Disclaimer: I do not own Robin Hood, nor do I profit from this writing.

Chapter 8: New Teams

Rumors always ran rampant in the castle; it was the only source of entertainment for the servants. But the fact she hadn't seen Allan for days made the rumors about his betrayal all the more difficult to face.

One of Robin Hood's men has abandoned him.

No, I heard he was kicked out of Sherwood.

I heard he tried to slit Robin's throat in his sleep a third whispered, making Eleanor frown.

Gretchen pulled Eleanor aside as they exited the castle and practically dragged her friend till they had a little privacy. "Don't tell me it's Allan," Gretchen demanded. "Everyone is saying Robin has kicked someone out of his gang. Well?"

"I don't know anything for sure, they haven't been here for days, remember?" Eleanor hedged.

Gretchen frowned. "It is Allan, or you wouldn't be trying to protect him! Elle!" Gretchen wiped her hands against her apron in agitation as she tried to think. "I am thrilled you have befriended someone, truly I am. But how can it be the same man who would do something so awful to get kicked out by Robin Hood?"

"You don't know what you are talking about," Eleanor huffed. "First of all, these are nothing but vicious rumors right now. You know us, Gretchen. Servants gossip just as much as they breath."

"I am just trying to understand how the one man in all England you learn to trust is the same man who would betray his friends."

"First, I am not sure I trust him. Second, perhaps they betrayed him first?" Eleanor countered, making Gretchen raise an eyebrow. Eleanor took a deep breath; she wasn't use to expressing herself this angry. Only with Gretchen, and now Allan, did she feel safe to express her emotions. "Remember weeks ago when Guy fetched me to go to the dungeons?" Gretchen nodded. "It was Allan. They had captured and tortured him. It was Allan that I tended to."

Gretchen didn't say anything for a moment but Eleanor saw understanding in her friend's eyes. "You've known this whole time," she realized. "So you saw some similarities, I understand that…" she trailed off. "But how could he betray Robin?"

"Wouldn't you have agreed to anything under such circumstances?" Eleanor asked.

Gretchen simply sighed. "As you say, they are vicious rumors. Surely Robin, being the hero that he is, is the forgiving sort." What Gretchen didn't add was that the simple fact he won Eleanor's allegiance was good enough for her.

If he betrayed Elle, though, there would be hell to pay.

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Griswald was in true form as she ran the kitchen in preparation for the King's Birthday celebration. "Idiot!" she yelled as she backhanded someone. "does this look right to you? Where is Wales?" she demanded looking at the cake.

No one dared correct Griswald. She probably had never set foot outside of Nottingham, but she had studied the sketchings of England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland, and wouldn't tolerate for anything less than perfection.

"Psst," a voice whispered and she turned, rubbing a floured hand across her cheek. She caught a glance of Allan and did a quick look to make sure she wouldn't be missed. Gretchen winked, showing she would cover for her.

Eleanor slipped in the room. "You haven't been underfoot for days," she teased. She eyed the new outfit and saw his expression. "So the rumors are true?"

"The game is up," Allan said leaning against the door frame.

Seeing him there looking so defeated tugged at her heartstrings. She immediately told her heart to not get involved. She hadn't seen him for nigh on a week, which was worrisome. What was even more annoying was the fact she was worried. Instead, she simply asked: "Are you that surprised?"

He didn't say anything for a minute. "No. I had hoped Robin would at least understand… but he left me my life, I can't complain."

"He was going to kill you?!" Eleanor demanded enraged. "That's insufferable."

Allan was surprised but secretly happy to see her get upset on his behalf. Usually she was so busy trying to act like there was nothing between them, or pushing him. He could admit that she was pushing him to be better.

But he liked seeing her take his side, to feel for him. "Like I said, I can't really say anything."

"But surely, if you told him about what Guy was doing to you…"

"I tried."

She seethed. "That incorrigible, bloody, toad minded prat," she spat out. Her respect for Robin was diminished if he wouldn't give Allan a chance to explain, to actually listen.

"Its my own fault, isn't that what you always tell me?"

"Yes, it is," she agreed. Her heart wasn't in it, though. "Perhaps when Robin has a chance to think about it, he will let you explain. But, umm…" she studied his clothes. "I don't think working for Guy is going to help you win Robin over."

"And what am I to do in the meantime? No, Robin made it clear he never wants to see me again. Even found my stash in the forest."

