Part 15.
Marian gasped and Robin tightened his hold on her hand. They sat side by side against the wall of the inside of the cottage. It had been three days since she had called Robin's name and two since she regained consciousness completely. Much was sitting by the fire stirring an appetizing stew, with one eye trained on the couple.
"Sorry," muttered Djaq as she unravelled the bandage. "But we have to change it again."
Marian smiled faintly, she was still very pale, but the fever had broken last night and the redness up to her elbow had receded a little. She hadn't taken any solid food but was less dehydrated than she had been. Her hair was matted about her head and she was beginning to be aware that she looked a mess, she definitely felt one. Her pale green dress was mud stained and full of rents and tears.
Djaq looked up to her patient and Robin and said. "Ready?"
"Yes," Marian whispered while Robin nodded his head.
She pulled back the dressing to reveal the wound as Will held the torch for her to see.
"Well? Djaq?" asked Robin anxiously, looking at it closely. To his untrained eye it was looking better than the first day but far from healed and he wanted professional advice.
"It is beginning to mend." She nodded. "Try and move you fingers." She added to Marian. The knife had damaged far more than just the skin and Djaq did have some concerns that full use of her hand would not return.
Marian took a deep breath in concentration and the outlaws all held their breath too. There was still a lot of healing to do but if her fingers didn't move now, perhaps they never would. She glanced up to see every pair of eyes fixated on her, and Robin squeezed her other hand softly as if encouraging her to carry on. Marian focused hard on the task and slowly even though she was sure her brain told her to bend all her fingers, only her little finger and thumb moved a fraction. She took a deep breath, her forehead beaded with sweat from the exertion the simple task had taken and tried again. Like before only the two outside digits moved and she bit back a groan of frustration. The effort had caused her hand to pulsate and throb more that it did anyway, and the wound seeped infected fluid and blood and even Robin winced.
"Good." Said Djaq with a smile.
"Good?" repeated Much. "That was good?"
"Under the circumstances yes," she told him. Adding to Marian. "You may not get full usage back, even if we manipulate it when it has healed."
"Ever?" she asked in a soft voice which was filled with pain from the exercise and Robin felt his heart ache for her.
"Ever." Djaq confirmed sadly as she redressed the wound and tied on a sling.