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elder 441 [chapter 32]: Here's part three out of three ;)

Guest (1) [chapter 32]: Here's the next chapter! :)

Guest (2) [chapter 32]: Yep, the diary entries will be back in a lot more chapters! I love Francis's and Bash's brotherly relationship, sometimes the older brother needs a shoulder to cry on. Here's the next update! :)

Rose turned to Robin, nudging his shoulder gently. "Does it hurt badly?"

"No," Robin lied. "I'm fine. It's not that deep."

Rose nodded, accepting his answer as she tried to get out of her restraints. "Do you think they will find us?"

"I know they will."

"How do you know they will?" Rose asked her cousin, her lips trembling. "It's been days, Robin!"

Robin shrugged. "I believe in my papa. He'll find us."

"They've forgotten about us," Rose whined. "Anne is probably getting all of my mama's and papa's attention. She's happy that I'm gone."

"Don't be silly! Of course, Anne isn't happy. She loves you very much," Robin assured her. "We will be found, I promise-"

"What are you two talking about?" One of the men asked, getting up from his seat.

"None of your business," Robin said firmly. His eyes narrowed, daring the man to come closer. "I will take great pleasure when my father drives his sword through your heart."

The man laughed. "You're braver than I thought. Smart, well, noble children are smart for their ages. And who is your father, pray tell?"

Robin smiled. "Duke Sebastian de Poitiers," he announced proudly.

The man's smile flinched a little bit. "Is that right? You are not some other noble's son? A playmate for the King and Queen's heir apparent?"

"I am Robert Francis de Poitiers of France and Scotland. My mother's father is the Duke of Barton, Robert Beaton and both he and my father will find us."

The man sighed heavily, turning to glare at one of his companions. "Would you mind giving us a minute to discuss something?"

"Go ahead. You're wasting time - my father will come for your blood," Robin told them. "I've seen him fight, he always wins."

Rose nudged him, worried. "Stop talking. They will hurt you even-"

She was cut off by the man pulling Robin up without effort. He walked the boy over to a tree a few good metres away from his cousin and pushed him to the ground.

Rose gasped when she saw the man hit Robin in the face, warning him to not talk back as blood ran down her cousin's nose. "Stop it! Don't hurt him!"

"You," the man said, turning to her. "Be quiet. You, we can't touch. But for him, we can." He turned to his men. "We leave for the ship in two hours. Fill your bellies, empty your bladders, we must be on time."

Rose cowered, lowing her head as tears sprung to her eyes. Robin kept telling her to not lose faith and hope, but she couldn't deny that she was losing them. She didn't understand why this was happening. She wanted to go home.

She wanted her mother's warm hug and her father's storytelling voice. She wanted to see her sister's hazel curls and her brother's deep, loving eyes. Rose wanted to be a big sister again, hoping that her mother would have another boy so they could play pirates and princesses. Robin and John would play along and they will be happy.

She started to cry, closing her eyes shut.

"Please, please, please," she chanted quietly. "Please, find us."

...

Francis winced at the smell of seawater. The journey from France to Scotland had been made on a ship and he had been throwing up constantly, the idea of travelling by water sickening and worrying for him.

Alas, the trail led here.

Elizabeth had begrudgingly allowed them safe passage to the southeastern coast, wishing them luck and resources should they need it. Francis strongly declined, he didn't want to be in her debt even if she was his wife's cousin.

"Where are we?" Francis asked.

Lord Douglas looked up. "Sunderland. Fishing docks are here, small boats for the early morning catch. Also involved in the trade of coal and salt."

"It is very plausible that a boat would have been heading for France from here," Marquess Robert added, the man getting down from his horse. "We need to question the fishermen."

Before Francis could give the order, he heard one of their soldiers cry out, falling from his horse. He turned around and saw men on horseback, ready for battle.

"Attack!" He yelled, noting that Bash was already springing to action before he even noticed the men who brought down his soldier.

Just as he was about to drive his sword through one man, his breath left his body at the sight of blonde locks. The girl turned and her blue eyes brightened in recognition, her mouth about to speak before it was covered by a hand.

"Rose!"

"Francis, watch out!" Marquess Robert called out.