"Wait," she said as she sprinted off. She dug under her mattress and scurried back, handing him his pouch. "It's all there," she said quickly.

He didn't even count it, just tied it to his belt. "I told you, I trust you," Allan said. He dug something out of his pocket and handed it to her, grabbing her hand and placing it in the palm of her hand. He held her hand a moment longer than necessary, but dropped it before he could spook her again.

She looked down at the trinket in surprise. It was what she was looking at in the market weeks ago. "I… thank you," she stammered out.

He had the distinct impression no one had given her a gift before, and the thought he was the first made him grin. "Now, that wasn't so hard, was it?"

"You are incorrigible, Allan a Dale," she rolled her eyes as she placed the gift in her pocket. "What are you going to do?"

He couldn't resist any longer and decided to risk it. He might not have another chance after meeting with the sheriff. He reached out to touch her again and dusted the flour off her cheek. "Work for Guy. I'm waiting to meet the Sheriff now. What else can I do?"

"You could give Robin time, if you want to go back. You could find a place of your own. You have money now, Allan. Freedom. What more could you want?" She fought against her natural instincts when she saw Allan reach for her. She held still to see what he was planning on, and was surprised by his gentle touch.

"There's a lot more that I want, Eleanor," he grinned, happy to see her blush.

"Beware working for the Sheriff, Allan. Don't forget why you were fighting against him in the first place," she warned as she hurried back to the kitchen.

Eleanor arrived back in the kitchen to find Gretchen was gone. She didn't have time to talk with her friend, anyways, no matter how much she wanted Gretchen's opinion. Allan seemed to enjoy confusing her. She pushed all thoughts aside best she could, though, as Griswald was now inspecting the second cake and ordering everyone about. Eleanor was laden down with trays full of trenchers of food as she hustled up the steps with several other serving girls. Whatever was going on, one thing was for certain: the sheriff was happy. Not a good omen, but at the same time, a good omen for the servants.

Gretchen was carrying linens when she saw the minstrels. Minstrels? She thought studying them. They were perhaps the silliest minstrels she had seen. Perhaps they were jesters?

It was when she approached the group she recognized them as Robin Hood's gang. She had only seen them a few times herself, but she had heard enough about them from Eleanor's accounts of the stories Allan regaled her with to recognize them. Well, they obviously don't want to be recognized, Gretchen, she reminded herself. Besides, if the rumors are true, they won't even give Allan a chance…

Just as she was defending Allan to herself, she found herself approaching them. "You aren't our normal minstrels, sir," she smiled to the one with the lute.

"Ah, the sheriff wanted the best to celebrate the king's birthday," he stammered. He seem to grow in confidence as he talked, making her smile.

He must be Much, Robin's former manservant. "Then are you the best?" why am I flirting with him? Although, he may be handsome, it is difficult to tell under all these ridiculous ribbons.

"We've been all over: London, Brighton…"

"Right, come on," Robin ordered marching in making both Much and Gretchen frown.

"I was just in the middle of…" Much tried to whisper but Gretchen overheard making her smile.

"Now," Robin bossed. Gretchen frowned at the back of his head before remembering her place; after all, he was an Earl. Sort of.

She shared a smile with Much as he rushed off with the rest of the "minstrels." No time to daydream, Gretchen, she chided herself. If she was any later Griswald would certainly punish her.

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"What is the point of celebrating the King's Birthday if we can not celebrate?" Gretchen moaned as she lifted another basket of the tar. "And what part of the celebration is this?"

"Either you have really strange customs here in Nottingham, or the Sheriff is up to one of his games."

They shared a look. "The sheriff," they said together. Several of the men and women had been ordered to build a fire over the large cauldron and heat the tar. Tar had been heated separately in smaller cauldrons so they didn't have to wait for the larger mixture to boil. Unfortunately, it made the transfer even more treacherous as they went from smaller cauldron to the massive one in the center of the square.

"Allan is Guy's man, now, right?" Gretchen repeated. "Then why haven't we seen him?"

"I am more upset I haven't seen the 'minstrels,' especially if they look as you described them," Eleanor laughed. "They…" she trailed off as guards hauled out Allan. "What?" she asked confused. "Something's wrong." They certainly weren't treating him as Guy's man, and he was back to wearing his other breeches and tunic. "Gretchen," Eleanor whispered looking around. "I have a bad feeling about this."

Gretchen didn't know what to say. She had a bad feeling, too. They all assumed the sheriff had found some new way of torturing some poor soul for entertainment; the thought it could be Allan was too unbelievable.

