Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves

The Long Road Home by Ecri

Part 8: Risks

Will had endured the lies the man was telling for as long as he could. He was amazed he'd been able to remain out of it so long, but then the man dared to say that Will was a habitual liar. He snapped. He could not risk Robin believing that. He could not stand by while this man tried to take away all he'd gained. He'd torn himself from Azeem's grip and thrown himself at the man.

Now that the man was finished with his story, Will stared at Robin wondering what he would make of the bizarre tale. A part of him wanted to hurt the man, and that scared him. When he'd heard himself threaten to cut the man's tongue out, his memory had flashed for a moment back to when the Sheriff had said as much to him. He'd almost dropped his knife. That he might be as mad as Nottingham was not a new notion. He'd often thought he might go mad from hunger or thirst, or even just from his overwhelming hatred and anger. It had been the same when he'd thrown a knife at Robin's back. That he'd done it at all had been reason enough to run. The arrow Robin had shot through his hand was shocking, terrifying really, and painful, but his shame that he'd let his emotions push him to hurt someone—even the, at the time, hated Locksley—had troubled him.

He'd tried to convince himself that he would only have hit the tree…that he'd never intended to hurt Robin, let alone kill him, but his anger, his rage and hatred…he could not deny any of them.

His desire now to hurt this man spreading falsehoods about him troubled him. It was a gnawing dread in his belly almost making him wish he could vomit it up just so he might feel better for a time. He'd always believed himself to be a good man pushed too far, someone who would steal for his supper or to aid a friend if need be, but who would never cross certain lines. He'd crossed one when he'd thrown that knife at Robin, he may have been about to cross one when he'd made a deal with Nottingham—he'd never be sure what (as Robin had asked) his intentions had been—and here he was about to grapple with the same line again. Perhaps he was an evil man after all.

He shook off the thoughts as Robin began to speak.

"So you were paid to tell us these tales. To what end?" Robin was using every bit of the power and command a Lord might, but he had yet to raise his voice.

The frightened man shook his head. "I don't know. I was paid to do this, and all I know is how it was explained to me. I get my money when I report back to him. He never explained why he wanted this done." He glanced from Robin to Azeem, to Marian and to Will before turning back to Robin and asking meekly, "Can I go now?"

Robin seemed to consider the words. "After you tell me who it was who paid you."

The man blanched. "I don't know who it was. I never heard his name."

Will could see the man was lying, but Robin's words brought him up short.

"Yes, I think we're done with you."

Will opened his mouth, "Robin?"

Robin continued as though Will hadn't spoken. "You go back to this man and tell him his plan failed."

The man nodded and stood, scurrying from the room before Lady Marian could offer to lead him to the entrance.

Will watched him go, his hands twitching and white-knuckled. He turned to Robin. "That's it? We've learned nothing. He was lying! He knows perfectly well who paid him."

Robin nodded and moved to Will's side. "Yes, he was, but I've got Bull and Much outside waiting to follow him. We'll find out where he's going." He put his hands on Will's shoulders. "We'll get to the bottom of this, Will, I promise you."

Will nodded sullenly.

Azeem came to stand by the brothers. "There's something you must consider, Christian. Someone is after one or both of you. If his first plan has failed, he may be willing to try again or to change his plan. You are both in danger. To keep you and the Young Christian safe, you must not wander off alone, either of you."

Robin nodded.

Will snapped. "What are you saying? We can't go anywhere? We can't go on hunts or…" he swallowed hard considering the implications. He was a solitary man by nature and by habit. He'd joined the group in Sherwood out of necessity, and he wouldn't have traded it for anything, but he always found ways to 'wander off' as Azeem had put it. He took long solitary walks into the forest and by the streams. He ran off when things happened that he couldn't face. Running through the forest, leaping over obstacles, weaving around trees, the act of running giving him, for a time, the illusion of freedom. He knew it was cowardly, but how would he cope if he could not be alone?

He turned away, hoping to compose himself, but he didn't need to. Lady Marian turned the conversation to more practical things.

"Robin, if you need to stay here…"

"No," Robin insisted.

"The walls are more easily defended…" Marian began, but this time, it wasn't Robin who turned her down. It was Will.

