**DISCLAIMER **
I own none of the characters from the film, I have merely borrowed them for a time.

Robin's jaw was aching from clenching his teeth for the last hour. His fingers tangled in the hair at the back of his brother's head as he held him tightly against him, Will's face buried in his neck. His brother hadn't made a sound the whole time Azeem had been cleaning and stitching the wounds on his back. But Robin had felt every minute of his torment. Will's breath hitched and caught, and his hands spasmed against his Robin's chest.

"It is done, my friend", Azeem said softly. "Now, shall we take a look at the cuts on your stomach?"

Will couldn't help the whimper that tore from his throat. Robin stopped breathing for a second. Gently, he pressed a kiss to his brother's temple. He was about to open his mouth to object when his brother beat him to it. "OK," Will whispered.

Robin couldn't help the flicker of pride he felt as Will took a shuddering breath and tried to sit up. He shuddered and nearly collapsed back against the older Locksley, but Robin's hands were quick to catch him, bracing him by the shoulders. Their eyes met and Robin had to swallow hard at the anguish he saw creeping into those hazel irises. It felt like it was stabbing at his soul.

Wordlessly, Will started to move out of his brother's embrace. Robin stopped him with a trembling hand on his cheek. He coughed slightly to clear the lump that had formed in his throat. "Here," he said, gently manoeuvring his younger brother so that his back was pressed against his chest. Will tensed as the fabric of Robin's shirt brushed against his wounds but reached up to grasp gratefully onto his brother's arm that looped to hug him around his shoulders, holding him steady against him. He leaned his head back against Robin's neck and exhaled shakily. Robin's other hand combed softly through his hair.

Will closed his eyes. Robin took a brief moment to marvel at how every fibre of his being was warring to protect his newly discovered brother, before letting his own eyes flicker shut and carefully resting his head against Will's. He clung to Will, using his grip on his brother's shoulder to steady them both.

Thankfully, the cuts on Will's chest and stomach were less severe than the ones on his back. It was still another long half-hour before Azeem finally sat back and announced that he was finished. Robin looked up at his friend and muttered a heartfelt, "Thank you". He straightened himself and helped Azeem to sit Will forwards so that he would be able to bind his wounds.

It was then that he finally saw the tears of pain that had been silently streaming from his brother's eyes. He took Will's face in his hands and the brothers' eyes met once more, everything they felt passing between them.

Will seemed to draw some strength from what he saw reflected in his brother's eyes and sat a little straighter, nodding to Azeem. Once his chest and back were swaddled in clean strips of cloth, Will finally allowed himself to collapse trembling into Robin's embrace. Robin didn't hesitate to engulf his brother completely in his arms. Tremors tore through Will's body as the trauma of the last 48 hours threatened to overwhelm him.

Suddenly, he lurched to the side and Robin had to move swiftly to stop him from falling to the forest floor as violent heaves shook his small frame. Soft cries punctuated the silence as the movement pulled and ripped at the cuts across his body. Robin had to bite his lip to stop himself from screaming as he watched his brother purge what little sustenance his body held. When it was over, he gently cradled Will back into his arms. Words escaped him, and Robin found himself softly humming a lullaby his mother had sung to him to soothe the terrors of the night. Will knew he was acting like a youngling, but he closed his eyes and latched onto that voice, slowly letting the turmoil inside him still.

Neither brother was sure when Azeem had left them, nor how long they sat like that, clinging to one another, both trying to rein in their emotions. Eventually, as the sun was beginning to set, Robin shook himself as another shiver rippled through his brother's body, this time from the chill settling into the evening air. He looked down at Will and gave him a gentle nudge. "Will?"

"I know," came the quiet reply as Will reluctantly began to untangle himself from his brother's embrace. Standing stiffly, Robin reached down to grasp Will's hand, pulling him to his feet. Will swayed slightly and Robin put an arm around his shoulders as they stumbled together slowly towards the fire their campmates had started to build in the middle of what used to be their forest village.

Glancing around, Will realised he hadn't taken in the full extent of the devastation the Sheriff had caused by sending the Celts into the camp. There was barely a structure left standing. They had built these huts themselves. Those who had taken refuge in the trees of Sherwood had already lost one home to the Sheriff's cruelty. Now they had not only lost another home but many of their friends and family too.

The faces of their comrades as they huddled around the fire mirrored the despair Will felt as he fully realised the hopelessness of their situation. He had survived the fight with the Celts and his capture by Nottingham's soldiers. He had endured the Sheriff's lash and the long walk back to camp so that he could bring the news to Robin that would allow them to save their captured comrades. It now seemed so foolish. There were seven of them against all of Nottingham's men. They had no hope.

Will's shoulders slumped even further. Robin seemed to sense his despair and pulled him slightly closer as they settled onto tree stumps around the flickering flames. The two brothers had exchanged only a handful of words since Robin had discovered Will's true lineage, but somehow, they both knew it was enough to just be together. Robin blinked tears from his eyes once more as Will melted into his side. His brother needed him to be strong. His friends needed him to be strong.

It was time to lead.