After a while Will looked up.
"I thought I'd never see you again," he said.
"After you rode into the forest- on that hateful day- I honestly thought I'd lost you. I didn't hear anything more about you, Will, and I thought you'd died in the forest." Laura looked at him, the tears streaming down her cheeks.
"I'm not letting you go ever again," Will said stubbornly. Laura gave a small laugh.
"You'll have to!" she told him. "Can you loosen your grip a little? You're hurting my back."
"What do you mean?"
Laura gingerly showed Will her back; he gasped as he saw the harsh, red lines striped on her skin.
"What have they done to you?" Will asked in disbelief. "I'll kill whoever did this." He took a few paces back and forth to try and vent some of his anger. Laura could see the hurt blazing in his normally so-kind eyes.
"Gisbourne." She whispered, lowering her head. Will walked over to her and cupped her chin in his hand. He raised her head to look at him, and spoke softly.
"I always swore I'd protect you. I'd keep you safe. I'd never let anything hurt you. I've lost so much to Gisbourne and the Sheriff- my whole family. I'm so sorry, Laura."
"It's not your fault Will." Laura put a hand on his cheek. "It could never be your fault. Now that I've got you near me again, everything else pales into insignificance." She gave him a weak smile. "I'm so tired," she whispered.
Will could see she was. She was pale, and looked even more fragile than ever. He picked her up easily, for he was strong and she was small. He felt her body relax as she felt the safety of his arms. Will turned to look at his friends on the hill. They smiled at him as he walked up towards them, and he grinned back, happier than he had been for many months. By the time the seven of them had reached the camp, Laura had fallen asleep in Will's arms. He laid her gently on the ground, and covered her with his cloak.
Will sat down very close to where Laura lay. Much sat next to him, and Little John lowered himself onto a nearby log. Allan slumped on the floor opposite will, Djaq perched beside him, and Robin settled himself against a tree. They formed a sort-of circle. Robin spoke first.
"What are we going to do with her? She can't go back to Locksley- it's not safe." They all turned to look at Laura as she lay sleeping. Robin averted his gaze back to Will and met his eye. Will blushed slightly. "You want her to stay here, don't you Will."
Will nodded. He was silent for a moment, then spoke.
"She'd fit in really well here- she really would. She's clever and quick-witted, and she can cook and mend clothes really well. And she can fight better than most of the lads in Locksley-
"If she can fight so well," Allan interrupted him, "Why didn't she fight off Gisbourne, instead of Robin having to save her?" Will gave his friend a look.
"Look, Allan, we all of us can fight well, better than most- and we need to. But that doesn't mean that any of us have never been in a situation where we've not been able to fight- we've been outnumbered and needed help. Being able to fight doesn't mean you can overcome anything." This was a long speech from the quiet Will, and Allan had the decency to look ashamed.
"Go on Will," Robin prompted.
"As I was saying, she can fight- we'd spend many of our hours together as we grew up practising our fighting. She'd have a dagger and me an axe. She can shoot a bow and arrow as well as I can. She's kind and interesting to talk to, and I'm sure Djaq would appreciate some female company." Djaq smiled her agreement at Will.
"Those aren't the only reasons are they, Will", she asked him.
"Well," Will said slowly, "there is the fact that I love her. With all my heart. I always have done, since I was old enough to remember- we spent our whole childhoods together- our parents were friends and we've been together since Laura was scarcely old enough to walk. Her parents died when she was quite young, and she relied upon me a lot. I've never come close to feeling anything like what I feel for her, and I'll love her until the day I die." Will stopped speaking abruptly and looked at the floor. He picked up a stick and fiddled with it, twisting it in his hands.
Robin looked at Will. He felt proud of him as he thought how far Will had come, from a tall, quiet boy he had rescued to the strong, dependable member of his gang who had real feelings for people, and wasn't afraid to express them.
"What does everyone else think?" He asked the gang.
"I think it is a good idea," Djaq told him. "I like the look of her."
"Is it really safe for her though?" Much mused.
"Evidently no less safe than in Locksley," Djaq responded.
"I dunno." Allan said. "She might cause a distraction."
"You're just jealous because you think Will would talk to her more than you." Much said. Allan looked at Much. The two of them often disagreed but they understood each other deep down. Allan decided for once he would be the bigger man.
"You're right, Much," he told him, as Much looked astonished. "I think she should stay. Will looks cheerier already, and I'd rather he was happy.
"John?" Robin asked the tall man.
"Her, I do not know." John pointed at Laura. "But him"- John indicated Will- "I trust. So if Will thinks she should stay then I think she should too."
"There you go Will. She can stay." Robin walked over to his friend and slapped him on the back. "It'll be nice to see you smile again."
"Thank you, Robin." Will looked at him gratefully. He looked at Laura laying beside him. How could he have lived without her for all these months? He took her hand in his and listened to her steady breathing as she slept. He looked up as Djaq approached him, and presented him with a bowl of sweet-smelling cream. He looked at her, puzzled.
"Robin asked me to make this." She explained. "It is for her whip marks."
"Thank you, Djaq" Will replied. She smiled at him, and as she went to turn away he caught her arm. "And thank you for being the first to say she should stay."
"If she is good enough for you to feel this way about her, then she will be a valuable friend," Djaq told him.
"You'll help her won't you? Adapt to living in the forest? It was hard enough for me, so it must be even harder for you girls."
"Of course I will, Will," Djaq said. "She will be fine though, I know. You will make sure of it." Will nodded, and settled himself back on the floor beside Laura, the bowl of cream beside him.