Disclaimer: I do not own or profit from this writing.

Chapter 12: Bedside Manner

Gretchen followed by Allan's side as he carried Eleanor to his room. "I'm fine," Eleanor tried to reassure them as he laid her on his bed. "Just… need a few minutes."

"Bullocks," Gretchen said as she reached for the basin and took out her clean handkerchief. She started to clean away the blood from Eleanor's face.

"That's a first," she winced. "He always made sure not to damage my face."

"Djaq couldn't have gotten far," Allan said. "I'll be back."

Eleanor grabbed his hand. He had to fight back his anger at seeing her try to cover the wince of pain such a simple action caused. "No, don't get her. I'll be fine," she promised. "I've had worse. Nothing's broken. I just need a moment to gather myself."

"Ey," he tried to argue but didn't want to tell her how bad she looked.

"I'm fine," she argued as she tried to sit up.

"I'm not being funny, but where do you think you are going?" he asked as he gently made her lay back down again.

"I have to go, Allan. If I don't, I'll loose my place here. Then what? I can hardly return home," she scoffed.

"You aren't going anywhere."

"But–"

"You aren't going anywhere," he repeated. "You aren't leaving this room, you aren't leaving the castle. Trust me, Nora."

She nodded. "Do not get Djaq. I will not have you go to them for help, Allan."

"Djaq will know…"

She shook her head. "I won't have you go crawling to them to ask for help. Not for me. If and when you go back it will be because they want you back. I won't have you going and begging from them," she spat out. "Not for me."

"Do you have to be difficult? Now?" he asked.

"There are other healers," Gretchen spoke up to keep the peace. "There is this older woman who lives outside the castle. She can help. In the meantime I'll tend to you."

"You can't loose your place, either. I have some medicines in our room, I can tend to myself. Heaven knows I have numerous times before."

"Hush," Gretchen said as she checked Eleanor's ribs. "Not broken," she said relieved. She saw the look Eleanor shot her and she gently got Allan from the room.

Gretchen sat on the side of the bed and sponged the blood from the still oozing wound. "Allan said you thought you saw someone this morning. I thought it was a passing fancy, like before. I know you used to see him when you first arrived. I'm sorry."

"What on earth could you be sorry for?" she asked. Gretchen wiped away a tear that leaked down Eleanor's battered cheek.

"It's just us. It's okay to cry."

"I shouldn't be surprised. Not after all this time. It didn't hurt, not like it use to. But for the first time in a long time I feel ashamed."

"You have nothing to be ashamed of."

Eleanor shook her head. "I imagined you would tell me to fight back. Even a part of me told me to run. I just froze. I couldn't believe he was really there. The fear just came back and I couldn't move. I couldn't do anything."

"You protected yourself by leaving, Elle. And you survived. Look at you."

"Yes, look at me," she said sourly. "Help me out of here."

"What?"

"I can't stay."

"That's absurd. Why not? Where would you go?" Gretchen asked.

"Further away. I thought Nottingham would be safe, he would never travel here since it was in the opposite direction of market, and was nearly a week's journey. But I was wrong. I obviously haven't gone far enough. I need to get further away."

"Elle, breath, you are going to work yourself into a fit."

"No, I'm thinking clearly. Will you help me as my friend?"

"Of course I will, I'd do anything for you, Elle. But are you sure about leaving? Your father won't come back, he cares about his own life to much to risk it. Allan and the guards will protect you," Gretchen said, convinced of the truth of that statement.

"Why?" Eleanor asked, perplexed.

"I think Allan cares for you." She saw the disbelief Eleanor had at that statement. "Why can't you believe someone would care for you?"

"Has he said anything? He hasn't to me. Even if he did I don't know if I would believe it. My own family doesn't care, Gretchen. How can others?"

"I do."

"You know what I meant."

"I'm going to get some fresh water, I'll be right back," Gretchen promised. She pulled open the door to find Allan clearly having overheard their conversation.

"I sent a guard for the woman," Allan explained, not even trying to cover up the fact he eavesdropped.

"I'm fetching a few things," Gretchen said walking past him. At least she didn't have to worry about Eleanor trying to sneak out and injuring herself further.

Allan unclenched his fist. He didn't know it was possible for one person to feel so much anger. But it was probably the last thing Eleanor needed to see right now.

He walked in to see her resting on his bed. His first thought was that he wished she was there under different circumstances. "You look better," he lied. She gave him a look to show she clearly didn't believe him.

