A Study in Scarlett
Chapter Twenty-Six
Word Count: 2,821
Rating/Disclaimer/Summary: Same as chapter 1, really
Author's Note: I wasn't sure at first what to do with this section, but I was thinking that I didn't want or really need to go over what the movie shows us of Marian's rescue. For one, Will had no real part in it, and for two, what could I possibly add to it? I couldn't think of anything.

So I decided on a few scenes outside that conflict, and the ideas aren't all my own, but I did enjoy Robin and Will bickering, and that is mine.

Smaller Battles

"They might get that gate up there yet," John muttered, shaking his head. "He could have waited a few more minutes."

Will grimaced, though John couldn't be sure if it was the pain or the words he was saying causing that reaction. "If it's what he feared, a few more minutes might have been too many."

"Aye," John agreed, not liking that much. Next to him, Fanny made the sign of the cross again, tugging Wulf close. She was a woman. She'd been threatened with it before when she wouldn't tell Nottingham's men where he was, and while it had never happened, it was something all woman feared.

Nottingham was just the sort of bastard to do it, too.

"Do you intend to let them kill all the guards?" Fanny asked. "They're all doing as they please now, no one giving them orders with Robin and the Moor inside, and someone needs to stop them if you're not going to let them kill all the guards."

John grunted. "Part of me says let them. All those guards had a part in harming us, so why shouldn't they have a turn being harmed?"

"Some might not have wanted to do it," Fanny said. "We were all desperate for food and money, and they might have thought working for Nottingham was the only way to survive."

"Let anyone who wants to surrender do it," Will said. "If they were a willing part of Nottingham's forces, they probably won't, and even if they were, they can be punished other ways. If they weren't willing, they'll gladly take the chance to stop."

"You're not just giving orders because Robin's gone, are you?" Wulf asked. "Just because you're his brother doesn't give you the right to do it."

"Wulf," John said, shaking his head. Would the boy never let go of his hatred for Will? Had learning that he and Robin shared blood made it worse? That kind of jealousy was not good. "I am willing to hear suggestions. I always have been, before Robin and after. It's nothing to do with whose brother he is. It's about him having a good idea, as usual."

"John, Will, Fanny," Bull said, running back towards them. "Those nobles, the ones with Nottingham. They're getting away."

John shook his head. "The hell they are."

"You do not look well, my friend," Azeem observed, coming upon Will Scarlett alone in the square. Others who saw him might have assumed he was among today's dead, and that might even have been what he wanted.

"Speak for yourself," Scarlett muttered, eyes barely open and yet nodding to the way Azeem was limping. "That better not have happened when you went flying over the wall."

"Indeed it did not. This wound was of battle, given to me by the witch."

"Saw her, did you? She's rather hideous, but as far as witches go, not half as scary as the stories say," Will said, closing his eyes completely again. "If she was, she would have caught me, but I escaped. Twice. No, three times now, though the last time barely counts."

"Because you made an unfair bargain for your freedom?" Azeem asked. "You did tell the sheriff that you would kill Locksley, and he still had you beaten."

"Anyone should have known he would have," Will said. "I didn't. I just wanted out. I think I would have done or said anything to get out of there. I could hear the other men screaming, and it was like Flavell had me again and was marking my legs... like that man telling me to kiss him and having his hands on me..."

Azeem reached over to touch the younger man's skin. "It is as I feared. You are burning up. We should not have brought you here today."

"I wasn't much use," Will said. "They caught me. So easily. I couldn't fight. Wulf won, and they won, and they tied me to a damned barrel. I should have died in the dungeon. That would have been less humiliating."

"You are not to blame," Azeem said. He and all the others had known that Will was in no state to fight, but they had brought him along anyway. They had let him be in a position where Wulf could reveal him and the soldiers would add him to the others on the gallows. They could only blame themselves, and he was certain that the Christian did. "Many things went wrong with our foolish plan, and it was not your fault."

"You lie poorly, Moor."

"I do not lie at all," Azeem said, for he had not been untruthful. "Where are the others?"

"John and Bull organized them against the barons working with Nottingham. Wulf went along, and Fanny didn't like that, so she went after him. I stayed here. Not sure what happened. Think I feel asleep. So much for glory in battle."

