Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"Believe me, Robert, I understand you. But you have to realize that you can’t just go visit Marion like that.” Guy tried to stay calm, but his brother was trying his patience. "Not anymore," he continued after taking a deep breath. “It doesn’t matter how important this seems to you. Or how urgent. It’s too dangerous.”

"Why would it be dangerous for the son of the Earl of Huntingdon to visit an old comrade-in-arms of his father?" the younger man immediately countered. "The sheriff would never dare take action against me."

Guy had to suppress a sigh. He was sure that Robert would already be close to Sir Richard's manor if he had not been keeping an eye on him and preventing him from carrying out his plan. On the other hand, he would not now have to deal with the problem of trying to knock some sense into his younger brother.

“I never said the Sherriff is a threat to you. That wouldn't even be the case if one of Clun's men let slip that you had something to do with Marion's ... disappearance. The Earl would never let anything happen to you, Robert. But have you thought about Marion and her father? Who will protect them from the Sheriff's wrath? You can't assume that de Rainault needs a real reason to act. He only requires a pretext, and your visit could provide one. He was at Huntingdon and saw how you reacted to Lord Owen's … advances. By now, he's bound to know about Lord Owen's death. That's all he needs."

Gisburne knew that part of the problem was that Robert was no coward. He did not fear the Sheriff. The knight was proud of his brother, though he would never admit it at this point. However, Robert's lack of experience with this whole outlaw situation and with the kingdom's politics made it difficult to convince him that a direct approach was not always best.

Gisburne thought it was strange, though, that he had not taken this course when it came to defying his father. But he did not seem willing to use the method now that he had chosen then.

Robert seemed more considerate than before, but he still did not appear convinced.

Guy had no choice but to bring up something else. "The real threat to you comes from somewhere else entirely," he began. "Not only the Sheriff will be keeping Leaford Grange under surveillance, but your father as well. As far as he is concerned, he must get you back before you ruin your reputation completely. He believes you are capable of doing just that. Otherwise, he wouldn't have sent me here to take the Huntingdons' shame upon myself.” The knight let out a joyless laugh. “Even though I am already the shame of the Huntingdons.” He paused briefly. "What do you think will happen if you fall into his hands because you weren't careful enough during your visit to Lady Marion?"

Gisburne felt uncomfortable confronting Robert with this truth, but the other had left him no choice. Guy had come to realize that his younger — and magnanimous — brother had grown dear to his heart. So much so that he could not stand by and watch him get hurt or taken prisoner. This was true even — or perhaps especially — when it was his own father who wanted to lock him up.

Robert no longer looked particularly sure of himself. He had turned pale and swallowed audibly several times. He seemed unable to utter a word, remaining silent for a long moment.

Finally, he opened his mouth. "But..." he managed to get out.

A reassuring smile would have been nice at this point, but that was never Guy's style. Robin had always teased him about it but never shied away from showing how pleased he was when Guy managed to overcome his inhibitions.

However, the memory of the man he lost a year ago - and of his love - did not make Gisburne any happier. This seemed to be reflected on his face, as Robert took an involuntary step back.

Guy knew immediately what had happened. This time, he did not suppress the sigh. However, he immediately followed up with an apology.

Though at first, he could only mumble, "That had nothing to do with you." He needed a moment to collect himself.

Finally, he was ready to return to the original topic. "I didn't mean to say that you shouldn't go see Marion. But you can't just rush over there in broad daylight. You need to be more thoughtful about it. That includes taking your time, if you can," he said, once again trying to keep the other one out of trouble.

Actually, he should be able to do that since Robert was not really reckless. However, apart from his feelings for Marion — which obviously distract him — he is simply not accustomed to the life of an outlaw yet.

How could he be?

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There was no question that Guy would accompany his brother to Leaford Grange, even though he was in as much danger as the other. After all, he had also been recognized during Lady Marion's rescue.

However, he had been prepared for this possibility when he left Huntingdon with Robert. Lord Owen had arrived as the guest of honor at Earl David's feast accompanied by a large group of warriors. These warriors were not the simple-minded barbarians that many thought they were. They had learned to observe ... and remember what they saw. They also recalled who they had encountered.

Guy would have preferred to avoid the festivities, but he had no choice. The Earl kept him under his thumb, so Guy had to obey him, at least in this respect. Guy posed as one of Huntingdon's household knights, as the Earl did not want anyone to know he had another son. Gisburne kept his distance from the two Huntingdons, yet he could not help but notice the similarities between himself and Robert, beyond their shared father. They were both under said father's control.

They had also both broken free from this control together. Although neither of them had originally planned to do so.

They also both stayed in Sherwood, once again together. Gisburne had wanted to avoid that at all costs. Yet he had done it. He did not really understand it himself.

To visit Marion Robert and he waited until later in the afternoon when a large group of workers had gathered in the yard. They were not interested in what the men were doing; they simply took advantage of the resulting commotion to make their way to the house. Sneaking in was not particularly difficult since the door appeared to be open at all times, at least during the day.

Once inside, however, the younger man seemed not to know where Marion was. He was unfamiliar with the house.

It was different for Guy, though. This was not his first time here, and he remembered where Marion's chamber was. He hoped that it had not changed. After all, he had not discussed it with her on her way home.

Strictly speaking, they had hardly exchanged more than a few words, even though they had not avoided each other's company. Apparently, neither of them wanted to be reminded of the past. Marion probably did not want to think about her good friend who saved her from a life in Nottingham. Or perhaps she simply did not want to think about the liberties she had enjoyed in Sherwood.

Guy, on the other hand, knew all too well that he would lose himself in memories of the man he loved — and lost a year ago. But now was not the time he could allow himself to do that. Honestly, he did not know if there ever would be. For this reason, he tried to avoid memories. At least, as far as he could help it.