He pulled up a chair besides the bed and straddled it. "I should move to my own room."

"You aren't moving," he said.

"Allan, be reasonable. You know how vicious servant's gossip is."

"No one will gossip. I'll stay elsewhere and make sure everyone sees me."

She sighed, not up to fighting with him. "Then I apologize for accommodating your room."

"Bugger this politeness, Nora," he said frustrated. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I thought I left it behind me. Obviously not far enough."

"You can't leave," he said.

"You were listening?"

He shrugged and made no apology. "You aren't leaving, even after you are better. I can protect you, Nora. Just give me a chance." It was a promise.

"I don't want you to feel obligated for whatever reason, Allan."

"Obligation is hardly what I feel. I sold secrets to Guy partly because I was obligated. But I protect Robin for entirely different reasons. Just as I want to protect you."

"Allan…"

"Why do you fight this?" Allan asked.

"What is this?" Eleanor asked. "I can barely keep myself afloat with you. I never know what to expect, what to feel."

"And what do you feel?"

"What do you feel?" she countered.

"Would you believe me if I told you?"

"Probably not," she admitted.

"Why?" he asked frustrated. "Not to be funny, but you are the only person who still thinks I am more than a traitor, something better. But I try to be serious and you push me away."

How could she explain that her own family didn't care for her, so she couldn't believe others did? "You've seen the way my father treats me," she said. "My brothers, too, when they felt I needed to be taught a lesson. My father worked and beat my mother to an early grave. I just wanted to spend however many few short years I had left with some sort of freedom, to get away from the nightmare of my father's house."

He tensed when she mentioned her brothers. How could someone be treated worse than an animal and still come out so strong on the other end? "I know you don't trust me, not completely, but I hope you trust me enough to know I wouldn't hurt you like that. Ever," he vowed.

She reached for his hand, squeezing it. "I know. Don't forget, I still see the good in you," she jested. Gretchen knocked and the old medicine woman came in, clucking over Eleanor.

"Don't try to leave, and don't worry about your place here, Nora. Trust me." There was a pause but she nodded. He didn't know how to explain how important that trust was to him.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

She stirred awake to find Gretchen sleeping in the bed and at first thought they were in their own room. Except the window was at the foot of the bed, not to her side. Suddenly everything hurt and she remembered why. "Here, drink this," Gretchen said gently lifting her head to help her sip from the goblet. "It should help with the pain."

"Why are you here?"

"Allan told me to stay, which I was more than happy to," Gretchen added quickly. She would have liked to have seen Allan try to keep her away. "If we are both gone from our bed, then the gossip won't be as evil. Besides, someone needs to look over you tonight."

"I feel awful, so I must look horrible."

Gretchen grinned. "I don't mind, and I don't think Allan does, either," she teased and Eleanor frowned.

"Still, I would like to not let him see me like this."

"That might prove difficult. He seems intent on making sure you recover properly. Right now he is sleeping in the hall in case I need to have him fetch the medicine woman again."

"What? Tell him to go find a real bed," Eleanor insisted. "That is absurd. I am fine."

"When you can say that without wincing, I'll believe you."

"Greta, tell him to sleep in a bed. Bloody hell, he can have this one if he's that picky although after living a year in the forest he shouldn't be."

"Just quit your yammering and get some sleep," Allan called through the door. "Did you give her the medicine?"

"Of course," Gretchen called back. "Like I am incompetent," she huffed. "I opened the window so you could look out and see the stars a bit," she offered.

"Thanks," Eleanor smiled. "I can see a few, on the horizon."

"Tomorrow night, if you are a little better, I'll help you to the window."

"I've crawled to the window worse than this," Eleanor insisted. She quickly dozed off to sleep again, waking twice more when the pain got to bad.

She woke the next morning and found Gretchen left another goblet of medicine. A knock on the door startled her as she was afraid who might come in Allan's room. Not only would servants gossip, but she was more afraid of a guard walking in looking for Allan and finding her.

She pulled the sheet up as Allan walked in. "I told everyone to stay away from the room, to leave you undisturbed. Only Gretchen and I, and the medicine woman Carla, will see you," he promised. "Unless you want to see anyone else," he added quickly.

She shook her head. "No, I am not good friend with anyone else."

He set the tray of food beside the bed. "I noticed that. Why?"