"The glory of your battle is not one fought in an ordinary war," Azeem told him, for the battles Will fought were those of spirit and soul, and he had won them, though he did not know it yet.

"I really am feverish. You make no sense at all."

Azeem laughed.

"We should find you something else to wear," Robin said, trying not to look at all that had been exposed in Nottingham's attack. He knew she was still covered, but what she had endured was something that no one should endure. "And join the others, if you're up to it."

Marian nodded, rising with him. He held her a moment longer, not wanting to think about how close he'd come to losing her or to dying. He had almost lost everything today. Had he not found that arrow or been a bit later, he would have lost his brother, and then Marian had been taken. Nottingham had almost killed him, and then the witch had.

He drew her into his arms again. "I would hold you like this forever."

"I would be willing to be held," she said. "Your touch... it is nothing like his. It feels like safety. His meant only pain."

"I am sorry I was not faster in getting to you," Robin said, touching her cheek. "I wanted nothing more than to be there, to stop him. If things had gone as planned in the square, he would never have been able to harm you, but it all went so wrong when Will was captured..."

"Robin," Marian said, taking his hand down from her face. "I have something I feel I must tell you, and I do not know that it can wait. I would wait, and yet if anything is to be learned from this, it is that we do not have the time we think we do, none of us. Even Nottingham's death may not be enough."

"Damn it," Robin muttered. "Those nobles with him. I should have made sure we caught them all, but I had to get to you—"

"I am glad you came," she said. "I could not fight him, and I needed you."

He leaned his head against hers. "I will always come for you."

"What I have to tell you will not be easy to hear."

He frowned. "I know you were married, but it was not legal, and you are a widow now even if it was. Unless... you would rather I not ask for your hand, unworthy of it as mine has proved to be."

"No, no, that's not it at all, though I think some time must pass before that happens even if this marriage was not my wish," she said. She turned away. "Oh, this is just making it worse. I... Duncan told me something before I was taken, and it has plagued my mind ever since. I knew I must tell you, even if he had sworn he would not."

"Duncan wanted you to tell me something?"

"No, he didn't. Yes, he did. I suppose it was both. He'd sworn he wouldn't tell you, but you should know," Marian said, turning back to face him. "He said he burned letters from the woman you told me about, the one that your father had loved. That... that there was a child, and she wrote to him when he was born, but Duncan never gave your father the letters."

Robin put a hand to his face, not sure what to think. Duncan had been so loyal to them, it was hard to comprehend such an action, and yet that was the answer in of itself. He must have thought he was protecting them. "You're sure he did this? Burned letters?"

Marian nodded. "It distressed him greatly. He wanted forgiveness before he died, but he seemed to think that he could not tell you, that he was sworn not to, and that he had already caused so much pain by the silence. I do not know if the child lived and if your brother is still alive, though I admit when he said anger my mind went to—"

"Will."

"Yes."

"Will Scarlett is my brother," Robin told her, and she stared at him. "Do not judge him on the sheriff's words. He was no more a turncoat than I deserved for all I put him through. I sent his mother away, forced him to be born without a father. Later, I had him arrested for kicking me and wounding my pride. And when I came back from the Crusades, I put an arrow through his hand to unite the people of Sherwood under my cause. I have wronged him, and I cannot believe I can ever earn his forgiveness, but I will be trying until my dying day. I suppose it is only right you know—I will claim him as my brother and give him all he should have had if my lands are restored to me. He will be my heir unless I have a son. I will not deny him."

"I would not ask you to," Marian said. "Though I do not think he will want what you intend to give him."

"He can argue with me about it later," Robin said. "Come. Let us join the others."

"And here I thought I would have work yet to do," Robin said as they drew closer to the others. Marian did not miss the glares from the barons, and she steeled herself not to look at them, hating them more than they could ever look down upon her.

"They hadn't gotten far, and we didn't figure on letting them," John said. "They were all conspiring against the king. He'll have plenty of living traitors to deal with, seeing as we hear Nottingham is dead."

"Yes, he is," Robin said, and Marian tried to contain her relief at that. "We have won many battles today, but we cannot overlook their cost."

"Oh, not again. No speeches, Locksley. You sound like a pompous idiot. More of one, I suppose," Will Scarlett muttered, and Robin smiled. Marian thought it was a strange thing to see, such pleasure at the insult, but Robin seemed pleased.

