THE CAVE
"She will be alright?" Robin asked anxiously as he walked with Matilda through the cave, where they would have to make camp until another one could be made.
Much made no secret about the fact that he hated the cave.
But they had voted, and because it was dry in the cave, Much lost six to one.
Djac had also said it was the best place for Marian, which had made up Robins mind, and everyone knew it was best not to argue.
Matilda had returned with Alan and Will soon after they had settled in the cave from her home. It was secret away from the sheriff, but close enough to their old home so that Matilda could see her old customers and make a living.
"She will be fine." Matilda sighed in reference to Marian, "Just plenty of rest and she'll be good as new…"
She turned slightly firm eyes on Robin.
"So don't you go fretting and fussing and winding her up."
Robin was wounded, "I don't fret."
Why did everyone think that?
She lifted one eyebrow, "Then what are you doing now?"
Robin narrowed his eyes and sighed, somewhat in frustration.
She cuffed him on the side of the head gently.
"Now get yourself off to bed and go and give your wife a hug, she's been through the wars a bit today." Matilda laughed at the good natured pout on his face and shook her head.
"Funny to think, a boy I delivered… as a father… makes me feel old…"
He chuckled, "You are not old Matilda, far from it."
She patted his cheek, "You charmer."
They hugged briefly before she made to follow John back out into the forest.
She turned briefly to call back to him.
"And start to shave, sort yourself out."
He chuckled and waved before turning and walking back into the cave.
He waved and bid goodnight to the remaining gang who were helping Will put makeshift bunks in various places.
Will was a genius and a magician when it came to wood, even wet wood.
He was able to make enough bunks to sleep everyone.
Djac marvelled at him, and Robin was eternally grateful that he was able to lay Marian somewhere to sleep that was not the rock.
Alan, Much and John had single bunks like the ones in camp, and Will and Djac, and Robin and Marian had slightly larger square bunks that could sleep two people.
Robin and Marian had already been awarded theirs in a separate part of the cave, next to the rock that she had 'died' on when first stabbed as the Night-watchman.
Robin swallowed at the memory.
Out of the corner of his eye he saw Will and Djac move to their own part of the cave, before they disappeared from sight as he entered his and Marians 'room.'
She was lying on her back in the bunk, eyes shut, one hand on her stomach, the other by her head.
Robin assumed she was asleep.
She had only woken briefly since they had found her.
The rain was still hammering outside.
She had only cried briefly since their return, and it had been after a period of dwelling silence.
But she had clung to him, wanting him near.
He had held her tight too as they waited for Matilda, with no intention of letting her go.
Robin walked over; leaning over her he put one hand on her forehead to push some hair back from it, before he kissed it gently.
"I love you." He whispered.
Her face tilted slightly.
"R'bin…"
He hushed her quietly and knelt down on the floor, as he had done when she had been stabbed by Guisborne as the night-watchman.
Her eyes drew back as he held one of his hands in hers on her stomach, the other running the tips of his fingers through her hair, as her hand rested by her head, knuckles gently stroking his forearm where it rested on the bunk.
They were exactly as they were when she had been stabbed, staring at one another in the candle and torch light.
Robin swallowed and his voice hoarse.
Marian stared at him and swallowed.
"I am not a brave person." She whispered sadly.
"What?" Robin gasped in shock and she shut her eyes briefly, shaking her head against more tears
Robin hushed her, and although it was gentle, in contained a firm scold.
"No one could have shown greater courage today."
She swallowed, opening her eyes to stare at him.
She felt almost fragile and weak, and today had taken more out of her by way of fright than she wanted to admit.
She needed Robin more than ever now that she was with child, she felt emotional most of the time, and he was always there for her…
She loved him so much.
"It was not courage, it was willpower." She said, staring at him.
Robin opened his mouth to tell her that there was no difference when she spoke once more.
"I just refused to let anyone, including myself, see how frightened I was."
It had been true, when they had returned to the cave and Marian had awoken, she had not wanted help changing into dry clothes, and had only broken down when Robin had been with her, although this had been a slow burning flame of emotion that eventually just bubbled over.
Her previous silence as she changed had frightened Robin more than the weeping.
It hung in the air between them for a moment.
Robin swallowed, "Even me?"
Her head snapped up to see him still staring at her, his eyes glassy with hurt.
"Especially you." She whispered.
He wanted her to know that he would always protect her, if she would only let him.
"Because I wanted to be brave like you." She breathed, "Because I love you… I admire you…"
"Shush Marian…" He hushed her.
"I won't be shushed." She stressed and her voice cracked.
"I crawled out of the camp to save myself and our baby… your baby…" Her voice cracked.
His thumb ran over the back of her hand where it rested under his on her stomach.
"Shush…" he whispered and kissed her forehead, "Shush…"
She sniffed and pushed away the tears.
She didn't want to cry.
She and the baby were fine.
There would be no point.
"I did not want to be frightened." She told him, "Because you would not have been…"
There was a pause for a moment.
"I was scared today." Robin admitted. His voice low and full of emotion as he spoke and he stared at her.
"I thought I was going to lose you." He whispered.
She swallowed, her fingers lifting to stroke his cheek.
"Then I guess both of us were scared today."
He lifted his eyes and smiled sadly, "Yes."
They smiled at one another and she yawned.
He kissed her forehead.
"Get some sleep sweetheart."
She nodded.
"R'bin?" She mumbled his name as he climbed into their bunk facing her, his arm wrapping over her, resting his hand on her hip, thumb rubbing her side as he rested his head on the pillow facing her.
"Mmm?" He breathed.
Her head tiled, her eyes not opening.
He knew what she wanted.
He bent forwards to press his lips to hers.
She smiled and snuggled her head against his chest, her breath hot and even on his shirt front.
His eyes drifted closed, holding her safe in the shelter of his arms.
It was good to dream.
HELLO! HELLO!
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