Denial, Ch. 57: As the Earth Grows Dark
Title: Denial, Ch. 57: As the Earth Grows Dark
Author: robinfanatic
Characters/Pairings: Much/Carter
Rating: NC-17
Genre: slash
Words: 1824
Disclaimer: BBC & TA own; we just want to play in their universe
Notes: This continues the 'Round-Robin' fic 'Denial'. Beta'd by wastingyourgum , darkentwisted & jagnikjen. Takes place a few weeks before the gang arrives in the Holy Land in 2x13.
Summary: Gossip about Robin and the gang's involvement in the attempt on Queen Eleanor's life gets Much in a bit of hot water. Carter discovers that he's not immune to the green-eyed monster, and the boys manage to find a moment of intimacy before their world begins to crumble around them.
Previous chapter summaries & info about writing for Denial are here...
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As the Earth Grows Dark
by robinfanatic
The messenger only said, go to the healer's tent, and Carter feared the worst. Much is fine, he told himself. He survived that Saracen poison. He's fine. Heart pounding, Carter ran across the camp, nearly stumbling in the sand. He was out of breath when he heard the cries coming from the tent.
"Oi! Stop!"
Carter threw aside the flap and barged into the tent.
"Ouch!" Much shouted. "That hurts."
The healer glared at his patient. "Hold that salve against your nose or I will show you what hurts really means."
The sight of his squire with a black eye and bloody nose was too much, especially when Carter expected to see him pierced by a sword again. He was so relieved he couldn't hold back his laughter. "What happened?"
"You should tell this one to mind his tongue, Sir Carter," Rahiim replied before Much could respond. "He will not need to worry about dying at Saracen hands. Your own countrymen will take care of that."
"Oi!" Much cried out again as Rahiim cleaned the cut below his eye. "I don't want them as countrymen when they--ouch! Could you be a little more gentle? Please?"
Carter drew close to inspect the damage to Much's face. He started to touch him, but Much squirmed away. "Did they break it?"
"No, though one more punch to his nose might have. It is badly bruised. He will be his usual handsome self in a matter of days." Rahiim winked at Carter. He gathered his supplies and frowned as Much removed the salve again. "If he keeps that balm on his skin." He shrugged. "And if he does not, he may be permanently scarred."
"What!" Much cried. "You said it wasn't that bad."
Rahiim merely smiled then looked at Carter. "Get him out of my tent. Try to keep him out of trouble."
"You ask the impossible," Carter replied with a mischievous grin. He tugged at Much's arm. "C'mon, you," he said as they wandered back across the tent city. "Would you tell me what happened?"
"They were talking about Robin again. Calling him a traitor."
Carter saw the pain in Much's eyes and hoped his squire did not see the exasperated look he was sure was on his own face.
"Robin did not try to kill Queen Eleanor!" Much insisted. "He wouldn't...he'd never do that!"
"We both know that." Carter's voice grew soft. "What happened to the promise you made to me?"
"I know I said I'd ignore the gossip, but Sir James' squire and a few of the knights were talking about how brave Vaizey was, how he was such a noble man, and they planned to be there when the king sentenced Robin to hang. One even said he heard Vaizey was stabbed during the attack and Prince John stayed in Nottingham 'til he recovered--"
"Rumours, Much, just rumours."
"Why haven't we heard from Robin? Don't you think the Queen Mother would've written to the king about what really happened? Do you think Robin received the message we sent?"
Carter sighed. Robin this...Robin that... Much was so worried about his friend...his former master...his former lover. Carter chided himself for being jealous and threw his arm across Much's shoulder. "I'm sure we'll hear something soon."
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"Much, it's cold out here." Carter stood at the entrance to the tent and shivered. "What's wrong?"
Banners flapped gently in the cool breeze that swept through the king's camp. Torch lights fluttered. Voices murmured across the sands rising now and then from the tent city, nearly drowned out by the horses shuffling in their make-shift corral. It was peaceful with the full moon and vast sea of diamonds overhead. The enemy slept for once. And for just a short while Much could lie outside and forget that they were at war.
