A/N

I would like to thank you all for your comments and reviews all through this story. I particularly want to thank the guest who gave me some great suggestions as to where the story should go next, that is always a help even if you don't use all that is suggested. Thank you sweet guest, your contribution was much appreciated.

Merry Christmas everyone. I hope you have a happy and a peaceful Christmas.

I will see you all with more Robin of Sherwood in the new year. Thanks again.

Chapter 7

"Leave the boy alone."

All heads turned to see Robin standing by the ladder. Gisborne quickly got to his feet and pushed past the other soldiers to reach the outlaw.

"Well, well," he grinned. "Don't tell me you've come alone to rescue this guttersnipe. What ever would your father say."

"That is precisely how things stand Gisborne and my father is none of your concern. Release the boy. He has done nothing to warrant this attention."

Robin was immediately surrounded. One guard tried to take hold but Robin shrugged him off. Much winced as he took in this new development. Robin of Huntington was a good man but he still believed that the rules in Nottingham were based on fair play and that anything could be solved by talking. He soon found himself trust up against a supporting beam and tied.

One good aspect if there be any, the soldiers were now too drunk to harass the outlaws. They broke off into little groups. Some sat at the table, a couple sat on the floor, one group sat in a corner singing old sea shanties to themselves. One group were gathered around Gisborne. In their drunken state they were heaping vomit inducing praise on him for being the most brave and dedicated soldier in the regiment. Gisborne didn't answer. He raised himself up and went over to the outlaws. He scowled as he inspected the ropes binding their wrists and feet. He stared into each of their faces daring them to defy him but then he loudly broke wind as he moved off ruining everything. He dropped all pretence of control then and staggered off back to his friends,

Even despite the situation Robin couldn't help but smirk, Gisborne was always an idiot. Even when he was young. He looked to Much but the boy was lost in his own thoughts.

"Oh cheer up Much, I couldn't rescue you but at least you have some company," Robin gave him a dimpled smile.

"Why, why did you come ere." Much asked

"Because i chose to." Robin said simply.

"You chose to?"

"Yes, it was my choice to come here. Nothing to do with you."

"But you could die here Robin," Much turned an anxious face towards him.

"I could, that is true. But that still wouldn't be down to you Much. I'm a grown adult I make these decisions, much like it was Anna's decision to join us. She loved Will and she chose to be with him. What happened next was a tragedy. She was a lovely young girl and didn't deserve to die so young but things happen.

Its like your brother Much. Robin of Luxley by all accounts was a resourceful independent man. He could have turned his back an all and started a new life for himself but he chose to follow the path of Herne the Hunter. What I'm saying is Much, you don't get a say in other people's destiny. We all follow our own path."

"But Will thinks..."

"Will is grieving Much. He is lashing out because he doesn't know how to process the pain he is feeling. You think a lot of him don't you."

Much couldn't trust his voice. He could only nod.

"Well when you care about people sometimes you have to look beyond their anger, you have to just put that aside and stand by them through their pain."

Much nodded. " I will then."

Robin gave him a smile.

"Much you are an outlaw, we may fight for the good of the people but it doesn't change the fact that you are an outlaw. That means I'm afraid there will be a lot more incidences like this. Wherever there is a cause to be fought for people will get hurt and people will die, maybe me, maybe John, maybe even Marion."

Much shuddered at that thought.

"The important thing is that you realise that none of it is down to you and none of it is your fault.

You do your best in combat. Nasir says your skills with the sword are improving daily."

"Anyone would improve with him Robin, even when he's trying to teach you something it's frightening."

"Yes Much I know. I offered him a round when I first came to camp, he fought me into a ditch. Never again."

They both laughed at that.

"I would ask you one thing."

Much turned to look at him then.

"It's not good to keep thoughts to yourself Much. If you are having issue with someone in camp, talk about it. You can talk to Tuck or John or even me. I know I'm not your brother..."

"I'll talk to you Robin," Much nodded.

Robins heart rose slightly in his chest.

"That would be good, that would be alright." He nodded.

The smile fell away from Much's lips as he took in their grim surroundings.

