Chapter 11.

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The others braced themselves as Will approached them. They had been walking slowly towards the village intent on taking the direct approach and attacking head on.

"He's not there," he told them now, his anger of earlier completely forgotten "They're taking him back to Nottingham."

"How do you know?" John asked.

"I seen em didn't I. Now are we gonna stand around here arguing the toss or are we going after that cart,"

Robin nodded his agreement and began limping on ahead. Nobody followed him.

He turned. "Well come on then."

Tuck looked to his feet, John scratched his beard. Nasir headed off past Robin to begin tracking.

John sauntered up to him. "Robin... I think it's best you wait it out in the village," he told him.

"You think I'm not fit to lead this assault John?"

"The condition you're in... no," John shook his head. "You've made it this far lad but that wound. Tuck can only do so much. That wound could kill you."

"I can do this. I can. With enough determination you can do anything. Herne sent me to lead you. I will...I must..."

"NO!"

All eyes turned to Marion as she spoke.

"No Robin," she said with more compassion now. "You are not fit Robin . You are ill. Perhaps you could continue but you'd only be slowing the others down. Much needs to be the priority now. You need to stay at the village."

Robin looked to the others, they were all in reluctant agreement.

Marion was instantly sorry she had spoken up, somebody had to say it of course but to speak out like that in front of the others.

Robin nodded. "God speed," he told them "May Herne protect you."

He limped off then in the direction of the village. John signalled for Marion to go with him.

John wasn't happy either. Their new leader was a good and determined fighter. This wasn't an affront on him but they had to rescue Much and they needed able bodied men, it was as simple as that.

~o~

Marion walked by his side in silence. He was out of breath already from dragging his stricken leg with him.

She was trying to form some sort of an apology when he suddenly stopped and turned to face her.

"I've...I've been a fool." He began.

"Robin...,"

He took her hand in his as he spoke. "I'm sorry,"

"Why are you sorry," she smiled gently.

"All this time I have been trying to keep going, trying to keep ahead of the others. But that was all for me, for my place in this group. I never stopped to think about the bigger picture. Rescuing Much is what's important. If they can do it without me then all the better, as long as it gets done."

Robin shook his head. "I have a lot to learn Marion."

"Not so much," she reached up and kissed him tenderly. "You do well enough on your own."

~o~

The cart was rattling away towards Nottingham as a snails pace. They had taken the cart from the villagers and it was typical of the short distance vehicles owned by poor serfs. It was not fit to travel for miles. It creaked and rattled as rotted bits of wood came lose and fell away with every bump it crossed.

The Sheriff would have told his men to take the boy and drag him behind one of their horses but that would leave an easy trail for the outlaws to follow. Besides the Sheriff was feeling quite naked without Gisborne to take a stray arrow for him. He wanted best speed to Nottingham.

Within the musty covering of the cart Much was feeling every bump on the trail. He had finally come awake after passing out during the whipping, but right now he wished he could return to oblivion. There was no comfortable way he could lie, his back was alive with searing, stabbing welts of pain. Even if he could be comfortable for a second another jolt from the cart would bring fresh tears to his eyes. Eventually blackness descended once again sparing him more agony. He slumped forward and was still.

~o~

As they neared the outskirts of the village Robin's strength finally left him. Without warning he crumpled to the ground.

"Robin!"

Marion tried to lift him back up, he tried to clear his head enough to help but he was spent. Days of trekking through the woods in poor health had finally caught up with him. She tried calling to him but he wasn't even rousable anymore, he needed care. Marion had just decided to leave him and go for help but now she stood routed to the spot. There standing just yards from them was Sir Guy of Gisborne. He looked back at her with an unreadable expression.

She stood shielding Robin, a small knife in her right hand and blazing anger in her eyes.

"Leave us in peace," she spat, standing her ground.

Gisborne made a decision. As she lashed out he moved forward, disarming her in one swift movement. He held her small struggling frame in a vice like grip as his eyes took in the man unconscious on the dirt floor.

She got a hand free suddenly and scratched his face.

"Blasted wench," he roared.

