Disclaimer: I am not part of BBC or own Robin Hood, nor am I medicine doctor.

Author's note/DISCLAIMER: Remember, this is 1194ish, so medicine is vastly different! Although a lot of what Eleanor does is probably way more advance than they had, it is still not what modern medicine is. I am not a doctor, so do not take this as proper medicinal procedure!

Chapter 53: Nurse Ellie

They were racing as fast as they could through the forest without jarring the gang too badly when they came across Marguerite, Guy, and Willa on horseback with another mount laden with medicine supplies. "We were just about to run in and rescue the rescue party," Marguerite announced as they quickly surrounded the wagon.

"We are going to a cave system," Marion explained. It seemed to take too long to get there; every moment, every heartbeat, seemed to last an eternity. Marion felt so helpless, unable to do anything. She had no medical knowledge and Djaq was badly injured and unconscious.

They finally arrived and unloaded Robin first, maneuvering Robin carefully out of the wagon so that Eleanor could keep the pressure on his stomach and head wounds.

Marion jumped down from her seat and rushed to be by his side. They carried Robin in and laid him on the rock slab—the same Marion had been on several years before when poisoned by Guy's blade. Marion prayed that she didn't die here, neither would Robin

As they got Robin situated, Tuck and Guy brought in Allan and then were bringing in Much as Gretchen went to help Marguerite bring in Djaq. "Keep holding this here," Eleanor told Marion. Marion nodded as she took over holding the cloth to the head wound. Eleanor began to strip off what was left of Robin's clothes so she could see how badly wounded he was elsewhere. He had several beatings and gashes across his body, including a long gash across his abdomen that was about 5 inches long. Marion let out a little gasp of shock, followed by a muttered curse, seeing it. "He has to be alright," Marion told Eleanor.

No pressure, Eleanor thought. She ran to get the medicines Marguerite had brought and saw she had enough herbs and bandages to make any wise woman happy. Willa had gone, in the meantime, to drag several buckets of water from the river that Eleanor vaguely remembered was about half a mile away. Eleanor grabbed what she needed and returned to Robin. She cleaned his body, having Marion clean his face. It gave her something to do and kept her out of Eleanor's hair.

"Elle?" Gretchen called out. "What can I do?"

"Start undressing whoever looks the next worse so I can look at them," Eleanor said. "And some more light would be great." Willa had a fire going a few minutes later and Eleanor discovered Marguerite had brought torches, too. She doubted Marguerite missed any details.

Eleanor made a paste and placed it on the gash on Robin's abdomen and began to bandage it. "I'll do that," Marguerite said, taking over. "I know how." Eleanor moved on to look at the wound on Robin's head, too busy concentrating on how her work to puzzle over how well Marguerite compartmentalize her emotions. Robin's head wound was still oozing which worried her.

She looked and saw that Marguerite had brought needle, thread, and a saw. Thankfully they wouldn't need the saw—Eleanor didn't have the stomach for such things. "Guy, Tuck, can you help me," Eleanor asked as she laced the needle with the thread. They braced Robin so he wouldn't move while she was stitching him—last thing he needed was for her to gouge out his eye.

She stitched up Robin and gave Marion a fresh handkerchief to use. She moved on to Much after giving a quick look at the others. Much was in the next worse—made sense, Vaysey knew Much was Robin's former servant and most loyal.

Gretchen was already cleaning the wounds and bathing his fever ridden forehead. What made Eleanor worried, though, was the mark branded into his side. "Tell me what to do, Elle," Gretchen pleaded. She had only ever felt so helpless when Sam had charged to his death, leaving her with Ygrainne.

"See that herb," Eleanor nodded and Gretchen gathered it. "Make a tea with it, it should help with his fever." Gretchen nodded and went to do as she was told. Eleanor noticed that Marguerite had started to clean the wounds of Djaq and had told Willa how to tend to some of John's surface wounds.

