A Study in Scarlett
Chapter Thirty-Four
Word Count: 4,652
Rating/Disclaimer/Summary: Same as chapter 1, really
Author's Note: I was thinking I'd use another follow up chapter to set up all the stuff I'd thought of as a possible sequel, but I don't think I like that idea as much as this one.

This has an ending to it that, while open, still has things wrapped up to the movie, and also gives potential to both kinds of futures, good and bad, but if I were never to finish said sequel, one could still imagine a good future, which is best, right?

When the End is Only the Beginning

"There you are," Fanny said, taking hold of Will the moment he walked into the room. He frowned, not sure where her strength came from as she pulled him along. He swore she'd tripled it since he last saw her, as she was practically dragging him along the halls. "Do you have any idea how worried we've been about you? Where have you been? Why didn't you come back sooner?"

"I was actually thinking of not coming back before the wedding was over," Will told her, getting a glare for that one. He shook his head. "That's about them, not me, and who the hell cares if I'm even there besides those damned females who now see me as the man to bed and hope to seduce into marriage?"

"Oh, come now," Fanny said. "A few women giggling is not a portent of the end of the world."

"You think I left only because they giggled and those two laughed at me for not seeing why it happened?" Will asked, gesturing to Robin and John, who were watching again with amusement, the bastards. "There was at least one of them in my room at all times. I'd rid the place of one, and another would appear. There was no peace and nowhere to sleep. Of course I left."

Fanny frowned. "Well, you leave that to me, then. For you, it's the bath."

"What?"

"I need you clean before you go touching my work, and that's final," Fanny said, pushing him toward the bedchamber that Marian had given him.

"No. I'm not going in there, and I'm not bathing."

"You have to anyway," Robin said, "Marian gave orders for all of us men to do so before the wedding—which is in the morning, brother, and you wound me by your desire to avoid it."

Will shook his head. "I rather think you'd avoid it if you had any chance. Oh, you want her, but marrying her? In some great ceremony? That you don't want, and we all know it. No man wants the fuss and the foolishness. You'd marry her in private and take her back to your rooms and if you did, you'd spare the lot of us a bunch of trouble."

"The wedding ceremony's not just for him, love," Fanny said. "It's about sharing that with the people you love and who care about you, and for Robin Hood to marry without sharing it with all he saved, that would just be an insult. It would be him acting like a lord of the manor, which he's not, and you know it. Now into the bath with you."

"I'm not going."

"I'll have John put you in, then," Fanny insisted, pushing his door open. "Oi, what's all this? Why are there five of you in here?"

"I told you," Will said, refusing to look at the women standing either with rags to dry him or next to nothing on.

"Hold on, laddie. Fanny'll see to this, but she's not wrong about you needing a bath," John said, and Will found the door blocked by his brother. Unable to avoid the big man, Will found himself lifted into the air in protest while the women giggled.

"Out, out, the lot of you," Fanny chided. "I'll take a switch to the lot of you, don't think I won't. Come on, now. Out. I'm not done with you yet. We'll have words, too."

"Sure you are."

"Oi, I'm as close to a mother as you've got these days, Will Scarlett, and if you think I was planning on letting you have a harem in your bath, you're a bloody fool. No, I'd have seen to it myself."

"And there you go making me jealous," John said, laughing heartily as she gave him a rude gesture in response.

Will struggled in John's hold, feeling completely humiliated. "I can bathe on my own."

"I do not think it is your capability they doubt," Azeem told him, "but rather your willingness to do so if left to your own counsel."

Will glared at them. "What, I'm such a child I won't bathe out of spite?"

"That sounds about right," John agreed, dumping him in the tub.

"What is this?" Will demanded. "It's not enough to humiliate me in dragging me into a bath, you must now all witness me getting out of it? Did I somehow fail to clean myself to your high standards, then? Go away."

"We're supposed to make sure you don't go before Fanny gets a look at you," John told him, and Will eyed him with suspicion, wondering just how cowed the bigger man was by his wife. "And none of us got any pleasure out of watching you bathe, trust me."

"Some of us had more cause for concern," Robin said, and Will winced. He'd almost forgotten—he shouldn't have, it should have been impossible to do so—but while they had all been aware of the scars marking his chest and back, not all of them knew of the designs marked deep into his legs.

