Merri was sitting beside the bed. Valeria was asleep, had finally fallen asleep for the first time in thirteen hours. Merri had insisted. The girl's eyes had become bloodshot with loss of sleep, fatigue, and tears. Not to mention, she was pale from lack of food. And, to say the very least, Valeria would not speak, not to her and not to Allan. When she was awake, she would just sit on the edge of the bed and stare at the wall, barely ever blinking, her breathing shallow. When she did sleep, it was far from restful. She would thrash with nightmares, and it was only during these horrors that she would speak. And she would normally wake up screaming Guy's name. But Guy was not there to comfort or help her. Merri had put her foot down about that.

Just then, the curtain lifted and Allan entered the room. She put an urgent finger to her lips and motioned to Valeria, who seemed to be sleeping peacefully for the first time since they had returned to the camp over twenty-four hours ago. Allan, understanding, nodded his head and crept slowly to where Merri sat. He lowered his lips so that he could whisper into her ear and not wake Valeria.

"I am here to take over for awhile."

She shook her head. "No, I'll watch her. Besides, she just fell asleep. I don't want to wake her."

Allan frowned, "Come on, ya need some rest. I can look after her."

Merri turned her head to look at the girl. She gently swept some of the small hairs that had fallen across the girl's brow. "I'm fine, Allan. I can 'andle it."

"Fine," the outlaw conceded, "But I'm stayin' here just in case ya doze off."

"I'm not gonna doze..." Merri yawned largely, "Off, Allan."

He looked as if he didn't believe her. He took a seat down upon the dirt floor and hugged his knees to his chest. "How's she doin'? Ya know with the whole 'Gisborne killed William' thing?"

Merri shrugged. "Not any better. She never spoke much about Gisborne back at the castle, but I know she cared for 'im. She was changing him, she was. And then, he proved 'er wrong. I can't even 'magine how that feels."

"Look, Guy's sorry though. Shouldn't he be allowed to tell her that?"

"Not yet. She needs some time. She's in no condition to hear that right now."

Allan nodded in agreement before observing Merri quietly. "You look tired."

"A lot has 'appened in the past day and a half." She let out a long sigh and sat way back in her seat, leaning her head back to look at the thatched roof.

"Are you upset we brought ya here?" He asked her carefully, "Do ya miss your family or nothing?"

"All my family is in Clun. It's only me in Nottingham. So, no, Allan, I don't miss anyone. And I s'pose," she sat back up and looked at him with a small smile, "It is rather excitin' to be in Robin 'ood's gang, eh? Although, this isn't quite what I pictured I'd be doin'." She sighed. "And look at ya. You've got a cut and ya haven't even cleaned it."

"Oh, this?" He pointed to the small but rather deep cut on his forehead that he had been given by one of the guards. The blood had crusted around the wound and it was still oozing. "It ain't too bad."

Merri rolled her eyes. "You men and your inability to take proper care of yourselves. I s'pose I better dress it, unless you want it to get infect'd."

Allan grinned, "Alright then. One moment." He quietly left the room and was gone for several minutes before he returned with a basin full of water, a cloth, and a jar of some whitish cream. He set them beside Merri and then knelt down before her.

Merri smiled slightly, "Well, this may sting a bit." She dampened the cloth and slowly eased it onto his wound. He winced in pain but bore it well as she cleaned away the blood that was stuck to his forehead. Mid-way through she sighed in exasperation. "How long were ya gonna let it bleed and ooze 'fore ya tended to it."

He shrugged. "What with everythin' going on, I didn't really think 'bout it." He closed his eyes and allowed Merri to clean his wound. The cloth was smooth to his aching head. Her touch was light and gentle. It thoroughly soothed him and he let out a mindless sigh of relaxation.

"Enjoyin' this a bit much, are we?" She raised an eyebrow and he chuckled.

"I guess it's not very often I get taken care of, ya know? I work with Robin. I help others. Doesn't really happen the other way around."

"Well it should," Merri replied, "After all ya boys do, people should look out for ya more."

Allan grinned cheekily, "Yeah, I s'pose if every woman treated us like your treatin' me, us boys would be all set."

Merri blushed. "Oh, hush up, ya." And then she continued cleaning the wound. The cloth dropped back into the basin and her finger lightly trailed along his cut. "How did you get this anyway?"
"A soldier slashed at me with a dagger. I dodged it just in time."

