Does He Understand Flight, the Pale One?
Chapter Two
"Does he understand flight?" Djaq whispered as she gently caressed her husband's forehead, face, and neck with a warm, damp towel in hope of bringing down his raging fever enough to make him a bit more comfortable, while Robin looked on sadly and John and Brother Tuck both tended to the worst of his multiple wounds as far as they could tell; a knife wound through Will's upper left shoulder and multiple deep lacerations all across his chest and stomach from being whipped. "That is what Bassam asked me when we first arrived in the Holy Land less than three months ago, before we all went to see King Richard at his camp in the desert. He wanted to know if Will truly understood my dream, to be able to fly in the sky alongside his beautiful birds, not literally of course. I told Bassam that he does, but I never really realized before just how much."
"Can you share with us what happened, Djaq?" Robin asked when their only female companion paused, then didn't say another word as Much and Allan joined them. "What brings you back here to England so soon and with Will in this condition?"
John and Tuck carefully rolled Will over so that they could take care of the lashes across the young man's back, which looked the same as his front, then the Saracen spoke again responding sadly, "The attack came on the eve of our marriage, Will's and mine. We were asleep when several of Salah ad Din's men pillaged Bassam's home, having somehow learned that Bassam had helped Robin Hood help King Richard and that we were harboring an Englishman. They tore everything apart and stole the little we had. Our friends began to fight against the soldiers first before Will and I could join them. Most of them were struck down, others were captured and taken prisoner as the men set fire to what was left. Will and I fought our way free, as did Bassam and a few others, and we all ran, until Will stopped and ordered us to keep going, while he turned around and ran back inside to free the birds before the fire could consume our home. I tried to stop him, but…"
When she couldn't continue any longer, John finished for her as he said, "He was taken prisoner as well and tortured. How long before you were able to find him?"
"Nine days later," she answered, no longer trying to hold back the tears that fell down her face. "We had no horses to follow after Salah ad Din's men. There were so few of us left and we needed time to recover. I barely slept, barely ate. I searched for Will day and night with help from Bassam and a few others. When we finally found the soldiers' camp, only one other prisoner aside from Will was still alive, each of them having suffered the same kinds of torment until their bodies betrayed them. Bassam helped me to free him and helped me get to the border of Jerusalem where he and the others with us left us to return home so they could rebuild, knowing that they would never be welcome in England. We couldn't return, especially if any of the men who attacked us had chosen to pursue us. I know it was crazy, but I just knew that I had to return Will here to his homeland. He would wish to be among each of us should he pass. I am doing all I can for him, but… I fear he is most definitely in Allah's hands now."
"Do not lose your faith in your husband's strength or in God's," the newest member to their band of thieves replied as he placed a gentle hand upon her shoulder for reassurance. "Should he pass on, it will not be because of anything you have or have not done."
Realizing that the warrior priest and former companions had not yet been introduced, Robin spoke up again saying, "Djaq, I'd like you to meet Brother Tuck, once a priest until he was expelled from his order for disagreeing with the corruption among them as well as for his outspoken views. The man saved my life and reminded me why I fight, for England and for its people."
Djaq smiled weakly at the stranger and then responded, "It is an honor to meet you, friend. I am Djaq, or to my husband, I am Saffiya. He is Will Scarlett, the bravest and kindest man I know."
"The honor is all mine," Tuck answered sincerely. "Your friends have spoken of you, how you fought alongside Robin Hood, then remained behind in the Holy Land to start a new life together."
"Yes, only another mistake I should have never made," she replied coldly. "Will would give, has given everything, to assure what he believed to be my every happiness. I love Bassam's birds, but I would rather have given them all up if it meant Will's welfare. If he had not gone back to rescue them for me…"
Much replied quickly, "There is no guarantee that you both would have escaped with your lives either way. You cannot keep blaming yourself."
John nodded his head in agreement and responded, "Much is right. Looking back will do you no good. All you can do now is move forward and continue to be your husband's strength as we all will be as well."
"I am scared," the Saracen answered fearfully as she lowered her head to rest it on top of his. "When I first found him, strung up between two posts within the soldiers' camp, I thought he was dead. That I had arrived too late. What will I do if he doesn't live? I am nothing without him."
"You're wrong," Robin replied firmly. "You were a brave warrior even before you met all of us and before you fell in love with Will. You will find that courage again whether he lives or dies. Do not ever sell yourself short. It isn't you. As for Will, his condition may be grave, but he has survived this long after travelling across perilous terrain so that you both could return home to where you belong. I doubt Salah ad Din's men chose to follow you all the way here to Sherwood Forest, but I assure you that if they have, we will not allow them to harm you or him again. Now, you need to rest as badly as he does. We will look after you. You are home."