He sighed. "If I say Flavell, is that enough?"

"That monster did this to you?" Robin demanded, and Will nodded, reaching for a discarded rag to dry at least part of himself with as the water was getting cold.

The door opened again, and Fanny came in, bundles of cloth in her hands. "Lord's sake. I think you'll need to build a new wall about your castle to keep out that lot."

"Very funny," Robin muttered, smiling.

"Oh, it amuses you, but I assure you, your brother feels no humor in it," Azeem said, looking over at Will. He grabbed another rag, one of the larger ones. "Here, young Christian. You need to get dry before you become ill again."

"I really do hate all of you right now," Will told him, and he nodded, passing over the towel while the rest of his conspirators found other places to look.

He dried off the lower half of his body, feeling cold and still humiliated by those who claimed to care about him. He hated this, and if someone hadn't made off with his still wet clothes, he'd already have run for it.

He wasn't running through this place naked. That would be told in tales for years, and the giggling was bad enough without that.

"Start with these," Fanny said, holding out a new set of breeches, dark colored and made of the kind of finery that made Will wonder if they'd been Nottingham's once. "Marian found me fabric, and I made them for you, but I need to know now if they fit so I can fix them before tomorrow."

Will accepted them awkwardly, trying to keep himself covered before pulling the breeches on. He got them to his waist and tied them up, still feeling uncomfortable, but no longer because he was naked. Fanny held out a hand, and he passed her the towel.

"I'd say it's a good fit," Robin observed. "You have the height right, and while they might be a bit loose in the waist, you never know... he could get fat."

"And again, what a shame it would be if Marian ended up marrying a eunuch," Will said, getting a smile out of Robin. He thought Will was only teasing. Will wasn't so sure he was.

"I wasn't so worried about those as this, though," Fanny said, holding up another garment. "This needs to fit, or we'll have put a lot of work into it for nothing."

Will eyed the doublet and swallowed, feeling a bit sick. "I... I can't wear that, Fanny."

"Nonsense. 'Course you can. I made it for you, didn't I?" she asked, and before he could find words to explain how he didn't dare, she was lifting his arm to slide it into the sleeve. She did it with a breath of relief, as apparently she had that size right. "Come on. Let's get it all the way on."

"This is ridiculous," Will muttered. "I'm not the one who's getting married."

"I know you're not, but I'd not have you in rags, either. You deserve better, and if I had been able to do this before, I would have. You know that."

"You made me a new shirt once," he agreed, feeling unsettled and wishing he was alone as she started doing up the buttons in front. "This is different."

"It is a fine creation, Fanny," Azeem said. He looked at Will. "Wear it with pride."

Will frowned. "Isn't pride a sin in both your religions?"

That only seemed to amuse the Moor. Fanny was smiling her pride out, looking so happy that it fit. Will had to admit, it was comfortable, made of fine fabric, but if people had stared before, they would do so even more now with his arms covered in golden embroidery.

"It's a fine look," Robin said, touching the stitching on the sleeve. "And the inclusion of the Locksley arms is a nice touch, Fanny."

"Marian showed me the drawing you made of your shield as a boy. I thought it would do Will some good to have a piece of that along side his scarlet."

"Oh, get this off of me," Will said. Fanny gasped, looking hurt, and he winced. "I... I'll get it dirty or something, and it's too fine for the likes of me."

"Not anymore, laddie," John disagreed. "It's about time you had something that shows the true sort of man you are."

"Father did say nobility wasn't a birthright," Robin said. "And he was right. It wasn't, but you have shown yours. You think it doesn't exist, but it does. In your concern for the others, in your care for Rosie, and everything else you do for us—it is there."

Will shook his head, but Robin pulled him in for another hug, and Will decided not to argue. He knew that illusion would fade in time, and he just had to wear this thing for the wedding.

It almost felt comfortable enough to sleep in, but no, this was just for the wedding. He'd be done with this and the rest of them after that.

Marian knew that a wedding in the forest must seem strange to anyone in her usual social circle, but she had not wanted anyone to think that Robin had gone back to the life of a mere noble as soon as Nottingham died, and while his efforts to rebuild alone should be proof of that, if he were to marry in an exclusive ceremony that not all could attend or feel welcome at, it would surely snub those that he had worked with for so long, those he called friend... and brother.

