Disclaimer: Will never own this!
Hey so sorry it took me so long to upload the next chapter, I'm so glad I have patient followers like you guys...or maybe at this very moment you are planning my demise for not uploading sooner? Well however it may be thanks for being so patient!
Chapter 6,
Mysteries Of The Orient,
It was Allen's turn to sit in Guy's room, he starred over at Guy who was lying flat on his back, his mouth open only slightly to allow extra oxygen in, Guy's face was sweaty, and his hair was starting to stick together from his own sweat. He couldn't help but feel for him, they had worked as master and servant for a long while back in the day, and he protected Marian numerous amounts of times, because if he hadn't perhaps she would have died sooner than she did.
"You'll burn a hole right through me if...you don't stop starring." Guy said, attempting to add some sarcasm,
"Guy how do you feel?" Allen asked,
"Not good...Robin?" He asked,
"No not yet." Allen replied,
"Allen if these are the last words I say to you I want to know something put my mind at ease." He said,
"You shouldn't talk now you should rest." Allen protested,
"This isn't resting Allen...this is slow torture." Guy objected, after that Allen realized that he shouldn't deny Guy his perhaps final request,
"What do you want to know?" Allen asked,
"Tell me was Marian at the convent...please tell me it won't make any difference now." Guy pleaded,
"Guy I..." Allen began to say something, but the look he was receiving from Guy pulled at his heart strings, and if it was true Robin didn't get back in time he should know the truth.
"No she wasn't." He said, admitting his defeat,
"Where was she?" He asked,
"She was with us she was apart of our gang but we kept her on the down low." Allen answered,
"I knew she was a fighter the moment she jumped off my shoulder when I swept her up to take her to Loxley." Guy said slowly allowing himself time to finish what he was saying,
"Yeah she was." Allen agreed,
"You knew didn't you?" Guy asked,
"Knew what?" Allen asked puzzled,
"You knew that Marian was going to marry Robin didn't you." Guy said, it sounded convicting and perhaps it was meant to be,
"Yeah I did...I didn't tell you because I didn't want anything happening to Marian...but I think it only made matters worse." Allen explained,
"She told me she would rather die than be with me." Guy said,
"I'm sure she didn't mean that she just didn't want you to kill the King." Allen said
"You think she told me that so I wouldn't remember the man lying wounded behind her?" Guy asked,
"Exactly." Allen agreed,
"No she meant it and she was smiling when she said it too." Guy said, as a wave of pain washed over him, causing his face to display pain,
"Hey you should rest now, take some more of this it will help with the pain." Allen said, as he rose from his chair and leant over Guy so he could drink the medicine Tuck had made,
Robin and Archer rode hard back to Nottingham, they were pushing their horses hard, at this pace they would kill them if they continued, so Archer signaled for them to pull the horses back to a trot, this also allowed them time to talk.
"How do you know so much about medicine?" Robin asked,
"Well when I was in the orient I was training under a master, we went into battle quite often and I was trained about everything there was to know in medicine, I even performed surgery more than once, I'll admit most of the time the men I worked on were beyond help but still I did everything I could." Archer explained,
Flashback,
Archer was a lot younger than he was now, they were in a desert setting, and Archer was standing in a tent along side a much older man, a man old enough to be his father. Archer held a sword, and so did the older man, they were in stance, "Now Archer we're going to work on your parrying today, I'll throw some attacks and you block them." The man said, a foreign accent clearly detectable,
"Allright Sir Carlyle but we have to hurry the soldiers will be back soon." Archer said, as he readied himself,
Then in an instant Carlyle through a number of attacks, he threw one over Archer's head but ducking avoided the blow, he then threw one by his side, and Archer side swiped his sword, pushing him away. Carlyle then threw an attack at his feet, Archer barely jumped in time before the blade swished underneath him, he then came in contact with the ground quick enough to step on his sword, he then kicked his hand knocking him back. Then he dropped to the ground, supporting himself with his hand, and he kicked Carlyle's feet out from underneath him, he hit the ground landing on his back with an audible thump, Archer quickly helped him up.
"My lord I'm sorry are you allright?" He asked, worried that he might've hurt his master,
"No I'm fine Archer...and you are a fine swordsman." Carlyle said, as he threw his arm around Archer's shoulder and pulled him to himself, he then knuckled his head, making Archer's sandy brown hair, turn into a mess of knots.
"Come on I think I heard the soldiers come in hot we should head to the hospital tent their might be some people that need our help." He said, as he flattened Archer's hair, and walked beside him to the tent,
Later that day,
Archer walked out of a section of the tent, which was closed of by white sheets used as screens; Archer is cleaning his hands on a white sheet of cloth, cleaning the blood from his hands, Carlyle walked over to meet him.
