I know it's been ridiculously long since I've updated. And I'm really really sorry. I've been on vacation for a week and someone in my family broke the laptop. I had to hand-write this chapter and then retype it when I got home (yesterday). So again, really, really sorry! Hope you enjoy anyway. Please review!
-FreckledAdvocate
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Marian sat in her room staring at the fire. She'd been crying on and off spontaneously since she'd returned. But at the moment she was just lost in her gloomy thoughts. She glanced out the window and sighed. The sun was half-way below the horizon. She wiped her eyes and sluggishly rose to her feet. She slowly walked to her closet and began donning her Nightwatchman's uniform as if in a daze. She wearily contemplated how she would enter the outlaw's camp and how much she needed the embrace of her love right now - when her thoughts were interrupted.
knock-knock-knock
Damnit Guy! She screamed in her mind. She turned to the door furiously and mimed the shriek of frustration she was just barely able to contain. She started to hurriedly throw off her outfit and stuffed it away, back where it had come from; out of her closet. Her panic at being caught was making her hands shake slightly, but regardless of this she was still moving about ten times faster than she had been a few minutes ago. She surprised herself with the calmness she was able to feign in her 'humoring Gisborne' voice as she called out, "Just a moment!"
She threw the closet door shut and bounded across the room to the door. She wiped her face again and pressed some of the wrinkles out of her dress with her hands (where the uniform had crumpled the fabric by being placed over it). She'd fixed on the fake smile she usually wore around him before realizing with a jolt that she was actually supposed to be upset with him at the moment. She let the smile fall from her face fast, like the dead weight it was and reached for the doorknob.
"What do you wan- Allan? What are you doing here?! I thought you were…" She cut off as anger flared up again - it is not wise to disturb someone when they are already so upset.
"You could have announced yourself! Ugh!" She slammed the door open, her voice was rising but she didn't care. I could be fully dressed and half-way to Sherwood by now!
Allan followed her into the room and said cheekily (though in his usual fashion; coming off as charming or kind also) "I'm not being funny, but you look 'orrible."
She turned to him scowling and blew up at him as she saw the broad grin on his face and arrogant laughter in his eyes. "What is wrong with you?! Don't you realize two people, two people you once called 'friends', just died?!"
"Well, mind you, they haven't really been my friends for awhile. But funny story, I've got something I've got to tell you- "
The look on Allan's face drove Marian over the edge. His cocky, almost proud, smile and laugh. How Dare he! Is this all some sort of sick joke to him?! She released all of her pent up anger and pain on the man standing before her."You foul, loathsome, little beetle!" The nearly happy look on Allan's face immediately turned to that of shock as he ducked. Marian threw herself at Allan and he found himself avoiding and dodging blow after blow. He'd already been hit in the face once tonight - he didn't need to be again, yet he just avoided her rage - he could not bring himself to hit her back. Luckily for him her eyes were still puffy and red, hindering her aim.
"Marian! Stop! Marian! STOP!" finally he grabbed her wrists stopping the barrage of blows. She cried quietly, overcome. "Marian, I came to get your help. I saved them. They're not dead. Will and Djaq. They're in the forest, honest." He was still trying to catch his breath. His cocky, cheeky grin had truly vanished (for the moment) but he smiled genuinely at her to show that he was serious.
"Wha- What?" When one's been despairing and stressing over some horrid event as diligently and for as long as Marian had been, it is quite hard to just drop the realization you had to make yourself believe in the first place. Doubt rose up within her, but she so wanted to believe him. "So help me Allan, you'd better be serious!" she threatened as she glared at him.
"Course I'm serious! What, do you think I'm some sort o' monster?" I am a traitor thoug , that's kinda like a monster "… Well, I like to think I'm not that bad. Maybe a beetle sometimes, but not a monster." Allan dropped her arms, but she still looked suspicious.
"Oh Marian, C'mon!" He threw his head back and his arms up as if asking God for patience. He was getting desperate now - Will hadn't looked too good when he'd hobbled off into the woods with Djaq. He didn't know how far the small Saracen would be able to support the wounded man.
