If absolutely must read the disclaimer, it is in chapter 1 & 2
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Chapter 7
Word spread quickly through the castle that Parsifal and the Bandit Locke were both within the castle walls. But while the bandit and his men were escorted to the dungeon, Parsifal was taken to one of the guest bedrooms.
Marguerite stood in the room, a whirl of emotions running through her when there was a knock on the door.
"May I come in?" John asked from the other side.
"It's your castle".
Gently placing the bag of coins and the parchment on the bureau, he watched her for a moment. The woman he met at the ball was gone, replaced by a woman who looked scared and unsure.
"If I am to be your prisoner, sire, then I wish to be brought down to the dungeon with Francois".
"You are far from a prisoner, milady, in fact you are my savior. Without you, I would be dead and my kingdom in shambles" hearing the lilt in her voice regarding the bandit Locke, he knew winning her over would not be easy.
"I was hired to do a job; sire and I completed the job".
"For that milady, as promised, I have brought the money and the deed to your father's land and title".
"What of my stepmother and stepsisters?" she asked.
"That is your decision".
"Pardon me, highness, the bandit wishes a word with the lady" the captain poked his head in.
"Do you like the room?" John asked, unsure of her response.
"If you excuse me, Francois needs me".
"Milady, I was hoping you would stay with me" he said quietly.
"He is the only family I have known since my parents…" she burst out but then grew silent.
"Something we have in common".
"If you excuse me, sire…" she started to leave.
"Whose child do you carry?" John asked.
"How?" her face turned pale.
"When I was a boy, I watched many of my father's horses give birth; I know the look of a mother".
"Yours" she turned away from him.
"Do you love him?" John asked gently.
"I don't know".
"When I asked you to be my queen, Marguerite, I meant what I said. I need a queen who will be my right hand, who will help me to decide what is best for my people. There are many who seek to meet their own needs by using myself and my crown. I need a strong queen who will not only be my wife and mother of my child, but a partner".
Still unsure but knowing that somehow this was the right way she murmured "yes".
Kissing her gently, he looked into her green eyes glittering with tears and prayed that they would work out.
"Excuse me" with the guard by her side she ran down to the dungeon.
"Free him" John called out.
"Marguerite, thank god, I was worried about you" the guard unlocked the door.
"You are free to go, no one will stop you from leaving" she could not face him.
"You're not coming?" the look on his face was heartbreaking.
"I carry his child; I am to be his queen" she forced herself to remain stoic.
"I told you she would betray us" Bloom snapped.
He was held back by the guards.
"Mark my words, Marguerite, he will betray you" Francois and the men disappeared.
"How is your dinner?" John asked hours later. Their first meal as each other's intended were awkward and quiet.
"Fine thank you".
They finished the rest of the meal in silence.
"Marguerite" he caught her arm as she walked up the stairs.
"Not tonight" acquiescing to her request, he watched her walk upstairs.
The next day, after his daily morning meeting with the council, he excused himself.
"Highness" the young maid looked shocked.
"Allow me" he took the tray from her.
The maid looked shocked, but allowed him to take the tray. Entering the room, he gently placed the tray on the table. He watched her sleep, her dark hair covering her pale face and wet pillow. She had pledged her life to him, as wife, queen and mother of his children. As she began to stir, he decided to not disturb her. Placing the rose on the tray he left the room, he left, knowing that in his heart, they were meant for one another and all she needed was time.
"Pardon, my lady, Sir Summerlee has arrived" the maid quietly knocked several days later.
"Uncle Arthur".
"It has been too long".
"I knew it was you at the ball, I've worried about you all these years" he signaled the servants to bring in the portrait.
"Your father had this commissioned before she died. After your father remarried, I thought it was best to save it until the time was appropriate".
"Mama" Marguerite murmured. Lady Margaret's hair was lighter and her skin darker than her daughter's but each woman held the same bewitching green eyes.
"I hear you are to be called that yourself soon".
"I am" her voice started to waver.
"Do you love him?" Arthur asked.
"Yes".
"Have you told him?".
"No".
"He loves you, I see it his eyes. He is young, but he is a good man, he will be a good husband and father" neither knew it but John had stopped at her door.
"Francois".
"They were let go, unharmed. He did a good thing, Marguerite, taking you in, but this is your time for something else. I have known King John as long as I have known you and I guarantee that everything will be fine" John snuck away quietly, knowing that if he wished to gain her confidence and hear from her own lips her love for him, he had to do something.
The next day, the maid again knocked quietly.
"I beg your pardon, milady, but his majesty wishes that you join him in the council hall".
"Lord Chancellor" she greeted George outside the council chamber.
"My name, my lady, is George" curling her arm under his, she let him escort her into the council chamber.
"You may call me Marguerite, in private, of course"
"Gentlemen, as I'm sure, you have previously heard, I am to be married. My lords, this is Lady Marguerite, she has consented to be my bride. I expect that she is shown the same respect and courtesy that you have bestowed on my brother and I" placing his hand on the small of her back, it was clear that his mind was made up.
"Sire, with all due respect, the woman you marry must be from the right family, she must have breeding …".
"My father, sir, was the late Viscount of Krux, I assure you I was brought up properly" seeing the spitfire in her eyes, John almost laughed. She would do fine as queen.
After dinner, Marguerite started exploring the library.
"Do you like?" John asked.
