R&R please! I wanted to make you guys wait longer, just to build up the suspense, but I decided against being a meanie-butt... at least, too much of one.
In the next few chapters, there will be a few characters coming in who are some of Robin Hood's legendary Merry Men... Like Little John, Alan of Dale, Will (already have a Will, eh?), Jack, and Mauch.
Will's heart nearly stopped right then. He dropped to his knees, fingers probing Robin's neck for a pulse."Robin? ROBIN?"
There wasn't one.
His hands fluttered around, trying to remember what his medical training had told him to do in these situations, but his mind was too fuzzy.
"Stand back now," Gilan said, pushing Will back and kneeling where Will had been only a moment before. He brought his fist down on Robin's chest five times in rapid succession, then felt for a pulse. Still none. He did it again, tilting her head back and opening her windpipe this time.
Still nothing.
"She needs air," Halt said, and immediately Mauch dropped on the other side of the bed and breathed into Robin's mouth. Robin's eyes flew open, and she coughed, nose crinkling.
"My god, who just waved rancid stew under my nose? I was having a splendid dream..." Robin said, looking at them. Will collapsed onto the bed, head in his arms, letting out a relieved, shuddering sigh.
"What in the Devil's name is going on here," said a voice, and behind the inn-keeper appeared the man who had spoken in the tavern below earlier in the evening.
"She got stabbed," Mauch said.
"She? She who? You weren't travelling with a gir-" the man's eyes focused on Robin. "Alis?"
"Hullo, Little John," Robin said, smiling tiredly. Will arched an eyebrow; the man stood over two meters tall.
"What happened?" the man said, suddenly very worried.
"She got stabbed," Mauch repeated, mildly irritated at having to say it again. "She just died."
"I just what?" Robin asked, confused.
"Died. I had to breathe for you," Mauch said. "Gilan hit you a few times."
"Oh," Robin said, eyes wide, and very subdued. "I didn't know that's what the stew smell was." After a moment, she said, in all sincerity, "Thank you, Mauch, Thank you, Gilan. I am in your debt."
"Let me see the wound," the man said. Robin moved to undo the bandages around her stomach, but Gilan stopped her.
"It's bound by a Ranger," Gilan said, calmly. "It's fine."
"He can see," Robin said mildly. "Never hurts to have a second opinion. He was the physician on my uncle's manor."
"Oh," Gilan said, standing and making room for Little John. The big man knelt, and cut the bandages away. They came away crimson in his hands, and he examined the cut for a moment.
"It's small, and not too deep, but he had good aim," the big man mused. "No poison, though. Probably just shock that stopped your heart. But, to keep the blood loss in check, we'll be needing lots of fluids, and perhaps something small and metal to heat up and properly seal the wound... I'm afraid all i have is my copy of my new lord's seal. Anyone have something that would work?"
"I have my oakleaf," Will offered, pulling out the silver oak-leaf, but the big man just shook his head.
"Not flat enough or small enough, and not the right metal," Little John said.
"I have my sword hilt," Gilan offered, and the big man frowned in concentration before shaking his head.
"I think the seal will work better," Little John said. He pulled a ring off his finger, and showed it to them. It was a bow and arrow crossed over each other. "My lord works with hunting rather than farming," he offered as way of explanation. "Plants don't do to well this far north."
"it'll work," Robin said, and Little John nodded. He paused, and looked around for some place to start a fire in the room. In the corner, luckily, a small brazier was already going. He pushed himself to his feet and walked over to the brazier, plunging the ring into the coals. Robin looked over at Will, and saw him fidgeting, a worried expression on his face. His hands fluttered around his sides.
She reached out and grabbed his hand, and squeezed. It wasn't much of a comfort for him; her grip was far too weak. She realized this in a moment and let her hand drop away.
"I'm sorry there's nothing I can do," the inn-keeper said, addressing Will. "We don't have any physicians in the town, I'm afraid."
"It's alright," Will said, ringing his hands again. Little John turned around, the ring glowing a brighter red than the leaves on the trees outside. As he walked slowly to Robin's side, it turned to a dull throbbing orange.
"This is going to hurt a litt-" Little John paused, and reconsidered. "No point in lying, actually. It's going to hurt alot. You ready?" Robin nodded, and without hesitation, Little John pressed the ring to her side.
Now, Robin wasn't the sort of person who their first reaction to pain was to cry out. Instead, all her muscles tightened against the pain, which meant she couldn't speak unless she tried. So, naturally, she was completely silent. Will felt a surge of pride for his apprentice, an absurd pride he supposed considering she was only his apprentice by scarce over a week, but he was proud of her. When Little John pulled the ring away, a clear outline in angry red flesh depicted the bow and arrow.
The bow was about as long as Will's thumb, and the arrow fit over the bloody line from the knife. Robin slumped back in the bed, letting out a ragged breath.
"May I sleep?" Robin asked, looking at Little John.
"Yes," Little John said slowly, thinking for a long moment. "Your body shouldn't lapse again."
"Thank you," Robin told him, then swept her eyes around the room. "All of you." She brought her hands up under her head, and fell fast asleep. This time, there was the reasuring smooth movement of her chest, the quiet sound of deep breathing.
"I'm going to stay up and watch her," Will said. "Just to make sure."
"We'll take turns," Gilan said, laying his palm on Will's shoulder. Will nodded his thanks, and Little John coughed quietly.
"I'm afraid we haven't been properly introduced, Will Treaty," Little John said with surprising softness for a man his size. "I am John Naylor. My friends call me Little John, though."
"I am Will to my friends and enemies," Will said smoothly, holding out his hand. "Thank you." Little John shook Will's hand and smiled.
"Where are you going?" Little John asked, curious.
"Ranger business," Will said shortly, unwilling to give out information on their mission.
"Oh, the baron problem?" Little John asked.
"Yes," Will said, mildly surprised. He then realized that, hullo, these people LIVED under this man, they obviously knew the problems at hand.
"May I be of assistance?" Little John asked. "The Baron is just begging for a log in his head." The big man slammed his fist into his palm with a meaty smack.
Will hesitated, but couldn't see a reason to tell him no. "We're going to TRY and be diplomatic," he said. "But, if it resorts to violence, another fighting hand would be good."
"Thankyou," Little John nodded. "Downstairs, dawn?"
"Actually, I think we should wait till noon," Halt said. "To see if Robin can travel."
"Right, right," Little John said, nodding again. "Midday. Well, I'm off to bed. Just holler of something is amiss."
"Will do," Gilan said. Little John and the inn-keeper turned and left the room, and Gilan looked at Will. "Just knock on the wall when you want a rest, and one of us will come in to keep watch for you. Alright?" Will nodded, and Gilan and Halt left the room.
For the first time in several minutes, Will noticed Mauch. Mauch looked like he was mildly in shock, and Will realized he had barged in and dumped Robin on his bed because it was closest to the door.
"Sleep in my bed," Will told him, pointing to the largest of the three. Mauch looked at him, but didn't protest. He walked numbly to his bed and lay down, and soon was asleep. Will dragged Robin's mattress over to the bed Robin was on now, and sat down to keep watch.
It would be a long night.
