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Wish I Could Love You Out Loud	By : MelissaMaxwell Category: > Robin Hood Views: 2039 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Robin Hood, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

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Henry knew he should feel relieved. There were now four people who knew and accepted his secret. (As far as he knew.) That was four less people he'd have to pretend around. But, as he sat and stared at his roast haunch of rabbit, he felt even more anxious than ever. Where the Hell was Aubrey? He wanted to tell him the news that Agnes and her sons knew the truth, but he was nowhere to be found. How long did it take to gather chamomile?
"If you're not going to eat that," said David. "Can I have it?" Henry gave David the haunch. "You're not sick, are you?" David muttered around a mouthful of rabbit.
Henry shook his head. Meals just weren't much fun without Aubrey. He missed watching him lick the juices off his lips and occasionally suck a sauce coated finger. He even missed making small talk in an effort to distract himself from the burgeoning erection he felt from watching Aubrey's lips and teeth strip down the bone. "It isn't like Aubrey to miss a meal." he said.
"Lad probably got distracted by something." said David.
"He doesn't know these woods that well." said Aubrey. "He might be lost."
"Aubrey's a clever boy." said David. "Knows how to find north. He'll be fine."
"I hope he's just lost." said Henry. "And not hurt or anything."
"Henry, don't dwell too much on things like that." David advised. "'Twon't do you any good."
"I should go look for him."
"Well, at least eat something first." David suggested. "You'll think better on a full stomach. And see if Will Scarlet will go with you. He's the best tracker in the bunch."
"I'll do that, David." Henry took up a piece of bread.

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"Anna!" Andrew yelled as soon as he got inside his parents' house, carrying Aubrey. "Anna, put some water on to boil!"
"Aubrey!" the girl leapt to her feet as soon as she saw her missing brother.
"He's not feeling well." Andrew explained as he laid Aubrey on the divan. "Grab him a blanket and I'll start a fire." Aubrey started to protest when Andrew unbuckled his belt and took away his scimitar, but continued to play sick. He lay motionless as Andrew removed his shoes and loosened his tunic.
Anna covered her brother with one of the spare winter blankets. "Aubrey, where have you been?" she asked. "Mum and Dad and everyone are so worried about you! Where did you go? Are you ill? Did you run into Henry?"
"Stop asking questions, you silly girl!" Andrew scolded as he stoked the fire. "Fill a kettle with water and put it on to boil."
Anna took up the kettle, but didn't stop asking questions. "What happened to him?"
"He ate some bad mushrooms." Andrew sighed. "Mum is going to have to make an herbal tea for him most likely. Now go!"
"You're even bossier than Phillipa sometimes!" Anna said mutinously, as she walked out the door.
"Now, don't you worry about a thing, brother." Andrew said as he tucked the blanket in around Aubrey. "We're all going to take care of you now. Everything's going to be just fine. I promise you, Aubrey, we won't ever let you out of our sight!"
/Great./ Aubrey thought. /That means I'll never get out of here!/ Aubrey tried to think. He might have to wait until night time to make his get away. /Poor Henry. He must be worried sick./
"Here's the water." said Anna, lugging it in as best she could. Andrew took it and hung it on a hook over the fire. "Aubrey?" she went to his side. "What happened, Aubrey?"
Aubrey smiled at his sister. /Ah, to be young and innocent again./ Aubrey thought wistfully. "I'm going to be just fine, Anna." he said, stroking a strawberry blonde braid.
"I missed you." she said.
"I missed you too." he could say honestly, though he didn't realize it until now.
"Let him alone, Anna." said Andrew. "He's ill. He needs space. Do you need a washcloth, Aubrey?" Andrew asked, feeling his face.
"I'm fine." Aubrey responded. He started to push the hands away, then remembered he was supposed to be sick and made a weak effort at pushing.
"There's no fever." said Andrew. "That's good."
"Know what?" said Anna. "Some mushrooms make you sick, and then you get better, but then you die."
"We don't need to hear this, Anna." Andrew sighed.
"It's true." said Anna. "Gregory Shepherd told me and-"
"Don't. Mention. That. Family. EVER!" Andrew snapped.
"Why? Gregory didn't do nothing."
"Stop asking so many questions, Anna."
"Why?"
"Alright, I'm back." said Mistress Weaver, coming in with a small sachet bag. "Ah good, the water's simmering." She put the sachet in to let it seep. "The apothecary said this was a good general purpose poison antidote since we don't know exactly what Aubrey ate. It's a blend of nettle and ground dandelion root. Had him add a touch of peppermint oil to relax the stomach cramps and improve the taste a little. Oh, get Aubrey a chamber pot. Those mushrooms are going to have to come out of one end or the other." /Oh, dear, I really am going to be sick!/ Aubrey thought as the pot was brought forth. "Has he been sweaty or feverish?"
"No, Mum." said Andrew. "His skin feels perfectly normal."
"Well, /that's/ good." She stirred the steaming tea.
"Mum, what is this?" Andrew produced the scimitar. "Aubrey had this with him. It looks like a sword, only more curved."
"I don't know." said Mistress Weaver. "I've never seen a blade like it. We'll ask Aubrey later when he's feeling better. Well, I think the tea has seeped enough." She poured it in a cup. "Here, Aubrey." She gave it to him. "Drink it all up."
Aubrey took the cup and inhaled the smell of peppermint mingled with other herbs. "Go on, drink it." Andrew urged. Aubrey gulped some down and nearly gagged. The peppermint could only mask a little of the awful taste. "All of it, now." said Andrew. "It will do you good." Aubrey doubted that, but drank anyway.
"Now, if you feel any urge at all," said their mother. "Off to the chamber pot, double quick. I'll assume that means we shouldn't bring Jane over to visit yet."
"No, Mum." Aubrey said quickly. "I'd be rather embarrassed to have her see me like this."
"Well, after you're married, you'll have to get over embarrassments rather quickly." she said. "The vows state 'in sickness and in health'. Jane won't always see the pretty side of you."
"She's right, you know." said Andrew. "I don't always see the pretty side of Phillipa." /I've never seen the pretty side of Phillipa!/ Aubrey thought. "I've had to empty out the chamber pot a time or two after she started carrying my child." He smiled. "This is so wonderful, Aubrey! We're a family again!" Aubrey said nothing.
"Well, what are you all doing?" Mister Dyer entered the house. "Trying to smother him? Off with you all! Let the lad breathe!" They all dispersed. Dyer cupped his younger son's face and looked at it tenderly. "I'm so glad you've returned to me, son." he said. "This wedding will celebrate your return! You just have to get better." Aubrey looked away. He was quite surprised when his father took him in his arms. "For my son was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is found. The Holy Father read the Parable of the Lost Son from the Book of Luke to me. I haven't held you like this since you were very small, have I?" he asked gently. Aubrey shook his head. His father gave his hair some strokes. "I'll leave you be, now, Aubrey. You need to rest after all you've been through."
"Father...." Aubrey said as the man started to take his leave. "I-I love you."
The man smiled at his son. "And I love you too, son. Never forget that."
Aubrey allowed some tears to escape as the man left him. Damn. He wasn't being held in a prison of iron bars. He was imprisoned by love. That was even harder to break out of.

