Author's Note: This is the entire chapter 4. I think I've worked out how to get my section breaks in my story. If this works, chapters will be a bit longer from this point on. If it doesn't work, I'll be reposting this and breaking it into sections.

Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves

The Long Road Home by Ecri

Part 4: First Steps

By midnight, Robin had called a halt and set up a small camp. It seemed they would not make it to Marian's before the next morning, and with the moon under cloud cover, there was not enough light to travel safely for so large a group of people. When the children had begun stumbling, he'd called the halt and begun to gather wood for a fire. The others followed his example.

Once settled by the fire, it was a struggle to keep Will talking. His injuries and his fatigue were taking their toll. Robin sat by him in front of the fire and told him stories of the Crusades. He said nothing of the battles, of course. Instead he spoke of Azeem and of how they'd met, of the things he and Peter did to remind them of home.

Will laughed at first. He seemed to be enjoying the tales, but the later it became the more he wanted to rest.

Robin noticed how quiet he was getting, and tried at first to talk louder. Then, he began to ask Will questions prompting him to keep talking. He knew he was taking advantage of Will's state to learn more about his past. He was more likely to answer without thinking in this condition, and it was to Robin's benefit.

"Tell me about your mother, Will." Robin suggested. He kept his tone soft and even, and Will did just as he asked.

"Mum was a special woman. Smart. Smarter than most anyway. She loved word games and rhymes. Nothing thrilled her more than hearing someone make a rhyme."

"Is that why you do it?"

Will smiled. "Anything to please Mum." His eyes began to close.

"Where did you live?" Robin's voice grew louder.

"On the outskirts of Nottingham. Not quite as far out as Sherwood."

Robin noticed that Will was saying as little as he could now and not offering to embellish his tales at all. He wasn't sure how much longer he could stay awake. "Will…" He had another question he had to ask. "Did you ever meet our father?"

Will's eyes took on a faraway look. "No. Not face to face. I was turned away the one time I tried to get in to the castle to see him. His men told me he was too busy for the likes of me."

"When was this?"

"A year or so after Mum died. I was eleven years old."

Those words hit Robin like another blow to the gut. Will had been on his own since the age of ten? No! He must have had an aunt, an uncle…someone to look after him.

"Where did you go to live once your mother died?" Robin asked the question hoping the answer would be to his liking.

"I lived on the streets for awhile. Then I started stealing…before I was 15 I was living in Sherwoood."

"Will…"

Will's eyes focused on Robin more clearly than they had since he'd been hit on the head. "Don't you apologize to me, Robin of Locksley. My life may not have been pretty, but it was mine."

"I'm not sure what you mean."

Will winced. "Neither am I. My head hurts."

"We need to learn things about each other, Will."

"Yes, I agree, but can't you wait until we're on even footing? I can't think what to ask you, and I couldn't possibly remember what you say."

"Fair enough, Will."

Azeem came forward then and looked in Will's eyes. He grunted in satisfaction. "You are improving."

"Can I sleep?"

"Not yet, but soon."

"You said that hours ago!" Will yelled, then regretted it when his head began to pound.

"It takes as long as it takes, Young Christian."

Azeem began to tell tales of his homeland at Robin's urging. He hoped Azeem's tales, the exotic locales and unfamiliar details would make it easier for Will to remain awake. For several hours he talked and when he was too hoarse to continue, there was another volunteer.

Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves

John Little hesitated to take his turn, knowing he had leaped to the wrong conclusion on more than one occasion where Will was concerned. The last time had been particularly bad. It was no wonder Wulf thought Will a traitor considering the way John had treated him. He wondered if he'd ever let on that he'd never quite trusted the young outlaw.

He wouldn't blame Will Scarlett at all for not wanting to be near him. Still, he went and stood half embarrassed in front of the injured boy. He realized he was lucky he had stopped attacking Will before he had caused any serious injury. He wondered more than once what he might have done if the Sheriff hadn't whipped the lad. If he hadn't seen those marks on the boy's chest, would he have hurt him? He tried to tell himself he wouldn't have done it, but he would never be sure.

The hardest thing he'd ever done in his life was stand before Will wondering what to say.

"Your turn?" Will asked making John jump a bit. He'd thought the boy's attention was elsewhere.

"If you'll allow it."

Will's mouth quirked up in a crooked smile. "And why wouldn't I, John? Every friendship worth having can weather a disagreement or two, can't it?" He looked away looking just as embarrassed as John. "Truth is I gave everyone plenty of reason to distrust me, and I shouldn't be surprised that you didn't." He chanced a glance at the bigger man. "Friends?"

John grinned and reached out both hands to engulf Will's. "That we are, Will Scarlett! That we are!" He laughed and Will grinned back at him.

John grew serious. "You saved my boy's life."

