A/N: Okay, so this is just everything I've written on this fic. I'm officially abandoning it now, so for those of you who are curious, from chapter 9 to this one, the group go on a raid, Will, Much, and Nasir get captured.
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"I thought you were captured." Robin said of Will. "Where are the others?"
"I was." He answered hoarsely, wincing at the tone in Robin's voice. "The other's still are."
Robin flew at him before Will could react, his reactions dulled by pain and exhaustion, drawing his sword as he did so. Before Will knew it, he was flat on his back, Robin's sword at his throat.
"You've lead them to us haven't you." Robin growled. Suddenly a pair of hands grabbed the back of Robin's tunic, and wrenched him off Will.
"Get off Robin!" Cadiana yelled, pushing Robin backwards a few steps. "What's your problem?"
"He's a spy, that's my problem." Robin snarled, glaring murderously at Will.
Cadiana laughed, and shook her head at him, turning and helping Will to his feet. A shooting pain went through his arm, but he ignored it, focusing instead upon the anger Cadiana was displaying on his behalf, knowing he loved her for it. His knees shook, but Cadiana supported him, keeping him from falling.
"Listen to yourself Robin." Cadiana said still shaking her head at him. "Will? A spy? Look at the welts on 'is back, and tell me again that 'e's a spy. Your problem is that you need someone to blame, and Will is the closest target. This wasn't 'is fault."
"No one followed me Robin." Will said tiredly. "I was careful about that."
"Then why did they let you go?" Robin demanded, still as angry as before. Will knew that he wouldn't calm down easily, nor would he save judgement. If Robin blamed him now, he would probably blame Will later.
"Message." Will said, letting go of Cadiana, to stand up straight. "Much and Nasir are to be 'anged tomorrow at sunset. They're tryin' to lure you there."
Will hadn't been pleased with the way things had turned out. If it had been his choice, he would have stayed with Nasir, and let Much go tell the others. Much was far younger, had more to do before he died.
Nasir would have died the same way he had lived, with pride, and dignity. As for Will, he would have gone to his death with sadness, knowing that he would never get the chance to tell Cadiana how much she meant to him.
"Robin," Cadiana pleaded. "You know Will wouldn't lie to you like that. We don't 'ave time for this. We need to work out how to save them."
"Look at you," Robin sneered at her. "Acting like a real member of the band. What say do you have in how we do things here?"
"Robin!" Marian said sharply, but Cadiana waved her hand in dismissal.
"Oh, it's perfectly all right Marian." Cadiana said, her face expressionless. "He's quite right." She nodded to Robin, as she steadied Will again. She then let go of Will, and strode over to her things. Cadiana picked her cloak up, and pulled it, swirling, around herself, fastening it. Everything else she had, she was already wearing.
"I've come to care about all of you, including Much and Nasir, a great deal," she began, and Will began to panic. What is she doing? He asked himself. "That won't change. But I'm going now. I can't take any of this. Maybe I'm just not strong enough." She gave a little laugh.
No, Will thought, please, no, she can't go. I'm in love with her. "Cadiana." Will started shakily, but she cut him off.
"Don't, Will." She warned him. "Don't make this 'arder for me than it already is."
"But-"
"No, Will. I'm not worth it. I'm going." Cadiana raised her hand to her mouth, and blew him a kiss, then turned and disappeared into the forest.
"I 'ave to go after her." Will muttered, and started to do just that. His knees gave way, and he fell to the ground. Marian rushed to him looking concerned.
"Oh Will Scarlet, what did you get yourself into." She murmured later as she was cleaning the welts on his back. He had discarded of his shirt, and was now sitting crosslegged in front of the fire.
"Will." Robin said, sitting in front of him. "Will, I'm sorry. I do trust you. I was just angry. And I didn't really mean what I said to Cadiana."
Will gazed at him through his lashes, eyes half closed, partly from the stinging of the water on his wounds, partly from exhaustion. "After we save Much and Nasir, I 'ave to go. I 'ave to find 'er."
"Will, wait, think about this," Robin began, but Marian cut him off.
"Shut your mouth Robin." She said sharply. "Let Will do what he feels must be done. I love you and even I'm not sure he should forgive you."
Robin hung his head, looking downtrodden.
"Marian." Will said, glancing at her over his bare shoulder. "I forgive 'im for not trusting me. I wouldn't trust 'im if I were in that position. But," He said, looking back at Robin, and wincing as Marian dabbed at a particularly deep cut in the small of his back. "That doesn't mean I can forget 'er. Nothin's forgotten, remember?"
