Chapter 2

Robin sauntered slowly towards the camp. After his less then amiable departure with Marian, he took it upon himself to hunt a few rabbits for dinner. It was a welcome diversion from his thoughts. It was easy to block out the world when he was using his bow. He could quiet his mind and create that imaginary line between him and his target. Nothing could distract him from it. However, he would never gain permanent release because after he fired his arrow, his problems were still there, staring him in the face.

Why can't she just say she believes me? He wondered, kicking a rock down a hill. Why did she accept Gisborne? Why is she so resigned to her fate? Questions raced through his mind, none of which he had the answer to. However, the last one definately led him to the root of the problem.

Why did I ever leave her?

Finally he approached the camp. Everyone seemed to be pretty lazy and comfortable, as they hadn't been up to much other than their usual deliveries. Will sat in one corner making some sort of contraption while John sat softly snoring on the other side. Much was making the fire larger in preparation for dinner, Djaq was pouring over some book, in fact he figured it was Lambert's ledger and Allan was lying on his back flipping a coin up and down as well as weaving it through his fingers in boredom. They all (aside from John) cast him a flickering glance as he passed them and returned to whatever it was they were doing. Robin tossed the rabbits at Much's feet.

"I brought us some supper." he said quietly.

"Thank God" Allan sighed sitting up a little, "I've had quite enough of that squirrel stuff." he couldn't help but bursting into a wide smile.

"You-You are revolting." Much nearly hollered, pointing his index finger accusingly at the pathological liar, "You are just lucky you get anything at all." and with a flourish he picked up the recently deceased animals and sat down to clean them. Allan only chuckled slightly and returned to his meaningless pastime.

Normally, all of this would amuse Robin slightly, but today he wouldn't even smirk. This was not lost on Djaq.

"Robin?" she asked warily, "Is everything alright?"

All heads (including John since Alllan and Much had woken him) snapped towards their leader. Great, Robin thought, now I'll never get a moments peace. Why does Djaq always have to be so observant?

"Yeah," he muttered, but the looks from the gang still held, "Everything is fine." he said a little louder to the rest of them, but his face told otherwise. "I just need to be alone right now." He looked at each of them individually before moving to a more secluded area of the camp. He flipped his hood over his head and began making more arrows. No one said a word.

An hour or two passed and everyone had eaten their dinner. The silence that had began when Robin entered the camp still held. It was as if everyone was afraid to speak. However, one voice interrupted the spell of quiet and everyone was astonished that it was Robin's.

"Tomorrow, Djaq and Will will take the deliveries to Knighton and Much and I will be going to Nettlestone." he spoke loudly with great authority to cover the shakiness in his voice. "Everyone else." he said in a lower tone, "Will go to their usual drop off spots that they go to on Saturday's."

"What is this about, master?," Much spoke quickly without thinking as usual, "Surely you want to go to Knighton. I mean you were just in Nettlestone yesterday and everything is fine there." He looked at Robin with a smile.

"Well," Robin spoke carefully, as if he was studying each syllable, "I have decided that I need to go to Nettlestone and that's final."

"But you always go to Knighton on Saturdays because you know Edward visits with Lord Merton on Saturday's leaving Marian-"

Her name was enough to set Robin off.

"Look Much." he yelled leaning forward, the shadow of his hood hiding the sadness and anger in his eyes, "I have made a decision. Please, do not question me." he slumped back down into his seat, but Much stood up, refusing to let the matter rest.

"Oh, I see." he said, his voice carrying that slight nervous tremor that it always did, "You are upset with Marian." He smiled triumphantly, as if he had found a cure to the pestilence. "Why don't you go see her and work things out. Surely-"

"Surely what, Much?" Robin interrupted, "Surely she will what? Forgive me? Ask me to forgive her?" He gave a false laugh at his disdainful sarcasm, "Oh, I know," He continued, "Perhaps she will refuse to marry Gisborne, declare her love for me and we will ride off into the sunset." He laughed again, but it died quickly, anger dissatisfaction setting in once more. "No," he said calmly, "Surely, she will tell me that she has made her choice and to bother her no more." tiny looks of pity passed between all of the outlaws save Much, who tried to pursure the subject further.

"But-"

"Much, shut up" Allan yelled, "Can't you see that you aren't helping?

"But-" he tried once more.

"Much, Shut up." All of the other outlaws yelled. There was finally silence in the camp for a full five seconds. All Much could do was stand there and wrestle with himself about what he should do.

"Much," Djaq's accented voice broke his inner conflict, "I know you mean well, but you are going to have to let him be. He will work this out on his own." Her eyes pleaded with him. Much looked at her with anguish but for once said what he should have said as opposed to what he wanted to say.

"Right. Then he and I will go to Nettlestone tomorrow." his voice broke at the end and it did not go unnoticed by Robin. He ducked his head further down, trying to become more absorbed in his task. Much sat down where he stood. He was so used to being able to fix things for Robin. But, when it came to Marian, he now realized, there was nothing he could do.

This simple fact tore him apart inside.

TBC

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