Chapter 2: Trouble Brewing

"Froedrick," Gwen pleaded for the tenth time since they left the abbey. "Tell me what is happening."

"I already told you Gwen, I can't."

"But-"

Froedrick just shook his head. "Phillip asked me specifically not to say anything to you. He wished to inform you of the situation in person."

"I don't care. Tell me-"

"Gwen, leave the poor boy alone. You'll find out soon enough," Robin said in a cold voice as they stopped to water the horses. "We'll be at the palace within the hour."

She scowled and climbed back onto her horse, taking off with the others. The rest of the ride to London was spent in silence.

A young servant met them at the gates to the palace. He approached Froedrick, taking the reigns as he dismounted. "Welcome back sir."

"Thank you Malcolm," Froedrick patted the boy on the shoulder. "Will you take my friends' horses to the stable please?"

Malcolm nodded, taking each of the reigns in turn. When he reached Robin, he stared up at him in awe. "Are you Robin Hood?"

"It so happens that I am," Rob said with a smile. "You take good care of my horse now, you hear?"

"Yes sir!" Malcolm tugged the four horses gently and they followed him around the corner of the stables.

Froedrick watched the boy disappear, then turned to his companions. "Come."

They followed him down a stone hallway and through a set of heavy wooden doors. He eventually led them to a vast room with fine tiled floors and tapestries in shades of blue velvet hanging everywhere. In the center, elevated above the rest of the room by carpeted stairs, sat an elegant throne. At a desk in the corner of the room, a man no older than Gwen sat writing furiously.

"Winston!"

The man jumped, sending his pen to the floor before him. "Oh Froedrick, you startled me. Good to see you back so soon."

Winston shuffled his papers a bit, picked up his pen, setting it carefully on a pile of documents, and then walked across the glossy floor to the group.

Froedrick's eyes darted about the room. "Winston, where is the king?"

"He had urgent business to attend to in Birmingham. We are to expect him to return within the hour. He asked that we make our guests as comfortable as possible until his arrival."

Froedrick nodded. "Very Good. Oh, I seem to have forgotten my manners. Gwen, Rob, Will, this is Winston of Leister, the King's clerk. Winston, may I present Will Scarlet, Robin of Locksley, and his daughter Gwen."

Everyone bowed in unison.

"Very good to meet all of you. Now if you'll excuse me, I have some business to attend to." In a flash, Winston had vanished from sight.

Gwen stared after him puzzled.

"Curious fellow isn't he?" Froedrick asked from behind her.

"I should say so. Where ever did Phillip find him?"

Froedrick shrugged. "He just showed up one day looking for a job. I'll show you to your quarters if you'd like. I'm sure you're all very tired."

"Please do lad," Rob said with a smile.

Will nodded, and then nudged Froedrick in the ribs with his elbow. "Could we swing by the kitchen, I'm famished."

Minutes later, Gwen lay back on the feather-stuffed bed, letting the softness consume her. Two straight days of riding had taken a toll on her body and none of her limbs wanted to move.

There was a light knock on her door.

Gwen groaned, moving slowly to the door. A woman her father's age smiled at Gwen as she opened the door.

"Milady, Froedrick sent me to see if there was anything that you needed. I thought that maybe you would care for a cup of tea." She held out a tray with a kettle and a few cups before placing it on the wooden dresser.

Gwen smiled at her. "That's very kind of you ."

"Jocelyn, madam."

"Please call me Gwen," she replied as she poured the steaming tea into a cup. "Would you care for one?"

Jocelyn gave Gwen a small smile. "That would be wonderful. Thank you. I can see why the King speaks so highly of you."

Gwen blushed profusely.

"He should be arriving soon." Jocelyn commented between sips.

Gwen pulled the messy braid out of her hair and turned to her sack to pull out a brush and a delicate blue dress. Her riding clothes just didn't seem appropriate for the palace.

"I could help you with your hair, if you'd like," Jocelyn suggested sweetly.

Gwen nodded. "If you'd like. No one has ever offered before."

Jocelyn set down her china cup and took the brush in hand as Gwen pulled the dress over her head. "Your mother never braided your hair as a child?"

"She passed when I was very young, before I was old enough to worry about such things."

Jocelyn nodded in sympathy as she delicately pulled at the knots riding had placed into Gwen's shoulder length hair. "Your father raised you then?"

"My father spent most of my childhood fighting with Richard in Jerusalem. I was raised at the monastery with Froedrick."

Within a few minutes, Jocelyn had Gwen's hair twisted into a simple bun that sat on the crown of her head. "There you are."

Just as Gwen was about to respond, there was a knock on the door.

"Come in."

Froedrick popped his head into the room. "Phillip has arrived. Your father and Will are waiting for you just down the stairs."

"Just in time it seems," Jocelyn said as she moved to the dresser to pick up the tray of tea.

"Thank you," Gwen replied as she started out the door.

She took a deep breath as she followed her father and Will into the throne room. Winston sat at his desk in the corner, writing furiously as he had been when they first arrived.

"Robin, Will, thank you for coming on such-" Phillip's voice cut short as Gwen stepped out from behind her father. "Gwen."

Her name was spoken barely more than a whisper, but it left a lump in her throat. She curtsied properly. "Your Majesty."

When Gwen stood, her eyes met his for a moment. He smiled slightly, not willing to break eye contact just yet.

Robin cleared his throat, the sound echoing in the empty room. "Your Highness?"

"Yes?" Phillip's gaze scanned to Robin who wore a questioning look. "Oh yes, I suppose you're wondering why I have called on you."

"Froedrick sounded rather concerned," Will spoke up on the other side of Robin.

Phillip nodded. "Rightly so. The Sheriff of Nottingham and Cardaggian have escaped from the Tower."

Rob took a deep breath. "Any clues as to where they might be?"

"I was hoping that you would be able to help me to find some."

"We'll check around the city, see what we can turn up."

Phillip smiled. "I thought that you would say that. You're horses are in the stables. You are free to stay here as long as necessary."

"Thank you sir, now if you'll excuse us, we'll get to work."

Phillip had already turned his attention to Gwen who stood silently, examining the marble beneath her feet. With her hair delicately pinned on top of her head and a pale blue dress hanging perfectly on the curves of her body, he wondered how she ever passed as Wilfred of Lancaster.

"Sir?" Robin's voice crept into her consciousness.

"Oh!" Phillip stood up and gave them a quick bow.

Robin laughed as he turned away. "Come on Will."