Francis ducked in time, hearing the swish of a sword behind him. He turned on his horse and sliced his sword over his assailant's chest, the man falling onto the ground with a heavy thump.

Francis turned back around, seeing his daughter being ridden away from them. He frowned, he couldn't see Robin. Hoping that he would, he followed after his daughter and her kidnapper, forcing his horse to gallop quicker to catch up.

He didn't know how long they rode for, every now and then, the man turning to curse at his impending catch up to them. Francis had to think quickly, retrieving a bow and arrow from the side of his horse.

He looked around, still maintaining momentum on the horse, and he found a distraction of some sort. It was a squirrel on the tree branch that Rose and her kidnapper were about to go under.

Francis quickly said a prayer under his breath, shooting the squirrel and watching as its unexpected fall startled the kidnapper's horse, causing him and Rose to fall onto the ground as the horse got onto its hind legs.

"Papa!" Rose finally screamed, stumbling to her feet so she could run to him.

"Rose!" Francis cried out in relief. "My-"

He was cut off by the man securing Rose back, his hand firmly around her neck. "Come closer and I break her neck."

Francis stopped his horse. Slowly, he dismounted the horse and lowered his weapons. "She's a child, do not do this. Where's the boy?"

"You'll find him soon enough," the man spat. "Quite a mouth on that one. Girl's smarter."

Francis restrained himself from reacting, merely swallowing deeply. "Whoever ordered this, I can pay triple their price to let them go. I will protect you from them and make sure that we all leave this with our lives."

"I am not here for the money. If I was, I would not be known for my loyalty," the man said.

"Tell me, who wishes ill on my family?" Francis asked, his eyes darting towards Bash who began to sneak up on the man from behind. He hadn't even known his brother had come. He truly was one with the woods if his steps were quiet.

"Why do you want to know?"

"There was a ransom," Francis continued, keeping his eyes trained on his daughter. "But that was a ploy? To throw us off."

The man scoffed. "Vengeance is an ugly thing, isn't it? You have angered a lot of people, you and your family. They thought it was time to pay, time to lose one of your own heirs. No matter what happens, their pain will remain for life and now, so will yours-"

Bash drove his sword through the man's chest, the kidnapper immediately releasing Rose from his grip. As he crumpled to the ground, Francis pushed Rose behind him, going over to look down on the man.

"Tell me who did this."

"You'll... never... know," the man said, blood caking his mouth.

Francis reached his hand out to Bash, silently asking for the sword. "Rose, look away, sweetling."

Rose dug her face into his thigh and she heard the sound of bone breaking, wheezing and other terrible things that she'd probably never forget. But at least she smelt the warmth and safety of her father. Robin was right.

"Where's your cousin, Rose?" Francis asked, kneeling down to meet her eyes.

She opened her eyes, seeing blood all over her father, but she didn't care. "Where they last stayed. They put an arrow through him - Papa, you said arrows were only allowed to be put in targets, not people!"

Bash gasped. "Rose, do you remember which way?"

She nodded. "I left a trail," she told them, pointing towards the rose petals. "One of the men let me relieve myself and I hid them in my skirts."

"You are such a good girl!" Francis breathed out, looking up at his brother. "Let's go."

...

Robin shivered, his eyes slowly closing and opening. He couldn't sleep, not now. He needed to get up and walk. Walk to safety, to someone who could show him the way home.

He started to cry, he wanted his parents desperately. He'd never run off again, he'd never misbehave or say mean things about his baby sister. He'd never be jealous or horrible. He'd eat all of his food, never waste it, and attend to his bedtime on time. He'd be a good boy and his parents would love him.

"Robin!" He thought his father called him.

"Robert!" He thought his paternal uncle called him.

"Robert Francis!" He thought his maternal uncle called him, the one with the same name as him and his grandfather.

Robin covered his ears. The calls were all in his head. The pain was making him not think straight. The men were right, no one will ever find him and he would die, hungry and alone. All alone with his night terrors and mocking mind. He shivered violently.

His stomach grumbled and he sobbed, even more, wiping his running nose.

"Robin, dear God, where are you?!"

Robin's eyes opened wide. That sounded like...

