BBC Robin Hood God Save the Queen

Chapter 6B: A hard days night

-- Palace of Poitiers--

Robin watched as the last of the Le Loup Gris fell in the hands of the leader of the opposition gang Le Soleil Rouge. The outlaw had both hands on his knees trying to catch his breath like the rest of his gang who was either sitting on the floor or passing a decanter of wine around. He couldn't believe they had survived. They were so heavily outnumbered yet they are still alive. They had a few cuts and surely bruises here and there. But nothing was major enough to kill them or stop them from stopping the Prince's plans. He could only wish that the Queen was still alive.

"Carter, I'm so sorry that...I'm alive see? It will be okay, yes?" He heard a gentle voice say uncertain what exactly she should be saying. Robin looked up and smiled seeing the troubled couple reunited in a tight embrace not far from where he was. He could see the crusader sigh in relief holding the girl closer amidst the sea of bodies then reluctantly loosened his hold on her. He reached for the two daggers that crossed his back and returned them to its owner. The girl cheered eagerly stowing the daggers away before pulling the man by his red vest into another embrace.

Robin stood up and crossed his arms. "Oh come on, Eva. He deserves more than that don't you think?" He encouraged the young girl who was already on her way to where he was while holding the crusader's hand. He could see the change in the man that followed behind her. There was a light that shone in his eyes watching the girl let go of his hand to greet the rest of the outlaws. It was as if a huge weight had been lifted from him.

"Oh, really, Monsieur Locksley. You are just as bad as Michael, Jean and Gabe." She grinned before giving the outlaws friendly hugs. "Besides, I have a very good reason to take it slower." She continued giving Carter a quick look of apology. The blonde man just nodded in quiet acceptance quite content that Evangeline was right in front of him greeting her outlawed friends. He decided that one day he would ask about that comment and about that conversation with the Malouin leader. But now really was not the time to cause trouble in the odd relationship they have because for the first time in weeks, his mind and heart were at ease.

The leader of the outlaws thought he had seen a glimpse of fear in hazel eyes of the normally fearless girl. But just in an instant, it had disappeared. Robin decided to not to pry and shrugged instead. "You can't blame me for trying. Did I mention he thought you were dead?"

"We all thought you were dead." Much emphasized as he patted the girl's back with a small smile of relief.

Michael threw his hands in the air in defeat watching the girl give Djaq, Will and Little John quick embraces. "That is what we have been trying to tell you in Malo." He cried exasperatedly

"She is not dead!" The three Malouins stated in the same time before erupting to laughter realizing they had just done that in unison. The girl returned to her position in between Carter and Michael hitting all three playfully.

Little John cleared his throat. "The Queen." He interrupted the group hoping that they could get back to their mission. The night was far from over. The Black Knights were still out there looking for the Queen to forward their evil intentions of attaining her army. He stifled his sigh of relief when he saw Robin giving him a thankful gaze. The woodsman nodded and then glared silencing the four members of the La Soleil Rouge that had started teasing and baiting each other playfully, to his opinion, very much like children.

Robin nodded picking his bow up from the floor. "Big Bear is right." He smirked seeing the est start to chuckle lightly. "I saw the Queen Mother disappear with Raoul and Camille. Eva, where did they go?"

"The new hall that is being constructed." She answered quickly.

"Good. Then that is where we are going." Robin decided just as fast leading the way to the exit. But before they could reach the door and open it, Jean Baptiste had ran after them blocking their path earning a confused look from the outlaws.

The good Captain shook his head in amusement. "And you call yourselves thieves." He teased pointing at the girl who held a hidden door open behind them. "Thieves would rather go around undetected." He pointed out. "You have a choice Robin Hood. You can go through there with us or you can deal with more mercenaries and Loup Gris through there." He grandly offered them the choices.

Robin winced in slight concern. "But Prince John knows all the passages in and out of this place as well. He would have that exit heavily guarded." He pointed at the secret path.

The young girl shook her head. "No. This is the only one he will not know." She argued with a small sly smile. "To his knowledge, it leads to the roof. However, it now also leads straight to the unfinished hall. We just need some rope."

