Enemy of My Enemy

Chapter One - Snares

Six weeks later

Sitting there, docile, with her arms about his waist, and her nostrils filled with the smell of leather. A competent horsewoman, yet forced to sit meekly behind Guy, outwardly grateful for his protection. Subjected to the sheriff's snide mockery.... sweet, he'd taunted, very sweet.

This is what it would have been like, how I would have had to behave, if we'd ever wed, thought Marian.

This wasn't entirely fair. Guy had come for her - the sheriff, for his precious Sussex – and Marian knew that she should be grateful. But much as she'd hated Winchester's possessiveness in the carriage, she'd had no doubt Robin would come. She stifled a sigh. If only he'd been on time to rescue her. How much rather she'd be with him in the forest, right now, snatching what moments they could before she had to return to the castle, than riding sedately here behind Gisborne on this damn horse.

Their mounts clattered into the yard of an inn, interrupting her thoughts.

"What are we doing? Why are we stopping?" she demanded.

"We can't be seen returning with you to the castle," Guy explained. "I'll come for you later. We'll receive word Winchester's carriage was set upon by outlaws, but that you managed to escape."

Marian could see the sense in this; their role in Winchester's demise must be kept secret. It gave her pause, as they rode away....could she somehow use this knowledge against the sheriff? Could Robin? But then he already knew, because....

"Are you alright?" came a quiet voice behind her.

She jumped, annoyed and yet thrilled in equal measure. How does he always do that? Robin's arms slid about her waist; Marian leaned back into his embrace, feeling the scruff of his beard against her face, the warmth of his breath on her cheek. Then she remembered how close she'd come to losing him again...watching him feint and tussle with Allan over that vat of oil, it had almost stopped her heart...

And for such a foolhardy course of action. She pushed his arms down and away, and swung to face him.

"What did you think you were doing today?"

Robin frowned, his hands on his hips.

"What do you mean, what was I doing? Infiltrating a nest of traitors, of course."

"And to what end? What did you think killing them might achieve?"

"Saving the king from their treachery, I'd have thought...."

"...well you didn't think," Marian interrupted hotly. "If killing the sheriff would bring the prince's army down on Nottingham, what do you suppose killing a group of nobles gathered together in his support might do?"

"Nothing. If I'd ripped away his support base in one move, he would have had to be on good behaviour until the king returned."

This checked Marian; she hadn't thought of that.

"You don't know that for sure; it was a terrible risk. And as for that note you left me...." here her voice quavered.

Robin picked up on this, instantly; his gaze softened, and a hand rose to caress her cheek.

"Is that what this is about?" he asked softly. "It's alright, I'm safe – we both are. And you're right, maybe I wasn't thinking straight....but your father told me of Winchester's plans for you and I..."

Robin's hand dropped. He turned away; paced to the window, and stood looking out from behind the half-closed shutter. Marian waited, wondering – for it was in his eyes, and in his heart, she was sure - if he'd say the words. Those ones Djaq had once interrupted, as she lay close to death in the cave, or the ones he'd hinted at in his letter. Mostly for the life, the love we could not have....