"Marian, I know I've done some stupid stuff. I should never have betrayed Robin first-off, and if he'd have me back right now, I'd be loyal to him. But he won't. And we both know I'd turn on Gisborne in an instant! So of all people, I'm most loyal to you. You saved my life when no one else would've! I owe you at least my loyalty, if not my life! You must know that! I'd never turn on you, I'm serious!"
Marian nodded. She was truly at a loss for words but she could see the sincerity and fear in the deep blue of Allan's eyes. Allan nodded back. He'd never been that honest with anyone in his whole life - saying things so bluntly scared him, it was too raw. He felt like he was airing his very soul out in the open, too open, where it could be attacked. But he had to prove himself to Marian - it was the only way to save Will.
"So you really did, then? You - they're alive? They're free?" She asked tentatively, still trying to wrap her mind around the thought. He nodded again, and hesitantly smiled. Marian flew at him again and Allan flinched. That's when he realized that for the second time this strange night a woman he thought was attacking him was actually embracing him. I have to make it a point to help this lot more often. Old Gizzy sure doesn't show appreciation like this.
Suddenly responsibility came crashing down on Allan unexpectedly and he remembered what he was supposed to be doing. "Whoa! Wait! Marian, I told Will and Djaq I'd send you after them! I'm not being funny - Will isn't doing too good! I left the stretcher and medical kit just outside the door, behind that tapestry. Djaq couldn't carry it because she was basically carrying Will - he nearly passed out while I was talking to 'im! I woulda gone myself… but, well, Robin…" he trailed off.
Marian saved him the awkwardness of having to finish his sentence, "Where are they?" "They're in the old store-cave thing we used last year." "Where?" Allan gave her some basic directions on how to get there from where they were. "Right. Just lemme change and then I'll leave straight-away." From her closet she whipped out the uniform she'd stuffed away before. He smiled at her and raised his eyebrows. Gratefully he said; "Marian, you're a life saver." She smiled back, really smiled; her source of dread having been lifted off of her. "No Allan, I think that'd be you." His ears turned red, but he didn't deny it.
--
Everyone knew there was some kind of fiasco going on up at the castle. The villagers were sure of that. All evening multitudes of the sheriff's men had been running in and out of the forest and surrounding villages. Apparently, two of Robin Hood's men were supposed to hang, and they escaped, and the sheriff was doing everything in his power to get them back in his dungeons. Therefore no one was surprised when two more guards were sent out into the woods to join the others - even if one was limping. When had the sheriff ever been sympathetic to injuries? No, no one thought twice about the two uniformed 'men' making their way into the heart of Sherwood Forest.
As soon as they were under the cover of the trees Djaq wrapped her arm around Will's waist to help him support himself. He was practically gasping for air and she was seriously afraid one of his broken ribs would pop a lung.
"C'mon Will, Just a little farther." He so wanted to answer her, but he could barely breathe never mind speak. Her voice was the only thing that kept him moving; he had almost no energy left. With every step he took he felt what seemed like a large nail piercing through his foot (due to his broken toes). He could feel each broken rib with every movement, as though some huge hand was clamping down on and restricting his chest and lungs. Each ragged breathe just agitated his chest even more. He'd nearly forgotten about his hand except when he acknowledged the barely-recognizable shaking limb that hung uselessly at his side. His head still had a dull, steady throb to it, like someone was beating a drum inside his skull. His eyes were closed. He was so tired. He deferentially let Djaq lead him through the woods.
"Look Will! It's just up ahead! We're nearly there. See it?" she was practically dragging him at this point. Despite his small, skinny stature he was surprisingly heavy for his size.
The condition he was in was really starting to worry Djaq. "C'mon. C'mon!" She just wanted to get to the cave so she could lay him down before he passed out completely (which she was certain would happen sooner or later). They were moving so slowly! Djaq gritted her teeth and continued on, counting her steps as she went; 1 ... 2 ... 1 ... 2 ... Will mumbled something, but she couldn't make it out. "You're going to be fine." she said, trying to be calm. "You're going to be just fine." she said it harshly, trying to convince herself rather than him.
