Missing by Ecri

A Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves Story

Chapter 7

A/N: This is the final chapter in the story. Sorry for the delay, but life got in the way. Thank you all for reading and reviewing. Please let me know if you like it! I live for reviews!

Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves

Azeem had no firm plan in mind as he closed the distance between himself and the small group holding The Christians. What he had was hope and faith. That, he was certain, would be plenty.

He crouched low in the brush as he listened to the soldiers and when they finally moved away, he kept his eyes on the prisoners. Bound to a tree, the brothers spoke infrequently, but Azeem could see there would be little help from them in the escape. It was a good thing Allah had seen fit to make him cautious. He was not so alone as he appeared.

He stationed himself close enough to the brothers that he could keep an eye on them. He would act if inaction would bring harm to either of them. His debt to the Christian had been fulfilled long ago, but he had reluctantly formed a friendship with these people. Azeem had once believed that once he had honored his obligation to save the Christian's life, he would depart for home immediately. That he had found—even looked for—reasons to stay a bit longer had at first escaped his notice. More recently he'd begun to wonder if he would ever again see his homeland. The thought of that distant place, the warm air, the blue skies still made him ache, but he knew in his heart that Allah intended for him to stay a bit longer. Perhaps this, now, rescuing the Christian brothers from the nefarious prince would be enough and Allah would grant him a way home.

He stared at the two brothers waiting, but neither seemed in immediate danger. Settling back against the nearest tree trunk, careful to keep the two in sight, he waited.

Camouflaged as he was in the dim light, one of the guards walked right by him without noticing. Azeem soon heard voices. A quick check that nothing was amiss with his friends, he turned his attention towards the sound hoping to discover something useful.

The guard who'd passed him was speaking to another guard who seemed to have been waiting for him. They complained a bit about the chilly weather, but eventually their talk turned to their predicament.

"It's gone wrong."

"You don't know that."

"Why leave so suddenly then? And prisoners? Why've we got prisoners? Nah, something's gone wrong, and Prince John don't know how to fix it."

"Don't talk that way…"

"Why? He ain't king yet!"

"Still, he's got a better right to rule than Richard."

"I know that and you know that, but there's some that think otherwise."

"Whoever ends up on the throne, I ain't gonna hang for supporting the wrong one!"

"If you're lucky…"

They wandered off and Azeem considered what he'd heard. The men were beginning to lose faith in the prince. He might be able to use that. Perhaps he could persuade some to desert Prince John. Even if just a small number of them left, it would be less to fight later. How, though, would he do it?

He kept an eye on his friends all evening, and by dawn's first light, Allah had granted him a plan.

Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves

Marian stared at the king as though he'd lost his mind. "I'm coming with you!"

"Marian, my dear, we will find him," the king said.

She nodded. "It's not that I don't believe in you, Richard, but Robin and Will have a way of finding trouble."

To her surprise he smiled, and the twinkle in his eyes brought a smile to her lips as well. "They may find trouble, but they have a knack of finding a way out once again."

"Not without a lot of help," she said shaking her head. "Richard, I have to be there when you find him! He has been missing for so long…"

"I know. I understand, but if John is behind all of this, I don't want to risk you being hurt. John may have soldiers, supporters, this may turn into a battle…"

Marian stood straighter and drew a sword from a scabbard she'd kept concealed from his line of vision. "I'm going, Richard. I may be a woman, but I can handle a sword as well as I can handle a husband."

Richard nodded. "I don't doubt it. Very well, my dear, but try to remember I am the King and my orders must be followed. It's one thing for you to be familiar with me in private, but once we are among my soldiers, you cannot question my orders."

Joy swept through her as she slipped the sword back into its scabbard. "Of course, Your Highness. I will follow your every command."

Richard shook his head. "Why do I doubt that?" he asked himself as they left the room together.

Marian was as good as her word. She didn't question the king, and indeed barely spoke to him unless something he said demanded a reply. Her thoughts centered on her still-missing husband and his brother, not to mention Azeem. It seemed they would never lead a simple life and would instead race from one crisis to another. She had dared imagine their trip would be a joyous one, and instead they'd been separated and somehow caught up in Prince John's ill-advised bid for his brother's throne.

They made their way through the surrounding countryside and Marian looked for some sign that Azeem had come this way, but the Moor was too good at what he did to leave anything visible to a novice like her. Perhaps Robin could have told her otherwise, but thoughts like that merely reminded her painfully that Robin was still missing.

