Disclaimer: I do not own Robin Hood (or BBC) or profit from this writing. OCs and plot belong to me…
I had problems with posting the last chapter, I hope everything is back to working order on the site now. I hope everyone saw I posted chapter 26.
YAY! Finally, Marguerite!
Chapter 27: Traitorous
Eleanor felt sore all over. And she felt like she could be pushed over by a feather. "Open those pretty eyes of yours," a voice in the distance said.
Great, now Allan was haunting her dreams. Again. Would she ever be rid of him?
"Come on Nora."
Didn't sound like it. She struggled to open her eyes and saw him looking down at her. "There you are," he said happily. "It's about time you woke up from your beauty sleep."
"If that was for beauty, I'd rather be as ugly as the backside of the sheriff," Eleanor grumbled.
Allan choked back a laugh. "I couldn't do this if you looked like that," he grinned as he kissed her forehead.
"What happened? Greta?" she asked looking around. She found Gretchen sleeping next to her. She reached up to touch her forehead.
"Your fevers broke yesterday," Allan said.
"Yesterday? How long has it been?"
"Two days," he said and she tried to sit up in shock.
"Shh, everything's alright," he promised.
"But…"
"Tom and Ygrainne are at the camp. Ygrainne is scared but otherwise they are both okay. Trust me, Nora."
She sighed as she relaxed into the pillows. "It seems like we've been here before."
"You are forever patching me up," he quoted her with a smirk, "and I am forever rescuing you."
"No more," she promised. "Just go. How long have you been here?"
"Two days," Allan said.
She groaned and pulled the blanket over her mortified face. She wanted to just die right there. "I'll die, too, thank you," Gretchen muttered. "I was trying to pretend to sleep so that I didn't interrupt, but I wish I hadn't heard that."
Allan laughed. "Sip," he said lifting Eleanor and bringing the dipper up to her parched lips. Nothing had tasted so good before. She rested back as Allan helped Gretchen to drink. "Much is in there making some broth for you guys."
Gretchen pulled the blanket up this time. "Just murder me. Turn me over to the sheriff," she whispered. "I am …please don't tell me the cottage smelled like that for so long!"
"It goes away after awhile," Allan said.
"Just go. If you say anything else we might just die of embarrassment," Eleanor groaned, wanting to cry. Instead she pulled the pillow over her head. She had tended to Gretchen before becoming ill and could only imagine what it was like with two ill people.
Allan grinned. "Not being funny, but you still blush over me."
"If I had any energy, Allan a Dale, I would slap that smirk right off your face," Eleanor declared with a wave of her hand, her voice muffled from the pillow.
"Now I know you are getting better," he grinned. Djaq arrived to check on them, kicking Allan out.
"Allan was worried to death over you," she told Nora. "You look much better."
"I might die of mortification," Eleanor muttered.
"You are not the only one," Gretchen muttered. "And Much is in my kitchen cooking for us!" she added in a whisper.
"I brought you a present from Ygrainne," Djaq said handing Gretchen the bouquet. Gretchen teared up at seeing them.
"She's fine," Djaq assured her.
"She must be terrified," Gretchen predicted. "Can you bring her back?" Djaq nodded and went to check on the other families.
Gretchen gently set the flowers down on the table next to the bed. "I remember when we complained we would never be given flowers by men, like Samuel did for Constance," Gretchen commented.
"I remember, I thought that, too," Eleanor nodded.
"These are just as special as I ever imagined those flowers to be," Gretchen decided. "She took over so much of my heart, Elle," Gretchen tried to explain. "I always doted on her, ever since she was born. But now that she's mine? Even when she does something naughty I find myself not getting angry simply because I love her so."
Eleanor nodded. "They take over your heart, Greta. You don't have to give birth to them to love them. And she loves you, as a daughter loves a mother. Don't doubt it.
Much cleared his throat in the doorway and Eleanor thought Gretchen might try to bury herself under the bed. "Djaq said something easy to eat, so I made you some broth."
"You didn't have to do that, Much," Eleanor said surprised.
"Not being funny, but you are not going to convince us you are ready to cook," Allan said behind him.
