Princess of London and the Duke
A.N Part Two of Duchess of London as I couldn't go on with it once she became a Princess and Guy was also given a title. I am going to try and slow this one down a little rather than six chapters at a time.
Disclaimer: I do not own BBC Robin Hood.
Guy of Gisborne had his own concerns as he marched into London to fight the Prince. His wife had not returned and neither had the Captain and that meant trouble as far as he was concerned. There would be no mercy for the Prince as far as he was concerned; he would be killed and he was going to be the one to do it. The Prince was better to him dead for all manner of reasons including the safety of his amazing wife; there was his succession to think about and the safety of his future children.
When they arrived in London it seemed as though the Prince had been expecting the army. Sir Guy steadied his horse and insisted upon being on the front line, which gained him respect for the first time from his men.
"Go home Sir Guy of…"
"I'm a Duke! I demand access to the palace and the surrender of Prince John; the throne belongs to the Princess in the King's absence by order of his majesty. She is your regent and you have no right to keep her prisoner!" declared the Duke.
Prince John looked out of his tower window and saw his cousin's husband raging at his gate. He had no idea that the battle would be so close but he refused to show fear. Richard's men were more than he expected and he certainly didn't expect the Sheriff of Nottingham to be on Guy's side after all he had done. Perhaps his cause was truly lost?
"I have every right! That proclamation was false and a lie! My brother would never insult me by putting a woman over me! Especially your wife Gisborne! Surely a man as cruel as you is capable of keeping his wife in order?" asked Prince John.
The famous Gisborne temper surfaced and he ordered the attack forward just as Robin and his men arrived. Robin shook his head as he dismounted his horse as he tried to find a way into the safest place in the country in order to save the Princess.
"Very kind of him to distract the rest of the men while we break in and free his cousin," commented Much.
"He's a fool and that temper of his will be the death of him; if he dies Rose will struggle to lead this land," added Robin.
"What are you saying?" asked John.
"That we need to free her and then join the battle; she needs him alive and God help us so do we for the same reason. I'm ready to forgive him," replied Robin.
It wasn't easy breaking into the Palace and running up the stairs to rescue Princess Rose and the Queen Mother; but with John's brute strength and some encouragement from the Queen Mother, he managed to break down the door with his strength and free the royal women.
"Oh thank you big bear!" commented the Queen Mother.
Robin looked anxiously at Rose and dragged her to the royal armoury for protective body armour so that she could get to the battle and help him save her husband before it was too late. Rose looked out of the window and struggled to find Guy in the chaos of battle but Robin pulled her away from the window and passed her everything that she needed to stay alive.
"You have to get to Guy and so do I. There was something else the King gave me in the Holy Land but I was loathed to give it to him until I saw what you see now," explained Robin, handing over Guy's pardon.
Rose broke the seal and read the pardon. Part of her was angry with Robin for keeping it from her husband for so long but part of her understood his reasoning.
"Thank you Robin; that must have been hard for you," she confessed.
"This whole situation is hard for me your highness. After what he did in the Holy Land I didn't want him to get married and I certainly didn't want him on the throne but that is not the same man and that has everything to do with you. If you can turn Sir Guy of Gisborne into a Duke that fights for Richard; you can fix this country," informed Robin.
He turned to leave as Rose finally dressed for battle as best she could. Before they reached the door to leave the castle Rose made Robin a promise.
"Hear me Robin; I will personally reward you for everything you have done for this country and my family. It must have been hard for you to return to the Holy Land," she sympathised.
"What Gisborne did to me was unforgivable but what he is doing for you and England I can't fault him. I'll never love another like Marian," declared Robin.
Robin tried to protect the Princess as they raged into the battle. He didn't expect Rose to be so violent against the Prince's men and it was clear that Prince John did not expect her to have escaped the tower as he saw her fight her way to her husband.
"No! I locked her away! Traitor!" snapped Prince John.
His mother arranged for John and a few other soldiers to take her son into custody. She did not appreciate being locked up for several weeks because of her son no matter who he claimed to be. Murder did not cross her mind but she had him tied up and restrained while she checked the state of the battle outside the palace.
"Tell them big bear! Tell them the Prince is off the throne!" she ordered.
On the battlements Rose eventually fell into place with Guy, who was eager to protect his wife and future ruler of England in the King's absence. He reached out to her and pulled her to safety as he fought off more knights.
