Disclaimer: I do not own Robin Hood BBC
Robin and Much made it to the Holy Land and managed to track down the English camp and asked to be taken to see the King, who welcomed them with water and as old friends rather than his subjects. He owed the men a life debt after what happened during their last visit and he wasn't in a hurry to forget it.
"Good to see you Robin! Why the long face? What is it? What has my brother done now?" asked the King.
Robin got down to one knee and Much followed to show respect.
"Many things your majesty but it isn't the people he has wronged. Your cousin gave up her title and the claim she has to the throne should anything happen to either of you. She did it because she fell in love," explained Robin.
Richard tilted his head. His cousin was a grown woman as far as he was concerned and he had never thought to marry her off against her will.
"I'd never punish her for being in love!" he exclaimed.
Robin winced openly. He saw the King as fair minded, honest and true but he had a terrible feeling that when he found out whom his cousin married that he would lose his temper.
"The former Duchess went to Nottingham sire. Your brother sent her there to evaluate the Sheriff and Gisborne. It seems that Gisborne mostly played host to her and took care of her every need and they became close…" started Robin.
Richard frowned and Much bit his lip as he tried not to squeal in fear.
"What are you saying Robin?" he asked.
"She married him your majesty. She married him in Nottingham and so long as she is with Gisborne my village is safe from him and his cruel hand. Your brother kidnapped her before Gisborne could take her home after the wedding. He said he was going to marry her and bed her in order to keep her from being with Gisborne but there was a struggle. Rose could have died when she fell from the carriage but your brother didn't stop and left her for dead," replied Robin.
The King was silent for a moment and Robin daren't meet his eyes or stand up until he was told. He was weary from his journey and his knee was starting to get sore but he could imagine that there was a lot for him to take in. His cousin married the man who tried to kill him and had renounced her title in order to be with him. His brother had gone completely the wrong way about preventing it from happening and almost killed his beloved cousin.
"Is she alright?" asked Richard.
"I believe so your majesty. Gisborne got her care instantly and didn't leave his estate until he knew that she was well. I have come to you to seek your advice and orders about what we must do. If things are left as they are John could attack Rose at any moment but if we replace him with Rose…" started Robin.
"I'll not see my kingdom in the hands of that traitor! What is wrong with that woman?" asked Richard, loudly.
It pained Robin to admit it but in his opinion England would be better suited to Sir Guy and Rose leading it because Sir Guy wouldn't be as sure of himself and would have nothing higher to aim for other than securing his line.
"Rose knew about the attack on you but when your brother blew him up; Gisborne confessed that it was under his orders he came here and try to make it look like you had been killed. Gisborne has changed since he was last here and I still owe your cousin a life debt because she saved me twice from him despite the love she felt for him. My people are well looked after in Locksley now that Rose is his wife and I think that Gisborne knows he is not worthy of royalty but your brother is a real danger to the country," explained Robin.
King Richard folded his arms and dragged Robin to his feet.
"So my brother wants me and my cousin dead in order to become the king? You left her alone in England…" started the King.
"No sire I left the rest of my men behind and I truly believe that Rose is safe with Gisborne; he will put his life in danger for her," added Robin.
King Richard went to his desk and began writing a proclamation that he knew he had to make although it screamed injustice.
"And what about the woman he killed?" asked Richard.
"My sources say that he suffers nightmares and sickness for that crime. He might love Rose but she will never get a whole night's rest while married to him," replied Robin.
King Richard tilted his head from side to side.
"Luckily we have rules at the palace for royalty. As Queen in my absence she will have her own chamber and he will sleep in his own. I want them well rested and alert for ruling my land," he ordered.
Robin smiled to himself as King Richard spoke of a whole new world to him that Sir Guy and Rose would have to adapt to. It made little sense to him but in some ways it seemed proper to him and it was the way things had been done for many years. However, things were changing as brother turned on brother and there was a chance that Sir Guy becoming the King could be the best thing for England.
"He won't be King but his children will be; he will rule along-side my cousin. I want her at the palace in London and I am giving her the title Princess. If I die out here before the war is won I want her made Queen. Gisborne may have the title Duke but nothing more in matters of state she is to be treated as a male ruler," commanded King Richard.
"Very sensible your majesty," agreed Robin.
The King took his time with his proclamation and sent Robin back to England with it and an army of men loyal to him and his cousin the new Princess in order to put Prince John out of power. The King also wrote another proclamation and handed it to Robin sealed.
"You only give him this if he deserves it. This is a pardon for his crimes here because he was acting for the crown back in England that I placed in the care of the wrong family member. Rose was only fifteen when I left to go to war and my mother was grieving," explained the King.
Robin carefully accepted the pardon and wrestled with his conscience all the way back home. He was more than happy to declare war on Prince John and remove him from power but giving Sir Guy his pardon was going to be a little more of a challenge.
"Are you going to hand over that pardon?" asked Much.
"One thing at a time; we need to get home and get Prince John out of power," replied Robin.
"What if Rose doesn't want to rule?" asked Much.
Robin didn't want to think about that. He didn't want to get back to England and find Rose and Sir Guy happy in Locksley as he trained his men and she brought him lunch. On top of that they had been away so long that there was a chance that Rose was with child and was on her way to securing her line with him.