AN: Thanks for your replies, sorry there was no update last night.

Part 12

The house was quiet now. The small party sat round the body looking thoughtful and tired. If Much had thought sterilising the wound had been painful for Marian it was nothing compared to the cauterisation that they had witnessed and assisted with. Robin's hands still shook as he weaved his fingers through Marian's hair, feeling the damp strands through his fingers and untangled the knots. There was nothing more that could be done except to make her warm and comfortable and pray that the fever and infection did not take her away from them and especially from Robin. Much knew that his master would never be the same man if she died whether she was married to Gisborne or not, it made no difference as long as she lived.

Will took a deep breath and said. "Robin." Robin looked up at him his face a blank mask of what was truly inside, with an indication that Will continue. "Marian asked me to tell you something if she died."

"She isn't dead yet Will, save it," Robin replied in a voice which wasn't filled with much hope but his words suggested otherwise.

"I need to tell you something else," Will continued.

"About Gisborne?" he asked sadly. "I know, Durham told us she had married him, that she is his wife."

"Yes and no," replied Will.

"How can it be yes and no? asked Much, "either she is married to him or she isn't."

Will sighed heavily and answered. "Marian is not married to anyone. We; myself, Marian and Allan planned it so it appeared to Gisborne that she was."

"Not a bad plan considering," Much replied. "But how did she manage to get stabbed by Gisborne again?"

Robin had remained silent but asked. "It was at least a week until you reached Durham how did she hold off his marital advances until then?"

"He told her he wanted to take her properly in a bed, not in the forest, it bought us some time." Will explained and they all heard Robin as he exhaled the breath that he had been holding.

"And he stabbed her when?" asked Djaq.

"He blamed me that they were not married, she saved my life. You know how stubborn she is. I am sorry Robin you told me she had to live whatever and now she might die."

"It is not your fault, it is Gisborne's and the Sheriff's." he replied angrily the first emotion he had displayed for a while.

"The Sheriff is dead." Stated John.

"And soon Gisborne will be too," Robin replied darkly.

Djaq checked the patient's vitals and then leaned back again; the men looked at her expectantly. She shrugged and told them, "No change. We should sleep, I will know more in the morning."

With the exception of Robin they moved, Robin laid a hand on Will's arm and said. "Thank you my friend, do not doubt that you more than fulfilled your promise to me and do not blame yourself for anything that followed."

Will nodded a sad but accepting smile and followed the others to the other sound corner of the dwelling. There was some shuffling but they soon all settled down leaving Robin with Marian.

He felt relieved that they had found her and Will, especially the news that she was not married as they first feared. But now another horror hammered in his heart. That she was going to die all over again from the edge of Gisborne dagger. It was like history repeating itself and he almost thought it was too unlucky to be in a similar situation again. Here they were though and the circumstances could not be denied, time would tell.

Robin paused then and wondered about Allan for the briefest of moments and hoped that he was improved. Robin sighed but it did nothing to dispel the ache inside.

Djaq didn't have to say he knew, that this time he could lose her for good, forever and how was he supposed to carry on then? Life without her wasn't worth living; would Nottingham, would England still be worth fighting for? His logical self told him it would be, all the people who were unable to fight for themselves needed a hero, a champion. Was he a hero? He certainly didn't feel like one now. He felt a failure, not only was Marian barely alive before him, Vasey was also dead and with that came the deaths of all the people of Nottingham on his shoulders.

Marian stirred and brought him suddenly back to the present, the gang did not move and he guessed that perhaps they were all sleeping now. He looked down at Marian, the lone candle bathing her face in an ethereal glow, the fine sheen of the fever illuminating her fair skin. Robin slipped his hand from hers and reached for the canteen; sliding a hand under her head he lifted it, urging her to drink some water. As he laid her back down again he wasn't sure if she had drunk any or not, but at least he had tried. He took a cloth and wiped her brow and her face. Then rewrapped her right hand in his, bringing it up to his lips for a kiss.

"I love you," he murmured. "Remember we were going to get married…." He continued as he felt himself breaking inside. He took the ring that Will had taken from her finger in case her hand had begun to swell and slipped it into a necklace which bore a wooden tag with the outlaw's symbol upon it. Gently he tied it about her neck. "The Sheriff is gone, we still have to save England and bring the King home; sometimes things do not go the way we plan. In the plan we were to defeat the Sheriff after the King came back. Maybe we could get married before he returns too….If you will have me now. I have failed the people, failed you, but especially failed myself….You just have to live…Marian…for me…..I can't live without you."

He knelt over her body and with the utmost gentleness placed a kiss as soft as a gossamer whisper upon her lips, before lying beside her, her hand still embraced in his and hoped that both their hearts would still be beating in the morning.