Title: What Happens Now? Part 4

Disclaimer: The Characters of the BBC's Robin Hood do not belong to me in any which way, I am just borrowing them to satisfy my inner Will/Djaq shipper.

Rating: Teen, for now.

Summary: Set during and eventually after Peace? Off through to A Clue: No. A Djaq/Will romance eventually.

Note: Italics are used for a memory or event in the past

Will stared dumbfounded at the ground before him and dread seized upon his heart; making hard to breathe. He blinked hard and prayed that when he looked back again, what he saw would not be there. Foot prints, from several horses and men, headed in the direction of their camp. My god, he thought.

Of a sudden, something hard bumped into his back, followed by the voice of an annoyed Allan A. Dale.

"OYE!! Watch yerself, Will."

When he didn't receive a reply, Allan quickly tied the horse to a nearby tree and then moved to Will's right. Giving him a pointed look, Allan spoke "Will…alo? What the bleedin' 'ell are ya doin?"

"Hoofprints." Will replied absently, his face ashen and his gaze fixed on the ground before him. Please God, let Djaq be alright he thought.

Allan's brows knit together in confusion. "Hoofprints?"

Will pointed at the ground before them as he reiterated, "Hoofprints and footprints."

The confused look on Allans face deepened, "Ya…they are what are left on the ground when 'orses and men walk…"

Will cut his friends rant off, "No…hoofprints and footprints on the ground, here, a lot of them and all heading in the direction of the cave."

Allan looked down at the ground, realizing that Will was right and the full weight of that knowledge hit him. There were far too many hoof and footprints on the ground in this part of the forest. Their lot were usually the only ones out this far into Sherwood Forest at any given time.

Something was definitely not right.

"Bloody 'ell."

Will and Allan exchanged a look and then took off running in the direction of the cave.

As they neared the area where their camp was, both Will and Allan heard the sound of yelling.

They slowed their pace as they carefully made their way towards the commotion.

As Will and Allan reached the area where the cave was located, they were stopped short by the site that greeted them.

About a dozen men in armor were seated on horseback, surrounding Gisborne and the sheriff, with another four men on the ground, shooting arrows in the direction of the cave.

The two men watched in shock as Robin suddenly appeared and let loose arrow after arrow at the enemy, cutting down at least one quarter of the men gathered.

Will stayed crouched behind a tree, his eye wide with disbelief.

He knew that Robin had been in the crusades and that he was capable of violence, but he had never seen him like this. Something had happened to create such a switch in the normally peace enforcing leader.

Where is Djaq? Will wondered, as he searched the area for any sign of her tanned skin.

Allan sat next to his comrade watching the scene before him, also in shock. Robin continued shooting into the gathering of men, out in the open, seemingly without fear of being shot himself. Meanwhile, he could see John and Much taking cover behind two boulders off to the left, with Much occasionally rising to shoot his bow at the Sheriff and Gisborne's men.

Suddenly, the doctor from earlier came running out of the cave, down towards Robin. Will and Allan exchanged a look of confusion, what was he doing there?

They watched as Gisbornes man shot the doctor. They then watched, in shocked horror as something seemed to snap in Robin. He threw down his bow and arrow, pulled out his sword and then ran toward the waiting enemy. He was grossly out numbered. What on earth was he doing?

Will watched, terrified as Much, then John and finally Djaq joined Robin in the fight.

Djaq was screaming, a sword in each hand, running full tilt towards the men. She was a warrior woman, beautiful as her sword clashed with that of the enemy.

Dear god, let her survive this unharmed, Will thought as he jumped to his feet.

Allan had already gotten his bow ready and as Will rose beside him, he aimed for Gisborne and let his arrow fly.

Will pulled out his trusty axe and a sword and then started running towards the fight. He would be damned if he let her fight this battle alone.

The battle was over. Bodies lay scattered on the ground around them. Everywhere Djaq looked, she saw a dead soldier.

Some of them had died at her hands.

Djaw shook a little, her body coming down from the high it had been on during battle. She was also shaken by the knowledge that this was the first time in a long time that she had killed someone, intentionally.

She sensed his eyes on her almost instantly and her eyes rose to meet his.

His eyes were a mixture of energy, sadness and regret. It was as if he were silently begging her to forgive him.

And he was. Even after he had told them the truth, he felt horrible. That he could even contemplate abandoning his friends…Djaq. He bit his bottom lip to keep from screaming as Djaq tore her gaze from his.

He loved her! Yet, he knew that she did not love him back, and now, after this, he did not know if she ever would.

She turned her gaze away.

Her heart was pounding in her chest. Her mind was so confused…Will was there.

Yet, he and Allan had thought to leave them…leave her.

Djaq was not sure whether she wanted to throttle Will or kiss him.

Allan was still trying to smooth things over, "What? We said sorry?"

Much stood starring at Allan, "Marian…Gisborne stabbed her last night…she's…"

Robin spoke softly from his kneeling position next to Djaq, "She's dead…Marian's dead."

Will's gaze sought out Djaqs, she met his eyes, nodding. Will blinked back tears. He should have been there…they should have been there.

It could have been Djaq…what if she had been hurt and he hand not been there…

Robin pulled Will out of bout his self-loathing. He rose to his feet, turned around and walked back to the cave.