"Papa?!" He called out, gasping.

"Robin?!"

Robin grinned. "Papa!" It was him!

"Robin, where are you?!"

Robin crawled out of the ditch, shielding his eyes from the sun as his arm stung. At least they'd wrapped a cloth around it to stop the bleeding. He didn't like that, blood coming out of his body with no control. He thought he was dying until he was slapped and told that he most certainly wasn't.

"Here! Papa, I'm here!"

He could see a figure slide down the ditch and soon he felt nothing but warmth. He started to cry again, holding onto Bash for dear life as Bash whispered sweet nothings to him, squeezing him just as tight.

"I'm here now, everything will be alright, my child," Bash told him. "We're going home."

...

Mary was the first to notice the band of horses marching towards the gates. She quickly headed out of the bedchamber, taking time to catch her breath quickly as she hurried down the stairs of the castle. She almost tripped, emitting an alarming reaction from Lola who had left the playroom, the children in Kenna's care.

"Mary, what-"

"They're back. They said they wouldn't return without the children," Mary quickly said, heading to the playroom. "Kenna!"

Kenna jumped up from her seat. "Mary, what is it?"

"They're home," Mary said, tears falling down her cheeks. "They're home!"

Kenna's hands shook as she took one of Mary's, allowing herself to be led towards the entrance of the castle. She heard a door open in her bewildered state and she turned around to see her father following them, his steps slow and trembling.

"Mary, slow down!" Kenna breathed out, stopping the queen. "I can't... I can't catch my breath. Mary, what if-"

"I feel it in my gut, they're alive," Mary said. "And they are right outside the gates. Kenna, what are you waiting for?!"

Kenna sniffled. "A-Alright," she said, now leading Mary outside.

They waited, letting the guards help lead the horses inside as one by one, horses piled inside.

Kenna's eyes landed on her brothers. They seemed relaxed or maybe accepting of the fates of the children. She didn't know. All she knew was that when she turned to the next horse, her legs almost gave out.

They didn't because she ran, almost getting knocked by another horse.

"Kenna!" Bash cried out, seeing her reach out for their son. He wanted to scold her for her hastiness, but he realised that he couldn't. Not because of this. She was a worried mother who needed to see her child. "He needs a doctor."

Kenna frowned but still reached for her son nonetheless. "Sebastian, give me my-"

Kenna didn't even need to say more as he gently lowered their child into her arms, tears of relief falling down her eyes when Robin's green eyes met her browns.

"My Sweetrobin," she breathed out, peppering kisses all around his cheeks much to his displeasure.

Mary grinned, turning to her own husband who seemed to be engrossed in a conversation with their own missing child. Missing no longer, but found.

"Mary Rose," Mary whispered, her eyes watering. "Rosie!"

Rose looked away from her father, her eyes finding Mary. "Mama!"

"Rose!" Mary cried out once the girl was in her arms.

The queen lifted the child up, not minding that she pressed against her bump. She quickly placed Rose back onto her feet, feeling winded by the action.

"Mama, I've had quite the adventure!" Rose said, making Mary laugh.

"Is that so?"

Rose nodded sadly, pointing at Robin. "He got hurt because of me..."

Mary's face fell and she turned to see Robin being carried inside, his eyes now closed as his parents followed after, scared for what was to come. Mary turned back to Rose, wiping some dirt from her daughter's cheek.

"Your cousin is a strong boy. Trust me, he will be fine," she said, turning to her husband. "I want to bathe Rose and settle her down. Let me know everything concerning Robin, please."

"Of course," Francis said, pressing a kiss on Rose's head. "We love you, Rosie. So much."

Mary nodded. "We're happy you're home."

Rose smiled a little, wrapping her arms around Mary's legs. "I'm happy I'm home too, Mama."

...

Mary cautiously let herself into the bedchamber, finding Bash asleep on the window bay and Kenna right beside their son on the bed, also asleep. Mary chuckled softly when she realised that Robin wasn't asleep, preferring to hum to himself.

She knelt by his side, his green eyes meeting hers. "Hello, my dear nephew."

"Hello, Aunt Mary," Robin whispered. "I can't get rid of them, they said they'll never leave."

