A Study in Scarlett
Chapter Twenty-One
Word Count: 4,052
Rating/Disclaimer/Summary: Same as chapter 1, really
Author's Note: I finished the last chapter and got super excited about writing this part. I thought I had a great idea, and I was so happy to write it up and share it. Then I started to write it, and I think it got a bit away from me. Will just refused to get along with Marian, and I thought I could make him behave, but it was more difficult than I thought to get past his distrust of nobles. I don't think even an pretty face would do that.

Other fics I read had Will and Marian getting along almost immediately, but I couldn't see this version of Will doing that. He doesn't trust easily, and not even Marian would be able to overcome that. Plus... the movie doesn't really have them interacting at all, and I wanted them to. It just surprised me some how it turned out.

The movie isn't clear on timing, but I assume that some time, at least a day, has passed since they captured Tuck and when Marian goes riding. Not that it's a big difference here, but it was a small thing in the movie, so I thought I would mention it just in case.

Birth and Bitterness

It was almost midday when Will returned from his latest trip to the apothecary. Fanny had told him not to go, but he happened to know she wasn't in any state to stop him, and John was busy with things for Locksley and watching over the other children with Wulf's help.

So he went in the night, snuck in to town again, heard the latest news—Gisborne was dead, and they would want to know that back in the camp—and he'd be glad to share that bit, even if Locksley was sure to take it as a sign that he was winning this war of his. Still, Will would enjoy sharing that at least one of the bastards was dead.

Nottingham could have died before, Locksley could have killed him, and maybe there wouldn't have been a damned war. And Gisborne could have died a long time ago, but Locksley had spared him over and over again.

Maybe he wouldn't be that happy about the man's death. He might have wanted to keep playing games with him and with Nottingham. Will didn't know. He knew Locksley was an idiot. That hadn't changed.

Will crossed through the camp, hearing more whispers as he did. He didn't stop to ask about them, not needing to hear more lies about himself, instead making his way through to where the Littles lived. He went inside without knocking, as usual.

"Fanny?"

"Over here, love," she called from her bed, and he winced to see her. She wasn't moving, and he didn't know how long she'd been that way.

"You look terrible," Will told her as he got closer. "The baby's coming, isn't it?"

She nodded. "Been a few hours now. These things often take that long."

Will shook his head. He didn't want to think about that. He could imagine the pain was much worse than the arrow had been, perhaps as bad as when he'd escaped from the steward.

"I thought I'd see you before now," Fanny went on, reaching for him. "Rosie's been asking for you all morning. Where have you been?"

He held up the jar for her to see.

She sighed. "Bless you, Will. You're an idiot, but I love you for it. I was getting ready to demand all of John's mead."

"Has the Moor come yet?" Will asked, frowning. He would have thought Azeem would have come by while he was gone. Surely someone was keeping watch or helping her. They had to be.

"He came by before it started," Fanny said. "I'm fine, Will. I've birthed seven others. I'm fine."

"You don't look it." Will opened the jar, reaching inside to take a few pieces from it. "Here, chew the leaves. That helps with the pain. The paste works in the wounds, but you're not bleeding, so you should be fine without that."

"You don't have to worry. Don't need no fuss, either. I'll be fine. It's just a baby. They come all the time."

"And women die having them all the time, too," Will muttered. He'd seen it before as a child. Over and over again in every village they lived in as he was growing up, there was at least one woman who didn't make it and several children, too. He'd always wondered if his mother had wished that he was one of them.

"Up," someone said, and Will frowned, looking down at Rosie.

"You have helped me plenty already, and more when you take that one for a bit. She must have escaped Wulf again," Fanny said. "You distract her for a bit, and if you see John, tell him to get his big arse over here."

"Will do," Will said, picking Rosie up into his arms. He had every intention of finding John right now and getting him over here. Fanny shouldn't be alone even if she had done this plenty of times.

He stepped outside and caught Wulf as he ran past the door.

The boy glared at him. "Really? She's with you again?"

"She was with your mother, but I stopped into give her something, and now I've got her. You go in there and take care of anything your mother needs. The baby's coming, and she doesn't—she needs you. You stay. I'm going to find your father."

Wulf nodded, going inside to his mother.

Will adjusted Rosie in his arms and set off across the camp.

Marion found herself wondering if she had not made a mistake in demanding to see Robin. She thought perhaps he could use word of the outside, as he had not risked coming to see her in months. She had to admit she was worried over him. The price on his head was high, and the bishop spoke against the bandits every sermon, condemning Robin more than anyone.

And she had to wonder what came of his supporters. How could they survive here? Winter could be upon them soon enough. How would they cope? How could this place be good enough for any child?

Especially one left in the care of these fools she'd found on the road. She worried about the safety of all as their escorts argued amongst themselves again, neither of them sure where to find Robin.

"There's Scarlett. Ask him."

