Aftermath

Chapter Two: The Blame Game

Robin was sitting against a tree, reflecting on the recent events of his life.

“Deep in thought?” Will asked, standing some distance away.

Robin turned slightly to look at him.

“Hello, Will,” he said.

“Mind if I sit down?” asked Will.

“Not at all,” said Robin.

Will sat, keeping his distance. The two sat in silence for several minutes.

“Was there anything in particular you wanted?” asked Robin, at last.

“Uh…not really,” answered Will, in surprise.

“Oh,” said Robin.

There was another silence.

“How are you feeling?” asked Will.

“I’m fine,” replied Robin.

“Everyone’s worried about you,” continued Will.

“You shouldn’t be wasting your time,” said Robin, “I don’t deserve your worry.”

*~*~*
Will frowned.

“Why not?” he asked.

“You saw what I did in the castle,” answered Robin, looking down at his feet.

Will moved closer to his friend and laid a hand on his shoulder. Robin gasped and scooted a few inches away. Will dropped his hand to his lap.

“Sorry,” Will apologized.

“It’s alright,” said Robin, quietly.

“Well, Robin,” said Will, “you did nothing wrong. You did whatever you had to do to save your men. You should be proud.”

“Pride,” remarked Robin with a scoff, “what do I have to be proud of? The Sheriff treated me like I was his own personal whore. And I let him. I have nothing to be proud of, Will. Nothing.”

“Don’t say that, Robin,” said Will, “you’ve done plenty of deeds to be proud of. Do not think on your last visit to Nottingham.”

*~*~*

Robin eventually left, leaving Will alone by the tree with his thoughts. He thought about their last conversation and sighed. Poor Robin. Why? Why did it have to be him? He didn’t deserve it; any of it.

“Have you seen Robin, Will?” asked Marian.

“What?” asked Will, “oh, yes. He left here a little while ago. I don’t know where he went.”

“Oh. Thank you,” she said.

“I tried to help him feel better, but I don’t think I did a very good job,” added Will, “I feel responsible for what happened.”

“There’s nothing you could have done to prevent it,” said Marian.

‘Yes, I could have,” replied Will, “I had suspected for quite some time of the Sheriff’s…feelings…for Robin. If I had acted then, I could have stopped this from happening.”

“You don’t know that for certain,” said Marian, “you shouldn’t blame yourself.”

No matter what Marian said, Will still felt responsible for Robin’s kidnapping and torture. He was certain Robin didn’t blame him. From their last meeting, Will got the impression that Robin blamed himself for the entire incident, but Will knew better. It was his fault. If he had warned Robin before he left the forest, he would have been prepared for an ambush by the Sheriff. Will didn’t know why Robin didn’t blame him. It didn’t make sense to him.

*~*~*
Marian couldn’t believe how Robin and Will were each blaming themselves for what had happened to Robin. It was nobody’s fault. Well, it was really the Sheriff’s fault, but it certainly was not Robin’s fault, nor was it Will’s. She had to get them to accept this. But how? She’d think about it later. Right now, she was looking for Robin. She wanted to make sure he was alright. This whole thing worried her. She didn’t know what to say. She didn’t know what to do.

She heard quiet crying coming from behind a large rock.

“Robin?” she called, gently.

The crying stopped and a few seconds later, a familiar fair head appeared from over the top of the rock.

“Hello, Marian,” Robin said.

“Were you just crying?” asked Marian.

“I was,” replied Robin.

“Why?”

“It was nothing,” said Robin, “just a bad memory.”

Marian hugged Robin, who patted her back softly in return.