"Lady Marian, you've done more for us…well, more than I believed anyone of noble blood would ever do for a group of outlaws, but if we make a stand here, in your home, you'd be an outlaw as well. You'd have to leave here eventually, and with no nobles on our side, you wouldn't be likely to find King Richard." Will was suddenly aware of everyone staring at him. "What?" He demanded as he glanced from Azeem to Robin.

Robin smiled. "You don't usually speak so much, especially to her." He looked at Marian. "But, he's right, Marian," Robin said.

Marian shook her head. "But…how can you defend yourselves in Sherwood? You've barely rebuilt your homes…"

Azeem laughed. "But they are improved! We have made certain defenses. We will be safe enough!"

Will wanted to say more. He wanted to properly thank the Lady Marian for what she'd done, but his head was still spinning. To his way of thinking, nothing had truly been settled let alone discovered. Some nameless someone had tried to convince Robin that Will was a liar. Who would care enough about him to make that kind of effort? Unless the nobility objected to his claim to be Locksley's brother…even then, Will suspected they'd be more likely to hide behind the law. Trumped up charges against a known outlaw would be enough. He would then end up in prison whether Robin were pardoned or not.

His frustration was doubled by the thought that Robin would likely not allow Will out of his sight in the near future.

Troubled, his eyes never left the floor. The others spoke, but he didn't hear them. He knew they were waiting for Bull to return with some clue as to the identity of the man who was behind this. He didn't know how long he chased his own thoughts and fears around the dark recesses of his mind, but eventually he felt a light touch on his forearm. He looked up, startled, into Robin's concerned face. The concern rankled.

"I'm fine." He said it automatically, knowing that was what Robin would ask.

Robin's face betrayed his disbelief, and spurred Will to ask, "Do you believe me, Robin?" He barely kept the desperation from his voice and he cursed himself for it. "Do you doubt what I've told you about…my mother…" He couldn't make himself call Lord Locksley his father again until he was certain of Robin.

Robin nodded as though he'd expected the question. "I do, Will. There were many holes in the man's story, and there is nothing that can convince me that you aren't my father's son." He smiled. "Now that I know what to look for, what it was that bothered me about you when we first met is obvious. You have his eyes. You have some of his gestures…facial expressions…I see our father in you, Will Scarlett."

Tentatively, Will smiled, though he wasn't sure how he felt about that. He'd hated the man for so long that being compared to him even superficially, though he knew Robin meant it as reassurance, troubled him. In an odd way, though, he felt a burst of pride in knowing there was some basis for comparison. Perhaps, if they had met properly, his father might have been proud of him, or at least, possibly, he might have acknowledged him.

Conversation soon turned to other things and Will wandered away, hoping that, with Robin distracted by Marian, he might be able to wander off alone for a bit before his freedom became restricted. He hadn't gotten far before he realized that Azeem was following him.

He shook his head not sure if he should laugh or cry. "Leave me alone, Azeem."

Azeem did not reply, but did not stop following him either.

Once outside the castle, Will turned angry eyes to face the Moor. "I said leave me alone."

Azeem nodded. "I heard you, Young Christian."

This time Will laughed, his anger dissipated by the obvious gesture of friendship. "But you don't intend to do as I ask."

Azeem shook his head solemnly. "You are in danger, Young Christian, and I would not have any harm befall you."

Will nodded and turned, striding angrily towards the castle gates. "For Robin's sake."

Azeem moved to block Will's path. Frowning he stared at Will long enough to make the boy want to squirm though he held back. "No. For yours."

Will shook his head. "You don't know me. Robin doesn't even know me! Until a short time ago, he and I were enemies by any definition of the word. Why…why does he suddenly care so much? Why do you? Your vow was to protect his life! Not mine! You have no obligation to look after me!"