Her horse was slowing and she glanced around at the rest of the King's soldiers to see them stopping and dismounting. She glanced at Richard, the question plain on her face.

King Richard sighed and swung his leg over the horse's back dismounting smoothly for someone who, until recently, had been a prisoner in a tiny tower cell. He moved to her horse and reached up to help her down. Stubbornly, she refused the aid. "Why are we stopping?"

The king let his hands drop to his side and spoke softly. "I have a group of scouts ahead who have asked us to wait here. They found something worth investigating and should be along soon to give me an update. Now, how about that agreement not to question my orders in front of the men?"

Marian blushed. "I'm so sorry, Your Majesty," she said, perhaps a trifle more loudly than necessary. "I was lost in thought and didn't hear your order to stop."

King Richard nodded and reached up again, and this time Marian allowed him to help her down. Her anxiety got the better of her, however, and she merely paced and wrung her hands.

"Marian, you'll be worn out when we find him and then who will tend him if he needs tending?"

Marian smiled and gave up, sitting down by a nearby tree and trying to radiate a feeling of calm patience that she truly didn't feel. "I'm sorry," she whispered to him. "Maybe I shouldn't have come."

"Nonsense! Since when have you ever second-guessed yourself?"

"Since…" she began, but cut herself off.

Richard sat beside her. "Come on, you can tell me. What can it be that has you in such doubt? You trust me? You know your husband won't be bested by the likes of John. What can possibly turn you, the strongest woman I've ever known, into a mass of insecurities?"

Marian dared to grasp his hand and held it tighter than she'd ever dared. He was more than her cousin, after all. He was the King of England. "I'm…pregnant."

The King stared for a moment, then blinked once, twice, three times. A slow smile spread across his face and he hugged her soundly. "That's wonderful!"

His joy actually made her laugh and for the first time since she'd suspected her condition, she felt a glimmer of happiness and hope. Robin had already disappeared by the time she'd had any inkling of it, and she'd yet to tell her own mother, thinking she should wait and tell Robin first. She hadn't intended to tell Richard, but it had tumbled from her mouth as though of its own accord and there was no taking it back now.

Richard had sobered now and leaned close to her. "Robin was missing before you could tell him, wasn't he?" The King's deep, mellifluous voice was tinged with understanding and emotion.

Marian nodded, tears standing in her eyes. "Yes. I don't know what to do. I mean, if we don't find him…"

"We will. Don't worry about that."

Anything else he might have said was cut short when one of the scouts returned to their impromptu camp. He was directed to the king's side and bowed deeply. "Your Majesty," he said in greeting. "There are strange things afoot."

King Richard stood drawing himself up to his full, imposing height. "What sort of strange?"

The soldier shook his head. "Noises, whispers…and we found several of Prince John's men running away."

King Richard's eyes widened at that. "Running? Tell me you caught one."

The soldiers smiled. "We did, Sire." He gestured to two other soldiers who'd accompanied him. "Bring him."

The two brought forward a soldier who was literally shaking, eyes wide, as he was dragged before his king.

Richard took full advantage of the man's fear. "You support my brother's bid for the throne?" His eyes hardened, and the venom in his voice made it clear what he thought of the man trembling before him. "Treasonous scum, if you tell me what I need to know, I may let you live."

The man bowed his head. "Sire, forgive me…"

Richard drew closer to the man and whispered, "I said nothing of forgiveness."

The man nodded. "Y-yes, Sire. I…that is…Prince John…"

"Out with it!"

"He holds two men prisoner, but his guards are fleeing. He may have a dozen or two remaining."

Richard turned towards Marian who'd let out an involuntary gasp at the mention of prisoners. He turned back toward the traitor before him. "The prisoners…are they mistreated."

"They…they're not being treated kindly, Your Majesty, but they're well."

"Hmmmm," said Richard in a way that made it clear he didn't quite believe the man. "Why are Prince John's men deserting him? Are these men who do not know their minds? First they commit treason in support of a prince who would be king and then to desert that same prince?"

The soldier flinched at the word 'deserting' but he answered as well as he could. "There are spirits in the wood. They disapprove of Prince John's claim to the crown. The men are leaving lest they face the wrath of the spirit world."

Richard's eyes twinkled at the tale, but he kept his face serious. "Tell me where precisely we can find these prisoners, and I will allow you to leave."

