THE CAVE
"Thank you." Tuck said kindly to Djac, who was sat beside him on one of the bunks will had made, tending to his bruised and cut hands and wrists.
She smiled back, but her eyes, like that of everyone in the gang Tuck noticed, displayed clear sadness.
Most of them hid it quite well, but Robin Hood, who Tuck now knew to be the man who was stood with his arms folded across himself talking on the other side of the cave to the man who would not be quiet and the other men who had saved him.
Robin Hood's grief was raw and would have been able to be seen through any carefully crafted emotional mask.
"Who is he?" Robin asked quietly to Alan, John, Much and Will.
"The new friar of Locksley church." John answered.
Will nodded, "Thornton said that the bishop sent him to rid the shire of evil."
"What did they want him for?" Robin asked after taking in a deep breath and swallowing. He felt like he might rip in two if he unfolded his arms from around him.
The men around him exchanged a look he missed, one that was unsure how to explain or what to even say.
But before they had to think of something Robin was speaking again.
"Once Djac has finished with him, Will and Alan, you take him to the north road with a horse." He told them.
They two men nodded and Robin glanced at Much and John.
His voice was unsure.
He was a born leader, but at the moment he was unsure he was breathing correctly, let alone thinking correctly.
Everything hurt and ached.
"Did they have everything they needed in Locksley, was it enough?"
John nodded, "the worst of the frost and snow is now over, they are hopeful for a good harvest."
Robin took another breath in, "Good."
Will walked to stand beside his wife who was talking quietly to Tuck on the bunk
Alan and John went to sit beside the fire.
Robin stared at the priest from across the camp.
So many thoughts flashed thorough his head, most clearly was one from a dream he had had some nights ago, of what life would be like once their baby arrived.
Tears pricked his eyes at the memory.
Much watched them go glassy.
Robin remembered waking from the dream feeling elated.
It was one of Marian stood beside him in Locklsey church beside the font.
A baby, happy and contented, nestled in a white christening gown, was in her arms. Both of them were beaming down at it, his arm around her waist, eyes locked on their child.
But his mind flickered the a memory, this one more recent, far more recent… Of the previous night, when Marian had bled.
He could see it, on her fingers and his, across and in between her legs.
The memory of how his dream had been so cruelly snatched away.
"Imagine it…" Much spoke softly and to stared at the slightly injured priest.
"Robbing the church, to pay for the holy war, as if that is where it really goes."
Robin's eyes snapped up, "What?"
"Guisborne today, working for the Sheriff, taking gold and money from the church… revolting…"
"They stole from the church?" Robin's voice went low.
A burning hatred was beginning to stop his chest from hurting. It quelled the pain of grief, and Robin found himself grabbing at it with both hands.
He clung to his anger, to stop it from hurting.
"The friar tried to stop them, that is why Guisborne arrested him, they were going to take form the people as well, but we gave them enough, and he left before he did so…" Much finally looked back to Robin, who was staring angrily at something far away now.
"Robin?" Much asked quietly.
"Master?"
Suddenly Robin spun. He grabbed his bow and sword from the floor, and like he clutched at his anger, held them tight in his fists as he stored from the cave.
"Robin!" Much cried.
The rest of the gang and Tuck watched him leave and made to follow.
"Robin!"
SHERWOOD FOREST
"Track them!" Guisborne commanded as they rode through the forest.
Robin pressed his back into a tree, and drew his bow, arrow notched, as Guisborne rode almost into view.
His anger consumed him, but it was a welcome emotion, as it dulled the ache in his chest.
Robin sucked in an angry breath through his teeth.
The image of Guisborne, his hand striking Marian, holding her to him as Robin had watched on through the portcullis that day when Thomas had captured her in Hull.
He had had to watch as Guys gloved hand clutched at her neck and stomach, to mush pressure… on…
Robin's anger flared and his eyes flashed.
His fingers started to loosen on the string, Guisborne riding into view.
Do not taint us with his blood…
"I'm sorry my love."
Robin let go.
A hand smashed down upon his arm just as the arrow sailed from his bow.
It flew an inch in front of Guys face and caused his horse to rear, dismounting him as his shout of surprise and anger rang through the forest.
"You!" Robin spat and spun to look at the man who had jogged him.
Tuck stared at him, "this is not who you are Robin Hood."
Robin was incensed, "You do not know me, do not presume you do."
"I have come from far to meet you, this is not what I was looking for."
"Then go." Robin spat and looked back to see Guisborne push himself from the floor, his guards looking around for Robin as Guy draw his sword.
"Show yourself you coward!" He bellowed.
Robin made to draw his sword but Tucks hand clasped around his wrist, with strength enough to stop him.
"Let go of me." Robin snapped.
"Your friends are looking for you…"
"Well they will not find me, for Robin Hood is gone." He spat, "Maybe that name is already dead, for I am done with it."
He knew that now.
He didn't want this anymore.
No more blood on his hands.
Tuck took in a breath, he would help this man.
Help him from himself.
"Not if I can help it." He snapped and crashed his hand across Robins face.
The outlaw stumbled to the side, and Tuck held hi upright.
"You won't be needing these." Tuck ripped the dog tags from Robins next and left them on the forest floor as he swung the man over his shoulder.
Ignoring the pain in his shoulder from his fight with Guisborne that the small Saracen woman had healed for him Tuck picked up Robins sword and bow in his other hand, and set off at a walk.
