Lambert had been given time to recover from his injuries, and was, albeit groggily, waiting for a reply when Eleanor approached him. He noticed that this time, however, she wasn't alone.

"Forgive my, erm, insistence, but have you reconsidered King Thomas' dinner proposal?" Lambert asked hesitantly.

"Yes, I have," Eleanor began. "I will go to dinner with him-"

"Splendid!" Lambert interrupted.

"On one condition," Eleanor finished firmly. "My friends are invited as well."

Lambert looked over to see the Merry Men, including Pine, Gill, and South, along with Rob O'. He looked them over, his eyes shifting between them before turning to her.

Lambert hadn't expected Eleanor to demand extra company, especially with such a ghastly reputation. This, he concluded, would be a fatal flaw in their plans. Clearing his throat with a smile, Lambert addressed Eleanor as if she were a child.

"Well, you see my dear, His Majesty asked for you specifically. I don't believe he would appreciate extra guests sitting at his table, especially not guests such as these."

Gill clenched his fists and was about to retort when Pine held his shoulder, causing him to wait. South said nothing, but Eleanor could feel the heat emanating from him.

"If my friends are unable to attend with me, then I will not attend at all." Eleanor crossed her arms and looked at Lambert with a scowl. "Am I making myself clear, sir?"

Lambert stammered, as if trying to come up with another excuse as to not have her friends near her. Perhaps there weren't enough chairs? Perhaps the king wouldn't want his own reputation to be tarnished? Perhaps there wouldn't be enough food? His ramblings only earned him a few uncomfortable stares from everyone, so he gave a resigned sigh.

"Well, King Thomas never said you couldn't bring them with you. He may not mind them at all, as long as they have impeccable table manners."

"I'm certainly not going to turn down a free meal," Gilligan replied dryly.

"I second that, good lad," South replied with a chuckle.

Pine said nothing but nodded and gave a thumbs-up in agreement.

"That settles it, then! I'll make sure to tell the servants to add a few extra places to his table. Of course you all will be presentable, correct?"

Eleanor frowned at this. She didn't own any other clothing besides what she was currently wearing, and for her, wearing a dress was out of the question.

"Forgive me, but I don't happen to own anything formal," Eleanor admitted, tugging on her shirt a little.

"I'm sure your motley crew here can find something," Lambert said with a dismissive wave. "Be here tomorrow afternoon so that His Majesty will receive you at his palace, no sooner and no later. The King absolutely cannot stand late arrivals."

"Speaking of late arrivals, it is becoming late in the evening," South noticed. "We will have to retire for the night soon."

"South's right, it's getting awfully dark," Eleanor agreed. Lambert huffed and straightened his coat.

"As long as you all are on time, I and the King will be most pleased. Now, if you'll excuse me…" He coughed, then cleared his throat, some phlegm landing on the ground near Pine's feet. "I must be going now. Goodbye."

As Lambert took his leave, he tripped over a large pebble and fell flat onto his face, picking himself up and dusting himself off before continuing.

"No wonder he's called the black sheep of the family," Pine joked as they watched him leave.

Eleanor moved a few strands of hair from her face before sighing. "I have no idea what I'm going to wear…" She was still reeling from Lambert's hostility and attitude. Rob O', who had been watching the whole interaction without much comment, cleared his throat.

"Well, we don't have much, but perhaps what we have would work?"

"No, I need an expert in tailoring," Eleanor replied, then grew a small smile on her face. "Gentlemen, I have the perfect person in mind. Father, bring what you have."

Early the next morning, after a quick breakfast, the traveling party left the archery field for the nearest town, which just so happened to provide a tailor and seamstress. As soon as Eleanor saw the seamstress' shop, her smile widened.

"A friend of mine appears to have set up shop here," she said, dismounting from Spitfire.

"How did you meet?" Pine asked, not at all curious.

Eleanor explained how she gained the clothes she currently owned and how she saved Beatrice from being mauled by a wild she-bear. Gill looked the most surprised as the rest dismounted and walked into the shop, their boots caked with muddy grass. As Eleanor walked up to the front counter to ring the bell, Margaret was her usual self, directing her seamstresses and tailors to do their work. Before Eleanor had a chance to ring it, Beatrice spotted her from where she was working.

"Eleanor!" She ran over and swept Eleanor into a hug. "It's wonderful to see you!"

"Nice to see you too," Eleanor replied, a bit squished.

"Beatrice! What in the world – Ah! Eleanor! What a surprise!" Margaret waved another seamstress off before coming to the front counter. "Are you all here for my services?"

"Well, you see, King Thomas has invited us to a dinner party at his palace, and I am in need of a suitable garment."

"A dress, you say?"

Rob O' was at a loss for words for a moment, then blinked back to reality as he handed over the material he already had. "This dress was my late wife's, Maid Marian. Would you be able to use it?"

Margaret took the dress in her hands and looked it over, feeling the material. "I'm sure we can do something with this, my dears!"

Ushering the group to the back of the store, Margaret had Beatrice and another seamstress take Eleanor's measurements again. As for the menfolk, a group of tailors took their measurements as well, as Eleanor had insisted that they all needed a better suit of clothes for the party. After much poking and prodding, the measurements had concluded, and Margaret was busily looking over the new garment, pinning pieces together and sewing them accordingly. After a while, Eleanor was finally ready to show off the new dress.

It was a gorgeous scarlet gown, with gold trim on the neckline and around the sleeves. There was also a beautiful crystal necklace with matching pair of earrings, a pair of slippers, and a little makeup. Margaret had also repaired Eleanor's first suit of clothes, as well as provided her a second suit with a blue jacket, a belt, and a second cap with an eagle's feather as decoration.

The Merry Men and Rob O' pooled together their resources to pay for their clothes, but Eleanor was at a loss as to what to do for hers. Gill, noticing this, placed a hand on her shoulder. "Here, I'll pay for your things."

"Oh, Gill, you don't have to do that!"

"No, please, let me. I don't think I ever repaid you for rescuing me."

After the transactions were finished, Pine cleared his throat.

"If we're all ready and accounted for, we should really be on our way."

With heartfelt goodbyes, they all mounted their horses and left the dressmaker's, riding in the direction of the castle.

Arriving in the early afternoon, they dismounted and led their horses to the stables, where a few young stable boys would take care of them until their return. As they walked near the drawbridge, it lowered in front of them, with Lambert and his entourage arriving to greet them. Lambert tried to mask his look of surprise as he saw Eleanor and her companions' new clothing.

"Welcome, welcome dear friends! Please, come inside! His Majesty in in the dining room now, ready to receive you."

The rest of the Merry Men and Rob O' gathered outside of the palace as South, Pine, Gill and Eleanor headed inside. Eleanor looked up at Pine, surprised at how well he looked in his new clothes. He almost looks like a prince, she thought to herself as they entered the dining room.

King Thomas was seated at the head of the table, getting up to greet them with as much warmness as he could muster. He led them over to where their seats were, Eleanor's seat being second closest to his. After South said grace, the guests began to eat. Eleanor ate as much as she was able to before King Thomas cleared his throat at her. "My dear, may I speak to you in private for a moment?" Eleanor hesitated, then nodded as she excused herself from the table, waiting to hear what King Thomas was to ask of her.