Denial, Chapter 48: The Four Stages, Part 2
Title: Denial, Chapter 48: The Four Stages, Part 2
Author: darkentwisted
Characters/Pairings: Robin, Legrand, Little John, Will/Djaq, Guy, Vaizey, Allan, Marian, Mentions: Much
Rating: PG-13 (Descriptions of violence)
Genre: slash, het, angst,
Words: 2,940
Disclaimer: BBC & TA own; I just want to play in their universe
Notes: This continues the 'Round-Robin' fic 'Denial'.
Personally tested and sanitized for your protection by robinfanatic & wastingyourgum, poor souls with an unenviable task.
Summary: On the road to Portsmouth, the gang picks up the sheriff's trail.
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Previous Chapters: Summary of previous chapters...
Denial, Chapter 48: The Four Stages, Part 2
Anger
The long journey should have tired him but Robin felt nothing. Only thoughts of her alone with his enemies filled his mind. Thoughts of vengeance if she came to harm possessed him. When the others stopped to break camp he kept going; only the hand grasping his shoulder stirred him from his dark plans.
"Robin, we rest, now." He bluntly nodded at John as the large man steered their horses back to the others. He didn't want to stop - not till she was in his arms again safe and the traitors who held her were dead.
Food had no flavour as he chewed nor the wine any taste. The bitterness of what was gone filled him as he watched the others walking around him. Djaq and Will were packing supplies to scout ahead to the town for word of their quarry. Legrand and John pitched what shelter they could and set up camp. Robin was alone in his own mind and liked it that way. No one dared try to reason or change his mind. They followed him in his mission and it was all he asked.
"I'm going to get wood," John nodded at Legrand. "You coming?"
Ordinarily the Frenchman would have jumped at the chance to have time alone with his friend but not tonight. He knew that look. He watched Robin's eyes and he saw the darkness behind them. He nodded at John, 'I'll stay here, mon ami, in case he needs to talk to someone."
John nodded and disappeared into the trees.
"I don't want to talk, Legrand."
"We need a plan..."
"I have a plan!" Robin looked crossly into the fire as he folded his hands in front of his face, "Half a plan."
"What these men are willing to do! We cannot go after them alone. We need to involve others sympathetic to our cause."
"And who would that be?" Robin spat. "Who do we know who is truly loyal to our king besides us?" Robin shook his head. "Even in my own camp I had a spy turned by Gisborne."
"Allan?"
Robin nodded, "I cannot even fully trust my own men because of him." He looked away. "There was one man I knew I could trust. I let him go back to the Holy Land like a fool. I wish he was here with me now."
"Your manservant, Mooch?"
"Much," Robin smiled. "His name is...was Much. At least I was able to give him his freedom before he died."
"You don't know that he is dead now."
"I've seen his ghost too many times to think otherwise, Legrand. I hoped to see him under better circumstances one day but now I will mourn for him and Marian."
"No. You must stop this thinking now, Robin!" Legrand grabbed the other man's arm. "Marian is alive and so is Much. You must believe that. You must have faith."
"You seem so sure." Robin shook his head, "I don't have that luxury, my friend."
"Yes you do." Legrand stretched out his arms. "It is all around you and yet you miss it - like not seeing the forest for the trees. These people that follow you unquestioningly - they are your strength. They are your faith. I know this because they are now mine as well. Djaq, Will and John, they became my hope when I had none and my strength when I was weak." Legrand grinned as he captured the frowning leader in the surprising crush of a bear hug. "Because of you...all of you... I live."
"We will find her, Robin." John spoke from behind them suddenly. "We will save Marian and then we will see Vaizey and Gisborne hang." John's eyes widened at the changing color of his leaders face. He tapped Legrand on the shoulder. "You can release him now."
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Denial
Djaq walked several paces behind her lover. The stolen clothes she now wore covered the skimpy outfit she narrowly escaped with her life in. Will was still distant to her and she knew it was because of what she did to help them escape. She hadn't bothered to think of anything to sooth his feelings. There was no time for intimate chat among the others but she would catch his eye as they rode and she saw the doubt behind them. She felt better once covered and the other outlaws hungry eyes stopped staring. She trusted them with her honour but they were men and she had once again visibly proven she was not. Another bout of nausea overtook her as she swooned against a tree and one more secret was making itself known.
She knew what it was in the back of her mind when she felt the first waves overtake her. If worst came to worst she knew what herbs to take to make it go away. She had administered them before to poor frightened women as a healer, but this was different, it was hers and she wanted it. Still the dreams came. Dreams of days in a cottage with Will where she would tend lovingly to their strong son. Then the nightmares took over. His face staring over her ripped open belly grinning a gap tooth grin. "Aww...the leper doesn't like her baby?" The countenance of the sheriff would leer from an impossible infant face. She would wake trying to kick the monstrosity away and snuggle into Will from terror as he slept next to her.
