An Attempt at Making a Stronger Friendship (closed to Much)

[not_a_maid]

Who: Marian and Much
What: A chat? Potentially a bit of an argument, even if it's not as heated as it could be
Where: Camp
When: Late Morning, May 2nd
Note: Slight godmodding of Robin done with permission

Comments

[millers_son]

Much was just finishing up his morning chores -- cooking breakfast, mending clothes, polishing weapons -- when Marian returned to camp. He could tell where she'd been by the cheerful way she greeted him. Since that day in the cave when Robin had opened up to him about his dreams -- or rather, about why he couldn't discuss them -- he'd tried his best to hide his jealousy when Robin spent time alone with Marian, but he wasn't always successful. Now, with their wedding so close, it was proving especially difficult.

"Oh, good morning," he replied without looking at her. Then, picking up one of the bowls of stew he'd prepared, he held it out to her and muttered, "Er, breakfast is ready."

[not_a_maid]

"Thank you," she replied as she reached out for the bowl. Much always made rather good food even if she tried not to think about just what she may be eating at the moment. Finding somewhere to sit she took a mouthful then after swallowing gave him a smile.

"It's lovely. Have you had a chance to eat yet?" In her happy mood it was rather difficult to tell that he wasn't really looking at her or that he felt anything against her. she knew things had never been good between them, she had spent practically every day with Robin growing up after all, but she had hoped her being here would change things a little.

[millers_son]

"Not yet. I've been tidying up a bit." He hoped the others would be back soon. Being alone with Marian was strange and uncomfortable, especially when she was being so friendly.

He couldn't just ignore her, however, so he forced a smile and said, "Glad you like it," before picking up a bowl for himself. He liked to think it was an improvement on the usual offering; squirrels were fatter and didn't taste quite so...squirrely in the spring.

[not_a_maid]

She was about to tell him he should sit and eat before he went ahead anyway. She took a few more bites then shifted on her bunk as her eyes went back to Much. She knew it may not be the nicest thing that he constantly had to do the less open jobs such as the cooking but she also knew it was very unlikely he would ever step back from it.

"I always find myself impressed by what you can do with such limited resources." If she wasn't so joyful then she would have possibly realised that she was telling him things she never had in the past nor had really intended on in the future.

[millers_son]

"Thank you," Much replied, though he was sure Marian was no more impressed with his cooking than the rest of the gang. "I try."

Why was she being so nice to him? She had never seemed interested in being his friend before. Deciding that the excitement of the wedding must have driven her out of her wits, he continued eating his breakfast.

[not_a_maid]

"You should try and get others to help. You do not have to do it all yourself."

She wasn't exactly a brilliant cook but she could handle a few meals to help him. She had never really had any reason to make a large variety of meals in the past but she was a quick learner. It just didn't seem fair that Much was always the one to do this sort of thing.

[millers_son]

Marian's reply confirmed his suspicions. Was she offering to help with the cooking? Did she even know how to cook a proper meal? Somehow, he couldn't see her chasing after squirrels and making them into a stew.

"That's kind of you to say, but I really don't mind." And he didn't -- well, most of the time. He just wished the others would show a bit more gratitude for his efforts to keep them fed. He didn't see why Marian would care -- she might be an outlaw now, but she was still a lady in his eyes, and he knew he was still a servant in hers.

"You're unusually cheerful this morning," he remarked.

[not_a_maid]

"If you're sure." She wouldn't push him if he wanted to be stubborn and continue to do so. She was sure everyone could help in some way rather than leaving it all to Much even if it was something simple. Perhaps he enjoyed it and if that was the case then she could not take it away from him. If not she trusted he would tell them one day that he would like some sort of break from it.

"I am?" she replied, stuttering a little. She hadn't expected anyone to comment on anything mostly because she didn't think there was anything about her that wasn't normal. "It has been a lovely morning, that's all."

[millers_son]

"It's not just this morning. I just feel like you...well, you haven't been yourself lately."

He knew she loved Robin -- not as much as I do -- but she had never been one to follow orders, and he had thought her too much of a...girl to appreciate the rugged life they lived. Much to his surprise, however, she had seemed quite happy since she came to the forest. Perhaps a bit too happy.

[not_a_maid]

"You do?" she asked, genuinely concerned at that. She did not think she had been all that different. Perhaps more content and a lot happier, given she finally got to be with Robin. But she had not thought she had acted any differently than before other than those aspects. Had she said something to him in the past which had upset him? "How so?"

She genuinely wanted to know. Surely Robin would have pointed out if something was wrong or different about the way she was acting.

[millers_son]

"Well, you...you're usually not quite so..." Happy? Nice? Agreeable? What could he say that wouldn't sound like an insult? "You just never seemed like the...the gang type. I mean, I thought you were happy on your own, as the Nightwatchman."

He hoped that wasn't too bold. Like it or not, she was one of them now, and Robin loved her, so he made an effort to treat her with courtesy.

[not_a_maid]

"So...?" she prompted at first and when he went on to say what he apparently thought she bit her lip for a moment. He really thought that? Though yes at first it was rather difficult to adjust but now, well, she had been here for months. Things were not exactly as hard as they once were. "I was. But I can make a difference here a lot more than I could as the Nightwatchman. Besides, after we got my father free there was no way I could remain in the castle. They would know I was involved in it and it would end in death."

Plus she had Robin here. She could see him whenever she wished and could be by his side more often. It was where she belonged. However, somewhere in the back of her mind there was a thought that she could not get away from. Something which had been there since she arrived.

"Do you not like my being here, Much?"

[millers_son]

"No! I mean yes! I mean..." What on Earth did he mean? To his disgust, he found himself envying Allan. The man might be a treacherous weasel, but his talent for lying could -- occasionally -- be useful in a pinch. And this was certainly a pinch.

He sighed. "Robin likes you being here. It doesn't matter what I think."

[not_a_maid]

Marian was briefly shocked by the way Much replied but part of her just couldn't be too shocked. Things had never been smooth between them really and there always had been even the tiniest of awkwardness between them even in moments where he looked for her help or anything along those lines.

"It does matter what you think, he values your opinion." She put her plate to the side and stood, unable to just sit there. "You dislike my being here."

[millers_son]

"Not as much as yours." Robin cared for him, he no longer doubted that, but he would always love Marian more.

"Wh-what? That's ridiculous. Why would I dislike you being here?" He winced at how unconvincing the words sounded, then made a feeble attempt at humor to hide his discomfort.

"I mean, what's one more mouth to feed?" he asked, laughing nervously. Why couldn't he have kept his mouth shut for once?

[not_a_maid]

"Equally." Okay she rather knew that Robin would probably listen to her more readily than Much but she was not going to mention that at this moment. She knew Robin valued Much like a brother and that was all that should be focused on right now. However, his argument and then that little laugh told her pretty much everything.

"What have I done to make you feel like this?" she asked confused, genuinely wanting to know just what she must have done to make him dislike her being there or even dislike her full stop.