Tuck returned from Leicester the very next day, as Robin had expected. "The Countess of Leicester has no idea where her brother the king is being held captive," he explained, using Princess Johanna's current title, "but she begs your help, Robin, to free him. Their mother Queen Eleanor is negotiating with Philip of France for King Richard's release, while trying to raise a ransom big enough to free him."
Robin threw open the chests in camp, wanting immediately to contribute all they had.
"Robin, no," Little John insisted.
"What we have would be a mere drop in the Queen Mother's bucket," Tuck tried to convince the outlaw leader, "but it could mean life or death to the poor here. Besides, how will you get the money to Queen Eleanor? You don't know where she is."
Reluctantly, Robin agreed. "Hands up for those who want to travel with Marian and me to Austria," he said, "to free the king and save England."
Every hand raised.
Robin was pleased, but knew Kate would be a hindrance to his mission. He needed someone reliable to remain with her here, to watch over her and also continue their work helping the poor. "Kate, I need you here," he told her. "Who will stay with her?"
"I'm coming with you," Kate insisted.
"I think it best you stay in England."
"No. Where you go, I go."
"Kate, I admire your loyalty, but-"
"I'm coming," she repeated.
She refused to budge, until Allan spun her a yarn to make her want to stay behind. "You don't wanna come, Kate. Not bein' funny, but Austrians eat blonds."
"What?" Much cried. "That is not tr-"
"I thought everybody knew that," Allan continued, giving Much a look to shut him up. "They eat blond girls' throats out, while they're asleep. Like wolves eat sheep."
Kate was horrified, and decided to remain in England. Tuck agreed to stay with her.
Little John was conflicted. He'd like to be with the gang, like old times, but his heart was with the poor of Nottingham. Robin would drive them hard, he knew, and he wasn't young like the rest of them. "I stay here," he decided at last.
Robin pulled him aside. "I need you, John," he told him. "I need your strength. You're the only one who can knock down doors. Please. Come with us."
Little John could not refuse.
And so, after securing horses, the gang rode toward the coast on their journey to save the king and save England, as they had done once before. Only this time, Robin was pleased to note, Marian was among the ones doing the saving, rather than needing rescue.
...
Robin did indeed drive them hard, though he did so while motivating them want to keep up with him. But his men were tired as they journeyed through France, especially Djaq who was expecting a baby. Her condition was just beginning to be apparent, so that Little John and Allan were especially protective of her, along with her husband Will.
Late one afternoon, while travelling through the Forest of Boulogne just west of Paris, Robin reined his horse and held up his hand. "Be ready," he warned his men. "If I'm not mistaken, we are about to be ambushed. You know what to do."
No one could guess how he knew, though all were grateful. And just as he predicted, a small gang of dirty outlaws jumped from behind the trees.
Only Robin, Marian, and Djaq understood French, but it wasn't difficult to translate, "C'est une embuscade. Nous sommes Robin Hood."
"Robin Hood?" Much cried. "Robin, how do they know your name?"
"They claim they're us," Robin snickered. "Let's teach them a lesson, shall we?"
In no time, the outlaws from Sherwood had subdued their would be pretenders. Questioning their ugly leader, Robin learned they robbed to help themselves, not others. "Rob them," Robin told his men, and Allan, Little John, and Will were happy to obey. "Obtenez votre proper nom," Robin called back to the thieves, as he and his men rode away.
"What did he say?" Allan asked Marian.
"He told them to get their own name," she answered. She gazed at her husband, who was looking decidedly pleased with himself. "This won't help your vanity," she teased him.
"I think it helps tremendously," he answered. "Who knew our reputation had travelled as far as France?"
Marian smiled lovingly at her husband. She didn't truly believe him vain, only confident. She knew that deep within him he was humble, evidenced by how surprised and moved he was whenever a peasant couple named their new baby "Robin," which happened with great frequency.
The gang reached Paris, where they planned to rest for the night. Robin led them directly to King Philip's Court.
The city amazed all but Robin, Much, and Djaq, who had been there before. The sheer numbers of people, along with the noise of all the construction, were overwhelming.
All but Little John, who longed for the peaceful quiet of the forest, found it stimulating and exciting. The huge cathedral of Notre Dame was nearly complete, and the king's own fortress palace, the Louvre, was also in the process of construction.
King Philip was installed there, within the finished, livable sections.
"Not bein funny," Allan began, "but how we gonna get in? We been sleeping at inns so far. I saw a good one two back there, with a lovely sign."
Robin did not answer. Instead, he gave his name, "Robin, Lord of Locksley," to a sentry, and was immediately shown inside.
"We're not outlaws here, you see," Much told Allan, proudly. "Robin's name carries weight. The King of France himself will see Robin, and probably feast us as well. I could use a bath, and something to eat."
They were given rooms, the finest the palace had to offer. All, except Robin, were delighted at the luxury. Robin did not care, wishing only to have audience with the king for Richard's sake.
All the same, he was pleased to be alone with Marian after days surrounded by the others. Marian, happy to be soaking in a sweet smelling bath, smiled up at him. "Join me," she invited her husband, and he eagerly did, forgetting his mission for a time. Neither had ever made love in a bath before, and they found it a most pleasing and exciting way to get clean.
They were given proper clothing to wear at the French Court. Marian was thrilled, not only to be beautifully dressed herself, but to see her husband in fine, clean clothing. "You are so handsome, Lord Locksley," she said, wrapping her arms around his neck. "What is the king like? Is there a queen?"
"I'll answer your second question first," Robin told her, finding her beautiful in a gown the color of sapphires that matched her eyes. "His first queen died. He remarried a Danish princess, sight unseen, then meeting her, had her immediately shipped to a convent, begging the Pope for an annulment."
"The poor woman. Did the Pope grant it?"
"No. They're still legally married, but she's still locked away."
Marian sighed.
Robin continued explaining. "The first lady here at court is the king's sister, Princess Alys."
"Isn't she the one King Richard was betrothed to? She grew up in England, didn't she?"
"That's right."
"But King Richard married a Spanish princess instead."
"Berengaria, of Navarre. You would admire her, Marian. I hope you'll meet her soon. She's beautiful, and good. She adores Richard."
"Is there animosity between Alys and our king, since he did not wed her?"
"I imagine there's plenty. But she deserves his rejection. I don't want to be indelicate, but the fact is, she slept with King Henry, while betrothed to his son."
Marian was incredulous. "She slept with the late king, then expected Richard to marry her?"
"Revolting, I know, as Much would say. When Richard learned the truth, he refused. He met Princess Berengaria at a joust in Navarre, already being a friend of her brother, Prince Sancho. Navarre and Aquitaine are neighboring duchies, you know."
"I didn't know, but thank you."
"You'll like this part, Marian, being a woman."
"Is that meant to be an insult?"
"Of course not. I love women!"
"Hmm, I hope not, Robin of Locksley."
"I love you," he clarified. "All I meant to say was Princess Berengaria took one look at Richard winning the joust, and fell instantly in love."
"I don't wish to disillusion you, Robin, but that does not impress me. She sounds like a fool."
"She's no fool, my love. She'll be England's queen once Richard can have her crowned, and you'll learn to love her, I promise."
Still holding one another, they enjoyed a lingering kiss. Marian then reminded him, "You still haven't told me what King Philip is like, though I doubt I'll learn to love him, after what you said."
"I'll let you judge for yourself," he told her. "That knock on the door is our summons to join him at supper. Have I told you, you look beautiful, by the way?"