Morning brought the doubts and nausea. At first she blamed it on bad food, fever, anything but what she knew was true. She was going to be a mother, Allah be praised. Life quickened in her womb but she was also outlawed. There was no room for new life in the woods. One of Robin Hood's men could never have a baby in tow.
She looked down as the dizziness passed and found the plant. She looked at her lover as she held it. Belladonna, nightshade, devil's cherry. One dose would do it. She turned the innocent-looking herb in her hand. She jerked reflexively at the sound of his voice.
"What is that?" Will asked under upturned brows as he stopped and turned to her.
"It's...it's just a new herb...I was thinking of collecting for our medicine kit," Djaq replied.
"Oh, think we may need that?" the woodsman questioned with a kind smile. His green eyes sparkled and she imagined her son...their son, with those eyes.
Djaq dropped the plant and crushed it under her heel. She smiled at her lover. "No, no we don't."
Will shook his head and mumbled to himself about women, as he headed down the trail to the inn.
Djaq looked at the crushed plant then at her abdomen. "Praise Allah, I am glad." She smiled and rushed to catch up taking his hand in hers.
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"Beat the lad like a stray dog, I tells ya," the old man prattled on. "I 'eard the expression 'tore 'im a new one' but ne'er sawed it put to practice before." The curmudgeon laughed at his own sick joke.
"Tell him to shut up, Will," Djaq's liquid eyes begged. "Please...make him stop."
"Oi! There's a lady present!" the carpenter scolded the healer.
The old man frowned at the stranger, then leaned in to the other men around him. "The dark one said 'e did it fallin' offa horse but if you ask me I think it was that little noble theys be travilin' with. Dinnit like the sights of 'em. I think 'e did summit to that boy."
"You shouldn't speak against nobles like that, Clarence," the barkeep warned. "Your suspicion will nigh send us all to the gallows."
"I sawed what I sawed," the older man went on. "'Ad to patch the poor lad up meself. What kinda noble does that to his servant? Poor boy he kept calling for his friends, said 'e did it for her."
"Enough, Clarence!" the barkeep hissed as he looked around at the other patrons.
"Will?" the Saracen woman cried.
"It can't be him! He isn't talking about Allan," the carpenter reasoned, wide eyed. "Allan would never let anyone...we have to go. We have to find Robin."
They made their way out of the tavern as the old men prattled on, not noticing.
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Fear
It was a strange sight that met Gisborne's eyes. He didn't know what to expect when he was summoned to the captain's table on the ship but Vaizey making obscene noises with his head under a large napkin wasn't anywhere near the scope he anticipated.
"You summoned me?"
"Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm," came the muffled sound. The sheriff gestured to the other chair with his hand. And Guy did as told.
"Everything is on course. We'll land in Le Havre by morning, then journey overland and arrive in Marseilles by..." He was interrupted by soft crunching under the napkin followed by more soft moans of pleasure. "I cannot very well have a conversation with you, my lord if you are..." He hastily snatched the napkin from over Vaizey's face and wished he hadn't.
The sheriff had a look of utter dismay on his face but even more disturbing was the small roasted bird hanging head-first out of his mouth. Juices ran down his chin and he quickly snatched the napkin from his master-at-arm's hand and recovered his face. More grinding and chewing sounded, then he withdrew the napkin and took a hearty sip of wine before looking back at Gisborne. "Do you know why one covers his head when eating ortolans, Gisborne?"
Guy shook his head in barely hidden disgust.
"Ahh! You see..." the sheriff said, wiping his mouth and dipping a hunk of bread in the juices on his plate. "You see some would say it is to hide the obvious vulgarity of one eating a small bird whole. Those would be the people with weak stomachs who can't stand the ugliness that surrounds them in their lives." He poured more wine from the flask in front of him and swirled it in the chalice studying the face of the man in front of him twisted in distaste. "Others would say it is to hide their sin of extravagance from God."
Vaizey got up from his place at the table and walked around the room. "Those people are the ones who hide behind the pompousness of religion. They try to hide the sin in their own lives by pointing at the sinfulness of others. Then there are the chosen few." He smiled wickedly and caressed the cage that held the living versions of his meal as they delicately sang. "Those who know that if you are going to take a sweet innocent bird, fatten it up by forcing it to eat, then drown it in Armagnac, the least you can do is savour every bite and aroma by covering your head." By this time he had made his way disturbingly close to Gisborne, too close for the knight's comfort. Guy tried to lean away from the repulsive man but before he could, a sharp pain shot through his hand.
"ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" He looked down in horror to find that the sheriff had impaled his hand with a fork.
'So why are you covering your head, Gizzy?" Vaizey hissed, delighted at the other man's misery. "Is it to hide the vulgarity?" He twisted the fork into the other man's hand.
"ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGHHHH!" Guy grimaced. "Please...please...stop!"