"What is Cadiana to you?" Robin asked him, with amused curiousity.
Will made a small sound as Marian began bandaging his cuts. But he looked
Robin in the eye as he answered. "My very best friend in the world. My everything."
"Ah." Robin said. "Then, once you are feeling fit enough to go, I bid you farewell. If you require help, supplies, anything, you shall get it. And you must always remember that you are welcome back here forever, as is Cadiana."
"Thank you Robin." Will said, inclining his head.
"Stop talking, the two of you." Marian scolded. "Will, you need to get some rest."
"All right, my love." Robin smiled at Marian. "Will, when you have rested enough, I must ask you to help with the preparations for the rescue."
With that, Robin left, to check on John, who was on watch.
Will laid down, and thought of Cadiana. How could she have left him like that? Because, the little voice in his head said, you didn't tell her how you feel. Why didn't I? Because you're scared, the little voice said. You're scared she doesn't feel the same way.
Thinking of the woman he was in love with, he drifted off to sleep.
Cadiana crouched on a wide branch high in a tree near to where the band of outlaws stood, outlining their plans to save Much and Nasir. She listened carefully, while mentally plotting her own plans. She couldn't not have a part in the rescue, they were her friends too. She closed her eyes, bracing herself against the trunk of the tree, listening, thinking.
"They'll be ready for us." Will said, who was actually sitting against the tree she was in. She loved to hear his voice, all deep and rich, because she knew that now would be the last time she would hear it. "That's why they sent me. They needed to make sure that you'd be there Robin."
"I know Will, but we have to go."
"I didn't say we didn't need to. I'm just saying that we need to be extra careful about this one." Will said levelly.
'I agree.' Cadiana told him mentally.
After awhile, Robin's band had finished their plans, and went their seperate ways to prepare for the upcoming inevitable battle. Will levered himself away from the base of the tree, with a visible wince that made Cadiana want to go and help him. But she couldn't. She knew she couldn't. She had fallen in love with the man all over again, much to her utter disgust. She hadn't meant to; not at all. She loved Will Scarlet, and that made her vulnerable, which she could not afford to be.
Will wandered slowly over to Marian, and said something to her that Cadiana couldn't understand. He ambled away, presumably to talk to Robin.
When he was gone, Marian looked around for others. "Cadiana, I'd ask you to come out of that tree before you fall and hurt yourself."
Cadiana's eyes narrowed and she grinned, climbing down the tree, and dropping to the ground. "Damn Will's ears."
"Cadiana." Marian said. "Do you plan on helping them?"
Cadiana nodded. "I'm going to try. I can't not. I just can't not 'ave a part in this rescue."
Marian smiled. "All right then. What are your plans? Where are you going to be?"
Cadiana gave her a wicked grin, despite the seriousness of the situation. "The simplicity of my plan is god-awful. But that's the beauty. For where will I be? Therein lies the brilliance of my plan. I'll be right under the guards noses, in the crowd. I'll use my knives to cut the ropes they'll be 'ung with."
"But you'll be recognized." Marian frowned.
"By who?" Cadiana asked innocently. "Who's to recognise me? Not the guards. They've never seen me. Not the Sheriff 'imself. I've never met 'im."
Marian grinned at her, giving her an admiring glance. "Perfect. Here's what I'll do. I'll tell Robin to wait for something to happen. He won't like me not telling him what the something is, but he'll trust me."
"I'll 'ave to go after that Marian." Cadiana told her, not smiling anymore. "I can't stay 'ere."
"Will's going to look for you."
"I know." Cadiana felt a distinct sadness at this, because she knew she could not let him find her. "'e won't find me again."
"I 'ave to go Robin." Will argued with his friend. "I 'ave to 'elp."
"Will Scarlet, listen to me." Robin said in an imperious voice that ground at Will's nerves. "You will stay here. You're in no fit state to fight today."
"Dammit!" Will muttered, hands closed into fists over the hilts of his daggers. He pulled them from their sheathes, rage boiling just under the surface. Suddenly, every bow in the clearing was aimed at him, the faces behind them grim with abrupt determination.
"Oh Jesus bloody Christ," Will said loudly, not moving. "D'you really think I'm going t'kill 'im for tellin' me I can't 'elp rescue two of my best friends? Come off it." Will pivoted on one foot and whipped his knives through the air. The blades sank deep into an ash tree. "'appy now?" Will asked bitterly, as he stormed over to the tree. He grasped the handles, braced a foot against the tree, and wrenched the daggers from the wood.
