I do not own Robin Hood BBC or the characters. Only my thoughts and that's even questionable.
Knowing something of the loss of a brother-in-arms.
Dedicated to my best friend (Sasquatch). I held you as you died.
For where you have gone I have yet to follow.
(Calvin)
Prologue:
Much and Robin are twins that were separated at birth but did not know until after the Holy Land, and like my twin tend to share a mental link represented by words here. Were Robin has a gift with a bow, Much's is with a sword.
Much's talking and ignorance is only an act so he doesn't have to fight since he tends to forget not to kill.
Remember, Much survived the Holy Land and fought alongside Robin, so he must be at least as good, and knowing how protective he is of Robin, probably better.
Marian didn't die in the Holy Land, and Djaq and Will returned with Robin and the gang.
For some background to my stories please read:
SilasBrandybuck, Mentor and beta reader. You-ll-Be-the-Death-of-Me
Also:
Empathise-Much
I-Was-There-When-You-Died
A Secret Revealed
Chapter 1
The gang runs towards the tree line and its apparent safety from the pursuing guards. Just inside they stop momentarily to rest and check for pursuit. Will calls back to the rest, "They've stopped and are returning to the castle. Allan breathing hard replies, "Good!" Much speaking up, "That was too easy! It's a trap!" The gang stares at their resident pessimist. Robin looks at his friend and asks, "Can't anything be easy with you?" Much looks back and exclaims, "No! Not if it's us." Almost as one the gang calls out, "Shut it!" Much gives Robin a hurt look to which he shrugs.
Robin beckons and they continue running deeper in to the forest. When they reach the glade halfway to their camp, they stop once more checking for pursuit. Allan looks at Much and says, "See?" Much sighs and is just about to give in when six guards separate from their hiding places among the trees and foliage drawing their swords. The gang looks around startled as the guards shout and attack. Much calls out, "I told you!" To a person the rest call back just before they engage, "SHUT IT!" The guards split up and one runs to each gang member engaging them in melee.
Robin dispatches his guard quickly then looks around to help the closest member, but stops when he hears his loyal friend shout, "Robin!" He quickly turns and watches as Much draws his sword that was given to him by the King in the Holy Land, toys with, then dispatches the annoyance in yellow and black livery. Just as Much looks up seemingly to apologize for forgetting not to kill the guard, Robin watches as a silhouette separates itself from the shadow of a tree revealing a guard drawing his sword silently creeping up behind his best friend.
Robin, grinning to himself about the last man Much always forgets about, nocks an arrow and draws his bow. As he does so a dark overpowering presence clouds his mind and he hears a loud voice say, 'You will kill your best friend.' Robin shoots and instantly the presence is gone. He closes his eyes and shakes his head, when he opens his eyes once more he stares appalled that the arrow meant for the guard is now imbedded in the chest of his friend and yells, "NO!" frightening the birds from their roosts and causing every eye to turn towards him. A muffled silence surrounds him as his vision narrows and the world seems to move in slow motion watching the man in front of him drop his prized sword and reach for the arrow protruding from his chest in disbelief.
In horrid incredulity, Robin's mind moving like it's swimming through mud thinks, Why is he doing that? He watches asthis man who's been by his side as long as he can remember stares back at him in shock while falling to the ground with a mix of horror and betrayal, his eyes wide, mouth agape, This can't be happening!
As Much is collapsing, Robin once again becomes aware that the last breathing guard is approaching Much from behind swinging his blade at him. Without thinking, instinct taking over from the Holy Land, Robin nocks an arrow and shoots the guard through the neck severing his spine instantly killing him.
At once Robin is kneeling over his friend whom he's thought of as his only brother since infancy, his bow and sword carelessly cast aside in the leaves forgotten like the rest of the world. Panicked, his eyes and hands frantically search the body of his best friend trying to find some other cause for his collapse denying the arrow protruding from his chest. Finding none he gently lays his left hand on Much's chest next to the arrow and grips Much's searching hand with his right and reluctantly acknowledges that it is his arrow that has taken down his best friend. Shocked beyond belief he thinks, I just shot my best friend. How could I shoot my best friend?