"How is he Archer?" He asked, as he walked beside him, stopping at a wash bowl,
"Your brothers going to live...it's only a mild shoulder wound, his armor deflected most of the arrow, he just needs a bit of a rest and some recuperation, then he will be ready to fight again." Archer replied, as he rinsed his hands in the water,
"Thank you Archer." Carlyle thanked, as he patted Archer on the back,
"He wants to see you; you should go in and see him." Archer said, as he gestured with his head in the direction of the screens,
Later that week,
Carlyle had taken Archer out into a secluded part of the desert, away from the camp, because Carlyle wanted to train Archer further in the skill of the blade. Archer had been promoted further and was now given two swords to train with, he was already quite skilled with both of them, but Carlyle insisted on further training.
"You ready Archer?" He asked,
"Ready master." Archer answered,
As soon as Archer said he was ready Carlyle's figure turned into a blur of attacks, he threw his sword over Archer's head, Archer ducking at the right time, to bring his swords up separating Carlyle's attack. Their legs collided, and swords clashed, Carlyle spun around kicking Archer in the stomach with the back of his foot, Archer fell to the ground, but he quickly jumped up again, as Carlyle thrust his swords into the sand. He soon recovered, and thrust his swords straight towards Archer's chest, Archer side stepped and parried with his swords, Carlyle trapped his swords with his and kneed him in the stomach, Archer jumped away and kicked one of Carlyle's swords away. Carlyle dropped to the ground and supported himself on his hand, he then kicked Archer's feet out from underneath him, and he fell to the ground, the with precision he stabbed his remaining sword into the sand beside Archer's neck.
"Now if this was a real batter you would be dead Archer...I think we need to work on your parrying some mo..." He was soon cut off, when an arrow struck him in the side,
"Carlyle!" Archer yelled, as he quickly got up and looked over the horizon, a single man stood there with bow in hand,
"Wait here Carlyle...don't touch the arrow until I get back." Archer said, as he retrieved his swords from the sand, and ran off after the man who had shot his master,
The man turned out to be his master's brother, Archer could tell as he got closer, Simon had tried to kill his own brother, why for what reason, surely he wasn't a traitor, Simon ran towards him his sword drawn. They were soon face to face, Archer driven by anger, for he knew not if his master would survive the injury.
"Why did you shoot your brother?" Archer demanded,
"I didn't want to shoot him I wanted to kill you." Simon sneered,
"Why I saved your life?" Archer yelled,
"Yes you might've done that but you stole my brother." Simon yelled back,
"What are you talking about?" Archer asked,
"He loved you more than he did me, all I ever heard was, why can't you be more like Archer, or Archer has more principal and he cares, I was never good enough for him when you stepped in so now you have to go." Simon scowled, as he swished his sword from hand to hand, ready for the taste of blood,
Without warning Archer soon hurdled towards Simon, their swords clashed, and Archer kicked Simon in the stomach, he stumbled backwards but soon recovered, Archer then thrust himself into the air spinning around he struck Simon in the face with his foot, he came back down in a defensive stance.
"You shot my master now I'm going to kill you." Archer said,
"You stole my brother so it goes both ways." Simon sneered,
Once again they fought their swords clashing; Simon threw an attack at Archer's side but Archer parried with his swords, and elbowed Simon in the head, he fell backwards, but after he had watched Archer and his brother training, he knew Archer's weakness. So when he dropped to the ground he swung his feet at Archer's knocking him to the ground aswell, Simon soon recovered and stood over Archer his sword raised ready for the fatal blow.
"Say goodbye Archer." Simon mocked,
"No today." Archer said, as he grabbed a handful of dirt and threw it into Simon's face,
Simon backed away trying to rub the sand from his eyes, Archer then jumped to his feet and knocked Simon to the ground, "I gave you life and I can damn well take it from you." Archer said, as a final before he thrust his swords downward,
Moments later he raced back to Carlyle who waited, his hands clutched around his wound, in an instant Archer scooped him up, and started running towards their camp. Without slowing his pace he ran into the hospital tent, gently placing his downed master on a cot.
He soon tore the shirt away from around the wound giving himself room to work, "Master this is going to hurt I need you to be as still as possible." Archer said,
"Archer wait." Carlyle said quickly, "If you take the arrow out I will die I need to tell you something first." He added,
"No it can't be not now not like this." Archer protested,
"Listen to me...you have an extensive knowledge that others aren't gifted to have you hold the mysteries of the orient...promise me...promise me you will put that knowledge to good use, promise me that you use it to help people, promise me Archer." Carlyle begged,
"I promise master." He said,
"Good and there's a gift I want to give you...I was saving it but I think now is a good time, in my tent there are two swords I have hidden in the trunk, do you know where it is?" He asked,
"Yes I do." Archer assured,
"Their yours use them to fight against evil, use them to make the world a better place to live, don't ever use them for the wrong reasons...promise me." Carlyle said, his voice growing weaker,
"I promise." Archer said, his eyes starting to well up with tears,
"What's this I will have no tears Archer...you have to be brave, if you're not then others will take advantage of you...fight for me...Archer." He said, before he drew his final breath, and lay motionless,
"Carlyle...Carlyle...noooo." Archer sobbed, Carlyle had been the father he never had, he loved him like a son would his father, but now he was gone, killed by his brother, the man who lay out in the desert, the man who had paid for his crimes.