In Leaford, luck was on the two men's side, and they found Marion where Guy had suspected she would be. Although her message had been intended for Robert, she was not surprised to see Guy, even though he had told her when they parted ways that he was leaving England. She gave him a mischievous smile, as if she had knowledge he lacked. Knowing her, that was probably true.

However, what she had to tell them was anything but good news. Marion had a vision in which she saw one of the king's most feared torturers — a man known as the “King's Devil,” which, in Gisburne's opinion, said it all — heading to Nottingham.

Guy had learned to accept visions — especially Robin's — but he was never pleased about them. That had not changed. Nevertheless, he would never ignore information received in this manner.

Robert had no idea who the man was. He had never dealt with this aspect of power and control previously. He knew that prisoners were interrogated, of course, but his father had never allowed him to participate. This was probably less about sparing his son's feelings and more about the elder man's unwillingness to relinquish control.

However, Guy was sure that Robert would never have been willing to participate in something like that.

Marion, on the other hand, had always been a good listener and observer, never drawing attention to herself. During her time at Nottingham Castle, she learned a lot from the conversations between Robert and Hugo de Rainault. The "King's Devil" had certainly been mentioned.

And Guy ...

He shuddered at hearing the name. However, it was not the fact that he had also been listening to the Sheriff and the Abbot that caused cold sweat to break out on his brow. It had more to do with the Sheriff requesting this man while the outlawed knight was in his dungeons. Gisburne was fortunate that the Earl of Huntingdon arrived in Nottingham prior to the torturer.

Marion had more than one reason for asking Robert to visit her. She also offered him Robin's sword, Albion, which Robin had entrusted to her care. But Guy's brother wanted nothing to do with it, even though Herne had chosen him as his new son. He refused to be persuaded by Marion's words.

Finally, Marion turned to Guy and asked him to take the sword into his custody. She argued that it would be better if it were returned to Sherwood, but Gisburne did not want to accept it either.

"He would have given it to you if you had been with him that day," she finally brought up when she ran out of arguments. She did not like saying that, for she knew it was unfair to remind him that he had not been there for Robin that day.

"He wouldn't have done that," he countered. "He knew I would never leave him. Albion would have ended up in your hands anyway." He had not intended to strike back and immediately regretted hurting her with his words.

But Marion had lost none of her strength despite the terrible ordeal she had recently endured, and she took the blow without much of a reaction.

"He always wanted you to have it," she repeated. This time, he could no longer resist her.

Robert and Guy waited until it was dark before returning to Sherwood. They brought a warning and Albion with them. The knight tried to leave the sword with Herne, but he refused to accept it. "If my son does not yet consider himself worthy to carry it, then you will have to shoulder this burden for a while longer," Herne told him instead.

But then he added something else. "If it's a burden, that is."

'Of course it's a burden,' thought Gisburne. But he resigned himself once again.

                                                               **************************

Not only had Marion informed them that the torturer was on his way to Nottingham, she had also seen where they could ambush him.

To take him out. There was no other option.

Of course, the man was not traveling alone. He was accompanied by a small troop of royal soldiers who were supposed to protect him along the way. However, they also drew attention to him. If he had been alone, he might have been able to slip through undetected, as none of the outlaws knew what he looked like. Marion had not been able to help them in this regard, either. Mainly because visions did not work that way. She simply knew who the man was and would still have walked past him if she had met him on the street.

The escort of soldiers, however, assured the outlaws that they were dealing with the right man. That was enough for them. With anyone else, they would have hesitated and made sure of who they were facing. But that was not the case with a man called The Devil.

The attack by Hood and his men was chaotic, to say the least. The outlaws had not worked together as a group for a year — the few raids on merchants they had carried out in recent weeks did not factor into this — and the last time they had worked together, someone else had led them. Their skills were rusty, which quickly became apparent.

The same was true of Robert's lack of experience in real combat against armed men. So it was probably no surprise that he quickly became the soldiers' target.

However, he did not become a victim, thanks solely to Guy, who pushed his younger brother out of the crossbowman's line of fire at the last moment. Unfortunately, Guy himself was unable to move out of the way quickly enough.

Nasir immediately took care of the crossbowman, the last soldier who had been able to put up a fight.

Will, John, and Much then threw all the horrible things on the torturer's cart into the river. Meanwhile, the Saracen and the monk were busy with Guy's thigh, which had a bolt stuck in it.

Robert stood next to them, staring at his brother, his eyes wide with fear. Not only was Guy's face covered in sweat, but it was also contorted with pain. The younger one opened his mouth several times as if to say something but closed it each time. He was clearly at a loss for words.

He probably needed a supportive hand on his shoulder or a confident smile. But none of his comrades had time for that.

Under different circumstances, his brother certainly would have taken the time for him, but he was busy trying to control his breathing. He was also preoccupied with controlling his thoughts; he was well aware of how critical his injury was.

Furthermore, he knew he would not be able to leave the scene of the battle on his own. At the same time, he was worried that they had been there too long already. At any moment, another traveler could surprise them. He wanted to alert Robert to the danger, but he could not find the words. In fact, he was unable to say anything. He could not even control his breathing.

After examining the wound, Tuck struggled to his feet from his kneeling position. "The bolt must be removed as quickly as possible," he announced.

Nasir rose much more elegantly and … effortlessly. "Not here," he declared, his tone brooking no contradiction.

Guy had no choice but to endure being lifted like a child by Little John and carried into the woods.

The knight was afraid that the makeshift bandage would not hold, leaving a trail of blood behind them. But then his vision went black, and he no longer had to worry about any of that.

Chapter Text

Nasir and Tuck worked together to finally remove the bolt from Guy's thigh and dress the wound.

It was not the first injury the Saracen had dealt with, of course, and he had long ago learned not to show his concern. However, his friends knew him well, and they recognized that the barely perceptible shake of his head — which he had apparently been unable to avoid — after sniffing the bolt did not bode well.