"Not a problem," Much said setting a tray on Gretchen's lap. He returned with a cup for her to place her flowers in.
They barely ate anything but Djaq told them they wouldn't have an appetite for a little bit. "Allan!" Eleanor yelled as he scooped her up and carried her out. "What are you doing?" she demanded as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Not being funny, Nora, but I have half a mind to carry you to the camp right now," he admitted.
"That's absurd," she argued.
"What if something happened to you?" he asked.
He set her down on the chair where she could see the outdoors. He crouched down in front of her. "You seem to enjoy scaring the hell out of me."
She grinned. "You make it sound as if I plan such things," she scolded. "You give me too much credit."
He shook his head. "You don't give yourself enough credit. More often than not it was you telling me how to save my neck in the castle."
"Where's Tom?"
"They're bringing the baby with Ygrainne."
She glared at him. "Tom. His name is Tom, Allan," she said sternly. "At least remember that for as long as I remain here with Gretchen."
"Don't tell me you still have this ridiculous notion of going off?" he asked.
"It's hardly ridiculous!" Eleanor said. "I can get work in London and start over where people don't know my reputation."
"I offered to fix things…"
She snorted. "I don't have the energy to have the same argument, Allan. Your offer was kind and everything expected of a gentlemen. Probably why it was surprising coming from you," she said meanly. "And Djaq should be back with Tom soon, you best be gone," she argued.
"Stubborn woman!" Allan argued. "You just can't do what I say for once, can you?"
"And what do you say, Allan? You are still saying 'marry me' under duress. Just go," she waved him off.
"So you want me to say 'marry me' under different circumstances?" he asked.
She snorted. "It hardly matters what I want, Allan. A baby changes everything. Just go," she said exhausted. The argument had sapped her energy she realized as she tried to stand.
Allan shook his head and scooped her up. "You always say you learned stubbornness from me. I'm sorry I taught you it," he muttered as he carried her back to bed.
"It's your own fault," she yawned as she fell asleep.
Much and Gretchen, who had been stuck in the bedroom afraid to interrupt the fight, shared a look. It had been an awkward silence between them. She wished she could just pass out like Eleanor had.
"Gretchen!" Ygrainne's voice pierced the cottage as she barreled into the bedroom. She rushed and tried to climb into the big bed. Much watched her struggle and finally lifted her up.
"You are better?" Ygrainne asked worriedly.
Gretchen nodded, kissing the girl. "I am much better. Your flowers are beautiful," she thanked her.
"I wanted to give you something pretty," Ygrainne said. She snuggled up against Gretchen and looked down at Eleanor. "Is Aunt Eleanor alright? I looked after Tom!"
Eleanor grinned, waking up at the girl's loud proclamation. "And I thank you, little one," Eleanor grinned, leaning over to kiss the girl. Marion carried in Tom who was fussy. "I think he is ready to be fed," Marion said.
Eleanor nodded. "That's his hunger cry," She agreed. She looked at everyone. "Well?" They quickly made excuses to leave.
"We are all together again," Ygrainne said happily, not letting Gretchen out of her sight. "I can take care of you now," she promised making Eleanor and Gretchen laugh as she burrowed herself between the two women.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Marion insisted on staying to make sure they were alright, despite all of their protests of having the lady look after them. The role reversals shocked their sensibilities. The following morning Tuck arrived to check on them. "I am glad you are alright, Lass," he said kissing the top of her head. Eleanor had moved out to the other room but that was as far as she had made it. "We have all been praying for you."
"Thank you," Eleanor nodded. "Rumor has it there is a Man of God in Sherwood," she grinned.
Tuck laughed. "I help when I can," he nodded. "I listen to the movements of the Black Knights in these parts. I still like to check in on Mother Rachel," he said and she saw the same look of love he always had when talking about Mother Superior. "But lately I have found myself in Sherwood more often than not."
"Will has talked about making the camp a little bigger," Marion added, "since there are so many of us. He also brought you a gift," Marion said pointing to the new basinet.
Eleanor looked at it surprised. "Really, he didn't have to…"
"Allan said not to argue," Marion grinned. Eleanor frowned. "Will wants you to have it. He started it awhile ago, he finished it the night we found you ill. It's for Tom, after all," Marion argued.
