BBC owns everything you recognize.

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"Well, right them. Good-bye Djaq." Will said stonily, before turning and striding away.

Djaq watched as her love walked away from her, leaving her standing in the aviary, feeling as if the whole world had fallen from under her..

Robin looked at her sadly, "I am sorry, Djaq."

She shook her head, not even attempting to stop the tears that flowed.

"It is ok. I understand how he feels and that he is angry. I just hope one day he will find it in his heart to forgive me."

Robin put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "He will. And when you are ready, we will all be waiting for you, at home."

He stressed the last word, knowing that England was where Djaq truly felt she belonged. Truth be told, he could not understand her choice to remain behind in the Holy Land, but he respected it. He had half expected Will to say he was staying with her, but Will had looked just as shocked as everyone else when she made her announcement.

"Some day, I will return, I promise. But there are things here that need my attentions."

"I know." Robin hugged her close, and then turned to leave. One by one, Little John, Much, and, finally Allan said their goodbyes.

"What'd you have to go and do this for, then? Will's gonna be bloody moody all the way home." Allan tried to joke as he held her tightly.

"It is for the best. Some day, some day you will all understand. He will understand."

Allan released her, and brushed away some tears. "All right, sweetheart. Don't keep us waiting too long."

"I won't."

He squeezed her hand and then followed the others out.

Djaq walked over to the window and looked down as they set out on their journey home. Much turned around often to look back at her, as if he couldn't quite believe she wasn't coming with them. Soon, they had all passed from her sight, except for one lone figure.

Will turned and stared up at her.

She raised a hand in a wave.

He looked away and rounded the corner.

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Djaq followed the path from the main house through the gardens. At the end of them was another, smaller building, that her father had once used for storing all his medicines and supplies.

Gently, she pushed open the door. The inside was dark and much cooler than outside. Along three walls were shelves of jars and little bottles and books. Most were covered in dust from not being touched in years. The desk still had her father's medical diaries sitting on them, waiting to be perused.

Along the fourth wall was a cot.

Djaq made her way over and had a seat on the little stool beside the cot. She studied the lifeless form before her.

"All right, sleepy head. It is time to wake up." Plucking a little bottle up from the nightstand, she pulled out the stopper and brought it to the nose of the woman.

Jerking, the woman's eyes flew open, but she was still too weak to do much more than that.

"Dj-djaq? Are they gone? Am I ok? Is it ok?"

"Yes to all three, Marian."

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Will stared out over the water, as he had for hours, every day since they had left port.

How could she make this choice without telling him? They'd just made it known that they loved each other, they had just started! And now, it was over.

This numbness was something he'd never felt before. Not when his mum died, not when his dad died. This was just complete emptiness.

"All right, mate?" Allan's voice jarred him from his thoughts.

"Wha-? Oh, yeah. Just thinkin', that's all."

"You've been doing a lot more thinkin' than even you do, Will Scarlett. Come on now. It'll be all right. She'll come back one day."

"But when is one day?! Anything could happen to her! And I just walked away from her! I just left her! But she didn't even tell me, it was like she just forgot me."

"I don't think Djaq could ever forget you. But, it seems to me like she's got a trick or two up her sleeve. When she's ready for us to know, she'll come back. You know she will."

"I just admitted to her, to myself, to everyone...that I love her. And it would be just the way of the world, for me to lose her forever."

He stumbled sideways from the force of the blow to the head from Allan.

"Don't talk like that, you daft idiot! Sitting here feeling sorry for yourself isn't going to help anyone, is it? Robin lost Marian forever, but he knows she wouldn't want him to mope about like a kicked puppy. He's in there planning and strategizing, for all of us and bloody England! Whatever Djaq is doing, I guarantee you it's with our best interests mind. So don't sit there all pissy and ungrateful!"

Will leaned against the side of the ship, holding his head, stunned from both the blow and Allan's honest words.

Allan sighed and put a hand on on Will's shoulder.

"Look, I didn't mean to be so harsh, but if Djaq's not here to take everyone to task, somebody's got to do it."

Will nodded. "I know."

"Come on, let's go play cards or something. This ship is bloody boring."

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