Denial, Chapter 11; Someone to Watch Over Me
Title: Denial, Chapter 11; Someone to Watch Over Me
Author: darkentwisted
Characters/Pairings: Allan, Marian, Djaq, Will, Guy, Robin
Rating: PG
Genre: Angst
Words: 2,575
Disclaimer: BBC & TA own; we just want to play in their universe
Notes: This continues the 'Round-Robin' fic 'Denial' and is set just post 2x09, "Lardner's Ring".
Betaed by the incredible robinfanatic and wastingyourgum.
Summary: Guy goes too far in punishing Allan for his failure to catch the outlaws. Can Will and Djaq forgive him and come to his rescue?
Want to play? Come join us! Check out the Rules and join in the Round Robin fun!
Previous Chapters: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
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Denial Chapter 11: Someone to Watch Over Me
by
darkentwisted
It was a rough day in the forest. Allan was tired and just wanted to rest. Facing the gang again in battle also left him emotionally drained. Seeing Will and Djaq even in anger was good. They were still all right even if they hated him and he was happy for them. His happiness was short lived.
"Allan!"
"Yes, Lord Gisborne." He tried to make his voice sound as sincere as possible. No 'Gis' after today. He could tell the black knight was angry, murderously so.
"You let Hood escape -- AGAIN!"
"But we got the pigeon!" He tried to smile warmly. "And Marian is back in the castle...Oof!" His breath was taken away as a leather clad knee crushed into his groin. The pain shot though him like one of the outlaw's flaming arrows.
Not the groin again, Gis. Please?
The last time the sheriff's man did this, the former outlaw urinated blood for three days and it scared him. This was a new pain, one that made his stomach turn in its intensity.
"Get up!" Guy spat impatiently. When ignored by the groaning man, he sent another kick into the man's groin, making him vomit. The knight sneered. "You're disgusting!" He walked away as Allan writhed on the floor in agony. "Clean yourself up, A' Dale, and be glad I let you live."
The rest of the day was a blur of agony for the poacher. Walking was unbearable and sitting impossible. He staggered around trying to perform his tasks and was terrified of what would happen when his master found out he couldn't. He staggered down the hall and almost knocked down Lady Fitzwalter.
"Look where you're going!" She paused and drew her breath at the usually cheeky former outlaw's drawn appearance. "Allan, are you ill?"
"Nahh, just got in Gis's way and he tuned me up a bit. I'm fine." He groaned as he moved the wrong way.
Marian was alarmed. She pulled the staggering outlaw into her bedchamber. "Allan, you are pale as death! You are not fine!"
"I can't be here! Gis..."
"Did this to you!" she finished with a hiss. "Stay here. I'll tell one of the maids I sent you to the convent for my things. Then I'll go get Djaq when it gets dark."
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The birdcall made everyone in camp sit up, especially Robin. Of all the gang only two people made the call like that and one of them was thousands of miles away by now. Or was he? He listened again. No, it was Marian. For a split second, he fought down the disappointment. He ran to the clearing where the maiden was standing under the trees, cloaked and hooded. She smiled sweetly and threw her arms around her lover.
"You escaped?" He grinned, his green eyes agleam with boyish mischief. Lips met, tentatively at first, then more hungrily as her whole body tingled under her naughty lover's ministration. For the briefest of seconds, she almost forgot what she came for. "It wasn't easy," she confessed. "I think Sir Guy might send for the court physician if this headache I keep feigning doesn't get better soon."
Robin's smile faded. "You shouldn't be here."
"I know that, but I need Djaq. It's Allan -- he is gravely ill. I think Gisborne has injured him."
"Then let him die a traitor's death!" Robin's eyes swirled with emerald hate.
Marian glared at her suitor. "He was your friend! He helped you fight for England!"
"He betrayed the king!"
"I will go," the Saracen's voice sounded behind them.
Will had his hand on Djaq's shoulder. "No, it's too dangerous. It might be a trap."
"If you saw him you would know it isn't." Marian looked at her friends helplessly. "He is in pain and can hardly walk. Gisborne has been taking his frustration out on him," she looked at the others with a guilty stare, "because of us."
Robin thought for a moment. It was no secret how he felt about Allan, but he had shown signs of helping the outlaws despite what happened between them. Besides, no one deserved to be mistreated by Gisborne, not even a traitor. He looked at the healer. "Go with her. See what is the matter."