"Give him my thanks," Eleanor caved in. Marion filed away the tidbit that if it was for Tom, Eleanor would give in.
"I am off to visit with Sir Guy," Tuck announced. "He saw me in the village and I am off to see what information I may learn that can help Robin." Tuck seemed to have little difficulty navigating the treacherous waters with Guy and the Sheriff to learn new information on the Black Knights movements.
"Be careful," Gretchen said as he walked out.
"I remember once asking if anyone had caught your fancy," Marion told Gretchen. "And you didn't answer. Well, I am asking again. Has someone caught your fancy, Gretchen?"
Gretchen frowned. She still looked pale but insisted on joining them in the other room. "It hardly matters," Gretchen insisted.
"Of course it matters!" Marion insisted. "Because if its who I suspect—"
Gretchen cut her off. "It doesn't matter, Marion. I have other things I have to consider besides my own feelings. Surely the woman who told Robin to wait before getting married so they could stop the black knights understands that," she said knowingly.
Marion nodded, understanding. "I do. I'll let it go," she said. "I apologize I'm not a good cook…"
The girls laughed. "You don't need to be a good cook! You are a noblewoman," Gretchen laughed. "You need never do more than direct the servants, or hire a good housekeeper like Griswald."
"She is still at Nottingham Castle," Marion said catching them up on the latest gossip. "Allan said he saw her throwing out another servant."
"People like Griswald outlast the nobles they serve," Eleanor said as she placed Tom in the new bassinet. "It is the way of things."
They talked for a long time until Robin came that evening to pick up Marion. She bid them farewell and slipped into the night.
"Allan still is asking for your hand. Why do you still refuse him?"
"He left me, Greta," Eleanor whispered. She had to take a steadying breath. "He left, and that hurt me worse than anything. Anything my father did, the pains of childbirth—they all pale in comparison."
"He explained…"
"I know! I can't explain why I feel this way," she said. She organized her thoughts so she could explain it so her best friend would understand. "I gave him my heart, Greta. Completely. I didn't realize it until it broke. I finally thought I had moved on, at least enough to go on with my life and start anew for Tom and I. But I've come to realize that I can't get over Allan. Even if I wanted to. And I don't know if I can give him my heart again because I can't stand him breaking it again."
Gretchen put an arm around Eleanor. "I know. I know you put your trust in one man and he broke it, even if he hasn't realized it. And I wish I had been there for you, Elle. I just want to know do you think you can trust him again?"
"I'm afraid to try," she admitted. "I finally felt like someone cared for me, Greta. I went so long thinking my father and brothers were right about me, believing everything they taught me to believe about myself, and then I thought maybe with Allan—and you—I was actually someone, that I was worth something. I felt valuable."
"You are, and don't let anyone, not even Allan, make you feel otherwise!" Gretchen insisted, appalled to think Eleanor was slipping back into her old self. She would castrate Allan herself for making her feel that way.
"He can't even look at Tom. Or call him by name. He is simply 'baby' to Allan," Eleanor added. "What if he doesn't believe me? Believe that Tom is his?"
Gretchen snorted. "Then he is blind because Tom is the spitting image of Allan. He has Allan's eyes, although I think he has your ears," She told Eleanor.
Eleanor smiled. "I think his hair will be my color," she added and Gretchen nodded. "But Allan made no promises and I expect none now. What if I agreed to be with him, only to watch him loose his infatuation with me? Regret me? I couldn't live with that, Greta."
"We'll take things one day at a time," Gretchen decided.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Robin and Allan were watching the village from the trees. "That's him," Allan pointed out the mercenary. "He had been sniffing around their cottage. I managed to sweet talk a few of the ladies in the village and they have stories about him harassing Gretchen for nearly a year now about her cottage."
"Why is a mercenary wanting her cottage?" Robin asked.
"Doesn't matter to me," Allan said darkly. "He's been harassing Gretchen."
They watched to see what he did. He skulked around their cottage a lot but didn't confront anyone. They watched Guy return from Nottingham and lock himself in Locksley Manor.