"I was supposed to, but I was tied to a barrel. Robin did that."

John shook his head. "In the cell, the dungeon…did you really call the guard a coward?"

"How did you…?"

"We pieced it together. Marian was there trying to get in to see you and the others. She was outside the cell and guessed why you were taunting them. Wulf and the others told us what you said…how you made up a rhyme about the guard's lack of courage and sang it out until he was obliged to shut you up." John looked up at the darkened night. The clouds had parted earlier leaving a clear and starry sky. John continued to study it, blinking rapidly as he spoke. "I thank you, Will Scarlett. I don't know what Fanny and me woulda done if Wulf had…Thanks, Will."

Uncomfortable with the accolades, Will accepted as graciously as he could. "I'm glad they fell for it, John. I'd hate to think what they would have done to him."

John nodded swallowing hard. He'd never heard Will so honest. He'd never expected the boy to say anything like that. John considered that perhaps the blow to Will's head had been harder than he'd expected. For him to admit to helping Wulf, or indeed anyone, without brushing it off as coincidental that what he was going to do anyway happened to benefit someone else was something John had never expected to see.

After a moment, he began to tell Will amusing stories about his life with Fanny and 8 children. True or not, the stories were funny and kept Will wide-awake for several hours.

That was when Marian insisted on taking her own turn.

Will was more than a little uncomfortable with the lady. She was a noblewoman and cousin to the King…and Robin's girlfriend. He didn't know what they could possibly find to talk about…until she began to tell him embarrassing tales of Robin as a child. How he tormented her, burning her hair, being a bully…

"He was, I am sorry to say, quite the spoiled brat."

"What changed him?"

"I suppose it was the Crusades. They say once a man's been to war he never sees things the same way again."

Will leaned forward slightly and dropped his voice to a whisper. "Are you glad he's changed?"

She smiled and nodded. "Aren't you?"

"I never knew him before." Will shrugged. "I still don't know him. I've done little more than avoid him since he came to Sherwood. I assumed I knew all I needed to know and I never really gave him a chance. I had in my head a picture of what I thought he was…what I thought all Noblemen are. I don't think it was ever that accurate. I only ever knew of him whatever I heard, and what I heard was what I wanted to hear." He shifted his position slightly, wincing at the movement, but waving away her offer of help.
Settled once more, he continued. "I wanted to believe the worst of Lord Locksley and his son Robin, because…if I couldn't believe the worst, that they were useless, and full of themselves, then I had to believe that there was a good reason they rejected me and my mum." He wiped a hand across his eyes, already stinging with fatigue.

Marian reached a hand over to lay it gently on Will's shoulder. "Will…don't do this to yourself."

Will rubbed a hand across his eyes. "I don't know why I'm telling you all of this."

"Because I'm listening." She rubbed his shoulder. "But you need to know Robin will listen, too. He's a good man."

"I'm beginning to realize that."

It wasn't long after that Azeem declared the worst over and told Will he could go to sleep. Will was overjoyed at first, but found sleep was more elusive than he would have thought possible.

He wanted nothing more than to be sound asleep, but try as he might, he could not do it. Azeem refused him anything to help him sleep because of his injuries, so he sat staring at the fire, rocking back and forth, with his arms wrapped around himself.

Will sighed, and Robin was sure he'd never heard a wearier sound in his life.

"I'm so tired." Will whispered, letting his head drop down to rest on his knees, hair obscuring his face, and his arms wrapped tighter around himself. He looked forlorn, and Robin marveled anew that this was his brother.

He sat by Will's side. "Will, lie down. Rest."

"I can't sleep."

"Don't try to sleep. Just lie down." He helped Will settle down, his head resting in Robin's lap. "Close your eyes."

Will did, and Robin began to talk in the softest of tones telling Will of his life before and during the Crusades and of how he'd always wanted a brother. He spoke of the future and painted a picture of the pair of them learning about each other, being inseparable and always being there for each other.

Will Scarlett listened to the words, and whether it was his exhaustion, his injuries, his brother's tone, or his great desire to believe, he heard them without infusing them with cynicism and doubt. He was soon fast asleep.

Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves

It was a quiet trek to Marian's home, and, though Robin would have preferred returning to Sherwood, he had to admit, it was more expedient to go with Marian. Sherwood was a shambles. The village they'd created in the trees of the great forest had been decimated by the Celts. Burned and broken the trees didn't offer much in the way of shelter, and there'd be no time to make repairs while still trying to live amongst the burned out mess. He would have to content himself with putting together a detail of the most able bodied of the group to visit in the next day or two and begin setting things right.

He had no delusions that just because Nottingham and his witch were dead that their problems were over. Technically, they were still outlaws. They had yet to be officially pardoned. To Robin's mind, that made Sherwood safer in the long run.