Much feels someone drop down beside him and staring up wide-eyed he recognizes his master and reaches his scarred left hand towards him, and in shock he whispers, "You shot me… Why?" Robin takes Much's hand in his own unable to utter a word. With darkness closing in on him he asks, "Why master?" His voice losing strength, "What did I do wrong?" and with his last breath before he passes out Robin can barely make out, "I'm sorry." His eyes close before Robin can answer.
Robin hovering above him thinks to himself, He thinks I shot him on purpose! Why would he think that? His heart breaks at the thought but now's not the time to dwell on it. Robin, without taking his eyes off his friend, frantically shouts, "DJAQ!"
The gang runs quickly to their side staring in disbelief at Much who is lying unmoving on the leaf strewn ground, blood welling up from the arrow wound in his chest staining his tunic crimson. Allan voicing what everyone is thinking exclaims, "Good God mate. You shot Much!"
Robin looks up through wet, bloodshot eyes, his hands shaking uncontrollably shakes his head bewildered by the visions and cries of his guardsmen dying in the Holy Land whose hands he once held now like he's holding Much's as they died. But this, this feels different, more personal, as though he's the one lying on the ground dying. Unable to think straight at this point he stares blankly at those around him feeling Much's pain as though it was his own and stutters, "I... I just shot my only brother."
Robin wavers, his eyes roll back and close as he collapses on top of his best friend. His hand resting on Much's chest being the only reason he doesn't land directly on the arrow. For a moment longer the gang stands still in ridged shock.
Djaq drops to her knees and checks Much for a pulse. She sighs gratefully, leans back, and says, "Alhamdulillah (Praise be to Allah) He's still alive."
She then reaches over and checks Robin, shaking her head with a hint of humor and tells the gang, "It appears as though our fearless leader has fainted." Djaq turning her attention back to Much says, "It looks like he just missed his heart. I won't know how bad it is until after we remove the arrow. We need to get the both of them back to camp right now."
Looking at the men standing dumbfounded around her, she calls out, "Will, you and Allan carry Robin and John you carry Much."
She stands and places her hand on Little John's arm warning him, "Be very careful. I don't know how close the arrow is to anything major but too much movement might be the end of him." Little John nods and bending over, he gently rolls Robin off of Much and onto his back next to him then gingerly picks up Much and holds the wounded man in his arms as he would his own sleeping son.
Allan and Will walk over and examine the dead guard who has an arrow embedded in his throat and look at each other concerned. Will assessing the actions of his leader to Allan, "He misses the guard and hit Much in the chest, but then shoots an arrow dead center of the guard's neck killing him while he was moving… Something's wrong." Allan just as perplexed as his friend tells him, "Aye mate. Something's cocked up. Robin never misses what he aims at and he certainly would never intentionally hurt Much. Those two are too much like brothers."
They return to their unconscious leader and collect Robin's, Much's, and the guards' weapons, divide and strap them to themselves as best they can along with the silver from the castle. They lift the still unconscious Robin between them with an arm over each of their shoulders and drag their leader back to camp with them.
When Little John and Djaq reach their hidden camp, Djaq grabs Much's blankets and quickly builds a pallet on the ground near the still burning fire while Little John waits patiently. When Djaq indicates that she's ready Little John lays Much gently down on the pallet trying not to jostle him.
Little John thinking about the others and their unconscious burden asks, "Djaq do you need help?"
Djaq, bending over Much, more concerned about him, tells Little John, "No. I'm good, go help with Robin. I'll get things ready here… And hurry back as fast as you can."
Little John turns and quickly exits the camp heading back the way they came to relieve Will and Allan of their burden.
Djaq wastes no time preparing to remove the arrow. She packs cloths around the wound to staunch the flow of blood then gathers her herbs and clean bandages and builds up the fire setting a cauldron of water on to boil and returns to watch over her charge. She has removed many arrows before from a limb or shoulder to be confident that the person will survive, but one in the chest as close to the heart as this one, well, this is a different matter.
Much regains consciousness, grimaces, and painfully mutters to Djaq, "Where's Robin?"
Djaq with a bit of laughter in her voice, "He fainted. Little John has gone to collect him from Will and Allan." She watches as Much grins, then grimaces in pain. Djaq places her hand against his cheek and whispers to the stricken man, "Lie still. We'll remove the arrow in a moment."