"I'm not asking him. You ask him."

"You're afraid of him."

"Am not."

"Are too."

"Am not."

Sarah looked like she'd like to hit one of them, and Marian decided it was well past time to take charge of this situation herself. She went over toward the man she assumed was Scarlett, seeing no reason to fear him as he argued with the little girl in his arms.

"Ouch. What is it with you, child? My hair is not a toy," he said, and Marian tried not to laugh to see him struggling with the girl's death grip on his hair. "Let go, Rosie. We have to find your father."

"Oh. She's not yours."

He stopped, looking over at her. "Um, no. Thankfully, she's not."

"Thankfully? Are you saying that because she's got your hair?"

"No, because I don't like children. I think you're lost, unless Locksley started taking hostages. Did that idiot actually think that was a good idea? No, don't tell me. He would. Anything to win this stupid war of his," the man shook his head. "If you want, I can send you back where—Damn it, Rosie. Let go of my hair."

Marian found herself smiling. She did not think this man disliked children as much as he said. Anyone who did would not even be holding the girl and would not let her pull on him like this.

"I'm not a prisoner."

"You know there's a rule about no one who's been here leaving, don't you?" the man asked, prying the girl's fingers out of his hair. "Here, Rosie. Red. You like red."

She started tugging on his doublet instead, and he gave her a small smile. Marian watched them with amusement, thinking there was a bit of sweetness to this moment and this place.

"I do, and I took care of that. I was blindfolded on the way in."

He snorted. "Good plan. You must be as insane as he is. Why the hell would anyone come here willingly? No, don't tell me. I don't want to know."

Marian frowned, not sure how to take him. He was rude, certainly, but also something more than that, a contradiction not just of his own making, as the others were still arguing about talking to him. "Do you know where Robin is?"

"Why would I have any reason to know where that fool is?"

"Excuse me?"

"The lady insists on seeing him," her escort said, finally noticing that he was talking to her. "Come on, Will. We all know you don't like him, but you know where he'd be sos you can avoid him."

"Try the waterfall. His high and mightiness likes to pretend he's better than everyone by bathing there," Scarlett suggested, shaking his head. "Damn it, Rosie. Not the hair again. Shirt yes, hair, no. Bull, have you seen John?"

"Not lately. We've been guarding the road today."

"You're the ones guarding the road?" Scarlett demanded. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"The ladies insisted on seeing Robin, so we brought them in."

"You did." Scarlett shook his head. "Unbelievable. I am surrounded by idiots. You leave your post. John leaves his wife. Wulf can't mind his sister for five minutes. And don't get me started on Locksley."

"You don't care for Robin, then?" Marian asked, wondering if this was a common sentiment among these men. "Why not?"

"My reasons are my own," he said, reaching for the girl's fingers to pry them free of his hair. "I swear I will cut it all off if you don't stop."

"Up," the little girl said, and he gave her a look. Marian tried not to laugh. The girl already was up, since he hadn't put her down even with her constant grabbing of his hair.

"You know that's not my name."

"Up," she repeated, snuggling against him. He glared down at her, irritated.

"I could take her for you if you like," Marian offered, and he gave her a look that made it clear he didn't like that idea. "You said you didn't want her."

"No, I said I didn't like children. You nobles never listen."

"Is that so?" Marian asked, wondering if he was aware of how insulting and rude he was. "Would you care to think about that statement?"

He looked her over. "Lady, you're standing there in all your finery while this girl is playing with a doublet I've mended and worn since I was thirteen. The woman that made me the only decent piece of clothing I own is in on her own suffering through childbirth alone because her husband is too busy with Locksley's damned war against Nottingham to know she needs him and her pest of a son would rather follow lapping around Locksley's heels than care for his siblings. I just got back from town after stealing medicine for her because even with the money he's taken from the rich, Locksley doesn't seem to realize people need medicine. It took me all night to get there and back. I'm tired. I have a three year old pawing me, and you're standing there accusing me of things I never said and getting offended when I correct you. Don't think I haven't heard that noble tone of yours before. All of you look down on us, thinking the few coins you spare the poor at Mass somehow make you better than us or atone for all your wrongs. That's not how it works, and you can go back to wherever it is you came from and quit gawking at us because we are not here for your entertainment."

Marian shook her head. "I did not come here to be entertained. I came to—"

"Good, because there's nothing to see here," he muttered. "Come on, Rosie. Let's find your father. Or the Moor. I'd settle for the Moor."

"He's a charming fellow," Sarah muttered as he walked away.

"You don't want no trouble with that one," Bull said. "Will Scarlett's a killer."

Marian frowned again. "He's caring for a child."

"Ah, well, John likes him. No one knows why," the other man said. "And she's John's daughter, and just as crazy as her father, because she loves him and won't let him go half the time."

Sarah shook her head, making the sign of the cross.