She thought of Will much during her decision, not in the sense that she did all this to please him, for she didn't, but she did worry that tensions within their new family would increase when Robin was married, as much as Will seemed to favor their marriage. Then again, his disappearance shortly before the ceremony was to take place was not an encouraging sign.

Despite being told by many that it was just his way, Marian found herself troubled by it, for she had no desire to be a division between the brothers, not when they struggled to find the common ground they now shared.

"Oh, you look lovely, my lady," Sarah said, fixing the flowers and veil upon Marian's head. She'd waited until they came to Sherwood for the final preparations, using one of the empty homes to change, as had others among them. Fanny said she'd not have anyone ruining their finery, so she'd had the children wear their worst on the journey to the forest but was now yelling at them to change across the whole village.

"Thank you, Sarah," Marian said, taking her hand. "I hope that all will go right today."

"How can it not?" the other woman teased, but Marian could see too many ways of that, so she said nothing.

"It is not just for me or for Robin," Marian said. "This wedding... it is for so much more than us, and I fear it will disappoint. I do not need so much ceremony—I could have wed Robin the night he asked me with only a single vow or perhaps an act, but I knew that more was needed."

"I think you should enjoy your wedding and not think so much of what others believe or need just now. This is still your time, even if it is held before the others to share and enjoy, to take as a sign that the worst truly is over."

Marian nodded. "I know. I must sound a fool, mustn't I?"

"All women do on their wedding day, or so I am told."

"Why, Sarah," Marian said, looking back at her. "How remiss I've been. We've not found you a man to lecture as you do me. We should remedy that today. All Sherwood will be there, and you may yet find a perfect one."

"Oh, fie," Sarah said. "I've no need of a man, though I feel some pity for your brother-in-law. With that new doublet of his, he'll outshine your man today, and those girls have their desires set upon him, make no mistake."

Marian shook her head. "'Twould be a special woman indeed who found a way to get past that man's defenses, and she'd have to have Fanny's help to do it, which that woman's not going to give easily. She doesn't approve of any of them, as she's made very clear."

"I know she hasn't," Sarah said. "She's still hopeful, though, that someone will come along that's deserving of him."

Marian nodded. She hoped so as well, for she wanted to see her brother-in-law truly happy, not just pretending for someone else's sake. She did not fool herself that marriage was the only source of that, but she'd like to think that Will had a great deal of love to give, if someone could ever help him see that it was safe to do so.

"I wonder how much it would bother Robin to know that most talk is of his brother these days."

Marian felt the pointed nature of her lady-in-waiting's words. "I think he finds it amusing, but he doesn't understand the difficulty it causes Will. And I am not marrying the wrong brother or worried that I am. I love Robin, but Will is also family now, and family worries over its own."

Sarah nodded. "That it does."

Azeem was not familiar with Christian weddings, but he thought them not entirely dissimilar to those that he had observed in his own country. He could not compare this to his own, for his mind had one thought, one purpose, during that time, and Allah forgive him, his thoughts had solely been with Yasmina and the life they were to share.

That life now gone, Azeem found the proceedings bittersweet with memory. He had loved Yasmina with a devotion that surpassed death, and he knew he would carry her with him always. He would ache with her loss daily.

He did not doubt that should either party now before the holy man fall, the other would feel the same. Azeem drew in a breath and frowned to see the man next to him fidgeting as he was. He put a hand on Will's shoulder.

"Peace," Azeem said. "Fanny made sure those women were at the far end of the procession. They can hardly see you from here."

Will gave him a glare, pulling on his cloak as though he wanted to disappear underneath it. Azeem would rather leave as well, preferring to be alone with his memories of Yasmina, but now was not the time for that.

Soon, though. Very soon.

"With the power vested in me of God's holy church," Friar Tuck began, smiling warmly out at the crowd. "I say let any man who has reason why these two should not be joined, let him speak now or forever hold his peace."

He didn't give much of anyone a chance to speak, even as Azeem became aware of horses and men approaching them.

"Then, I now pronounce you—"

"Hold," a commanding voice said, coming up into their midst. "I speak."

