We have many problems. Most of them guard-shaped.

"Am I to believe we have an understanding, then?" she clucked, her lips drawing into a false pout ,"You do exactly as I ask, and you reap your reward. You fail…and I kill you. It’s really not too complicated, I should hope. One option quite outweighs the other.”

“We have an understanding,” he rasped, breathing heavily. “I bring you Snow White’s heart and you restore my title and lands.”

Oh god, Snow, forgive me, he thought, closing his eyes. He had no idea how he was going to get them both out of this.

“Drives me crazy, does it? I think you mean to say it drives you crazy, Marian,” he teased. As usual, she made an astute observation, and he sighed. He hoped she was right and that they would not notice her absence, but he knew Gisborne would be the one to notice her gone more than anyone.

He grimaced as she asked after the well being of the people, and he shook his head. “Tired, hungry and weak,” he admitted. “The lads and I do our best to provide what we can catch in the forest, but...” He trailed off, shaking his head. It never seemed to be enough. Raiding the kitchens at Nottingham Castle had worked a couple of times, but they couldn’t keep that up for long. “The Sheriff will keep raising the taxes. Meanwhile, the people will starve because they have nothing left for themselves, and soon there won’t be anyone to pay taxes! It just—”

She can only look away, press her lips together. She cannot argue with that- she knew the Scarlett  boys too, good, kind, spirited lads who did not deserve to die. Her husband cannot blamed for his actions in that regard. She would have done the same…

If only…

“Robin…” She steps forward, palms against his chest as she meets his gaze, needing him to understand.

“I can’t come with you. There’s… there’s something…”

She knows him well. That had been exactly what he was going to ask her — to come with him into the forest. They can build a life there. It won’t be the same as Locksley manor, won’t be nearly as comfortable or luxurious, and they’ll have to work harder, but at least they’d be together.

That she says she can’t go with him stings, and he looks at her with hurt in his eyes, even as he lays his hands over hers on his chest. “Constance,  please. You must come with me. It won’t be safe for you here, and I know forest life won’t be easy but we’ll make it work. As long as we’re together, we can do anything.”

Marian surprised Robin from behind, covering his eyes with her hands while a smile played on her lips.

“Robin of Locksley, you are rather careless.”

“Hardly careless, Marian. Merely focused.” He turned to face her, loosening his grip on her hands in case she wanted to pull them away. “What are you doing here? You should be at the castle.” Not hiding on the outskirts of the forest, watching the village of Clun.

“Shutup,” Djaq rolled her eyes, giving his arm a shove.