After tending to Much, and telling Gretchen to get him to wake up long enough to take some of the tea, she moved on to Allan. Eleanor traced her fingers along his face. She cleaned him, her heart silently breaking seeing him like this again. It was even worse than when she had first met Allan. She was relieved that nothing was broken. "Allan, wake up," Eleanor ordered. It was imperative that they all woke up since they were all clearly concussed. She lightly slapped his face; it made more noise than sting. "Allan A Dale, wake up right this minute."

She saw he was struggling to wake up. "You dare leave me again, Allan a Dale, and I am going to be a very angry woman," she threatened. Allan finally opened his eyes. "There you are," Eleanor said relieved. "Do you know your name?"

"Allan."

"And mine?"

"Nora."

"Robin's wife?"

"Marion," Allan said as Eleanor lifted up his head, helping him to drink the medicine. He soon fell back asleep and she moved to another, not allowing herself to think on how badly injured Allan was, how badly injured all of them were. She double checked Djaq, running her hands over Djaq's body. "Lucky so far none of them have anything hurt internally. I'm not like Djaq, I can't fix that," Eleanor apologized to Marguerite who was cleaning Will next to Djaq.

"Eleanor, do not apologize," Marguerite ordered. "What would any of them do without you?"

"I'm sure you are more than capable of this," Eleanor said. "I doubt there is anything you are incapable of doing."

Marguerite smiled. "I appreciate that. But this is all you, Eleanor."

"So if something goes wrong, tis all my fault."

"No, that's the sheriff," Marguerite said darkly as Eleanor moved on to Will next.

Eleanor finally reached John and placed her foot in the pit of his arm, yanking his arm back into place.

Finally, everyone was tended to but it didn't stop there. She watched as Gretchen fretted over Much, Marion hadn't budged from Robin's side. "Marguerite, would you please watch over Tom?" Eleanor asked. "It's not that I don't trust Anne, I would just worry less if you were there in case he needs anything."

"Are you sure you don't need me here? It is going to be a long night," Marguerite insisted.

"And I can't worry about Tom," Eleanor said. "I have 6 others now to worry and care for."

Marguerite nodded. She kissed Eleanor's cheek, brushing back a lock of her hair. "You were a gift tonight, Eleanor," she said sincerely. "I'll be back in the morning with more things for all of you." Guy helped her into the wagon seat, climbing up beside her. Tuck agreed to dump the wagon and then double back and make sure their tracks were covered so the Sheriff couldn't follow any of them—their tracks from Nottingham or Guy and Marguerite's tracks from Locksley to the cave.

Marion fell into an agitated sleep beside Robin. Eleanor sat beside Allan for awhile, studying him in the dancing light of the fire, her fingers lightly dancing across his forehead, his jaw, tracing the outlines of his face. After an hour or so, she woke him up again, making sure he would wake up, and gave him more medicinal tea. Eleanor then moved on to John, repeating the process before moving on to Djaq. Gretchen understood and worked to wake up Much, tears of relief flooding her eyes when he woke up. She asked him questions like Eleanor did with all of them before giving him medicine. She went to Robin and repeated the process as Eleanor moved on to Will.

They repeated the process, a system created, where every hour they would take three outlaws each, waking them, questioning them, giving them medicine.

The night slowly passed as they kept a silent, persistent vigil over the outlaws. Gretchen and Eleanor stood out in the early pre-dawn air, taking a moment to themselves. "They are all going to be alright, right?" Gretchen asked Eleanor. Eleanor was showing signs of fatigue and Gretchen was sure the same lines of fatigue were reflected in her own face.

"I hope so. None of them have given in to the concussion, which is good. We have to look and make sure they don't succumb to infection. Much is the one I am most worried about there," Eleanor admitted. She had best prepare Gretchen for the truth. "His fever is still high, and his answers are sloppy."

Gretchen nodded, she had noticed. How could she not? She had only left his side long enough to help Eleanor by waking Djaq and Will in their hourly ritual. She spent the night bathing Much's fever ridden face. She couldn't bring herself to look at the branding, terrified that was what had become infected.

"Gretchen…" Eleanor began with a tired sigh. "If Much can't fight for himself, are you going to fight for him?"

