Sailing Homeward
Title: Sailing Homeward
FandomL Robin Hood
Characters: Allan, Much (Mentions of Robin & John)
Rating: G
Word count: 999
Summary: The gang are returning to England and on the ship, Much and Allan talk.
~
It was a long an arduous journey. They’d gone to the holy land for a purpose and succeeded, but the losses had been far greater and it was an emotional weight they carried home with them. The farther they put the desert, the king, the enduring fight behind them, the further Robin slipped into a darker mood none of his companions could rouse him from.
On land they could give each other space, staying close but able to watch each man as they walked in solidarity one after another. No need for conversation, each lost in their own thoughts and memories. But on the seas, trapped within the confines of the floating vessel, being alone was a luxury that slipped from their grasp.
Robin had taken to sitting top deck most days, when the weather allowed, having found a place where he didn’t get in the way of the seamen doing their jobs and could avoid spending time with the others. Much had given up getting him to talk and instead watched from a safe distance, not encroaching his presence but watchful nonetheless.
John didn’t travel well, still finding the idea of crossing the vast expanse of water a foreign ordeal. He spent his time below, setting up a peculiar companionship with the ships physician, Forster, and exchanging age-old remedies.
Allan had taken to sitting with Much, not interested in listening to John and Forster talking about the medicinal uses of herbs, nor able to find anything else of interest. At first they’d merely sat in silence, watching the sea pass by, thinking of what had gone on, of what they’d left behind and what would be waiting for them when they arrived home.
Growing bored of silence Allan, watched some of the ships crew playing games to while the way the time, encouraging Much to join in with him as they figured out the rules.
“I think the rule of this game is, there are no rules, anything goes.” Much had said in the end after they’d tried in vain to get the point of one such game.
“Probably play in order to not be driven mad, being on the ocean all day. No place to go, no new faces. The same thing day in, day out.” Allan remarked in return.
Much merely frowned as he grappled with the sticks, pebbles and set of die they were trying to get the hang of. He had to agree, it passed away the time and boredom of travelling by sea.
It became a routine, on the good days they played on the deck, sometimes some of the crew would join them, most of the time they were left alone. Robin always in view in the corner of Much’s eye.
“I think he’d have done it by now,” Allan said one day looking up at him.
“What?” Much asked, having given Robin a fleeting look before returning to the game.
“Jumped overboard,” Allan replied. “Don’t think I don’t notice you watching him like a hawk, he ain’t going nowhere.”
“I’m just worried is all,” Much sighed. “He’s lost, lost and looking to do something which is going to kill him in the end.”
“You mean Gisborne.” Allan remarked, he knew it, they all knew it. There was only one thing driving Robin now, revenge.
“What’s even worse is he made a promise to her and he knows in going after Gisborne that he’s breaking that promise. He doesn’t need to jump Allan; he died back in the Holy Land.”
“What about you?” Allan asked him. “He dies, you die, isn’t that what you were always saying? So where does this leave you?”
“Sitting on a boat, watching over a dead man, playing an impossible game with a-,” Much paused and looked over the expanse of blue grey. The sun was starting to set, casting an array of colour over the sky.
“Traitorous thief who’s very clever at getting himself out of a bad situation.” Allan finished for him with a grin.
Much looked back over to him.
“I was going to say a friend,” Much said with a smile before standing and approaching the side of the boat to watch the sunset. “But I suppose yours fits well too.”
Allan came to stand beside him as the leaned on the side, it was a cool night, the sea was still and the ship eased steadily along her path.
“Think we’ll ever see them again?” Allan mused thoughtfully. It was a question, which kept creeping up on him throughout the days.
“Will and Djaq you mean?” Much asked, “Maybe, one day. I hope so.”
“Me too,” Allan said wistfully. “The further away we get, the more I wonder though. It ain’t like they are in the next town or a few days journey away is it. We can’t just up to go off and see them when we feel like it.”
“They can look after themselves and each other; at least we can be comfortable with that knowledge.”
“Never going to be the same again though is it.” Allan remarked in thought.
“Things never are, the world changes, sometimes we’re just too stubborn to move with it.”
“When did you become so wise?” Allan gave Much a soft nudge with his elbow, smiling.
Much grinned and bowed his head a moment before taking another look at Robin and then to Allan.
“Not wisdom, just the truth,” He said. “I have my moments. Don’t worry, soon I’ll be the same old silly Much cooking you all squirrel stew and causing calamity.”
“Good, cos I was starting to worry we’d lost him forever.” Allan stood up straighter and gave him a slap on the back. “C’mon, let’s go find John and try and teach him this game.”
Much groaned mockingly. “Do we have to?”
“It’s either that or stand about in the pitch black,” Allan said. “Y’ know if we practice, we may learn the rules by the time we reach England.”
~fin~