Love in the Holy Land Love in the Holy Land
This is set just after the dramatic series 2 finale
Chapter one – Bad Leg
Marian groaned. "Djaq?" she asked the Saracen girl by her bed.
"No," Djaq replied from across the room, "I'm over here."
But Marian didn't, she was too deep in her dream, her nightmare. She tossed and turned, calling out to various gang members. Djaq shook her gently and she woke up.
"Djaq, Djaq I hade that dream again," she was hot and sweaty but she felt something cool on her forehead. It was a damp cloth that the girl by her bed had put there.
Djaq muttered a few words in Arabic and the girl left.
"Djaq it was that nightmare where Guy stabbed my stomach and I died in Robin's arms. It was awful!" Marian started to cry; she'd been having the same nightmare for the 2 months, ever since Guy had attacked her leg with a sword after pouring her heart out to him. She had collapsed into Robin's arms, having just arrived, and then it went black.
By the time she woke up the gang had decided to return to England without her, she was to return her leg was healed. She'd stayed behind with Will and Djaq in their capable hands (well, Djaq's!). But the wound was worse than Djaq had first thought. But, after 2 long months, she was finally better.
"Can I try again today?" pleaded Marian. Djaq just nodded. The previous day Marian had tried to walk on her leg but had only crumpled into Will's arms. She was desperate to walk again. The sooner she could walk, the sooner she could go home, to England, to Robin, her Robin.
"Maybe, if you feel well enough"
"I do!" cried Marian, and to show how well she felt she sat up defiantly and swung her legs out of bed. Djaq sighed and reached for Marian's hand knowing that Marian wouldn't give up. Marian pushed Djaq's hand away; she wanted to do it by herself. She took a deep breath and stood up. The pain was considerably less than the day before. She took this as a sign of encouragement as she took a shaky step forwards, towards England
Chapter 2 – Foursome
Djaq sent a message ahead to the rest of the gang to let them know that they were on their way back home. She sent the message with her most trusted pigeon: Lardner (with his ring)
The message read as follows:
Marian's leg is better and she can walk again.
We on our way back to England; we should be there in a few weeks. We can't wait to see you again, and Marian is especially looking forward to seeing Robin!
The four of us will see you soon!
Love
Marian, Will and Djaq
The message was short and to the point, after all, he's only one small bird!
When Robin received the message he was thrilled and set about making the camp more 'woman friendly'. But one thing was bothering him. In the letter Djaq had said 'the four of us will see you soon'. What did she mean the four of them?
He even asked the gang, but they didn't have any idea either. He dismissed it as a mistake, but Djaq was normally so accurate!
Allan even made the crazy suggestion that Marian might be pregnant!
After about 2 weeks of travelling and a lot of sand in her mouth Marian could finally see the outskirts of the forest! All this walking had meant that her leg was completely healed and she had a nice big scar!
When the camp came into sight she ran, so did Will. Djaq lagged behind a bit holding her sides.
Robin embraced Marian in a tight hug and inhaled her sweet scent. It was a little masked by sweat but still there.
"Djaq," Robin suddenly remembered the odd message and picked it up from a chest near by, "This was odd! What's up with 'the four of us'?"
Djaq blushed, "I was waiting for you to ask! I'll tell you tomorrow; I need to talk to Will first and it's late. I think we all need some sleep first"
The next morning Marian was the first one up so she set about making breakfast.
"Morning sunshine!" Robin yawned, "So, now we have a woman to cook!"
Marian scoffed, "You've always had Djaq"
"Hey," Will spoke up, "She's not the type to cook and clean"
They were silent for a minute before all three of them broke into laughter. This seemed to wake everyone else up, except Djaq. Will went to wake her up but she wasn't in her bed.
"Robin, Robin," the panic was rising in his voice, "Robin it's Djaq: she's gone"
"Relax," he reassured his friend, "like you say 'she not the type to cook and clean', she can take care of herself"
"She shouldn't have to, that's my job now"
"Whoa!" Marian had to stick up for her fellow woman, "Just because she's a woman that doesn't mean she can't look after herself, I manage ok. Why do people always treat women as invalids?"