Marian forced herself back to her task. "Where is this waterfall? Take us there. Now."

"You're sure she can stay here?"

"Will, she's sleeping. Fanny's having the other. Of course she stays. It's not like you can take her to your part of the camp," Fanny's mother said, and Will grimaced. He'd never been that fond of this woman, and he'd rather not be here now, but he'd needed somewhere to take Rosie after she fell asleep.

Fanny's mother was right about him not having a place for her. He didn't even have a place for himself, since he'd moved his things and not set them back in place after his trip to Locksley Hall. He should never have gone, but he didn't know what to think of any of that.

The old man's words about Locksley wanting him still haunted him. He found himself looking at Robin and wondering if he was sincere about those apologies. If Robin knew, what would he do? Would he dismiss him like any good noble, or would he actually accept that Will was his brother?

What would that even mean?

"You can go to her," Fanny's mother said. "She'd probably be glad of your company, though Lord knows why."

Will grunted. "I see she's not asking for yours."

"I swear, Scarlett, I will tan your hide and—"

"You'd have to catch me first," he said, walking away before the old crone could take even a step toward him.

He walked back toward the middle of the camp, trying to decide what to do with himself. He wanted to go see Fanny, make sure she was all right, but he knew he'd know when everyone else did, and he'd just be in the way if he snuck in through some place other than the door.

He could get something for her, bring it to her later. Medicine was good and practical, but Fanny could have something else, something nice.

She'd made him a shirt, and he couldn't think of a damned thing to do for her.

He saw that noblewoman's servant watching him, and he tried not to grimace. He'd been so worried about Fanny and irritated by the others—Rosie pulling his hair, John being nowhere to be found, Wulf being a pain, and Robin being Robin—that he hadn't even stopped to pretend at politeness when that woman approached him.

Damn it.

He shouldn't care what that woman thought, and he didn't want to, but he didn't want her to stick her nose up and stop helping the others because of what he said. Plenty of people counted on alms from the DuBois family to live, and he couldn't let them take that.

Fine. He'd find something for Fanny and the noblewoman.

Marian watched John rush out with the baby, the pride of fatherhood all over his face, and she gave the exhausted woman a tired smile. She would rather have held onto the babe for a bit, but someone else had priority.

This day had gone by so fast, changing everything. She had gone for a simple ride and ended up finding a whole secret city, a paradise hidden away in the woods. She'd found Robin, too, and he had surprised her.

Gone was the overgrown bully who had burned her hair, the too proud nobleman who'd tormented a few local peasants and thought his father a charitable fool. War had changed him, and she wanted to believe it was for the better.

Marian had to admit, she was rather impressed with what Robin had built in this place. It seemed so unlike him, though she could hardly credit him with every building she saw in the camp. She knew that he was not responsible for all of them, but if this was what he was giving the people, he could not be all bad.

Everyone here seemed so much happier than out in Nottingham, and that was both beautiful and sad. She knew this was not their home, and while they had made a fine place for themselves, it did not compare to the city or her own lands.

Still, they'd come together here, and nothing proved that more than what they'd done for Fanny Little, and Marian was glad to have been a part of it.

"I'll let you get some rest now," she told Fanny, preparing to leave and let her sleep, but the woman caught her hand.

"Will brought me some medicine earlier," Fanny whispered. She pointed toward it. "Supposed to be good... for bleeding, too."

The Moor went to pick up the jar. "Yes, this should help."

"So will rest," Marian told her. "You try and get as much as you can."

Fanny nodded, and Marian felt sure that she would be asleep within minutes now that her ordeal was over. She had to wonder about the man who'd had her little girl, though. Where was he? And was the girl well? She knew the Moor had helped, and John had been there, but she had not seen the one they called Scarlett since before the waterfall.

Thinking of that moment had her blushing again, and she did not look at Robin as she stepped outside for air. She saw everyone dancing, celebrating life and the new birth, and she couldn't help smiling. The music was infectious, and she found herself dancing along as the others passed.

Oh, she would love to be a part of that, but she doubted any of them wanted a noblewoman like herself joining them.

"May I have this dance?" a voice asked, and she turned to find the rude man from earlier holding out some flowers to her.

She was about to take them when Robin came up to her.

"This lady is spoken for," he said, pulling her away and into the crowd of dancers. She smiled as he did, though she had to admit, he was being rather like his old bully self now.

"You didn't have to do that," she told him. "I think that was an attempt at an apology."

"From Will Scarlett? You must be a miracle worker, Marian. That man doesn't apologize to anyone. Ever." Robin frowned. "And what would he have to apologize for? If he did something to you, why didn't you tell me? I'd have spoken to him. I'll do it now, make sure he doesn't—"

"He didn't hurt me. And I doubt that he would listen to you. He happens to think you're an idiot," Marian said, enjoying telling him that more than she should. "I have to say, your guards don't exactly inspire confidence."

