She climbed the hill slowly, her legs heavy as she made her way up to where she knew he'd fled after the service, to a special place on the property they'd both been brought many a time by a man undeserving of such a trivial death. If he'd just have left two minutes later, had taken a different turning or had just stayed home like he was supposed to that day, an errand that didn't need running having him at the wrong place at the wrong time, he'd still be alive, would be tracking around the farm he loved so much, would be tending to the animals that gave him such peace.
The idiot who'd run the red light, who'd been too busy talking on his goddamn phone had walked away with a fractured bone in his arm, that was all, Robin's father, the kind hearted man who'd do anything for anyone hadn't walked away at all.
She'd been out riding when her own father had come running from the house shouting her name in a way that'd had her blood freezing cold within her veins. He'd helped her down from Rocinante, had pulled her tight to his chest with a hand cradling her head and held her whilst she'd cried the tears she couldn't allow to fall in Robin's presence. She needed to be the strong one now.
The air was warm up here, always seemed to be whenever they'd ventured to the top of the hill that allowed them to look out over his parents' vast expanse of land, fields they'd acquainted themselves with at an early age, a place that knew of their laughter, their freedom and, ultimately, their love. Robin's father had told them that this particular spot housed magic, it had been the place in which he'd taken Robin's mother's hand, had pointed to a once vacant area and promised her that their life would begin there. He'd promised her a house, one which he'd built with his own hands, heart and commitment, he'd promised her children, two boys both had grown so proud of in both their good natures and love of the land around them. He'd promised her an eternity of happiness…both had been robbed of that chance.
It had been Julie who'd nudged Regina in the direction of the hill, given her arm a gentle squeeze in thanks and had seen her off with a watery smile before allowing herself the chance to grieve in peace now that the service was done with. Will had barricaded himself in his room the moment his father's body and been given to the ground.
He was hunched over, sitting upon the green grass with his knees pulled up to his chest, arms folded around his legs and his forehead resting against his forearms as he breathed deeply. She was quiet as she moved closer, choosing to allow him his space by sitting herself on the wooden bench both Robin and his father had carved together, a seat they both had used frequently, their place.
Her fingers traced the lines that made the wooden seat, her head tilted in studying as she sat down, the material cold upon her bare legs yet she couldn't find it in herself to care. The tears did fall, though she tried valiantly to hold them back, for it was too hard not to mourn the loss of one such as Arthur Locksley, a true gentleman and gentle soul who deserved far more time on this earth, far more time with those who needed him.
"I keep thinking he's just on a trip," Robin's voice has her looking up abruptly, hands lifting to wipe at the tears still burning down her cheeks, chest heaving with the sobs desperate to escape even with her efforts to keep them in, "that he's just going to come waltzing in through the front door and crack one of those stupid jokes just to make Mum laugh."
He sounded so broken, his voice sore from exertion, all had heard his pained shouts when he'd left, his anguish at never seeing his father again, the man he'd always count as his very best friend in the world, besides Regina of course. "I'm so sorry Robin."
His shoulders shook only once before he was rising to his knees, spinning quickly and practically throwing himself into her lap, his face buried within the delicate black less overlay of her dress. His arms wrapped around her legs as she folded over and into him, her own head coming to rest atop his as her arms wrapped around his upper back. "What can I do for you?" she cried into his hair, taking little comfort in the way his arms hugged her tighter, his face burying harder within her skirt.
"Just…" he choked out somewhat desperately, "don't leave me," he croaked, "please, don't leave me."
And though she'd already committed herself to this man fully, though she'd already deigned to spend the rest of her life with him, loving him, needing him, she could only nod into his hair, whispering promises that both knew she would always keep.