"Doesn't appear that way to me," Merri retorted grimly and Alan winced as her fingers touched a particularly tender spot, "Sorry."

"It's alright. And the cut coulda been a lot worse. Now it's just a battle scar that I will wear with pride."

Again, she rolled her eyes. "Men and their pride." She licked her lips, momentarily drawing Allan's eyes to her sweet mouth before he forced himself to look back into her eyes. "Well," she explained as she withdrew her fingers from his wound, "It isn't as deep as I thought. I won't need to sew it up. What's this?" She picked up the small jar he had brought. Taking the cheesecloth off of it, she sniffed it gently and found that it smelled of rosemary and lavender.

"It is a cream that Djaq made. She was a part of the gang for awhile. A Saracen. She knew a lot about medicines."

"And it does what?"

"She said that the rosemary and lavender help the wounds to heal quickly."

Merri nodded and then dipped her fingers into the white cream. She gently rubbed it into Allan's wound and he tried hard not to wince. Almost instantly, the cream began to work, soothing the irritated skin and bringing down the redness and swelling. "There," Merri seemed pleased with her work, "Not too bad, if I do say so myself."

Allan rolled his eyes as he had seen her do several times in the last twenty minutes. "Women, he mocked, "Always right."

She grinned, "That's right and ya best not forget it." Merri bit her lip and blushed as she realized just how close her and Allan were. Of course, she had realized before. But, now that she didn't have anything to keep her fingers and mind occupied, she noticed it even more acutely. A blush was swiftly forming on her cheeks.

The blanket flapped open again and Robin stood there. "Both of ya, the gang needs to talk."

Allan stood up but Merri stayed seated. "I'll stay with 'er."

Robin shook his head. "You are a part of us now, and so this concerns you as well. She'll be fine until you come back.

Once outside, Allan and Merri took their seats near the fire along with Tuck, John, Much and Guy. Robin stood before them his hands clasped behind his back and a thoughtful frown plastered on his face. When he saw that everyone's attention was on him he began. "Dear friends, there is something that we must discuss, and it concerns the king." He was speaking to Merri especially at that moment. "Merri, you are not aware, but we intercepted a message that William was bringing to the Sheriff from Prince John. That message contained information on a plot to kill the king in Acre. For all of you," he nodded to his gang, "You must know that the time for action is now. William is dead and the Sheriff will use any means possible to get back into the good graces of John. He will go to Acre as soon as possible, try and kill the King, so that John will be too pleased to punish him for his cousin's death."

"What do you propose we do?" Tuck asked.
"Well," Robin answered, "We cannot stay here. Our duty is to King and country. Without Richard, this land will fall. That is why we need to know when the Sheriff plans on leaving for Acre. We will go there too, warn Richard of the plot, and kill the Sheriff."

"Why not kill the Sheriff during his journey?" Much voiced.

Robin shook his head, "We cannot because Prince John will raze whatever town he is killed in. If he is murdered in Acre, then John's quarrel will be with the Middle East. Allan," he turned to the cheeky outlaw, "I need you to go into Nottingham and find out when the Sheriff is planning on leaving. As for right now..." he sighed, "I need to know which of you are coming with me?"

Allan replied, "You know I'll come with ya, Robin."

"And me too," Much called out.

"Aye, me too," John answered gruffly.

Robin couldn't help but smile faintly at their loyalty. "Thank you, my friends, but I had no doubt you would come. It is Guy and Merri that I musk ask." He turned to Guy first. "What do you say, Gisborne?"
"Of course I'll go," Guy responded without hesitation. Robin seemed surprised and shot an eyebrow into the air. "But I will be the one to kill the Sheriff."
"Why?" He asked in a hard tone.

"Because of what he tried to do to Valeria," Guy growled, "Because of what he has done. Promise me that you will give me the chance to kill him."

Robin crossed his arms across his chest. "Why should I?"
He smiled ferally. "Because you need me, Hood. You need as many men as possible to help you. So, you have no choice."

The outlaw uncrossed his arms and gave a curt nod. "Very well. But I do not like this. You will be allowed to kill the Sheriff only if it will not bring any harm to my gang or to anyone around you. Understand?" Guy nodded his head and then Robin turned to the young woman." What of you, Merri? Will you come?"