She leaves him when she hears the water boil and pours some of the water into a pitcher and mixes up a good strong batch of her pain tonic. She then puts a few cloth bandages in the remaining boiling water and waits by Much checking him occasionally while waiting for the others to return. When the cloths have boiled long enough she gets up to remove the bandages and rags from the pot, wrings them out, and hangs them to cool and dry.
After what seems like forever but is only a moment or two, she hears the rest of the gang enter the hidden camp. Little John is carrying their still unconscious leader and lays his burden gently on Robin's bunk and returns to Djaq sitting down on the opposite side of Much from her.
Djaq turns to Robin but notices that their leader is still out and calls to Will, "Will, bring me Robin's arrows. I need to know how deep this one is and what type of tip it has." Will removes the arrows from Robin's quiver and notices that there are two different types. Some have only a wooden point and some have metal. He shakes his head and takes them to Djaq.
Djaq sighs when she takes the arrows and says, "So much for simple. Will, see if you can wake Robin, we need to find out if we must push it through or can pull it out."
Will shakes his head not wanting this task, but nervously walks over to Robin anyway. He stops as Allan reaches Robin first and gives Allan a look of gratitude retreating back to Djaq and Little John and watches Allan.
Allan hesitates remembering what Much told them happens if anyone other than himself uses their hand to wake him. Allan, standing as far back as possible, unable to use a stick as they need to wake him now, stretches out his hand, shakes Robin's shoulder, and jumps away as Robin jerks awake. But this time Robin lays still, his eyes searching for, then locking on, the still form of his friend lying on the ground next to the fire and their healer with his arrow still protruding from his chest.
Allan steps back up to Robin and says, "Robin, Djaq needs to know what type of arrow struck Much. What type of tip? Do you remember?" Robin, his eyes glued on his friend lying on the ground next to the fire, replies as though his mind is elsewhere, "Wooden."
Djaq takes the wooden tipped arrow that Will gives her and measures it against one embedded in Much and finds that its more than half the way through Much's chest.
Robin, lying on his side, watches them with a desperate pained look on his face. The same thoughts constantly repeating, I shot my best friend… The only person I can absolutely trust. I should be the one tending him... I shot my best friend… Robin rolls over facing the wall so his gang cannot see his torment.
Little John asks Much to open his mouth and places a wooden stick wrapped with leather in it for him to bite on as Djaq looks up at the back of their leader and says, "Robin, the arrow is deeply buried in his chest. He's your best friend, do you want to remove it or shall I?" Robin remains on his bunk unmoving.
When Robin doesn't respond, Djaq sighs and returns her attention to the wounded man and slowly reaches for the arrow. But when she barely touches it, Much bites down hard on the wood and releases a bone chilling howl. Robin convulses and is instantly out of his bunk and behind Djaq. He places a shaking hand on her shoulder and stares down at his wounded friend.
Djaq stands up, nods somberly to Robin, and moves to Much's head to supervise. Robin drops down next to Much, leans over, and trying to keep the tremor from his voice he whispers, "I'm truly sorry my friend but it has to be done." Much, hearing his friend's voice next to him, looks with complete trust at Robin, nods, and relaxes.
Djaq, talking to Robin as to a student, forgetting that both of these men are crusaders tells him, "Robin, twist it as you pull. It reduces the chance of splinters remaining or enlarging the wound making it worse than it is." Then, knowing just how attached Robin is to his friend she sternly tells him, "And Robin… No matter what, go slow. Do not yank… No matter how much he screams."
Little John presses his hands down flat against Much's chest with all of his weight around the arrow to keep Much from arching his back as Will holds down his legs as Allan takes both of Much's wrists crosses them and holds them firmly to restrain him the best he can.
Robin gently asks his friend, "Much, are you ready?" Much, with tears in his eyes bites down hard on the wood and nods. Robin looks at each of his gang and every one nods as well. With his hand around the arrow, he takes a deep steadying breath and through clenched teeth says, "Now." and, using his thumb and fingers, twists the arrow as he slowly removes it in one smooth motion steadfastly ignoring Much's agonized screams.
