Will could feel the heavy weight of the figure of the man that crouched behind him, keeping him pinned down to the ground with a knife pressing into his neck. His struggled futilely to break the man's grip as he heard Bull call out his name. The man's arm was as big as a tree trunk and his efforts only brought the point of the knife closer to his neck as it was dug harder into his skin in response. His heart raced as he almost gagged at the stench of the man's breath breathing hard into his ear.
"Be still boy or I will end your life." The man's voice was raspy and deep.
Between the stench and the voice Will immediately identified the man as one of the Celts from the battle the day before. In horrified disbelief Will wondered how this was even possible. Wouldn't they have noticed an enemy running around the forest? Especially barbaric ones that had destroyed half the village yesterday? It was only moments ago he and Bull were laughing over how bad they smelled. Maybe if I had just kept my mouth shut I wouldn't be in this predicament. Maybe I just insulted him. He almost laughed out loud at this thought. I am going daft now…next I will be talking to trees.
He cringed as he realized this man must have been one of the bodies laying out in the field. But then again, the man was breathing heavy and at the very least had to have injuries which would put them on a more even footing. This gave him hope. Maybe I have a fighting chance after all.
"Robin of the Hood's brother huh….this will bring the Sheriff great joy… and me great riches. Your life will fetch me a handsome price." The man almost cackled in glee.
Will's heart sank and he closed his eyes in frustration. The man must have overheard him and Bull talking earlier.
His gaze swerved to Bull. The man looked just as bad as Will felt, his face covered in a sheen of sweat and a horrified expression on his face. Bull had snatched up one of the weapons from the ground but had no fighting chance to intervene with the blade at Will's throat. His gaze met Wills, an apology in his eyes as he realized the gravity of the situation.
"Get back or I will end his life right now! Drop the weapon!" At the man's order Bull looked helplessly at Will, hesitating, but keeping his sword pointed at the man holding his friend.
"End his life and you will fail to get any riches at all. You will be dead."
Will's head snapped up at the steely tone and he could feel the Celt's arm tighten around him as the man shifted his body towards his older brother as he walked up to them. Will noticed the man appeared to be slightly out of breath.
Robin stood a few feet away, his eyes ice cold as he addressed the man holding Will. Will noticed immediately that Robin was without weapons and made no move for any nearby. The one time the man doesn't have his stupid bow with him….he only has it when he needs to put an arrow in my hand. What is he going to do….talk the man to death?!
"You will let this man go. Do so and you will be allowed to live. You are obviously outnumbered…more of my men are in the forest." Robin took a step forward towards them as he spoke.
Will could feel the tension in the barbarian even as he recognized Robin and snarled a response, "you can kill me but the boy will die first….he is your brother Robin of the Hood…I heard them say this!"
The man's grip was almost suffocating. Will could barely breath and felt the bite of the knife connect with his skin. He felt a trickle of blood run down his neck and his heart raced with fear.
Robin appeared outwardly calm as he faced the agitated man, his tone now thoughtful.
"Did you now? He pursed his lips and made a motion of studying the younger man in the barbarian's grasp. He gave Will a dismissive glance and snorted.
His attention returned to the Celt.
"Who is to say really…this boy has been known to lie a time or two. Perhaps this is just his imaginings that you heard…...I do not claim him as family…. but he is one of my men and as such I have a duty to protect him. You will let him go and return to where you came from….the battle is over and we have no quarrel here."
Stung, Will felt the wave of hurt run hot through his entire body. His chest grew tight and he blinked back sudden moisture from his eyes. Logically, he knew Robin's intent was to save his life. Deep down he knew this, but the fact that his brother's words could cut him so deeply shocked him. His heart squeezed painfully, competing only with the sting from the blade on his neck.
I am Robin's brother for less than a day and now I am once again a pawn to be used and bartered for because of my Locksley blood.
Unbidden, memories from another time and place flashed before him. The face of a man from his past filled his mind. A kind face with a dark soul. Blue eyes filled with regret and pain. The darkness of the cavern, lit only by torches, their shadows dancing against the wall. Men's voices carrying from the entranceway, horses outside. A hand reaching out to softly touch the side of his face, stroking it gently, wiping away the tears of the boy locked in silence.
"I'm sorry boy….your…your father and brother refused the ransom. I was so certain they would come for you and you would be safe with them. You deserve to be tucked into bed at Locksley right now, not caught up in this whole nightmare. I can't believe that they wouldn't want you…if not your father I expected Robin would come for you. He is a good man…he would make a good older brother given the chance….you…you would love him. Perhaps I will go there myself and explain, even beg, maybe they will show mercy on my actions… I will bring you with me….perhaps if they see you….you need to try to speak if we go there….I know you can do it if you try hard enough."
The boy flinched away from the hand as though burned, curling up into a ball against the edge of the cavern wall, putting distance between himself and the man. He turned his face away and wrapped the blanket tighter around himself.
"I didn't know it was going to turn out this way…..I didn't know he would kill her. I allowed the love I have for my father to blind me to his evil nature...I'm so sorry Will…" the man's voice ended on a choked sob as he almost stumbled to his feet. He turned and hurried away, leaving Will alone once more in the dark.
Will closed his eyes against the memory, desperately wishing to escape both it and the man holding him hostage in the present day. I am certainly not a helpless child anymore. I am so tired of all this. Enough. Pain and rage coursed through his veins in a flash as he made his move.