"I will get my bag." Djaq nodded solemnly and started to leave.
The carpenter grabbed her by the arm. "I'll go with you."
She looked down at Will's hand and then into his eyes. "After earlier, you don't trust me?"
He leveled his eyes at her. "I don't trust him."
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The female outlaw gingerly removed the traitor's black leggings then peeled down his braies, gasping softly at his bruised loins.
"Oh my God! Where is his…his?" Will turned pale and self-consciously grabbed himself in fright.
Marian was looking away but at Will's comment she took a quick look. "Oh, poor Allan!" she exclaimed then remembered herself and turned away again.
Allan looked away as the Saracen examined his groin. "No this innit embarrasin’ at all," he said through gritted teeth.
“Oh this is bad. He has a retracted testicle. I have seen this in battle.” She giggled. "Usually it was after a soldier had upset a prostitute."
"I beg your pardon," Allan spat out defensively. "I did no such thing. I just ticked off Gis!" The poacher looked down in genuine terror. "Will the 'boys' be...you know...all right again?"
Djaq shushed the former outlaw. "You will be fine, Allan." She turned to her lover. "Will, I need you to hold him." She then focused her eyes on the patient. "Allan, I am not going to lie to you. What I am about to do it is going to hurt bad, worse than when it happened in the first place." She then looked at Marian and Will. "I need something to put in his mouth because he is going to scream...loudly."
Will thought then reached in his pocket and pulled out a stick he was whittling on. Marian wrapped it in one of her silk handkerchiefs with a look of sorrow and dread on her face.
Allan was frightened pale. He swallowed hard. "I really wish you hadna said it was gonna hurt. Couldn't ya just, ya know, leave it?"
Djaq looked at him and explained like a mother to a small child, "If you leave it, the pain will only get worse. It will only hurt for a moment." She smiled, "I promise."
The Saracen nodded at the carpenter and he gently placed his hand on Allan's shaking chin and placed the wrapped stick in his mouth. Marian looked away blushing furiously as she held the former outlaw's legs. Will's slender but strong, arms interlocked firmly with his former friend's. Djaq tenderly palpitated Allan's groin with her fingers and felt for the undescended organ. Satisfied, she pushed gently but firmly.
"MMMMMMMMMMMAMMMMMMMMMMMHhhhhhhhhhhmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmHHMMMMMMMMMM!" Allan's face glowed red as his blue eyes threatened to leave their sockets.
Will locked his own green eyes on the poacher's. "You're fine, Allan. I've got you."
"Just breathe, Allan. Almost...got it!" Djaq gently pushed down, resettling the gland with a sudden pop.
Allan was sweating profusely. Every vein in his neck bulged and he passed out.
"Is he...?" Will looked up at his girlfriend in shock.
"He's resting," Djaq smiled. "He'll be fine now." She turned to Marian. "He needs to sleep for the night and have cold compresses applied. Can you see to it that happens?"
The Lady nodded forlornly. "It is the least I can do. I let this happen to him. I saw the way Guy was treating him because of me and I did nothing because I was so angry at him for betraying the gang."
"It's all right, Marian," Allan recovered at her words. He looked at her and nodded as Will helped him sit up. "I deserved it."
Djaq glared at her friend. "No one deserves what that man has done to you!" She walked over to the former outlaw. "Let me talk to Robin. You can leave tonight, with us, back to the forest."
"No I can't." Allan coughed and winced from the pain. "If I go, Gis takes it out on her." He looked at his former comrade almost pleadingly. "Will, I know you still hate me and can never forgive me for what I done but do this for me. Tell Robin I'm sorry and I'll look after her."
The carpenter nodded. "I will." He turned to the healer. "Time to go before the guards are alerted."
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Gisborne stormed through the corridors of the castle. "Allan!" He upturned everything in his path and threw open every door. "A'Dale! Show yourself!"
He stopped at Marian's door. She had it opened a crack and was staring him down, trying hard to swallow the lump of fear she felt as she looked into his menacing eyes. "Sir Guy! What is the reason for this awful racket so early in the morning?"
"My servant--the outlaw that betrayed Hood--is missing. I think he might have fled the castle and returned to the gang."
"He did no such thing!"