"Yes," Gretchen said immediately.

Eleanor nodded. "When he gets better, he is going to ask why. I hope you know the answer by then."

Gretchen noticed Eleanor said when he was better. She clung to that hope unaware that Eleanor had purposely chosen her words to give her that hope.

Eleanor slipped back inside and began the hourly ritual again. After she woke Allan, John, and Robin she began with Robin to check his head wound. It had stopped bleeding in the night a few hours before and so far didn't show signs of infection. Eleanor grabbed a bowl and another fresh cloth and began to clean the wound again before re-bandaging it. She would check the abdomen when Marion woke up so she didn't disturb her.

She moved on to Djaq and was worried the swelling hadn't gone down on her wrist yet. Eleanor found some different herbs, making an infusion and pouring it down Djaq's throat. She bandaged the wrist and found a rock. She placed several layers of padding on top of it and rested Djaq's hand on it at an elevated angle.

She moved on to Will, who looked like he was healing nicely. She had been worried that where they had yanked out his fingernails would become infected but so far, so good. He was even coherent enough when he woke up to ask for Djaq the last time.

She moved on to John. "Is he going to be alright?" Willa asked.

"He will be in pain for awhile, but I doubt anything can bring the big man down," Eleanor grinned, making Willa smile.

She finally knelt next to Much. She knew Gretchen was doing everything she could for him. She checked the one wound neither wanted to look at, and pulled the bandaging away from the branding.

It was raw, it was red, and it was infected. Gretchen ignored the tears threatening to spill as she grabbed the hot water and herbs Eleanor asked for. Eleanor cleaned and did what she could and Gretchen poured more medicine down Much's throat as Eleanor re-bandaged the wound.

She finally moved on to Allan. The outlaws were spaced out enough that she could whisper to any of them without the others being able to hear to clearly but still close enough if one of them happened to call out she would be there immediately.

Eleanor dropped down next to Allan. She had stayed by his side the entire time except for when checking on the others. She checked his wounds before redressing them. For the hundredth time she brushed back a lock of hair, just enjoying the feeling of Allan under her hand. She clasped his right hand in hers, one of the few places that wasn't bandaged.

When Marguerite arrived that morning with Guy, Marion was awake but the other outlaws were still asleep. "How are they doing?" Marguerite asked.

"Much has an infection," Eleanor whispered. "But otherwise, I think they are all going to be fine. I need to check Robin now that Marion is awake."

"We brought food. I'm guessing you haven't eaten or slept a wink," Marguerite said knowingly. "What do you want me to do? Guy has to go later to Nottingham, but we are at your disposal."

"We could definitely use more water," Eleanor said. Guy nodded and took the buckets to the river.

Eleanor moved to check on Robin before going and getting something to eat. She, Gretchen, Marguerite, Willa, Marion, and Guy, when he arrived, sat around the fire in the center of the cave with the odd assortment of wounded outlaws around them. "Tuck was good enough to help me out this morning, writing a letter. We need something to show Vaysey from Colin, and unfortunately the sheriff knows both Guy's handwriting and my own," Marguerite said, filling them in. "Their timing was awful. Things are now falling into place, and we are going to have to go on the offensive very soon."

"What does this letter to the sheriff say?" Marion asked. Gretchen and Eleanor listened on but were too tired to participate in the conversation.

"It says that Colin has pledged one of his guard troops—50 men—to Vaysey and will move them on Vaysey's orders where he wishes. He has extended 40,000 pounds, too," Marguerite listed.

"Your brother in law is very generous," Marion laughed.

Marguerite grinned, "he can be, especially when it is me talking on his behalf. In actuality, he has 150 men positioned to take out the baron of Pembrookshire, and another 170 men to take out the Count Crowley. My father has four teams surrounding Vaysey's men in the channel, and my own men are ordered to take out the Black Knights that are remaining. I have the Knights in London and surrounding counties surrounded."

"What does he plan on doing in London?" Marion wondered. She didn't know why so many of Marguerite's men—her English and French knights—were surrounding London.