"I was afraid of that," sighed Tuck, looking up. He could see from his friends' faces that they understood what he meant. However, when his gaze fell upon Robert, he realized that their new leader had no idea what he was referring to.

"The bolt is poisoned," he explained.

"What does that mean?" Herne’s Son wanted to know right away.

"That my knowledge of the healing arts may not be sufficient," Tuck admitted. "I'm just not as skilled in these matters as ..." He paused for a moment before continuing. "... Marion."

Robert frowned, then turned to Nasir. But before he could ask a question, the other man had already answered. “Sewing wounds or cauterizing them? Yes. Using poisons? Yes. Healing? No." As always, he was brutally honest.

"Marion would come if we asked her," Much now made himself heard. "She would never turn us down."

Robert frowned again and then shook his head. "Guy told me that the Sherriff is definitely watching Leaford Grange. The Earl probably is, too. We can’t risk involving Marion and her father in this unless it’s absolutely necessary.”

"But..." Much began.

Nasir cut him off. "I'm going to watch the manor. If we need Marion, send someone.” Then, without waiting to hear what Robert had to say, he disappeared into the woods.

"He wouldn't have waited for Robin's permission either," Little John clarified, noticing the confusion on Robert's face.

"He's undoubtedly right," the Earl's son said after a few tense moments of silence. "We should take care of Guy," he added, settling down next to the wounded man, who had not yet regained consciousness. Robert, like the others, was glad his brother had not witnessed their treatment of the wound. Removing the bolt had been anything but easy. Or painless.

They were all worried, though, that Guy might not wake up again.

Tuck explained what to do next. "We need to make sure he drinks enough. We also need to keep an eye on the fever. It will rise, which is normal in this situation, but it can't get too high. That’s why we need plenty of water: both to cool his body with wet cloths and to make a warm herbal infusion.”

The monk closed his eyes for a moment before continuing. "The rest of us need to eat, too, even if it doesn't seem important right now."

“What about him?” Robert pointed to his brother.

“Food is the least of his worries,” Tuck replied. "He won't die if he goes hungry for a while. It just can't go on too long.”

The young leader did not look happy, but he obviously was not going to contradict the monk. "What can I do?" he finally wanted to know.

“Stay with him. Hold his hand. Just let him know he's not alone."

Tuck turned away from Robert. He seemed preoccupied with other things, but then a thought occurred to him. "Call me if his fever rises. Or if he becomes restless."

The young nobleman nodded, feeling uncomfortable about the whole affair. He knew this had something to do with the fight against the soldiers. That clash had been much more intense and violent than the one against Lord Owen's men. The royal troops were much more disciplined. They were also very competent. Unlike Clun's men, they worked well together. Marion's rescue had also gone well, in part, due to the fact that their attackers had only ever struck individually. They were skilled fighters, but they lacked cohesion. Without Lord Owen leading them — or, more likely, pulling the strings behind their backs — they also lacked the necessary motivation.

However, Robert knew there was another reason for his unease. He had to admit that he was to blame for his brother's injury. He had not been focused enough, and now Guy was suffering the consequences. Guy had let Robert lead the attack not because he had the necessary experience but because of his new role as Robin Hood — something Robert still had to get used to — and that was the only reason Guy had been wounded. Robert could only hope that his brother would recover.

At first, however, it did not look promising. The fever rose relentlessly, and Guy began to move restlessly from side to side. Tuck came with a bucket of cool river water and set it down next to Robert. Then he pressed some rags into his hand. "Put them on his forehead and the sides of his neck," he instructed. The younger man obeyed without question.

After a while, it became clear that this had stopped the fever from rising further. Unfortunately, it did not help with Guy's restlessness, although he was no longer tossing and turning as violently. Instead, he began to mumble.

At first, the words were incomprehensible, but gradually, Robert could make out one name clearly: “Robin!”

Robert knew immediately that it was not him he was calling out to. Some of the outlaws had started calling him Robin, but his brother never did. Robert could only guess how close the two men had been.

"Robin, where are you?" Guy muttered in his feverish delirium.

Robert felt the urge to respond but refrained. He was unsure if it would be appropriate and did not know what to say. Therefore, he limited himself to squeezing his brother's hand.

This seemed to prompt Guy to repeat Robin's name again. This time, however, there was a hint of … desire in his voice. Robert felt uneasy and kind of uncomfortable when he heard it. Guy definitely should not find out about this; he would be embarrassed if he knew someone had been listening. His tone clearly indicated that this was something very … intimate for him.

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"Hood!" The knight could not hold back his exclamation when the outlaw appeared on the forest path before him, as if he had sprung from the ground. But the Norman could say no more before he was roughly pulled from his horse. The next moment, he found himself lying on the ground directly beneath Robin Hood. Unsurprisingly, he was not pleased and immediately tried to get away from the other man.

However, Hood tightened his grip when he realized his opponent was trying to break free.

This led Gisburne to try even harder to escape. He knew he had to fight his way free before Hood's gang arrived and they finished him off together.

"I want to apologize."

Sir Guy was so astonished by these words that he was unable to defend himself. He lay motionless for a moment, but his paralysis did not last long.

"And you think it's appropriate to apologize by pulling me off the horse? Do you do that to other people, too?" he wanted to know. Surprisingly, he did not sound particularly… angry, even though he was not thrilled about finding himself on the forest floor. He was relieved that nothing worse had happened. He realized — to his astonishment — that he felt a certain curiosity. He was eager to find out what Hood might have meant. What did he want to apologize for?

"Oh … sorry," Hood blurted out as he picked himself up. In doing so, he let go of the knight.

"Again?" Gisburne replied. He made no move to get up. He would never admit it, but he had not found it unpleasant to lie there for a moment.

But then he remembered Hood's cronies.

This quickly brought him to his feet. He also drew his sword from its scabbard. But no one came rushing out of the bushes, and Hood made no move to attack. Sir Guy frowned; he had not expected any of this.