"Just laying here. Looking at the stars."
"Awfully late," Carter said.
"Couldn't sleep." Much's nose ached and his head hurt from the beating earlier in the day. He felt heartsick about Robin, but the truth was that there had been too many battles these last few weeks, too many close calls with death. It was hard to sleep when those thoughts intruded; and when sleep did come, it was often filled with nightmares. In Sherwood, the dreams about the war weren't so real because they were home. But here in the Holy Land, it was often hard to tell the dream from the reality--death seemed so much closer. Much shook off the dark thoughts and patted the desert sand, cocking his head toward the skies when Carter sat down. "Thought I'd go over my stars lesson."
Carter turned sharply. "You're not thinkin' about..." He paused, peering across the mass of white to ensure no one was within ear's reach. He threw his lover a wink, remembering that particular lesson when they'd traveled to the Holy Land across deep blue waters beneath star-filled skies. Oh, God, how he wished for a night in the crow's nest right now, sitting high above the deck, his arms encircling Much's waist, the feel of hard flesh, and Much's hands on his body. He took a deep breath to calm his pounding heart.
"Well, no, I wasn't." Much glanced sidelong at his lover, and then tipped his head from side to side and tried to hide a grin. "Well, not just that." His fingers furtively reached for Carter's hand beside his in the sand. They made contact for only a few seconds before Much reluctantly pulled away. "I was just wondering what the gang was doing."
Carter withheld a sigh. "They are doing the same thing you are, Much. Worrying. Thinking about you." Laughing lightly, Carter's blue eyes sparkled in the dim light. "And if I am on their minds, it's only to curse me for taking you away. Just think of everything you did for them. You hunted for their dinner, skinned your catch, cooked it, and cleaned up after them. Saved their hides more times than--"
"Mended Robin's clothes, too," Much interrupted. He almost mentioned the times the gang barely escaped from the sheriff's hands. He'd worried about them, wondered if... if... No, he thought, they're all fine. He'd been so close to death himself after being nicked by that poison Saracen blade, yet here he was just thinking of the gang. "Do you really think they miss me?"
"I know they do. Look up there," Carter pointed. "Orion the hunter..."
The last time Much traced the stars of Orion he couldn't bring himself to say anything. This time the words came a bit easier. "Like Robin."
Carter squirmed. He knew of Robin's hold over Much's heart, but he'd never been jealous about anyone or anything before. He knew the difference between friendship, comfort, lust, and love. So why did this bother him now, hearing his lover still remembering Robin more than a year since they'd left England? Remembering a man who'd used him, who'd not really loved him at all. It made him angry with himself, made him angry with Robin, too. He needed to forget that. Much was here. With him. And they loved each other. How could anything change that? He pushed aside the tinge of jealousy. "He's up there every night, keeping an eye on you."
"Him up there." Much turned to Carter. "You down here. That's good to know."
"C'mon. Time to sleep, all right?"
It was nearly pitch black inside the tent with moonlight barely filtering through the walls. Carter's arms found Much as the flap closed behind him. His lips sought out his lover's and they connected with a gentle kiss. Carter's hands slipped around Much's waist and under his tunic. His hands splayed against the small of Much's back, and he pressed him close. Their kisses grew more urgent.
Much moaned softly, his body reacting to even the slightest movement of Carter's fingers against his flesh. "Sleep?" Much teased. "I don't think so..."
Carter lifted Much's tunic, slipping it upwards slowly, his mouth trailing behind it with sensuous kisses up his squire's chest and across his shoulder to his neck.
Much suppressed a moan. He arched his back as Carter pressed against him again. Much's body ached with desire, every nerve on fire. When their lips connected again, he ground against his lover, his own hands slipping into Carter's leggings to cup his arse.
"I love you," Carter whispered, his hands mirroring Much's.
Much responded with a bruising kiss, his mouth so hot that Carter felt his knees weaken. Much's hands moved up his back and around to his stomach, then he slowly lifted Carter's clothing over his head and threw it across his cot. Palms gently explored his chest, tracing his muscled abs.