Archer had fallen behind as Robin rode at a trotting pace, "Archer...Archer." Robin called; Archer finally broke out of his flashback, and paced his horse faster to match Robin's,
"Archer are you allright?" Robin asked,
"Yeah I'm fine." Archer answered, he though he was allright but his heart was telling him he was far from it, he still wished his master was still alive, all he had to remember Carlyle from was the dual swords he carried with him always, because they held sentimental value.
Evening found the sun sinking downward making way for the night, the night air was beginning to get chilly, it also found three, weary, travelers entering the village of Loxley; they reined in their horses when they arrived at the Loxley Manor, Tuck was the first out to meet them.
"I see you found him...you need to hurry Guy is not in a good way." He explained, so they hurried inside, everyone who was seated around the dinning table first eyed Archer, then when they saw the woman step in they eyed her suspiciously, Gweneth noticed this and curtseyed.
Archer ran straight into the bed chambers, where Kate sat in a chair by the bed, "Quick turn up all the lamps in this room I need as much light as possible." Archer ordered, so Kate got up and turned all the lamps as high as they could go, Robin and Tuck soon filtered in the room aswell.
Archer kneeled on the bed where Guy lay, when he did this Guy stirred and opened his eyes looking straight into Archer's.
"Archer?" He asked,
"I'm here Guy and I'm going to save you." Archer comforted,
"Your face...what happened...to your face?" Guy asked, to weak to finish the sentence in a single breath,
"It's a long story don't worry about it...now bare with me this might hurt...feel free to tell me if it does." Archer said,
"What are you going to do?" Guy asked, managing to finish his sentence in one,
"I'm going to feel around your wound and if my hunch is correct then I am going to cut you open." Archer replied, Guy had enough strength left in him to look shocked for a moment, before he could offer a reply,
"Do it." Guy agreed,
Archer gently placed his hands around the wound, pressing slightly on a certain area; Guy moaned and shifted uncomfortably, "Does it hurt here?" Archer asked, as he moved to the opposite side of the wound and applied a small amount of pressure on it,
"Argh huh." Guy moaned painfully,
"It's as I suspected he's bleeding internally." Archer said,
"I didn't notice because I have not been trained in this field it is obvious you have." Tuck said,
"The area around the wound is bruised and it is still a bluish color, this is a sign of internal bleeding, plus his skin is in a pale moist state, another symptom of internal bleeding." Archer explained,
"Has he been complaining of headaches, nausea, or pain around the wound?" Archer asked,
"He has had extreme pain around the wound but I thought that was because of the wound itself." Tuck answered,
"Right I want you to bring a lantern over here, and I need instruments, sharp knives, a sharp needle, and some thread go quickly...and a medical kit is there one in the house?" Archer asked, after giving several orders,
"Yes it's in the dinning room." Tuck replied,
"Good bring it to me...we need Guy to feel no pain but we need him to be with us, I know a brew that will do that." He explained,
Robin stood out of the way, but remained in the room to watch what went on, as Tuck left the room to retrieve the medicine kit, Guy grabbed Archer's arm loosely, "Archer if this...is the last moment...we share together...then I want you to know...I'm glad I had you...for a brother." Guy stammered,
"Don't talk like that Guy we'll get through this." Archer assured,
"And you Robin...I am proud to be a member of your gang...and I am proud to have fought...alongside you...Marian would be proud...if she was here." Guy said, as Robin took a spot by the bed,
"Enough Guy...we are going to get through this...this is not going to be your final battle...you will get through this I promise you." Robin said, fighting back the tears that threatened,
"Don't make promises...you can't keep...Loxley." Guy said, remembering their fights they had, when they had used each others last names,
Tuck soon returned and he handed the kit to Archer, "Grind this into a powder, and pour a little of this in a cup, then mix it together, then add some of this after you have ground it with this." Archer directed, as he pointed to several different medicines at one time,
Much soon entered the room with Archer's requested instruments, "Here are the knives, and here are the instruments you wanted, the needle, a sharp one, and the thread...found that in the maid's quarters." He said, as if he was uncomfortable with what was going on,
"Tuck you got that brew ready?" Archer asked,
"Here." Tuck replied,
"Good there has to be some wine here fetch it for me." Archer ordered,
"Robin I need you on the other side of the bed, the medicine won't take long to take affect, so I'll sterilize the area while it sets in." Archer said, after Much had dashed out of the room again to retrieve the wine, Archer fumbled over the instruments, there were several sharp knives, and skinny metal rods, Robin and Archer both gave each other a look that said it all, 'this was going to be: A Long Touch And Go Night.'
Hey me again, sorry to leave you in suspense by ending the story when I did, but it might take a bit to come up with a few of the scenes. Reviews are welcome!