Disclaimer: I do not own or profit from this writing. OCs and plot are mine.

Chapter 26: Fetch?

Marion took the sack of flour to Gretchen and Eleanor's cottage. "Fresh from the mill in Nettlestone," she announced happily. "I hope it is enough to see you through the winter, but we will have more soon."

"It is more than enough, Marion," Gretchen insisted.

"I thought you might be more likely to accept it if it came from me."

"Because you are a woman, or a noble?" Eleanor asked.

Marion laughed. "Because I am not Allan," she smirked. She caressed Tom's face. "He is adorable. If you need anything, we have worked out a system for you to signal us. Hang these on the garden post closest to Sherwood," she said handing them some cloth. "When one of us sees it we'll know to come find out what's happening."

Eleanor took the cloth and set it aside. "Does everyone still suspect you are dead?"

"Yes," Marion said. They weren't sure if she was happy or not over that, though. "Truth be told, it is tiresome, always having to come to a village disguised. And they won't let me in Nottingham."

"But you are alive," Gretchen said. "From what Allan told us, that is very lucky."

"I know. I am very thankful," she smiled. "I would have missed so much being with my outlaw," she grinned.

"You had best go before Guy returns to Locksley."

"He seems to spend a lot more time here," Marion commented.

"He has been…" Gretchen trailed off.

"Moody," Eleanor suggested.

"Brooding," Gretchen added.

"Dirty," they both said.

Marion nodded, sadly. "I do hope that he finds happiness. More than that, that he stops being the sheriff's latchey. He wouldn't change for me."

"Do you think he can change?" Gretchen asked curiously.

"I think so," Marion nodded. "There is a different side to Guy. Allan agrees with me even if the others think I am crazy."

"No, I agree with you," Eleanor said. She shrugged. "They have never seen Gisborne as anything but an adversary. I know you didn't have genuine feelings for him, but you saw he had a different side to him. I did, too."

Marion smiled. "Allan was right about you," She said making Eleanor frown. Marion laughed. "No, I meant that as a compliment. I remember him once saying you may be quiet but not to underestimate you, you study everything."

Eleanor blushed. "And he can make me blush when he isn't even in the room!" she huffed. "Insufferable."

Marion and Gretchen laughed. "Your secret is safe with me," Marion promised. "I best be off."

They said farewell as Gretchen began to make a loaf of bread for the evening meal and Eleanor started a soup. "You haven't been eating enough, Greta," Eleanor accused.

"Ygrainne is a growing girl, and you are feeding Tom. If one of us gets a little less it will be me," Gretchen insisted.

"We have plenty, and Robin will help us if we run into trouble."

Gretchen sighed. "You know I don't like being beholden…"

Eleanor shook her head. "I know. So tell yourself it is me being beholden to Allan if it means you will eat," she said.

Gretchen didn't say anything as she kneaded. She set it aside to rise again and went to finish the soup so Eleanor could wash the diapers.

Eleanor watched Gretchen to make sure she ate that evening. They gave Ygrainne more than her fair share of the vegetables and she complained of being to full to eat the bread. "Can I play?" she asked wanting to leave the table. She went off to play with her doll as the two women finished up their own meals. "Well, there is plenty of fresh bread, then," Gretchen laughed as she broke off a large chunk for herself, polishing off the loaf. "Happy?"

Eleanor nodded and saw out of the corner of her eye Ygrainne telling Tom a story. It made her grin.

The next morning Ygrainne was ecstatic to find they had jam for breakfast. Gretchen slathered plenty on a slice for her. They watched her lick off the jam but not eat the bread. "Ygrainne, you eat the bread, too," Gretchen reprimanded.

Ygrainne made a face and pouted, dropping it on the floor. Gretchen frowned and went to put Ygrainne in the corner telling her she couldn't play with Jess until she learned not to waist what little food they had.

"I don't remember being that bad when I was her age," Gretchen whispered as they tidied up.

"Really? I think she is so much like you," Eleanor grinned.

The day was long as they finished getting the garden harvested. They split their lunch as they worked. Eleanor watched as Gretchen seemed to work more slowly. "Are you alright, Greta?"

"Just a little… off," she sighed. "I don't know what it is."

Eleanor felt her forehead. "You are hot, and sweaty," she noticed. "Come on, go rest inside. I can finish out here."