After hesitating for a moment, he straightened his shoulders and put the sword away. "Do I have to guess what you're apologizing for?" he finally asked, breaking the silence while secretly scrutinizing his counterpart.

Of course, he had done that before, several months ago. Back then, he caught Hood and the other one — the miller's son — poaching. He brought them to Nottingham and threw them into the Sheriff's dungeon.

Hood had caught his eye even then, but he had convinced himself it was due to the poaching. By now, however, he was well aware that this was not the case. But just watching had been enough for him.

He had not been bothered by Hood's escape. However, he was not pleased that the murderer known as Scarlet had also gotten away. The man was dangerous, and in the knight's opinion, he rightly belonged in jail. What had happened since the escape only confirmed Gisburne's view.

He had suffered at the man's hands personally and was still amazed that he had escaped with his life.

Hood had not said anything yet.

"Shall I guess?" the knight repeated.

Finally, the other man reacted. At first, he just shook his head, apparently needing a moment to respond.

"What the others did should never have happened. I am their leader and should have prevented it, but ..." He stopped.

"You were the one who started this." The knight could no longer hold back. He was now much less calm than he had been just a moment before. Strangely enough, however, he did not feel threatened by the other man. "You wanted something from me and thought you could get it this way."

Hood stared at him, then suddenly looked away as if finding it uncomfortable to look the knight in the face. Nevertheless, he replied fairly quickly.

"I never wanted your life to be at risk. It shouldn’t have happened."

Now it was Gisburne who stared at the outlaw. He thought he detected sincerity in Hood's voice, but he was not sure whether to believe it. He knew, however, that this encounter was ... strange.

"If you say so," he finally got out. "But if that's all, I'll be on my way."

Hood said nothing and took no action.

Even as the knight swung himself onto his horse, he expected the rest of the outlaws to jump out of the bushes. Or for Hood to draw his sword. Or reach for his bow. But the other man still did not move. In fact, he did nothing more than watch the knight ride away. Gisburne confirmed this with a glance over his shoulder.

The Norman was glad to have gotten away with only a few scrapes and bruises. And with a sense of confusion that would linger for some time.

******************************                                                                  

"Damn it, Hood! What were you thinking? This is the third time in two weeks," the knight complained as he picked himself up from the forest floor.

Robin grinned somewhat sheepishly.

"Get on the horse, Hood!" Gisburne suddenly ordered.

"What?" Hood was certain that the other man had not said what he thought he had heard.

"Get on the horse!" Gisburne repeated. "Don't be such a wimp. You've ridden him before."

“What's going on, Gisburne?” The outlaw did not understand what the knight was getting at.

"You get up there now, and then I'll throw you down. Then you'll know how it feels.”

“What?”

Gisburne laughed and swung himself back onto his stallion.

Hood made no move to stop the knight. He just watched him go.

Gisburne rubbed his arm, which he had fallen on for the second time in a few days. Hood had suddenly made a habit of pulling him off his horse roughly and unexpectedly. At least he was alone every time, though, and that was better than nothing.

Only later did the knight realize that he had felt no need to reach for his weapon. Apparently, neither had the outlaw.

******************************                                                                  

Sir Guy had made himself comfortable. Leaning his back against a tree, he gnawed on a chicken leg while keeping an eye on Robin Hood.

The outlaw paced back and forth across the clearing, repeatedly throwing his arms in the air and talking without pausing for very long. Gisburne could not figure out how he managed to gnaw on a chicken leg, either.

The sight of Hood made Sir Guy want to grin, and he had great difficulty avoiding it. However, the outlaw was so passionate in his impromptu speech that it was difficult for the knight not to reveal his reaction.

More than anything else, though, what held him back was the notion that he should actually be reacting differently. The realization that he did not want to do so confused him. He did not understand why he felt no anger when listening to the other man's inflammatory speeches. Another thought also confused him. Why did he keep thinking that the other man looked damn good, even in this … agitated state?

"Some more ale," he interjected during one of the rare pauses in the speech, feeling compelled to say something.

"What?" stammered Hood, clearly thrown off balance.

"Ale?"

"Have you been listening to me at all?" the outlaw wanted to know.

The knight summarized the other man's words: "The serfs groan under the unjust taxes." He held out the skin of ale to him.

Hood stared at him in disbelief.

"No ale," the knight surmised, withdrawing his hand — and the ale.

"What?"

"You obviously don't want ale," Gisburne stated, pausing briefly. "I just thought your throat might be dry after all that talking."

"Of course I want ale!" Hood snapped, a little louder than before. "Give me the skin!" he demanded.

The knight stretched out his arm again but otherwise did not move. He had no intention of giving up his spot now that he had finally found a reasonably comfortable place to sit. The outlaw took a step forward, grabbed the skin, and flopped down in the grass. He didn't seem to care where he sat.

Sir Guy thought the man must have calluses on his buttocks, a thought that caused the knight to suppress a grin once again.

For a while, silence filled the clearing.

The knight thought about how Robin Hood had ambushed him in the forest for the fifth time in three weeks. Fortunately, after the third time, the outlaw had stopped pulling him off his horse, which had been more than unpleasant.

Instead, the last time, he had led him to a small clearing. That's when the knight decided to use this break to grab a bite to eat. He was not always able to do so without being disturbed at the abbey.

For this reason, he had gotten into the habit of carrying food — and ale — with him in his saddlebag. A little more than he would have needed for himself. You never knew …

The knight looked at the gnawed bone in his hand. His indecision about what to do with it was written all over his face.

"Just throw it in the bushes! It won't stay there long."

Gisburne looked the outlaw in the face. He was never sure if the other man was joking, but since he could not detect any mockery this time, he threw the bone into the bushes.

After that, there was another silence, but it was pleasant and relaxed. It lasted until ...

“I really thought you would disagree with me.” Hood sounded surprised.