"Then why didn't you say so." Robin turned heading for the secret passage. Then he paused and took a look at the hall he was about to leave with a wistful expression. "We should take all the bows and arrows we can use." He said suddenly picking up a bloodied but otherwise salvageable arrow from the floor. "I have a feeling we are going to need it."
--

The gothic dinning hall used to be called Salle des Pas Perdus-- the Hall of Lost Footsteps. Considered to be one of the largest halls in contemporary Europe, the hall had also served as one that stood for justice. It was in this hall that the future counts and dukes showed their fairness in disputes. Eventually, the vast space had been called La Salle du Roi-- the Royal Hall-- after the Poitou was returned as a province of France. The Palace might have been the one called Palais de Justice but it was in this hall where that justice was dispensed during the French Revolution.

But to the Queen, the unfinished hall was just the hall where Raoul's pacing footsteps were lost echoing in her mind. She followed her Knight as he walked the width of the building back and forth deep in thought as she and Camille sat on wooden planks on the lower level of the scaffolds that retain the items that the workers had left behind. The place was dusty and half done. And there was only one real entrance and exit in the complex. The hidden one was temporary. When the glass is fitted on the high windows, the secret passage from the roof to the window will be gone. She could hear the pounding of the mercenaries on the thick wooden entrance. The plan was for them to go in unnoticed. Unfortunately, they had been spotted coming in ruining their potential hiding place.

This was the fact that had Raoul worried as he racked his brains for a way out. If they would go through the roof, the would be a chance that they would have to defend themselves in such great heights putting the Queen in more danger. It was also very obvious that they cannot leave the way they entered without a fight. Raoul ran his fingers through his hair again silently berating himself for choosing a place that had no contingency exit. Some genius he was.

The pounding in the door stopped suddenly. The three occupants stared at the door dreading what would happen next. "Mother!" Came a cry from the door. "Really. All I want is to talk." A sing song voiced continued.

The Queen faced the couple wryly ignoring whatever her son was talking about through the door. "When you have children, remember my words." The pair faced the strong willed woman curiously. "Sometimes, the stick works best." Eleanor broke into a grin at the surprised expression of her friends.

"Queen Eleanor!" Camille's jaw dropped in disbelief. The trio broke into a series of chuckles and giggles that broke the tense air that dominated the large area.

"Can't we just stop and talk awhile? We never seem to talk anymore. I don't want your property. I just want your army." The Prince whined on. "Mother can you hear me? Mo-other?"

But the monarch just rolled her eyes. There were five light falls behind where the Queen was sitting followed by several heavier ones. The three turned to look at the new arrivals. "Really, Robin Hood. I'm impressed with that landing." Raoul saw Michael put an arm over the other man's shoulder. "Have you ever considered being a real thief? You have real skills there." He complimented the real Lord of Locksley.

Robin just chuckled shaking his head. "Have you ever thought of going legitimate? You have real skills there too." He replied in turn.

"Believe me. It is too complicated." Jean Baptiste answered for his friend falling into pace with them.

Gabe however was walking backwards half- amused at scolding the other outlaws. "You call yourselves thieves? Absolute rubbish. You would alert the whole manor with that kind of landing." He chided for fun.

"Hey hey, not being funny but we aren't exactly in our best form here." Allan- A- Dale defended.

"It's not like we live in an island full of thieves that we are constantly walking on eggshells. I happen to be the Earl of Bonchurch." Much added. "And for your information, we have entered places undetected plenty of times." He raised an index finger up in the air. "Yes, sir. That's right. Undetected." He leaned in to challenge the man.

The sword smith snorted. "Yes, but how long do you stay undetected?" He shot back at the smaller man raising his eyebrows.

"Well... I would have you know...dogs can smell..." Much stuttered unable to dignify a response. The three more silent outlaws. Djaq, Will and Little John, stifled their laughter from behind. Much turned to face Eva who was walking while swinging Carter's hands like a child. "Lady Evangeline, your friends are revolting." He snapped.

The girl just tilted her head to one side with a teasing smile. "But Monsieur Much, you are my friend too. Does that not mean you are revolting as well?" She tried to clarify in jest. Gabriel gave her a nod of approval.

"She has you there Much." Will grinned from behind watching the former man servant adjust his clothes in contempt. Little John couldn't help but laugh beside the carpenter and neither could the sword smith and the trickster.

"Monsieur le Chevalier," She looked up at the taller blonde man innocently, "Monsieur Much just called you revolting. That is a challenge if I ever heard one." She said completely amused at the manservant's horrified expression.

Carter just took one brief glance at Much and looked away smirking. "A waste of time and energy." He replied earning more laughter from the group.