Robin's worry now was Will. He had left the young man alone for the shortest of times, and he'd nearly gotten himself killed. To be fair, many of his men had still seen him as a traitor. The only thing that made sense to him was that he should have had Will come with him. He couldn't imagine Will voluntarily climbing into the catapult with Azeem and him, and the thought of either Mortianna or Nottingham causing him harm was enough to make him want to kill them all over again, but his brother had fared no better amongst people who should have been his friends.

Had he been the cause of this?

Had his father's rejection at his behest caused Will to grow up unable to make friends? He seemed to be isolated even among those who had known him for years. What was it John had said the night they'd met? He's full of piss and wind.

Robin realized speculation was getting him nowhere. He had to talk to people who had known Will. Perhaps John and Fanny could help him. He had quickly become obsessed with learning everything he could learn about Will Scarlett. Where and how he had grown up, whom he had known, how he had spent his days and nights…all became burning questions in his mind and heart. His head tried to tell him there was plenty of time, but the Crusades had taught him not to take such things at face value, and the number of times Will Scarlett had nearly died since he'd discovered they were brothers urged him to treat each moment as a gift.

Yes, talking to the outlaws was the only option.

Vowing to sit down with them as soon as time and responsibility allowed, he looked to his left where Marian rode one of Nottingham's horses. There were thirty horses in all, and Marian had only permitted them to be taken from the Sheriff's stables with the promise that they would be returned. She would not add to the list of crimes she presented to King Richard for pardon.

"Is there room?"

She glanced at him, startled from her own thoughts. "At my home? We will make room. Those badly injured may take rooms in the castle. Others may sleep in the barn or on the grounds. We will be fine."

He nodded. "Marian," he faltered for a moment. "Did he hurt you?"

Marian almost smiled at the gentle tone. "He tried, but he was not successful."

Robin did smile at that. Whatever else he was about to say was cut short at a joyous cry from somewhere ahead of them. They were in sight of Marian's lands.

Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves

Marian was never more pleased to see her home. Her expert eye assessed the crowds and the available food. She began to make lists in her head. Work details would be needed to make the more disused rooms livable. She would need to offer rooms to Robin and Will and Azeem and she'd already decided that Fanny, John, and their children would get one of the larger rooms. She would offer rooms in the castle itself to the ill and those with young children. When that ran out, people would have to use the barn.

With luck, the roof could be seen to before the rains started.

She knew this would be temporary and based entirely on what Robin decided to do. After yesterday, these people would follow him anywhere.

She and Azeem got to work seeing that the injured, including Will, were properly housed. She'd set Robin, Will, and Azeem together in a room near her own. She was too worried about Will and too in love with Robin to worry about how this would look to proper society. She was well past such things by now. Proper society had embraced the Sheriff of Nottingham as a good and powerful man. That was reason enough to disparage proper society.

The Littles would need more space, and so would take the room that had been her father's. It was the largest in the castle and with so many children they would need every inch. She'd grown fond of Fanny's company and would keep her close. She liked the woman's frankness and was glad of the chance to speak to her.

When she'd finished seeing to the immediate concerns, she took a bit of time to freshen up and then went to see Robin. The room was dim. Heavy draperies shut out the bright daylight. Only a few candles gave a feeble glow to their immediate surroundings. Will was asleep ensconced beneath a heavy blanket. A bowl of water and a cloth stood on the side table, and Robin sat in a chair by the bed staring at the still form of his brother.

She was just about to slip back out when he sensed her somehow and waved her inside. "Is he improving?" She kept her voice low as suited the surroundings.

Robin nodded, though there was a shadow of doubt in his eyes. "Yes, Azeem seems to think he's come through the worst."

Marian frowned. "You don't seem as relieved as I'd imagined such news would make you. What's wrong?"

Robin looked down rather sheepishly then looked her in the eye. "I want to hear it from him. He hasn't been awake for more than a few moments at a time since he fell asleep in the early hours of the morning." Indeed, Marian recalled that the boy had barely stirred. Robin had had to carry him to the cart and then carry him again to this room. He'd mumbled once or twice and he'd tried to walk, but he hadn't seemed aware of much and he'd lacked any sort of strength.

"I'm sure he needs the rest." Marian hoped that was reassuring.

"That's what Azeem says." He sighed, and she knew there was a world of hurt behind that sound. "He's my brother. I feel I've let him down."

She opened her mouth to protest, but he held up a hand to forestall anything she might say. "Please don't say I haven't. I'm responsible for this."

"For him being hurt?"