"Loving both a leper and 'your boy'. Awww the look on his face when he realized you were sacrificing him to save your precious little Lady Fitzwalter." He turned the handle on the utensil again.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!"
Vaizey turned his eyes as if contemplating, "Or is it to hide your sin? Oh yes, the sin! Lust..." He turned the fork again eliciting an agonized scream from the dark knight. "Sodomy? Fornication? But for which one would you sin the worst, the boy or the leper?" He twisted again and with his free hand he grabbed the other man's hair. "I think you want to savour the sweet taste of the delicious bird as you crush it between your teeth. You want them both but you are afraid that showing them your feelings will consume you so you hide your greed! You are no better than I am Gisborne!" Vaizey leered. "Just hide your head and chew! Shut up and sink your teeth into it!" He grabbed the other man's cheek with his hand. "Don't worry about the bird, Gisborne. Another one will come along to sing for you and you will have the money to enjoy it more!" He retrieved the fork, making the dark knight snatch away his injured hand and clutch it to his chest.
Guy glared at the noble and it took every effort not to dispatch the horrible man right there. Vaizey still held a handful of his hair and tugged it firmly to let the other man know who was in control. "We are going to the Holy Land to kill the King and I will not have your little pets take that from me!" He calmed down then leaned back in. "So I need you to decide. We have too much dead weight with us and one of them needs to go."
Guy nodded furiously, anything to stop the madman from hurting him further. "I will handle it."
Vaizey wiped his mouth and tossed the used napkin in front of the knight. He tucked Gisborne's napkin into his jerkin and removed the cover from the plate in front of him. Guy grimaced at the small roasted whole bird. The sheriff sneered, "You had better, Gisborne, or that will not be the only thing around here that gets drowned and roasted!" He turned and smiled evilly before leaving the room. "Eat your ortolan before it gets cold."
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Marian woke to the sound of the heavy door closing. Allan stirred softly next to her, a fine sheen of sweat covered his face.
"How is he?" Guy asked with genuine worry as he held his hand to the former outlaw's forehead.
"He's sleeping." Marian looked up at him and noticed the bloody bandage with guarded interest. "Your hand..."
"I injured it while eating," Gisborne looked away.
Marian accepted the excuse as she did their current situation. "What have you gotten us into, Guy?"
Gisborne's eyes turned from icy to cold flame. "What have I gotten us into?" He glared, "I did not make an attempt on the sheriff's life. I did not try to take on the most powerful man in Nottingham single-handed!" He softened. "You should have minded your own business, Marian. You would have been none the wiser. I would have returned with money and power, we would have a new king, one who is more sympathetic to our cause and I could have given you the life you deserve." He touched her cheek and she pulled away. "Now all that is jeopardized and I don't know if I can protect you...either of you...any more."
"Gis?"
"How are you, Allan?"
The young man clutched his stomach. "Not bein' funny, but it hurts. It really hurts."
"I brought you more ginger root."
Allan raised his head and took a sip from the offered cup. He reeled at the motion of the ship on the waves. "I never been over water before. Is this how it makes ya feel?"
Guy smirked. "Sometimes it does. When you get well enough, I will take you topside so you can see the ocean." Guy showed unusual concern as he stroked the younger man's hair.
Allan shook his head. "I won't leave Marian. I'll stay down here with her. Keep her safe...from him."
"As you wish, Allan." Guy turned and regarded them both. "Stay out of his way. Let him have what he wants and I will get us out of this."
"And when he gets what he wants what is to stop him from wanting more?" Marian replied defiantly. "Who's next after the King?"
Gisborne repeated as he shut the door, "Stay out of his way, Marian. I will do what I can to keep you safe."
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Acceptance
Djaq was still in tears as Will led her back to camp.
"What did you find out?" Robin looked up expectantly. John had long passed out against Legrand's shoulder as the two men snored softly under the tree.
"They were there." Will nodded solemnly. "We overheard a healer talking in the tavern. Apparently Allan was injured."
Robin frowned but was otherwise uninterested in the traitor's plight. "Marian?"
"She was still with them." Will nodded, "According to the stable boy, they chained her like an animal, but otherwise she seemed well." He shook his head. "I know Allan is a traitor and a liar, but to go along with a plot to kill the king..."
"Maybe he didn't." Djaq pulled away. "That man thought the sheriff beat him, or worse. Allan might be in just as much trouble as Marian..."
"And if he is, he must lie in it," Robin spat back to the stunned Saracen. "He chose his allies. Let him hang beside them." He turned back to Will. "Any word on where they were headed?"
"They boarded a boat bound for Le Havre."
"Then so will we, at first light." Robin turned and as he did so Djaq grabbed his arm.
"He is a good man, Robin. Allan..."
"I've seen good men turned way too often, Djaq." Robin studied her sad eyes. "When I find them I will give him the same chance to redeem himself as the others. At the end of my sword."
More this way! Don't you trust me?