Tuck soon found them to tell them about a problem on the north road and they left to see what happened.
Eleanor was feeding Tom that night when she looked out and had to force herself to not startle Tom when Allan appeared at the window. "At least some things haven't changed," he said as he looked up at the stars. "You were everywhere, Nora. Every night I was surrounded by you," he said.
How could her heart not stutter over those words? Traitorous heart she cursed it. "What do you want, Allan?"
"I want you to come to the camp," he said. "I miss you, Nora. I missed what we had at the castle where I could see you everyday, keep an eye on you and protect you."
"I look back fondly on those days, too," she admitted.
"Talk to me, Nora."
"You talk, you were always good at that."
He grinned. "I was always the talker. I remember Gis once said I was the mouth of the pair and you were the eyes and ears."
She grinned. "One of us had to be the brain of the operation," she teased.
He grinned. "Your strategies rival Robin's," he complimented making her blush.
"What do you want, Allan? Because as much as I loved those times, things are different now. We are different."
"We don't have to be."
She snorted. "Do you not understand, Allan? We have a child," she said. "You have a son. I swear he is yours."
"I didn't doubt you," he said surprised.
"Yet you don't even care enough to remember his name!"
"How could I not? You named him after my brother," he said softly.
Her expression softened. "I never planned for you to know about Tom, but it was the only gift I could give you. You were the only man important to me, Allan, and Tom was important to you."
"How could I not realize it?" he asked from where he was sitting on the window sill. "Nora, I just don't know what you want from me. I never planned on this, not even with you," he said.
That statement tore at her heart but she nodded. She had expected as much. So why did it hurt so much? "I know. I knew it then. Its one of the many reasons I am not asking anything of you. I don't want to try to bind you, I am not going to be selfish."
"Nora." He reached for her hand and was happy she didn't jerk it away. "I still don't know what to think. I just know I want you to come to the camp where I can protect you."
"That's impossible," she said removing her hand.
"Why?"
"Even if things were like they were in the Castle, and we didn't have Tom, how can you ask me to go live with a bunch of men?" she asked. "I barely trust you right now, Allan, and I love you. Others continue to frighten me. I know they are your friends, and they have helped me so I am trying to trust them…"
"You know they would never hurt you," he said. "Or Tom. Or Gretchen. Or Ygrainne. They don't hurt anyone, Nora."
"I'm trying, Allan. That is just one of several reasons," she said. "So my answer is a no. But I appreciate the concern."
"Stubborn woman," he drawled with a grin.
"You didn't expect me to say yes."
"Not tonight. I'll wear you down," he promised making her grin as he slipped away into the night. She shook her head as she went back to sleep.
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(a/n: french words are in italics, translations at the end... hopefully not to confusing)
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**Estate of the Earl of Canterbury**
Marguerite walked into the parlor and had just finished kissing all her nieces and nephews when she heard a carriage pulling into the circular drive. She assumed it was her father at first, but remembered he was already in residence. Perhaps it was Colin, her brother in law, coming for a visit. Which would mean all of her nieces and nephews under one roof. The thought made her grin. Almost.
"How are your studies coming along, Henri?" Marguerite asked her eldest nephew.
Henri had just reached 13 and in addition to combat, Latin, mathematics, religion, and philosophy he was being schooled in running his estate and court etiquette. He had a lot to carry on his small shoulders, all of her beloved babes did. It came with the burden of being part of her family.
"Pépé said he is going to take me around the estate and show me how he handles things here before we return to York. I believe he hopes to make a journey before we return to France," Henri stated eagerly. "Will you come with me to York, tante?"
She grinned at his youthful enthusiasm as a servant entered and curtsied. "My lady, your cousin, Prince John, has arrived and is awaiting you in the drawing room. He claims it is urgent."
Marguerite kissed Henri before leaving. "I would love to go with you to York, mon petite aigle. Back to Latin," she insisted. "I'll send you a new book once you have completed these lessons," she bribed. Henri's eyes lightened in joy. He knew all the responsibility he was destined to carry, all the responsibility he already carried, but he adored his aunt, the only mother he really knew. "Can it have dragons in it?" he asked mischievously.