Much followed after him, then Djaq, John, Will and Allan.

It was a funeral procession.

When everyone had enetered the part of the cave where Marian lay. They stood in silence for a moment. Then Djaq spoke up. She was loathe to break the silence, but knew that what she had to say needed to be said.

"We need to bury her"

Robin did not look at her, his gaze fixed on the body of his beloved Marian. "We must take her to Knighton Hall, to her father. John I want you to…Djaq prepare her body…Will I need you to make…" Robins voice broke. "I need you to make a coffin."

John interrupted him gently, placing a consolatory hand on his shoulder, shushing him. "In good time. First, we say goodbye."

Will stood forward slightly, tears staining his cheeks. "She was a good woman. Kind, considerate."

Djaq blinked back tears at the emotion in his voice. She had no realized that he cared so much for Marian. She was torn with wanting to console him by going to him, or whether to run away from the emotion she heard in his voice.

Much spoke, his voice chocked."Good…ah, she was…she was…"

Allan finished for him. "She was ah'right."

John voiced his thoughts. "Her we liked."

Robin spoke again. "Her we loved…her I loved. I loved her and I never told her."

Much turned to his master, pain for him evident on his face. "She knew. We all knew."

He was right, Will thought. It was clear as day to anyone who ever saw the two together or listened to how they talked about one another that they were very much in love.

Will could not imagine what Robin must be feeling. He himself was distraught enough, and he was only somewhat friends with her. He respected Marian, she had been doing for several years what Robin and the rest of them had only been doing for a few months.

Will thanked whomever listened for keeping Djaq safe. He did not know what he would have done if he had been in Robins position.

Allan figited a little, looking uncertain before piping up. "I'm not bein' funny, right. She's breavin'.

Every turned to look at Marian. Djaq moved first, she ran forward, going to Marians side. She then raised the blade of her sword and held it under Marians nose. "On the blade…she is breathing."

Allan held out his arms and motioned towards the woman lying on the furs. "Eh! Told ya."

Robin rushed forward, looking painfully hopeful at Djaq. "What?"

The other men stood stock still, watching and waiting, not quite believing their ears. Expressions of cautious joy on their faces.

Djaq set about examining the woman before her, hope filling her heart. "Physicians' drought…I have heard of this before. Hemlock…too much and the body freezes, breathing stops, but if one is young and strong…the body fights back; comes back from the dead."

Allan looked incredulous, "She died?"

Djaq nodded, looking at Robins face, praising Allah for sparing them the grief of truly loosing the woman before her. "And came back!" Djaq laughed…they all did. Relieved and joyful at having their friend alive.

Much let out what sounded like a chocked laugh of incredulity, as he raised his arms above his head. "That is…"

Robin was cradling Marians head in both of his hands, tears running down his cheeks. "Marian? Marian…Marian?"

Marian eyes slowly blinked open. She looked around her, disoriented and muttered in a puzzled voice, "Where have I been?"

Robin let out a laugh, joy written across his features, as he gently stroked her cheeks."I don't know, but I'm glad you're back."

Djaq stepped away from the reunited couple, allowing them a moment together.

She suddenly found herself standing next to Will. She turned to look at him and found him watching her intently.

IN the next moment, Will had pulled her into his arms and was holding her tightly against him. Djaq went stiff at first, but quickly relaxed in his embrace and moved her arms around his back to hold him close.

Fresh tears filled Wills eyes as he held Djaq close to him, never wanting to let her go. He never thought that she would ever allow him to hold her like this.

He knew, logically, that it was probably the culmination of the days events which allowed for her defences to be down, but he didn't care. All he cared about was that the woman that he loved was in his arms, and holding him just as tightly as he was her.

Djaq inhaled the unique masculine scent of Will Scarlett and buried her face into his shoulder. She had allowed her emotions to get the better of her again, but in this moment, she did not care.

She knew that Will was just giving her a friendly hug, comfort after a stressful day, but she chose to push that thought aside. She preferred to allow her hopes and dreams to come to the surface for a moment and enjoy the feel of him holding her against him.

Will placed a soft kiss against the top of her head. He could not stop himself, it just felt right. He then gently nuzzled the area with his chin and squeezed her tighter.

He lifted his gaze for a moment and found Allan and John watching them, both of them with large smiles on their faces.

John just winked at the younger man, before turning and exiting this part of the cave. Allan, on the other hand, grinned wickedly and waggled his eyebrows.

Will knew that he would never hear the end of it from his friend. The interesting thing was, that he did not care; not at the moment, anyway. He was too happy.

A cough from Much drew Djaq out of her contented reverie. She lifted her head to look at him. He was giving them a pointed look and motioned with his head that they should all leave Robin and Marian alone.

As if waking from a dream, Djaq jerked back and out of Wills arms, refusing to look at him.

She quickly turned and ran out of the room.

Will watched her go and sighed. He had hoped that moment could have lasted longer.

Allan walked over to him then and slapped him on the back. Wills turned his head to look at him and Allan gave his friend a compassionate smile. "Come on…"

Will allowed himself to be led out of the room. Hoping desperately that that would not be the last time that Djaq allowed him to hold her like that.

Sorry it has been so long since I updated…I will endeavor to update more often in the coming week!!

How was this part?