Will cursed as a bolt of pain went through his arms, but that didn't slow him down. He was still cursing as he limped away into the trees. He knew in his heart that Robin was right. If he went, he would probably either slow the group down, get captured again, or mess up the entire rescue. He knew he couldn't go, but that didn't stop him from wanting to.
Cadiana had been in that tree earlier, he knew. She had made entirely too much noise, and because of his lifestyle, his ears had been sensitized to most noise that didn't belong in a situation, and Will had realized that she was there. He had told Marian, asked her to try and talk to Cadiana. He hadn't asked Marian about it, and didn't intend to. Whatever they had discussed was not his business.
"Damn." He swore tiredly, and leaned against a tree. Nothing was going quite how he had planned it. Being captured wasn't part of it, and neither was Cadiana leaving. "Damn."
Cadiana slipped into the stolen full-length cloak. It was light gray, and swirled around her feet as she walked. She pulled the hood up, and quickly confirmed that both makeshift arm sheathes for her blades were attached properly. She should just be able to flick her wrists, and have both daggers shoot into her hands, handle first. She tried this, and it worked well, so she put the blades back. They weren't her best blades, because she was going to end up losing this pair, as she wouldn't be sticking around to find them.
She strolled slowly out to the pavilion, where Much and Nasir already stood, on the gallows, ropes about their necks. There were already quite a few people waiting for the hanging, so Cadiana didn't have much trouble slipping into the crowd.
She tilted her head back, to watch her two doomed friends, and Nasir suddenly looked straight at her. She narrowed her eyes at him. The Saracen shook his head, the movement slight at best. Cadiana knew this to be a 'go away, they'll catch you' but she ignored it.
'Last words?' Cadiana mouthed, patting her hips, where her daggers should have been.
Nasir nodded, ever so little, and Cadiana knew he understood what she wanted him to do. Cadiana smiled just a bit, the danger not yet over.
As this exchange had been taking place, the pavilion filled, and the Sheriff rode in on a beautiful black stallion.
"Begin the hanging." The Sheriff commanded, staying on his horse. He looked excited, Cadiana noted with amusement. She knew that he was incredibly happy about the hanging of two of Robin's men. He had the entire place filled with guards, watching, waiting. Cadiana would have to be careful. Well, she thought, today he'll be horribly disappointed, for there would no hangings today, Cadiana would make sure of it.
"The charges," the hangman said loudly, rather unnessecary, Cadiana decided, as everyone was silent, watching the doomed men. She knew they were waiting for a struggle, for without one, the entire event would be dull.
"The charges are as followed. An unknown boy, guilty of association with the outlaw Robin Hood. To be hung by the neck until dead."
The crowd hooted and cheered at Much's sentence, and Cadiana felt sick at the thought of all these people, craving a death, wanting to watch. Well, she had seen enough for all of them.
"Finally," the hangman continued listlessly. "An unknown man, guilty of association with the outlaw Robin Hood. To be hung by the neck until dead."
Again, hoots and cheers, but everyone was watching Nasir especially carefully, wanting him to try to escape, as he was the bigger of the two.
Having pronounced all the charges, the hangman intoned "This on the 17th day of March, in the year of our Lord, twelve hundred and twenty-two." Finished with the memorized words, he turned to the two men. "Last words?" He unknowingly echoed Cadiana.
"By the blood of my people," Nasir began in a loud voice. "I repent my sins, and beg for forgiveness..." He continued talking.
Robin watched him from the northern parapet. "What in hell is he doing?"
John shrugged. "I've no idea. Giving us more time maybe?"
"It's as if he's...waiting...for something." Robin said confused. "Or someone."
Cadiana grinned, flicking her wrists, her blades dropping into her hands.
She flipped them carefully, so she was holding them by the blades, hands protected by her fingerless leather gloves. She glanced around carefully, but everyone was watching Nasir, who was still talking of religion, and sins, and redemption.
She drew her arms back and let fly, the daggers whizzing through the air, a blur. The exceptionally sharp blades severed the two ropes around her friends necks, and Nasir launched into action immediately, kicking out at the guards on the gallows. Much was a bit slower, but was still galvanized into action by the guard that tried to grab him.
Cadiana turned, her hood falling down, ready to flee before someone realized that she had been the one to cut the two men loose. However, her escape plans were quickly foiled as someone grabbed her by the hair, as short as it was, and forced her to walk forwards.