Carter trembled beneath his lover's touch, marvelling that the passion he'd felt the first time they'd made love was just as strong as ever.
He welcomed another rough kiss, then whimpered when Much pulled away. Much's eyes caressed his face. He ran a finger across Carter's lips, tracing the curve of his mouth, then down his chin to his neck.
Carter's breaths grew short. He anticipated where Much's casual exploration might lead and thought he'd go mad. Strong hands topped his shoulders then ran down his arms. Kisses brushed his ear, his neck, and teeth nibbled his shoulder.
Much's hand twined through Carter's fingers as his tongue traced down his chest then tickled one nipple. Carter clenched Much's hand and pressed it toward his aching groin. He guided it up and down his hard shaft. "Oh, God, Much..." he said softly, forcing his lover's hand into his braies and around his cock. With his other hand, he tugged at Much's clothing. He released his swollen shaft and brushed it against his own, catching Much's fingers in his play while they worked each other gently, matching stroke for stroke. Their mouths locked in another passionate kiss. Suppressing their lust-filled groans, they panted into each other. Carter grabbed Much's arse with his free hand and thrust his hips to bring them closer to the edge.
"Oh... oh... Carter!" Much cried out into his shoulder as warm seed spilled sticky, wet and welcome into their hands. Carter climaxed a moment later, and then both men collapsed to the mat on the ground. Much wrapped his arms around Carter tightly relishing the feel of hot flesh while their hearts found normal beats. Much planted a kiss on the knight's forehead. "I love you, Carter," he murmured.
Carter could not take his eyes from Much's face as he watched his lover drift toward sleep. His eyelashes brushed cheeks turned golden by the desert sun, his lips curled into a gentle smile. Carter rested his hand on Much's waist. The memory of his touch, the way he said his name, the look in his eyes...it made Carter feel like all the stars in the heavens were his. And the stars were forever...weren't they?
>>>------------------->>>>>
A new writer joins the Denial ranks with Chapter 58..welcome perteltote!.
Author: robinfanatic
Characters/Pairings: Much/Carter
Rating: NC-17
Genre: slash
Words: 1824
Disclaimer: BBC & TA own; we just want to play in their universe
Notes: This continues the 'Round-Robin' fic 'Denial'. Beta'd by wastingyourgum , darkentwisted & jagnikjen. Takes place a few weeks before the gang arrives in the Holy Land in 2x13.
Summary: Gossip about Robin and the gang's involvement in the attempt on Queen Eleanor's life gets Much in a bit of hot water. Carter discovers that he's not immune to the green-eyed monster, and the boys manage to find a moment of intimacy before their world begins to crumble around them.
Previous chapter summaries & info about writing for Denial are here...
>>>------------------------->
As the Earth Grows Dark
by robinfanatic
The messenger only said, go to the healer's tent, and Carter feared the worst. Much is fine, he told himself. He survived that Saracen poison. He's fine. Heart pounding, Carter ran across the camp, nearly stumbling in the sand. He was out of breath when he heard the cries coming from the tent.
"Oi! Stop!"
Carter threw aside the flap and barged into the tent.
"Ouch!" Much shouted. "That hurts."
The healer glared at his patient. "Hold that salve against your nose or I will show you what hurts really means."
The sight of his squire with a black eye and bloody nose was too much, especially when Carter expected to see him pierced by a sword again. He was so relieved he couldn't hold back his laughter. "What happened?"
"You should tell this one to mind his tongue, Sir Carter," Rahiim replied before Much could respond. "He will not need to worry about dying at Saracen hands. Your own countrymen will take care of that."
"Oi!" Much cried out again as Rahiim cleaned the cut below his eye. "I don't want them as countrymen when they--ouch! Could you be a little more gentle? Please?"
Carter drew close to inspect the damage to Much's face. He started to touch him, but Much squirmed away. "Did they break it?"
