Marian sat at her table, distributing medicines and clothes and other such things to the woods' children, as was her custom, when Robin came in, shirt torn, bleeding from his side. He was supported by Will Scarlet and Little John.
She dropped the bowl she was holding and the contents seeped into the forest floor. It had taken her hours to make those medicines, but she was too distraught to care. "Robin!"
Will came towards her as Little John carried Robin into one of the small lodgings.
"There's trouble brewing. John gave your old lands to a man called 'Guy of Gisbourne.' He started up a manhunt and we were caught unawares. Slashed Robin right across the side. Never seen anyone do that to our Robin before."
"Don't worry," he added, seeing how pale her face had gone. "He'll live, it's naught but a scratch."
She pushed Will aside and hurried towards Robin's and her hut. She entered to see Tuck dabbing at his wound with a cloth, his ripped shirt lying discarded beside him.
"Robin!"
"I'm fine, Marian. You ought to go back to the children; I'm not in a state to be seen by a lady."
She breathed a sigh of relief. He was teasing her, the twinkle in his eyes evident enough, and therefore he was going to live.
"It's not as if there's anything on you I haven't seen before," she retorted. She made a show of looking over his chest. "Frankly, I'm not that impressed."
He grinned roguishly. "I'll make you take that back."
Friar Tuck choked down a giggle. Marian bent down and took the cloth from him. "I'll do it."
"As you wish, Marian," he said, and hurried out. Marian sat back on her heels next to Robin and gently continued the cleaning of the wound.
She finished bandaging him as he gritted his teeth.
"Now, you bloody fool, what on earth happened?"
"New bastard in town," he said thickly. Can I have some wine?"
"Not yet. How did you tangle with him?"
"Took my lands and he's decided to start up a hunt. On grounds of my stealing his goods and the King's deer."
"Not charges you haven't heard before... nor untrue ones." She reached over and pulled a wineskin from among Robin's belongings. "Here."
He took it from her with a grunt of thanks and drank deeply. He handed it back to her and wiped his beard with his sleeve.
"I'll be back on my feet in no more than three days. Don't fret. We'll have to keep everyone in the camp, though. We have enough food. Don't let the men out until we can ascertain that Gisborne's given up."
"Very well." She kissed him gently and stood. "Don't even think about moving about till I say you can. You need to heal."
"Ask me nicely," he said, and grinned.
She grinned back and left without another word.