"You, sire are..." Much trailed on trying to find the right word. "Are..."

"Are what? Revolting?" Allan stopped walking with the rest of them. He placed his hands on his hips shaking his head. "Not being funny, but you should really learn a new word." He suggested.

The Queen stood to wait for the newcomers happy that they were safe. She watched as most of the lighthearted group bow before her at the same time. "At your service, my Queen." She heard Robin say on one knee. Her eyes drifted recognizing the Nottingham outlaws, pausing at one large woodsman in particular, before eying those she was not familiar with. Three stood their ground although they were not Saracen. And one was on one knee too close to her young knight for the Queen Mother to be comfortable with. Her eyebrows raised in question while she gave her hand to the Earl of Huntington. "Formalities again, Robin?" She said prompting everyone to stand up as the pounding in the door continued.

"But your majesty, you are the Queen." Robin replied emphasizing her position in society.

"Mother, I'm not burning bridges here but I am burning the door." The Prince called out from behind. "Fair warning."

Queen Eleanor waved the threat off with one hand. "It will take awhile for that door to burn anyway." She commented before any of the concerned people could say anything to ruin the easy mood. She took a few steps towards the center of their circle. "Well it is good to see you all again." She greeted with a smile. "Especially you, Big Bear." She added eying the how neatly the man was dressed while Little John's jaw clenched uncomfortably and the rest stifled giggles out of respect. She quickly turned her head to her missing knight. "Mademoiselle Stone de Laurent, you are late. You said you were going to be here days before the ball." She chastised noticing that her hand was linked with the man beside her.

"Ah! Apologies Madame." The young girl cringed dropping the man's hand to add gestures to her story. "See, I got my sword and ended up meeting the Captain," she pointed at a dark haired man with sun kissed complexion, "-at Cherbourg. And he told me this story that made me suspect that Remy is not what he seems so--"

"Ah yes. Remy." The Queen interrupted bitterly.

Evangeline paused for a second before continuing. "Yes Remy. So i rode to Arles to get Raoul before they reach Marseilles and well... the whole thing took awhile." She explained sheepishly. She motioned to her Malouin friends. "My Queen, these are my and Raoul's friends, Michael, Gabriel and Jean Baptiste. They have been charged to bring back Alexander, leader of Le Loup Gris." The Queen gave her an inquiring gaze not knowing who she was talking about "He was the large man in blue with the grey bands." The girl described.

"Charged by who?" The monarch asked suspiciously when the three did not bow when they were introduced.

Michael gave the lady an easy smile. "The Council of Elders of St. Malo." He replied confidently. The smoke had started to filter in the room now. But they paid no heed.

"Ah. St. Malo. Aligned to no king or country, bow to no one. That explains it all." She grinned as all three started nodding confirming the Queen's understanding of the island's politics. "You certainly have interesting friends, Evangeline. And who is this young man beside you?" She asked giving the crusader her hand.

Robin stepped forward. "This is Carter of the King Richard's private guards. The king has sent him to keep watch over the Black Knights." He explained as Carter knelt down again to kiss the Queen's ring.

"An honour, your Majesty." He greeted respectfully.

The Queen looked at him in amusement. "You and I have to talk after all this."

"Yes, I'm sure you an anxious about how the king is faring." The crusader nodded.

The monarch smiled slyly. "Among other things." She saw the blonde give her courtier a confused look. Evangeline just shrugged in reply. The silent conversation would have humoured the royal but there were other things at hand at the moment. The smoke from the burning door had grown thicker. She turned concentrating on the furiously burning door. "Now, I think it is about time we deal with my pesky son. Raoul, Robin, do any of you have a plan?" She asked the two men silently arguing before her. The two stopped to face the Queen.

"Maybe half a plan." Robin admitted wryly.

"Now I did not think you were the modest type. We have more than half a plan." Raoul corrected grinning widely.

"We are Robin Hood after all. We have noble qualities like manners." Much emphasized the quality proudly unsheathing his sword challenging the sword smith. The statement had started the outlaws to look at each other in agreement as they passed six bows amongst themselves to be wielded. "Well shall we say it then?" Much encouraged the group.

"We are Robin Hood!" The seven from Nottingham cheered all together.

