A/N:
Huzzah! A fast update!

The last chapter was edited (thanks, weaselle!) so it's even new-and-improved...er. Nothing much, just some changed words here and there.

Thanks again to everyone who has left feedback. It helps me as an author to improve my writing and motivates me to keep going.

Bound Home

Chapter 20

North of me, south of me, spring is in flood,
Day after day I have seen only gulls...
My path is full of petals - I have swept it for no others.
My thatch gate has been closed - but opens now for you.
It's a long way to the market, I can offer you little -
Yet here in my cottage there is old wine for our cups.
Shall we summon my elderly neighbour to join us,
Call him through the fence, and pour the jar dry?

-Du Fu, A Hearty Welcome to Vice Prefect Cui

Archer sits down with a gusty sigh, slaps his knees, and says, "Well, then. You've returned."

Guy sets aside the property deed he was looking over, and meets his brother's dark eyes. "Your powers of observation have sharpened since we last saw each other." Archer waves the wry comment away with a smirk. Guy takes stock of his appearance: the boy looks well. A bit underfed, but, unlike previous occasions when he returned to Loxley with bruises and scrapes (and, at one time, a pronounced limp), he looks to be in good health. "And where on earth have you been?" he asks, not quite certain he wants to know the answer.

"Here and there," Archer replies, choosing to look up at the ceiling rather than at Guy. His fingers dance on his knees. His feet tap some rhythm-less beat.

"And I suppose you found some trouble, here and there."

A grin pulls at his brother's mouth. "You might say that."

"I might."

"So, how was your journey?"

Guy breathes out a laugh. "Just promise me that none of your trouble will follow you here. Robin would be most displeased."

"Oh, he lives for trouble. Now, tell me, brother: are you...finished? With whatever it is you had to do?"

Archer's eyes bore into him, suddenly serious. Guy knows his concern is genuine. "I am," he answers.

"You had me worried, you know."

"Consider it due recompense for all the times you've made me worry. I think you've given me a few of these gray hairs..."

"The ladies think the look is quite dashing," Archer says with a wink.

"And how do you know this?"

A shrug. "I've talked to a few of the maidens in Nottingham."

"And talking is all you did, I'm sure."

"I can't help it if a lass or two wants a moment of my time."

"You are far too similar to Robin."

Archer grins again. "I'll take that as a compliment. Speaking of, have you seen him about? I wanted to say hello before I start drinking all his wine."

"He's gone to Bonchurch. Much is having a problem with flooding in the lower fields."

"Is he all business these days, then?"

"How long have you been gone? Robin is never all business."

"Well, I'd have been back long before now, but my ship ran aground off the coast of Dublin..."

Guy rubs the bridge of his nose in an attempt to soothe away a sudden headache. "Should I ask why you were in Dublin?"

His brother shakes his head. "Your anchorite heart couldn't take the answer." At Guy's glower, Archer shrugs and adds, "It was...part of my 'here and there'. By the way, there's a beautiful dark woman picking flowers by the lane. Any idea who she is?"

Guy feels a sense of foreboding. "She used to be an Outlaw with Robin," he replies. "You've probably heard talk of her. She's just come back from her home in Palestine."

"Interesting..."

"Not really."

Archer leans forward. "Oh."

They stare each other down for a long moment, Archer's eyes gleaming with curiosity, Guy trying very hard to clamp down on a surprising surge of irritation. "Leave it," he finally says. "She's had...a difficult time."

"I was just wondering."

"I'm sure you were."

The sound of approaching horses interrupts another staring contest. "That'll be Robin," Guy says, and Archer jumps up, starting to look slightly nervous. "You wanted to say hello...?"

Archer seems not to hear him. "I hope he's not mad about the boat," he mutters, and before Guy can ask what 'the boat' has to do with anything, Archer hauls in a deep breath, takes on the appearance of a man about to meet his executioner, and quits the room.

"Well," Guy says into the sudden silence. Nonplussed, he scoops up his belongings and heads out after his brother.

She is fascinated. Archer is a man all his own, of course, but he is also a remarkable collection of Robin and Guy's features and personalities, and she studies him unabashedly during the evening meal. He mistakes her stare for an interest in him rather than just an attempt to understand the oddity he represents, and regales her with stories of his adventures (greatly embellished, Robin is quick to tell her), trying to charm and amuse her and, admittedly, mostly succeeding. In the firelight, his face is thrown into sharp relief, and she can see the line of Guy's jaw; the aristocratic Gisborne nose; and a smile and set of glittering eyes that look nearly identical to Robin's. He is handsome, which does not surprise her considering that both of his brothers are appealing in both face and form.

And at that thought, she catches herself staring at Guy. He meets her eye, and she disconcerts herself by being unable to hold his gaze. She instead busies herself with her wine.

"It is now your turn," Archer says. She turns a questioning look on him. "I've shared all of my interesting tales," he explains, "so now it is time to hear yours." He winks. Little John groans in disbelief. She works her mouth to hold back a smile.

"I'm sure you've already heard them. Robin?"

At the head of the table, Robin takes a sip of wine and nods. "Indeed! I have often regaled my brother with our heroic deeds – not that he believed me."

"But now that I've seen you in person," Archer is quick to say, turning back to Saffiya, "I can more readily have faith in his word."

Someone snorts - she isn't sure who, but Archer holds her eye, face alive with mirth, until she shakes her head and returns his smile. He leans back in his chair, pleased with himself and his charms, cheerfully oblivious to John and Robin's laughter.

She glances at Guy, and sees that he is calmly chewing his bread, ignoring the other men. He looks up, meets her gaze again - there is laughter in his eyes. As the others continue to trade stories (and accusations that said stories must be greatly exaggerated), she leans over to say to him, "You know, it was very difficult to believe you when you first told me about your brother."

He gives a short, soft laugh. "I know the feeling."

"What was it like? Seeing him for the first time?"

She watches him as his gaze turns to Archer, becoming thoughtful, distant. "I felt..." His words trail off. She is suspended with him for some moments, caught by his expression while Robin's laugh and the sound of creaking chairs echoes as though it is coming from another room.

Guy at last looks down at the table, blinking and frowning. "I felt relief." He meets her eyes. "Family is...important to me."

She nods, thinking of her own family that is lost to her forever. Will's absence has always been painful, but there is a particular cruelty in knowing that she has nothing remaining of him, no child to look at and see her husband's eyes or nose or hands. There is nothing of Will that is living on - only a brother, residing somewhere unknown. She wonders if she might be able to see Luke one day. It is at once a comforting and frightening thought.

She reaches out on an impulse and covers Guy's hand with her own. He looks at her in surprise - he was still lost in thought, no doubt remembering the first time he met Archer - but it fades quickly, and he gives her a small smile of thanks. His thumb sweeps back and forth over her skin. At first it is a pleasant sensation, a sign of connection and reassurance. But then she sees it. She sees the moment when his eyes lose the veil of remembering and focus entirely on her, fully in the present.

And his touch begins to burn.