She braced herself expecting him to strike her but he shoved her away from him and put a hand to the bloodied mark.

"How long has he been like that?" He asked, taking her off her guard.

"It's nothing to you. He spared your life. Leave us in peace Gisborne." She said in a shaky voice. She couldn't hope to defend against him, Gisborne was a solid 160 pounds and had felled men twice his size.

He crouched low to get a better look. Robin's hair was matted with perspiration and his face held too high a colour. Gisborne lifted his eye lids and shook his head with a heavy sigh.

"Can you help me get him up. We'll bring him to the village."

Marion just stared back at him with deep distrust in her eyes.

"When next I see him I'll run him through for the outlaw he is. But as it is I owe him a debt.

Now will you help me or stand there watching him die."

Together they hoisted Robin up over Gisborne's shoulders and he carried him carefully to the village. Marion walked behind not at all happy with this turn of events but with little choice. They were now Gisborne's prisoner.

Villagers came quickly from every direction on hearing Gisborne's commands.

"He is to be cared for. Do this in good grace and I will see to it you are spared any further interference from the Sheriff."

They nodded to him as they took hold of Robin and carried him towards the nearest hut.

Gisborne stood with Marion watching them for just a moment and then he began walking off. Marion watched him go not knowing quite what to make of it.

Just before he made it to the forest Gisborne turned suddenly as he knew instinctively he was being followed.

Despite everything his heart lifted slightly as he took in the sight of her welcoming eyes. His expression softened.

She smiled disarmingly. "Come, let me make you supper," she told him.

"Why?" He asked

With no other answer, she shrugged.

"Because you're hungry,"

Gisborne looked to the forest. He had been intent on following the trail left by his soldiers bringing the cart to Nottingham but now he turned instead and followed her to her hut.

~o~

As daylight dwindled the Sheriff swallowed down a growing sense of unease. He had no instincts but his soldiers were nervous and fidgety like animals before a storm. Their unease was born home as an arrow thumped into the chest of the soldier nearest the Sheriff. He gasped in pain. The Sheriff pushed him off his horse and tried to ride forward. The trail was narrow and the cart was lumbering it's way out in front.

"Get out of the way, get out of the way," the Sheriff cried out as he tried to get past the soldiers in front of him. More soldiers were felled each side. They slid from their horses effectively blocking the Sheriff's escape. Soldiers tried to ride through, the cart was pulled along regardless but a rope suddenly sprang up knocking the soldiers from their horses. The outlaws appeared then from the undergrowth and fought on with swords. They were hopelessly outnumbered but Will John and Nasir crashed through their ranks fighting with such viciousness the soldiers began to pull back. Tuck felled two soldiers with his staff effectively taking possession of the cart.

With little choice the remaining soldiers took to their heels and fled. None of them wanted to spar with Will Scarlett and the Sarason was just carving people up.

The Sheriff nearly wet himself as he was pulled from his horse.

"He's in there, we have not hurt him. He's there," he pointed to the cart, his hand shaking as he pointed.

Nasir held their prisoner secure as John and Will pulled the covering off so they could see.

They both gasped at the sight. Their young friend was literally lying in a pool of his own blood. The smell of dirt and infection rose up from him as he lay unconscious, his boy like face was coloured with dark angry bruises.

Will turned in a blinding rage towards the Sheriff.

"Not now lad," John put a hand to his chest.

Will looked to John, rage burning hot on his face and a slight trace of moisture glistening in his eyes.

"John..."

"Not now lad," John told him firmly.

With some great effort Will got himself back under control and left the Sheriff to Nasir and Tuck.

He jumped up onto the cart taking the skin of water John handed to him. Much began to come awake with a grimace. He sensed someone was with him and his face hardened as he prepared himself for what was to come.

He felt a hand caress his hair and turned eyes towards the familiar voice.

Much tried to control himself as he stared up into the faces of his dearest friends.

"It's alright lad," John smiled down at him.

"Much don't try to be brave, you've been through some shit. You're safe now, we have ye" Will told him.

With that, Much broke down and sobbed out his gratitude and relief. As gently as he could Will took hold of him.

