The crusader looked straight ahead; his glazed eyes appeared lifeless and spoke of unimaginable horror. Robin sighed, watching the suffering his brother at arms was clearly going through. He and Much exchanged knowing looks, silently acknowledging the pain they both knew the crusader felt.
Robin still suffered from his horrific nightmares, where he was transported back to Acre and the atrocities carried out there every night. Recently, these dreams had changed. He still dreamed of the rivers of blood, the men falling at his side and the ear-piercing screams of the innocent slain before him. However now he also saw Marian standing in the middle of all the corpses, her eyes wide with terror. She would call out to him, pleading with him, only to be cut down before he could reach her. Her blood pouring all over the ground. He runs with all his might, but the bodies keep building up preventing him from reaching her. Before his eyes she is swallowed up as more bodies fall on top of her, until at last only her left hand is visible under the mountain. He cries out her name in anguish as his heart rips from his chest. He can't see any more due to the tears that keep falling, he cries her name as his knees give way beneath him and he falls…falls into the mire of cut up bodies and blood.
Robin shook his head to dispel the memory of his dreams and forced his attention back to the crusader. He noticed that although the man's eyes remained fixed straight ahead, his fingers on his right hand were continually flexing. The rest of the gang eyed the newcomer with caution; they had heard how he had tried to burn the church in Locksley and were unsure of what else he was planning to do. Little John held his staff in front of him, ready to act should the man try and attack them. Only Djaq looked at the crusader with sympathy and a physician's curiosity.
Much sidled over to Robin and asked in a hushed voice "what will we do with him master?". Robin sighed and replied "I do not know Much, he is suffering with the soldier's mind and I do not know how to reach him to overcome that".
Whilst still observing the patient, Djaq slowly walked over to Robin carrying a small bag of vials. "Robin," she whispered "I can give him something to calm his nerves and induce sleep for a little while, but I do not know how to help his mind. In Acre, we tried to study and help these men, but I left before any cure was developed. What would you like me to do for him?". Robin studied the man, unsure of what the best action would be. He looked between Much and Djaq and saw the same deep rooted sympathy and concern for the man in both their eyes.
"Djaq, do what you can to calm him, though I imagine he will not trust anything you give him. Much, my friend, I want you to assist Djaq and help this solider."
At Robin's words, Much frowned and looked at his master with a puzzled expression. Robin, guessing the question on his faithful servants lips answered "I want you to help him Much, as you helped me all those years we were at war together. If anyone can reach him, it's you!". Much smiled proudly at Robin, knowing how much Robin had, and still did, need him.
"Right Much, I'm going to need several herbs collected and I'll need you to convince him to take the tonic", and with that Djaq quickly sent Much to work. Robin smiled as he watched his loyal friend busily running around the camp, trying to complete the numerous errands Djaq had set him. He started to contemplate those times during the campaigns when he had lost all hope, his ever faithful friend had been there to bring him back from the edge of the abyss. One particular day, around two and half years after they left England, stuck out in Robin's mind…