"No, we need to get these in," Gretchen insisted.

"Go, I can do it," Eleanor insisted, pushing her towards the house.

"I'll go start supper," she decided. Eleanor watched her worriedly. Ygrainne seemed to be afraid, too, as she stayed at Gretchen's side all evening. "Come on, little one. Let's go to bed early," Gretchen decided. She had never felt so weak or ill in her life.

Eleanor was worried. She had never seen Gretchen ill before. She tidied up the cottage, finishing the other little chores before going to bed herself. She woke the next morning and felt Gretchen's forehead.

It was hot as a furnace.

"What are you doing?" Gretchen muttered sleepily.

"How do you feel?"

"Ill," Gretchen mumbled. "I feel like I could purge any moment," she muttered.

"You stay here and rest," she ordered. She got Tom up and moved him into the other room, then woke and dressed Ygrainne.

"What's wrong with Gretchen?" Ygrainne asked worriedly.

"She is just a little sick, little one," Eleanor reassured her. "She'll be fine as soon as she gets some sleep…" she trailed off as she heard Gretchen purging in the other room.

She tried not to let her worry show as she made a quick breakfast for Ygrainne, telling herself that her own ill feelings were just exhaustion, and told Ygrainne to stay right in front of the cottage. She tried to come in, but Eleanor told her to play with Tom. She walked in to see the mess Gretchen had made. "Greta?" Eleanor asked cleaning up the mess. Gretchen didn't stir. Eleanor quickly checked and saw she was still breathing.

"Gretchen, wake up," Eleanor said. "If you can wake up, wake up please." She didn't stir. Eleanor finished cleaning her up and had to fight back the urge to purge herself. You aren't sick, it is from Gretchen's sickness she told herself.

By the time she went to make the midday meal she was exhausted. She brought Ygrainne's food out to her and sat in the grass, exhausted. "How is Gretchen?" Ygrainne asked scared.

"She is sleeping."

"Like mommy and daddy?"

"Oh," Eleanor said realization dawning on her. "No, honey. No, not like your mommy and daddy. Gretchen is sick and needs to sleep to get better."

"Is she going to leave me too?"

"No, sweetie, she isn't," Eleanor promised, hiding her own fear. She had no appetite and even outside in the fresh air she had to fight back the urge to purge. She hadn't been this sick since she was with child. And she knew it wasn't that.

She was terrified for Gretchen who had started to mutter in her sleep. She cried and yelled and raved. Half of it Eleanor didn't understand.

Eleanor fetched the cloth Marion had given them and tied it to the fence post. "Please let someone come quickly," she whispered. She didn't know what to do if Ygrainne had to go inside and see Gretchen like that. The smell inside the cottage would be enough to make the little girl ill.

Ygrainne was evidently worried as she tried to keep coming inside and Eleanor had to keep sending her out. "Aunt Elle!" Ygrainne yelled. It was near the evening meal and Eleanor had lost track of time. She thought the girl was hungry, and the thought of food brought bile up in Eleanor's throat.

Eleanor came and found that Little John was in front. She was nervous around the large man but so relieved someone had come. "Ygrainne, love, guess what!" Eleanor said with as much enthusiasm as she could fake. She grabbed a few things and threw them in a sack for both Ygrainne and Tom. "You are going on an adventure!" she told the girl. She gave the sack to John who looked confused as he took it. She handed him the basket with Tom and then stooped down to Ygrainne's level. "You are going to get to see Robin Hood's camp!" she smiled. "And then you can tell Gretchen and I all about it! Now, do everything little John tells you and look after Tom. Tell him a story before you go to bed," she said. "Tell him your favorite stories, and then you can tell us about your adventure when you get back!"

"I don't want to go!" Ygrainne sobbed. "I want to see Gretchen!"

"Shh," Eleanor hushed her. "You need to be a big girl for us, alright? You need to go with John so you can take care of Tom. Be a big girl," Eleanor encouraged, placing her hand in John's. His hand was so huge it enveloped the little girl.

"What is going on?" John asked confused.

"You need to take them away from here," Eleanor said. "Be a good girl for Robin Hood, Ygrainne," she reminded the girl and shut the door on them, leaning against the door. She took a deep breath, but the stench of the cottage overwhelmed her. She barely made it to the outhouse before she purged.

