Part 13
Marian seated herself by the fire which had almost died but had been revived by her patience was beginning to warm her a little. She still had not stitched her arm, but knew that as there was still no sign of the gang she didn't have a choice. She peeled back the fabric of her dress and swallowed hard, it was one thing stitching someone's wound and another entirely to stitch up your own. Dipping a cloth in fresh water she gingerly bathed the area, wincing at the sudden sting and steeling herself for the pain that was to follow, with the stick of the needle. The needle was poised to pierce her flesh when she looked up and saw six surprised faces staring at her in amazement.
"What do you think you are doing?" asked Robin finding his voice first. "We have been searching all over the forest for you."
"And Nottingham." added Will.
"I was unfortunately delayed," she replied, her voice even, firm although her hands began to shake and she rested them in her lap.
"What have you done?" asked Robin as if he was scolding a small child, he moved to her and examined the gash on her shoulder. "How did this happen?" he demanded.
"If you pause for breath I may have time to tell you," she retorted anger flaring in her eyes.
They stared at each other for a long moment broken by Djaq who said. "This needs stitching."
"I was about to," Marian said, as she held up the threaded needle in her hand.
"By yourself, I must say is that a good idea?" Much twittered.
"I was alone what choice did I have?" she bit back.
"How did you get lost in the first place?" asked Alan.
"I did not get lost. I was accosted."
"By anyone we know?" asked Robin squatting on his haunches and looking at her more steadily now.
Marian gasped as the needle bit into her flesh and then forced herself to answer Robin's question to take her mind off the pain "Gisborne."
"Gisborne?" repeated Much, horrified.
"Where is he now?" asked Alan.
"Home I would imagine nursing his wounds; I did not let him off lightly."
"Seems you were lucky though, very lucky," Much said, eyeing up her shoulder which was now almost stitched.
She frowned and added. "He used the dagger."
"Again?" asked John.
"Again," she affirmed. "But this time did not get as good an angle."
"That is good news for us…you," Much said with a huge sigh of relief.
"How did Gisborne know where you were?" asked Robin.
"He followed me from Nottingham I think"
"Does he know you are back with us?" he continued firing his questions at her.
"No I did not say I was with you, I gave him the impression that I was living alone."
"Good."
"What now?" asked Will.
"We will spend another night here, in the cave and then start our journey to Markwick in the morning," Robin informed them.