"Bull and Much may not be the most brilliant of men, but they have good hearts."

"Are you saying Will Scarlett doesn't?" Marian shook her head. "Perhaps you have not seen it. He did deny it. Still, watching him with that little girl made it very hard to believe that both Bull and Much were afraid of him and that he was telling the truth about hating children."

Robin smiled. "Well, he does care about Rosie Little. Not so sure about the rest of it."

"Oh, I don't know," Marian teased. "I think I can believe a part of it."

"Can you now? Which one?"

"The part about you being an idiot, of course."

"They all abandoned you again."

Fanny forced a weak smile. She wanted to be sleeping, but she was having trouble keeping her eyes closed. Everything hurt. She wouldn't lie about that, but she couldn't stay asleep. She wanted to rest, and she would if she could. She didn't know if it was the celebration or John not bringing back the baby or if it was what the Moor did to save her and the baby.

"Here," Will said, setting some flowers in her hand. "They're not what you deserve, but you hate my turns at sewing and I didn't have much time and—"

"Oh, don't be daft, lad. I don't need anything," Fanny said. She set the flowers aside and took his hand. "You did plenty already. You got me medicine, and you took care of Rosie."

"She's asleep with your mother. And I don't think that's any kind of favor."

Fanny laughed. "Oh, you. She fusses because she likes you."

"Don't lie. She hates me."

Fanny smiled. Her mother didn't like much of anyone, and she knew it. They all did. "You can do one more thing for me."

"Oh?"

"Tell that big idiot of mine to bring my baby back and get his arse to bed."

Will laughed. "All right, Fanny. I'll have them back soon. You get some rest."

"You know Robin doesn't speak for all of my dances."

The young man stilled, blinking in confusion at Marian. She smiled, thinking that expression was rather like Robin's. She had been enjoying their evening, and she was a bit disappointed that he'd been forced to leave her for his duties to his people.

"Excuse me?"

"I think that we were interrupted earlier, and I did rather like those flowers."

He shook his head. "Fanny has them now. Guess I figured a noblewoman didn't need them."

"That doesn't mean she wouldn't have appreciated them," Marian told him. "I would have, especially if they were intended as an apology."

"I don't apologize."

"That is what Robin said."

Scarlett studied her. "Did he also tell you I hate him and disagree with nearly everything he says or does? Because if he did, and this is some attempt to get me to apologize by being contrary, it won't work. Hell, I should continue to dislike you because you obviously like him, and that makes your judgment questionable at best."

She smiled at that. Scarlett intrigued her. "You really don't like him."

"No, I don't."

"Yet you would have danced with me."

"You need me to tell you you're an attractive woman?" Scarlett asked. "That would be sad, and I don't think you do."

Marian laughed. "I suppose I don't. Is this how you interact with all women?"

"Why does that matter?"

"I'm trying to understand."

"Oh, the Moor does that, too, and he's gotten nowhere in months," Scarlett told her, sounding rather proud of that. "I don't think it's worth the trouble, and you made sure you got blindfolded so you didn't have to stay. It's a waste of your night to spend it trying to understand me, and frankly, I thought you'd be too busy mooning over Locksley for that."

"You can't go two minutes without insulting someone, can you?"

"Nobles bring out the worst in me, though my mother did always say that my tongue was as sharp as the blades I carried." He looked her over. "Why do you care? Is it that you want to get that apology you think you're owed? Or are you trying to prove you weren't here to gawk? What are we to you, Lady Marian?"

"People. My people."

"Interesting statement considering you're royalty and we're peasants."

"That doesn't mean I don't care."

"Locksley claims the same thing. I don't see it."

"Then you would seem to be the one that we need to convince the most."

"Amusing, but no. You're not going to, and he sure as hell isn't going to," Scarlett told her. "I just didn't want you to stop giving money to the others because I insulted you. No one else needs to pay for my mistakes."

"And no one would. I would not punish them for your harsh words."

Scarlett shrugged like he didn't believe that. "If you say so. You'll have to excuse me, milady. I have to set up my camp for the night."

"You don't have a home? Please tell me Robin has not given us yours for the night. I told him we weren't to put anyone out if we stayed, and I refuse to let him—"

"I don't have a home in the middle of the camp, and I don't want one," Scarlett said. He saw her frown and smiled but did not explain. He turned, looking behind him. "Locksley, your timing is great for once. Your company is irritating me."

"Marian? She couldn't irritate anyone."

"Says the man that used to bully me and burn my hair."

"I did apologize for that."

"No, you didn't, actually," Marian said, watching Scarlett shake his head as he walked away from both of them. He was a rather strange young man, though she swore she felt like she knew him. He was rather a lot like the Robin she remembered who used to burn her hair.

"Well, then," Robin said, offering her his arm. "Let me do that now."