The knight did not answer immediately. He seemed to need time to gather his thoughts, but in truth, the words were already on the tip of his tongue. He just was not sure whether he should voice them. But then he did.

"I find it tiring enough pretending to agree with the Abbot."

"Oh!" The other man was even more surprised this time.

"It's possible that I won't be working for the Abbot much longer." The knight did not know why he had said this. There was no reason to tell the outlaw.

Hood remained silent for a moment before responding. "Will you leave here, then?" Gisburne could not tell what resonated in the outlaw’s voice.

"I would if it meant I could get away from Hugo de Rainault," he finally admitted. He did not understand why his own words caused a sharp pain in his chest. To distract himself, he quickly continued talking. “But I am not that lucky. I also have no choice. Robert de Rainault is not someone you can say ‘no’ to and get away with it.”

"You want to work for the Sheriff?

"It seems he asked his brother about handing me over. If that's true, then I have no choice but to leave for Nottingham. There's nowhere else I can go."

"You could..."

“There is no other place for me!” The knight stood up. "I have to go!"

****************************                                                        

Only two weeks had passed since the unpleasant incident with the Templars. It was still far too early for him to get back on his horse. However, when the Sheriff made up his mind to summon his steward and reprimand him, saying, "Gisburne, you have neglected your patrols long enough!", the knight had no choice but to grit his teeth and set off. He hoped he would not encounter anyone.

Above all, not ...

"Gisburne!" The discontent in the voice would have made the Sheriff proud.

The knight's head snapped up, and then he saw him standing in the middle of the path. He did not look particularly friendly. But that was to be expected after the events of two weeks ago. Gisburne was relieved he had not been thrown from his horse; that would not have done him any good at that point.

"Hood."

"We need to talk."

Gisburne sighed. He had no desire to exchange a single word with the other man. He just wanted to finish his patrol and return to Nottingham. There, he would pretend to the Sheriff that he had taken the matter seriously before retiring to his chambers. He would not emerge until at least another day had passed — or perhaps two.

"I don't have time for that," he replied.

"You'll have to take the time," came the unsurprising response. Hood immediately took a step forward.

Gisburne could not explain afterward why he pulled on his horse's reins at that moment. He had not intended to do so; he did not want to stop. That was most likely why he messed up something he could have accomplished in his sleep.

His stallion was confused by the contradictory signals he received from his rider. Instead of simply stopping, the horse took a small, nervous jump to the side. The knight did not expect this and lost his balance. He slipped out of the saddle, unable to do anything about it. Shame on him. Sir Guy of Gisburne never fell off a horse — except on that day.

He knew immediately that he was going to land hard on the ground. At the same time, he realized he lacked the strength to stop his fall. His body no longer obeyed him; it felt as if it did not belong to him.

Before he hit the ground, though, he felt strong hands on his sides, pushing him back into the saddle. But that was not the end of it. The hands held him tight, making sure he did not slip down the other side.

"What's wrong with you?" he heard Hood ask. Was there concern in his voice? He must be mistaken.

"I'm fine." He certainly would not tell the outlaw the truth about his condition.

The other man let out a snort. He did not seem to believe him at all.

"You think you can fool me?"

"Just let me ride on," Gisburne begged in a weak voice.

"That's the last thing I will do. And you're not doing anything but holding on tight!" Hood declared. His tone brooked no argument. But Sir Guy was too exhausted to resist, so he did not even try.

The outlaw grabbed the reins and led the horse and its rider deeper into the forest. At first, Gisburne tried to remember which direction they were going, but he soon gave up. He was too tired, and besides ... he got lost as soon as he left the roads here in Sherwood.

He was no longer paying attention to his surroundings, so he was surprised when his horse suddenly stopped. Looking up, he realized he had no idea where he was. All he could see was that they had arrived at one of the many caves scattered throughout the forest.

"What now?" he asked, even though he did not care about the answer. He was just so tired.

"Now, get off your horse and sit down. I'll build a fire. Then you can tell me what's going on with you." The answer was more detailed than he had expected. He cared more about it than he had thought.

"As if you didn't know that," the knight muttered as he tried to dismount without falling. It was a vulnerability he did not want to show anyone.

"What was that?" The outlaw was suddenly right next to him.

However, Sir Guy was in no condition to answer. He needed all his remaining strength just to stay on his feet. The pain in his side had worsened considerably, and he feared the wound he had carefully stitched up had reopened, at least partially.

Hood's next words confirmed his fears. "You're bleeding!" he exclaimed.

A wave of anger flooded through the knight, giving him the strength to respond. "It's no big deal when someone stabs you in the side with a dagger!"

"Who..." Hood began, helping the knight sit down and lean his back against the rock wall at the mouth of the cave.

"You know that!" Gisburne hissed. He was not going to let the other man mock him as well.

Hood stopped so suddenly that the knight initially thought he had been hit by something — perhaps an arrow. The outlaw paused for a moment before continuing to make Sir Guy comfortable. However, he did not say another word. Not even when he finally set about lighting a fire. After finishing his task, he disappeared from Gisburne's field of vision for a moment. He must have gone into the cave. It was not long before he returned and laid several furs and blankets next to the knight.

Sir Guy watched the entire silent bustle with growing bewilderment.

The outlaw disappeared into the cave once more. This time, he returned with a waterskin and various items needed for dressing wounds. He set the latter aside before walking away. But he still had not started speaking, which was very unusual for him. The knight had often observed how much Hood loved to talk.

It did not take long before the other man returned. When he put down the waterskin, Gisburne could tell it was full.

"Do you have anything to eat in your saddlebag?" The question took the knight by surprise, and he needed a moment before shaking his head. He had nothing with him this time. After all, he had not expected to encounter Hood. But perhaps he should have remembered that the outlaw never stuck to Sir Guy's plans. The idea he would coordinate with the other man amused the knight briefly, but the feeling quickly faded. He was simply too tired, which was also why his saddlebag was empty. All he had on his mind was how to make it through the ride.

