Some of Will's insecurities make themselves known, along with his typical cheeky behavior.

"Robin, you're really here," Will whispered, voice weak from several days of inactivity.

"Of course I'm here, Will. Where else would I be?" Robin reassured his brother, wondering why Will would think that he would leave.

"I couldn't sense your presence," Will admitted. "I could tell when Lady Marian and Azeem were near, but never you."

"Oh, Will," whispered Robin, moving to sit on the bed and take Will in his arms. "Azeem said when you developed your fever that you were conscious but would be unaware of much. I'm sorry that you didn't sense me. Know this—I haven't left you since the battle. Marian's been bringing my meals in for me to eat here. Remember my vow? Side by side, until the end."

Will clung to Robin as though he were his lifeline. "I've always been alone, always been left alone. I thought you would be no different."

"We're brothers, Will. When are you going to realize that that makes all the difference in the world?"

Having convinced himself that Robin was real, and not a figment of his imagination, Will pulled away. "Thank you, Robin, for saving my life. I owe you."

"Nonsense, Will. You would have done the same for me."

"That I would have, brother," said Will, glad to hear the word "brother" leaving his lips again. "It feels good to call you 'brother' again, Robin."

"It feels good to hear it, Will," said Robin with a smile.

"WILL!"

Robin turned to find Wulf standing in the doorway. He moved to allow Wulf better access to Will.

"Oh, Will," cried Wulf, throwing himself on the bed. "I'm so sorry. It was all my fault. If I hadn't attacked you…"

"Whoa, slow down, kid," said Will. "I've only been up for a few minutes."

"Sorry," Wulf whispered, shamefaced.

"Now, what's all this about something being your fault?"

"I'm sorry, Will," Wulf repeated. "If I hadn't attacked you, the Sheriff would never have ordered you killed and your wounds wouldn't have reopened and you wouldn't have lost as much blood…"

"Breathe, Wulf," said Will. "Now, first of all, you couldn't have known that I was there to help rescue you. Last you saw of me, I was released on the condition that I kill Robin."

Will paused, his voice weary from lack of use.

"Wulf, I could never kill Robin because…he's my brother."

"Your brother?" Wulf was stunned.

"That's right. Robin and I are brothers."

Will watched amusedly as Wulf looked back and forth between him and Robin.

"Will and I are brothers, Wulf," Robin confirmed.

"Wulf," Will said, seriously. "I don't blame you for attacking me. You're loyal to Robin. You warned him when I was about to knife him. Of course you were going to attack me when you thought I had killed him. You were about to die. You were scared. You wanted to make sure that Robin's murderer went with you. You are not to blame for thinking what you did and acting on your feelings!"

Behind Will, Robin was smiling and nodding at Wulf, as though to say, "See? Didn't I say he wouldn't blame you?"

Will continued, "As for my wounds reopening, that didn't happen until much later after your attack."

Although Wulf really had caused Will's wounds to reopen, Will thought he should spare Wulf as much as possible. Poor kid already felt guilty enough!

"What about losing a lot of blood?" asked Wulf, quietly.

"Not your fault. I lost a lot of blood during the battle when I was stabbed in the side. I'd just knifed a soldier who had been attacking Bull. When I turned around, it was to find a blade in my side. I would have been killed if Robin hadn't appeared, from out of nowhere, and stood in front of me. He defended me twice that day, and I owe him my life."

At this, Will turned to smile appreciatively at Robin.

"Wulf, why don't you give Will some space to breathe?" suggested Marian, who entered the hut with Azeem.

Wulf got up and turned to leave. "I'm glad you're alright, Will. And I'm really sorry about attacking and exposing you to the Sheriff."

"Forget it, Wulf," said Will, smiling at the boy. "I have."

Watching him leave, Will said, "Why do I get the feeling that he's going to be following me around trying to make it up to me?"

"He's hounded by guilt," explained Robin. "It's only natural."

"How do you feel, Will?" asked Azeem.

"Like I've just been back from the dead," joked Will.

Robin chuckled at Will's attempt at humor. "Glad to hear you're well enough to make jokes, little brother," he said.