Azeem looked into Will's eyes. "I cannot pretend I understand your homeland, Young Christian. Many of the things you, Robin and the others take for granted are things I cannot comprehend. I do know that Robin spoke of nothing but returning home the entire time that I have known him." He gestured then as though to indicate all of England. "It was not this land he spoke of, though he insists he missed this damp, wet, uncomfortable island." He shook his head as though that were the most difficult to believe. "No, Young Christian, he spoke of his father…of making up with him, of seeing his friends, resuming his role as his father's son and steward of the Locksley lands. He spoke of Duncan and of family." He put a hand on Will's shoulder. "That life, that family is gone, and it is what drove him to fight Nottingham. Then, out of the ashes of that life, he discovered he was not alone. That he did have a family. That he had wronged that family as much as he had wronged his father."

Azeem draped an arm around Will's shoulder and began to lead him away from the castle gates. "He learned much from the Crusades. Any man worth knowing learns much from war; that life is valuable in all its forms, that harsh words are able to destroy as much as any other weapon, though sometimes more slowly, with more subtlety." He looked Will in the eye once more. "He intends to make up to you for the role he played in…as you said…ruining your life."

Will was silent. He had never heard Azeem speak so long or so favorably of his brother. They often teased or became exasperated with each other, in a good-natured way, but this defense of Robin was not what he'd expected.

He let out a sigh and rubbed a hand over tired eyes. Then he looked Azeem in the eye. "It's…it's hard, Azeem. I have been alone for so long…I'm not used to someone caring so much. I'm not used to someone trying so hard to speak to me or to protect me. It's so hard to change now."

Azeem nodded. "You both have much to learn…of each other and of how to become brothers. It is a hard thing for a brotherless man to learn how to be a brother…how to have a brother. It is hard for him as well. You must find balance together. Allah in his infinite wisdom has given you to each other. There must be a reason for it, and you will learn that together."

Will nodded and, with a smile, returned to the dining room to find his brother. Azeem followed closely behind.

Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves

In time, like in Sherwood resumed its natural pace. Robin had learned to fill his time with things other than planning campaigns against Nottingham and turned his excess energy toward protecting his family. Eventually, he took the opportunity to speak to Fanny about things he was sure she would know. With the children playing happily with friends, and John seeing to repairs to their home's roof, Robin and Fanny sat and spoke. He had no other way to learn of his brother's life.

"Did he live with you?" Robin asked. "I mean after his mother died…"

She shook her head. "No, I expected he would move in with us. I'd have been happy to have him, but Will…" she laughed. "Well, you know how stubborn he can be. He had decided that he would not be a burden to us. I had one child already and one on the way."

"How did he survive?" Robin was afraid of the answer, but he had to know as much about Will as he could.

Fanny frowned. "Why do you want to know, Robin? You've found each other now. Surely digging up the past won't make any difference!"

Robin took Fanny's hand. "I caused this. It's my fault. How can I make it right if I don't know what he's suffered?"

She put a hand to his cheek and offered a sad smile. "All you need to know is that he suffered. If he wants you to know any more than that, he will tell you. Ask him. If he understands how important it to you, he'll give you what you need."

Above them, on the roof, John cleared his throat. "Fanny, maybe it's better you tell him what you can."

"Why, John?" She asked her husband as she looked up at him.

John shrugged and made his way down to the pair. "I'm not sure Will would choose to speak about himself. You know what he's like."

She smiled. "Well, even if I do tell him what I know, I don't know everything. He didn't stay with us very often."

"Where did he stay?" Robin asked, not liking the idea of a ten-year-old Will sleeping rough in the dead of an English winter.

Fanny shrugged. "I don't know where he went every time he wasn't with us. He did odd jobs, but sometimes he didn't get paid what he was promised. He slept in barns sometimes, until someone in the next town caught him sleeping in his barn one morning and gave him a beating."

Robin winced, but didn't comment.

John came down from the roof to join them and added to his wife's description of Will's early life. "Before Will joined us in Sherwood, he'd spent a lot of years on his own. He'd stay with us when Fanny was able to force the issue, but…" he looked at Robin from the corner of his eye. "Well, he's a slippery one when he wants to be. He was most likely to stay with us when it snowed or rained. He's a scrawny thing even now, and it seemed he was always cold. Fanny had a devil of a time keeping him warm and fed.