Robin Hood shrugged as if it did not matter. "I'll take care of it later," he announced, sitting down next to the knight.

"What's that?" snapped the knight, who did not know what to make of Hood's proximity.

The outlaw did not seem bothered by his aggressive tone. "I need to know what's wrong with you!"

"There's nothing wrong with me!" What did that matter to the outlaw?

"Nothing? You nearly fell off your horse for nothing, Gisburne?"

“So what?”

"So what? You never just fall off a horse. That's why I want to know why it happened. But to find out, you'll have to take off your armor."

Sir Guy stared at the other man in disbelief. Once again, he was unable to respond immediately. "Never!"

Hood sighed and began, "Look, I'm going to get you out of that armor one way or another. You know you're too weak to resist me. But with your help, it will be much more pleasant for both of us."

Gisburne realized he was staring at Hood in bewilderment again. But he also instantly understood that the other man was right. He was indeed too weak to resist. Besides, it would be a relief to take off the chain mail for a while.

He nodded, unable to speak.

*****************************                                                     

"Has the fever gone down yet?" Much asked, sounding very concerned.

Robert shook his head while replacing the damp cloth on Guy's forehead with a fresh one.

"But it hasn't gone up any further, either. I see that as a good sign,” interjected Tuck, who had settled down close to Robert and his brother. "But it's still too early to say anything more."

"Marion would know exactly what to do!" Much had brought this up several times in the last few hours.

Tuck looked over at their new leader with a questioning expression. The man closed his eyes for a moment, then stared intently at the figure writhing restlessly in feverish delirium on the makeshift bed they had prepared for him in the middle of the woods. His face was pale and covered in sweat. He kept muttering words that none of the others could understand.

Finally, Robert looked up and stared directly at Much. "Go to Nasir. He will decide when it is safe to speak with Marion. But Much ...” He paused, and the younger man, who was just about to move, stopped. "Be careful. We must not endanger Marion’s life. Nor yours, nor Nasir’s.”

Much nodded. He definitely did not want Marion to be in danger. Nor did he want to be. However, he was not worried about Nasir. The latter knew how to protect himself.

However, Much was very worried that Guy might die. The other man had become a good friend during his years living in Sherwood. The miller's son had not expected this. Especially since he had long blamed the knight for his father's death. At that time, however, he had not yet learned the full story.

Much took off running. He knew exactly where to find Nasir. He also knew how to avoid the soldiers and foresters. He was no longer the boy who had gone into the woods with his brother's bow all those years ago.

Chapter Text

"You're actually bleeding!" Hood exclaimed — as if he had not already noticed — and the genuine surprise in his voice caused the knight to freeze for a moment. But then, anger rose again in the knight at the other man's attitude.

"Why are you surprised?" he snapped. His side hurt like hell, and the realization that the wound had reopened made him irritable.

"Who...?" the outlaw started, pointing to the injury.

"What?"

"Who was it?"

"Are you serious?" Gisburne did not really want to argue with Hood right then, as he lacked the strength. But he could not simply give up, either.

When he looked up into the other man's face, however, he was surprised to find that the outlaw seemed genuinely unaware of what had happened and also looked concerned.

'For me?' flashed through the knight's mind. He managed to stop himself from saying it out loud, though.

"You really don't know," he stated instead. Suddenly, all his anger dissipated.

Hood shook his head.

"You need to get a better grip on your people," the knight explained.

"What?"

"Scarlet," Gisburne sighed.

"What?" ... "When?" ... “Leaford?”

Gisburne nodded.

"Damn him!"

Those were not at all the words the knight had expected to hear from Hood.

But neither were the next ones. "Let me take care of the wound."

***********************************                                                      

While Hood tended to the wound, he urged the knight to tell him what had happened one more time. And Gisburne did just that.

He recounted the night two weeks prior — when the outlaws had snuck into Marion's former home — and how Scarlet had not only knocked down the Norman — which Hood had clearly taken note of — but had also attacked him with a dagger beforehand. The blade had penetrated Gisburne's side. It was the middle of the night; the knight had already fallen asleep and was not wearing armor. However, the wound was more than just a deep stab, as Sir Guy had moved to the side to escape the attack. As he shifted, the dagger remained stuck in his side, and Scarlet still clutched the hilt. The result was a deep, long wound.

When Hood arrived, Will had just pulled the blade out again. However, he was not satisfied and punched Gisburne as well. The knight, who had instinctively pressed a hand to the wound, was engulfed in darkness.

When he came to, he had already lost a lot of blood. He was fortunate that some soldiers found him shortly thereafter.

Hood listened closely without pausing in his work. The knight preferred to look the man in the face rather than at the wound. Therefore, he could not have failed to notice that the other one did not like what he was hearing. Gisburne assumed he would immediately deny that Scarlet had done this.

He was surprised again. "That wasn't part of the plan," Hood finally admitted.

"You don't have a grip on your people," Gisburne repeated.

"We are no soldiers, " the outlaw replied. He was clearly not pleased at being criticized.

"Nevertheless, you are the one who gives the orders."

Hood said nothing more. He remained silent for a long moment. Instead of speaking, he tidied up the things he had used to treat the wound. More accurately, he tidied up the few things he had not used.

Finally, he stood up. "I'll be gone for a while. Promise me you won't go to Nottingham!"

"Why should I give you that promise?"

"Because I don't want the wound to reopen. I've put in a lot of work to treat it.”

"That's still no reason for me to make that promise. Besides, why would you think I'd keep it if I gave it to you?"

Hood laughed. The knight was confused, as he had not expected Hood to respond this way.

"I've noticed that you...  rarely make promises. But I've also realized why. Or, let's say, I found out by accident. I was pretty … surprised. At first, I was." The outlaw paused, waiting to see if the knight would say anything. When he remained silent, Hood finally continued. "You always take promises seriously. When you make one, you don't break it."

