The Longest Time - Chapter 10
Title, Chapter: The Longest Time - Chapter 10
Author: kegel84
Summary: When the king returned, everything would be right again. But the day King Richard came into the town of Nottingham, Robin and the outlaws had to notice that things didn't turn out as they had always thought in the back of their minds.
Characters/Pairings: The Outlaws & Marian, Pairings: Robin/Marian, Will/Djaq
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers/Warnings: Season 2 till Lardner's Ring (AU after that)
Disclaimer: I do not own the show or the characters and make no money off them.
Notes: Thanks so much to my betas neaptidea and emmithar, neaptidea especially for pointing out when I contradicted myself or made no sense at all, and emmithar for her inspiration. And thanks to laura_isabel for her artwork! :)
Artwork, by laura_isabel
Previous Chapter
Robin was keeping his guard despite the tiredness that he felt. He didn't even know if he would manage to sleep the next night. The cloud of the potential battle, war, was hanging over him. They would fight, shed blood, kill a hundred men, for no other reason than that they stood on the other side. He could be killed himself, he knew. He had survived many battles in the Holy Lands, many as an outlaw fighting in Nottingham, but he also knew that war's logical result was death.
He kept his posture upright as the morning moved on to a warm summer day. It was well past noon, when Robin saw the king returning from a meeting that had been kept secret from most of the men, dismounting his horse and making his way to the tent that Robin was standing guard by. Richard seemed to be in a sombre, yet positive mood, and Robin could only guess what this had to mean. Maybe the man had decided on battle and the fervour of the upcoming fighting was already burning inside of him. Robin did not dare to judge it for sure, not knowing who the man had met and what the result of it was.
Richard came to a stop in front of him, nodding to Robin. “I wish that you join me inside, Robin.”
Robin nodded and followed the king into the tent. The man turned, his expression more earnest than it had been outside.
“I know that your heart is not in this, Robin,” the man started.
Robin was taken aback, not having expected the reprimand now. “I swore my loyalty to you.”
“You did, years ago, but you renewed it, following me here, only under duress.”
Robin did not dare to nod or affirm this in any other way, though it was true and he knew the king to know it was true. It was the reason, and when Richard had ordered him to come with him to Normandy, he had not even pretended that he believed Robin to come fully on his own accord. It would have been a lie, and they both would have known it. In the months since though, the king might have expected him to form a new bond to him, give his loyalty fully and freely now. Though he could feel the guilt of betrayal, or abandoning his king lingering in his mind, Robin knew that he could not give this anymore.
“I met my brother today,” the king went on, and Robin nodded once. “We talked. About many things.” The man smiled. “I pardoned him, Robin. He is my brother, and I know that it were evil advisers who led him astray.”
Robin nodded again, not commenting on the fact that the king was pardoning a man who had tried to kill him, but not others who had been fighting for him.
“I want to do right by him,” Richard went on, “and I want to do right by you.” He paused, studying the other. “I pardon you, Robin of Locksley, and I give you leave to return to England, if you so wish.” He smiled again. “And I know you do.”
Robin couldn't quite believe the words at first, then the disbelief made room for elation. He nodded. “I want to go back.”
To this, Richard nodded, the smile still with him even though the tone of his voice changed. “I figured that you would.”
Robin could almost swear he could hear a hint of disappointment in the king’s voice. That had never been his intention, but Robin knew that things had changed since when he first had gone off to war, and now.
“My loyalty is with you,” Robin reminded him, “If you wish me to stay, then I will.”
He did not want to stay. But neither could he simply turn his back on the king. The man had pardoned him, was giving him leave to return home to England, back to Locksley, where Marian was no doubt waiting for him. Robin had waited for so long for this to happen. Still, it felt as though the pardon was given mostly because of a mood, because the meeting with his brother had released Richard of his anger, rather than it being something he had actually planned for, did truly want.
“Your loyalty is not in question,” Richard answered. “I may disagree with some of the ways you showed it, but there is no reason for me to question it.”
Robin nodded, but stayed where he was. So what was it that happened now? Did he simply turn and leave? What was the king to do from here? Where would Richard go now that he seemed to have made peace with his brother? There were so many questions still.
“I assume you will depart in the morning?”
Robin nodded, guessing that he would. It would be a long way back, but he looked forward to the time when he would arrive at Locksley.
“You will be gone as well by then?” he wondered.
“Yes,” Richard agreed, nodding, “I suppose I will. Let us mark this occasion, what do you think?”
