Disclaimer- God I hate these things. I don't own any characters blah, blah, blah.
Ok so this is the follow up to 'What To Do?' It's set just over two weeks after the gang rescued Will from Gisborne and Emmerich, but Will is suffering from endless nightmares about the abuse he was subject to. Can the gang help him and plan a wedding? And what does Gisborne have planned should he run into Will again?
"Will, you have to talk this out with someone." Much pleaded with his friend. "It's not healthy to keep this sort of pain bottled up."
"I told you all I'm fine so why can't you just leave me alone?" Will barged past and stormed out of camp, followed closely by his concerned friend.
"You're not fine though Will. Everyone hears you when you call out in your sleep, yelling for him to stop, begging him to leave you alone. We can all see the fear in your eyes when you hear horses approaching." Much stared at Will's back, the young carpenter had stopped walking. "We want to help you, but you have to let us."
Will turned sharply. "I don't need help. I just want to be left alone." he carried on with his path into the forest. "Much I can hear you following me."
Much stopped and watched as Will tramped onward and out of sight. He frowned slightly, every time he confronted Will about the nightmares he got the same response- "I'm fine, leave me alone."
Everyone else had given up days ago, but Much couldn't sit back and watch his friend fall to pieces. "Will," he shouted, "I'm not giving up on you."
"Whatever. Everyone does eventually Much, and you will too." came the reply.
XxXxX
Allan and Djaq sat together next to the fire watching the commotion around them, Robin was trying to build a wedding arch which Will had started and then given up on, John was messing around with reams of fabric, and Much was mixing ingredients together and kept asking them to taste various concoctions.
"Not being funny or anything Much, but the taught you how to cook?"
"Why, so you can thank them?"
"No so that I can kill them." Allan laughed. Everyone laughed along with him, except Much, who looked hurt. "Cheer up mate, it's not that bad really."
"Any news from Will yet?" Robin looked up and saw John staring down at him. "It's been at least a week since he's spoken to any of us. And frankly I'm worried."
"He briefly spoke to me this morning." everyone turned to stare at Much, "but all I got was 'I'm fine, leave me alone.'"
The gang nodded in agreement. That was all Will said to anyone these days, except for the sleep talking. They were deeply worried about him, he had hardly eaten since they had rescued him, his sleeping was sporadic at best, and when he did finally fall asleep, he woke up an hour later in a cold sweat because of another nightmare.
XxXxX
Will sat watching Locksley Manor from a spot just inside the forest. He saw Gisborne leave, storming out and slamming the door shut behind him. He saw hi return hours later, still as angry as he was before, still slamming the door shut as he entered the house.
As dawn broke Will finally fell asleep, not knowing that he had been watched all night. Robin had his suspicions about where Will was and had crept out to make sure no harm would come to him. He sat all night watching from a safe distance, staying hidden until he was sure that the young boy was asleep.
He crawled out of his hiding spot and sat next to Will, knowing it was only matter of time before the nightmares woke him up.
"Get off. Don't touch me. Please, stop it. Please." Will began thrashing around, hitting out. Robin jumped back to avoid getting hit. "Leave me alone. Don't, please, don't touch me." Will sat bolt upright, his eyes wide with fear. He was breathing deeply, tears being to build in his fearful eyes.
"It's alright Will, he's not going to get you again. You're safe." Robin placed his hand on the young man's shoulder, feeling him flinch at the sudden contact. "I'm here for you. I can help you."
"No you can't. You tried and then you gave up on me, just like everyone always gives up on me." Will let the tears fall. "I'm just a stupid kid that no one wants around."
"Will, where is this coming from. You are not stupid, you are not stupid. We all want you around Will, where did you get the idea that we didn't?"
Will hung his head, "Gisborne," he muttered. Robin pulled Will closer and hugged him tightly. In three days Gisborne had turned this confident, self assured man into a weak, scared child. God knows what he had out him through.
"Come on. I'm trying to finish that wedding arch you started and frankly my carpentry skills suck." Robin tried to raise a laugh from Will, who merely shrugged.
"I want no part in this wedding, Robin. I can't bring myself to help the man who betrayed us marry her. I'm sorry but I really can't."
"You still love her don't you?" Will nodded. "You've got to let it go Will. Don't let this come between the two of you. You used to be so close, such good friends, and now you've barely spoken to her for months."
"I can hardly look at her anymore Robin. It hurts me that badly I can't look at her anymore." he began to sob.
Standing up, Robin pulled him to his feet. "Come on, let's get you back to camp. The others are so worried about you. You should let them help."
Will shook his head. "I can't tell them what happened. I know I should but I can't. It hurts me think about it, so talking about it would kill me." Will turned his back on Robin and walked away, back towards camp.
So there's my opener for this story. Let me know what you think and if I should continue. Love y'all SxBx
ps- sorry if this chapter sucks, I'm really suffering from writers' block atm