He could barely process what she was saying anyway. His mind wasn't processing much of anything - it was too busy trying not to drown in the sea of pain closing in upon him. However even in this barely conscious state he was aware of the cute way she rolled her "R's". He caught on to the way her tongue clipped them short in the word "You're" even though he caught nothing else.
Finally they reached the cave. Djaq found a large flat rock to lay Will on, a bit like what Marian had lain on after Gisborne had stabbed her - but this one was flatter and longer. Djaq began pacing back and forth. She needed Marian, because she needed to get Will back to camp. He mumbled something inaudible again and Djaq rushed back to his side.
She grabbed his hand and began stroking it, just to let him know she was there. "I love you." he said it so quietly, Djaq almost didn't know if he'd said anything at all. "I love you too." she kissed his forehead. It was drenched with sweat. She clapped a hand (the one not holding his) to his forehead next - it might as well have been on fire. Suddenly his hand slackened in hers. "Will? Will!" The minimal amount of strength he had remaining left him as he passed out.
What am I doing?! Am I, or am I not, a physician?! Why am I wasting this time?! Djaq silently cursed her stupidity as she hurried outside the cave to find some makeshift medical supplies. She used some strong oak wood as a splint for his toes. She hadn't been able to carry the whole medical kit with her - but she had grabbed some bandages from Allan before they'd left. She wasn't sure whether or not the splint would help the bones heal exactly, but at least it would make it more comfortable for him to walk on. If he walks again. Don't think that! Of course he will! He has to…
Next she used some bandages and properly wrapped up his chest. Luckily a lung hadn't collapsed, but it would still be a few days (at least) before Will would be able to take a deep breath of air again. She also wrapped his head and hand, although she knew for these injuries this was only a temporary solution. In order to properly treat these wounds she would need a needle and tread, and also some of the supplies she had at camp to make a special burn-healing solution. The quick fix she'd used on his back and arms seemed to still be holding out, she'd need change those bandages eventually, but they definitely weren't a first priority.
She'd just started to sponge off Will's forehead again when Marian entered the cave. She hadn't heard the Nightwatchmen approach; she'd been speaking softly in Arabic to her love. "Djaq?" she actually jumped when Marian spoke her name. She looked up at the woman and Marian ran to her. "Oh, it is you! Thank God!" She threw her arms around the startled smaller woman, who did not back away. It's not that Marian had doubted Allan; she just needed to see the two outlaws for herself to truly accept the miraculous fact that they were alive.
When Marian and her let go of each other Djaq's arm brushed against Marian's and she took a sharp (unnoticeable) intake of breath. She ignored the shock of pain that raced up her arm from her own wound. Once again, she'd forgotten her own physical pain in the midst of all Will's injuries.
Marian gasped and put a hand to her mouth when she caught sight of Will. "Oh Will… Is he going to be…?" She looked at Djaq with wide eyes which Djaq appreciated. "He should be alright, that is if we get him back to camp right now. You have the stretcher?" Marian nodded and reached behind her back under her cape where she'd strapped the stretcher and medical kit onto her back where her quiver usually was. "Do you need..." Marian held up the medical kit.
"Not now. First we need to get him back to camp." Marian nodded again putting the kit back where it was. Together they lifted Will onto the stretcher and started on their way. Djaq was calmer now that she had a partner, but she couldn't help but be aware that it had been an awfully long time since Will last mumbled…
I don't know if I'm happy with Marian in this chapter. She might be a bit off character, but not by much (hopefully). Still not quite done yet. But it's getting there. I keep getting carried away with these chapter lengths. Sorry. You won't have to wait nearly as long for the next update at least - honest! Review if you like. (Reviews are much appreciated. You could tell me if I got Marian right or not while you're at it!) Thanks for reading!!
