Reunion, Part 3
anonymous
May 1 2013, 05:31:43 UTC
Another two minutes of fanning and light taps on the face revived Little John, who stared at Robin and demanded “How did you survive? When you didn’t come up, we’d thought you’d…”
"Oh, it was clear that I couldn’t swim towards the nearest bank without being hit by arrows. So I managed to grab a reed to breathe through and made my way further downriver, where I wouldn’t have to deal with arrows or fire. I’m afraid I lost my hat in the commotion. A pity; now I’ll have to acquire a new one somehow.”
“Well, don’t that beat all,” Little John said, clapping a hand on Robin’s back, “I should have known old Prince John couldn’t get rid of you that easily.”
“Oh, I didn’t forget him,” Robin said mischievously, “I made sure to track back to the castle-which is quite gutted, incidentally-and called out ‘Long live King Richard!’ until someone spotted me. Then I ran off before they could draw a bow. I’m sure the prince is thrashing about in frustration even as we speak.”
There was a roar of laughter from the group, followed by cheers and applause. Robin accepted them with a wave of his hand. “Thank you all very kindly, but I believe I need a little time to myself. Being taken for dead takes a lot out of a man, you know.”
He left the circle and walked towards the secluded grove. After a minute, Marian followed him. When he was sure they were alone, he took her hand. “I’m so sorry I scared you, my dear,” he said, his voice gentle, “But it was the only way for me to escape.”
“I know that, of course I do,” she said softly, though she couldn’t stop her eyes from filling with tears, “But…I thought I’d lost you.”
He chuckled, wiping her tears away. “It’ll take more than a river and a few arrows to separate me from you. Why, even if they had managed to get in a lucky shot, I’d have found a way to come back as a ghost, haunting Prince John and bringing comfort to you.”
“I’m not entirely sure my father would approve of having a ghost as my suitor,” Marian said with a slight smile, “Having one that runs around the forest all day is bad enough.”
“Oh, but it’s such a wonderful place for privacy,” Robin murmured, touching her cheek, “If you go deep enough into the woods, it’s very difficult for anyone to find you or see what you’re up to.”
And he leaned forward and kissed her tenderly, cradling her head in his hands as if to reassure her that he was corporeal. She returned the kiss eagerly, sliding her arms around his neck. As she did so, something soft and tickly ran over her hand, and she realized that during all the commotion, she had still held on to Robin’s hat. Thus, when they drew away, she presented it to him. “I believe you lost this?”
“My hat!” Robin said joyfully, taking it from her and examining it, “Tsk, they’ve broken the feather and put quite a hole in it. No matter, those are easy to repair.”
“I do believe you’re more happy to see your hat then you are me.” Marian said, her tone making it abundantly clear that she was joking. Robin grinned apologetically and clapped the hat on his head, its current bedraggled state suiting his mussed fur. Then he took her hand again. “Come along, my dear. I believe our efforts tonight warrant a great celebratory feast. And I’ll want you by my side all night. Nothing like a long swim to help one sort out his priorities.”
"Oh, it was clear that I couldn’t swim towards the nearest bank without being hit by arrows. So I managed to grab a reed to breathe through and made my way further downriver, where I wouldn’t have to deal with arrows or fire. I’m afraid I lost my hat in the commotion. A pity; now I’ll have to acquire a new one somehow.”
“Well, don’t that beat all,” Little John said, clapping a hand on Robin’s back, “I should have known old Prince John couldn’t get rid of you that easily.”
“Oh, I didn’t forget him,” Robin said mischievously, “I made sure to track back to the castle-which is quite gutted, incidentally-and called out ‘Long live King Richard!’ until someone spotted me. Then I ran off before they could draw a bow. I’m sure the prince is thrashing about in frustration even as we speak.”
There was a roar of laughter from the group, followed by cheers and applause. Robin accepted them with a wave of his hand. “Thank you all very kindly, but I believe I need a little time to myself. Being taken for dead takes a lot out of a man, you know.”
He left the circle and walked towards the secluded grove. After a minute, Marian followed him. When he was sure they were alone, he took her hand. “I’m so sorry I scared you, my dear,” he said, his voice gentle, “But it was the only way for me to escape.”
“I know that, of course I do,” she said softly, though she couldn’t stop her eyes from filling with tears, “But…I thought I’d lost you.”
He chuckled, wiping her tears away. “It’ll take more than a river and a few arrows to separate me from you. Why, even if they had managed to get in a lucky shot, I’d have found a way to come back as a ghost, haunting Prince John and bringing comfort to you.”
“I’m not entirely sure my father would approve of having a ghost as my suitor,” Marian said with a slight smile, “Having one that runs around the forest all day is bad enough.”
“Oh, but it’s such a wonderful place for privacy,” Robin murmured, touching her cheek, “If you go deep enough into the woods, it’s very difficult for anyone to find you or see what you’re up to.”
And he leaned forward and kissed her tenderly, cradling her head in his hands as if to reassure her that he was corporeal. She returned the kiss eagerly, sliding her arms around his neck. As she did so, something soft and tickly ran over her hand, and she realized that during all the commotion, she had still held on to Robin’s hat. Thus, when they drew away, she presented it to him. “I believe you lost this?”
“My hat!” Robin said joyfully, taking it from her and examining it, “Tsk, they’ve broken the feather and put quite a hole in it. No matter, those are easy to repair.”
“I do believe you’re more happy to see your hat then you are me.” Marian said, her tone making it abundantly clear that she was joking. Robin grinned apologetically and clapped the hat on his head, its current bedraggled state suiting his mussed fur. Then he took her hand again. “Come along, my dear. I believe our efforts tonight warrant a great celebratory feast. And I’ll want you by my side all night. Nothing like a long swim to help one sort out his priorities.”
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