Michael took his sword from his side shaking his head. "You might be but we are definitely not. Thank goodness for that." He commented as five reunited childhood friends formed a small circle. "Hold on." He tilted his head to Raoul beside him. "We are missing one, Raoul. And may I say, a beautiful one at that." He grinned widely reaching in his pocket for an extra red tag to give to the courtier who passed it to his wife. "Madame Girard, it is our honour. You already have one of Gabriel's swords. Shall we complete the transition?" The three Malouins gave the since quiet Camille a small bow.

And without prompting, there were six swords forged by the same swords smith flew to the air with their tips touching to form a circle . "La Soleil Rouge." The six cried in unison before three spread out in one line in front of the archers leaving the other three behind with their swords still in the air.

"Long live the Queen." Raoul, Camille and Evangeline added before they themselves left the circle to be in front of the Nottingham outlaws.

"Good." The Queen commended behind her makeshift army. "Now, Big Bear, give me your bow." She smirked when Little John turned to look at her shock evident in his expression. "I was in the last crusades." She qualified earning more surprised looks from the outlaws. "In fact, I can probably teach you a thing or two Robin of Locksley."
--

The Sheriff watched the door burn down with great delight. In his mind, another particularly annoying leper is about to get her just desserts. He stood behind the Prince holding his sword with great anticipation of whats to come. He could imagine it now. With the Malouins and Black Knights beside him, two of the Queen's knights were obviously not going to do much damage. He let a sinister smile grow in his face when all that remained of the door was a ring of fire. He saw Prince John turn to look at him.

"God save the Queen." The blonde Prince said sarcastically tilting his head towards the door to order the mobilization of his Knights.

"God save the Queen indeed, sire." Vassey grinned stepping forward in line with his lieutenant. He was confident that they would win this round. They had stayed ahead of those that were trying to preserve and protect the throne. The Queen Mother herself was trapped inside her own commissioned hall.

But he was sadly mistaken. As soon as the small confident army stepped inside the smoke filled hall, the screams of arrows cutting through the air mingled with the surprised gasps of those that were hit. Those behind could not see why their comrades were falling until an arrow had claimed them. "Sire!" Sir Guy of Gisbourne quickly pulled the Prince back behind him before he could step to take the place of the person who had just started to fall.

"What is happening?!" The monarch demanded.

The smoke had started to clear rising up to the ceiling and that's when Vassey saw it. He was mistaken. There were seven archers aiming right for them. His eyes widened when he saw who was leading the attack in the center. "Leper." He snarled. He grabbed the Malouin Knight by the collar. "Charge them. All together, they cannot shoot everyone." He ordered.

With a battle cry, the leader of the Le Loup Gris and his gang did as he was told again. The thieves charged with their weapons ready for action. Some fell victim by the keen Nottingham archers and the Queen Mother. But the numbers were too much for just seven archers to handle. And like the Black Knights and their minions had crossed an invisible line, all of a sudden, the seven that stood still watching with their weapons lowered in between the archers sprung into action. They were quickly followed by the archers themselves surrounding themselves around the Queen that they needed to protect with their very lives.

--
Carter and Little John quickly exchanged places just like they had planned. Little John fell back with the rest the outlaws surrounding the queen while the blonde crusader took his place in the forefront of the battle. As he swung his sword to deliver a lethal horizontal slash to the person in front of him, he spied how the rest were faring. Relief came to him when he saw that they were faring just as good as he had been which simply meant, they weren't seriously injured and continued to fight.

"You have some nerve ruining a girl's dress like that." He heard Raoul scold one that had caught the hem of Camille's dress with a bludgeon before knocking him unconscious.

Camille smirked while punching a man with her free hand. "You mean especially since it was you who bought it?" She asked.

"Yes!" Raoul answered with great conviction.

But to the crusader's surprise, the rest of those in his line remained relatively silent. He knew first hand from his experience with fighting along side Evangeline in the Holy Lands that she hardly let a sound out while she fought even when she was hit. It had amazed him the first time and it still amazes him that such an active girl could become so withdrawn. However, he did not expect the same from the other three Malouins that had earlier been teasing, taunting and challenging the outlaws for fun. There was hardly a word from all three of them. Only Jean Baptiste had broken the silence to warn of an unseen on coming attack. "Gabe, starboard stern." He had called out.