"Please dear lord just give me the strength to get back inside," she prayed as she sat there, leaning against the wall, the world spinning around her.

She didn't know how she made it back inside, but she knew she wouldn't have the energy to go anywhere else. She was sicker than a dog and didn't have any clue why. All she knew was if she had what Gretchen had, they were both in trouble, and whatever demons seemed to be plaguing Gretchen would soon be plaguing her.

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**Meanwhile, in London**

John watched the messenger arrive and bow before the throne. "Your highness, I bring a missive from your brother, King Richard," the man announced.

"It stopped being amusing a long time ago to remind me of his title," John announced bored. He took the missive and sighed. If Richard was after more money, England didn't have it. He seemed to think English coffers were as deep as Normandy's.

"Good lord, Richard, your hand writing is atrocious," John said studying the parchment, moving closer to the window for the light. He motioned for his man servant. "Fire that messenger," he ordered. Half of Richard's message was ruined thanks to water stains. John squinted to try to decipher Richard's letter:

John,
It is with a heavy heart I write this letter. First, allow
an older bro… to caution…Beware a sheriff in … who is
plotting my throne…you are… pawn. Trust few.

"Of course, the vital information is missing," John muttered to himself.

I have cost a good friend and loyal servant much in his efforts to save my crown.
I can think of only one way to repay him by giving him what he lost.
Robin of Locksley, the earl of Huntington, took great risk to warn me of the black knights
and it cost him his wife, Marion, late daughter of the late Sir Edward.

"Who?" John wondered. He would have to check on who Sir Edward was, the name sounded familiar.

I know of only one person who has any chance of bringing any joy back into Robin's life,
and to assist him on navigating this arduous journey he has now joined us on against the Black Knights.

"Oh, Richard, don't even think…"

Marguerite is dear to all of us, and I know she will become dear to Robin.
She I trust to both save Robin from himself, and to save us.

"You did," John stammered in anger and shock.

It may even prove good for our fairy queen. I pray in time she will forgive me
for such orders, and you will forgive me for acting upon them.

John was half tempted to tear the message up, burn it, and scatter the ashes just to say he never received it. "Of all the women in England and France, you pick Marguerite," John muttered to himself.

His man servant bowed before him after John's summons. "Is Lady Marguerite in court or has she left for her estate?"

"I believe the lady left not quite an hour ago for her father's estate," the man servant announced. "Should I have a messenger fetch her?"

John snorted. "Fetch her?" the image was ludicrous. "I can not imagine anyone fetching Marguerite. No, prepare my carriage. I leave for Canterbury immediately," John ordered. If he was lucky, he would still have a head attached to his neck and be able to return once he delivered this news.

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**Back in Locksley**

"Uh, Little John?" Robin asked when he saw the big man carry in Allan's baby and the little girl. "Is there something you want to tell us?"

"Ygrainne is going to stay with us," John said. The little girl looked at all of them with wide, terrified, tear soaked eyes, clutching her doll closely and not letting Tom out of her sight.

"Aren't we the lucky ones," Marion said quickly. "Do you want to eat, Ygrainne? You must be hungry."

That seemed to stir the others into action. "Why are you here, Ygrainne?" Djaq asked.

Ygrainne sniffled back a sob. She had cried for so long John was surprised she had any tears left. "Gretchen is sick and leaving me, and Aunt Eleanor told me to leave her," Ygrainne cried softly.

The adults shared a worried look. "I am sure Gretchen is going to be fine," Marion assured the little girl. "You see Djaq," she pointed to Djaq who was getting her medicines. "She is a healer and will make Gretchen all better in no time."

"Promise?" the little girl asked. Marion nodded solemnly. Somehow, if she broke her promise to this young, innocent girl she had the feeling it would break her heart. "Aunt Ellie told me to take care of Tom."

"Can I help you take care of Tom?" Little John asked. The little girl looked up at the big man and nodded.

"We are all going to help take care of Tom, and make sure Gretchen is better," Djaq told the little girl before leaving with Will and Allan.

