Title: Suffering Enough
Author: reef
Rating: M
Characters: Ensemble, Original character

Pairing: None
Summary: For how long will the Crusades continue to haunt the soldiers that fought?
Authors Notes: This is an AU and my first Robin Hood fic. I did a little research and found that the story line for the show matches up perfectly with the time line for the movie Kingdom of Heaven, and that the movie itself is actually quite historically accurate. So consider this a crossover if you like but most of the stuff about Hattin and the Siege of Acre is actually considered historical fact.
WARNINGS: Mentions/infers torture. War. Violence.
Written: 24/07/07

Suffering Enough

Chp3

Time stood still. No breeze blew, no leaves crackled and barely a breath was taken. A single tear made its way down Jack's face as she clenched her fists, trying to hide the tremors that started there.

Only the clouds, it seemed, continued to move, covering the sun as if to match the mood of those on the road that afternoon.

Robin stood still, his face seeming as pale as the clouds above and his stance as if he would fall to his knees at any moment. The anger had drained out of him and a look of brokenness had replaced it. Broken from the inside, from something that would not leave him, something that he could not change and could never forget.

He leaned himself up against a road-side tree and slowly slid down until he rested against its old roots.

Much opened his mouth as if to speak but stopped. Without warning a wind had picked up and brought with it a sound all too familiar and not at all welcome.

Horses.

Horses with riders.

Soldiers.

Almost as one, the outlaws drew their weapons, scanning the road and the forest for the direction of the threat. In the distance, riders in black appeared around a bend in the road from Nottingham, their speed unchecked. The men of the forest moved into defensive positions, knowing yet full well they were outnumbered and ill-equipped for a battle with the Sheriff's men.

Robin, now back on his feet and with vengeance clear in his mind, grabbed the once-abbot again by the front of his muddied robes and dragged him to his knees.

"Robin!" Much called to his master urgently, the hoof-beats growing steadily louder as the mounted soldiers gained on their position.

Robin hesitated, looking up to see his men battle-ready and willing to fight. Weapons held high, no doubt I their minds about what was to come. He looked down again, and Terric could see the indecision clear on his face.

"You did not think I would come here without visiting the Sheriff first did you?" Terric asked him in a quiet, pious voice, all fear gone from his eyes. "I have a 'business arrangement' with the good Sheriff of Nottingham that I could not go back on, after all."

"Robin!" The closer the soldiers came the more their numbers seemed to grow in Much's eyes. "We can not stay here. There are too many."

"He's right lad, this'll not be a good day to die." John spoke up without turning away from the approaching cavalry.

Robin shook the ex-holy man in anger. "What arrangement? Tell me!" He yelled.

"Why, troops of course." The scream of an arrow cut the air and landed with the sound of an axe splitting wood in the door of the carriage.

The two boys from Nettlestone bolted back the way they had come.

"I help Vacy by keeping the King for as long as possible in the Holy Land and in return, I take with me every prisoner he has back to Jerusalem." Terric spoke with a smile, knowing the more he angered Locksley the longer he would linger and the more chance there was of him becoming one of those prisoners himself.

"No!" With sudden clarity Robin dropped the man to the ground and turned to face the oncoming troops. His men were right, they could not stay. They were already moving away into the forest before he called for them to move and more arrows began to rain down on the road where they had stood. With a last contemptuous glare at Terric he was moving with them.

They were just shy of the top of the hill on the Locksley side before the first rider was amongst them. The soldier charged his horse through the middle of the group of outlaws, aiming for the outlaw leader. Robin dropped and spun, nocking an arrow and standing two more in the earth. He let one arrow fly toward the next rider as he heard the squeal of the first rider's horse as his men took it to ground.

Another rider took a swing with his sword as he rode passed Robin but he was out of range and Robin aimed bow at the next. Two more riders went down in quick succession before he was forced to change position and draw his blade. He dodged another charge and found himself back to back with Much, their swords held low and ready, double-handed grip steady and ready for the next attack.

As they circled he could see Will and Alan in similar positions, weapons ready, and Little John by himself keeping near to a large oak to protect his back and keeping his staff at the ready for the front.

Three more riders charged before Robin sighted Djaq a short way off from the rest of his men.

He only had time to dodge and swing as another mount passed. His blade severed the saddle girth, sending the rider to the round and the horse off into the forest at full pelt. John took another down, taking his staff to the charging rider like an immovable tree branch just as Alan pulled the third from his horse and knocked the pommel of his sword square into his face. The riderless horse continued on and Robin saw Much throw himself clear of it's path, its flank brushing his shoulder as it passed.

Djaq was not so lucky. A soldier had singled Djaq out yet she had been underestimated and had easily overpowered him with speed instead of brawn. Doing the same as Robin, she cut the saddle girth as she slipped past the rearing horse. Slapping it on the rump with her sword it had taken off and left its rider on the ground at her feet. A swift kick to the side of his head rendered him unconscious, still sitting in his saddle.

She turned at the sound of beating hooves but wasn't quick enough. The terrified horse knocked her to the ground, unconscious. As her comrades moved to shield her they found they were cut off by yet more riders. They had cut their opponent's numbers in half by now yet they were still outnumbered.

They stilled as a line of chain mail-clad archers appeared above a rise behind the mounted soldiers, arrows at the ready. The familiar form of Gisbourn appeared to one side, mounted on a tall horse. Terric smiled slyly from down beside him, holding a cloth to his bleeding neck.

Breathing hard and knowing they stood no chance at moving forward to help Djaq, Robin cursed silently with no choice but to watch as a soldier lifted their friend onto the back of Gisbourn's horse.

"Missing something Locksley?" Gisbourn called out, goading the outlaw.

"No." Robin seethed through clenched teeth. "No!."

Will took a step forward but was stopped by an arrow fired into the dirt at his feet.

Alan tried the same but was again stopped short, several arrows fell at his feet and one tore at the sleeve of his tunic.

"Stop, we can't help her this way." Little John grabbed Alan's shoulder to keep him in place.

"Gisbourn! What do you want?" Robin called out, torn between the desperation of saving Djaq and the common sense of keeping the rest of his men safe.

"Want? Locksley? I already have more than I expected from this… meeting." Gisbourn sneered, running a gloved hand down the outside of Djaq's leg.

Little John tighten his grip on Alan's shoulder and took to Will in the same fashion.

Much could only prey that she did not remain unconscious for too long.

Gisbourn laughed, knowing the response his action was earning. "Archers ready!" he called, loud enough for the outlaws to know what was coming. He aimed a cruel smile in Robin's direction, lifting his arm in the air.

Pushing Much back with one hand, Robin yelled to his remaining men, "Go! Split up. Will, with Allan. Much, go with John. Do not go back to camp. I will find you."

Once again the arrows bit the ground where they had stood and followed as they fled.

TBC