"In the spring and summer, Will Scarlett exploded across Nottingham and the surrounding villages like a caged animal set loose. He'd wander near and far trying to make enough money to support himself. More than once, we found a bit of coin on our doorstep and knew he'd left it…sorta to pay his way. We never got him to admit it."

Robin nodded. Somehow this was an easy thing to imagine Will doing.

"His life was rough, Rob, and he's the only one that knows the half of it." John put an arm around Fanny. "We'd have done more for him if he'd allowed it, but I think he always ran off for fear we'd eventually run him off anyway."

Fanny nodded. "His way, he was fairly sure we'd welcome him back."

Robin thanked them. "I appreciate you telling me what you know, and I appreciate even more that you tried to look after him." He stood to leave. "If you can ever persuade him to confide in me, I'd be more grateful than you can imagine."

Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves

Robin tried to keep a close eye on Will after that, partially because of what John had told him, and partially because of what Azeem had said. If Azeem were right, and he usually was, there would be another attempt on him or on Will. If he could find out who was behind it all, he might be able to take a guess as to what to expect at the least or confront the man and put an end to it all, which was his preference. He found that he wanted nothing beyond keeping Will safe.

The more time passed, the more he began to believe that they were indeed safe.

He'd hovered near Will whenever he was able, and if he weren't, either Azeem or John were always available to do it for him. Robin had even developed an ability to know when Will was about to bolt—to run off to be alone. More than once, just when Will took on that look in his eye that telegraphed the intent, Robin was able to catch him by the arm just as he was about to run, or else distract him with something until the urge passed. Will had reluctantly begun to seek Robin out if Robin were out of his sight when the need to run off came over him, sensing that Robin was right about the need for caution, and also as he'd confessed to Robin, hoping to break himself of a habit he considered cowardly.

"It's not cowardly, Will," Robin told him.

Will laughed hollowly. "It is. I know it is. I've been an outlaw too long. I've been running all my life."

"Anytime you ran, you had good reason." Robin insisted.

Will didn't respond. Instead he turned to Robin and asked again for stories. It had become a ritual with them. If Will had a particularly strong desire to run, or woke from a particularly haunting nightmare, he'd go to Robin and ask him to tell tales of when he was growing up in Locksley Castle. Somehow, hearing about Robin's life helped him, though Robin didn't understand it. He'd have thought it would be frustrating to hear what Robin's anger and selfishness had cost him, but instead, he seemed to listen to Robin's stories the way young children listened to fairy tales…projecting himself into the action, imagining himself being there. In a sense, Will had cast young Robin in the role of hero.

Robin didn't pretend to understand it. He sometimes doubted he'd ever understand Will, but he had promised himself that he would be there whenever his brother needed him and that he would never turn Will away.

As the weeks passed with no strange occurrences, the peace of Sherwood Forest, the lack of need to rob or hide from the Sheriff's men, and the absence of any threats relaxed the group. There was more laughing, more singing, fewer precautions taken to keep their location a secret.

Robin agreed to join a small hunting party one morning, and Will, at the behest of the younger Littles, had agreed to stay behind as part of the group that protected the settlement. The feeling of safety hadn't entirely driven away all memory of the Sheriff's men burning their homes. John also stayed behind planning to spend some time alone with Fanny since Will would in essence be looking after the children.

The hunting party was successful. They spent a day and a night out bringing down the game and securing it in a wagon so they could easily transport it. It wasn't until the next morning that Robin had cause to curse himself for a fool.

Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves

The hunting party's absence left the encampment half-empty, and that half was mostly women, children, and older men. The shift in the population present made the laughter and songs of the children seem to echo and increase until the sound could not help but gladden every heart. Will had spent the bulk of the morning playing with the children, telling stories, chasing them around and allowing them to catch him or surprise him. He hadn't felt so at ease in a long time.

The peace was shattered when he heard a wailing cry. Turning and running in the direction of the sound, he found Fanny and John fussing over their youngest girl. She was three years old and had something of a crush on Will. She'd followed him around all morning, and Will, ever aware of her presence, had made sure to keep her safe. Now, however, she howled as she cradled her left arm awkwardly against her body.

Will walked up and took in the scene. "John! What do you need? Can I do anything?" Will asked.