Carter dodged a charging man pushing him backwards to where he knew Little John would be able to deliver the hard blow. He caught a stolen glimpse of Evangeline who was in between Michael and Gabe acting counter intuitively by spinning forward missing a sword thrust and letting her elbow hit her would- be attacker's temple. She took a step back to retrieve the sword she had left behind protruding from another person's back. The crusader quickly knocked his man away when he saw the large blue man called Alexander stand in front of the girl who paused just as her hand felt her sword hilt. Carter's brow furrowed when he saw the thieves just pass the two who were staring at each other. He saw the girl's uncomfortable hazel eyes meet grey mischievous and menacing ones. And like a switch was turned on, the two struck at the same time their swords clashing in the air several times in attack and defense. Evangeline had taken a dagger from her side to compliment her sword as the man's grin grew more sinister. The two separated circling each other. And there it was for a second. There was hatred and hurt in the girl's eyes that he had never seen before. At once, Carter knew that there was something very wrong.
--

Robin knocked his opponent down with the end of his bow, dodged another while drawing an arrow from its quiver as he turned to let it loose on the man before he neared the Queen. But the arrow never left his bow. He grinned when he saw the Queen hit the man on the head with the downswing of her own bow then steadied herself to grab an arrow from her own quiver on the floor. "You're good at this." Robin remarked as he turned to face a new man coming at him.

"I aim to please." Came the sassy reply behind him. He saw an arrow fly in the air and land deftly on a man that was approaching Djaq unnoticed by the Saracen.

"I'm suddenly glad you're on our side." Robin admitted pushing another away from him with a well placed boot. The man fell and another more familiar Black Knight took his place. The Earl of Huntington's smile drifted into a memory at the sight of his arch nemesis. "Hello Gisbourne." He greeted tossing his bow aside at the foot of the Queen to brandish the sword that hung by his side.

"Locksley." Sir Guy replied with equal ire lifting his own sword readying for the battle. The two men locked their gazes at each other letting the world around them fly by. Finally, the Black Knight smirked. "Let's see if you can save this one." He taunted before he thrust his sword forward just for the other man's sword to block the potentially lethal hit.

Their swords went into a wide arch heading for the floor where Robin's was on top. The outlaw quickly let go of his two handed grip, lashing his now free hand to hit the man's cheek with the back of his hand. Sir Guy of Gisbourne stumbled backwards slightly. When he regained his footing, he saw an attack already in place heading for him. He lifted to counter the sword swing. With the sound of metal hitting metal, the weapons locked in a struggle that neither wanted to give way. Sir Guy saw the corner of the outlaw's lips turn upwards.

"She thought you were better." Robin pointed out. The two mutually pushed away from each other and started to circle. "She thought you could change." Their swords met a few more times with the outlaw on the defensive before they separated again.

"Well she thought wrong." Guy spat back.

"No. You were a disappointment." Robin pointed his sword at the Black Knight with a smug self- confident expression visible in his face. "But me," he continued in the same demeanor, "I will never disappoint her." He finished. There was a furious cry from the man in black as he came to attack. Robin parried.

And the battle raged on.
--

Raoul lowered his sword point to the ground but his opponent did not. However his enemy did not attack either. "I am not angry with you. I am sure you have a very good reason for doing this." He frowned sadly. "It does not need to be this way, Remy." He stated slowly and evenly.

"There is no going back from this." Remy stated before attacking vigorously at a defendant that was trying very hard to control himself from hurting the other. The assailant did not like it. He already betrayed them in the worst way possible. He had even planned the death of the very man who was only defending himself although Remy had planted areas on which the other could obviously attack. It was frustrating. He took a step back to pause and catch his breath.

Raoul dropped his sword once again shaking his head. "Of course there is a way to come back. You have been a faithful servant all these years without the Black Knight's influence. She will not forget that." He shrugged with a small smile. "At the very least we will ask for clemency. It will work Remy. We will vouch for you-- Camille, Eva and I. Just stop now." He tried to reason with the man.

"That is impossible." He replied attacking again. Raoul quickly lifted his sword to defend himself as he was pushed back once more. "I have betrayed the order and now they are all dead." He exclaimed striking with each word. But Raoul kept pace dodging and parrying his attacks just in time. "How exactly do you come back from that?" He asked pausing once again.

"Remy," Raoul smiled seeing that he was getting through to his friend, "- we are not dead because of you. You warned us those mercenaries are coming. You did not need to." He gave the man a decisive nod. "And that, my friend, gives us all hope." There was uncertainty in the other man's eyes which encouraged the married genius.