"You're in a spot of trouble now, miss." A gravelly voice said, belonging to the man behind her. "Sheriff, I've got the one who cut them loose."
"Ah, good." the Sheriff said, having retreated like the coward that he was. Cadiana felt unimaginable hatred for this man, who killed without caring, who had ordered Will to be beaten, ordered for Much and Nasir to be hanged, even though Much was little more than a boy. "Come with me." The Sheriff dismounted from his horse, and strode quickly to the castle, not wanting to get caught in the fray.
As Cadiana was twisted to follow him, she got a glimpse of the scene behind her. Much and Nasir were now off the gallows, and escaping with Robin and the others. Her plan had been a success, except for getting captured.
"Where's Cadiana?" Nasir asked, cutting to the point. He had noticed on their way into the woods that she wasn't with them. That worried him greatly. He had come to care about her, as much as he cared about the others.
Robin gave him a puzzled look. "Cadiana left hours ago. I'm afraid I offended her, and she left. I don't imagine she'll come back."
"No." The Saracen said, now doubly worried. "She was there. She threw the blades."
This seemed to strike Robin with the force of a hurricane. "Dammit!" He swore. "Are you sure?"
The question was unnecessary, but Nasir answered anyway. "Yes."
"She was there Robin." Much said eagerly. "I saw her. Some man grabbed her by the hair."
"Damn." Robin cursed again, breaking into a run. Nasir watched him go. He was concerned that Cadiana had been taken by the sherrif's men. Nasir was very much against that thought, though he spoke of it to none.
"Marian!" Robin yelled, coming dashing into the camp. Will looked up from where he had been sharpening his daggers. "Marian, where's Cadiana gone? I know you talked to her."
Marian looked surprised at his urgency. "She went to help you."
"Damn!" Robin swore. "I think she's been captured."
Will went very still. "Christ." He breathed, not wanting to believe but knowing that it was probably true.
"Are you sure?" Marian asked softly.
Robin nodded. "I'm sure of it. Both Much and Nasir saw her in the crowd. She threw the blades that cut them loose. Much says he saw some man grab her by the hair."
Will stood up slowly, moving towards Robin. He tried to tell himself that Cadiana wasn't stupid enough to pull something like this, but failed miserably. "Then let's go get her."
"How?" Robin said helplessly, throwing up his hands.
"Doesn't matter." Will said with quiet determination, as the other's walked into the camp. "We just have to get her back."
Will glanced around the grounds of the castle, and motioned the others to go. He didn't see movement, or hear anything that betray a person hiding.
They moved forwards silently, Robin followed by Nasir, John, Tuck, then Will. Marian had stayed behind again, to tend to Much's wounds. Nasir had insisted that he was fine, and that he wanted to help.
From what the outlaws knew of the castle layout, the Sheriff's official chambers were on the ground floor, and Robin was certain that there would be where Cadiana was originally questioned, as such an important prisoner.
Will felt the now-familiar prickle of panic again, moving up his spine.
As the outlaws crept to the window of the Sheriff's chambers, Cadiana had been stripped of her cloak, leaving her in her tunic, and men's trousers. Her hands had been bound together behind her back, and the man from the pavilion still gripped her hair.
"I ask you again," Robert de Rainault, the current Sheriff of Nottingham said. "Your name?"
"I told you already." Cadiana answered with mock impatience. "Dammit Go-to-'ell." All she got for her efforts to be funny, which she had thought were very good efforts, was a sharp tug on her hair which sent a jolt of pain through her scalp. However, she did not cry out, did not give them the satisfaction. "You know, if you do that too many times, I'm sure you'll rip my 'air right out."
"Then it will be ripped out." de Rainault told her savagely. "If you will not tell me your name, then we shall move on. What is your association with the two men you saved from death today?"
"Oh, those two." Cadiana said indifferently. "I slept with both of 'em last night. I'd grown kind of fond of the big one. Slow one, 'e is."
Outside the window, everyone looked at Nasir. He silently shook his head at Will's wide grin. Same old Cady, Will thought. Story for everything. The next sound from within the room, however, wiped the grin right off his face.
Cadiana's head snapped sideways with the force of the blow that the Sheriff gave to her. She concentrated on nothing but the pain, resolving not to show any response. She simply blinked at the Sheriff, and licked her lips.
"Liar!" He shouted, and she shrugged.
"I lie about most things milord." She said in mock-apology. "That's why I'm a harlot. No one likes those that lie."
