"My king!"
Isabella's greeting clearly indicated she was expecting Prince John. She lay posed on her bed, wearing an elegant plum colored nightdress with long sheer sleeves she had worn when she'd sliced Robin's getaway rope.
"Sorry to disappoint you," Robin said cockily. "You were expecting someone else? It's treason to call Prince John your king, Isabella. In fact, England's true king is the reason we're here, paying you this visit."
Marian couldn't help glancing quickly around the room she used to sleep in when her father had been sheriff. It had changed dramatically. All her pale green hangings and bedlinens had been replaced by rich red velvets, chosen by the prince for Isabella.
Isabella rose slowly from the bed, tempted by the handsome outlaw while ignoring his beautiful wife. "I'm expecting His Royal Highness any moment to arrive. He appreciates all my special capabilities, even if your conscience won't allow you to, Robin Hood. So, if you two drenched and dirty outlaws don't wish to hang in the morning, I suggest you leave."
"You'll tell us what we came here to find out first," Marian said, pulling out her knife.
"Oh, you desire refreshment!" Isabella cried. "For surely you're not threatening the prince's mistress! Pity I have no food that needs cutting, but you may drink this."
Isabella poured what appeared to be wine into two goblets, offering them to the outlaws.
"We know better than to taste anything you provide, Poisoner," Marian told her.
"My, your wife's suspicious," Isabella told Robin.
"My wife's clever," Robin said. "You can't trick us with your potions, Isabella."
"Potions?" Isabella swallowed a sip of the wine then slowly licked her lips. "Mmm, tasty. Too bad you won't indulge with me, Robin."
"Where is the king?" he demanded, refusing to play along.
"Oh, so that's why you've come! You're all business, with your wife along. What happened to your oh so hot sexiness?"
"He used it all on me," Marian said. "Now tell us where the king is, before we make you tell us."
"You want to know where your precious Lion Heart is, so you can rescue him again? How many times will that make, Robin? Twice when my brother tried to kill him, so this should make three."
"Where in France?" Robin asked, trying to narrow down whether the king was in France or Austria by judging her reaction. Her snide laughter convinced him the king was in Austria.
"You think the French king's weak," Isabella told Robin, "but you know nothing. He's allied himself with Prince John against your precious monarch. Together, they shall rule with power and control!"
"And what about justice," Robin asked, "and doing what is right for their people?"
" 'Might, not Right,' " Isabella sneered. "One of Prince John's little sayings. Do you still think Philip of France weak?"
"I fought alongside him. I know he's weak."
"You obviously haven't heard what he said to King Richard. He swore he'd take any castle Richard held, even though its walls were made of iron."
"I was there. I heard them argue," Robin said angrily. "Do you know what our king replied back? 'I would hold any castle, though its walls were made of butter.' He would, too."
"Words," Isabella sneered. "You've a clever tongue, too, Robin, like your king. And a very skilled, agile one, as I recall. I've never experienced-"
"Enough!" Robin ordered, disgusted by her constant attempts to upset Marian. "I know now that the king isn't in France. Your laughter gave it away, Isabella. So, what we want to know is...where is Leo of Austria holding him? I know you know. You told my wife you wouldn't say what duchy."
"And what will you do for me, if I tell you?"
"I'll speak to the king when I've rescued him, and tell him you helped me."
Isabella laughed again. "Oh, you noble hearted hero! I was referring to something much more exciting! I've never forgiven you, you know, for leaving my bed before-"
"Isabella, stop! I'm giving you one final chance to tell us what you know, to save England."
"It's too late for the country you love so dearly. It belongs to Prince John. And speaking of the prince, I warned you earlier he should be arriving any moment. I'll be sure to tell him he missed you. Or possibly, you can greet him yourself." Lifting her voice, she shrieked out, "Guards!"
Robin grabbed hold of Marian and rushed out Isabella's door, colliding head on with Prince John's sergeant who had only just arrived. Surrounded and vastly outnumbered, Robin tried to fight off every soldier, shouting to Marian to get away. But she refused, doing her best to help him do battle. He might have escaped, as he had many times before by cleverly dodging and darting away, but he would not leave Marian any more than she would leave him. At last, both were taken, their arms bound behind them.
Prince John himself stepped forward, prancing lightly.
"I expected excitement tonight in the Lady Isabella's bed," he said, "but I didn't expect this! Delightful! It's always a pleasure, Locksley, to see you subdued and in my power. Ooh!" he continued, marveling. "What a wonderful night! Not only Hood, but can it be, under all the grime? The Lady Marian, Hood's delectable wife! Someone, chain her to a bath and throw her in! I have an inspired idea for her, once the muck's washed off!"
Isabella had left her bedchamber and joined him in the passage. "I caught Hood for you, my king!"
"Oh, you adorable girl! Shall I reward you, with delights you never dreamed possible?"
"Oh, Sire! You make me blush!"
"You haven't blushed since you were thirteen," the prince remarked snidely, "but you just may tonight."
"Let my wife go," Robin ordered. "She's no threat to you, Prince John."
"Bored now. Gag him," the prince ordered.
Sheriff Vasey gave running, dressed in his black silk nightclothes. "Oh! If it isn't Little Robin Redbreast, bound and, if I'm not mistaken, about to be gagged! Paying a little nighttime visit to my castle, without popping in to see me first? I'm hurt, Hood. Which is what you will be, when I have you in my dungeons! Oh yes! This is good! This is good!"
Robin was dragged away. The sheriff watched him go, eyeing his tight little backside, wanting to dance about with joy. He next noticed Marian, struggling against two burly soldiers who gripped her arms. "Oh! I almost didn't recognize you! Does life in the forest not agree with you, my leper friend? Dripping rain and filth all over my castle! You shall be punished for this, Missy."
"Kill Hood immediately, Sheriff," Prince John commanded. "I don't want to endure another one of his daring escapes. But I have another idea for his wife. I'm beginning to grow bored with only one mistress here. The depravation! I expected Gisbourne's little bride-to-be to add a bit of spice, but she's indisposed, due to Gisbourne's nasty temper. But now! Fortune has smiled on me! Have you ever noticed, Sheriff, how both these luscious creatures have similar hair and big blue eyes? I shall call them my Twins! I shall dress them exactly alike, when I allow them to dress, which shall be rare! What pleasures shall be mine, with my Twins in my bed!"
"Your Highness," Isabella objected, truly dismayed, "you can't mean you want both of us together, at the same time?"
"Why not? It shall amuse me to watch the two of you, not to mention when I join in!"
Isabella longed to object further, but was stopped by the fierce threat in Prince John's eyes. He ordered his men, "Chain Hood's wife to a bath, throw her in, and then, once she's clean, chain her to the Lady Isabella! So commands the king!"