But suddenly, Remy uncharacteristically dropped his sword. Raoul's eyes widened when the man himself followed his weapon to the ground without any prompting. He quickly sheathed his sword and went by the man's side to drag him to a safer location behind Michael who quickly and silently adjusted to provide him cover. "Remy! What is the matter?" He asked on one knee inspecting the man for any injuries but finding none that could do this. He caught the fallen man's gaze. Panic had started to kick in. "I will get Camille to look at you. Camille!" He yelled out leaping forward with his sword back in his hand to take his wife's place.

The Lady Girard hurriedly knelt by her pale friend's side tucking a few loose strands behind her ear. She placed a hand over the man's forehead but retracted it immediately. "Remy, were you like this when you were at the party?" She questioned the man in concern.

"No. I was perfectly fine." Came the panicked response. He held the worried girl's hand forcing Camille to look at him. "Camille-" He started but the girl shook her head telling him to be quiet.

"Well did you eat anything that you--" She started to ask gently brushing the unruly hair that stuck to his now clammy face.

"Poison." A voice boomed from across the room. Camille snapped her head towards the outlaw's voice.

She automatically paled. "John, what are you talking about?"

"The wine. Gisbourne." Little John shook his head as he swatted a few men with his staff. "I was unsure... but now, I am sorry." He gave the two a thin smile for the briefest of moments.

The flustered girl shook her head some more feeling the tears form in her eyes. "No, that is not true. You just hang on until this is all over." She instructed the man who was now having a hard time breathing. "Just relax and hang on. I will find an antidote. All will be well." She gave the man's hand a small squeeze.

Remy gave a short bitter laugh. "Camille, you do not even know the poison." His vision blurred as tears started to flow freely down his cheek. With all his might he fought of the coming darkness holding tightly to the girl's hand. "I'm sorry, Camille. For everything. And tell Evangeline I did not mean to--"

"Serin Remy." Camille wiped the man's tears away with her free hand. "Evangeline has forgiven and forgotten. So has Raoul and so have I." Her own tears were streaming down her eyes now as well.

The fallen knight closed his eyes and smiled. "Then I will see you all in Heaven." He managed to say before the darkness overcame him.
--

Evangeline Stone de Laurent snapped out of her own anger when she heard the panicked voice of her friend. She looked past the goon she was against spotting a fallen Remy and and a distraught Camille on her knees. She moved to go to them but was immediately blocked by her opponent. Her anger returned as she defended herself from series of volleys from the Malouin's sword. But her distressed effort was in vain not noticing the man's backhand heading for her face until the contact came. She stumbled a few steps to the side scolding herself silently for letting her guard down.

"Did that feel familiar, Evangeline?" Alexander asked maliciously instantly grabbing her attention. "You know, you would not have this problem if you were still with me." The man started attacking again but this time the girl was fully prepared for each sword thrust, lunge and extension providing answers. She raised her dagger and sword forming a cross that caught the man's powerful arch then automatically kicked the man away. The brute took a few steps backwards chuckling as he watched the girl twirl the dagger in her hand into a different hold. His amusement faded when the girl had started a barrage of her own before he could even find even footing.

Alexander tried his best to hold off the girl's blade as she moved forward to strike just to change her footing at the last minute when his blade was already primed to block an attack that didn't come. He swung widely horizontal as the quick lady spun downwards stabbing the side of his thigh with the dagger the popped back up hitting his jaw with the pommel of her sword. The Malouin staggered backwards growling as he took the dagger out of his leg throwing it away before he let his hand linger on his jaw. "Apparently, you still like stabbing me." He saw the girl take another one of her daggers out of the folds of her skirt. "You can not blame a man for trying to get closer, although, why I ever wanted to is beyond me." He taunted trying to fluster the silent girl. But instead, it was the sword in her hand now that was she changed her grip with. "Three years and you still have not gotten over the whole ordeal. Can you still feel my hand lifting your skirt?" He asked grinning now knowing that it would get to her. "Silence means yes." He growled.

He charged and the two blades met. But the girl had feigned interest in the pushing back on the blade. Instead she turned to the side rolling off his back, letting the man stumble forward into the empty space as the hilt of her sword met the back of his head. "You have been weighed." He heard her say loudly as she passed him. She pulled her sword arm back while she thrust the dagger to cut off the grey armband before he could find his balance. "You have been measured." She continued as she shoved the Malouin to be sprawled against the wall. "You have been found wanting." The gang leader attempted to move from the wall but felt a blade tip on the back of his neck. "Do you yield Alexander?" She asked coldly pressing the tip of the sword a little bit more emphasizing her point.

