New Beginnings {closed}

[robin_hood49]

Who: Robin and Marian
What: a surprise for Marian
Where: a quiet area of Sherwood
When: December 1st, afternoon
Note: I borrowed the trail of arrows idea from the Richard Greene show The Adventures of Robin Hood. I've been wanting to use it here ever since I saw it in episode 1x03. :D

Comments

[not_a_maid]

It was not unusal for Robin to leave her a message to meet her somewhere if she had gone for a walk, usually because she wanted to wash up a little, so she didn't think anything of the note. She wasn't in a rush and grabbed the dagger she could slip into her boot just in case something happened. Not that she had a feeling that she would end up in trouble, after all the place he wanted to see her wasn't all that far away and not many things could happen within such a short distance. She could yell loud enough for them to hear her at camp if need be

[robin_hood49]

It was not all that very long before Robin heard Marian approaching, but in the minutes between his return to the clearing and her arrival, he kept finding things to straighten. He had not been this nervous (in a non-life-threatening situation) in long enough that he could not really say when the last time had been.

Possibly, it had been the last time he had set up a picnic for her. This one was as close to identical to that picnic as he could manage-- but one big difference was that he had remembered to watch this one, so no animals had gotten to it.

[not_a_maid]

By the time she reached the last arrow she had a fair few in her hand and her curiousity had only grown. Something must have happened for him to be slightly playful in such a way. If he wanted to talk to her or spend some time alone with her, he would have just waited where he said he would meet her. But once she looked up from picking that last arrow, her breath left her. It had been a while since he had done something like this; acted how a man courting a woman usually did.

"What is this?" she asked him with a smile, a little dazed as she looked around at the picnic. At the back of her mind she worried if he had taken this from supplies they desperately needed but who said they had to eat every single thing there? No, she wasn't going to think about that. For once she was going to focus on just Robin and what he had done rather than worries. There was no need to worry after all, they were well prepared for the winter.

[robin_hood49]

The trail of arrows had seemed like a good idea as he set it up, but he had not considered that she would wind up with a veritable bouquet of goose feathers by the time she was done. Going over, he mumbled, "Sorry; I can take those."

Once he had set them aside, he was able to smile a bit better, although his nerves had kicked up even more with her presence. Even in clothing suited to the forest instead of her fine gowns, and dressed for the cooler weather, he had never seen a more beautiful sight.

"It's a picnic," he finally replied. "I have owed you one for several years now, so it is about time I repaid that debt."

[not_a_maid]

She passed the arrows over with ease, happier that she took them than left them. That would just be asking for trouble in the long run, though she knew that he wouldn't do anything stupid. Plus, they needed to keep arrows for the future. Afetr all she had scolded him on wasting arrows before.

"You have owed me nothing," she responded with a little laugh before pressing her lips to the corner of his mouth. "Though you seem to have realised what you must do; protect a picnic when out in a forest."

It was still one of her fondest memories, the day he tried to surprise her only an animal had got to the food first. She'd never forget his face.

[robin_hood49]

"Yes, I did learn my lesson," he admitted with a slight laugh. He had set up that picnic, then gone to retrieve her from Knighton, without considering what the wildlife would do to it. By the time they got back, it had been demolished.

Despite suspecting that she was pleased, he could not tell for sure; normally, that would not bother him greatly, but he wanted this to be perfect for her. Or as close to perfect as he could manage.

"I know it is not the ideal time of year for it, but the other option was to wait for summer to come round again, so I thought it might be best to beat the cold weather."

[not_a_maid]

"It is not too cold just yet," she said with a laugh before leaning in to press a gentle kiss to his lips. "It's perfect, thank you."

It was nice, to have a moment where she just felt like herself, like her old self. Enjoying the courting of the man she loved completely. It was brilliant, slightly exciting actually, and she was rather thankful for his consideration in this way. That he was giving her something just for them.

"Shall we sit?" she asked him as she started to walk toward the picnic.

