Title: To Live Another Day
Author: Kate's Master, aka Emma
Summery: Obligatory response to the end of series two. Will be followed by some form of angsty oneshot, no doubt. Ten ways she lived. Many crossovers, verrry odd. Read at your peril. Spoilers galore.
Disclaimer: I wish. So much. One day, maybe…if I'm very very good. Until then…you're looking at the wrong person, kiddo.
Author's Notes: So. A week has passed. Are we any happier about it? I think not. Many thanks to the people who's reviews did bring a smile to my face: Spinningisfun, LoonyLover, homeric, X-Kate-X and BeckyScarlett.
And I've just read on Wikipedia that the BBC has "confirmed in a statement" that Lucy Griffiths will not return for series three.
Hope fades…
Ten Ways That She Lives
3. Miracle Saracen medicine once more works its wonders.
"Look, I'm not bein' funny or anything…but she's still breathing. Again." Allan's drawl cut across the mourners as they stood round the two bodies on the ground, one deathly still, the other heaving in silent sobs.
"What?" Djaq, instantly all business, hurried forward.
"Sure. See?"
"The sword! Quick!"
Wordlessly, Will handed her the bloodstained sword. The healer held it against Marian's pale face, and there was a moment of silence, as the surrounding crowd held their breath, waiting, hoping…
"Yes!" the Saracen woman breathed, relief and wonder seeping through her voice in equal amounts. "Robin! Quick! We must get her to the camp…she needs proper treatment…"
Robin was up even as the words were leaving her mouth, scooping his wife (later, he hoped, he would have time to marvel at the label) into his arms and hurrying back the way they had come.
It was a long night. English physicians had rushed to their king, and he in turn had directed them to Marian. But then the first one had snapped at Djaq, ordered her out of the way, and Robin had stepped in. Djaq was in charge. What she needed, she got. Her, he trusted with Marian. No one else.
And so Djaq had worked. She was a scientist first, and a healer second, but here she was in familiar territory, with the medicines and equipment she had first learnt with close at hand, and here she thrived.
In the early hours, they thought all was well. Marian's eyes began to flicker, and for a moment she focused on Robin, who had not moved since he carried her in. But then she shuddered, and began to cry out, thrashing in a pain that ran deeper than anything the outlaws had faced and survived before. One of the English physicians, older than most, who had not scattered as far as the others when Robin growled at them to get out, came forward, and did not offer his help – he realised, perhaps, that the offer would not be accepted. Instead, he gave it.
The two of them moved in tandem, mixing and pounding, hands flying everywhere. Finally, as dawn announced itself, Djaq allowed Will to lead her away, and John escorted the nameless Englishman to his tent. There was little more to do but wait.
During the first day she slept, each outlaw came, other than Robin, who did not leave, and sat, keeping a silent vigil over their fallen…friend? Comrade? Nothing quite seemed to fit anymore.
On the second day, when she had still not woken, the King quietly ordered for a hole to be dug besides the place that had become Carter's grave. He told none of the friends of his actions, but he had spent many years on the battlefield, and his was a grimmer outlook.
On the third day, Much and Allan between them physically removed Robin from her bedside, refusing him access for exactly one hour. As usual, he did not listen to their attempts to explain that he would do no one any good at all if he passed out himself from lack of food and sleep. The action itself did little good, but the point was made – that night, he did sleep, if only for a few fitful hours.
And, on the fourth day…she woke. Mid morning, without ceremony or pre-warning, much as she tended to go through life, she simply opened her eyes and spoke.
"Robin."
Had he not already been there, he would have flown to her side. She smiled at him, and he smiled back, and everything that needed saying was said in the silence.
Hmmm…tell you what I am glad about. The fact that they didn't just do an actor-swap when Lucy Griffiths said she wanted out.
Random musing of the day for you all. See you next time!