The man sagged in relief and hastily rattled off directions on how to find the prince's campsite. "They are tied to the largest tree near Prince John's tent." When he was finished, Richard took a hold of his arm. "You go now. Go far and fast and don't look behind you. Never take up arms in a fight between brothers."

The man nodded and as soon as Richard released him, he ran.

Richard turned towards Kahlor, who stood waiting expectantly. "Organize the men. We ride out as soon as we are able. Stealth is our ally, and once we come close to this camp, our priority is to free Robin of Locksley and his brother, Will. Once they are safe, we take Prince John."

Kahlor nodded and saluted before turning away to prepare the group to move out.

Richard turned to Marian. "I know it was hard for you to keep quiet." He stepped closer and put his hand to her cheek. "Come, now. We have good news. He's alive…"

"Possibly not well," Marian interrupted.

"Possibly, but alive is a positive thing. 'Not well' can be made better. We will have them by nightfall." He took her hand and kissed it. He placed his other hand on her stomach, which had not yet begun to swell with the new life growing inside it. He smiled, suddenly looking years younger. "You have my word."

Marian nodded and tried to quell the turmoil rolling through her.

Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves

Prince John resented his brother more with each passing moment. Richard had repeatedly abandoned his throne either to live in France or to put in an appearance fighting in his ridiculous Crusades. Now, he'd forced John to live in the woods like a criminal forsaking the luxuries that were rightfully his.

His own plans thwarted, Prince John had been quick to panic, but now, in this cold, murky forest, his anger had simmered and become deeper, richer. He would defeat his brother and claim the throne. He was certain of that. As he sat imagining Richard's defeat and subsequent humiliation and death, a flurry of activity right outside his tent caught his attention.

"Guard," he called. When no one appeared he walked to the flap and shouted once more. "Guard! What's going on?"

The guard, a young lad of maybe eighteen years turned frightened eyes on his sovereign. "Sire, I'm sorry it's disturbed you, but…" he faltered.

Exasperated, John sighed heavily. "What! Speak up, man!"

"Some of the guards have disappeared!" The man blurted. "The patrols on the perimeter are gone! Anyone we send to investigate disappears as well!" He stopped glancing up at the trees as an unearthly howl reverberated through the branches. "It's cursed! These woods are cursed!"

John shook his head. "That's ridiculous!" He would have said more, but a further shout stopped him.

"Sire! Sire!" John looked around until he spotted his own son running through the camp to come to a stop before him. The lad was pale and wide-eyed. At least, John thought, he hasn't called me father in front of the soldiers.

"What is it?" John demanded.

"We're down twenty more men! They've disappeared!"

"Deserted, you mean," John spat.

"No, Fa…" he stopped and cleared his throat, his eyes impossibly wider at the look of rage in Prince John's eyes. "N-no, Sire! They wouldn't! Not all of them!"

Prince John rolled his eyes. "Are you trying to tell me they've been spirited away by…by…spirits?"

"Y-yes…I mean, no!"

More noise. Shouting. Prince John felt fear as he glanced around the camp. He squinted in a vain effort to pierce the darkness on the edges of the camp, but before he could see anything, silence fell.

Eerie silence.

For a moment the prince wondered if he had gone deaf, but in the time it took to form that thought, a sound, soft but more menacing than anything he'd yet heard would have made him jump a mile had he not been quite suddenly and firmly restrained.

Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves

"Untie them." Azeem stood behind Prince John, his scimitar held steady against the prince's throat.

Scowling, John turned to his son and the other guard. "Do as he says!"

The two leaned down over the bound men and loosened the ropes. The Christian was the first on his feet, and Azeem was sure it was the emotion of the moment at work. From what he could see, neither of his friends were without injury.

"Young Christian? Can you stand?" Azeem asked as the man began to sag.

He seemed not to hear at first, but then he nodded and climbed to his feet. He swayed alarmingly, and his brother took his arm. Fear filled the Christian's face and his eyes roamed his brother's body no doubt assessing his injuries.

Another man stepped forward. "Come. We await our King."

"Captain Kahlor of the King's Guard," Will whispered as they followed the man out.

Azeem took the Young Christian's other arm and supported some of his weight as the man sagged more and more under the exertion of moving at all. It was then that Azeem saw King Richard, thinner, more haggard than when last he'd seen him, but he stood resplendent in his armor and with a sword in his hand.