I like you Cady, Will thought, mentally restraining himself from leaping through the window to save her now. "'ow do we save 'er?" Will whispered to Robin, who was beside him.
"We must wait until she is taken to the dungeon. This chamber must be well-guarded. All de Rainault will have to do is call for them, and they'll rip us to shreds." Robin said apologetically.
"Then how about Robin Hood?" de Rainault asked, with forced calm.
"What about 'im?" Cadiana asked. "'e's an outlaw if that's what you mean."
"I meant," The Sheriff said gritting his teeth. "What association do you have with Robin Hood?"
"Oh Jesus," Cadiana snorted. "That man is one bad roll in the 'ay, let me tell you. Can't get nothin' up. Tried everythin', and it didn't even twitch."
Will smiled again, at the choked back laughter he could hear from the men around him. Robin looked so outraged that his expression only added to their mirth.
Yet again, Cadiana's head rocked back from the wild backhand the Sheriff had given her. She moved her tongue around her teeth, checking for loose ones.
"Goin' t'leave a mark, that is." She said carefully.
"Aye, and I know something else that will leave a mark you heathen liar." the Sheriff said viciously. "Take her to the dungeon, and see if you can loosen her tongue."
The man behind her, tightened his grip on her hair, and marched her out of the room. "Now we get to have some fun, lady." He told her as he forced her down the corridor.
"Is that you get your jollies?" She asked in mockery. "Beating people?"
"Aye." The man said. "That is."
For the first time since being caught, Cadiana felt real dread.
"Stay here Will." Robin instructed him. "We'll go around back to see if she tells him anything."
"I'm not stayin' away that easy Robin." Will said, knowing that Robin hadn't wanted him to come, because more likely than not, Cadiana would be whipped. That was something Will was powerless to stop.
Cadiana's hands were shackled above her head in strong iron manacles, and she gritted her teeth against the first lash of the anonymous man's whip. She closed her eyes, and bit her lower lip until she tasted blood, as he hit her again. After five minutes or so, he called to someone else. "Wash 'er down."
Cadiana heard the swish of water, and realised what was about to happen right before the water hit her. The salted water splashed against her raw and broken skin, soaking through her shirt, and she stiffened and arched her back, involuntarily screaming out loud in protest.
Will closed his eyes briefly at Cadiana's short shriek. Robin laid a hand on his shoulder, possibly to sympathize, possibly to restrain.
A half hour later, Cadiana was brought, unconscious, to a cell filled with but one boy. She was thrown against a wall falling limply to the floor. The boy watched her, and after the soldiers had left, locking the door behind them, he stood.
"Mister?" the boy said, mistaking her for a boy because of her clothing and hair. "Are you all right?"
He crouched, and rolled Cadiana over. "Christ Jesus!" He cursed. "You're a girl!"
As if on cue, Cadiana opened her eyes a bit. "Damn." She cursed softly, pushing herself up to a sitting position.
"Are you going to be all right, miss?" The boy repeated his question, having gotten over his initial shock.
"Yes." She groaned, as he helped her sit up. "Yes, I'll be okay." Her voice was hoarse, a result of the screaming she had been doing at the whippings expense.
"Who are you?" He said, squinting at her in the dim light from the torches.
"Cadiana Kyrkeby." She said, wincing, and rubbing her forehead. She didn't see much of a problem with telling the boy. "Who're you?"
"Oakley of Haslebury." The boy said, and Cadiana caught an amusing note of pride in his tone.
"Oakley, hmm?" Cadiana said, rolling over, and lying on her stomach. "What are you in here for?"
"Stealin' a coupla loaves of bread from the castle pantry." Oakley admitted. "Not the brightest thing I've ever done."
"Oh I don't know." She told him, resting her chin on her folded arms. "Lord knows the castle already 'as enough bread."
"What did you do to get such a sound beating?" Oakley asked, more seriously now.
"I freed two men that were to be 'anged earlier today." Cadiana told him, equally serious. "I wouldn't tell the Sheriff why, so 'e 'ad me beaten."
"Will 'e kill you?" Oakley asked, brushing his brown hair from his face. Cadiana marveled that he had been tossed in the dungeon. He could have been no older than eleven years of age.
She shrugged. "Eventually, I'm sure."
"No one to come get you?" The boy asked softly, laying on his stomach so that their eyes were level. His eyes reminded Cadiana of Will for one reason or another. They were so deep brown, with an underlying softness.
"Probably not." She sighed. "I don't think any of my friends know that I'm 'ere. 'ow about you? 'ow're you getting out of 'ere?"