Chapter 21
With a second chance at things what would you do?
Robin woke slowly in the dimly lit tent. The pain in his head was the most intense thing he had ever felt. Where was Much? Where was Noor? The last thing Robin remembered was Much and Noor taking care of him and then Noor telling him to sleep. Everything else had been darkness.
Sitting slowly Robin began to look around the tent. Much was asleep on the chair next to his bed. Robin's manservant looked pale and haggard. What Robin did not fathom was that for the past two weeks Much had only left the tent to gather food and otherwise he had sat beside his Master without fail waiting for him to wake, sleeping only in short snatches.
"Much," Robin croaked softly. His lips were parched and he was very thirsty. Not to mention confused. The camp seemed to be very quiet and a quiet camp meant something was wrong. "Much!"
Much woke with a start. His master was awake! "Master! You're awake! Praise be to God, you're awake!"
"Much, I'm thirsty. Is there any water?" Robin managed to croak out from between his parched lips. He was so thirsty that his tongue seemed to be coated in a slimy surface.
Much immediately reached for the pitcher of water he kept next to the bed. "Of course Master, Noor told me you would be thirsty when you woke. Here take some water."
"Where is she?" Robin asked and then took a long sip of the water. It was warm but was wet; Robin thought it might be the best water he had ever drunk.
"Who, Noor?"
"No, Much, Queen Nab; I would like to thank her for the wonderful fever dreams she gave me. Of course I mean Noor." Robin said sarcastically. It was good to be alive.
"She's gone Master." Much said with his head down. "I haven't seen her since the night she stitched your wound. When your fever broke she left and I haven't seen her since."
"Have you gone to the palace and asked for her?" What did Much mean she was gone? People didn't just disappear, especially royalty.
"The palace is empty Master. There is no one there except a small guard and they will not tell me very much. King Richard is gone; he has taken James and all of the troops and headed toward Medina to confront Salahadin about the assassin. I was told Noor has gone to Medina as well; she can move faster than the army and probably has gone to warn Salahadin about Richard's arrival. She told me on the way here that night that the assassins were not sent by Salahadin or her. She says by their description that the assassins are not even Saracen."
"Well, then come on Much. Help me up and let's get going. If we're fast we can catch King Richard in a matter of days. How long have I been asleep and how long has he been gone?" Robin struggled to sit up in bed. Much meanwhile didn't move.
"You have been asleep two weeks Master. King Richard has been gone five days. Noor has been gone eleven. But Master, there's some things you need to know."
"What's that Much?"
"Well, Robin, King Richard has left our discharge papers. We are to return to England; not follow him to Medina. He wants you to go home to rest and heal. In fact he has ordered it. Which brings us to the second thing you need to know; Noor has gone to Medina to be with Salahadin."
"Yes, you've told me that already Much." What did Much mean King Richard was ordering them home? Robin was one of his most trusted guards! Did King Richard think he had something to do with the plot? At the same time Robin's brain was screaming 'Home, Home, Home! We are really going home!'
"No, Master, you don't seem to understand. She has not only gone to Medina to warn Salahadin. She has gone to Medina to be his wife." Much looked at Robin miserably. "To be his faithful wife Master. Um, she left these for you." Much took the silver bracelet and ring from his pocket and set them in Robin's lap.
Robin stared at the jewelry. Suddenly he felt very tired. "Much, do you think it would be okay if I slept a little more?"
Much took the jewelry and placed it on the table next to Robin's bed. "Of course, Master. When you're stronger we'll talk about what to do next."
"Thank you, Much. What happens next is that we go home. We go home and leave this godforsaken pit of a Holy Land behind." With that Robin shifted onto his side and closed his eyes, feigning sleep. She was gone, truly gone, and he was being sent home. Robin didn't imagine anything could feel worse than the way he felt right now. Not his wound, or his fever, or anything else had ever hurt the way he did now. Robin lay still as his heart shriveled in his chest. Never again would he put his heart out like he had with Noor. He would keep it protected, guarded, so that it could never be wounded like this again.