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"Agnes said he went this way." Henry said to Will as they walked through the forest.
"There is a chamomile field not very far from here." said Will. "He must still be there, or we would have seen him by now. Unless...."
"Unless what?"
"Well, unless he went off somewhere else. But, your brother isn't foolish enough to wander around alone in woods he's unfamiliar with."
Henry shook his head. He could see an open field just beyond the trees. He could smell the sweet scent of chamomile, but the relaxing qualities of the fragrance didn't touch his soul. He wouldn't relax until he knew Aubrey was safe.
Will was examining the forest floor and surroundings. "He came by here." Will noted a half snapped twig on a bush. "In a bit of a hurry. But, he stopped and...." Will caught sight of the hastily dropped basket, wilting chamomile spilled from it.
Henry's heart caught in his throat when he saw the basket. This could not bode well. "Aubrey!" he shouted out. "Aubrey! Where are you?"
"Well, I doubt he's playing hide-and-seek." said Will. "I see no blood anywhere. No real signs of struggle. It looks like he tried to run away from something, then just went along quietly."
"Someone-someone took Aubrey away?" Henry tried to control his rapid breathing.
"Well, he didn't fly away." said Will. He noted that Henry was nearly hyperventilating. "Do calm down, lad and try to think! Who would take your brother? The Sheriff probably still remembers what you've done to his niece. But, then his rangers usually don't patrol this area. And the Sheriff isn't very fond of picking posies himself. Come on." Will turned back to camp and bid Henry to follow him. "We'll send some people into Nottingham to scout around and see if they can find out anything."

