AN: sorry it's been so long guys! enjoy :)
"What do we do with them?" John asks gruffly, arms crossed.
Robin is pacing. It's been two days, two days holed up in a tiny cottage and running between the forest and the town to find medicines and herbs for Tuck. Two days of frayed nerves and very little sleep, of watching Gisborne moan and shake while John shakes his head and Kate watches tight lipped, sharpening her dagger.
Guy is going to live, Tuck has said. Robin's glad, sort of.
"I don't know," he mutters. "I don't know."
They're outside, gathered around a small fire with a meagre pot of stew bubbling over it. Much is inside, mostly because he's the only one except for Tuck that Robin trusts not to slit Gisborne's throat.
"I still can't believe you let Isabella live," John mutters with a pointed look at Kate.
Kate huffs. "It was the right thing to do," she mutters, looking away. Robin's still a little proud of that, a little annoyed too. Now they have her to deal with along with Gisborne.
John narrows his eyes and rounds on Tuck instead, "And you saved Gisborne's life." He says, pointing an accusatory finger.
"Gisborne saved Robin's life," Tuck says calmly. "And killing is not our way."
"And fought alongside you, John," Robin adds. He knows that most of this is sleep deprivation and stress because he's feeling it too, but they've maybe ignored all this for too long. He runs a hand through his hair and sighs, "Besides, we couldn't just leave him there."
"Robin," John begins gently, "I know you felt guilty about what happened to him but he did far more bad than good."
Robin knows. He's been reminded several times during the last few weeks. "Tuck, how long until Gisborne is able to look after himself?" He asks eventually.
"Not for a few weeks yet," Tuck says grimly. "If we left him now he'd die."
"Okay, so how about we get him well again and then he's on his own?" Robin suggests.
Kate and John exchange a look. "He'd be in our Sherwood?" John asks slowly.
"We can't stay here forever, our people needs us," Robin reminds him. John still looks unconvinced so Robin sighs, "If it makes you that uncomfortable we can find one of the temporary shelters and keep him there, deal?"
John nods.
"And Isabella?" Kate asks, "We can't just let her go. God knows what she'll do."
There's silence then until Tuck says slowly, "I think we should allow the people of Nottingham to decide."
"Like a trial?" Robin asks, "You know that they may decide to execute her?"
Tuck nods, "I know. I accept that."
"And you two?" Robin asks. Kate and John nod and Robin nods too, "We'll leave tomorrow then. I'll see if Archer can get us a cart or something." He turns back to the cottage, "I should go take over for Much," he mutters.
"You're not going to eat?" Kate asks, worriedly.
Robin makes a noncommittal noise as he pushes open the door. He knows, logically, that there's not much else they can do with the Gisborne siblings, Isabella will get what she deserves but Guy? Robin wants something better for him. Even if he's done more bad than good. But then if he's so quick too excuse Guy shouldn't he have at least a tiny bit of sympathy for Isabella? She'd hardly had it easier than her brother. At least Guy hadchosen his life, Isabella had been forced to marry a monster.
"Thank The Lord, Robin," Much says as Robin taps him on the shoulder. He's sat on a rickety chair beside the bed they've got Gisborne on, Isabella is handcuffed behind him. Silent as ever. It's unnerving, really, she hasn't tried to talk herself out of it yet.
"I was beginning to think you'd forgotten about me! And at dinner time too! I know I haven't done as much running around as you lot but I still get hungry you know!" Much says, "Besides, I - "
Robin cuts off Much's rambling with a small chuckle, "Go and eat Much. I'll watch these two."
Much springs up but then his face falls, "But what about you, M- Robin?" And then he glances at Isabella with pursed lips, "And her?"
Robin smiles, "Just make sure there's some left over, okay? But don't until you've all had your fill."
Much looks like he's about to argue but evidently his love of food wins out because he beams and nods before scampering out. Robin sighs and sits down heavily in his vacated chair,glancing at Isabella as he does so, "We've decided your fate." He says.
She looks disinterested, staring at the fire burning itself out in the grate.
"We're going to let the people of Nottingham and Locksley decide what to do to you," he says, leaning over Gisborne to check his bandages. "We felt that would be justice."