"I was half afraid I'd get back down here to find you'd somehow gotten yourself killed while I was off playing hero," Robin said, going over to embrace him. "Never, ever scare me like you did today."

"For the damned last time, Locksley, do not hug me," Will said, "I don't care what blood we share. I don't hug. It's embarrassing."

"I think you are unused to affection," Marian told him, and he eyed her warily. She stepped closer and gave his cheek a kiss. "Thank you. I believe we all owe our freedom to you today."

He touched his hand to his cheek. "Azeem, what was in those herbs you gave me?"

The Moor laughed. "Nothing at all, my friend, though you are among the ones that should be treated and seen to a bed for the night."

"Nottingham's castle is ours," Robin said. "We may as well make use of its hospitality for now."

"I suppose, being high and mighty and lordly, you're not going to go to the lady's room and spend the night with her, but you don't need to be here," Will muttered, turning over on the cot. This was strange, and while it should be softer and easier to rest against with his wounds, he could not get comfortable. He had not slept in a real bed in years, longer than he could remember, if he ever had at all. He had the floor in most places, even when his mother was alive.

"Though the castle's rooms seem many, not all are fit for habitation, and too many of ours are among the wounded. Many of us will be sharing rooms tonight. Should he ever stop tending to others, we will have another join us here."

"The Moor intends to sleep here?"

"Azeem is a good friend to both of us. Why do you still call him the Moor?"

"To irritate him as he does me," Will answered, closing his eyes as the pain got bad again. He shivered, and Robin pulled the blanket he'd just kicked off not two minutes before back over him.

"Neither of you will get any rest in here with me, and I cannot sleep here. I should go find the stable or something."

"You are ill, and I will not have you lost to fever. We have done this before, Will, and I did not like it then, even though I did not know our true ties," Robin told him, reaching over to touch his shoulder. "And I know of your nightmares. Some of them are my doing, and I will not abandon you to them. I cannot."

"You are going to irritate me for the rest of my life."

"Gladly," Robin told him with a smile, and Will groaned. "Peace. It is my hope that someday you and I will do more than irritate each other. We are brothers, and I would like to one day be as Peter and I were, good friends."

"That's not likely. I don't want that. I still regret telling you any of this."

"I think I was meant to know one way or another," Robin said. "Marian told me that Duncan admitted to burning your mother's letters to my—our—father. He never let him see them. I fear Father died not ever knowing your fate."

"I am not going to forgive him ignorance. My mother told him before I was born. She only left to try and spare us both the shame that was coming, and it didn't work," Will said, closing his eyes and biting down as the pain got bad again. "Did you actually kill Nottingham with a dagger?"

"Yes, though not with any particular sort of skill. I was fortunate in taking a lesson from you, even if you did not know you taught me it." Robin patted Will's foot through the blanket. "I had the dagger in my boot just like you always do. It served me well when I needed it."

"I lost mine. All of them. When I was taken, they searched me... I think they're somewhere in the damned dungeon."

"I swear I will return them to you—or if they cannot be found for some reason, I will find you better ones."

"I want mine. I earned them, and they are... sacred to me."

Robin smiled at Will's word choice. "I'm sure they are, and I have heard they strike fear into many men, as one of them must have been the one to end Flavell."

Will nodded wearily. "One of them did."

"I am sorry you suffered at his hands."

"I do not want your pity."

"Someday you will understand that it is not pity at all," Robin said. "Try again to rest. We will have to decide tomorrow what we will do."

"Not everyone will be pleased with you occupying Nottingham's castle. You risk more war by staying. Not that all of us could have done the journey to Sherwood or that we have the kind of shelter we need there after the fire, but there will be others besides the barons."

"I know. I do not intend for us to stay much longer. Marian may be willing to shelter us for a time, but until we have official pardon, I fear we will be forced to remain in the woods." Robin sighed. "I failed. I did not restore them back to their homes as I promised."

Will almost laughed. "They can go back, Locksley. The fines for poaching and taxes won't be a problem without Nottingham. It's the blood on our hands that will still be demanded from us. You will answer for Nottingham as I will answer for Flavell."

"Ah, so then it will be just the two of us in the woods."

"Not if I kill you first, Locksley."