p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Not for the first time Nasir asked himself in what way the fate of Sir Guy of Gisburne was tied to that of Robin Hood. Had he asked his friends about this, they would have assured him that he must be mistaken. Though probably not with the kind of courtesy he himself would display, but all the more unmistakably./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"At least until the previous day, until the events in Rhiannon's Wheel. When Robin had told them that he wanted to meet Gisburne there, but did not want to fight with him, none of the others had believed this was possible. Even Marion, who knew Robin's secret, was not able to completely hide her disbelief. But she had not contradicted her lover either. Nasir was not surprised at this, for he had expected nothing else from her. He had judged her that way from the very beginning of his acquaintance with her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"But this did not alter the question of what it was that tied the knight to Robin Hood. And not only to this Robin Hood, to the son of the earl, but also to the first one, to Robin of Loxley, whom Nasir had regarded as his friend, too, and whom he, despite the differences in origin and education, had always considered as his brother and for whom he had mourned most intensely, even if he had not wanted to show this to anyone./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"And then this young man came along, so unlike Loxley and yet also so similar that he had taken his place in Nasir's heart before he had even realized it, but without displacing the other one. That was not the only place he had succeeded Loxley, however, and Nasir did not even want to start on Marion now. He was referring solely to the inexplicable relationship with the Norman knight./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"If Nasir had still had any doubts in this regard, they would have been gone forever after yesterday's events. Not only had the knight actually turned up - and on the grounds of a letter - but he had been alone and then even entered the stone circle unarmed. The rest had called Robin crazy when he had entrusted his sword to Nasir, but once again, Herne's son had shown them that they should have faith in the words of his spiritual father./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"And then Robin had spoken those words, which had almost sent the knight running and Will - not just almost - into a fit of rage, so that Nasir had felt compelled to act forcefully against his friend. To a certain extent, Nasir could even understand Will Scarlet's reaction, but he had never been able to understand the other's inability to put himself and his feelings aside for a greater good. In that respect, he was more like Gisburne than Will was probably comfortable with./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Unlike Robin, who was quite capable of taking himself back. Nasir knew how difficult it had been for his friend to speak those words that had surprised everyone. At least, everyone who had not yet known about it. Among those who already knew the secret, besides Tuck and Marion, was Nasir himself, for he had exceedingly good hearing and could hide himself from his friends in such places as seemed impossible to them. He had considered it his duty to watch over Robin and Marion, and he had already known in advance that he would keep everything he overheard locked up in his heart and would never allow it out again./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Since Nasir had been able to get to know his friend even better in this way, it was no surprise to him that he actually accomplished all that he had set out to do for this meeting in Rhiannon's Wheel, although no one had assumed that after the knight's strong - and understandable - reaction. What would come of this in the future, however, even Nasir could not foresee at this point./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"On the other hand, he knew now in which manner this Robin Hood was tied to the knight. But that still left the question, what was his bond with Loxley. That there had been a connection between the two of them, no one had been able to deny. At least no one who could truly see with their eyes and truly hear with their ears. It was evident every time the two met, but especially on the one occasion when Loxley had kissed the knight./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"However, Nasir had not been given the opportunity to learn more about this secret, for Loxley was dead only a few days later. A loss that affected not only Nasir himself. But also, one that made way for another man./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Insh'allah./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"At least until the previous day, until the events in Rhiannon's Wheel. When Robin had told them that he wanted to meet Gisburne there, but did not want to fight with him, none of the others had believed this was possible. Even Marion, who knew Robin's secret, was not able to completely hide her disbelief. But she had not contradicted her lover either. Nasir was not surprised at this, for he had expected nothing else from her. He had judged her that way from the very beginning of his acquaintance with her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"But this did not alter the question of what it was that tied the knight to Robin Hood. And not only to this Robin Hood, to the son of the earl, but also to the first one, to Robin of Loxley, whom Nasir had regarded as his friend, too, and whom he, despite the differences in origin and education, had always considered as his brother and for whom he had mourned most intensely, even if he had not wanted to show this to anyone./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"And then this young man came along, so unlike Loxley and yet also so similar that he had taken his place in Nasir's heart before he had even realized it, but without displacing the other one. That was not the only place he had succeeded Loxley, however, and Nasir did not even want to start on Marion now. He was referring solely to the inexplicable relationship with the Norman knight./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"If Nasir had still had any doubts in this regard, they would have been gone forever after yesterday's events. Not only had the knight actually turned up - and on the grounds of a letter - but he had been alone and then even entered the stone circle unarmed. The rest had called Robin crazy when he had entrusted his sword to Nasir, but once again, Herne's son had shown them that they should have faith in the words of his spiritual father./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"And then Robin had spoken those words, which had almost sent the knight running and Will - not just almost - into a fit of rage, so that Nasir had felt compelled to act forcefully against his friend. To a certain extent, Nasir could even understand Will Scarlet's reaction, but he had never been able to understand the other's inability to put himself and his feelings aside for a greater good. In that respect, he was more like Gisburne than Will was probably comfortable with./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Unlike Robin, who was quite capable of taking himself back. Nasir knew how difficult it had been for his friend to speak those words that had surprised everyone. At least, everyone who had not yet known about it. Among those who already knew the secret, besides Tuck and Marion, was Nasir himself, for he had exceedingly good hearing and could hide himself from his friends in such places as seemed impossible to them. He had considered it his duty to watch over Robin and Marion, and he had already known in advance that he would keep everything he overheard locked up in his heart and would never allow it out again./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Since Nasir had been able to get to know his friend even better in this way, it was no surprise to him that he actually accomplished all that he had set out to do for this meeting in Rhiannon's Wheel, although no one had assumed that after the knight's strong - and understandable - reaction. What would come of this in the future, however, even Nasir could not foresee at this point./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"On the other hand, he knew now in which manner this Robin Hood was tied to the knight. But that still left the question, what was his bond with Loxley. That there had been a connection between the two of them, no one had been able to deny. At least no one who could truly see with their eyes and truly hear with their ears. It was evident every time the two met, but especially on the one occasion when Loxley had kissed the knight./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"However, Nasir had not been given the opportunity to learn more about this secret, for Loxley was dead only a few days later. A loss that affected not only Nasir himself. But also, one that made way for another man./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Insh'allah./span/p