"It's the king," many whispered, and around Azeem everyone began to kneel. He frowned, confused, but all save Marian did, and she looked too shocked to be reacting properly, even as she greeted the man before her.

"Richard," she said, happy and yet as though she had thought this man were perhaps dead.

The man in armor looked around, nodding to all who had bowed to him, and continued on with the same commanding tone. "I will not allow this wedding to proceed—"

"My lord," Locksley began, rising to protest.

"Unless," the king said, holding up a hand. "I'm allowed to give the bride away."

The relief going through the others was palpable through the air, and it amused Azeem as the laughter went through them. This did look as though not just a blessing on the wedding was being given but also an unspoken pardon, one that had been discussed and hoped for but not yet given.

"You look radiant, cousin," the king told Marian, kissing both of her cheeks.

"Oh, Richard," she whispered, and Azeem wondered again if she had believed him dead.

"I'm deeply honored, your majesty," Locksley told the king, relief evident in his features as well. This was, of course, the last part of peace, the acceptance and pardon that all wanted, the true reward for all their efforts.

Sherwood village might not be needed after all.

"It is I who am honored, Lord Locksley," the king told him, and there it was, a more verbal pardon and assurance that the things taken by Nottingham were to be returned. Locksley was not just Robin any longer. He was the lord, as he would have been following his father's death. "Thanks to you, I still have a throne."

Locksley gave him a smile, though Azeem did not know if Nottingham could have succeeded in that enterprise or not.

"Friar, proceed," the king ordered.

Tuck nodded. "Now, where was I...? Oh... Husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."

Locksley looked a bit annoyed to be given permission for it. "I know that."

He turned to kiss Marian, giving her one that was perhaps not meant for an audience, though Azeem thought the crowd was quite pleased. Around him, he could hear clapping and cheering, and then to his surprise, Will embraced him.

Azeem smiled at the younger man, though he did not think that hug meant what others assumed it did. He was not doing it because he was pleased his brother was married—though he was not jealous and displeased as some might also assume.

"Now, get out of it," Tuck told them, leaning in, "We're wasting good celebration time."

Azeem shook his head. Robin and Marian ignored Tuck to kiss again, and Azeem was not surprised at all when Will chose that moment to slip away from the crowd.

"I would not have thought these meager celebrations worthy of someone of your stature," Will observed, tugging at the cloak around his neck and wishing it were not so damned bright. Fanny had outdone herself, but he felt like a fool, and he was sure he could not come and go unnoticed like this.

"And I would have thought you less bold than to approach a royal in so informal and perhaps threatening a manner," King Richard observed, though his eyes crinkled a bit and his lips curved into what Will thought was a smile of amusement.

"I'm known to come and go as I please," Will said, refusing to cower even if he should show deference to the king.

"So I have heard," the king said. "As I have heard much of you, Will Scarlett."

Will frowned. "You have?"

"My cousin wrote me a great deal concerning the events here. This surprises you?"

Will shook his head. He should have thought of that, and yet he had overlooked it as he made his way back to the gathering and to the king's side, past the guards meant to watch him. "I just find it hard to believe she had much of anything to say about me, and certainly not anything good."

"Then perhaps I should not tell you what she did say of you."

Will allowed himself a smile. "My lord, if you mean to tease me into asking for that, I can assure you, I will not. I do not care what Marian or anyone else thinks of me. I only wanted to know if your presence here means what everyone thinks it does."

"Oh? And what is that?"

"They all believe you have come to pardon them for the crimes Nottingham accused them of," Will said. "And make no mistake, we're not innocent—we stole and we poached and we did not pay taxes."

The king nodded. "I am aware of that as well as aware of the impossibly high taxes that he demanded of these people. I believe you are also aware of a great deal that is said about me."

"That all you care about is war? That you'd rather be French than English, that you could care less what happens to any of us here so long as you can keep fighting?" Will shrugged. "Who hasn't heard that? Robin and others follow you blindly. He has loyalty from the Crusades. Marian is your cousin—or perhaps your daughter—and she has to believe in you."

"And you?"

"I believe I have always had to see to my own safety, and that has not changed based on which king was ruling, where he was, or even who my brother is," Will said. "I see to my own needs, and I don't care what you do as long as it doesn't threaten what I need to survive."

