Prompt: Robin's backstory for any story or as a stand alone for the one we were promised.
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His mug clinked against the other, ale splashing over everyone's hands as they tipped their heads back to quaff deeply.
The ale was strong and sharp, but not too bitter, and went down smoothly.
He and the Merry Men had heard reports of a village under siege from the mysterious flying monkeys that were starting to show up more and more frequently.
Those monkey's were worrying. No one had ever seen anything like them in this realm, and no one seemed to really know anything about them.
When they arrived at the village, they'd been thrust right into battle. Several off the beasts were swooping between houses, shrieking like demons as they attacked houses and carried off livestock.
Luckily, most of the Merry Men were veterans of at least one war, so they'd managed to jump right into action, and, took down four flying monkeys. At that point the rest fled to the west.
The villagers greeted them liked heroes after that and treated them to dinner and local ale. During the feast Robin managed to speak with the village elders about the flying monkeys. All that they knew about them seemed to be fear and rumor...that they attacked without warning, that they were controlled by a mysterious sorcerer who'd created a strong hold in the former northern kingdom, and that anyone who the monkeys attacked disappeared forever. It was all very worrying.
They setup a watch schedule and stayed for a while to make sure the monkeys didn't come back.
After a peaceful week, the Merry Men decided to move on and had been sent off with a cart of ale and foodstuffs.
Robin attempted to refuse several times, but was assured by the elders that the village was prosperous and had more than enough food to help. From what he'd seen in their time there, that did seem to be true, and winter was coming soon so the supplies would be a big help to the Merry Men.
The casks of ale and beef certainly put them in good spirits during their first night back on the road.
"Robin, more stew?" John asked as he passed out plates from the cooking pot.
"No, thank you," he shook his head, taking another sip of his ale. As he relaxed and observed his men, he noticed that one, in particular was absent. The one Merry Man who wasn't actually a man.
Looking around where they had set up camp, he noticed the glow of another fire through the trees.
As was her usual habit, Mulan had set up her tent separate from the rest of the camp.
He frowned. Since she'd joined the Merry Men then young warrior woman had been quiet and distant, not really seeming to want to join the group even though he'd privately told all of the Merry Men to make her feel welcome.
"John!" Robin caught his attention, "One more bowl, please."
Catching his tone of voice, Little John looked at him questioningly, but Robin shook his head subtly. Nodding, John ladled up a dish of stew and passed it over wordlessly.
Picking up a piece of crusty bread to put on the side, Robin quietly left the rancorous group and made his way through the trees.
Away from the light of the fire, the forest was cold. The air chilling him to his skin, and giving away just how soon it would be that the nights got longer and the first snow fall came.
As he reached the small clearing where Mulan had set up camp, she was sitting on a log next to the fire she'd built, staring absently into the flames. At his approach, Khan tossed his head and snorted, but calmed at the sight of someone familiar.
He saw Mulan's hand instinctively twitch toward her sword before also relaxing.
He smiled as she looked up at him, "You didn't have supper."
"Oh, thank you," she said quietly as he handed her the plate and took a seat on the log next to her, placing himself far enough away that she didn't feel crowded.
They both stared quietly into the fire as Mulan held the plate in her hands, but made no effort to eat.
"Not hungry?" he finally asked.
"Hm?" she glanced at him then back at the plate, "Oh...no, I'm sorry, not really."
"It's alright," he assured her.
"You should see if someone else wants it," she handed the plate back to him.
He took it, but instead of taking it back to the group as suggested, he sat it down on one of the rocks she'd used to build her fire pit.
"It'll stay warm and you can eat it later," Robin said.
She didn't answer, instead simply staring off aimlessly.
"Listen, Mulan," he said quietly, "I meant to talk to you about something..."
Looking over at him, she asked, "Yes?"
"I concerned about you," he explained.
"Why?"
"Well...you don't really seem happy with the Merry Men. You never join us for meals. I rarely even see you speak with any of the men," he told her, "I just anted to know if there were anything I could do to help?"
"No," Mulan shook her head, "Robin, I'm perfectly well-"
"You aren't," he interrupted, "I can tell you aren't. You're losing weight and you're distracted all the time."
She hung her head, "I'm sorry. I'll do better, I promise."
"That wasn't exactly what I meant," he told her, waiting a moment before getting right to the point, "What happened last month?"
She looked at him in surprise, "What do you mean?"
"I mean the day you joined the Merry Men. I didn't ask what happened because I wanted to give you your privacy, but I'm worried about you. This person you went to see," he asked, "It was someone you love, wasn't it?"
Looking away from him she nodded weakly, "Yes."
"And what happened?"
She shook her head, "I can't."
"He doesn't feel the same way?"
She shook her head again, a tear falling down her cheek.
"I'm so sorry," Robin said, "Though if this young man can't see how amazing you are he isn't worth your time...and perhaps he'll come to his senses."
Mulan sniffed, a dark laugh falling from his lips, "I don't think so."
"You never know."