Alexander simply laughed remaining completely still against the wall. "If I do not yield, what would you do? Kill me?" He snarled. "You know the rules. Being under La Soleil Rouge, you can not kill another Malouin. The council will eat you alive." He stared at the wall smugly knowing his position was at his advantage.

"I can torture you." Came a calm response. The sword tip pressed on and Alexander felt his skin break. "Yield now." The girl demanded.

"You might as well kill me." He answered knowing that the possibility of the girl going against the Council of Elders were slim to none. To his surprise the sword tip released its pressure slightly. He started to grin until he saw another man lean against the wall beside him smiling from ear to ear. It was then he noticed that the room had quieted down remarkably.

"You know Alexander, the council sent us after you to bring you back dead or alive." Michael informed him coyly. The defeated man turned pale.

"And we do not have a problem of taking you back dead." Added Gabe who was shrugging on his left side.

Alexander felt a second sword blade against his nape. "No problem at all. Believe me, Alexander, nothing will give the three of us more pleasure than killing you ourselves for what you have done. In fact, my crew on the Fleur will throw a party." Finished a voice filled with confidence, he recognized to be Jean Baptiste. "So what would it be, Alexander?"

The convicted man clenched his jaw. "Yield." He growled ashamed that he had lost. If he went back to St. Malo, there could be a chance that the council would let him plead his case. There could be a chance to live. "Le Loup Gris yields!" He shouted angrily. And at once, the arms of his thieves were sheathed at the defeat of their leader. The members of the Le Loup Gris slowly and bitterly dropped to one knee admitting their defeat. "Take your sword away from me Evangeline." He ordered then qualified his command. "I have yielded." He snarled.

"Say it all." She commanded harshly. "I want total humiliation. You will never lead a gang of anything again." She pressed her sword tip harder. "Say. It. All." She repeated coldly.

--

Will Scarlett hacked his axe on the last Black Knight in his vicinity. When the man fell to the ground he hurriedly turned to look for Djaq. There was a clang of a sword dropping. His eyes narrowed when he heard her gasp a few feet away just as the sea of thieves knelt down in defeat. A Black Knight had taken her hostage with a blade on her throat. The axe on his hand twirled in his hand as he menacingly glared at the man. "Let her go. Pick on someone your own size." He ordered.

But the man shook his head as if playing with the carpenter and pressed the blade harder on the girl's neck. "I'm taking this pretty one back to my castle." He informed the outlaw as he started walking backwards with Djaq in tow.

Will saw a familiar sword blade being raised behind the Black Knight. He smiled at the Black Knight. "Somehow I don't think so." Just as he finished saying those words, a hilt of a sword hit the Black Knight at the back of the head. His grip on Djaq immediately loosened as he lost consciousness. The Saracen quickly raised forward into the waiting arms of her beloved. "Thanks, Allan." he said in gratitude to the ginger haired man standing over the Black Knight.

Allan waved his grateful friend's words away. "What's a few head hitting for a friend eh?" He grinned widely before noticing who he actually just knocked unconscious. "That's the Lord Winchester!" He pointed to the collapse man with amusement.

"Do we care that it is the Lord Winchester?" Djaq asked still holding Will's hand surprised that the trickster was grinning from ear to ear while they were heading back to collapse into a protective circle around the Queen.

"Do you know how many Lord Winchesters there have been since the pact was signed? Three. He was the third." Allan informed them but the two gave him skeptical looks. "I'm telling the truth. Honest!" Then he started recounting the list of Lords. "There was the original who signed the pact who mysteriously disappeared. Sheriff probably got to him. Then there was the one about the stolen plans and jewels. Thanks to Leigh Thornton over there," he pointed to the girl holding someone at sword point, " that Lord fell out of favor.Reckon Prince John got to him. Then there's this one." He finished ticking off his fingers. "Not being funny, but good luck to the next guy. That position is cursed."
--

Prince John crossed his arms unamused at what was happening. The whole Le Loup Gris before him had just knelt down in submission. His own Black Knights could now be so easily seen. What was worse is that the Nottingham outlaws were now starting to consolidate around the Queen again now that his Knights were just standing confused on what was happening. He jaw clenched seeing that the Le Loup Gris leader pinned to the wall surrounded by an enemy gang stating his defeat in the most humiliating way.

