Summary: Anne finds her way back into Sherwood Forest
Anne's head was throbbing to hell. She hadn't looked at her injuries but she could feel enough pain to know she didn't have long left. She was almost happy at this. She'd suffered enough shame, lost too much love and respect from people. More importantly, she'd lost the love of the only person who had ever truly cared about. Who hadn't beaten her or betrayed her. Who had loved without asking her or pushing her.
She mounted her horse, her cloak covering her battered face.
It felt strange leaving so late at night. No one watching her. Silence. A simple, unexplained, unaltered, unharmed silence. The whole of Nottingham seemed almost human. No cries for mercy or help. Just her horse making its way towards wherever it wanted.
Slumped over her horse, Anne slowly fell asleep, trying to stay awake at least until she made it to Sherwood. She tried to hold onto the reins but fell off, her horse startled before rearing and galloping off.
With blood making its way into her eye sight, she held onto branches, making her way deeper into her final resting place before finally falling.
Let this be it. Please, God, let this be it.
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Tuck regularly made early morning trips to find herbs and food. Anything Much didn't have to cook was in more ways than one. It also gave him time to think over past events.
He couldn't get over her face. Her shock. Her despair. Her desperation to escape. He'd known her long enough to know she didn't like being trapped.
He came across one his regular spots for collecting fungi. He noticed something lying on the other side of the tree.
Pulling out his poison darts in case, he slowly made his way round the tree, careful not to make a sound.
He dropped everything.
Anne was lying there, her face covered in bruises, cuts, blood pouring down her face. She couldn't have been there all night. She'd had to have been there several hours at least. He touched her hand. Stone cold. He shuddered, terrified at the thought she could be dead.
Picked her up desperate to save her, he ran with all his might to camp. He couldn't lose her. Not now. Not ever. He couldn't forgive himself if he let her go.
"ROBIN!" he roared.
"What?"
It was clear enough.
Sorry it's short. The next chapter is much longer as I'm explaining more about Tuck. :p