"Come on," Gretchen said leading the way around from their position by the kitchen towards the square. They shifted through the crowd trying not to touch any of the nobles who had gathered.

Suddenly guards burst forth bringing Robin Hood. "Ah. Here we have Robin Hood and his good friend, Allan a Dale. Both are outlaws, making them enemies of Good King Richard himself. What better way of celebrating His Majesty's birthday than by watching these two outlaws duke it out?" the sheriff cackled. "You loose, you fry. You win, well…" he trailed off. He signaled the guards who began to prod both of the men.

"There are Robin's men," Gretchen pointed out, catching sight of Much.

"What can they do, though?" Eleanor asked. "And don't tell a soul—especially his—but I am rooting for Allan."

Gretchen grinned. The fact she still insisted on keeping her affection from Allan was amusing. "Surely they can put this behind them and work togeth—maybe not," she changed her mind as she saw them take a swing at each other. They watched as they swung and stumbled across the board. Eleanor felt as if her heart was in her throat. This was simply madness. In one day she had learned Allan was kicked out and was now watching him fight for his life against his former friend.

She gasped as she watched Allan stumble and nearly loose his balance. "I don't think I can watch," Eleanor said covering her eyes.

"He got his footing back," Gretchen promised and Eleanor glanced. They were clasping hands so tightly neither could feel anything in them any longer.

"Look at Much!" Gretchen whispered.

"of all times," Eleanor began as she saw him begin to play the instrument. Then the dart flew out surprising them. "Any particular reason you were watching Much?" Gretchen teased.

They watched Robin and Allan get down from the plank and she started to relax. Now this was just a regular fight. Surely he would be fine in a regular fight.

She watched the big man—Little John, she corrected—knock Allan down. "Why that overgrown…" Eleanor started and Gretchen watched she let go of Gretchen's hand and began to run to where Allan was laying.

Gretchen couldn't get across as suddenly flames erupted from where Robin had shot the cauldron. She peered across, trying to see how Allan and Eleanor were. She was rushing up towards the steps for a better look as Robin's men rushed past. She made eye contact with Much again. What is this feeling? She wondered. She decided to ignore whatever it was.

Eleanor managed to reach Allan's side before the flames erupted. "Allan?" she wondered as she offered his hand but he ignored it. She tried not to be offended. "Let me look at that. It seems I am forever tending to you," she teased.

"No, Eleanor," he said pushing her hand away as he rubbed his jaw.

"Now is not the time to be proud. Let me help you, Allan. Don't push me away."

"You push me away often enough."

She glared at him. "Alright, have it your way. Get by without my help," she said, referring to his entire stay in the castle. "Griswald is probably having a fit because so many of the servants were watching and not working. I have more than enough to worry about."

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later, in London:

The courier bowed before the throne as he passed the message. A wave of the man's hand dismissed him. After reading the parchment the man's voice called, "fetch Lord Canterbury."

A moment later the lord entered the room and bowed before the throne.

"I have received some distressing news, William."

"Regarding Richard?"

"No, Richard's missives are few and far between. It seems our friend Winchester has gone and gotten himself killed by some outlaws called Robin Hood."

"Surely you jest. Harold would never die by something so undignified as outlaws."

"Well, Harold would certainly never die by anything as dignified as going to war," the man drawled and Canterbury laughed. "I seem to recall that you and the late Winchester had some disputes between you regarding your land."

"Harold was a boastful man, John. He always tried to claim a part of Canterbury that never belonged to him."

"Well, I for one never tolerated such boasts. As a sign of the long friendship between us, take whatever lands with my approval you wish of his estate. He certainly will not be needing it, and he has no heir."

"You have always been generous, John," Canterbury said happily. "I believe Marguerite had her eye on a parcel of Winchester's estate. She will be most happy to inherit it."

John smiled. "I wish to tell her myself. It has been far to long since I had any good news to tell her. It is a marvelous day when Marguerite is happy."

I spent the weekend writing this story and am nearly done with season 2. I just couldn't stop! I have the next 50 pages written and I am excited where this is going ^_^ Updates will be a little slow the next 2 weeks or so, though, because of school.

I wanted to introduce some figures that will be coming up later, too ^_~

Special thanks to Sharnay (Thanks! I was hesitant to deal with Allan as traitor, but I am loving it so far!) and katieee (Oh, they definitely get closer! Thank you!)