"I just tried to keep to myself, keep my nose clean, avoid any trouble. The last thing I needed was to be kicked out of the castle."

He straddled the chair again as she ate barely enough to keep a bird alive. "Don't you have things to do?"

"Nothing important. I think Guy knows I'm busy, the sheriff doesn't care."

"Don't let me keep you," she insisted.

"I want to be here, Nora."

She smiled, pleasantly surprised. "Tell me about your family since you just met mine," she said trying to force herself to eat more.

"I had a brother," he said.

"I know. You said his name was Tom, but you don't speak of him."

"He wasn't much better than me. Always getting into trouble, couldn't tell the truth to save his neck. He got into a spot of trouble, passing as one of Robin's men after he stole our horses. The sheriff hung him and his friends," Allan said and she heard the pain in his voice. "He was an idiot."

"I doubt that, Allan. No, I do not believe he was an idiot. When did he die?"

"9 months ago." He saw her horrified look. "What?"

"I remember that day," she admitted. "It was my first day working here in the castle. I remembered thinking perhaps I would be better off moving on if things were this bad in Nottingham."

"I'm glad you stayed." She smiled at that statement as she broke off a piece of her bread. "So, what are Gretchen feelings for Much?" Allan asked.

She laughed as she took a drink of the water. "I wish I knew. She is intrigued by him, but won't speak of it. I don't know why. She says she wants to marry a man she can work alongside."

"Much is the best to have by your side. He is loyal to Robin like a shadow."

"Hmm…" Eleanor said, beginning to see something. She saw Allan raise an eyebrow but she shook her head. "So Will and the Saracen?"

"Djaq."

"Will and Djaq. Have they not admitted their feelings yet?"

"Not as far as I know," he said, happy she was taking an interest in his friends. Former friends, he corrected. "We both fancied her, but Djaq obviously felt more for Will."

She was clearly surprised. "So you trade your affections from the fighting wonder woman to the wounded bird?"

"Djaq may believe in me, but you push me, Nora," he grinned. "And I'm not being funny, but you are more like a wounded lioness, not a bird. You have more fight than you think you do."

She rolled her eyes, clearly not believing him. "Go, Guy must have something for you to do."

"I don't care if he does."

"You can't mean to spend the entire day in here with me."

" 'course I do," Allan said, grinning at her expression.

"Why are you staying?" Eleanor asked, clearly confused.

"You saw me through my worse, Nora. Have been for a long time."

"You never cease in making me blush, Allan a Dale."

Gretchen was running around ragged trying to get both her chores and Eleanor's chores done. "Gretchen," Griswald called out and pointed to the bags of wool. "Eleanor can work on those."

"Yes, ma'am." She went to pick up the carding tools and slipped them inside her apron pocket. She picked up one of the bags of wool and was heading out when a whistle caught her attention. Confused, she looked around and saw a hand gesture out.

"Show yourself," she whispered. She wasn't going to just go chasing after whistles and hands. Not in Nottingham. She saw the face of the Saracen woman and ducked into the alcove.

"Marion wanted me to check on your friend Eleanor."

Gretchen frowned. "She won't be happy to see you," she said. "You can tell Lady Marion Eleanor is fine."

"I would like to see her," Djaq said. "It took a lot of work to get us into the castle."

"Us?"

"Much is hiding there," Djaq pointed across the hall where Much could see the two women and anyone coming up the hall. "He insisted on coming with me. Please, I want to see your friend."

"Let the folly fall on your head, then," Gretchen said. "I don't have time to argue," she said and raced up the stairs.

"Are you coming?" Djaq grinned at Much as she followed the maid servant.

A knock caught their attention and Allan opened the door. "Griswald wants you to card."

"That's absurd, I said…" Allan started.

Gretchen cut him off. "She said 'she still has both hands, doesn't she? She can make herself useful.' I can help you tonight."

"You look exhausted. I can card. I still have my hands, as Griswald said. Besides, I am not doing anything except boring Allan."

"No sane person would call you boring," he said from the doorway where he was leaning against the door frame. "I can talk to her. I'm good with housekeepers."

"Like nuns?" Eleanor teased.

"Ey!"

Eleanor laughed and touched a hand to her lips where her cracked lips hurt. "Could you fetch my ointment in the bedroom?"

"You have some visitors," Gretchen said as Djaq entered.

Eleanor eyed the Saracen woman. "Not that I don't appreciate all the trouble you must have gone through to come here, but please leave."

