Part 15
The following morning dawned grey as Much went to the outer cave and peeked out deciding that it was fine enough to make breakfast outside. No one else were stirring, he was pleased that the few words they shared with Robin seemed to have some effect for he and Marian were sleeping locked in a tender embrace, their blankets secure about their frames to keep in the heat.
They all were up, ready and everything was tidied away with little evidence of their existence two hours later. They all carried the bare minimum for survival and deserted the camp with a final glance. For what would be a trip of several days perhaps a couple of weeks.
Marian sighed; everyone seemed to be in good spirits which was good news, what however was not was her shoulder which hadn't let up its dull throb since yesterday. The weather conditions made the going slower than Robin would have liked but each step took them closer to their destination. They rested the first night after walking perhaps a mere fourteen miles before they set off again and mid morning just when Much was thinking about filling his belly with food they reached the settlement of Edwinstowe. They were still in Sherwood Forest and would be for some miles to follow.
The gang encountered a welcoming reception as they entered the village, the people emerged from their cottages and were eager to speak with them and invite them into their humble abodes to offer what meagre food they had, to share amongst Robin Hood and his gang.
Robin as usual seemed to drink up the attention and Marian wanting to stay somewhat in the background, seeing as she wasn't supposed to be part of the gang as far as the Sheriff was concerned walked slowly off to investigate. Leaving Much to eat the remainder of her portion, despite having walked a long way she was not hungry. Her shoulder was aching; she thought it odd really that her stomach wound for which she almost died was not as painful as a simple scratch on her shoulder.
As she meandered through she came across the church, it was remarkably made from stone, she had heard about this from her father, the original one having been replaced in 1175. It was beautiful she thought as she opened the door and stepped inside, the harshness of the wind suddenly gone and she sighed with relief. There were no places to sit, but that was normal. She chose to sit halfway down the church, on the floor, her back to the wall.
She peeled back her cloak and took a peek under the bandage Djaq has fashioned yesterday, it wasn't pretty, perhaps she would be better off here in Edwinstowe then staying with the gang and slowing them down. She sighed long and deep, she promised Robin that she wouldn't leave him, that her place was by his side. Marian covered her shoulder and pulled her cloak back in place, if she could withstand the pain of Djaq performing surgery on her she could live with and not let on of the pain of her weeping shoulder that was just how it had to be.
She looked up as the door opened and was surprised to see Will.
"Robin is looking for you," he informed her. "We need to leave."
"I will be right there," she replied.
He turned to exit but returned "Marian are you alright?" he asked carefully.
"I am quite well thank you," she said to him with a smile and spent one more minute praying that she would be.