Before either man could fall any further under her wrath Djaq staggered in looking a little pale. Will rushed to her side to help her. The panic was rising again.
"Get off me, I can walk! I've just spent two months teaching Marian how!" At least her sense of humour was fine, so she must be ok.
"You ok?" Allan took a more laid back approach to the subject
"Yeah, yeah I'm fine. Just a bit of morning sickness," no sooner had she finished her sentence than she clapped her hand over her mouth.
The entire gang looked at her wide eyed, especially Will.
Chapter 3 – Robin's jealousy
"But, we only did it once," Will tried to whisper but the entire gang heard
"That's all it takes!"
Djaq was beaming so Will decided he was happy too, he was gonna be a dad.
Robin didn't seem to respond to the news; secretly he was jealous. He wanted to be a dad and he didn't think he could watch one of his best friends do it before him.
Marian saw him looking sad and walked up to him. In an instant she knew what was wrong, she was feeling similar. But like Robin she had too much pride to admit it.
She lead him away and hugged him, she looked over her shoulder to see Allan walking away in the other direction. The other 2 were congratulating the couple.
"So," Much sighed, "Does this mean you're gonna get married too?"
Out of sight Allan slumped even lower.
Will looked at Djaq. Djaq looked at Will. They were both silent.
"Well," Will started but tailed off.
"It's up to Will I suppose" Djaq hinted subtly
"Um," Will walked over to Allan hoping to ask for his advice but Allan only walked further away.
Will was genuinely confused as to his friend's sudden dislike of him. He attempted to talk to him but Allan just blanked him so Will gave up and returned to his love.
Djaq was ecstatic at her new pregnancy but felt that Will was afraid. And he was, but he was also excited. He swept her up in his arms suddenly knowing how Robin felt when he was with Marian. Each felt safe in the other's arms, like there was no other person in the world.
Robin decided that yet again an early night was best. Djaq was sleeping for two, Will was tired after the eventful day, Much was always tired, John needed to save his energy Allan needed to clear his head and where better place than bed?
As for him and Marian…he had a plan.
He lay in bed looking like a sad puppy with his deep brown eyes. Marian came up to him and hugged him. He slipped his hand up her shirt and to his surprise, she let him. He had her approval and that was all he needed to continue.
It was the best few minutes of their lives and they wanted it to go on forever, but they were both tired and felt it was time to go to sleep. They did so in each other's arms
The next morning Allan went to wake them up. He had always been a fan of practical jokes so he decided to pull back the covers. He did so and felt sorrowful. He wanted to be like that with Djaq. He carefully replaced the cover and hurried back to the gang.
A few minutes later Marian and Robin joined them, but Allan couldn't meet their gaze and discreetly backed away from them.
"So, what are we gonna do today?" Much got straight to the point
"Um," Robin truly didn't know
"Can't we raid somewhere?" Marian begged
"Like where? The sheriff is playing it cool, he's lowered taxes and is doing nothing wrong. The people are fine so…" he trailed off
"Well, then we should build up our supplies"
Much smiled, "of food!"
The gang laughed at Much, never with him. But they all seemed to be in agreement.
As the gang mounted various horses Will turned to Djaq,
"Stay here, there might be trouble"
"I'm good with trouble!"
"Yes, but you have to look out for 2 people now, I'd kill myself if you got hurt but if the baby got hurt as well…" he shook his head, not wanting to think about it
Djaq sighed, she knew how he felt but she didn't want to get left out just because she was with child.
Robin suddenly noticed the absence of his friends, Marian followed his gaze. In an instant they both knew how the other 2 felt. Marian felt for Djaq, and Robin for Will. Marian knew Djaq deserved to come with them but to her surprise Djaq turned around and headed back to camp. Marian followed her, thinking 'us girls have to stick together!'