"No, though one more punch to his nose might have. It is badly bruised. He will be his usual handsome self in a matter of days." Rahiim winked at Carter. He gathered his supplies and frowned as Much removed the salve again. "If he keeps that balm on his skin." He shrugged. "And if he does not, he may be permanently scarred."
"What!" Much cried. "You said it wasn't that bad."
Rahiim merely smiled then looked at Carter. "Get him out of my tent. Try to keep him out of trouble."
"You ask the impossible," Carter replied with a mischievous grin. He tugged at Much's arm. "C'mon, you," he said as they wandered back across the tent city. "Would you tell me what happened?"
"They were talking about Robin again. Calling him a traitor."
Carter saw the pain in Much's eyes and hoped his squire did not see the exasperated look he was sure was on his own face.
"Robin did not try to kill Queen Eleanor!" Much insisted. "He wouldn't...he'd never do that!"
"We both know that." Carter's voice grew soft. "What happened to the promise you made to me?"
"I know I said I'd ignore the gossip, but Sir James' squire and a few of the knights were talking about how brave Vaizey was, how he was such a noble man, and they planned to be there when the king sentenced Robin to hang. One even said he heard Vaizey was stabbed during the attack and Prince John stayed in Nottingham 'til he recovered--"
"Rumours, Much, just rumours."
"Why haven't we heard from Robin? Don't you think the Queen Mother would've written to the king about what really happened? Do you think Robin received the message we sent?"
Carter sighed. Robin this...Robin that... Much was so worried about his friend...his former master...his former lover. Carter chided himself for being jealous and threw his arm across Much's shoulder. "I'm sure we'll hear something soon."
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"Much, it's cold out here." Carter stood at the entrance to the tent and shivered. "What's wrong?"
Banners flapped gently in the cool breeze that swept through the king's camp. Torch lights fluttered. Voices murmured across the sands rising now and then from the tent city, nearly drowned out by the horses shuffling in their make-shift corral. It was peaceful with the full moon and vast sea of diamonds overhead. The enemy slept for once. And for just a short while Much could lie outside and forget that they were at war.
"Just laying here. Looking at the stars."
"Awfully late," Carter said.
"Couldn't sleep." Much's nose ached and his head hurt from the beating earlier in the day. He felt heartsick about Robin, but the truth was that there had been too many battles these last few weeks, too many close calls with death. It was hard to sleep when those thoughts intruded; and when sleep did come, it was often filled with nightmares. In Sherwood, the dreams about the war weren't so real because they were home. But here in the Holy Land, it was often hard to tell the dream from the reality--death seemed so much closer. Much shook off the dark thoughts and patted the desert sand, cocking his head toward the skies when Carter sat down. "Thought I'd go over my stars lesson."
Carter turned sharply. "You're not thinkin' about..." He paused, peering across the mass of white to ensure no one was within ear's reach. He threw his lover a wink, remembering that particular lesson when they'd traveled to the Holy Land across deep blue waters beneath star-filled skies. Oh, God, how he wished for a night in the crow's nest right now, sitting high above the deck, his arms encircling Much's waist, the feel of hard flesh, and Much's hands on his body. He took a deep breath to calm his pounding heart.
"Well, no, I wasn't." Much glanced sidelong at his lover, and then tipped his head from side to side and tried to hide a grin. "Well, not just that." His fingers furtively reached for Carter's hand beside his in the sand. They made contact for only a few seconds before Much reluctantly pulled away. "I was just wondering what the gang was doing."
Carter withheld a sigh. "They are doing the same thing you are, Much. Worrying. Thinking about you." Laughing lightly, Carter's blue eyes sparkled in the dim light. "And if I am on their minds, it's only to curse me for taking you away. Just think of everything you did for them. You hunted for their dinner, skinned your catch, cooked it, and cleaned up after them. Saved their hides more times than--"
"Mended Robin's clothes, too," Much interrupted. He almost mentioned the times the gang barely escaped from the sheriff's hands. He'd worried about them, wondered if... if... No, he thought, they're all fine. He'd been so close to death himself after being nicked by that poison Saracen blade, yet here he was just thinking of the gang. "Do you really think they miss me?"