Djaq, Will, and Allan ran to Locksley, arriving breathlessly. The smell hit them as soon as they reached the door. "Nora?" Allan asked opening the door, stepping on her hand and nearly tripping over her still form sprawled right inside the doorway. "Oh God," he said picking her up, stepping away from the mess. Djaq opened all the windows to air out the cottage. "I'll tend to them," she said shooing out the two men. "You see if anyone else is ill in the village or if it is just the two of them," she ordered. The last thing Eleanor or Gretchen would want would be to find out the guys had seem them like this.

She also wanted to give Allan something to do because she had seen his face at finding Eleanor like that and it tore at her heart. She had no answers to give him, yet, so she needed him gone.

Will and Allan arrived back soon. "Three others in the village are showing signs of this, too. Do we have a plague?"

"Which houses?" Djaq asked. They named off the three houses. "Aren't those all houses we just visited?"

"Yeah, they are," Will realized. "But what else do they have in common?"

"What is wrong with them?" Allan asked, not wanting to ponder about the others.

"I don't know, yet. But I think it is something they ate. And if all the houses we have visited are like this, then it must be something we gave them," Djaq deduced. Right then one of the girls let out a scream, making them all jump.

"What is wrong?" Will asked.

"They are trapped in their minds, having delusions," Djaq said.

"Then wake them up!" Allan argued.

"I am trying!" Djaq said. "Allan, go back to camp and tell Robin we need to check on the villages and see if others of our drop offs are ill."

"But…"

"Go!" Djaq pushed him out the door. "I'll stay with her," she promised. "Will, go with him," she argued.

"I'm not leaving you here, you could catch this."

"It is from something they ate, or drank. I won't touch anything. Go!" she argued. "Allan needs you now more than I do."

She returned to the bedroom to watch over her patients who were moaning and yelling in agony. "Fight," she told the girls. "You have much to fight for."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Our families?" Robin repeated. "We did this?"

"That is what Djaq said."

"But how?"

"Something they ate or drank," Will repeated.

"But we only gave them flour, we haven't even seen them for days," Marion spoke up.

"Wait a minute," Robin said. "Flour… could it have been the grain?"

"Djaq wants us to check the other villages," Will added. "To see if any other families are ill."

"Right, John, Will go to Nettlestone. Marion and I will go to Clun. Allan and Much can baby-sit," Robin ordered.

Allan and Much looked at Robin like he was crazy. "I'm not being funny, but what do you expect us to do?" Allan asked.

"They are asleep, Allan. You don't have to do anything," Marion sighed exasperated.

"But what if they wake up?" Much asked.

"Then you get them back to sleep," Robin said as the others quickly left before Allan or Much could complain again.

"I don't know what you are complaining about. He at least is your son," Much grumbled. "And he's small. And a boy. What do I know about girls?"

"Nothing I know will help," Allan smirked. "Maybe if we are really quiet," he said, trailing off hoping they would stay asleep.

Just as Tom was waking up Marion and Robin arrived back. "Oh, for the love of…" Marion grumbled at the two men as she picked up the baby. "Its not like I know anything, either," she pointed out.

"But you're a woman."

She glared at the two men. Allan took the opportunity to run back to Locksley. The sun was going to rise soon and he wanted to see how they were. He found Djaq sitting in the room, sponging their foreheads. They were still muttering to themselves and the smell was nauseating. "How are they?"

"I think it was their grain. I have heard that if the grain becomes infected it can bring on demons that trap people in their own minds," Djaq said softly. "I am hoping it is out of their bodies, now."

"Not being funny, but it should be," Allan commented.

"We'll see. If they wake soon we will know. How is Tom?" Djaq asked. Allan looked at her confused. "She feeds him, Allan. It could pass to him."

He hadn't even thought of that. "He seemed fine. Crying, sleeping, all the normal things," he said. He took the sponge in the basin and sponged Eleanor's fever ridden face. "The other drop offs have become ill, too. 6 more, 9 in total."

"Robin must be beating himself up," Djaq said.

"He is going to the mill this morning," Allan said. "Is there anything else we can do for them?"

"Just wait," Djaq said. He was afraid of that.

Thanks to 111 (Thanks! I loved Gretchen in the last chapter, too! One of my favorite moments) and Padme4000 (Thank you! I love hearing from new readers/reviewers)

We WILL see Marguerite next chapter. Promise! It is a really long chapter, a third of which deals with John having to share his 'news'