Robin awoke with a start, starting to sober up but still inebriated enough that the headache he was sure to have had not yet begun. He was also completely disoriented for a few crucial moments. Looking around did not help, as it only made his head swim. Laying back and closing his eyes, he waited until he had some semblance of a sense of balance again, and then slowly rolled to his side, to better see where he was.

Ellie Hulme's cottage. That was it. The storm, and the flood; the rabbit, and the whisky. And there was Ellie, herself, on the other side of the room. She was staring up at the ceiling.

"You're awake?" she inquired, without moving.

"I suppose you could call it that."

She seemed to be thinking, and finally said, "For the first three months, I slept right where you are. I couldn't bear to sleep in this bed. And that's when I even slept."

The words left his mouth without his meaning them to. "The waking world is too painful to face, but the minutes before sleep claims you are truly torturous."

Turning her head toward him then, she agreed. "That's exactly it. And beyond that, the bed itself reminded me of so much; not just the obvious, but the things you take for granted. The warmth of the person beside you. Their weight on the mattress. Their scent on the blankets. After four years of that, laying here myself was too cold, and solitary, and bland." She paused, and then asked, "Is it easier or harder, surrounded by your friends? I had invitations from many people to stay with them, but I wasn't sure if that would help. Can you deal with it more easily, when others are sleeping nearby?"

The ache he had felt earlier hit him again. "We never had that opportunity. We were married for..." He trailed off, thinking of their vows when they were tied up in the desert, and then later, when she laid in his arms. "We were married for less than two hours." They had both meant those words the first time they said them, even if he had not given her a ring until the next. Their friends had witnessed their intent, and if God had not, that was His oversight.

Her eyes widened in shock. "Everybody thought... That is to say, we all assumed you'd had some time together, for as long as you were away."

"Most of that time was spent on a ship," he said quietly. "And Marian and I were not on the same ship when we went over."

"So, you never--" Ellie seemed to catch herself, and blessedly did not finish her sentence. "Oh, Robin, I'm so sorry."

He would not mention the number of nights he had lain awake, a litany of regrets parading through his head; the brevity of their union was near the top. But he would never say so, and instead, he shared one truth he had come to realize in recent days. "She was mine, and I was hers. I still am hers. That's enough."

They exchanged a look of understanding, and it occurred to him that in another place and time, in another circumstance, that connection might have led to something more. However, that was not what this bond was about, and they both knew it.

"James Wainwright has asked me if he could come calling," she said abruptly.

Robin had not been expecting that. "What was your answer?"

She sighed, looking back to the ceiling. "That I need to think about it. He's a good man, and it would be nice to have someone to share things with again. And, if the cliff gives way and I manage to survive, I'll be without a home. But... it seems wrong, somehow. As you said, I still am Andrew's." Glancing over at him again, she asked, "What do you think?"

His eyebrows lifted. "That's for you to decide. I would not know what is best for you."

"Best for me," she echoed. "Andrew would want what was best for me." In a small voice, she reflected, "He would not want me to be alone. No matter my objections."

Would Marian want him to finish out life without her? He was not sure. If the situation were reversed, he would ideally want her to pursue happiness in any way she could; but the thought of her with another, after they had pledged themselves to each other, was strange. He opened his mouth to speak, but was cut off by a noise outside.

"Oi! Robin! Ellie!"

After a second's hesitation, they both flew to their feet-- and Robin promptly staggered, catching himself on a chair, whilst Ellie plopped right back down into a sitting position on her bed. With more caution, they went over to the door and, opening it, glanced out.

"The rain's stopped!" Ellie exclaimed, clutching the doorframe. The sky was still gloomy and the air damp, but in the distance, they could see the late afternoon sun dancing on the treetops, light rays pushing their way through the clouds.

Robin grinned, from where he leaned on the opposite side. "And our rescue is here."

The impromptu river was still present, draining from the higher ground to the north, but had slowed somewhat. On the opposite bank, armed with a couple long boards and a new bundle, were the outlaws. With them, was James Wainwright.

Without the pounding of the rain, everyone was able to be heard with no difficulty. "We tied ropes on the ends of these boards, and brought stakes and a mallet," Tuck called. "We will secure this end, and then toss the mallet and stakes over for you to secure yours."

"Sounds good," replied Robin, finding that the fresh, spring air was clearing his mind nicely.

James stepped forward anxiously. "Ellie, are you all right?"

She hesitated before nodding, although whether that was because of the man or the whisky, Robin could not tell. "I'm fine."

Evidently satisfied, he told her, "Your cousin Ben said you might stay with his family, until the paths are better."

