Part 24

Djaq and the Abbess looked away; the intensity which hung in the air was so great. Marian and Robin stood a foot apart appraising and taking in everything of the other. Neither moved or dared to and eventually Djaq and the Nun walked away, the former left the Abbey and reunited with the gang and the latter went back to her rooms, giving the couple the privacy they needed for their reunion.

Neither was to recall later who moved first only that one moment they were standing apart and the next they were in a tight embrace. Marian laid her head upon his chest and only convinced herself he was real when she could hear the thump, thump, thumping of his heart. Robin meanwhile knew that as he could feel her soft body in his hands she was really with him once more. He buried his face in her hair and promised himself that they would never be parted again, while his head told him that was a promise he could never entirely be beholden to keep.

Time passed them by and no one came to enquire what was taking so long. Eventually she reluctantly pulled away and he unwillingly let her go to the extent of holding her loosely in his embrace. Marian raised her head then and they made eye contact once more. Robin undid his hands, and rested one on the shoulder and the other cupped her face with exquisite tenderness that caused her to blink back emotion which had unexpectedly appeared.

"Marian," he whispered, her name carrying off on the breeze and lost itself within the barren trees of the abbey.

"I am here," she replied, smiling a little and his thumb stroked away the rivulet of tears which ran down her cheek.

His thumb continued its caress and ran across her ever so slightly parted lips, before his mouth replaced his fingertips in a gentle caress, in a kiss of hope, of joy, of peace, and of love.

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Back again in Sherwood the only thing that had Marian feel that she had been away was the weather. The sub zero temperatures of winter had now been replace with the thaw, everywhere was muddy, wet and cold. The journey back she had endured with a stoic patience she didn't 't know existed within her, perhaps it was the knowledge that she needed to be back under the safe canopy of Sherwood once more, or perhaps it was where she could fully embrace her husband in all sense of the word. He however, she noticed was still somewhat distant after their initial joy of seeing each other once again and guessed he was still plagued by dreams. They had been returned a week before they had time alone for any private conversation.

The blue pool had thawed and she ran her fingers through the water to find it still freezing cold. Turning she said the man at her side. "So tell me."

He sighed, "Are you warm enough?"

"I am not cold. I want to know about the dreams."

"Tell me first…when they took you away did they harm you?" he said and edged nearer taking her cool hand in his and rubbing his thumb across her knuckles, his eyes questioning her deeply.

In response she snuggled closer to him and she used him as a back rest while his own back resided against a gnarled tree trunk. Their hands then instinctively rested upon her swollen belly, the child kicking heartily within. The silence was pleasing even though they had come there to talk alone, each admitting they had missed times like this the past weeks, more than they first comprehended.

It wasn't until Marian shifted her position slightly that Robin spoke. "I did not want to frighten you."

"And that is why you did not tell me what troubles your soul?" she replied both looking out to the still water of the pool.

"Yes."

Marian turned to face him, moving she felt cumbersome but it was necessary at the same time. "Whatever you have to say will not alter the way I feel about you."

He shook his head. "It is not that. It…..I. You were right before months ago when you said….about my mother. The dreams are interspersed with you and her and you meld into one. I can not bear to lose you the way my father lost my mother."

"You will not."

"You can not promise, you can not say what the fates may be Marian."

"No I can not, but I know I am not ready to leave this world just yet," she replied with a smile. "And perhaps that will not help rid you of your terror but see…. feel me, I am here with you now." she implored and took his hand and touched it to her face.

He seemed to come alive just then and searched her face with eyes which were bright and alive once more; he took her hand to his lips and kissed it with a quiet passion as she smiled reassuringly at him.

"The time will come soon," he said eyeing up her blossoming figure still with some trepidation.

"Not for some weeks yet I hope."

He looked even more worried when she said that, the thought of her getting any bigger and then the child be too large was almost too much to bear.

As if reading his thoughts she replied, "I am not that big….yet."

His eyes widened and he sighed, he had seen many homeless impregnated women in Nottingham and true a lot were much bigger, but then they could be about to bear their eight? Ninth child? While here was Marian embarking on their first.

"Perhaps," he muttered.

"I do not know what to say to reassure you further, other than I love you and even though at times we are not together you will never leave my heart."

Kissing her lightly he whispered. "That for now is enough." and hoped in his heart that is was as he held her close and they looked forward to their future together.

The end…To be continued with a final sequel.

Author's Note : I will be joining some of the chapters together so that I post the next one faster. I have something happening in my life in the next month and need to finish updating by then. I would after that time hope to later post more of my stories here though. Thank you all for reading and replying to this story. It means a lot to me.