"What happened?" he asked.
"Robin freed me and the Queen Mother! I think she is still in the…" began Rose.
John's outcry was heard across the battle before she could ask Guy to help her get her Aunt to safety away from the palace and her cousin.
"THE PRINCE HAS BEEN TAKEN. BOW TO YOUR PRINCESS!"
The fighting stopped and Prince John was dragged onto the tower tied up and gagged for the world to see. There came the sound of weapons dropping and an instant surrender from the Prince's men and many turned to Rose and Guy with a bended knee.
"Hail Princess!"
Robin led Rose back into the palace. The Queen Mother placed her own crown on her head and gestured to the throne. Guy stood awkwardly by the doors but the Queen Mother hadn't forgotten him as she gestured to what was once her seat and provided him with a less grand crown but a crown nevertheless.
"Your Grace," she added.
Rose smiled welcomingly at her husband; once again they were together and they were both safe from Prince John, who was brought before them and caused Rose's smile to falter completely at the very sight of him.
As for her husband the Duke; he gripped the sides of his chair so much that his knuckles turned white and Rose placed a comforting hand on his knee but did not speak to him directly. She was focused on him and wondering what the best course of action was to punish him for everything that he had done.
The Queen mother placed her hand on the Princess' shoulder as a silent plea for her to be merciful. Despite what he had done and how he had treated his family and country he was still her son and she couldn't stand for any harm to come to him.
"Clear the room please," commanded Princess Rose.
There was an awkward silence and more shuffling than following orders.
"I wish to privately deal with this matter!" she commanded.
No one had ever heard Rose raise her voice apart from the Duke sat next to her, who assumed that he was exempt from her command but she pointed at the door in order for him to follow.
"I won't be long," she assured.
"You promised me…" began the Duke.
The Queen Mother led out Guy to the corridor in order to wait for Rose to pass her sentence onto her cousin the Prince, who was quite anxious as he had never seen his cousin so sure of herself and in a position of power.
"Sweet, dearest cousin please, you must understand the pressure…" began Prince John.
"The pressure was offered to be lifted from you peacefully; you locked me and your mother away, forced this land into civil war and are responsible for the deaths of hundreds of men. You are a traitor to me and to Richard. If I keep you here this land is not safe and neither am I. You have given me no choice but to arrest you. I meet with advisors and other most trusted men and women in the morning until a decision is made you will remain locked up," ordered the Princess.
Prince John was taken away kicking and attempting to scream the palace down but he was no match for the palace guards who detested serving under him for so many years. The Queen Mother appeared looking concerned and the Princess' husband appeared with his arms folded and looking most put out.
"I had to speak to him alone; I wanted to frighten him while we decide what to do with him; together as a family and as royalty," explained Rose.
The Queen Mother looked relieved as Guy rolled his eyes and realized that it was part of her plan to lord over the Prince.
"Very wise of you my dear," complimented the Queen Mother.
"I welcome your input of course Aunt and I understand how hard this situation must be for you…" started Rose.
"Ask Richard what you should do with him. Make him sweat while we wait for an answer," suggested the Duke, going to his wife's side.
"I understand my love what you want more than anything but we have to be careful. I want Robin formerly of Locksley here in the morning with his men and we will decide between us what is to be done with John," explained the Princess.
The Queen Mother covered her mouth to stop her tears. The Princess was torn between comforting her and answering her husband's frustrated growl but she turned first to Guy, as the Queen Mother left the room sobbing.
"You're a leader now…" began Guy.
"I am a diplomatic ruler and as such I welcome the opinions of others including you; I know what you would ask of Richard and I don't blame you but we have to do things right," added Rose.
"What about what is right for us?" asked Guy.
Rose knew that her husband needed a lot of work in order to become royalty and think like a royal. It was one thing giving him a title and the crown but it was another granting him the mind and persona of one.
"Darling you have to trust me," pleaded Rose.
"What choice do I have your highness?" asked Guy, sarcastically.
"Don't be like that; we're equals in this…" she started.
Guy gestured to her crown and shook his head.
"All evidence to the contrary!" he snapped, turning away.
Rose found herself not acting the way she should. A frustrated sigh and the stamp of her foot made it clear that she was quite displeased with her husband and the way he was reacting to her new command.