"No Master!"
He cannot do this. Not again. Not now. Not after all we have been through together. Not after how far we've come.
"I must Much"
He reached out and grasped my shoulder, a gestured that meant far more to me than the friendship it suggested to outsiders. I loved this man who stood infront of me. I loved him with all my soul, and all my heart. I had served him for five years in a strange land, and before that, when we were children I had served him still. And he stood now, in front of me, that proud, stubborn look on his face, declaring that he would turn himself in.
"But why?"
He took a step closer to me and looked me in the eyes. I could see the others reflected within them, their expressions of devestation obvious. I could see myself in his eyes, my expression more than devestated. My expression heart broken. I could see his fierce pride within them. His stubborness at doing what he believed right.
"You remember what we fought for in Acre, Much? That is what we fight for here."
"A Christian Country?"
He shook his head sadley, dropping his head and uttering one word.
"Freedom"
"If you give yourself up, you won't be free"
I tried desperatly to convince him that his plan wasn't a good idea. His selflessness makes up a big part of what made me love him, and his stubborness and his pride and his courage...all together they made him. But now I cursed all of it.
"You'll be dead"
I sigh, fighting back the tears.
"Much" He grasped the back of my head. "Do you remember what I said to you?"
"You've said a lot to me master"
I pointed out, if only to see a smile on his face. I felt no mirth an could find no humour in the situation but impulse forced me to make a joke. And I was rewarded with a slight smile that did not reach his eyes.
"Back when John was going to turn me in for that Reward?"
"The first time you gave yourself in? Yes I remember"
And I did remember. That was one of the only times I had come close to feeling the despair in every inch of my body that I felt now. The other was later on, in the forest, when I thought him dead.
"I said "At least -"
"I wont be dying a dead man"
I finished the sentence for him, confusing flitting through my mind.
"Technically master, your a dead man at the moment. An Outlaw."
He had no answer for that, and I dared allow myself to feel a fleeting hope that he would change his mind, but he didn't.
"Even so." Robin smiled. "I would say its a good idea I don't plan to let them hang me then"
I blinked. He had told me this part of his plan before, but this time, something was different. the tone of his voice gave away nothing, but a little flicker in his expression filled me with dread.
He departed with his usual goodbyes, going over the plan with Will, John and Alan, but before leaving the clearing he came over to me. Hugging me, he whispered five words into my ear. Then kissed my forehead as he drew away. He turned and I remained frozen, watching him walk away into the trees.
I knew, as surely as I knew that I loved him more than life itself, that this would be the last time I would ever see him. He had gven up.