Mary smiled widely. "Well, we're the same with Rosie."

"Is she alright? I tried to protect her-"

"I know," Mary said, stroking his clean and fresh cheek. "I'm so sorry, Robin. You protected your cousin and that got you hurt."

"Papa said it was a flesh wound. It isn't that deep, but I will get a cool scar!" Robin told her excitedly.

Children, Mary thought, amused. She said, "But what about your eye and your nose?" She asked, pointing at his black and purple face. "Oh, Robin..."

"It doesn't hurt much," Robin said quietly, his eyes falling. "Papa said that sometimes we had to get hurt for the ones we love. Rose is a girl, I couldn't let them hurt her."

"Robin, you are so perfect, do you know that?" Mary told him. "Your parents adore you and God, they were so worried. How did you keep your faith?"

Robin turned to her. "I told you once, Aunt Mary. My papa said that he will always protect me. And I know his strength and determination. It scares me, but I know he'll never hurt me, Ana or Mama."

Mary eyed Bash, his green eyes hidden to the world as his chest rose and fell as he slept. Mary let out a smile, knowing that Robin was most certainly right. Bash fought hard for those he loved. He loved with all of his heart and he never broke a promise.

"Your father is the strongest man I know," Mary said gently. "You are very lucky because I owe him for finding Rose." And her own husband of course, but it was Bash who found the trail, who promised to bring their children back and upheld his promise. "We love you both so much, Robin. We all love you and we are so happy that you are home."

Robin beamed. "I'm happy to be home, Aunt Mary. Even if Papa snores like a horse."

Mary snorted, stopping her giggles as she pressed a long kiss on his head, stroked his cheek and snuck out of the bedchamber to give the family their privacy once again.

She entered Rose's bedchamber and got into the bed, reaching a hand over her child to hold Francis's.

"How is Robin?" He asked her, Rose's eyes also landing on her.

Mary chuckled softly. "Bemoaning his father's snoring," she said. "He's excited about his new scar."

"Is that so?" Francis laughed. "I remember my first scar."

"What happened, Papa?" Rose asked, alarmed.

"Oh, I fell from a tree. Your uncle promised to catch me - I was four then and he was about seven. We both fell down and I found a branch stuck in my arm and screamed."

Mary laughed. "You're such a wimp!"

"I was four, wife!" Francis said, laughing as Rose giggled.

"I am braver than you, Papa and I'm five!" Rose told him. "Shame on you."

Francis feigned hurt, eyeing his wife and daughter. "How dare you belittle my pain!" He said, shoving his sleeve up, to show them a tiny scar. "Look how big it-wait, when did this get smaller?"

Rose groaned, laughing. "Papa!"

Mary sniffled, tears of joy springing to her eyes as she placed kisses on Rose's face. "Oh, Rosie!" She breathed out. "Anne and James can't wait to see you."

"I can't wait to see them! And Robin!"

"Robin may need some time," Mary said gently, eyeing Francis. "He doesn't look his best and he's a bit tired from your ordeal."

She didn't want her daughter to be horrified by Robin's bruised face. She had seen it before it got worse and she didn't want the children to judge him too harshly.

"But we can plan his birthday party!" Francis said.

Rose's face fell. "That's when they put the arrow through him. I'll never forget, Robin was trying to make me feel better. We got away and he got punished!"

She started to cry, Mary's eyes meeting Francis's. They owed everything to that little boy and a few sweet words and a party weren't going to cut it.

"Rose, do you remember what we give soldiers who work hard for our countries?" Francis asked his daughter.

"The medals?" Rose said, almost whining.

Francis nodded. "Do you think Robin would like one?"

His daughter's eyes sparkled. "A lovely gold one! With the fancy decorations on it!"

"Yes," Mary said. "The lovely gold one with the fancy decorations. He deserves it."

Rose beamed happily, hugging her mother tightly. "Oh, this will be the best birthday he will ever have! He is the best big cousin in the world!"

"He is, isn't he?" Francis said, pressing a kiss onto her head. "Let's sleep now."

"Don't leave me," Rose said, grabbing their hands.

"Never," her parents said. "We'll never leave you."