The black knight cocked his head to one side and looked at her quizzically. "And you know this how, Lady Marian?"
"Because, I sent him away myself. To the convent... to fetch my things."
"You sent Allan to a convent?" he sneered still only half believing her.
Marian shrugged, "He's good with nuns. He should be returning by first light."
"You should have informed me of this, Marian."
"I thought a day away from the castle would be good for him."
Guy glared at the noblewoman. "Why do you say that?"
Marian looked down. "I've seen the bruises...the way you treat him...beating him like an animal. I would like it to stop."
Gisborne snorted. "You, taking up the cause of an outlaw and a traitor?" He turned and laughed. "What is the world coming to?"
Marian suddenly blushed with anger. "I care for the wellness of another human being! Besides, he looks up to you, Guy. Although, after the way you treat him, I hardly see why he does."
"How I treat my manservant is no concern of yours." His pale blue eyes glowed angrily.
Marian gazed fearlessly at him. "No sir, it is not. But know this," her voice softening as she fingered the lacings of his jerkin, "When someone I care for is nice to the people around them, I tend to be much nicer to that person."
Guy studied the lady like a rare flower, looking for the thorns he knew were there. "So you want me to be nicer to Allan? In exchange for what?"
She smiled, smoothing the rough leather of his tunic. "You'll be amazed at how my headaches will improve if you do. I might even consider taking one of those long walks you fancy so much." Her hand found his and she held it up to his lips.
The black knight's eyes widened slightly as he took in her perfume and kissed her hand. Perhaps there was a small victory to be had in this little battle of wits Lady Fitzwalter was playing with him. "Then nicer I shall be. But don't expect me to peel grapes for the traitor."
"I should hope you would reserve that task only for me," Marian teased. "Goodnight, Sir Guy. She stifled a yawn, "Or should I say good day?"
Gisborne hid his slight disappointment at the abrupt end to their meeting, "Oh...yes, I did disturb your sleep. Apologies and good night, Lady Marian." He turned and walked back down the corridor, his steps a little lighter and if Marian could have seen, she would have been surprised at the uncharacteristic smile on the nobleman's face.
Marian closed the door only to find Allan standing behind it sweating profusely, holding a sword. As the door gave way so did he, ending up in a pile on the floor.
"Allan!" Marian leaned over the fallen traitor. "What are you doing?"
"Protectin' you," he mewled weakly, "or at least tryin' to."
She laughed softly as she helped him up. "I hardly think I'm the one needing protecting here." They both collapsed on her bed and she helped him climb in. She placed the wounded dogsbody's head in her lap and stroked his ginger hair. "You would risk yourself to protect me, Allan?"
He replied quietly, "Not bein' funny or nuthin', but I think you just did the same for me."
"Then we'll protect each other." She yawned quietly and smiled when her words were greeted by soft snores. She leaned her head back on the pillows and soon was sleeping soundly herself.
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The morning found the former poacher still sore but better as Djaq had predicted. He rose early, sneaking out of the lady's room and back to his own before being summoned for morning duties. He was surprised at the calm almost kind expression his master had as he nodded at him. "Fetch mine and Lady Marian's horses, Allan. We are riding together today."
An hour later Allan was struggling with the saddle on the lord's horse when both Guy and Marian arrived at the stables. The black knight's face creased in anger and he started to yell but was stopped by a hand at his shoulder and a glance from the lady's impossibly blue eyes.
"Perhaps Sir Guy might give you a hand with that, Allan," she said, almost causing the servant to drop the heavy saddle in surprise.
Guy looked at his companion under his brows and smirked but did as told. He walked over to his servant and helped hoist the saddle over his horse. "Next time, Allan, get one of the stableboys to help you." He then half smiled, "Wouldn't want you to injure yourself."
Allan paused then stammered in surprise, "Y-Yes, milord."
They helped Marian on her horse then Guy got on his and they took off slowly down the path. Marian turned to the knight. "Should not your manservant come with us? You know, for protection from outlaws?"
Guy was almost speechless with indignation but relented to the warm glance she shot him. "Allan! Mount your horse and follow us," he called back.
Allan returned Marian's knowing smile with one of his own. "Right away, Lord Gisborne."
He wasn't quite sure what was happening but somehow he felt things had just gotten a lot better for him at the castle.
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On to Chapter 12!