Anguished, Robin watched as Djaq did all she could to make Marian comfortable. Every ragged, shallow breath Marian drew went right through him. It seemed an eternity since Will had gone to bring Matilda.

"You don't still believe she's miscarrying, do you?" he asked Djaq softly.

"I was wrong in guessing that," Djaq admitted. "Her cramps have subsided, and there is no blood. But I am glad Matilda is coming. I know very little of your English diseases. This is unlike anything I have seen before."

"I've not seen anything like it. She was ill last night, then woke full of vitality. Could it be a sickness that comes and goes? There was something a lot of crusaders suffered from, the king included. It laid them low several days, off and on. Those who caught it are said to continue suffering bouts of it, even after returning home."

"Crusader's Sickness? Yes, we felt Allah was being just, infecting many of your people so you would go home."

"Maybe just evening things up, since we had Melek Ric, as you call the king." Robin wasn't being flippant, with Marian suffering before him. He actually believed what he said.

Marian moaned softly in her sleep.

"Is there anything else you can give her to ease the pain?" Robin asked, suffering along with his wife.

"I have given her all I can safely give."

Robin thought, then asked, "What about what we gave the people in Pitt Street, when the sheriff's poisoner tried to kill them? You remember...Little John called it 'Woodsman's Remedy.' "

"Belladonna? It is Deadly Nightshade. It might kill her, if there is no poison in her system."

"We can't risk it. I have no proof."

Will entered with Matilda, who went directly to Marian. "What has she taken?" Matilda asked Djaq while accessing Marian's condition.

"Plenty of water, mint for cramps-"

"Try chamomile next time. Go," she ordered Will, assuming Marian had miscarried after what Will had told her. "The husband may stay. Where are the cloths? I need to see how much blood she's lost."

"She hasn't lost any," Robin told her.

"I was incorrect, assuming it was a miscarriage," Djaq said.

"I don't believe she's with child," Robin added. "It's something else."

"Hmm." Matilda examined the patient. "Color's terrible. Pulse is weak, breathing's shallow. No fever. She's cold and clammy. What has she eaten?"

"The same thing we all ate last night," Robin said. "Squirrel stew. She's had nothing since then."

"No congestion? What about vomiting?"

"Nothing. Just cramps in her abdomen."

"Dizziness? Lightheadedness?"

"Yes."

"She ate something," Matilda stated. "It's worse than an allergic reaction. I think she's been poisoned."

"Isabella," Robin realized, his voice filled with hatred. "Excuse me." He turned and left the shelter he shared with Marian.

Entering camp, he ignored Much and the others asking about Marian, and went directly to Isabella. "You're coming with me," he commanded, grabbing her arm and pulling her.

"How exciting," she said, trying to mask her fear with a seductive attitude.

He almost hurled her into his shelter.

Matilda was only partly surprised. "Well, if it isn't the Serpent, stirring up trouble in Eden," she said. "I should have known you'd be behind this."

"Should we administer belladonna?" Djaq asked.

"You mean to the patient," Matilda said. "Though it would be justice, giving poison to the poisoner."

Robin's mood was dangerous. "What did you put in Marian's food?" he demanded, angrily.

Isabella stopped all denials. "Only the ground up root of wolfsbane, or monkshood, if you'd rather. It grows wild in the meadow. Such lovely purple blossoms, but it's oh so deadly."

"Beautiful but toxic," Matilda agreed. "Just like you." Turning to Djaq, she advised, "Give Marian the belladonna now. You know how much?"

"A few drops on her lips first."

"That's right. Wolfsbane is one of the deadliest poisons there is, particularly its roots. It causes the stomach to cramp, but mostly it slows the heart, usually causing death. It can infect by ingestion, or through a wound in the skin."

Robin was barely listening. All his attention was on Marian as she slowly appeared to return to normal. Her breathing improved, as did her color. She opened her eyes, blinking them in confusion. Tears welled in Robin's eyes as he smiled and even laughed with the joy of finding Marian well again.

"May I go tell the others?" Djaq asked.

"Thank you, Djaq," Robin said. "You saved her once again."

Djaq was happy, and was about to leave to tell the gang the good news when Robin stopped her. "Tell Little John to come and take Isabella away."

"Good," Matilda approved. "When you say 'away,' Robin, how far away do you mean?"

"I want her tied up, in my camp. I need to question her some more."

"Why? She admitted she used wolfsbane. Your wife's recovering."

"It's something unrelated. It's why she's here in the first place."

Little John arrived and took Isabella roughly back. Matilda stood by, waiting to give Robin a few precious moments with Marian before giving him a piece of her mind.

"I'm glad you're back," Robin gently told his wife. "You're making a habit of almost dying, you know, and it's killing me, Marian."

"What can I say? I'm a fighter. England needs me, Robin."

"You are the most beautiful fighter England ever knew. Don't ever leave me again, Marian. I need you more."

Matilda had heard enough. "Speaking of needs, you, milady fighter, need to rest. And what I need is a word with you, Robin of Locksley." While Marian rested comfortably, Matilda drew Robin aside.

"Thank you," Robin told Matilda sincerely. "You can't know how greatly I appreciate what you did."

"I was happy to do it. She's quite a gem, your wife. You're lucky to have her. And you! You once saved my life. But now!" She slapped him on the side of his head. "What do you think you're about, harboring that serpent in your camp?"

"Isabella knows where King Richard is being held captive. I'm going to force her to tell me, and then, my gang and I will rescue him."

"At the expense of your wife's life?"

"I didn't account for that."

"You should have known better than to bring her here."

"Agreed. But Marian's well again, thanks to you."

"For now. Who knows what other tricks Isabella's planning? Don't tell me you're choosing the king again, over your wife. You made that mistake once before, and it nearly killed her. You have no idea how ill she became when you left for war, her heart broken in pieces."

"I've heard, and I regret my going."

"Then why risk her life again, keeping Isabella here? Marian is not a cat, with nine lives to spare! She's already been killed twice before."

"By Gisbourne. He isn't here to harm her."

"A Gisbourne is."

"I had a dream last night, about the king. I could almost hear him calling me."

"So you do choose him. You're an idiot, Robin of Locksley!"

"I need to bring him home." Robin paced a few steps, then made a decision. "But you're right. I've been a fool, keeping Isabella here."

"If the serpent was banished from the garden instead of Adam and Eve, we'd all be a lot happier. Now, get her out, and never let her return."

Robin nodded his head. "I'll lead you both home," he said.

"This ought to be an interesting trip," Matilda said, laughing.