Chapter 3: Waking up

Robin groaned in pain, every part of his body hurt. The fox felt heavy as though he were laid down by lead. Despite the dizziness and all the accompanying ache that filled him Robin lifted his head to look around and was shocked as his eyes met only darkness. He blinked his eyes a few times but couldn't clear them. He distantly wondered where he could be that it would be this dark. Shaking his groggy head, Robin gathered up his energy and tried to stand. It took only a second to realize what a bad idea that was. Fiery pain seemed to explode from his shoulder, if he weren't already sitting it would have driven him to his knees. His hand immediately went to the throbbing pain in his shoulder. It took several agonizing seconds to get the pain back under control. Accessing his condition Robin thought it best to stay on the ground for now. After taking a few deep breaths, he took account of his surroundings through his other senses. From the feel of the cold stone and the smell of mold Robin could tell he was leaning against a stone cold wall in a dark, dank, small stone room, probably a prision. He was chained to the wall behind him by his ankle but was surprised to find that was the only constraint. He was also surprised to find that the throbbing wound on his shoulder had been bandaged, and from its state he'd gaged changed at least once. Which would indicate that he'd been here for some time, a few days at least. Ever more alarmingly, he discovered that his eyes were bandaged. At first he thought this was a measure to hide his location from him, but as he went to remove the 'blindfold' he found the area around his eyes sensitive and burnt and thus left the bandages on. Robin felt a lump form in his throat as his moments of disorientation and blindness from the fire flashed into memory, and pleaded to God to not let this blindness be permanent.

The sound of heavy feet slapping against stone interrupted his worried thoughts as a door squeaked open and clammed closed with a resounding click.

"Well well well, look who finally woke up" Robin looked around but although he could hear the Sheriff's voice he couldn't locate him in the oppressive darkness. "Over here sharp eyes" the Sheriff's voice held a snear and Robin heard him drag up a chair as the legs scraped hardly against the stone.

Instead of starting with one of his usual remarks, Robin decided to cut straight to the chase."How long have I been out, Sherif?"

"Three days" The sheriff answered curtly, the words sending Robin for a spin.

"Ya caught a real bad infection from that arrow to the shoulder" the Sheriff continued. "A lot of the men thought we should just let ya die, but.." Robin heard the Sheriff scratch his face. "I thought it was too easy a fate for oll' Robin Hood"

Robin felt his blood chill.

"Ya see, most of the reason for wanting ya dead was the effect it would have on the villagers. As much as you think Little John's a leader, he's no threat like you were" the Sheriff scoffed.

Robin felt indignation rise up for his friend. Little John was a brave and resourceful fellow. Robin hood trusted the bear with his life and had no doubt that Little John would step up and be twice the leader Robin had been. Before he could open his mouth to respond the weight of the information provided hit him. "They think I'm dead" the words came out as a whisper. Oh dear, what about Merriam, they had planned to start a life together. Would she be okay? And what about Little John? How would his brother handle this? Robin's worried thoughts seemed to spiral. He hoped they were okay, that they were safe in Sherwood forest and far from here. He hated that they had to go through this at all.

In the dark gloomy dungeon he could hear the Sheriff snicker. "They sure do. You should have seen the big todo' over all that!"

A fiery anger rose up within Robin. How could the Sheriff be so cruel! To let his family, his friends think he's dead when he's clearly not!

"You are vile, despicable, heartless.." Robin seethed.

"Now just wait a minute" The sheriff interjected.

"You let them think I'm dead!" Robin screamed tears streaming down his face. "Do you know what that will do to them?!"

"In a matter of fact I do," the Sheriff answered, his chair squeaking to hold his weight as the wolf leaned back. "I'm watching it happen right now. They are not falling apart, they have enough determination to hold together; but they aren't insubordinate or troublesome anymore. I don't care if they hide out in Sherwood forest. The concern was the trouble you caused riling them up. The trouble you caused 'robbing the rich to feed the poor."

Robin's head was spinning.

"And before you go blaming me" the sheriff continued. "I never lied about you being dead, when you didn't come out of the water and all your friends had was your hat with an arrow through it drifting ashore, that's what led them to think ya dead. Not anything I said. I'm just merely, didn't correct them, nor do I plan to."

"You're not going to get away with this," Robin growled lowly.

"Thing is Robin" he could tell the Sheriff was grinning as the wolf leaned forward. "I already have."

Robin sat there fuming, holding back the tears that threatened to fall. He knew how dangerous Sherwood forest could be, how hard it was to survive in the wilderness. He knew his friends would make do but he was greatly displeased that they were driven to such measures. He imagined the grief they were facing. He couldn't imagine the pain of losing Murium or Little John and his heart went out to his dearest friends thinking they faced this burden.

As he sat in the silence with the despicable sheriff, Robin wondered what his fate held. It seems they wanted him alive for now. Little John often criticized him for being rash, but right now Robin feared such measures were called for.

"Why are you keeping me alive?" Robin asked, suddenly breaking the silence. It was a bit of a blunt and dangerous question, but Robin was done playing games.

"Now that is an interesting matter" the Sheriff leaned back once more. "As much as Prince John wanted you dead, that was more to halt the trouble you were causing. When the news of your death spread, that all halted naturally. Now with you being a blind cripple, killing you is no longer appealing to ol' Prince John."

"Appealing" Robin scoffed in affence. "My good man, where is your sense of humanity? Of honor? Life is something to be treasured!"

The Sheriff snorted. "Look here, you're in no place to be lecturin'. You have no cards to play, and if you haven't looked in the mirror, news flash your no longer a threat. Hate to break it to you but this darkness isn't the dungen'."

Robin froze.

"I've been watching ya since i came in, ya keep looking around. Look, I brought a lantern in with me. It's bright enough to see here." the Sheriff's voice softened for a second. "Your blind Robin Hood."

The words hit Robin harder than any physical blow. Leaning back against the wall for support his hands automatically moved to gingerly touch the burn marks hidden underneath the gause.

"I'm not completely heartless you know" the Sheriff's voice was quiet. "Called in a doctor, had him look ya over. He's been back to change the dressin' on your wounds a few times and look ya over." The Sheriff took a breath. "It's permanent Robin. The fire damaged your retinas real bad. You're never gonna see again."

Robin took a breath, trying to wrap his head around it all; feeling almost lightheaded with the weight of the devastating revelation.

"The infection that settled in your shoulder wound was really bad also, your fever got really high there for a few days. You're lucky to be alive, son. You really went through the ringer. The doctor said you will never regain your full strength."

Robin felt the weight of it all overwhelming him.

"Ya see, with this all added up, you're far from being a threat" The Sheriff's voice was soft and patronizing. "You're no longer a renowned outlaw. You see, the legendary 'Robin Hood' did die that night."

Robin looked up his unseeing eyes searching for the Sheriff, wishing to see his expression as the wolf said these hearwreningh words.

Robin let his hand drop from the gauze at his eyes, steeling himself. "I may be blind, but you'll never kill who I am, or what I stand for" Robin answered earnestly.

"That may be true" the Sheriffed breathed, "but you'll never lose another arrow, thus you're no longer a threat, and to keep it that way you're going to be sent off to a work camp to pay off your debt to the crown."

"Work camp?!" Robin's sightless eyes widened in fear. How far was he being sent away? How was he going to let Little John and Merium know he was okay?

"Yes, Robin Hood, a work camp. You're a pain in my side no longer."