"Le Loup Gris yields to the all great..." He heard Alexander start to say but paused. He saw three men surrounding him draw their swords to join the girl that had started it all and the Malouin continued. "The all great St. Malo represented by Le Soleil Rouge to whom we surrender pleading for mercy. Mercy, Messieurs et Mademoiselle, mercy." He finished before the prince saw the girl knock him out with a hit to the temple.

Beside him, the sheriff of Nottingham was shoving the bowed thieves to move. "What are you all doing?!" He exclaimed angrily pushing the men over. But the thieves would not attack. "The enemy is there! Go after her!" He ordered in vain.

"Have I not told you there is honour amongst thieves, Sheriff?" The girl turned to grin mischievously at the Nottingham lord as the six that formed the original front line rearranged themselves again to meet the newly awakened Black Knights heading for them.

The Prince eyed as his Knights continued to fight it off with the Queen's makeshift guards. Behind him he heard the sword fights of their hired mercenaries versus the Queen's actual army. He admittedly was not the best military leader in the known world. However he knew when he was beaten.

But he was not beaten yet. In anger, he clasped the hilt of his sword, drew it in his hands and broke into a run towards the Queen.
--

There was a brutish yell echoing through out the hall. Robin placed some distance between himself and Sir Guy of Gisbourne with a wide lateral strike to see who exactly it was. However, as Gisbourne tried to avoid the swing by stepping backwards unknowingly stumbling over a thief. The Black Knight fell to the floor and Robin quickly ran past the fighting outlaws to where he had thrown his bow. He saw Prince John charging while everyone else was occupied by the side of his eye. The Queen just stood where she was unable to use the bow against her own son.

He grabbed a few arrows from the nearby quiver before he turned with an arrow already ready on the bow. He quickly glanced at the Prince's position and grinned. There were several sand bags hanging from the ceiling beams which the workers were probably using to weigh the beam down in place. In less than a second he had three arrows flying through the air to cut the ropes letting the sand bags fall on the Prince.

"Prince John!" Two surprised Vassey and Gisbourne sprinted after and to the angry monarch guessing what the outlaw had planning. The arrows cut the ropes squarely. The sand bags fell exploding has they hit the floor. Sand filled the air forcing the fighters to stop. The sounds of people coughing replaced the previous clashes of metal on metal. Robin, however, was unfazed by the sand blocking it out with his hand over his nose and mouth as he breathed. He squinted trying to follow several shadows moving through the sand saturated air.

All of a sudden, he felt someone shove him away from where he stood. There was a loud thud as a sand bag just fell where he used to stand. There was a coughing man beside him trying to regain his balance while swatting the sand away like they were flies. "Much?!" Robin exclaimed finding that it was his old manservant that had saved him from getting hit by the weight that was apparently connected to the ones he had cut.

"I told you! I told you one day something will happen to your foot. Well, it wasn't really your foot so much as you. But your feet were part of it." He cried in response in between gagging. "And I told you that I would do something about it. Because that's what friends do. Help." He continued trying to get the sand away from him.

Robin just stared at his friend for a good second before realizing that he was talking about the metal ball that had dropped on the man's foot a few weeks back. "Oh, Much." Was the only thing he could really say in between chuckles.

The Queen watched on using her trumpet sleeves as a filter against the sand. The sand itself had started to settle. She frowned when she saw that her son along with any surviving Black Knights were gone. She had thought this could be when he could surrender and she could finally knock sense into the man that wanted his brother's throne. Her actual army came into the room and immediately started taking the members of La Loup Gris away to lock up in the dungeon.

"It is over." She heard the Saracen say in relief as she dropped to the ground tired from the night's battle.

The Queen shook her head. "For now it is."

--

Note: Just the aftermath chapter left! I split chapter 6 into two parts because otherwise it'll be too long. A friend of mine who read this chapter before I even posted it was IM-ing with me while reading. First reaction was-- Ah! Masquerade ball and the Prince is there with his evil little minions... Don't tell me you're going to do the Man in the Iron Mask bit where they swirl around revealing themselves ever so coyly to scare the ... well in your case the Queen.-- And I answered: Can you just read it first? And then by the end of the chapter my friend went-- Ah! Sand bags. I get it! Because King Rich is in the Holy Lands and its a dessert there. So this is like, the P.J. can't survive in the crusades because he has no fighting skills and stuff.-- And I replied: What are you talking about? You're reading far too into this... Just thought I'd share because I thought it was funny.