Robin raised an eyebrow, confused, but said nothing. Across from him, the king let out a laugh.
“Our differences have kept us at a distance, I do think. Join me for supper, and let us talk like we once did. Let our parting be on good terms.”
Robin could only agree with that. He knew that the differences, what Richard had called it, were not gone by this. Despite how the king thought, Robin still felt he had been right to go against the king's law as exercised by the sheriff, to fight the injustice he had seen there. Richard would never agree with him in this part, so it would seem. It was mostly luck that was on his side. His reputation in the war and the previous friendship he had once held with the king, were all that kept him from continuing his life as an outlaw, or worse. Had it been anyone else, surely that would be their fate. Robin did not want to dwell on it for too long. Instead he found himself smiling, and then he nodded. “I would like that very much.”
>>>----> >>>----> >>>---->
It had been a question as to where he was to go. To Nottingham would have been one possibility, to see the new sheriff with whom he would have to arrange himself. To Sherwood had been another idea, but Robin doubted, hoped, that his men had found new homes by now. To Locksley it was then where he decided to ride, as he came into Nottinghamshire, the afternoon sun on his back. He didn't know if she would be there. He didn't believe that Knighton had already been rebuilt as she had planned, not so many months having passed since his departure, although it felt like it had been too long ago.
He made it to Locksley well before sundown. There was still activity going on in the village, the peasants busy till the day would end. Some curious glances were cast his way, but Robin did not stop, only nodded towards whoever greeted him.
He rode up to the manor that lay quieter than the rest of the village. Robin dismounted his horse and looked around, feeling somewhat sheepish. He had now finally come home, to stay this time, but so much had happened since he had last lived here.
As he was glancing around, he saw another horse coming up to the house, slowing down as it came nearer. It wasn't hard to recognize her. There was surprise on her face at first, changing soon into a wide smile, as she slid off the horse.
“Robin.”
He walked over to her, taking the reins of her horse and binding it to a post together with his. He smiled too, hoping this and talking would hide the awkwardness he was feeling.
“You are back,” Marian said , as he turned to her again.
“I missed you.”
She pulled him towards her for a kiss, then leaving her hands around his neck, as she looked at him again.
“Are you going to stay?”
It was a question that carried an unsaid message. Robin could see that she wondered how glad she could be about his return, maybe worried that he might leave again. It was no surprise. Ever since he first left to go to the Holy Lands, they had never shared a time where they knew either of them could stay for long.
He nodded. “The king pardoned me, and gave me leave to return to England.”
She nodded in return. “What about Locksley?”
“He restored it to my name.” He grinned. “But I won't turn you out of doors.”
She shook her head with a laugh. “I'm not going to leave, but you have to marry me.”
“I have to?” he returned with a smirk, sobering then. “I want to.”
She smiled. “Your men are safe.”
“They are?” Robin sighed in relief. “I have not heard about any of them for so long. Where is Much?”
“Much is here, and the others are here or close to Locksley, too,” she explained.
Robin nodded. “I'm going to see them tomorrow.” He glanced at her and almost waited for her returning comment, but it did not come.
“I'm glad you are back,” she said instead.
“It's good to be.”
>>>----> >>>----> >>>---->
The forest never was really quiet. There were always the sounds of the wind in the leaves and of the small and large animals that lived in it. Robin enjoyed the peacefulness of the woods. The thought was odd, seeing that the forest had not been an especially peaceful place these last few years. It was the same forest he had first saved Allan when he'd been caught poaching. The forest where they had raided so many travellers, fought so many guards, had hidden for so long.
Robin had almost reached their former camp, having taken a long tour around it. He was still careful to not walk into a forgotten trap that the gang had laid. He grinned at the memory of Marian running into one. He could remember her words that he would pay for it, and he had already done so rather painfully back then.
He knew he wouldn't be alone at the camp today. The warm summer nights were making sure that the camp was kept in use for now. Will and Djaq went there now and then, seeking time alone, Robin assumed, were also finding a familiar place in the camp Will had built.
He found them there, Will whittling something, while Djaq was sitting with her legs crossed, browsing the pages of a ledger Robin knew of very well, though he had never told her as much.
“You don't mind me coming here, do you?” he asked with a smile as they looked up.
Will shrugged, returning his smile. “The camp belongs to all of us.”
“How's Marian?” Djaq asked.
“Fine,” Robin nodded to her, before he looked around the camp.
“If you are ever in need of any alone time...” Djaq suggested with a smile of her own.
Robin shook his head, chuckling. “Marian knows where the camp is.”
