Author's Note: Real quick, I just want to clarify in this Snow White is four-years-old close to five. Like I said before, this isn't following OUAT cannon or it's magic system. Cora is a witch, yes, but more of Welsh/Celtic paganism, and the man in Regina's mirror is Rumple-esque... but not a Dark One. It's more of it's own magical world/system so hopefully I'm not confusing everyone too much, but please feel free to leave a comment or DM me if you have any questions. This chapter is short but a longer one will soon follow, like maybe in the morning... Also, forgive any errors you find. I played with it after my beta took a look.
"Henry's not going to release him. Lord Longchamp said he has raised the ransom to 150,000 marks." Baron Robert Marshal of Pembroke's voice conveyed the seriousness as it did in his eyes as he leveled them at Robin in the darkened corner of the local tavern just outside of Rutland.
"God's nails," Allen said, breaking away from the group and walking away, running his hands through his dark hair.
There were exclamations of anger and curses that would make Tuck call out for their silence if he were in the room, but Robin stayed silent. He sympathized with their disappointment as it coursed through his own veins. They had been so close to the emperor's demands of 100,000 but there was nothing to be done of it. They would simply have to come up with the rest.
"The bastard won't be satisfied with 100,000 marks?" John said, getting to his feet. "It was an outrageous amount as it stood."
The baron's eyes followed John as he straightened his stance. "Yes, well, he's an emperor. I doubt he cares about how a common thief views his demands."
"Who you callin' a thief?" Will started toward the baron.
"Please," Baron Marshal drawled, eyeing Will with contempt. "You may be helping the cause, but your contributions might as well keep feeding the penniless filth you're so keen on protecting."
"I ought ta smack that privileged tongue from your mouth."
"Oh, how I'd love to see you try."
Pushing to his feet, Robin said, "That's enough!" Stepping between the men, he pointed at the young Scarlett. "Will if you can't control yourself, you can see yourself outside and cool off." Will held his gaze a long moment. His jaw clenching and unclenching before turning to the door and slamming it behind him. Robin let out a breath and sent a look at Robert he could not misinterpret. "Here's what we're going to do; we're going to stop fighting amongst ourselves and come up with the money. He'll have no choice to release him when we do."
"He don't hav' to do a thing, does he?" John argued. "What's to say he won't raise it again and again?"
Robin sighed and rubbed a hand over his mouth. "We'll have to hope he keeps his word."
Lord James, a wealthy dark-skinned, elderly gentleman, who had been silent for most of the gathering, spoke up from the corner of the room and said, "Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine has already raised another twenty thousand."
Allen scoffed. "Aye, and how's she done it? By raising taxes and taking from the church. She's no better than Nottingham if ya ask me."
"The gold and silver relics can be replaced," Robin said with a frown, not wishing for another row. "And while I don't agree raising taxes is the way to do it, she's gotten us closer than we could have on our own. We just need a bit more."
"How much do we have?"
"Nearly a hundred and twenty thousand," Baron Marshal said.
"Nearly there, gentlemen. What say you, Lord James?"
The lord had been skeptical about joining forces with Robin and his men. He made a life for himself, a good life of comfort in a world that judged a man by the color of his skin. He eyed Robin like he had been doing for the last hour.
Finally, he got up from his chair with the use of his cane and said, "I say you're all fools. However, I do not wish to call John my king. You have my support. I will not rob those of my land, but I will have a silent donation for your cause. Whatever may come of it, is yours."
Robin breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you."
The small group broke up shortly after making plans to meet again in a month's time. The counts and lords left through the back, not knowing who may be out in front watching.
Robin walked out into the pub proper where Will was waiting at the bar with a look of apology and two mugs of ale, one of which he slid in Robin's direction.
Robin took the ale and raised it in thanks.
"What do we do now?" Will asked.
"What we've always done. Keep raising money."
"I was afraid you'd say that."
Robin's lips tipped up. "There's nothing else for it."
Will turned away from the drinks and mirrored him, looking out around the pub. They were both silent as they drank, Robin's mind on the conversation previous.
Will let out a long, heavy sigh before turning and placing his empty mug on the bar. "Well, I can think of something else ta keep myself occupied." He grinned, eyeing a young woman across the room. "I see John's found some company."
Robin shook his head. "He better hope word doesn't get back to Mary."
"Ah, he never does nothin' but chat with them anyway. It's you who needs a good rattle." Will clapped him on the back.
"I think not," Robin scoffed then tipped up his mug, taking a drink.
Will frowned at him. "Go on with ya then. Tell Tuck I said hello when ya join him at the nunnery."
Robin smiled ruefully while Will disappeared into the pub.
He settled into his drink. Laughter and shouts filled the pub, the momentary setback that had doused their spirits forgotten for the moment, replaced with merriment and women. Robin would only stay long enough to finish his drink then be on his way. The girls knew him by now, and they kept from bothering him, something he greatly appreciated. Not that there wasn't a time when he was tempted, God knows that'd be a lie, but somehow, he always saw Marian's face and those desires were quickly put out as surely as they'd come.
Robin was about to leave when he heard the sounds of an argument behind him. Robin listened over the sounds of the pub. The words were a bit muddled, but it wasn't hard to miss the desperation in the tone.