[robin_hood49]

He appreciated her pronouncement, as well as the kiss, but was quickly distracted by her suggestion, catching her hand before she could move away. "Not just yet."

Letting out a long breath in an attempt to calm his heart as it hammered in his chest, he said, "While the picnic would have been enough of a reason to ask you out here, it is not the only reason."

[not_a_maid]

She stopped walking when he held onto her hand, turning to face him with a slightly confused look. Why would he bring her all the way out here, leave a picnic sitting there, then prevent her from going to it? However, when he explained himself, she frowned and stepped closer. He was starting to worry her and she was sure it would show if he looked close enough. After all, she was always capable of hiding things she didn't want to show.

"What is it? Is something wrong?"

She knew it was unlikely he would be able to hide anything too bad from her, but then again it was Robin. He could do anything, hide everything from her and she wouldn't be able to know.

[robin_hood49]

"Wrong? I sincerely hope not," he said in nervous amusement. Quietly, he continued, "I know there are many reasons I should not ask what I am about to ask. I can offer you nothing other than a hard, dangerous life. Nothing involving me will be legally recognized. And, I have betrayed your trust in this before

[not_a_maid]

She wanted to say something. Anything that would have him speak quicker, tell her what was bothering him, but he began to talk again. She kept her eyes on him so he knew she was paying complete attention to him. Her heart was hammering in her chest with every work he said, her stomach fluttering. She could feel her eyes stinging but she refused to let herself cry so she pushed them back

[robin_hood49]

It was too much to hope for an automatic yes or no, although he would have appreciated knowing one way or the other quickly, the way his heart was in his throat at the moment. But as she spoke, he was glad she had not made such a basic reply, because what she said meant so much more than a singular word.

He was already smiling at her by the time she accepted, and he broke into a happy grin at her agreement. Standing again, he kissed her enthusiastically, breaking off only long enough to murmur, "I love you," against her lips.

Finally, it occurred to him that there was still something left to do, and he winked at her as he moved back just far enough to take her hand and slip on the ring he had chosen for her. It was not as grand as some of the jewels they managed to obtain, but those were to feed the poor. He honestly hoped she would not mind this one.

((OOC: We decided the script around the setting on that ring would be a floral pattern, instead, for Marian's ring.))

[not_a_maid]

She responded to the kiss with everything she had, her arms wrapping tight around him. She had hoped this would happen one day but she had not expected it so soon. It was incredible and she knew her smile was going to stay on her face for quite some time.

She let him take her hand, her eyes watching as the ring slid so easily onto her finger. It was strange, when the light hit it just right the stone twinkled in such a way that she was only reminded of Robin's eyes. Looking up at him, she reached out to pick up the tag around his neck.

"I want to ask something of you and you are free to tell me how ridiculous you find it. But I left the engagement ring you gave me when we were younger in the box I gave you. Would you wear it next to your tag?"

She had her reasons, but she did not want to go into them.

[robin_hood49]

"I saw it," he told her. "But, giving you a ring from our past did not seem right, since this is a different point in our lives. That does not sound ridiculous, and of course, I will, if you would like. Although, might I ask why?"

It was a simple thing, and he would be glad to do it for her, but he was curious as to her thoughts behind it.

[not_a_maid]

"I had hoped you would." It had been her way of rather shyly hinting that she was ready whenever he was. She smiled at why he did not give her it this time and she really was pleased. It showed that he had really thought this through, that it wasn't a spur of the moment thing. Goodness, how long had he been thinking about proposing to her?

"Because who is to say that a woman must be the only one to have a ring that shows the world she has been claimed by a man?" she said with a little grin, tapping at his cheek. "I have seen the way some girls in the villages look at you I would rather they were well aware that looking will do them no good."

[robin_hood49]

He laughed a little at her reason, though it was not remotely mocking; he actually found it very sweet. Only a fool would argue if the woman he loved wanted the world to know that he belonged to her.

"In that case, I will certainly wear it. No sense raising any empty hopes."