"Brother!" Richard called, and Azeem could see he relished the look on the prince's face. "I thank you for the accommodations, but I much prefer my own. Perhaps you would like to try the ones you set aside for me?"

He brandished his sword, and though Prince John called for aid, none of his soldiers dared to raise their weapons against King Richard and his guards.

In the end, it was a bloodless battle. Azeem was grateful for that. It was time to get the Christian back to his wife and get the Young Christian back to Sherwood.

A Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves Story

Robin looked in wonder at John Little, Much, Friar Tuck, and most of their comrades from Sherwood stood. He glanced at Will, a question in his eyes.

"Don't look at me," Will insisted. "If it's down to anyone, it must be Azeem."

The Moor smiled. "I spoke to John and Fanny before we left. They gathered some volunteers and came after us. I thought it best if Allah had more people to work with."

Robin smiled at Azeem and the others and then turned to Will. "Did they hurt you?"

Will smirked. "Well, it didn't tickle," he said, his head hanging down so his hair fell in his face. Robin sighed. Will had a habit of hiding behind the curtain of his hair, and Robin had hoped that, over time, he'd gain enough confidence not to fall into that habit. He put a gentle hand on Will's shoulder and he spoke softly, herding his brother a discreet distance from the group. "Brother, that man, what did he say to you?"

To his astonishment, Will simply froze. His face paled, his eyes widened, and his breath came in quick gasps. He swayed and would have fallen if Robin had not held onto him. "Will?" He called, concern and fear colliding within him.

"I'm fine," Will whispered, his head falling once more, but Robin held out a hand and cupped his cheek.

"Will…I am here for you. You are safe. I'm sorry you were ever brought into this, but let me help you."

Will nodded and drew himself up, straightening his shoulders. "I'm fine," he said again. "Threats from guards and noble men are not worth repeating." He said softly.

Robin was about to ask again when the men clustered nearby parted, and Marian was shouting his name and rushing toward him. His breath caught in his throat and he embraced his wife, whom he had not seen in several months. Even the joy of that reunion, however, could not overshadow his fear for his brother.

A Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves Story

Several days later, rested and fed, Robin stood with Marian, Will, and Azeem before the King. They'd been talking about Prince John and his son, whom Richard had not even known existed.

"I've decided to send John to France," he said, "and I'll keep Rupert here in England. He be watched, but I think he can become an ally. He really only wanted family." He glanced at Will. "And I can understand how hard it is to try to reach out to a father you think doesn't want to know you. John used his need for family to persuade him to treason. Who wouldn't do such a thing if their father asked it of him?"

That behind him Richard cast a fond glance at Marian. "Are you sure I cannot persuade you to remain a bit longer?" The King asked, obviously wishing to visit with his favorite cousin. "Stay at least until the child is born."

Robin smiled and put his arm around Marian's shoulders, beaming in joy at the mention of the baby Marian had told him was coming.

To Will's relief, Marain declined politely. "We never meant to stay so long, Cousin. We must return home and finish rebuilding Locksley Manor. After all, the child must have a home."

The King nodded and looked to Robin. "I'm glad you're not permanently damaged, Robin. I regret that you got caught up in such palace intrigues."

"Palace intrigue?" Robin asked with a smile. "Funny words for it. Your brother nearly took your throne."

"Yes, that's true. And your brother saved it." The King turned his attention to Will. Will blushed and hung his head looking down at the floor and letting his hair hide his face.

"William of Locksley," The King called quietly.

Reluctantly, Will looked up. "Yes…S…sire?"

"Ah, no. Don't call me that. You were my friend when I had no one else. I am in your debt, and I will honor that. I will honor you." He stood and walked from his throne down to stand in front of Will. He held out a hand and waited for Will to take what he offered. "That is a ring much like the one I gave you before. This one is yours to keep. You may call on me whenever you have need. Not because you are the brother to the man who married my cousin, but because you are Will Scarlett—a good man who helped a prisoner by giving what you could."

Will stuttered out his gratitude.

The King tried once more to persuade his cousin to remain for a short while longer. "I'm planning to spend a bit more time here in the near future. If you will not stay now, please write to me soon and arrange to come for another visit." He kissed Marian's cheek and shook Robin's hand once more.

They were about two hours outside of the city when Will finally began to relax.

Robin and Will weren't quite recovered, so they would take their time returning. They stopped by a stream and set up a camp to partake of a light midday meal.