"I have something for you to take that should help with any pain you may experience," said Azeem, producing a vial for Will.

Will uncorked the top and swallowed, grimacing as the bitter liquid went down his parched throat.

"That's all, right?" he asked, voice rasping from its effect on his throat. "I don't have to take anymore?"

"No, Will," said Azeem, while Robin and Marian chuckled at Will's facial expression. "You don't have to take anymore."

"That's good," said Will, lying back down. "Another dose may have killed me."

Even Azeem laughed at that. "He's got your sense of humor, Christian," he said to Robin.

"Is it alright for me to get up?" asked Will.

"No, you should stay in bed another day," said Azeem.

"Ro-bin," Will whined.

"Sorry, brother, but I can't spring you out of bed rest," said Robin, apologetically.

Will grumbled under his breath, "You don't seem sorry."

Robin heard him, though. "I've been sitting around for four days, waiting for you to wake up. Can you blame me for doing all within my power to see that you stay healthy?"

"Four days? I've been out for four days?" Will was shocked.

"That's right, Will," said Marian. "Four days. And not once did your brother leave your side."

"Lady Marian," whispered Will, remembering her face when he'd said Robin was dead. "Can you ever forgive me for lying to you?"

"What do you mean, Will?" asked Marian, confused. "When did you lie to me?"

"When I said that Robin was dead."

"It was necessary, Will. Besides, Robin soon revealed himself."

"That he did," said Will with a smile. "I only knew he had from the sound of Wulf falling and you screaming his name. I swear—any higher and only dogs would have been able to hear you."

Marian laughed. "He was in danger. I had to warn him."

"That you did, my dear," said Robin, moving to Marian's side and kissing her.

"So," Will began, when it seemed that neither Robin nor Marian were coming up for air anytime soon. "When's the wedding?"

That broke the two apart.

"Wha—" Robin spluttered, while Marian blushed.

"You have asked her to marry you, haven't you, Robin?"

When his brother remained speechless, and Marian continued to turn various shades of red, Will continued, "I only ask because you've said you'd die for her. Also, the fact that you two were practically eating each other's faces a moment ago seems to indicate a pretty strong passion for each other."

Will laced his fingers together and moved his arms behind his head, forming a pillow to lean on, as he grinned cockily at his brother and Marian.

"He does have a point," said Robin. "Marian," he said, turning and kneeling before her, "I've said I would die for you, and that will be true until our Father calls me to Heaven. I love you so much! Will you marry me?"

"Yes, Robin," she said, tears of happiness in her eyes. "I'll marry you."

Will looked away for a moment, sad at the thought of losing his brother so soon after finding him.

"Satisfied?" he heard Robin ask.

Will turned back, smirk in place. "Yes."

"Glad to oblige," said Robin, returning his brother's smirk.

Azeem had slipped outside a while ago. Marian turned to go also. "I'll leave you two to catch up," she said with her gentle smile.

"There's no need," said Will, before Robin could say anything. "You've just become engaged. You should be spending time together."

Robin and Marian looked at each other, then at Will.

"Robin," Will said, "Go with her. I don't need a babysitter."

"If you're sure…," Robin's voice trailed off, eager to spend time with his bride-to-be, yet hesitant about leaving his brother alone.

"Yes. Go, go," said Will, with a laugh.

"Alright. We won't be far. Call out if you need anything. And do NOT get up!"

"Yes, sir," said Will, saluting Robin with only a hint of annoyance in his voice.

"Very well. Feel better," said Robin, unsure of how to leave.

I haven't left his side in nearly a week, Robin realized. What do I do?

Robin bent over Will, deciding on giving him a gentle hug, followed by Marian, who leaned over and planted a tender kiss on Will's forehead.

Will waited until they were out of sight before collapsing back against the bed. Since admitting that he and Robin were brothers, they'd never been apart. Will was afraid that being left alone would cause the nightmares to return, along with the pounding drums. While forced to talk, Will had been unable to think and dwell on what had passed.

Now, left to his own devices, Will settled down to wait for history to repeat itself.

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