"Marion wanted to know how you were; I came to offer my services."

"I have patched myself up more than enough times, and have already seen someone," Eleanor said steadfastly. "So please just go."

"Is it because I am a Saracen?"

"It is because you are part of Robin Hood's gang," Eleanor said, surprising Djaq and Much.

"Nora," Allan said amused but exasperated. "Djaq is the best."

She frowned at Allan. "Best or no, I still don't agree with their treatment of you."

"I do not agree with what Robin did…" Djaq began.

"But you followed it. Do you even know, or care, what happened to Allan that would lead him to betray those he loves?"

"Money," Much said from where he was standing in the back watching the other maid more than Allan's girl. His statement made Eleanor, Gretchen, and Allan frown.

"Please tell Lady Marion that, although I do not understand her concern, I am perfectly fine," Eleanor said. Allan tried not to laugh because she didn't look fine with all her injuries. "I have work to do." She tried to prop herself up higher and Gretchen quickly adjusted the pillows to support her. Eleanor took the carding tools and began to card the large bag of wool.

"I'll go, I do not wish to upset her," Djaq said.

"We aren't suppose to see him, either," Much said pointedly, nodding towards Allan. Eleanor frowned at the two of them and if her arm was in better condition she would have thrown the carding tool. Gretchen herded them out. "I'll bring lunch as soon as I finish serving the guards," she added as she raced down the stairs.

"I hope you can get out on your own," Gretchen said. "I don't have time to help you. I have to serve the guards in the dungeon, finishing folding the linens, churn the butter," she said as she began to list all the chores still left. How on earth was she going to get it all done?

Worried she turned away from Robin's men and went to the kitchen, loading large platters with the midday meal for the dungeon guards. They probably weighed as much as her as she balanced them and headed downstairs.

She came back up, thankful to be away from the dank and dark dungeons with groping men, and was shocked to find the linens all put in their proper places, everything in the churner to be made into butter, and the .

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"You didn't have to stand up to them," Allan said taking his seat.

"I am hardly going to fawn over your friends. I don't know what came over me, I'm sorry. It is absurd I can yell at your friends but I can not fight against my own father."

"My friends would never do this to you," he gestured.

"I just got so angry. It would be like if Gretchen, or you, stopped being friends with me because of what happened yesterday. Yes, you made mistakes. You are far from perfect, Allan a Dale," she grinned.

Another knock drew their attention. "Guy is looking for you," a guard called.

"Go, if you stay much longer one of us is bound to go mad," Eleanor insisted. She wanted to have a few moments to herself to think things over and carding provided a good task to keep her hands busy but her mind free.

"Don't disappear on me," he said as he walked out and shut the door. The thought was tempting, but she told Allan she wouldn't, so she would stay put. She told Allan she would trust him, so she would.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Allan turned the corner to run into Gisborne who was leaning against the wall as if waiting for him. Not a good sign.

"Am I being played the fool, Allan?" he asked.

"What do you mean?"

"I ask my servant to earn her keep by keeping an eye on you. She has learned nothing more than what you have told me. But the two of you together shows me there is more than what she is saying."

Allan tried to laugh off Guy's accusations. "Eleanor? Yeah, so I think she is a pretty girl, and I tell her stories about my glory days."

"And what would you call your days here?" Guy challenged.

"A learning experience?" he offered making Guy smirk.

"You talk, Allan. She watches with those big eyes you seem to like so much. Has she been whispering to you since that dungeon day?"

"You honestly think she would know things to pass on to Robin? How would she even tell Robin?"

"You could easily have been working both sides."

"I'm not being funny but you are being really generous with the credit here, Guy."

"If it wasn't your lady, then who was it?"

"I told you Robin kept his secrets."

"Funny, she said the exact same thing," Guy drawled. Guy was beginning to think the girl wouldn't risk her place here in the Castle, but they could be trying to pull the wool over his eyes. Before he could continue a guard arrived to find Guy and tell him the sheriff was looking for him. "I do not allow people to play me the fool. Remember that, Allan."

Huge thank you to Feliz Navidad (I really liked the chapter, too. I haven't written anything like that before (in terms of abuse) but I think it turned out okay) Katherine Moonhawk (Ah, I love protective Allan, too! I don't think we'll see her father again, but they will have other problems, don't worry ^_^) and Hayley's Happening (I haven't written anything like this before, so I am happy others are liking it! That is one of my favorite lines, too!)