"I know they do. Look up there," Carter pointed. "Orion the hunter..."
The last time Much traced the stars of Orion he couldn't bring himself to say anything. This time the words came a bit easier. "Like Robin."
Carter squirmed. He knew of Robin's hold over Much's heart, but he'd never been jealous about anyone or anything before. He knew the difference between friendship, comfort, lust, and love. So why did this bother him now, hearing his lover still remembering Robin more than a year since they'd left England? Remembering a man who'd used him, who'd not really loved him at all. It made him angry with himself, made him angry with Robin, too. He needed to forget that. Much was here. With him. And they loved each other. How could anything change that? He pushed aside the tinge of jealousy. "He's up there every night, keeping an eye on you."
"Him up there." Much turned to Carter. "You down here. That's good to know."
"C'mon. Time to sleep, all right?"
It was nearly pitch black inside the tent with moonlight barely filtering through the walls. Carter's arms found Much as the flap closed behind him. His lips sought out his lover's and they connected with a gentle kiss. Carter's hands slipped around Much's waist and under his tunic. His hands splayed against the small of Much's back, and he pressed him close. Their kisses grew more urgent.
Much moaned softly, his body reacting to even the slightest movement of Carter's fingers against his flesh. "Sleep?" Much teased. "I don't think so..."
Carter lifted Much's tunic, slipping it upwards slowly, his mouth trailing behind it with sensuous kisses up his squire's chest and across his shoulder to his neck.
Much suppressed a moan. He arched his back as Carter pressed against him again. Much's body ached with desire, every nerve on fire. When their lips connected again, he ground against his lover, his own hands slipping into Carter's leggings to cup his arse.
"I love you," Carter whispered, his hands mirroring Much's.
Much responded with a bruising kiss, his mouth so hot that Carter felt his knees weaken. Much's hands moved up his back and around to his stomach, then he slowly lifted Carter's clothing over his head and threw it across his cot. Palms gently explored his chest, tracing his muscled abs.
Carter trembled beneath his lover's touch, marvelling that the passion he'd felt the first time they'd made love was just as strong as ever.
He welcomed another rough kiss, then whimpered when Much pulled away. Much's eyes caressed his face. He ran a finger across Carter's lips, tracing the curve of his mouth, then down his chin to his neck.
Carter's breaths grew short. He anticipated where Much's casual exploration might lead and thought he'd go mad. Strong hands topped his shoulders then ran down his arms. Kisses brushed his ear, his neck, and teeth nibbled his shoulder.
Much's hand twined through Carter's fingers as his tongue traced down his chest then tickled one nipple. Carter clenched Much's hand and pressed it toward his aching groin. He guided it up and down his hard shaft. "Oh, God, Much..." he said softly, forcing his lover's hand into his braies and around his cock. With his other hand, he tugged at Much's clothing. He released his swollen shaft and brushed it against his own, catching Much's fingers in his play while they worked each other gently, matching stroke for stroke. Their mouths locked in another passionate kiss. Suppressing their lust-filled groans, they panted into each other. Carter grabbed Much's arse with his free hand and thrust his hips to bring them closer to the edge.
"Oh... oh... Carter!" Much cried out into his shoulder as warm seed spilled sticky, wet and welcome into their hands. Carter climaxed a moment later, and then both men collapsed to the mat on the ground. Much wrapped his arms around Carter tightly relishing the feel of hot flesh while their hearts found normal beats. Much planted a kiss on the knight's forehead. "I love you, Carter," he murmured.
Carter could not take his eyes from Much's face as he watched his lover drift toward sleep. His eyelashes brushed cheeks turned golden by the desert sun, his lips curled into a gentle smile. Carter rested his hand on Much's waist. The memory of his touch, the way he said his name, the look in his eyes...it made Carter feel like all the stars in the heavens were his. And the stars were forever...weren't they?
>>>------------------->>>>>
A new writer joins the Denial ranks with Chapter 58..welcome perteltote!.