She and the gang were still the only ones who did.
The End
Author: kegel84
Summary: When the king returned, everything would be right again. But the day King Richard came into the town of Nottingham, Robin and the outlaws had to notice that things didn't turn out as they had always thought in the back of their minds.
Characters/Pairings: The Outlaws & Marian, Pairings: Robin/Marian, Will/Djaq
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers/Warnings: Season 2 till Lardner's Ring (AU after that)
Disclaimer: I do not own the show or the characters and make no money off them.
Notes: Thanks so much to my betas neaptidea and emmithar, neaptidea especially for pointing out when I contradicted myself or made no sense at all, and emmithar for her inspiration. And thanks to laura_isabel for her artwork! :)
Artwork, by laura_isabel
Previous Chapter
Robin was keeping his guard despite the tiredness that he felt. He didn't even know if he would manage to sleep the next night. The cloud of the potential battle, war, was hanging over him. They would fight, shed blood, kill a hundred men, for no other reason than that they stood on the other side. He could be killed himself, he knew. He had survived many battles in the Holy Lands, many as an outlaw fighting in Nottingham, but he also knew that war's logical result was death.
He kept his posture upright as the morning moved on to a warm summer day. It was well past noon, when Robin saw the king returning from a meeting that had been kept secret from most of the men, dismounting his horse and making his way to the tent that Robin was standing guard by. Richard seemed to be in a sombre, yet positive mood, and Robin could only guess what this had to mean. Maybe the man had decided on battle and the fervour of the upcoming fighting was already burning inside of him. Robin did not dare to judge it for sure, not knowing who the man had met and what the result of it was.
Richard came to a stop in front of him, nodding to Robin. “I wish that you join me inside, Robin.”
Robin nodded and followed the king into the tent. The man turned, his expression more earnest than it had been outside.
“I know that your heart is not in this, Robin,” the man started.
Robin was taken aback, not having expected the reprimand now. “I swore my loyalty to you.”
“You did, years ago, but you renewed it, following me here, only under duress.”
Robin did not dare to nod or affirm this in any other way, though it was true and he knew the king to know it was true. It was the reason, and when Richard had ordered him to come with him to Normandy, he had not even pretended that he believed Robin to come fully on his own accord. It would have been a lie, and they both would have known it. In the months since though, the king might have expected him to form a new bond to him, give his loyalty fully and freely now. Though he could feel the guilt of betrayal, or abandoning his king lingering in his mind, Robin knew that he could not give this anymore.
“I met my brother today,” the king went on, and Robin nodded once. “We talked. About many things.” The man smiled. “I pardoned him, Robin. He is my brother, and I know that it were evil advisers who led him astray.”
Robin nodded again, not commenting on the fact that the king was pardoning a man who had tried to kill him, but not others who had been fighting for him.
“I want to do right by him,” Richard went on, “and I want to do right by you.” He paused, studying the other. “I pardon you, Robin of Locksley, and I give you leave to return to England, if you so wish.” He smiled again. “And I know you do.”
Robin couldn't quite believe the words at first, then the disbelief made room for elation. He nodded. “I want to go back.”
To this, Richard nodded, the smile still with him even though the tone of his voice changed. “I figured that you would.”
Robin could almost swear he could hear a hint of disappointment in the king’s voice. That had never been his intention, but Robin knew that things had changed since when he first had gone off to war, and now.
“My loyalty is with you,” Robin reminded him, “If you wish me to stay, then I will.”
He did not want to stay. But neither could he simply turn his back on the king. The man had pardoned him, was giving him leave to return home to England, back to Locksley, where Marian was no doubt waiting for him. Robin had waited for so long for this to happen. Still, it felt as though the pardon was given mostly because of a mood, because the meeting with his brother had released Richard of his anger, rather than it being something he had actually planned for, did truly want.
“Your loyalty is not in question,” Richard answered. “I may disagree with some of the ways you showed it, but there is no reason for me to question it.”
Robin nodded, but stayed where he was. So what was it that happened now? Did he simply turn and leave? What was the king to do from here? Where would Richard go now that he seemed to have made peace with his brother? There were so many questions still.
“I assume you will depart in the morning?”
Robin nodded, guessing that he would. It would be a long way back, but he looked forward to the time when he would arrive at Locksley.
“You will be gone as well by then?” he wondered.
“Yes,” Richard agreed, nodding, “I suppose I will. Let us mark this occasion, what do you think?”
Robin raised an eyebrow, confused, but said nothing. Across from him, the king let out a laugh.