He nodded. "For that, for his station in life. For him not being a Lord. For him not knowing our father. For every bad thing that's happened to him as a direct result of my telling my father that he should not be carrying on with his mother." He shook his head as if in disbelief and looked away again. "The things I said to my father…I told him he'd betrayed my mother's memory. I told him that he had forsaken her, forgotten her, that he must never have loved her…I never really forgave him. I was distant with him from that moment until I left for the Crusades."

She reached out a tentative hand and rested it on his shoulder. "Robin, your father was a good man. He understood your pain."

His head snapped up and his eyes locked on hers. "But I didn't understand his!"

She embraced him and he buried his face on her shoulder. He would not cry, she knew, for men like him did not do that, especially in front of women. They were strong and silent, accepting their own pain as punishment and not seeking the solace of what women called "a good cry" since tears could only mean weakness.

The shock when he began to shake with silent sobs robbed her of any words of comfort she might have offered.

It lasted only briefly as though he'd forgotten himself and then suddenly remembered, but he did not wipe away the evidence of the moment from his face. "I ruined four lives that day; my father's, his mistress's, my brother's, and my own."

She reached out a hand and wiped his face mopping up the tears with her palm and her sleeve. "You cannot undo what's been done. You can only go forward now." She gestured to the still form lying in the bed. "Help him to heal and you will find that you heal yourself."

Will began to stir, and Marian took that as her cue to depart. She gestured to him, and move toward the door. "I will send up some food and drink."

His hand on her arm stopped her. "Marian...there is much that must be healed, and it's not just my relationship with Will. We haven't properly talked since…"

Marian stepped closer to him and kissed him long and deep. When she drew away, her eyes searched his. "We have time…"

"But…"

She put a finger to his lips and spoke in a whisper. "Talk to your brother. When you have made a beginning with him, come to my chambers and…" she smiled, "we will make a beginning of our own."

Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves

He returned her smile and watched her leave marveling at her strength. She had been through more, suffered more, than he could imagine. He fought against the Sheriff to defeat him. She fought against him to save herself from the single most brutal form of attack anyone could endure. He wanted to take her in his arms and guarantee that such a thing would never happen again. He wanted to take away all memory of it, but at this point, he wasn't even sure she wanted to acknowledge that it had happened.

The sound of movement on the bed behind him drew him closer to Will. His brother wasn't quite conscious yet, and he seemed to be in the throes of some nightmare.

He waited a moment to see if Will would snap out of it on his own, but instead Will's movements became more violent. He thrashed about on the bed calling out to his mother…

Robin shook Will calling his name and trying to break him out of it. "Will! Wake up! It's a nightmare…"

Will's eyes popped wide open, his hands holding Robin's wrists in a white-knuckled grip. His breath came in quick gasps and he repeated "What?" again and again.

"You were having a dream, Will. It's all right."

As Robin watched, Will closed his eyes and seemed to will himself to stop trembling. He swallowed twice and then opened his eyes. "I'm fine," he said, but he wouldn't look Robin directly in the eyes. Robin wondered if the nightmare embarrassed him or if he could still be uncomfortable with him. They had spoken only briefly about their relationship before attempting to rescue everyone from Nottingham. Could it be that Will thought something had changed?

"Will?"

"I'm fine. Really."

Robin shook his head. "Are you trying to convince me or yourself?"

Will laughed. "Both, I think."

Robin couldn't help but notice that Will still wasn't looking at him. "What is it Will? Has something changed? Has something happened to rekindle your distrust?"

Will's head snapped up and he stared wide-eyed at his brother. "N-no…I…" His face flushed, Will looked away, but Robin wouldn't let him. Robin put a hand on his brother's cheek and turned him slowly forcing Will to look him in the eye.

"Then what is it, Will Scarlett? I know I haven't earned your trust, but I had hoped we could begin to make some progress."

"You…you saved my life, Robin."

Robin shook his head dropping his hand. "That doesn't earn your trust. Perhaps gratitude, but I don't think I deserver that, either. We have a lot to talk about, Will. We have our lifetimes to share. I want to know everything about you."

Will snorted. "Not a lot to tell. I'm an outlaw."

Robin laughed. "So am I!" He smiled at Will. "Besides, there's a story behind that, I think."

"You want to hear it?"

Will didn't hide his surprise, and Robin wondered at that. Did he really still think Robin so shallow that he wouldn't have any interest in Will's life? Robin smiled in what he hoped was an encouraging way. "I do."

"Well, there's really not a lot to tell…" Will looked away biting his lip as though afraid he would begin to tell Robin things that he wasn't ready to explain.

Robin could see it was too soon. Will was still recovering from his injuries, and he didn't look up to telling a long story, nor did Robin think it a good idea to regale him with more tales of the Crusades or of their father. He'd begun that already, but there was too much to tell. He had to be patient.

"You should eat something first." He didn't miss the relief that spread across Will's features and he congratulated himself for making the right choice.

To Be Continued