he used when he visited and he changed into a fresh pair of clothes, something a little nicer, but still useful if he needed to escape or move quickly. He never could be too careful. Robin quickly ran down the steps and found Marian. "And the beauty of the sea and the sky, could not match the sight of Maid Marian in her blue gown, reflecting her eyes." Robin smiled and bowed.

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"I don't think it falls on you, I think you like the glory, and you like people loving you." Marian smiled up at Robin, she really did find him quite dashing.. but he couldn't know that.

When robin returned, Marian smiled. "Always the charmer, but don't think your pretty words will save you Hood," Marian said as she moved to put water on to boil, "you're still in trouble, and I haven't decided yet how you're going to make it up to me." Marian grinned wickedly over her shoulder. "Tea?" she asked pulling out a cup for herself and waiting for Robin to answer her. "Or something to eat?"

[Robin Hood/Will Arrow]

Robin smiled at Marian's words, not commenting on whether he liked people loving him. The only person he really was concerned about loving was Marian, and she was all he needed.

Robin stood by the doorway, "words no, but action perhaps. Unless if you have other ideas." Robin moved over to where Marian was. "Yes, tea would be nice, thank you. Would you like me to help, or to make food for us? After all you're supposed to be ill. This is for all those times I couldn't bring food to you in bed." Robin waited for Marian to respond.

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Marian pulled out a second cup and placed it with hers with the tea already in them, just waiting for the water to boil. Smilng over her shoulder, Marian nodded, "Yes you can help, you can cut up the vegetables if you like," Marian said pointing to a selection of fresh veggies she had gotten ready while he was getting changed.

"Lucky for you I haven't been that ill in a long time," Marian said. "Or else you'd really be in trouble for not being here to tend to me." She smiled biting her bottom lip. Moving around the kitchen like a pro, Marian got the rest of the meal ready and placed it over the wood stove to cook.

"Where have you been for so long?" Marian asked suddenly, trying to hide the hurt in her voice which suddenly overwhelmed her. Damn the man and his ability to make her feel so deeply and so hurt.

[Robin Hood/Will Arrow]

Robin watched her set another cup down and make the rest of the meal. He went over to where she had pointed and started cutting. Robin smiled as he worked. When he was done he brought them over to her, watching her as she worked.

He stood silently watching her move around the kitchen. "Yes, I am grateful that you have good health."

As she asked him where he had been he looked down at the ground. And then he looked up at her, his eyes sad, as he had seen many people suffering, and it was only in rare moments that the men and him had found happiness. "I wish I could tell you I've been everywhere, that I've been on grand adventures, visiting palaces and acquiring money and hope to help the poor."

Robin paused fiddling with the tea cup, "but, I can't lie to you. My joy comes from the thought of you, and things that nature provides, like the sunrise. At least when I see the sunrise I know we've made it through another day. Though, since the last time I was here, I didn't see any. I spent all of my time in a cell, it was thanks to Little John that I got out." Robin grimaced at the memory and looked up, shaking his head.

He put down the cup, "no need to think on that now. It's in the past, and here I am, in the presence of a beautiful lady who has my heart. What more could a man ask for?" Robin smiled at Marian, pushing the memories away.

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Marian felt her heart breaking as she saw the look in Robin's eyes. She wanted to go over to him and hold him, but she feared if she did he would just make a joke and not tell her. Continuing to stir the pot that was cooking, Marian looked up at Robin and waited patiently for him to explain why he had vanished.

"You were where?!?" Marian exclaimed jumping up from the pot she was stirring. "Who was it Robin?" she asked going to him and taking his hands in hers. Obviously things were worse then what he had made her believe, but then why didn't he stay when she asked him to, yes him being an outlaw meant the sheriff couldn't see him, but still Robin wouldn't be ending up in cellars if he'd stay, well unless Marian herself put him there.

Marian wrapped her arms tight around Robin and held on to him for a moment while he finished speaking. She didn't know how to answer him, but Marian knew she'd make who ever had had Robin locked in a cell pay. Deciding she was probably revealing to much on her face, Marian placed both her hands on either side of Robins face and pressed a kiss to his lips. "Stay the night?" Marian asked quietly as she pulled away, her fists balling into his shirt gently.

[Robin Hood/Will Arrow]

Robin watched Marian and he laughed softly with her words, "I can't remember every cellar and prison I've been in. And every one I have left, they were obviously dealt with accordingly. I welcome the experience, allows me to re-evalute what I'm doing. If anything it's like being forced to look at yourself, to go underneath and question your very existence. Makes me more determined."

Knowing Marian, she would try and hunt down everyone who had even thought of putting him in prison. But it came with the job, and he was used to it. Not that he didn't value his life, he actually gotten himself caught on purpose multiple times. Everything was planned.

Robin held onto her, "of course I'll stay the night," he whispered into her ear. He smiled and moved to kiss her on the forehead.