She makes a soft sound and Robin turns to her, "You don't sound very afraid."
She shifts, "No, not anymore. Maybe, it's what I deserve."
Robin frowns, "They could kill you, you know."
Isabella doesn't respond, instead she looks to her brother, pale and still. "What about him?"
Robin swallows, "I haven't decided yet."
"For what it's worth, I'm sorry," she says when the silence stretches too long.
"Me too," Robin murmurs before he can stop himself.
Isabella frowns, "For what?"
"When we were children," Robin says softly, "I didn't say anything when you two were banished. I should've. I should've done something for you."
Isabella looks surprised for a few moments but then it's gone, replaced by a mask of neutrality, "Yes," she says coldly. "You should have."
"Where did you go?" He asks, because he's never really thought about before all this, before his father came back. France, he'd assumed but he's no idea how they would have got there. Gisborne was what, fifteen? Isabella was younger than him, ten maybe? Robin doesn't remember. He can't even begin to imagine how they paid their way.
"To our grandparents, in France," she says, frowning. "Until news about my father's condition reached them, of course."
Robin can't help but feel responsible.
"Tell me about it," he says and she stares at him.
"Why? So you can gloat? Or is this some sort of self indulgent angst thing?" She snaps.
"No," Robin half-snarls. "I just... I want to know."
She looks at him for a very long time and then she sighs, "When we left Locksley we had to get to a port, but we had no money..."
Tuck is on the night shift and the cottage is quiet but for the snores of John and Much and the distant patter of rain. Robin shifts in his blankets and sighs. He'll get no sleep tonight, his mind is abuzz.
"Robin," Kate whispers, "Are you awake?" She rolls to face him and he holds out a hand for her, beckoning. She shifts closer, against his chest and he wraps his arms around her.
"Okay?" He asks.
She nods, tracing circles on his chest, then she hums. "I think Guy should stand trial too." She says quietly.
Robin sighs, "Kate..."
"No, Robin, listen. I know you feel like you did wrong by him but you were a child and you had just lost your father. For all you knew it was is fault. But he chose to follow the Sheriff and to do all those awful things. No one made him do that. I mean look at us, none of us had the best start in life but we all chose to follow you. Even Allan. He's not your brother, Robin. Not really."
Robin sits up, tugs at his hair in frustration.
"He killed my brother," Kate says, voice a low hiss. "He killed Marian."
"Don't you think I know that?" Robin snaps, loud enough that Tuck looks through the archway at them and Much (almost) jerks awake. He waves Tuck away and apologises silently.
"I just don't understand," Kate says, half-desperately. "Robin, talk to me."
Robin rubs at his eyes, "I don't either." He says eventually.
Archer does manage to procure them a wagon, a covered one, and four horses. Robin doesn't ask where he got them from but Archer assures them that no ones going to come after them and they probably won't get arrested somewhere along the road. Not for the wagon, anyway.
They leave the next day, John rides up front with Isabella, ankles cuffed together. The rest of them take turns in riding alongside and watching over Gisborne in the back. If anyone stops them they say they're travelling merchants, heading home to collect more produce. It's believable enough and Robin doesn't really expect to be stopped though. As long as they steer clear from Prince John's men they should be fine.
Gisborne wakes up on the second day and of course Robin's riding with him. He can't help but feel a wave of relief rush over him as Gisborne's eyes flutter open clear for the first time since they found him.
He groans and shuts his eyes almost immediately, "Is it your turn now, Hood?" He rasps. "Didn't think you'd die so soon after me."
It takes Robin a few minutes to fully understand what Guy's saying and when he does he can't help but smile a little at its absurdity, "You're not dead, Gisborne. And neither am I."
Gisborne peers up at him, "I thought this was hell. Thought I was getting what I deserved."
"Not yet, Gisborne."
"Gods, so all that really happened," his breath hitches a little and he winces in pain.
"Easy," Robin says gruffly, "You'll be alright if you rest up."
"What about Vaisey?" Guy asks, eyes suddenly wide. Robin flinches a little at the memory of Guy's mangled body - things Robin couldn't evenimagine.
"He's dead," Robin says, "You're safe."
"You killed him?"
"Yes," and then Robin smiles reassuringly, "And I did a better job than you."