Robin was weak, though he wouldn't admit it and Marian fussed around him as though he had been at death's door. Will still had headaches from the blow when the guard had bashed the back of his head into the tree trunk. He tried not to think about it too much, and he was so relieved that they'd left the city behind that, for those first few days, he almost felt things had returned to normal. The longer they were on the road, however, the more his thoughts returned to little things that had happened during the search for Robin.

His hatred of nobles had blossomed and grown. Aside from King Richard, whom he'd somehow befriended when he'd thought the man behind the bricks was simply a peasant who, for little reason, had gained the hatred of a nobleman, the nobles had been much as he'd always assumed they would be. Haughty, superior, mean-spirited, they'd treated both Will and Azeem as though they were less. Always less. It was Marian's fall back into the courtly ways she'd long abandoned that had hurt him most.

More than once during the time of their search for Robin, Marian had used a tone he'd only heard from other nobles. A tone reserved for use with those they felt were beneath them. He knew she didn't really feel that way. At least he hoped she didn't. He'd been fairly certain he'd lose Robin once he was married, and though Marian had seemed to like him, it could be she was simply tolerating him. He was an uneducated peasant bastard after all, and even if Robin had accepted him, a notion that could still give Will the occasional doubt, Marian might not have. Marian was being asked to accept a former outlaw husband, a falling down castle, a rumor of devil worship that hadn't quite died away yet, and an uncouth, uneducated criminal for a brother-in-law.

It would be a lot for any woman to accept.

When they got back home, Will told himself he'd slip away. Find some other place to live so he wouldn't be a burden to her. Both Marian and Robin deserved better.

"Will?"

Robin's call had startled him. "Robin? Did you need something?" He glanced at his brother and his concern overpowered all his other worries.

"I'm all right, brother. You look distracted. Are you well?"

Will sighed. "Tired is all. He looked up at the trees surrounding them. "And glad to be out of that brick and mortar world." The confession took him by surprise. He hadn't meant to say it.

To his surprise, Robin laughed. "I know what you mean. I've never been happier to leave a place than I was to leave there." He glanced at Azeem. "I'm fairly certain Azeem agrees with us!"

"You would be right about that, Christian. I do not know how anyone can prefer that place to Sherwood. Though truthfully, Sherwood pales next to my home."

"I've been to your home," Robin started, but Azeem interrupted.

"You have been to my country. You have not seen my home. My home is a lovely one, not so grand as a castle, but warm, dry, and very large."

"How large?" Will asked. "You're not a noble are you?" Unconscious suspicion tinged his words.

"Not as you would think of it. I am a landowner. I am a businessman."

"I met you in prison."

"Where we met does not change the fact that I was a wealthy landowner at one time. One day, I will return to my homeland and see what remains."

"I would come with you to repay you for all you've done," Robin said.

Azeem smiled but shook his head. "No. That I cannot allow. Once you are settled into your home with your family gathered around you, I will return home alone. Otherwise, we will just continue to follow each other back and forth out of loyalty."

Will smiled. "What if that's what Allah wants?"

Azeem's eyes widened in surprise and then he laughed. "You are wiser than your brother, Young Christian! If that is Allah's wish, I'm sure he will let us know."

They settled back to their meal and Will watched as Marian fussed around Robin making sure he was comfortable. The worry in her eyes never disappeared entirely.

"Marian," Will said and then ducked his head in embarrassment at what he'd been about to say.

Marian crossed their small campsite and sat beside him. "What is it, Will?"

"Nothing," Will said, though he was sure his face was read just because of the warmth he felt there.

Her face took on a familiar one… worry, apprehension, and affection. "Will, what is it?" She turned to Robin. "Aren't you going to help?"

"Something is troubling you, Will. I've seen it in your eyes and it's been getting stronger since we left town. Speak to us. What is it?"

So Will looked at Marian. "I don't want to be an embarrassment to you. I wanted to tell you I'll return to Sherwood Forest. I won't stay in your home or in the Locksley home once it's been rebuilt. We can be friends, then, can't we?"

Marian blinked in surprise. "We're friends already aren't we, Will?"

"My Lady, I'm in your way. I know I am. You're newly married. You want to be alone with your husband. Who is a Lord, after all. I'm just…"

"Don't." Robin said it loud and clear, and when Will looked at his brother he was surprised to see anger. Rage. Irritation. Disgust. Will actually drew away from his brother, seeing for the first time the very look he'd always feared to see there. This was more than the anger and shock he'd shown when Will had first explained who he was, how they were related. No, this was disturbing on the face of the man he'd come to admire and even love as he'd never dreamed he could.