"A very honest answer. Yes, I believe this is the place."

Will frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Some believe my younger brother intends to overthrow me, and that Nottingham's actions were part of his plan," the king said. "While I believe most would like me to turn the position of sheriff over to your brother, I believe it is not yet time for such a measure."

"You want to let your brother appoint someone and see what that man does."

"Yes. Should it prove true that John's actions are treasonous or that his envoy is less than trustworthy, your brother will be here to stop him," the king said. "The question is... will you be there as well?"

"I dislike having nobles force my hand," Will told the king, taking out a dagger. "And were you any other man, I might have used one of these against you, for I know the threat in your words."

"And were I any other man, I could not make such a threat."

Will nodded. "Still, that doesn't mean I like this idea of yours much. The people here have already suffered, and they do not need another war."

"No, they do not, but they alone are equipped to fight it should it come," the king said, putting his hand on Will's shoulder. "As are you, Will Scarlett, and you alone know the truth of what may yet pass. I hope Marian's faith in you is not misplaced."

"In me?" Will asked, staring at him. "Why not in Robin?"

"Because your brother, while an admirable and brave man, is impulsive and reckless. You are cautious and deceptive. You stand on the outside as an observer and take action when necessary rather than before you know the full facts. Had it been you who confronted Gisborne over the child that day, would a war against Nottingham have been necessary? Perhaps not."

"Just because I wasn't stupid enough to go provoking Nottingham and letting everyone know my face doesn't mean I want any part in this."

"And that as well recommends you as the better choice. You will act only if it is needed, whereas your brother will feel the outsider as a threat from the beginning. He will not give the man time to prove himself if I tell him that John may be moving against me. He will see every action as that of a traitor even if they are not. I need someone with a more cautious approach to watch and tell me what the truth is."

Will snorted. "You picked the wrong person. I can't read or write, so how would I get word to you even were I willing to do this?"

"You will learn," the king said. "I have great faith in you."

"Again—why me? I'm a thief and a killer."

"Both crimes you've been pardoned for."

"I'd do them both again."

"And that is part of why you are the one I would task with this," the king told him. "As is your youth and the reputation you've gained despite it."

Will sighed. "I killed Flavell by cutting his throat. There was a lot of blood on him and me after that. It's not the story they think it is."

"Nevertheless, hearing the sort of man he was, you should never have escaped him alive, especially not at your age," the king said. "And yes, I know admitting to knowing such things about him when he was alive makes it seem like those rumors of me are true—that I cared nothing for these people at all."

"You don't, do you?"

The king shook his head. "Waging war is simple. Caring for the needs of everyone is not. Battle is direct. Balancing the scales is difficult and frequently biased. I would rather leave those tasks to those better suited for it, and I had believed John to be one of those people. If he is not, we shall all suffer. If he is... then why should he not do it?"

"And yet he could be plotting against you."

"You see the need to test and be sure he is not."

"I was about to leave."

"You would have returned eventually," the king said. "All I am doing is giving you a reason to delay that trip. Should you still feel the need to go, you will, but until then, it would be my hope you would remain here."

"I'm considered a traitor myself," Will said, feeling a bit desperate with that protest. He still didn't know if he would have killed Robin or not, but he'd had to get out of that prison and he'd taken the only escape possible in his position. "Why trust me?"

The king smiled. "Do you know what a spy looks like?"

"Is that a trick question? Spies aren't meant to be seen. They work in secret. If they don't, they die. That's why they pretend to be one of you or like you or..."

"An outcast?"

Will swore. "I am not going to do this just because you order me to."

"I am not ordering you to do anything. I believe the man you are will choose to stay and see it through instead."

"You don't know me."

"No, but these people do, Will Scarlett, and I think they have their reasons for trusting you," the king told him. "Now if you will excuse me, I do believe it's my turn to dance with the bride."

Will watched him go, shaking his head. He wasn't listening to any of that.

He wasn't staying. He'd come back, he'd attended Robin's wedding, but he was done.

Only as he watched the king take hold of Marian's hand and Robin smiling reluctantly as he stepped away from her, he knew he wasn't.

Damn it.