Fair warning here: As you all know if you've ever read anything I've written, I usually like to keep my stories as realistic as I can -in other words, I like to bring characters back from the dead, but I like doing it in a way that readers say "Okay, yes, I can see that happening." In this story, though, I might be pushing the limits of realism just slightly. (There's no magic involved or anything like that, but I'm not sure if doctors would approve of my methods for curing poison). I hope it is not a problem and I *promise* it makes sense for the story.

As usual, I thank each and every one of you who's taken the time to read and review this. There was some drama this week on the emails, so I wanted to apologize again if I've offended anyone. I *think* I'm up to date with replaying to reviews, but if I'm missing anyone, don't hesitate to write me a PM or an email to call me out on it. If worse comes to worste, Amaranthe has my celphone -send me a WhatsApp and I'll reply.

Hope you enjoy!

THE GREATEST ADVENTURE

(IS STILL TO COME)

CHAPTER FOUR.

Will couldn't have been gone more than five minutes, but Marian had felt each passing second like it was a tiny blade, poking her over and over again all over her body. She could actually feel Robin's pulse getting weaker and she could see his breathing becoming more and more laboured and all she could do was pray that Will would hurry up already.

Djaq had decided that, since they didn't know what was poisoning him, all they could do was try and take it -whatever it might be- out of him. So now they sat, in an ever increasing pool of Robin's blood as the hot liquid poured from his slain wrists.

"Don't you think it's enough?" Marian asked worriedly, noticing how pale her husband was becoming.

"He can take a little more," Djaq replied, more to herself than to Marian. "The more poison we can get out, the better his chances."

"What if you can't stop the bleeding? What if it's too much?"

Djaq didn't answer. Finally, after an excruciatingly long moment, she finally decided that she couldn't risk it any more.

"Help me bandage him up," she instructed.

Each woman took one of Robin's arms and wrapped tight bandages around his wrists. The hemorrhage was quick to stop and Marian sighed in relief.

"That should have gotten rid of most of the poison," Djaq muttered. "If we're lucky, that should be enough, but it looks bad-"

Just then there was a commotion and the outlaws plowed into the clearing.

Neither woman looked up, but they each sighed in relief.

"What's the poison?" Djaq demanded. There was no reply.

The outlaws had trouble concentrating as their eyes kept going from Djaq, to Marian, to Robin's prone form, to the pool of blood underneath him and then back to Marian.

"Bloody hell," Much whispered, voicing everyone's thoughts. "I cannot believe it's true…"

"Much!" Marian demanded, unconcerned to put his mind at ease. They needed to focus on Robin. Plenty of time to talk in the future."The poison?"

"Joseph's," Will offered. "The one that was used on Pitt street."

Djaq turned quickly and started looking through her bag until she found a small vial. But then she paused.

"What's the problem?" Marian asked, noticing her sudden reluctance. "Djaq-"

"This is Belladonna," the Saracen explained. "When the right amount is ingested, we know it's effective as an antidote."

"Yes, so? What are you waiting for?"

"The people on Pitt street had taken the poison orally, that's why it worked. In Robin's case, it entered directly into his bloodstream."

Marian understood at once what that meant.

"You're not sure it will work," she whispered. Djaq nodded. "Okay, then. If the poison entered directly into his bloodstream, then maybe the antidote has to enter his body the same way-"

"I don't know if that will work either. The Belladonna is an incredibly powerful poison, and Robin is very weak -he might not be able to fight it. We could wait and hope that we have gotten the worst of it of his system, but he should be getting better if that were the case, and I don't think he is."

"What do you suggest, then?"

"You're his wife -it should be your decision. I don't think there's a right answer here."

Everybody else waited on bated breath for Marian to make her decision, but she paid them no mind. All she cared about was Robin -all she could think about was him.

Doing nothing and hoping for the best was out of the question. Marian absolutely refused to give him up without a fight.

She could tell Djaq to feed him the Belladonna. It had proven effective once, it might prove effective again. But even with Marian's limited knowledge of the inner workings of a human body she sensed it might do little good. Robin might end up having to fight two poisons instead of one.

"Put it in his bloodstream," she instructed.

Djaq didn't ask her if she was sure, which was a blessing, because Marian certainly wasn't. Instead she grabbed her dagger and dipped it in the vial. Then she proceeded to make a few cuts in his neck and his wrists.

If any of them was hoping for a miraculous recovery, they were sorely disappointed. There was no change.

"It might take a while," Djaq explained, seemingly trying to convince herself as much as she was trying to convince everyone else. "We should get him back to the camp."

Without saying another word, John and Tuck set out to build a stretcher with which to transport their friend. After a quick glance a Djaq, Will went with them.

"There's nothing more you can do for him," the Saracen reminded her friend, taking one of her hands in hers and squeezing it gently.

Marian sighed.

"I know," she admitted. She cast a final glance at Robin's peaceful face as she rose to her feet and turned to meet her friends for the first time.

It was like being punched in the gut. The air was knocked out of her and her skin turned stone cold as soon as her eyes landed on the small group of men standing a few feet away. She took a step back and her hand flew instinctively to her sword.

"What is he doing here?" she breathed.

Much and Allan moved at once, the former towards her and the latter towards Gisborne.

"It's not what you think," Robin's manservant tried to reassure her, his hands on her shoulders, which were shaking, both with fury and fear. "Trust me, everything's fine."

"Out," Allan commanded at the same time.

"What?" Guy snarled, his eyes leaving Marian for the first time since he had entered the clearing.

"You heard me, get out! Go to the camp and we'll meet you there."

"I will not-"

"Get out!" Allan said again, with such a force that it was impossible to ignore him. "Kate, Archer, go with him."

Three mouths opened at once to voice their complaints, but the reappearance of John and Tuck stopped them.

"We will be at the camp," Guy finally announced. It was a promise, not a threat, but it made Marian's skin crawl nonetheless.

As soon as they were out of sight she turned to Robin's oldest and dearest friend, her blue eyes blazing.

"Much, what the hell?!"

The manservant couldn't help but cower under such stare.

"There is a really good excuse for his being here, I promise."

"Yeah, you said something about his mother and Robin's father?" Will asked from his position next to his friend.

Much winced.

"Yes, Gisborne's mum and Robin's dad were having an affair-" Allan began.

"Not here," John said. "We should get Robin back to the camp before it gets dark."

Will, Tuck, John and Much each grabbed a side of the stretcher. Djaq took a final look at her patient to make sure that he was secured and that he was still breathing and nodded her head.

Allan walked towards Marian -the woman who had become a really close friend during his months in the Castle, the woman who he had missed deeply- and wrapped one arm around her shoulders.

"For what it's worth," he said in that light tone he usually used. "Robin absolutely loathes having him around."

Worried, angry and confused as she was, Marian couldn't help but smile at that.