Epic Short Fic: The Devil You Know (Part 5)
Title: "The Devil You Know
Author: ladyarcherfan3
Word Count: 11,335 total, 922 this part
Rating: PG-13 to be safe
Characters/Pairings: Robin, the gang, Gisborne, the Sheriff, Robin/Marian, OC
Spoilers/Warnings: Drug induced hallucinations; set between S1 and S2
Summary: A confrontation with a revengeful element of his past sends Robin into a world where nightmares and memories blend into something far more terrifying than either.
Disclaimer: Robin Hood and related characters are not mine, I'm making no money from this.
Many thanks to my beta auroracat65.
Part 1 // Part 2 // Part 3 // Part 4 // Part 5
Part 5 - Onwards
Several hours later, the gang strangled back to camp in pairs. Robin was hunched with his head between his hands, next to a fire. Much wandered about, torn between needing to do something useful and the desire to hover over Robin and make sure he was all right. Djaq and John arrived first; the big man simply inspected Robin with the eye of a father, and determining that he was past any real danger, settled himself in one corner of camp to keep watch. Djaq hesitated on the opposite side of the fire from Robin for a few moments before steeling herself and assuming her physician’s attitude.
“Robin, I would like to examine you,” she said as she walked over to the man.
He looked up. His eyes had regained their clarity and they instantly fell on the raw line on Djaq’s throat. “That . . . was one of the more embarrassing and regrettable incidents in my life,” he said slowly. “I put my gang’s life at risk, and probably almost did more harm than I could have ever repaired.”
Djaq hummed noncommittally as she did a quick inspection of Robin’s reflexes and vitals. When she finished she stood and said, “It is not the first time that an Englishman held a knife to my throat.” A flicker of fear and disappointment crossed her face as she continued. “But it was the first time one that I respected did.”
Robin dropped his gaze back to the ground, guilt twisting his gut.
Allan and Will returned a short while later.
“How you feelin’, Robin?” Allan called as he accepted a plate of food from Much.
With a slight groan, Robin lifted his head and replied, “Like the morning after a drinking competition gone wrong.”
Allan snorted in laughter, and the mood hanging over the camp lightened a degree.
A branch cracked underfoot and Robin whipped around to see Marian. She pulled off her mask and scarf to show her sweaty but very relieved face. Robin’s face lightened though he did not smile and he stood, walking over to Marian. She smiled at him and allowed him to take her hand and lead her into camp. Much handed her a plate of food - Robin had no stomach or inclination to eat, so there was easily an extra share - and the couple settled in a corner of camp away from the rest of the gang.
They sat silently for some time, only half watching the gang as they went about their nightly habits. Marian ate slowly, as her left hand was held captive by one of Robin’s. When she finished, Robin drew her close and held her; he didn’t relinquish her hand. The gang respectfully kept their distance and eventually fell asleep. The fire had died down to softly pulsing coals and gentle flames before Robin spoke.
“I never wanted you to see . . . I didn’t want you to know about the demons I brought back with me from the Holy Land,” he said softly.
Marian squeezed his hand gently. “I have seen shadows, though. You can’t tell me that fight you had with Gisborne on the King’s birthday wasn’t fueled by some of those memories. I saw your face when you recognized the tattoo.”
Robin shook his head almost violently. “You weren’t in danger from me, then. Today . . . today I could have very well killed one of my own gang, and then gone for you. I couldn’t even remember my own name! All I saw where threats, everyone was an enemy; it was all blood and sand and smoke.” He twisted so he could look her in the eye. “Whatever possessed you to approach me when I had a knife to Djaq’s throat? Didn’t the gang have the sense to stop you? If I had harmed or killed Djaq, that would have been bad enough, but if I had hurt you . . . I would have never been able to forgive myself!”
“Hush Robin,” Marian soothed; his voice had risen to nearly a shout by the end of his speech. “It was something Much told me once, not long after you returned to Nottingham.”
“What was it?”
“He said that in the Holy Land, you had dreams and called my name. So if you had called out for me then, you most certainly would recognize me now.” She leaned closer, inviting a kiss but not initiating it.
Robin looked at her in wonder for a moment. He brushed her cheek with his thumb lightly before closing the distance between them, his lips claiming hers gently. “You are a marvel,” he whispered as the kiss ended. He continued with a hint of his impish grin sparking to life, “And you are my marvel.”
Marian smirked. “I am my own marvel, thank you.” She continued more seriously. “Just remember Robin, we are both facing the devils in Nottinghamshire. When those monsters bring back demons from the past, we can face them together as well.”
Robin said nothing but kissed her again, with a stronger flame of passion than the last. He knew he could not protect Marian from everything he wanted to, but he was determined to shield her from the shadows of his past as much as he could. Yet, there was a part of him that ached with something that he could only describe as love to know that Marian was willing to accept him and all his demons. Few men could hope for as much.
Fin.
A/N: I did no real research for this fic, so the herb that Lucian uses has no exact name or much of a basis in real life; the muse had an idea and ran with it, though I’m sure there are real plants out there that could have caused such a reaction. It worked better that no one knew the name, not even Djaq, leaving more of an impression about the workings of Robin’s war damaged psyche.
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