"Vaysey isn't stupid, he knows John won't act a puppet king," Marguerite said darkly.

"You mean… you think Vaysey is going to kill John?" Gretchen choked on her food.

"He is going to try," Marguerite grinned. "I have the best men in the world under me. Vaysey is going to see what happens when you attack my favorite cousin." Ex-favorite, Marguerite mentally amended. She still couldn't believe John would betray her like this with Guy.

"And after this synchronized attack?" Willa wondered.

"Vaysey will receive letters from his followers, telling him of their success. When he is fully secure in his own success, then we will strike," Marguerite told her.

"Won't he recognize the letters, though?" Gretchen asked.

"I believe it is planned that the Black Knights live long enough to pen the letter in their own hand," Guy said. Marguerite nodded.

"I think they will be able to move," Eleanor said, standing. "So long as infection doesn't take over." She moved back to check on all of them. Even with Willa sitting with John, and Marguerite helping, she still felt like she needed four more pairs of hands.

John was the first to wake on his own. His groan alerted them to the fact he was awake and not happy. Eleanor rushed over. "Where?" John asked.

"In a cave system, east of camp," Willa told him, surprised when his good hand clutched hers.

"What hurts the worse?" Eleanor asked, checking his wounds. She left Willa to tend to him when she heard shouts that Will had woken.

Guy and Marguerite managed to carefully move the bed with Djaq closer so it was side by side with Will's. He reached out with his good hand to clasp her good hand. "What's wrong with her?" Will asked, kissing the back of Djaq's hand.

"You were all beaten pretty badly," Eleanor told him. "She'll wake up soon. Her wrist is damaged. Not broken, but it is still a bit swollen," Eleanor said as she repositioned Djaq's wrist.

"Did they do anything to her, you know, because she is a girl?" Will asked, terrified they had taken advantage of his wife and he was unable to protect her.

"No," Eleanor said quickly. "Just rest now." She left Marguerite in charge of Will for the moment as she went over to check on Robin. Marion was helping him to sip water as he had woken up. "Don't move too much," Eleanor cautioned him. "We don't want to reopen any of your wounds."

"How did we get here?" Robin asked confused. "Everything's a bit muddled."

"You're safe, that's all that matters. Don't worry about the rest, we'll tell you later," Marion said. "How does your head feel?"

Eleanor checked both wounds again, happy both looked clean of infection. If only Much had the same luck.

Will gave a small shout and Eleanor turned to see Marguerite helping Djaq sit up. Eleanor grabbed some fresh clothes and went to help Djaq. She put her hand in a sling before giving her more medicine.

So far, Allan and Much hadn't woken. Her heart continued to be caught up in her throat, terrified they wouldn't wake up. The guards clearly hadn't forgiven Allan for turning traitor on them and rejoining Robin Hood. And Much's fever was still incredibly high.

"Isn't there anything we can do?" Gretchen whispered to her so no one else would hear how worried they both were for him. "Anything?"

"I… I don't know. We could try a dunking…" Eleanor worried.

Allan began to stir and she dropped down next to him. "Just had to keep me waiting, again, didn't you, Allan?" she said lightly, relieved he was awake.

"I thought you were a dream. Again," Allan said, his voice cracked from his dry throat. Eleanor cradled his poor head as she helped him to sip. "I'm not being funny, but a guy could get used to this," he said, leaning his head back against her.

"If you were in any better condition I would slap that smirk off your face," she said lightly. She would cry in relief later. There was still so much to do. "Take this," Eleanor said, giving him some more medicine. "And don't fall back asleep just yet," she ordered.

Eleanor caught Gretchen's eye and she left Much's side again. "I'm afraid he's even hotter," Gretchen said worried. "Elle, I didn't think a person could get that hot."

"Okay, then we are going to need Guy to help us. Don't say with what, just get him to help carry Much," Eleanor said. She went over to Marguerite. "Just keep them all awake, talking. I think the worse is over, but just to be on the safe side…"

Marguerite nodded. "What's wrong with Much?" she whispered.