"Would you get some water, Will? We need to rinse off the blood so we can see what she's done." Fanny asked.

Will rushed to do as she asked, his thoughts racing as he wondered what the girl had done in the short amount of time she'd been out of his sight.

Returning with a full bucket, he was shocked to see strangers. He slowed his steps and took in the unwelcome, heart-stopping sight of armed men within their camp. Swords and bows drawn, a dozen men aimed their weapons at the unarmed villagers.

Will caught sight of John, hand to head, blood running down his face. His breath caught in his throat as he clamped his mouth shut in an effort not to call out and bring attention to himself. He tried to think if it would be best to find Robin and the others and tell them to come back, but he thought that would take too long. They'd left hours ago, and he had no idea where they'd gone.

He was about to try to slip around the camp to see if he could gather enough people with enough weapons to make a difference when he heard the man who was obviously in charge begin to speak.

"For the last time where is the thief who calls himself Will Scarlett?" The man, his impatience showing itself in his gait, his tone and in his face glared at John. "I am not above hurting as many of you as I have to in order to get what I want."

Will could see an evil smile spread across the man's features. The man moved quicker than Will would have believed him capable and wrapped a hand around Wulf's throat. Fanny let out a startled squeak and John glared at the man.

"Let go of my son." The threat in the words would have been obvious even had John's eyes not promised the man infinite pain if his son were harmed.

"Oh, I will release him when I get what I want." He sighed as though weary of asking. "For the last time, where are Robin of Locksley and Will Scarlett?"

"Here." Will called out as he walked into the clearing.

Instantly, the armed men swiveled to train their arrows on Will. Will, having dropped the bucket of water, kept his arms out and half-raised so they could see he was not armed.

"I am Will Scarlett." Will told the man. "Let the boy go. We can sit and have a chat."

The man did release the boy and step closer to Will. "Where is Locksley?"

Will shrugged. "Gone. He defeated Nottingham. He had no reason to stay."

The man stared at Will for a moment then drew back his arm and struck a blow across Will's face that nearly dropped the younger man to the ground.

After struggling to stay on his feet, Will glared at the man.

"That's one lie, Scarlett. You won't get another."

"Why do you want Robin?" Will demanded.

"Oh, I've been paid handsomely to make sure he knows not to try to find you." The man seemed very pleased with himself.

"So," Will began, careful not to make any sudden movements. "If it's me you want, we don't need to stay here." It had been an easy decision on Will's part. He couldn't permit the man and his coterie to stay here any longer. John was already hurt, and Wulf had been threatened. If they remained the odds increased that someone else would get hurt.

John seemed to have caught on, because he growled a bit and said, "Will."

Will didn't spare his friend a glance. He maintained eye contact with the leader at all times. "If you were hired to make sure he knew not to try to find me, surely whoever hired you told you what to say. Leave a message for Robin. Tell him why you've taken me. Then I'll go with you. We'll go wherever you please. I won't struggle as long as you leave these people alone."

The man considered the words and slowly withdrew a letter, sealed with wax and with a flowery looking writing across the front. Will couldn't read it, but he knew for whom it was intended.

"How courageous a suggestion from a tried and true coward."

Will's eyes flashed fire at the insult, but he refused to be baited. He had to convince the man to do as he asked.

The man sobered. "Very well. I shall take you up on that generous offer, Scarlett."

"No!" Fanny wailed.

"Fanny," Will called, eyes still on his foe. "Take Wulf."

"Oh, yes, by all means!" The man said. "Take Wulf." When Fanny came forward to collect her son, the man handed the letter to her. "Give this to Robin Hood." He motioned for his people to mount their horses.

He moved quickly to Will's side, and taking a rope from his pack, secured Will's hands tightly leaving a long length of the rope dangling from his wrists. Securing his end to hi0s own saddle, he mounted and urged his horse forward. Will was forced to keep up or risk being dragged.

As they moved off, Will turned to his right to get a last look at Fanny, John and their children before he had to turn his attention to keeping on his feet. One thought repeated in his head in rhythm with his steps as his fears and hopes clashed in time with the pounding of his heart; Robin will find me.

To Be Continued