“Our differences have kept us at a distance, I do think. Join me for supper, and let us talk like we once did. Let our parting be on good terms.”
Robin could only agree with that. He knew that the differences, what Richard had called it, were not gone by this. Despite how the king thought, Robin still felt he had been right to go against the king's law as exercised by the sheriff, to fight the injustice he had seen there. Richard would never agree with him in this part, so it would seem. It was mostly luck that was on his side. His reputation in the war and the previous friendship he had once held with the king, were all that kept him from continuing his life as an outlaw, or worse. Had it been anyone else, surely that would be their fate. Robin did not want to dwell on it for too long. Instead he found himself smiling, and then he nodded. “I would like that very much.”
>>>----> >>>----> >>>---->
It had been a question as to where he was to go. To Nottingham would have been one possibility, to see the new sheriff with whom he would have to arrange himself. To Sherwood had been another idea, but Robin doubted, hoped, that his men had found new homes by now. To Locksley it was then where he decided to ride, as he came into Nottinghamshire, the afternoon sun on his back. He didn't know if she would be there. He didn't believe that Knighton had already been rebuilt as she had planned, not so many months having passed since his departure, although it felt like it had been too long ago.
He made it to Locksley well before sundown. There was still activity going on in the village, the peasants busy till the day would end. Some curious glances were cast his way, but Robin did not stop, only nodded towards whoever greeted him.
He rode up to the manor that lay quieter than the rest of the village. Robin dismounted his horse and looked around, feeling somewhat sheepish. He had now finally come home, to stay this time, but so much had happened since he had last lived here.
As he was glancing around, he saw another horse coming up to the house, slowing down as it came nearer. It wasn't hard to recognize her. There was surprise on her face at first, changing soon into a wide smile, as she slid off the horse.
“Robin.”
He walked over to her, taking the reins of her horse and binding it to a post together with his. He smiled too, hoping this and talking would hide the awkwardness he was feeling.
“You are back,” Marian said , as he turned to her again.
“I missed you.”
She pulled him towards her for a kiss, then leaving her hands around his neck, as she looked at him again.
“Are you going to stay?”
It was a question that carried an unsaid message. Robin could see that she wondered how glad she could be about his return, maybe worried that he might leave again. It was no surprise. Ever since he first left to go to the Holy Lands, they had never shared a time where they knew either of them could stay for long.
He nodded. “The king pardoned me, and gave me leave to return to England.”
She nodded in return. “What about Locksley?”
“He restored it to my name.” He grinned. “But I won't turn you out of doors.”
She shook her head with a laugh. “I'm not going to leave, but you have to marry me.”
“I have to?” he returned with a smirk, sobering then. “I want to.”
She smiled. “Your men are safe.”
“They are?” Robin sighed in relief. “I have not heard about any of them for so long. Where is Much?”
“Much is here, and the others are here or close to Locksley, too,” she explained.
Robin nodded. “I'm going to see them tomorrow.” He glanced at her and almost waited for her returning comment, but it did not come.
“I'm glad you are back,” she said instead.
“It's good to be.”
>>>----> >>>----> >>>---->
The forest never was really quiet. There were always the sounds of the wind in the leaves and of the small and large animals that lived in it. Robin enjoyed the peacefulness of the woods. The thought was odd, seeing that the forest had not been an especially peaceful place these last few years. It was the same forest he had first saved Allan when he'd been caught poaching. The forest where they had raided so many travellers, fought so many guards, had hidden for so long.
Robin had almost reached their former camp, having taken a long tour around it. He was still careful to not walk into a forgotten trap that the gang had laid. He grinned at the memory of Marian running into one. He could remember her words that he would pay for it, and he had already done so rather painfully back then.
He knew he wouldn't be alone at the camp today. The warm summer nights were making sure that the camp was kept in use for now. Will and Djaq went there now and then, seeking time alone, Robin assumed, were also finding a familiar place in the camp Will had built.
He found them there, Will whittling something, while Djaq was sitting with her legs crossed, browsing the pages of a ledger Robin knew of very well, though he had never told her as much.
“You don't mind me coming here, do you?” he asked with a smile as they looked up.
Will shrugged, returning his smile. “The camp belongs to all of us.”
“How's Marian?” Djaq asked.
“Fine,” Robin nodded to her, before he looked around the camp.
“If you are ever in need of any alone time...” Djaq suggested with a smile of her own.
Robin shook his head, chuckling. “Marian knows where the camp is.”
She and the gang were still the only ones who did.
The End