A/N: Hope you enjoy!

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Rising to the Challenge

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Guy's eyes glinted dangerously. 'There are people nearby,' he said softly, his breath hot on her ear. 'I can be quiet – can you?' Marian set her chin defiantly and clamped her mouth firmly closed, immediately feeling a stab of irritation caused by the knowing grin that spread across his face. It was a challenge, of course she knew that – but Marian of Knighton had never been one to back down, and she was hardly about to begin now.

Then she almost gasped as he pinned her hands on the leaf-strewn ground above her head. She glared at him, but he was unmoved. He understood the reproach in those eyes well enough, but he wanted to hear the voice telling him. 'Taken a vow of silence, have we?' Then he chuckled. 'You're a fine one to join a monastery.' Despite herself, Marian blushed hotly; with his body pressed against hers his words were beginning to give her thoughts no respectable maid should have.

Adjusting himself so that she was still pinned down with one of his hands, the other one roamed free; she watched it in apprehension before it went out of her line of vision. And then all at once she could feel where it was and she almost forgot herself and cried out, only just stopping herself by biting down on her lip so hard that it began to bleed. Her heart was racing and her breath was coming in gasps, but still she refused to make a sound. Despite himself, he was impressed.

She could feel something hard pressing against her thigh. 'You don't know how long I've waited for this moment,' he growled. Good Lord. This had gone far enough. As he reached down to unsheath his sword, he made the mistake of loosening his grip on her hands. Taking the opportunity, she slammed her fist as hard as she could into his face.

Guy cursed, clutching his nose while the other hand scrabbled uselessly at the hilt of his sword. But it was too late. By the time the stars had cleared from his vision, despite the sharp punch she had sustained to her ribs, the Nightwatchman had melted into the shadows.

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A/N: Did I get you? Come on, you thought 'unsheathing his sword' was a cheesy euphemism, didn't you? Admit it (in a review)!