Robin, sits back with a whole bloody arrow in his shaking hand. After a moment he exchanges places with Djaq taking the arrow with him and cradles Much's head as he watches his unconscious friend's thin chest move as he breathes.
Djaq speaking slowly, "Robin, check the arrow and make sure it's smooth and complete... Robin!" Robin, startles, comes back from his thoughts, and rubs the length of the arrow's shaft and tip with his fingertips and quietly says, "It's whole." Thinking while he slowly turns the arrow in his fingers, I helped make this arrow. He looks at his hands now coated with his friend's blood and places the arrow on the pallet next to him then stares once more at his hands in grief.
After a moment he wipes his hands and fingers on his tunic then removes the wooden stick from Much's slack mouth, drops it next to him, and rests one of his hands on Much's shoulder gently stroking the top of Much's head with his other while quietly watching Djaq. But after a while it doesn't look like Djaq is doing anything and he begins to get nervous. It appears like she's just sitting there watching the steady flow of blood from the wound.
Just as he's about to tell her to do something, Little John reaches over to put his hand over the wound. Djaq stops him and nods sensing that Robin is also getting anxious and explains, "I'm watching to make sure that the blood is flowing out, not pulsing, and that there are no bubbles. It looks like the arrow missed his heart, artery, and lungs, and letting the blood flow freely allows the body to wash any debris out the wound. If it was spurting or had bubbles, it would have been only a matter of time before he died. However, he will still be in great pain as the wound will heal slowly and there is no doubt that he will have a fever so we need to be ready." Both Robin and the rest release an audible sigh.
Djaq moves the blood soaked tunic aside, then takes up her needle and thread and sews up the wound making sure it's tightly closed.
She then cleans the wound while Robin washes the blood from Much's chest, and with clean dry cloths Djaq puts a bandage over it. Robin, with Little John's help, lifts Much and removes his bloodied tunic as Little John uses the rest of the rags to mop up as much blood as he can, then lays him back down.
Djaq speaking to Robin, "We need to keep the bandages clean and change them often as he has lost too much blood and now needs to rest." Djaq pauses and looks at Robin then asks, "Robin, did you hear what I said?" Robin stares at the pile of bloody rags, nods slightly but doesn't reply.
Djaq gets up and walks over to Much's kitchen where she pours some of her herbal tonic into a mug brings it back over to Robin telling him, "When he wakes he will be in great pain. Have him drink all of this. Now, remove your jerkin so I can wash it before the blood sets." When Robin makes no move to do so, she places her hand on his head and strokes his hair and says, "Robin..." Robin slowly looks up at her and she repeats, "I need you to remove your tunic." Robin slowly takes off his tunic and Djaq takes it from him, and hands him the mug of tonic. Robin takes the mug and places it next to him and returns to his trance like state staring at his wounded friend. She sighs and asks Will to follow her to the river to wash up and to wash the blood from the rags they used and Robin and Much's tunics.
Through the afternoon forest on their way to the nearest stream, Will with concern for Robin tells Djaq, "I know Robin saw the guard coming up from behind Much and must have been aiming for him, but he misses the guard and hits Much instead almost killing him. Robin never misses." Will thinking back to when he was being hanged by the Sheriff and says, "He cut the rope of the noose around my neck with one shot and then after he shoots Much he shoots an arrow dead center of the moving guard's throat killing him."
Djaq comments, "But Robin will not kill anymore."
Will chuckles, "He will if Much is in danger." Then shakes his head, "I wonder what caused him to miss and hit Much?"
Djaq shrugs, "Maybe it was just an accident. He could also be tired, I've noticed that neither have been sleeping well and I've seen them talking quietly at night many times. Maybe their nightmares are getting worse."
When they reach the stream, Will wades into the middle, up to his knees, and grimacing at its coldness. He catches the soap and Robin's tunic. He holds the tunic up to the afternoon sun and examines all of the repair holes and tells Djaq, "Much has repaired this far too many times." He drops Robin's tunic into the water and washes out the blood with the soap. After he's done he wrings it out and tosses it back to Djaq who hangs it up on a nearby tree branch and tosses Will Much's tunic to wash and when he's finished with it, the blood soaked cloths. Downstream the river flows red. After Djaq and Will finish up, Will fills a bucket with water and they walk back to camp.