Gisburne stared at him, his mouth agape. He could not believe the other man had figured him out so easily. When had he given himself away?

"I probably spoke a word or two too many," was all he wanted to say on the matter. In his opinion, there was no need to elaborate, as the damage had already been done. It was irreversible.

"So promise me you won't move from here. You're not in any condition to … get lost in the woods.”

Gisburne snorted but had to admit — at least to himself — that the outlaw was right about that, too. He would never find his way back to Nottingham on his own.

The knight realized that he had to give in. "I promise to stay here." In his opinion, this admission came more quickly than necessary, but he blamed it on his exhaustion.

"I have a few things to take care of," Hood replied. "I'll definitely bring food. With any luck, I'll be back before nightfall."

With that, he disappeared into the forest.

*******************************                                                

Robin Hood did not return until after dark. Nevertheless, it never occurred to the knight that the outlaw might have abandoned him in the forest. However, he only realized this some time later.

"Sorry," Hood gasped. "It took longer than planned, but I wanted to make sure my people wouldn't be around here anytime soon." He dropped the sack he was carrying onto the ground next to the fire. "You're still here," he observed.

"What happened to your conviction that promises are important to me?" Gisburne could not resist mocking the other man.

The outlaw looked embarrassed.

"I went into the forest a few times," the knight continued, his expression grave.

"Ah..." Hood began, but that was all he managed to get out before Sir Guy resumed speaking.

"You didn't exactly leave me with a lot of firewood."

"Oh!"

Gisburne struggled to suppress a laugh.

"What's in the sack?" the knight asked after the outlaw said nothing more. He had not yet sat down either.

"Uh..."

The knight was now unable to contain himself. He simply had to laugh. However, he immediately regretted it as his wound flared up. His face contorted in pain.

That finally got Hood moving. He knelt down next to the knight.

"What happened?" he asked, concerned.

"I just realized again why I laugh so rarely," Gisburne replied, without batting an eyelid.

Hood stared at him in disbelief for a moment, then suddenly realized what was going on.

"Fine … that's on me. But don't get used to it." Despite his slightly offended tone, he seemed relieved.

“So, what's in the sack?”

Hood was in a good mood again. He grinned. "Especially food and drink." He glanced at the bulging sack. "I should have borrowed your stallion. Then, I wouldn't have had to carry all this myself."

"If it had been your intention to bring your people onto your trail."

"Well … that's true, too," Hood admitted quickly.

Then he suddenly started digging around in the sack, looking as if he had run out of words.

However, Gisburne immediately dismissed this idea as it would have been uncharacteristic of the outlaw.

*******************************                                                

"Aren't your people missing you?" Gisburne asked on the third day. He had expected Hood to disappear for extended periods, yet he had only left the clearing once. When he returned, it turned out that he had been hunting.

The outlaw was busy stirring the simmering pot. He did not look up but just shook his head.

"What about Marion?"

"Why should she miss me? She was there when I told everyone I’d be away for a few days." Hood sounded as if this were perfectly normal.

The knight, however, stared at him in disbelief. He even stopped what he was doing. He had begun to repair his clothing. This had become necessary since Hood had been in such a hurry to check his wound. When Hood pulled the chain mail over his head, he damaged his gambeson.

Hood was clearly surprised when the knight asked him for a needle and thread. He had obviously not expected Gisburne to want to sew the garment himself. Sir Guy did not let on that he was amused by the other man's astonishment.

But he was also a little annoyed. Did Hood think he was incapable of looking after himself? Just because he was a knight? Who did Hood think had stitched up his wound? The outlaw clearly had no idea that you learn many things in war. Perhaps Gisburne should tell him that he was skilled at more than fighting and killing.

But now, his hands rested as he stared intently at the other man.

"She's your wife," he finally explained.

"Ah..." Hood began. "About that..." He stopped talking again.

Gisburne frowned. He wondered what the other man was getting at. But Hood remained silent. Gisburne tried to coax an answer out of him. “Are you having an argument with her?” He could not explain why he wanted to know. Actually, he did not want to think about why he was interested.

"What? An argument? What makes you think I would have argued with Marion?" Hood sounded … perplexed.

Gisburne was surprised the other man had not looked at him when he replied. It was not in his nature to stir the pot like that.

The knight was about to ask for clarification but then refrained. He had a feeling that Hood wanted to say something else but needed more time. So Gisburne waited.

Over the last few days, he had grown accustomed to the other man's ways and was now able to understand him better. To his own surprise, the knight enjoyed talking to Hood. He also enjoyed spending time in the forest, where he could relax. It was very different from the castle. Above all, it seemed much quieter. This was probably due to the absence of the Sheriff, who had insulted him almost nonstop over the past few weeks. Furthermore, the man blamed him for the loss of the Templar emblem.

The man also demanded impossible things from him, to an even greater extent than Abbot Hugo had.

Hood, on the other hand, made no demands of him except to lend him a listening ear. He also asked that he not go into the forest alone. He was never insulting or abusive. Gisburne never felt threatened. The few days there had already shown him that his life here was very different from that as the Sheriff's steward. Above all, it was much more pleasant.

The outlaw finally seemed to have made up his mind to add something. "It's just that we're not married."

"What?"

Hood realized the sort of impression he had just made on Gisburne. "I mean, we're not a couple," he added quickly.

"But..." Gisburne stammered. He did not know how to respond.

"I know what people say," Hood continued. "But it's only for her safety. How else could she live with us in the woods? If they believe she's my wife, they'll leave her alone. It works pretty well." He paused, then seemed to think of something else. "My men know, of course. But they're all friends with Marion."

The knight still did not know what to say. He had not expected this confession at all. Then it occurred to him that this was typical of Hood. He always seemed to need someone whom he could help.