"His fever's getting worse. He can't get any hotter, Marguerite. I've heard people dying after they burn out their bodies," Eleanor said.

"Are you dunking him?" Marguerite guessed and Eleanor nodded. "I'll keep them occupied."

Eleanor reached Much as Guy bent to pick up the man. Gretchen flitted around him, worried. Between the three of them they managed to get to the river even though it was half a mile off. Eleanor was more concerned about the half mile back.

They waded in, Guy holding Much around his shoulders as Eleanor and Gretchen each held him up by a thigh, until they were waist deep. They lowered Much slowly into the river and he let out a cry in shock at the cold sensation. "How long?" Guy asked.

"Just a bit longer," Eleanor said. The three of them were completely soaked and water logged as they hefted Much back out of the river and up the bank. It took the three of them to carry him back to the cave

They repositioned him by the fire again as he began to shiver. Eleanor opened his eyes and saw they were still cloudy with infection but he felt cooler after the dunking. She gave Gretchen and Willa directions, the three of them working quickly.

Eleanor was studying the branding again. It was the one thing her father never did, although he had threatened it a time or two. She was crushing herbs with her mortar and pestal as Gretchen poured more medicine down Much's throat. "Much, wake up," Gretchen ordered as she cradled his head. "The sheriff has Robin," she said exasperated, hoping he would wake if he thought Robin was in danger. "You are being more stubborn than Ygrainne," she sighed.

Much started to open his eyes and Gretchen let out a sigh of relief. She helped him to sip the water and medicine as Marguerite, Marion, Willa, and Eleanor assisted feeding the others with broth that Marguerite had brought with her. Guy stayed long enough to bring them more water before he had to leave for Nottingham, knowing he would suffer Vaysey's wrath over Hood escaping again.

Once they fed their patients, the women sat to eat themselves. "I'll help you before I return to Locksley," Marguerite announced, moving with Marion over to Robin.

"Show me so I can help while you are gone. Please," Marion asked the noblewoman.

Marguerite nodded as she systematically cut off the used bandages, tossing them on the fire. She had brought enough new bandages they wouldn't need to clean the old ones. Marguerite ever so gently cleaned the stomach wound before reapplying medicine and bandaging the wound. Always her fingers were swift, sure, and gentle. "Where did you learn medicine? Surely you have no need for it, you can hire the best physicians in the country," Marion commented.

It seemed a long while before Marguerite spoke, her voice softer than Marion had expected. "My brothers," Marguerite said. "They were forever playing war. I played double duty as the princess and doctor," Marguerite steadied the tremble in her voice.

"Brothers?" Marion asked surprised. "I always wondered what it would be like, having a large family. I loved my father, I know he loved me. He doted on me. But sometimes, being the only child, was lonesome. Especially after Robin had left," Marion admitted.

Marguerite nodded, lost in her own world. Lonesome? Marion didn't even know what lonesome, being truly alone, felt like. "I think you had a wonderful childhood and shouldn't wish it away, certainly not while complaining about something you don't understand," Marguerite chided and moved on to look after Djaq. Marion simply ogled her as she stormed off, wondering what she could have said to upset her. It seemed every time they made progress to becoming friends, something happened.

Marguerite rebandaged Djaq's wrist and then stole a moment to herself outside. She couldn't stop herself; she just ran far enough that no one would stumble across her on accident. When she was sure she was alone, she dropped to her knees and threw up her lunch.

It hadn't been the warm, wounded stomach of Robin she had felt underneath her as she wrapped bandages.

It had been the cold, dead body of Michel.

Huge thanks to my readers and reviewers! Fireheart (I hope it is a good suspense, waiting to see what happens next!) I Can Spell COnfusion with a K (Thank you! My writing is constantly improving (i hope) but it is good to hear that others think it is a good balance of action, adventure, and romance. Thanks!) Wasting your Gum (Thank you. This is my only story without a beta, I try to catch everything, but after rereading it so many times, some still get past me. I didn't write out the large numbers in this chapter, but one through ten are written out. I love Gretchen when she is with guards, too :) Thanks!)