Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
The Long Road Home by Ecri
Part 3A: Misconceptions
Most of what followed. Marian tried desperately to forget. The Sheriff, the witch, the bishop…even the implications of the odd altar and Nottingham's attempt to take her became blurred and unreal.
All she truly recalled with clarity was Robin stabbing the Sheriff through the heart with the very dagger Nottingham had given her and which she'd given to Robin, and the macabre dance he did as he plucked it from his chest and died.
Azeem had somehow killed the witch with the most brilliant and amazing toss of a blade that she'd ever seen, and there was little else to do beyond finding the rest of Robin's men.
It was upon their arrival at the courtyard that the trio realized all was not well.
The spectators had mostly scattered, and what few remained watched as Robin's men, disagreeing about something, fought among themselves. It wasn't until Robin forced his way to the center of the commotion with Azeem and Marian by his side that they were able to see what was going on.
Those men who had nearly hung were angrily attacking Will Scarlett. Again words like traitor and turncoat were tossed about.
John and Fanny Little, Bull and Tuck were all trying to stop the others from hurting the young man who struggled furiously against those who held him. John had a hold of two of the men, but didn't seem to know what to do with them. To take more out of the fray would require him to release the ones he had or to knock them out…neither of which were truly an option. Tuck was pulling ineffectually at the arm of one man who had his hands around Will's throat, choking off his air. Fanny shouted repeatedly and kept charge of Wulf keeping her son from coming in on either side, while Bull was trying to push through the throng to help.
Will's struggled half rising from his knees amidst kicks and blows and slaps as he tried to scramble out of their grip, unable to break free.
Robin stepped forward, fury like none had seen before plain on his face.
"What's going on?" He turned to John and Tuck for answers.
John, red faced and trembling with anger, explained loudly. "They're after Will, there!"
One of the previously doomed to hang men answered back. "He made a deal with Nottingham to kill Robin Hood! And he nearly took Much's arm off!"
"Much is fine!" John bellowed as he pointed at Will. "He brought the message to us that you were to hang, you bloody fools! How were we to know to rescue you if we didn't known you were being killed?"
The others stopped a moment staring from John to Robin.
Robin dropped to his knees by Will's side. John's words had caused the man with a hold on Will's throat to release him, and Will slumped over, falling again to his knees, one hand on his tortured throat as he struggled to take a breath and the other hand on the ground, his trembling arm all that supported him and kept him from collapsing completely. Robin whispered a word or two to the younger man, who merely nodded and shifted uneasily, wary eyes on his attackers, and a white-knuckled grip on Robin's shirt.
Marian had the distinct impression that she was missing some piece of the puzzle, and that thought was not dispelled when Friar Tuck began preaching loudly about forgiveness and things not always being what they seem. He was cut off in mid-word when Robin began to speak.
"There is little worse than brothers-in-arms turning on each other. I saw it a time or two during the Crusades, and it was always ugly." He made to stand, but Will Scarlett seemed reluctant to allow it, struggling to maintain his hold on Robin's arm and keep the older man by his side as though all his anger and hatred for the man had been spent and he had no strength left to face the animosity of those with whom he'd shared all of Sherwood Forest.
"It will be all right, Will." Robin whispered the words softly, but they seemed to convince Will. Slowly, he released his grip on Robin's shirt, and shifted slightly to allow him room to stand.
Marian saw fear and uncertainty in his eyes as they followed Robin's every move. She didn't wonder at that since Will's attackers still stood nearby and one or two were still close enough to do some harm.
"The Sheriff counted on being able to turn us against each other." Robin's eyes fell on each of Will's accusers in turn. "He was certain that we would and he believed, rightly so, that that was all he needed to emerge victorious. So ask yourself this. Now that we are so close to victory, would you permit Nottingham to steal that victory from us now that he is dead?"
There was some murmuring as this last bit of news was imparted, but Robin wasn't finished. Marian held her breath curious beyond words as to what Robin planned to say next. Robin stood in front of the last two, who still glared angrily at Will Scarlett. He looked them in the eye.
"Are you planning on killing him? Do you intend to take the life of a man who has lived with you, eaten with you, gotten drunk with you? Will Scarlett has celebrated your victories with you and mourned your losses. Are you prepared to take his life?"
He held a sword up for them, hilt first as if offering it to them.
Will Scarlett gasped in shock and struggled weakly half getting to his feet and scrambling slightly backwards, eyes scanning the area for a break that was not there so he could bolt and run. His eyes filled with tears of frustration, fear, and Marian could not have said what else, and he whispered "Robin?" in such a small, scared voice, that Marian took a step forward as though to insert herself between Will and the blade. Azeem held her back.
Robin wasn't through. "For I tell you now, if you dare to harm my brother, I will kill you myself."
Stunned silence magnified the power of those words.
"Brother?" One man asked, backing away from Will, his hands held up in surrender.
Robin nodded, sheathing his sword and kneeling once more by Will's side.
He helped his brother to rise. "Yes. Will Scarlett is my father's son. We are brothers. He used the Sheriff's offer to get away and tell us what he could so we could find a way to save you. Would you repay him by killing him?"
"But…he hated you." Wulf whispered.
Robin nodded and looked Wulf in the eye. "You have several brothers, Wulf. Do you not hate one or two of them now and then?"
Wulf hung his head for a moment then walked over to Will. "I'm sorry, Will."
Will seemed to want to speak, but though his mouth moved and he swallowed once or twice, he wasn't able to form any words.
Robin held firmly to his brother, and Marian noticed worry in the depths of his eyes.
She stepped forward. "We should remove ourselves from Nottingham's castle. Come to my home. You will be safe enough there until you can make your plans."