"It's been so long," she murmured, running her fingers over the volumes of books.
"This was my brother's favorite room".
"Do you miss him?" she heard the change in his voice.
"Its easier with you here" he whispered as he wrapped his arms around her.
"Pardon, highness, your guests are here" his captain knocked.
"Guests?" Marguerite asked.
"I think its time we set something's straight" as they entered the main chamber, Alice and her daughters paced.
"Do you think, mother, that he has changed his mind?" Narnia asked.
"I hope so, after that woman he spent all his time with the ball with, he may have seen the light".
"Good evening ladies" John greeted them. Alice forced herself to hold her tongue; she knew the woman looked familiar.
"Majesty".
"I have called you here, milady because according to my records, Marguerite is the heir to her father's will and I wonder why she has not been able to have access to what is rightfully hers".
"Sire, let me explain. She was a willful child, I tried to teach her, but she refused. She ran away before I could tell her of her rights".
"The reason she has not seen me, majesty, is because she kicked me out. It is not because I was willful, it is because she was unable to give my father a son and without a male heir of her blood, she was unable to legally gain control of my father's fortune".
"Is this true, milady?".
"It is partly true, majesty, but it has been many years, one sometimes does not say things one means".
"Excuse us" he pulled her aside.
"Do you whatever you wish, I never want to see them again".
"Ladies, you will be given appropriate accommodations, but until then, I believe it is appropriate that you pack your belongings and remove yourselves from the property".
"Please sire, do not make us leave, it is the only home we have ever known" Brywik begged.
"I am sorry ladies, but the decision was not mine to make".
"Majesty, I beg of you, do not marry her. She is a whore, like her mother, the child she carries is not yours. Take me or my sister, we will be obedient wives and give many sons, please" Narnia burst out.
"Madam, I suggest you teach your daughter some manners" John left the room with Alice and her daughters bowing till they reached the floor and he didn't care.
"Marguerite?" he called out. He found her in her bedroom huddled on the bed, her face red and teary.
"My mother may have not been the daughter of a duke or a count, but she was no whore".
"Your mother was a strong, beautiful woman, and you, my love, are just like her".
"You know what they will say, the child is not yours" she faced him.
"I have never once cared what they said. I loved you since the moment I laid eyes on you and nothing, not even the jealous lies of others will tear us apart. I will protect you, no matter what" he promised.
"I love you, John".
"And I love you, Marguerite" they stood together, each depending on for love and strength, for they knew that the days ahead would not be easy.
At the same time, Veronica struggled through the forest. Her beautiful hair gone, her concern was for finding Ned and caring for the child growing within her. Knowing that it would be dark soon, she prepared for the night.
"What, where am I?" Ned struggled to find his way. The last thing he remembered was Veronica's kiss and the world going dark. But it was not Veronica, it was her aunt. Grabbing onto the reins of his horse that had miraculously appeared, he climbed on and prayed for the best.
Months later, there seemed to be a light at the end of the tunnel. After riding for what seemed an endless amount of time, Ned heard what seemed to be a memory.
"Veronica?" he grasped into the darkness.
"Ned?" she asked. She had not seen him since her aunt had banished her from the tower and had become reliant on the woods around her to survive.
"A child?" as he relied on her for support to reach the tent, he felt her growing abdomen.
"Our child".
"I missed you" as she cradled his head in her lap and started to cry, her tears landed in his eyes.
"I can see" the world became light again.
"I love you" for the first time in months, he saw her beautiful face for real, not just in his memory.
They spent the night in Veronica's makeshift tent, knowing that the next morning, Ned would want to return home.
"What if they don't like me?" she asked nervously.
"You are the only I love, you are the one I want to marry, they will love you" he assured her.
"Prince Edward is back! Prince Edward is back!" word spread quickly through the castle.
Walking up the grand staircase, Veronica had never seen such opulence in her life.
"Brother" John embraced Ned with open arms.
"It has been too long" John's focus shifted to the blond whose eyes seemed to grow bigger with every step.
"John, this is Veronica, who has consented to marry me. My love, this is my brother, John".
"Highness" Veronica bowed.
"No need for that, we are to be family, call me John" he motioned for a servant to find Marguerite.
"John, what is it?",
Marguerite and Veronica stared at each other for a moment, unable to comprehend that except for the difference in hair color, they very much like sisters, both betrothed to the royal brothers of Roxtonia and both heavy with child.
"This is the woman who has ensnared my brother's heart?" Ned hugged the woman who was to be his brother's wife.
"And this is the brother who I have so much about".
Later that night, in the library, Marguerite returned the book to its place when she heard footsteps behind her.
"I'm sorry, I have never seen so many books in one place" Veronica ran her hand over the bindings.
"So we are to be sisters" Marguerite said.
"I've always wanted a sister" Veronica replied quietly.
"So have I".
In the dungeon, Alice sneaked in, stepping over the sleeping guard.
"You wish my help, my lady?" Rice asked.
"My daughters are unwed and there are only two men who are worthy of my daughters".
"And you wish me to help you rid of the obstacles that stand between your daughters and these men?" Rice asked.
"Of course"
"If you have not noticed, milady, I am locked up right now".
"Easily undone" removing the key from her pocket she unlocked the door.
"For your help, milady, I shall help you with what you desire".
I know it's a long chapter, but it's done. So for all of my effort, why not make me smile and send a review? Please
