Without a particular reason... maybe to cope with pain...


Something is better than nothing

- The Townline Goodbye from Will Scarlet's POV (4x11)

He hugged his friend, heavy-hearted and trying to be strong. It's not like he's dying, Will, he said to himself. He's just going away. Forever.

Still, he wouldn't see him anymore. He watched as Robin said goodbye to Little John, Alan and the rest of his Merry Men. Marian, pale and shivering, was clinching to her son.

A sudden sound of heels made him watch to his left – the queen was walking towards them, and she addressed to his friend with subjects of very little importance. Now, if he knew something about Robin, was that he was trying with all his soul not to cry. He was with him when Marian had died the first time, and he recognized the signs. The same Marian who was now held briefly by her husband – she whispered a thank you to the queen and everyone watched as she crossed the town line, hair brown again, spine straightened.

Roland was in her arms, and she looked at them without seeing a thing. Fear in her eyes.

He saw the queen – Regina – urging Robin towards the line. She lowered her head, to lift it again when Robin captured her lips. The last kiss. Thoughts of Anastasia swirling in his mind, he diverted his gaze for a second – the moment was too intimate.

Robin whispered something, pressing his forehead against hers – he felt their absolute pain he knew too well, saying farewell to the woman you love.

They lowered their hands, desperate to cherish their last seconds – it was like a title from the Titanic Soundtrack he loved to listen during the curse: Unable to Stay, Unwilling to Leave – and they kept the contact until they couldn't anymore – Robin was outside and she had her fingers lingering where his hand had been.

He watched as he walked away – she was still there, hands in her pockets, she pulled out a piece of paper and tore it off, the fragments falling slowly to the ground. And she was gone.

His friends began to move – John patted on his shoulder, and he muttered I'm gonna stay a bit more, and John nodded – when he was alone, he approached to the remnants of the paper and carefully picked them up.

She would have insulted him, but after some time, she would have understood. Having something to remember your love is better than nothing. He placed them in his pocket, next to an old page from an old book – a page that depicted a beautiful red queen.