Robin smiled at her, and despite the circumstance she was almost lost in it. "She's right. Gather what you can. We can make for Lady Marian's home and be there by nightfall."
He turned to face his brother. "I will get a wagon, Will. You should probably ride."
Will started to shake his head, but thought better of it. "No," his voice was hoarse. "I'm fine."
"Will…" Robin began, but he got no further. Will let out a small sound and fell once more to his knees.
"Will!" Robin yelled, and Marian raced to his side. She looked at the young man, shocked at how pale he was. A fine sheen of sweat covered his face, and his hands were cold and trembling.
"I'm not sure we should move him." Marian confided.
Robin turned to Azeem. "Can you help him?"
Azeem seemed to consider the words before reaching a hand out towards the semi-conscious man. "It is his head, Christian. He's had several blows. Get that wagon ready and I will ride with him and see if I can help him."
Robin almost balked at the idea of leaving his brother's side. Marian saw the turmoil plainly on his face, but he was no longer the spoiled child who'd burned her hair. He had learned much while he was away and these people were his responsibility. He stood and began to issue orders, getting minor wounds seen to, organizing horses and carts as well as weapons and guards.
While he did so, Azeem and Fanny hovered over Will. Marian and Tuck brought water as Fanny recounted what she had seen and describing the blows Cal had given Will. Azeem carefully removed Will's shirt, revealing the dressings and bandages he and Fanny had used just the previous night. The wounds had re-opened and blood had seeped through.
Marian shuddered at the sight. "I wish I'd been able to stop it."
"Stop what?" Fanny asked as she wiped at one nasty gash with a damp cloth.
"The soldiers would not listen to me. I wanted to see them…the prisoners. I wanted to talk to them. I was foolishly…" she rolled her eyes in exasperation with herself. "I was selfishly hoping for some word of Robin, and instead I saw them beating him. For all his taunts, I knew he was scared."
"Taunts?" Azeem asked incredulously. "The boy was taunting them?"
She nodded. "I think he did it for Wulf's sake, mostly."
"Take a beating for Wulf's sake?" Fanny asked.
She nodded. "I don't think Wulf understood what he was doing, but he was distracting them. If they hadn't beaten him, they'd have beaten Wulf. It's the way they are. Pick on the weakest, the smallest, the youngest." She looked Fanny in the eye. "Will's sharp tongue kept them from your son."
Fanny stared at Marian for a moment, but then she blinked and rubbed a hand across her eyes. "Well, we won't let him regret that, will we?" She turned to Azeem. "What more can we do for him?"
Azeem had a hand on the lump on the side of Will's head. It was large, and by the way Will moved when he touched it, he would guess it was tender. He gently laid down Will's head, and forced an eye open so he could look at it. His curses did nothing to reassure his audience.
When Azeem drew back a hand and slapped Will hard across the face, both women shrieked and lunged for his arm to try to keep him from repeating the blow.
Robin's arrival with the wagon saved them the bother. "What are you doing?" He was as shocked as the women, but it was tempered by his faith in his friend.
"He should be kept awake. I have seen men die from falling asleep with an injury like this." He looked to Robin, speaking earnestly. "Wake him if you can. It is his best hope."
Robin needed no further encouragement. He knelt by his brother's side. "Will! Can you hear me? Wake up." Robin shook him, tentatively at first, then slightly harder.
A murmured protest came forth. "Wha…Stop…"
"Will!"
Will blinked in confusion and brought his bleary eyes to focus on Robin. "Robin?"
"Will, how are you feeling?"
"I've been better," he admitted, a sardonic smile twisting his features.
Robin and the others were much relieved at this reply. Azeem spoke first. He asked Will questions about how he felt until Will began to get tired and confused and his words slurred. He turned to Robin, grim and worried. "Keep him awake, Christian. Sleep is his enemy now."
They gently moved Will into the back of the wagon. Marian took the reins, Fanny climbing in beside her. "Be careful," Robin warned. "We may need to go more slowly depending on Will and his condition." He glanced to Azeem, who nodded in agreement.
"You are right, Christian. The Young Christian will determine the speed we travel. We should make it as smooth a ride as possible." Robin and Azeem climbed in beside Will.
John took the lead taking the responsibility for the others so that Robin and Azeem could tend to Will. He found himself answering questions about the suddenly revealed brotherly bond all the way to Marian's home.
Keeping Will awake was no easy task but they with Marian driving the wagon and Azeem and Robin talking and cajoling the young man, they managed.
Marian watched Robin, seeing how tentative he was with Will, how concerned he was about the younger man's injuries. She had questions of her own, but since Robin was preoccupied with Will, she turned to Fanny.
The woman laughed when she asked her first question. "It was a surprise to us, too! He just blurted it out when he came back from Nottingham! Told Robin that he wanted to know why their father loved Robin best! Robin didn't 'alf believe him, or maybe 'e didn't want to. 'E pushed 'im, shook 'im…but it was all 'alf'earted if you ask me. In the end he clutched at Will like a drowning man clutches at a log in the river!"
Marian could well imagine. His return to England had been haunted by the changes he'd found when he got here, but no change was worse to the man than the loss of his father.
For a brother to surface so suddenly must have been as much a shock to him as his father's death had been.
"So, he believes Will? He has no doubt?"
"Oh, you'd 'ave to ask 'im that, my dear. He certainly 'asn't denied Will since that first embrace." She glanced around and satisfied that no one could hear them, she told Marian everything. From the moment Will had returned to Sherwood, John's violent attack and accusations, the lashes on Will's torso and back, his daring Robin to turn and walk away or stand by them and fight…and his revelation about their father.
Marian sighed. She had missed a lot. "Do you think they can learn to care for each other?"
Fanny laughed. "I think they learned that already."
To Be Continued