"No," she shook her head, "It's not that simple, it's..."
"What?" Robin asked.
"It's not..." He waited as she stared up at him, finally she turned away and said so softly that he barely, "It's not a man."
He blinked, "What do you mean?"
"I am in love but not with a man," she explained, looking pointedly away from him.
"Oh," he caught her meaning, also looking away. He watched the flames dancing for a moment, adjusting to the surprise. Looking back it made perfect sense and felt rather foolish for not guessing sooner, "I see."
She sighed, straightening her back, "I can be gone by morning."
"What?" he turned her, "Why?"
"You still want me around your men?" she asked, her voice heavy with doubt and bitterness.
"Why wouldn't I?" he asked, "You're the same person you were when I asked you to join the Merry Men."
Her lips dropped open slightly and she was quiet before she finally said, "That's very...accepting, of you."
He laughed, "I've seen many things, Mulan. Many of the men here have. The Merry Men are about helping those in need and doing the right thing...not judging, especially each other."
During his speech Mulan had watched him with wide eyes, and when he stopped speaking she finally looked away, "I don't know what to say."
He gently reached over to rest his hand over hers and squeezed reassuringly, "We're your friends, Mulan. This won't change that."
Her bottom lip quivered and more tears started falling.
Finally unable to take it any more, Robin scooted closer and put his arm over her shoulders. Not fighting him, she allowed herself to lean against his shoulder and let out a soft sob.
"I'm sorry," she said through tears.
"Not to worry," he told her, "We've all been there."
She laughed and said again doubtfully, "You've been here?"
He shrugged, "Plenty a lass broke my heart."
This time her laugh was genuine as she wiped away tears but left her head against his shoulder.
"I don't know if it's even just about...her," Mulan said, "I do appreciate how welcoming you and the Merry Men have been, Robin, I really do, but sometimes I just feel so alone and..."
"Yes?" he prompted.
"I miss my family," she admitted quietly, "It's been so long since I've seen them. My father was ill when I left home...I don't even know if he's still alive!"
"How long has it been?" Robin asked.
She sniffed again, "When the curse struck it had been three years."
He studied the woman in his arms. Since the curse time had so little meaning. By all calculations it had been 28 years since the curse struck, meaning it had been 31 since she'd seen her family and that was a long time. On the other hand, though, he recalled her once telling him that she'd just come of age when the emperor of the eastern lands drafted her father into the army. As far as he knew, the age of majority in the east was 16, which would mean she'd been stuck at the age of 19.
Like most people in this frozen world, she was wise beyond her years, but as he looked at her, he realized how emotionally young she still was, and in her he saw someone who'd spent a lot of time fighting and very little living. She looked very lost.
"If you'd like to go home and see your family, I understand," Robin told her, "I'll help you find passage-"
"No!" she objected, "I can't!"
"Why no?"
"Because I...I just can't! Not like this!"
"Like what?"
She sighed, "I always felt like I was different. I didn't know why, I just had this feeling deep down that there was something in me, something that would break my family's heart, and now that I know what it is I don't think I can go back to hiding it."
"Who says you have to?"
"You don't understand," she insisted, "I'm their only child. Leaving home to join the army was bad enough, but if I now tell them that I'll never be able bring our family honor by bearing a son..."
"You're brave, and true, and you love your family. That's very honorable."
She didn't respond but he could tell she didn't believe what he was saying.
"Your family will want to see you," he pushed, "If Roland left home to protect me, I'd spend the rest of my days trying to find him again. I'd want to see him no matter what. You don't stop loving your child, Mulan. The question is do you want to see them?"
She was quiet but finally nodded 'yes.'
"Well then, next town we're in with a caravan going east, you can set off from there."
Sitting up from his shoulder Mulan looked at him, "Thank you, Robin. You've been a good friend to me...honestly, you're the only friend I have who really knows me."
"Well, I'm honored," he told her, "But I'm sure that won't be true forever. You'll find companions who accept you...and someone who'll love you."
She chuckled, "I'm not sure I believe that, but thank you."
With that she turned her body toward him and held out her hand. He accepted the handshake, which turned into an impromptu embrace. As they broke apart, he could see that she seemed lighter. Sadness still hung around her, but she seemed more hopeful than she had since before joining the Merry Men.
"Well," he said, rising from the log, "I'll see you in the morning."
"Goodnight," Mulan said.
As he turned to make his way back to the main camp, she called after him, "Robin!"
When he glanced back over his shoulder she said, "I think you'll find that too."
"What?"
"You heard me," she told him, "I think you'll find that too."
He looked at her sadly, "I did once."
"You will again."
"That's kind of you," he answered, "But I don't think-"
"Trust me this time," she interrupted, her voice insistent.
He smiled, "Alright then, my friend. I trust you."
She clearly saw through the attempt to humor him and said, "Fine but you'll see. Next time we see each other you'll see him right and you'll owe me an ale!"
He shook his head, laughing as he made his way back to camp.
THE END