"I don't quite understand. Marion is a woman anyone would want to marry," he finally managed to say. No sooner had he uttered the words than he realized how stupid they sounded. Now it was he who averted his gaze.

"Would you have married Marion, Gisburne?" Hood's question took the knight by surprise.

"Me?" Sir Guy lifted his head again. "No. I'm just a knight."

"Marion's father was just a knight, too," Hood replied.

"He was a crusader," Gisburne countered.

Hood snorted, giving Gisburne the impression that he should say something else. "The Lady is not my ideal type," the knight admitted, surprising even himself.

"Mine neither," came the quick reply.

Once again, Gisburne did not know what to make of Hood's words. So he asked another question. "So she's just a friend?"

"Just like the rest of my people."

"Haven't you met a woman you wanted to marry yet?" the knight blurted out. He definitely did not want to think about why he was so curious.

His question made Hood laugh. "What? Here in the woods?" But then he suddenly became serious. "There is someone I would like to spend my life with," he added. "Howaboutyou?" He spoke so quickly that the knight had trouble understanding him.

When the knight realized what the other man had said, he was unable to hide his surprise. "Me?" he stammered, needing a moment to collect himself. "I don't have time to look for someone," he said, trying to excuse himself.

"You don't always have to go looking for someone, though," replied Hood. He had stopped bothering with the stew and was now looking directly at the knight.

Gisburne felt the color rise to his cheeks.

Hood, on the other hand, seemed to have overcome his embarrassment. He had also shed his reserve. "I'm not that interested in women," he told the knight, his tone as if he were discussing nothing more exciting than the weather.

Gisburne could not prevent his face from turning redder. He was certain that he was unable to think clearly. Then he realized his mouth had taken on a life of its own. There was no way he could have meant to say what came next. "Me neither."

***********************                                                    

"Guy ... I don't regret any of what we did."

The knight stood next to his horse. He was preparing to return to Nottingham now that his wound had healed.

"Me neither, Robin," he replied. However, he did not sound cheerful. "But it has no future," he added. "This is a one-time occurrence." It was not easy for him to say, but someone had to be realistic.

"It doesn't have to be like that," Hood disagreed. "I'm sure we can find a way."

Guy sighed. Although he wanted to find a way, he did not believe it was possible.

"Don't give up so quickly, Guy. It did you good, too, didn't it?" the outlaw urged.

"I'm just being realistic, Robin. Tell me how this is supposed to work! You can't come to Nottingham; that would be the end of you. Do you think I want that? I can't come to the forest either. Your people would chase me away as soon as they saw me." He paused. "If I'm lucky."

"I'll talk to them. They'll understand; they're my friends, after all." As always, Hood was not willing to give up so easily.

Gisburne could not bring himself to contradict him. He did not want to lose Robin, but he had only ever had bad experiences when he got involved with someone.

Instead of answering, Gisburne kissed the other man once more before mounting his horse. At least he had that to remember.

The knight was not looking forward to returning to Nottingham. The Sheriff would certainly make him suffer for being lost in the forest for several days. At best, he could hope for biting ridicule and insults when the Sheriff accused him of allowing himself to be captured by Hood once again.

The future looked bleak. At least for Sir Guy of Gisburne.

                                                               *****************************

Robert looked up when he heard someone approaching the clearing. He expected to see Marion or Much, who would tell him that Marion could not come just then. But someone else entirely stepped out from between the trees.

"Father..." That was all the outlaw leader could utter.

"My son," Herne greeted him. "I gather I am needed here."

Robert's gaze immediately fell on his brother, who was still in the relentless grip of the fever. His condition had not changed in the last few hours.

"Did you really think I didn't care about him?" Herne asked unexpectedly. Robert immediately shook his head, though he was unsure if that was true.

But Herne left it at that. "You should all leave me alone with him now." His tone was gentle, yet everyone knew there was no room for argument.

However, no one intended to defy him. So, it took only a few moments before everyone but Herne and Gisburne had left the clearing.

                                                               *********************************

By the time Much returned, Herne had vanished again. The young man stepped into the clearing alone and looked very remorseful. However, when he saw Gisburne sitting by the fire, looking neither feverish nor in pain, Much stopped so abruptly that it was as if he had run into a wall.

Suddenly, a broad grin appeared on his face.

"Guy ..."

But then confusion appeared on Much’s face. He opened his mouth but did not get a chance to say anything.

"I didn't catch any of it, of course, but the others assured me that Herne was here," the knight explained with a hint of a smile.

"Good," was all Much could say.

“What about Marion?” Robert wanted to know.

"Marion?" stammered Much.

"Yes, Marion," Robert confirmed.

"Nasir said no. It wouldn't be the right time,” he finally replied.

"I'll tell our friend he can come back," Will grumbled. He acted like someone had just ordered him to leave. But he was gone before his leader could react.

Guy grinned at his brother's puzzled expression. The other man clearly still had to get used to Scarlet. The former soldier was anything but easy. But he was very loyal.

Gisburne's thoughts returned to what he had seen in his feverish dreams. The memories were so vivid that, when he first woke up, he expected to find Robin beside him. When he saw Robert instead, he felt a strong desire to return to his dream.

Of course, that was not possible. By now, he had come to terms — once again — with the fact that he had lost Robin. Still, he thought about the time he had spent with the other man.

He also wondered if everything might have been foretold, as Robin had occasionally hinted at such a possibility. Guy had never known what to make of that. He did not want to believe it was true and hoped that he had chosen this path of his own accord.

He wanted to believe that he had chosen Robin. He also wanted to believe that it had been Hood's own decision to choose him.

He cradled Albion in his arms, as if that could help him overcome his loss. In the past, he would have dismissed it as superstition, but since awakening from his feverish dream, he had felt Robin of Loxley near him whenever he touched the blade.

Guy dreaded the day when Robert would demand the sword from him. Why had Herne brought him back from his memories?