"We may not get out of here Robin, there's a lot of them,"

"Don't worry Much I've left a good enough track for the others to follow. Once they've off loaded the goods with Farrell they'll be here."

"That's alright then," Much said, then he took a fit of coughing.

"Shhh Much. You'll have them over here. Are you alright."

Much nodded though truthfully he didn't feel so well. It was probably coming on for a while. He just wished he could have a glass of water, his mouth felt so dry.

~o~

The outlaws followed the track all the way to Wicham. They didn't need Nasir so much this time Robin left a very clear track to follow. Though once they arrived they frowned to each other. There was over twenty horses munching in the grass nearby. This was going to be a blood bath. They couldn't hope to take on over twenty soldiers when there was literally only five of them.

"Maybe the villagers will help," Marion put in.

John shook his head. "Look at them lass, they're scared to death."

The outlaws watched from the trees as the horses were quickly taken from the field and lined up for the soldiers.

"I don't think we have a rats chance against all of them," Tuck said.

"Nothing like being optimistic is there Tuck," Will told him. "Well what are we waiting for."

John turned to Will. "We are waiting for them to leave Wicham. There are too many children milling about. Once they're in the forest we'll have them."

"We'll have them," Tuck muttered, throwing his eyes to heaven.

They were spotted. One lone soldier with keen eyesight stopped in his tracks and stared right at John.

"That's it lads," Will got down from the tree he was perched on as several soldiers ran towards them.

John ran at them with a savage cry. He bet them back with his staff gaining ground until one of the soldiers got him on the wrist with his sword. He dropped his staff grimacing in pain. Will Scarlett immediately moved in. He sliced through the soldier who had wounded John and as he cried out Will turned his attention to the next one. Nasir calmly fought off two soldiers with his swords, they could only defend such was their terror of the notorious Sarasan. Once they were on the ground Tuck hit each one over the head with his staff. In total they managed to see off six of the guards patrolling the village but they knew there were many more.

A sudden sound of fearful yelling came to their ears and they steeled themselves for what was to come. They thought someone had alerted the guards to their presence but just then a set of double doors burst open. The soldiers appeared half dressed and shrieking in fear. They each grabbed for whatever horse they could and took off. The outlaws brandished their weapons and stood ready. The soldiers simply rode on by leaving the outlaws in their dust. They didn't even try to stampede them. Gisborne rode on without looking at them. He wore only his under clothes. John tried to knock him from his saddle but Gisborne was an excellent horseman and managed to swerve out of the way.

"No wonder you abandoned him," he yelled out as he took off into the trees.

The outlaws now stood alone they looked at each other in bewilderment. Marion suddenly let out a shriek of delight.

"Robin," she yelled as she ran towards him.

She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him warmly on the mouth. She then turned her attention to Much. She was about to hug him but Much backed away.

"I wouldn't do that Marion," Robin grinned.

Marion let out a gasp.

"Much, your face,"

Much could only smile sheepishly back at her.

Tuck moved in then turning Much's face to the light to take a closer look.

"Aye you poor lad. You have the pox." He tutted, turning Much's face to get a good look at the spots

"Is it serious," John asked.

"No he should be alright with care. These are not the dangerous pox. Someone should really have informed Gisborne of that fact. These are the ones some are now calling measles. I thought you weren't yourself this week Much. This must have been coming on you."

Will went to him putting a hand to his shoulder.

"Much, I'm sorry,"

"It's alright Will," Much told him, blushing slightly under his spots.

"No, it's not alright."

Will reached an arm around his shoulder and pulled the boy into a hug.

"I was wrong, I should never have treated you like that."

"Oh, now don't hug," Tuck cried out.

"I don't care," Will told him.

"But I do. I don't want to be caring for you Will."

Tuck shuffled over to Robin.

"Robin, tell them they can't be hugging. I don't want to be caring for Will. He's a nightmare."

Nasir laughed as Will came up behind him and hugged Tuck giving him a big kiss on the cheek.

"Oh get off," Tuck shuffled along faster trying to get away from him.

The End.