I have to say this was my favourite chapter to write so far. And re-reading it i think it flows well, i hope you enjoy it just as much as i do :)

Chapter 20

Holy Land – August 1191

If Robin was telling the truth, he did not feel well at all. He had been a month since he had been stabbed and he hadn't felt right since. Much had commented a number of times on how pale he looked and he felt weak all the time. He was walking across the camp towards the king's tent, he had been summoned. His feet felt like lead, they were heavy. The tent seemed too jump from side to side, and then suddenly it moved further into the distance. Robin's mouth went dry and he felt his body beginning to burn. He fell to his knees then flat onto the ground. The last thing he remembered before blacking out was Much shouting for a Physician.

Knighton

It was nearly midnight when Marian limped back up into her window. She attempted to climb through it but the pain surging through her leg caused it to give way and she fell the floor with a thud. She let out a breathy cry, as not to wake anyone. Adam must have heard her come in as he rushed quietly in through her door. "What happened?" He asked concerned as he helped her onto the bed.

"I was running across a barn roof in Clun. I lost my footing and fell down of the roof and onto the floor luckily, there was a water trough. I fell into that but caught my leg on a splinter on the way down."

"That explains why you're slightly wet." He said pulling at her cloak. "You want me to take a look?" Marian nodded and rolled up her trouser leg to show a crimson gash running down the back of her left calve.

"You're going to get yourself killed." Adam scolded bringing a bowl you water from her beside.

"Well at least it will be doing something useful." Marian countered. Adam smirked and dabbed the cloth onto her leg. "AHHH."

"Sshh." Adam hissed. "That hurt?"

"Yes."

"Good." Adam smiled.

"Your cruel Adam Foster." Marian winced and he dabbed it again. Marian bit her lip to stop from screaming. A few minutes later Adam got up from the floor with the bowl.

"All done, you're lucky it's not very deep. No scar either." Adam smiled. "Sleep well Marian."

"And you. Thank you Adam." She said. Adam nodded and walked out the room closing the door quietly behind him.

Holy land

Robin had been carried into the Kings Physician's building in the town only 10 minutes away. The Physician looked at the wound. "It was become infected and it is beginning to rot. We need to cut away the flesh that is rotting. He has taken a fever due to the infection. He will be lucky to survive." The physician was straight, he never agreed in lying. Much stayed by his Master's side during everything, he wasn't going to leave him now. The physician started to cut away at Robin's flesh, he was unconscious so could not feel a thing.

A few hours later the physician was done, he had repaired the wound and cleaned it so infection would not be a problem again. Although he was not holding out hope for this young man, the fever he had was incredible and would take a severe amount of strength. He hoped that young Locksley would pull through, but he realised sometimes hoping did not make a difference. Only God's will would pull Robin of Locksley through this.

Much was in the corridor speaking with the Kings messenger. "The King needs to move his army south, to cut off more Saracen access routes, the cease fire is over since the attack and now the war rages on. King Richard says that he wants Robin with him as much as anyone, but he cannot wait and well Robin is in no state even if he does survive." The messenger said. Much nodded unable to speak. "The king orders that you both return home for Robin to rest and mend while he leaves for the south. He will call you both back when he needs you."

"Thank you Thomas." Much finally spoke and patted the man's shoulder. Thomas turned and left, Much sighed and headed back towards his Masters beside. At least they were going home.

Holy land – 3 days later

Robin had been in and out of consciousness, only waking long enough for water. He hadn't spoken until today when only one name played on his lips. "Marian." His voice was deathly quiet but it was a sound and Much was relieved, he hadn't never been so happy to hear his master's dreams. Suddenly the door burst open and a young woman rushed in, Much recognised her and he knew this wouldn't be good. It was Rachel. "My love." Robin whispered. Rachel rushed to Robin's side nearly pushing poor Much out of the way.

"Unbelievable." Much muttered. Robin was sweating, a sign his body was waking and he began to move his fingers and Rachel gripped his hand.

"Marian." Robin whispered again.

"What was that my love?" Rachel said, she was sure she had heard a name. A woman's name that wasn't hers.

"Marian." Robin said, stronger this time. He really was waking. Rachel dropped his hand. There was no denying it. That was not her name. She turned hurt eyes onto Much.

"Who is she?" She asked, almost demanded.

"I knew this would happen, I knew I would have to explain." Much gasped pulling at his hair.

"Who is she, his wife. His sister?" She asked once more.

"Not his sister."

"Then his wife?"

"Not his wife either. But she is his one and only true love. He has loved her since they were children. Nobody could ever replace her. They were supposed to marry but he left for war. And she refused to marry him." Much explained.

"Then she is a fool." Rachel sighed tears streaming down her face, she walked away from the bedside and out of the room. Much turned to his master,

"You couldn't have just told Marian you loved her, could you? You had to be just a stubborn as she is. If you did we wouldn't have this trouble right now. I wouldn't have had to break that lovely girl's heart." Much said.

"Marian." Robin said again.

"Yeah yeah. It's always Marian, never Much." Much huffed. Robin's eyes started to flutter. Much noticed and starting speaking.
"Master! Master!" He said frantically. Robin's eyes snapped open. He glanced around not moving his body.

"Where am I?" Robin finally asked.
"You are at the physician's and thank goodness you are alive." Much cried grabbing his master's shoulder. Much had tears brimming in his eyes. Robin smiled and reached for his friends shoulders with both arms.

"Old friend." He smiled. "What would I be without you?" Much shook his head and Robin laughed. Robin and Much, both alive and both returning home.