Aftermath
By: Sherlock's Sparrow
Disclaimer: Do I even need to say it?
Chapter One: One Month Later
Hands. There were hands everywhere. Holding, touching, grabbing, fondling, caressing, hurting. Oh, yes, there was pain; lots of pain. And, cold, too. Eight or ten men were laughing cruelly and jeering at him.
"How do ya like that?" "Does that feel good?" "Do ye like me inside ye?" "You're nuthin' but a dirty whore." "Yea, whore!"
Marian was trying to wake Robin. He was having another nightmare, and was tossing around from side to side, and quietly moaning. At last, she succeeded. Robin sat up and looked around, blinking his blue eyes.
"You were having a nightmare," she said.
"Yes," said Robin, with a small shiver.
"What was it about?"
Robin shook his head.
"I don't want to talk about it."
He never told anyone what he dreamed about that was so upsetting. He hadn't said much about his last stay at Nottingham Castle, either. Robin was quieter now; more withdrawn.
"I'm going to cook breakfast," said Marian, moving over to the fire pit.
"I'm not hungry," said Robin.
That wasn't surprising. He only ate one or two meals lately and then pushed most of it around his bowl.
Will awoke soon after. He joined Marian by the fire.
"How is he?" asked Will.
"The same," replied Marian.
She sighed.
"I wish there was something I could do to help him," she said.
"You are helping," said Will, "right now, you're being a better help than any of us."
The smell of cooking food got John up. Shamir woke seconds later. Much was last to wake. Marian and the men (minus Robin) ate their meal in silence. Robin was still sitting on his bedroll, and scratching around in the dirt with a small stick.
"Robin's sad," said Much.
"'Course 'e is," said John, "look at wot's 'appened to 'im lately."
Much nodded.
"'e's diff'rent," he added.
The others agreed. Marian put her hand on Much's shoulder.
"I know," she said, "but hopefully, it's not a permanent change."
Robin knew the others were probably talking about him. It didn't matter. They talked about him a lot. They were worried about him, but he didn't understand why. He didn't deserve their worry. Not after what had happened. He had tried to resign as leader, but the others had insisted he not. He didn't think he was a good leader, and was quite surprised to find he was the only one who thought any of these things.
Having consumed half of her meal, Marian walked back over to Robin and sat next to him. She held out her bowl.
"Hungry?" she asked.
"No," said Robin.
"You didn't eat yesterday," she pointed out.
"I wasn't hungry yesterday."
"Still, you have to eat. Promised you'll at least try to eat sometime today?"
"I promised I'll try, if it worries you that much," replied Robin.
"Good," said Marian, "I can't have you waste away to nothing."