The girl bit her lip and shook her head. "I can't."

"Why not?" Allan could not help but ask.

She turned to him quickly before looking back at Robin. "I ain't like you. I don't save and I don't kill and I don't rescue. I'm just a maid from the castle. I would only slow you down."

"Robin Hood's gang has room for anyone who wishes to join and end the tyranny in England. You would not be a burden."

Merri still shook her head. "No. Thanks for the offer, but I'll return to Clun. It's time I go home to my family. Besides," she smiled brightly, "You'll need someone on the inside while you lot are away."

He nodded with a sad grin. "Alright then, if that is your choice. But you will always be one of us."

"You rescued me from the castle. I'll never forget that. Just 'member to come and visit me when you come back, ya hear?"

"Of course. And when we do, you may come and live with us again if you please."

She dipped her head slightly, "That sounds wonderful. But..." she motioned towards the blanket that served as a curtain. "What 'bout her?"

Robin opened his mouth to speak but Guy interrupted her. "If you would be so kind, could you take her to your home and look after her while I am away?"
"Now hold on, Guy," Robin argued gently but firmly, "She deserves a choice just as much as you do. Do not make her decisions for her." Guy agreed, albeit begrudgingly, and then sat back down. "Valeria is a grown woman who will choose for herself."

"I have decided," came a small, weak voice from behind. They all turned their heads toward the curtain and saw her standing there. Her hair was a little messed and the sleeves of her arms had been cut off so that her wounds could be bound with strips of cloth. She looked only at Robin, a firmness was in her stare, but behind her eyes - if you looked really closely - you could see something else...brokenness that was barely concealed by her determination. Guy was the only one who saw it and it near killed him right then and there. She continued, "I will go with you, Robin Hood. I will go and help save the king."

"Are you sure?" He asked her gently.

She nodded her head slightly and crossed her arms over her chest. She looked so tired. Large circles were under her lashes and her eyes were red. "Yes, I am sure. There is nothing for me here. And if I die in the Holy Land..." she purposefully left her sentence unfinished.

"Don't say that," Guy couldn't help but reply, "Don't you ever talk like that."

"As if you care," she spat out but her voice was still quiet, near a whisper.

"Valeria," he licked his lips nervously as he very cautiously approached her, "Valeria, we will all be there for you. If you were to die," he stopped only two feet before her, "We would all feel the pain of your death."

She grinned a sickly smile and her eyes blazed with righteous anger. Yet, her tone stayed cool and collected. "You lie."

He shook his head adamantly, hurt by her words. He reached out to touch her but she pulled sharply away. "I would never lie to you. Not again. Not after what I did. I am so sorry."

She hesitated for a second before she replied in a scathing tone. "Well, then, if you are waiting for my forgiveness, you will be waiting for an eternity." She saw hurt flash across his eyes and for a split second felt sorry. But it quickly vanished. "And do not think for one second, Guy of Gisborne, that I am going to the Holy Land for you. I am a free woman who makes her own decisions."

He scowled at her, hurt and angry. "I wouldn't dream of it."

"Good," she nodded curtly before returning back inside her room. Guy watched her leave and when she was finally gone, he let his head hang low and he let out a long sigh. Unclenching his hands, he did not even look at the gang. He just walked away out of their sight.

Silence reigned for several minutes before Much spoke up. "Master..." he began slowly, as if afraid to continue. Robin turned to him. He licked his lips before asking. "Are you sure it is wise for you to return to the Holy Land?"
"Why wouldn't it be, Much?" He asked in confusion.

"Because..." again he began slowly, "Because...well..."

"I think what he means to say," Allan filled in and Much looked at him gratefully, "Is that it is where Marian died. Are you sure you could return?"

Robin sighed and pain filled his eyes. He looked down at the ground and Much continued, "Yes, that is exactly what I mean. For us, the Holy Land was a place of death and destruction when we fought together. And I still have the dreams. But now, she died and is buried there. Robin..."

He started to protest but Tuck cut him off, "He is right, Robin. We understand that you loved and lost her, but we cannot have you distracted from the mission. You are our leader. We will need you to guide us."

He was silent for several seconds before he slowly nodded. "I understand and appreciate the sympathy. But, I will be just fine." At doubtful glances from his men, he repeated with more force. "I will be fine." Then he commanded, "Allan, it is time for you go to Nottingham."