"You're safe now, it's over son." He told him as Much cried quietly into his shoulder.

~o~

Marion ran to them as they appeared at the edge of the village. John was carrying Much in his arms. He didn't want the boy to stay one minute longer in that filthy cart.

"Marion, find the healer," John told her.

Without asking she took off to do his bidding as John carried Much to the meeting house. He quickly laid the boy down on a long table and turned him onto his stomach. The healer hurried in. He took a knife and quickly cut the blood soaked tunic from his back.

They grimaced at the awful sight. Much's back was slashed to ribbons with angry red lacerations. Yellow puss had began to ooze from some of the wounds already. Much was awake and he began to tremble as cold air added to his misery.

"This needs to be cleaned and stitched with pig gut." the healer told them.

"Sit him up,"

Gently as they could Will and John sat him up. Nasir looked on with a dark unreadable expression.

The healer brought forth a clear liquid in a small cup, "he must drink this. It's a home brew it'll help with the pain,"

It was bitter and foul tasting. Much gaged as it hit the back of his throat.

Will held the cup to his lips and made him drink it.

"Knock it back son, come on," Will told him.

Much pulled a face as it went down and shook his head as the bitter liquid burned it's way down the back of his throat. The healer was in a far corner cleaning equipment and getting all ready for what seemed like a long time. Finally he came back around the table to tend to his patient.

He lifted Much's chin and stared into the boys face,

"That's better isn't it," he smiled.

Much's expression had mellowed a little.

"We'll begin with cleaning the wounds and then I'll start stitching him up. Lie him back down please arms by his sides."

The healer worked on him all that evening painstakingly cleaning the wounds out and stitching the worst of them. Despite the herb/alcohol infusion he had been given, Much felt sharp jolts of pain as he was being stitched up. John, Will and Nasir had to hold him in place as the healer worked. They had to harden their hearts against his whimpering cries, it had to be done.

"He's nearly done lad, try and keep still." John told him gently as he held his shoulders in place. Much bit his bottom lip trying to remain quiet as the stitching went on.

Finally the healer was finished. He checked on the old injury to his side and then wrapped the boys torso in a thick bandage.

"I'll give him something to help him sleep and then I really must return to my other patient. You outlaws certainly have given me work tonight" He smiled as he went to the far table to mix up a small drink.

"What other patient?" John asked.

The healer looked at him. "The tall man who was with you."

" Robin?" Will looked to the others.

The healer nodded. "I've done what I can for him, it's in the lap of the Gods now."

~o~

John was shocked. He was laid out on a straw mattress, Marion by his side, he looked so weak. His flushed face held a sheen of perspiration. His hair hung in damp threads about his face.

On seeing John he tried to sit up.

"Much?" He asked, taking hold of Johns tunic.

"He's fine, he's sleeping."

On taking this in Robin lay back, his eyes finally began to close. In panic Marion looked to the healer.

He came immediately and checked on Robin, putting a finger to his neck.

"It's alright, his heart is beating at a good rate. He's just exhausted. He should have been resting that leg days ago."

"We did tell him," Will shrugged.

~o~

Much came awake four hours later. He was stiff and winced in pain as he sat up but he looked a little more rested and could manage at least some of the broth Tuck gave him.

"How's Robert," he asked immediately.

"He's alright, like you he's seen better days but he's strong. He'll be up and about soon."

"I knew you'd come," Much smiled a boyish grin. "They said I was done for but I knew you'd come, you, John, Will and Nasir. You wouldn't let me hang. I knew it,"

"And Robin " Tuck told him "Robin wanted to come too but he couldn't on account of his leg,"

Much was silent for a minute.

"Robin's dead Tuck," he said quietly.

~o~

The large gates creaked open and the cart came rattling through. It was pulled by one lone horse and onlookers gasped in the early dawn light to see the naked man tied within it. The Sheriff stared up at the sky as the cart rattled through Nottingham transporting him to his castle. He ignored the smirks and grins as people peered into the cart gaping at his skinny frame. Some day he would know revenge against Robin Hood and his men. Some day soon.

The End.