AN: Thank you for your reviews.
Part 16
Replete from the stew they leant back on their makeshift beds. Much stirred the stew which remained deciding there was enough for breakfast.
"You did not eat much," he said a little warily to Marian, who in all honestly looked like death warmed up.
"She hasn't eaten for about a week, what do you expect?" Djaq said to him shaking her head.
"It was good. I just could not eat any more." Marian told him, not wanting his feelings to be hurt; he was such a sensitive fellow.
"I am glad you enjoyed it….but if you are to build your strength up, if we are to leave this dwelling and head back to Sherwood, you need to eat more."
"Perhaps tomorrow Much." Said Robin, on Marian's behalf.
"We can not leave tomorrow," stated Djaq, shooting a concerned look in the patient's direction.
"I meant maybe Marian will eat more tomorrow." Robin replied.
"Perhaps we could split up?" suggested Will. "Half of us walk back to Nottingham and half stay here with Marian and ride back later."
"No!" said Robin with force sitting up and jarring Marian causing her to call out in pain. "Sorry," he immediately said to her. Ignoring the others concentrating on her instead. "I am sorry." He picked up her injured hand and kissed it softly and she just looked at him, half amused, her eyes watering from the movement he had created. "Forgive me?" he murmured so quietly the gang did not hear and she nodded.
"When you have finished making Marian feel worse, can we get back to the conversation?" Much told Robin irritably.
Robin turned to face them again and Marian pushed her self to sit against the wall for support, ready to put her views into this conversation as well, however much she ached and wished to sleep.
"No." Robin repeated. "We will not spilt up. We have to stay together."
"But if we go back we can help the people who were left behind," Will reasoned.
"We can see if Allan has left Kirklees," added Djaq.
"Allan's alive?" Marian breathed softly, pleased that he had not perished.
"He was when we left him at Kirklees but he was injured," Much said filling her in.
She smiled and said. "I am glad he lived."
"Humph," Much muttered, he still had not forgiven Allan for what he had done to them and to Robin.
"Everyone deserves a second chance," she said gently looking at Robin and he knew exactly what she was referring to as did Much.
"That is not the same," Much began. "I mean I know Robin left you and went to war and you parted on bad terms, but what Allan did was totally different."
"It was a choice Much. He made a choice and he has had to live with the consequences of his choice." Robin said; he had begun to soften when they had found Allan alive.
"Surely not Master? He can not come back and be one of us after what he did? I will not have it…I will, I will….."
"You will what?" asked Marian.
"Leave. I will leave."
Robin stifled a laugh. "And go where my friend?"
"Anywhere, except for where he is. John? Surely you agree with me." Much said pleading with the older man.
John took his time in replying. "What he did was wrong. What Jasper did was unforgivable. That makes what Allan did not quite as bad. And he did help Will with the 'marriage' between Marian and Guy."
"So you are saying you forgive him too that he can come back as if nothing had happened?" Much said angrily standing up and stomping to and fro.
"Much! Sit down," commanded Robin and he did with a little huff, crossing his arms and looking as if he might explode again.
"I have not forgotten what he did," John added.
"But you have forgiven him?" asked Much still unbelievingly. "And what about you two?" he asked, directing the latter part to Will and Djaq.
"No I have not forgiven him, but if Robin wants to give him another chance then I am willing to give it a try." Little John confessed.
"Will? Djaq?" asked Much needing answers right there and then.
Marian shut her eyes tiredness sweeping over her and Robin sighed wanting to finish this conversation swiftly. He didn't dare touch her again in case he hurt her once more.
"He and I shook hands before the town was razed, I told him it was too late….But now. Now I think I can give him another chance. It will take time though for him to earn our trust again." Will said honestly.
"I always believed there was good in him. He just didn't know how to tell you Robin. He is a good man. Tom was too really, just a little sidetracked now and again. One mistake cost Allan our friend and comradeship and we are his family too. We are all family to each other and not having him with us always made us out of synchronization somehow. I am willing to give him another chance." She agreed.
"Fine!" Much said with a scowl.
"So you are leaving us when?" asked Robin with a smile.
"You know I will not really leave you. Where would I go? Not only are we Allan's family, you all are my family too," he said with some resentment and they all smiled at him.
"Back to whether we should spilt up then," said Marian, biting on her bottom lip with the discomfort she was in.
"Yes…right." Said Much. "Robin?"
"No, we stay together. Gisborne is more dangerous than ever. If one thing is for certain it is that Allan can talk his way out of most situations. We have to hope wherever he is he can hold his own and will be in Sherwood or Kirklees when we return."
"Very well," agreed Will.
"If he has managed without us until now, he can cope a bit longer," Djaq nodded too.