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Aubrey lay quietly for a long time. In the peace of his familiar home with a fire burning and a blanket covering him, it was very tempting to relax and take a nap. /This isn't my home anymore./ Aubrey reminded himself as he sat up and pulled the blanket off. /My home is wherever Henry is./ Aubrey set about to putting on his boots and strapping his scimitar to his belt. He looked out a window that overlooked a small stretch of open grassland. The trees and bramble just beyond it were thickset and would be difficult to travel through. Once he got through the toughest part of the bramble, though, he could turn east and make his way back to camp.
"What're ya doin', Aubrey?" Aubrey was just about to shimmy through the window when he heard Anna's voice. He turned to her, and decided he would tell her the truth. Or, at least, a truth that a young girl could digest.
"Anna, I can't stay here anymore." he said.
"Why?"
"Anna, while I was away, I met up with Robin Hood. You've heard of him, right?" She nodded. Everyone down to the youngest of children had heard of Robin Hood. "Well, I'm one of his men now. Anna, I found something I believe in. A cause worth fighting for. And I won't be alone. I've become friends with the other Merry Men. And...well...I'm with someone who loves me very much. Someone who loves me more than Jane ever could. So, you see, Anna, I can't stay here and marry Jane. Not when my heart is out there in Sherwood. Tell the family that I love them, and I'm sorry I deceived them, but I must go." He hugged his sister. "Good-bye, sister."
Anna stood in shock, her young mind trying to absorb everything when Aubrey sprung out the window and dashed for the trees. "Aubrey!" she called after him. When it was clear he wasn't returning, she looked out the window and softly said "Good-bye, Aubrey."
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Aubrey dashed through the trees as soon as he thought he had put in enough distance, he tried to get his bearings. He had to get back to Robin Hood's camp. Back to Henry. His stomach roiled unpleasantly. The medicinal tea was kicking in. Time to go visit the bushes.
Aubrey had just finished cleaning up and was about to refasten his breeches when he heard familiar voices. "Do you think Edith would stay with us if I asked her?" It was Luke.
"Luke, you lovesick calf!" It was Matthew. "Try and think! Is a girl going to give up a comfortable life with her parents to live in the woods with you?"
"Marian gave up life in a castle to live with Robin." Luke pointed out.
"They're in love." said Mark. "You two hardly know each other."
"Oh, and you're the big expert on love, then?" asked Luke.
"I never claimed to be." said Mark.
"Speaking of love," said Matthew. "Do you think it's true? Do you think Henry really does love Aubrey like he says?"
Aubrey had just refastened his breeches and was about to stand up and announce his presence when he heard Matthew say the last phrase. He froze still. Henry had told them? After all his insistence on secrecy? Why?
"He moped over him as badly as Luke does over Edith." said Mark. "Must say, Henry's a right good sport not to strike Luke for kissing his sister."
/Ah, little Edith's all grown up!/ Aubrey thought with a smile.
"He gave me his blessing to court her." said Luke. "And for that, why should I have any problem with him wanting to be with a man?"
"It-it just goes against everything holy." said Matthew. "Ah, well. Mother and Robin both say we are to try and find him."
"Where could he have gone?" asked Mark. "And why would he go if Harry claims Aubrey loves him too?"
"I don't know." said Matthew. "Maybe he realized he was committing a grave sin. Maybe he was afraid for his soul, afraid of the shame he'd leave on his family."
"Who is Aubrey's family?" asked Mark. "We know now that Henry isn't truly his brother."
"I always suspected Aubrey was a town boy." said Matthew. "Perhaps he went back to Nottingham. That's the direction they were coming from when they first showed up."
"I hope we can bring him back." said Luke. "Harry would be just heartbroken if he couldn't have Aubrey with him. He's been driving everyone crazy since he disappeared."
/He-he loves me, really loves me!/ Aubrey thought happily. Aubrey got over himself and tried to think. Could he reveal himself to the Book Brothers now? He decided he would, and pretend he hadn't over-heard their conversation. He waited until they had passed a bit, then stood. "Hey, lads!" he yelled. "Where are you off to?"
"Aubrey! Just the lad we're looking for!" said Mark.
"Where have you been?" asked Matthew. "Mum sent you out for chamomile hours ago and Henry's been worried sick."
Aubrey smiled. "Well, I'll be sure and apologize to my dear brother. And your mother. I'm, er, afraid I lost the chamomile."
"What happened?" asked Luke.
"What happened?" echoed Aubrey. "Well, that's an interesting story." /One I'll have to make up here and now!/ "Well, I was out getting the chamomile when...when...a wolf came out of the woods!"
"A wolf?" said Matthew. "I wasn't aware there were any in these parts."
"Oh, there was one in the meadow." said Aubrey. "It was big, but it was skinny, like it hadn't eaten in a few days. It growled and bared these horrible sharp fangs." Aubrey imitated the imaginary wolf as he described it. "It had these fearsome yellow eyes and paws the size of my hands with claws like razors! I'm afraid it terrified me so much that I dropped my basket and ran away!"
"Bad idea to drop and run from dogs and wolves." said Mark. "They'll just chase you."
"Oh, it did chase me!" Aubrey said with all the earnesty he could fake. "I was zigzagging every which way to try and lose it, but still it chased me! I finally got away by climbing up a tree. After awhile, it got tired of waiting for me to come down and left. I climbed back down, but found I was a bit lost, having run about mindlessly trying to get away from the wolf. Well, now I've found you chaps and we can go back to camp. Any supper left over? I'm rather hungry."
As soon as Henry saw Aubrey return with the book brothers, the weight was unleashed from his heart. His beloved was alive and well. Never before had his handsome face looked as beautiful as it did right now. He quite forgot himself and ran to embrace his lover. He caught himself at the last minute and settled for a brotherly pat on the arms. "I've been very worried about you, my brother!" he said.
"You should be." said Matthew. "He's had to run from a wolf."
Aubrey put an arm around Henry's neck. "Come with me, brother, and I'll tell you all about it." The two walked off into the woods. The triplets watched them depart.
"I still say it's unnatural." Mark said as he shook his head.

A/N: Sorry! Couldn't sacrifice plot for smut. Next time, maybe. Sorry it's been so long since I've updated. RL, writer's block, other projects, etc.
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Wish I Could Love You Out Loud