Turning to take stock of her cottage's perch on the cliff, she reluctantly agreed. "Very well."

They stepped back to allow John to drop the planks across, and when Much was pounding the first stake into the ground, Ellie said, "I need to collect my things."

That made Robin remember his borrowed outfit. "Me, too."

Trailing her back into the house, Robin gathered up his still-damp clothes, while Ellie picked up the bundle she had taken with her earlier. As she lifted it, the fabric came unwrapped, and the items inside dropped to the floor. With an exclamation, she started picking them up, and he went to help her. A small piece of linen had fluttered nearer to him, and when he took hold of it, he noticed that it was embroidered.

It was a portrait of Andrew.

Gently handing it back to her, he said, "You did a lovely job. It's an excellent likeness."

"Thank you," she murmured, rubbing her thumb lightly over the dyed wool. Then, with a small smile at him, she turned to the wooden chest, and after some digging, produced another linen square. "I nearly forgot, with everything else. I made this for you a few weeks ago, but I wasn't sure if it was too bold of me once it was done. So, I couldn't decide whether or not to give it to you, and did not see a good opportunity to do so, anyway."

He guessed what it was before accepting it from her, but he was still not prepared for the shock of emotion he felt at seeing Marian's likeness. He tried to find words to express his reaction, but could only repeat Ellie's "thank you" back to her. For someone who had only met Marian in passing a couple of times, she captured her well. The colors were nearly as exquisite as those his wife had possessed, and he wondered how Ellie had captured them. Marian's sapphire gaze seemed to admonish him then, aware that he was intentionally focusing on the mechanics of the piece, rather than the meaning; he struggled with the wordless emotions trying to surge up within himself, attempting to keep them at bay with expressed thoughts.

While he studied the small image, she finished packing the things she wished to take. Matter-of-factly, she said, "You might as well take the leftover food with you. I'm not sure I'll be eating anytime soon."

Blinking, he tore his gaze away from the picture. "You are starting to be a bit green around the edges," he commented, glad to be handed an opportunity for levity.

"It will get you, too, Hood," she joked, then immediately winced at the sound of her own voice.

With their bundles in hand, they made their way back outside. The gang was ready to toss the bundle they had brought, with the stakes and mallet, to Robin. He made quick work of securing the simple bridge, and soon, he and Ellie were on the opposite bank.

Much grabbed him in a hug as he stepped off the boards, and Robin grinned when they had moved apart. Handing Much the oilskin in which the remaining two rabbits were wrapped, he asked, "Are you still hungry?"

"Starving, why?" When Much peeked under the wrapping, he exclaimed in excitement. "Let's go back to the cave right now, and I'll cook these up. I think I have some spices in my pack; I should see what I brought from camp."

Patting him on the shoulder, Robin said, "You go on ahead, and I'll catch you up." He was watching Ellie, who was speaking quietly with James. She caught Robin's eye when the outlaws turned to go, and came over to where he was standing.

"How are you feeling?" he inquired lightly.

"Like I drank half a bottle of whisky," she grumbled. "How are you so chipper?"

In truth, he was starting to feel the devil coming on, and hoped to get back to the makeshift camp before it hit him full force. "I'm Robin Hood," he said in as cocky a manner as he could muster. She rolled her eyes, and while nothing could have made her resemble Marian, the action made him think of the fabric tucked into his belt. But he had dealt with those memories enough today.

Gesturing toward her cottage, he remarked, "Your house has not plummeted to the bottom of the cliff."

"No," she agreed. "It appears I still have my home."

"You're going to Locksley, though?"

She nodded. "Might as well."

He nodded, too. "That's good. That's also one less reason to accept his suit."

Ellie turned and peeked at the wagon maker, who was patiently waiting just out of hearing range. "I think I might consider him, regardless." Turning back to Robin, her lips curved up slightly.

He thought he understood. "It's what Andrew would have wanted?"

She snorted. "Probably not that, exactly; but, yes, in theory. I think so."

Smiling back at her, he responded, "I'm glad for you."

After a pause, she said, "I want you to really think about what Lady Marian would have wanted for you. If she would have wanted you to be alone. Promise me that?"

His instinct was to balk, but he could not. Not after the secrets he had shared with her today. "I promise."

"Good." Patting him on the arm, she rejoined James, and the two set off in the direction of Locksley.

Robin started to follow his friends, nearly out of sight ahead of him on the path into the forest, but he stopped and pulled out the portrait of Marian. Silently, he implored her to give him some sign. What did she want from him?

Feeling a fool, he nonetheless waited for an answer, just in case. When nothing happened, he tucked the linen back into his belt.

He would have to figure it out for himself.