Robin got slowly to his feet and walked towards Will. Will found himself scrambling away in an uncoordinated rush, half on his feet and half on his knees as he tried to keep some distance between them. He saw Azeem and Marian flank Robin, both obviously worried he might hurt himself further.

To his surprise, Will felt hands on his arms and back, and for a moment he struggled, but John Little leaned into his line of sight. "We're on your side, Will Scarlett. Let us be."

Will nodded, but couldn't hide the fear in his eyes or the tremble in his frame as his head pounded and his heart raced. He turned back to Robin who'd come close enough that Azeem had put a restraining hand on his arm, and was whispering words Will couldn't hear and Robin wouldn't acknowledge.

"Think carefully about what your next words are going to be, Will Scarlett, because if you say one more thing berating yourself or comparing yourself to the lowest and basest of creatures, I swear to you, you and I may come to blows.

Will drew away from his friends somehow finding their support irritating on the heels of his brother's words. "We may come to blows? Shall I fetch your bow so you can fire an arrow into my other hand?"

A part of Will savored the hurt look in Robin's eyes as his anger dissipated in the face of the reminder of the one true hurt he'd ever done to Will. Another part instantly regretted his words. That was the part of him that had thought he'd found a home not in the soon to be rebuilt Locksley Manor, but simply beside his brother.

"Will…" Robin began.

"I'm sorry…" Will interrupted. He crossed his arms over his chest, hugging himself tightly and hung his head both in shame and to feel the familiar cover of his hair hiding his face, his flaws, from the world.

A moment later he was embraced fiercely as Marian flung herself at him. "Lady Marian…" he started to say, but she cut him off.

"No, Will, you're my brother now, too. Call me Marian. You did that for a time."

He nodded. "I thought…at court, you seemed…I thought…" he shook his head, hanging it low again and letting her hug him until Robin placed a hand on his shoulder and he was forced to look up at his still angry brother.

"Marian left court a long time ago because she hates the games courtiers play. I never had to go to court because I went to the crusades instead." He sighed, and Will could see this had sidetracked him. He had other things to say and he couldn't find the words.

"Just say it, Robin, whatever it is," he said as he gently extricated himself from Marian's arms.

"Will, I don't know what it's like to grow up as you did, to never know your father, to sleep rough most nights, and to be ostracized by those around you, but I had hoped we could still make a connection. I hate it when you put yourself down. Do you not see how wonderful you are? How astonishing it is that you can be this strong, committed, passionate man, who still found it in his heart to forgive me for ruining your life?" He put out a hand as Will opened his mouth to protest. "You said it yourself, and I see the truth of it. And whatever's happened to us these last few months, I want us to move past all of it. We head home now, and if you prefer Sherwood to Locksley Manor, then you shall live where you please, but if you have decided to live there because you don't feel you belong in our world, or worse because you think that we think you don't belong in that world, then I would rather leave the Manor a ruin and live among the trees with you."

Will blinked in astonishment at the words and at the thought that his brother would truly give up so much for him. He looked hesitantly at Marian who surprised him once more with a smile so brilliant it rivaled the one she'd worn on her wedding day. "Will, if I did not love Sherwood Forest I would not have chosen to be married there."

Will looked down considering what they were offering, but shook his head. "We should rebuild the Manor. Your child deserves the life I never got to live, but I cannot give up the Wood completely. Perhaps I will just spend the spring and summer months in the forest, and retreat to your home in the fall and winter." He shook his head. "I do so hate the cold." It was true, he'd never been fond of the chill of England's winters, but since the time he'd spent in that cage hanging above the ruins of Locksley Manor and exposed to the elements, he'd discovered that he felt the cold more quickly and keenly than he ever had before.

"It's not our home," Robin said gesturing to himself and Marian. "It belongs as much to you as to us, brother. Father would have wanted it that way."

"He didn't even know about me, did he?"

"I cannot say for sure, but I cannot believe he would knowingly abandon you."

Will shrugged. "If you believe it, then I do, too," he said with as much conviction as he could muster."

Robin beamed and the brothers embraced taking comfort in each other until they both began to sway on their feet. Azeem, Marian, and the others herded them towards the fire to sit and partake of their meal once more, and Will Scarlett, sitting among friends in a familiar setting of trees, rocks, and roads, felt more at home than ever in his life.