"What do you mean he's not coming?"
"I'm sorry, my lady, but he says it's too dangerous for him to take you."
"But I gave him all the money I had."
There was a pause, and Robin cast a quick glance over his shoulder. One wore a hood while the other, a woman, looked decidedly uncomfortable to be in such surroundings.
"I know, and I tried to get it back but he… he didn't care to give it to me."
The one in the hood raised his voice and hissed, "It's not his if he won't help us!"
Nearby, eyes turned in their direction, and Robin chanced another look. The woman's face was beat red and looked like she was about to cry.
"I'm sorry." She got up and left without looking back.
The hooded figure caught his eyes and then a voice in the distance made her own eyes widen. He knew by her voice she was a woman, so it was no surprise to him to see her dark hair peek out from the hood as she lowered her head. He turned away as she rose to her feet. The pub had all gone back to business as usual - to their own drinks and affairs, but something in Robin compelled him to his feet. He waited a moment, then followed the woman down the back hall to the back exit.
The scene behind the pub was quiet. Only a dirt trail that led into a densely packed wood.
Unsure what to expect, Robin took his longbow from his back and made his way into the forest. Pulling an arrow from his quiver, he notched the lightweight wood, keeping his aim to the ground but his senses ready at a moment's notice to fire.
His footsteps came to a halt at the snap of a twig near him, and he held his breath, listening. A whimper from over his left shoulder and his bow groaned as he pulled it taut. "Make yourself known, and I promise no harm will come to you."
To his surprise, after a heartbeat, the same young woman from the pub and a small child rose from the bushes. The little girl's pale skin and long, dark locks were overshadowed by her brown eyes that were filled with fear at the sight of him. However, Robin's eyes widened when the young woman stepped in front of her. Her right hand rose and she turned her palm heavenward and filled it with fire.
Once his eyes met hers, he knew who she was and swallowed. How could he not?
"Who are you?"
"Name's Robin," he told her. He held her eyes and lowered his bow slowly. They were both frightened, even though she had magic, it was plain to see as much. His eyes raked over her torn gown and noticed her cloak had been pushed aside, a piece of fabric tied around her upper arm, covered in blood. "You're injured?"
"I'm fine," she said that held no room for argument. "Just tell me the way to Grimsby."
Robin caught the eyes of the child standing behind the woman, peering around her curiously before settling his gaze back on the woman in front of him. "Grimsby is a four days journey that way," he told her, turning slightly and pointing north, causing Princess Regina to sigh. "What are you running from?"
The fire in her hand burned down into nothing, and Robin watched in amazement as she used the same hand and took the hand of the child. "That's none of your business."
He would have suspected her hand to be hot, but the child did not blink an eye or flinch away from her touch. Looking from the woman to the girl, he noted their haggard appearance and the darkness under the woman's eyes. They were on the run, all right, it was the only explanation for them being alone, so far away from their kingdom in the middle of the forest and needing assistance.
He knew one thing for certain. He couldn't just leave them. "You and the young girl seem tired. Why don't you come with me? I have a camp not far."
Her delicate eyebrows furrowed together, her eyes suspicious of him, and rightly so. "Why would you help us? I don't even know you."
"Trust me, I can help," he said, stepping forward and holding out his hand. "Like I said, the name's Robin. I'll keep you safe."
"I'll keep you safe."
"Why? You don't even know us." She stood tall though she felt as if she might collapse at any moment. She was exhausted, thirsty, and her arm throbbed with every step she took.
"We may not have been formally introduced, but I do know who you are, your highness, and whose child you have." His tone was calm as he replaced his arrow in his quiver. She watched his every move while holding Snow to her side. "You're without money, without shelter, and the English nights will grow cold."
He wasn't telling her anything she didn't already know. She paid all the money she had to a man who, instead of taking them to her grandmother's village, abandoned them. There wasn't time before she left to gather more money. The little she'd been collecting without suspicion had taken her months. She and Snow spent the night in a miller's barn the previous evening, and she could only find a small blanket to cover the young girl.
She knew he'd been listening in the pub, and wished she had kept her voice down. Her head tilted to the side. There was something about him, about his eyes… Then it struck her. "You're the thief. The one they can't catch." A slow smile came from her words and she narrowed her eyes at him. He thought that was funny, did he? "Why should I trust you?"
His brows rose. "I could ask the same thing of you. Who are you running from?"
"She's protecting us."
Her heart clenched at Snow's soft voice which spoke up from behind her. Regina held Robin's eyes for a long moment before he dropped his gaze to Snow. She watched as he kneeled and smiled gently at her. "Who is she protecting you from?"
Snow peeked out from behind her dress. "My Papa."
"And we are safe now." Regina brushed her hand through Snow's hair.
Robin rose to his feet, and she pulled her eyes from Snow. "As I see it, we are one in the same. As I said, I have a camp not far from here, there are many men, women, and children who live there. All of us, outlaws. Each of us running from something or someone. Come, stay and rest a while. At least for the night. I would not be able to sleep well knowing I left you both out here alone."
Her hand tightened around Snow's. As outlaws, turning her over to any of the authorities would be stupid and only get them taken in as well. She let out a sigh. She didn't have much of a choice it seemed. She had to trust someone, she would trust him until he gave her a reason not to.