"Only if you agree to read it to all of my other petite chous," Marguerite agreed as she exited the comfortable parlor after kissing all her other nieces and nephews again.
Marguerite was slightly disturbed to find John and her father glaring at each other when she entered. Usually John was the one member of Eleanor's brood her father got along with amicably. "Is it Richard? Or the black knights?" Marguerite asked as she shut the door.
"I'm afraid I have had a letter from my dear brother," John drawled. She didn't let the tone fool her, she saw the fire in John's eyes. It hadn't been a good letter.
"Don't tell me he wants more coffers," Marguerite snapped. "He is forever forgetting that his English kingdom doesn't have nearly the same resources as his dukedom."
"No," John said tersely. "Not coffers. It seems that in this struggle against the black knights, Richard has received unanticipated support from Robin Hood, one of his favorite crusaders."
"The same outlaw who is being a nuisance to the Black Knights in the north? He was one of Richard's crusaders?" Marguerite said surprised. "It is inexcusable we did not know that, John." Vaysey had said simply he was a disgruntled soldier out to cause mischief. He conveniently left out the fact Robin Hood was one of Richard's favorites.
Before, this would have peaked Marguerite's interest. But that was before.
"That is not why I'm here, ma fae. This Hood went to the Holy Lands recently and saved Richard but his wife died in the process. Richard has decided to repay him," John said, handing her the letter.
She didn't need to read it to know what it said—she learned everything from John and her father's reaction.
"And you are expecting me to go through with this?" Marguerite asked, skimming the letter.
"I am doing everything I can to get an annulment, Marguerite. Believe me. I wanted to burn it and pretend I never saw it," John pleaded for her to believe him.
She nodded, grasping his hand.
"Richard is overstepping his boundaries," her father, William, spat out angrily. "We knew he might bargain Marguerite's hand to the Saracens but this is unacceptable. It is traitorous. I wouldn't allow her to wed her equal half way around the world, and I am hardly going to allow her to wed some backwoods country noble because Richard suffered from a momentary lapse of character."
"Papa," Marguerite said.
He looked at his daughter in shock. "You wish to marry this Hood?"
"Heavens no," Marguerite snorted. "An outlaw? A former country boob with some hapless title? The only thing that could possibly be qualified as beneficial is that he at least does not reside half a world away." She would still be able to see her bébés.
"It is only temporary, ma fae. You have my word of honor on that," John promised. "I am already having the cardinal send word to the Pope. Your annulment will probably arrive before Richard ends this mistake of a war," John said.
"I will not have my daughter slotted out like a commoner, betrothed like one of those useless and pathetic whips in court," William said. "Richard enjoys war so much he will have one in his own damn kingdom, John. Tell your brother that."
Marguerite knew her father would, and could, topple Richard if he chose. He had the resources under his control, especially if Marguerite joined with him in the endeavor. And they had stopped enough attempted coups to know how to plan a successful one.
"Papa, as much as I love England, I don't want you to become the new King," Marguerite insisted. "John would forever hate me if I suddenly usurped his position in succession and our positions were switched," she teased hollowly. John snorted at the idea; her father was unmoved, however.
"Is this Hood the same Robin I met before?" Marguerite asked and John nodded. "I can tolerate his presence long enough for the pope to send the annulment. It will simply be an inconvenience to be born. The marriage will remain unconsummated—
"He will not have an inch of her lands, a shilling of her money," William ordered.
"I have already stated that in my own letter to Robin," John said. "He can't access any of the rights and privileges of Marguerite until the marriage is consummated. And with the annulment he won't have any claims to it at all.
"So, I will think of this as merely a little sojourn into the country. In the mean time, I will be better able to learn more about these pesky Black Knights first hand myself," Marguerite said.
"You see there that Richard's letter is unclear who he is trying to warn me about," John indicated. "I have my theories, however. Vaysey has become even more lavish in his attentions to me, and in our 'friendship.' I have long suspected him as the mastermind behind the entire ordeal."
"There is the little matter of his less than full disclosure on this Hood figure," Marguerite added.
John offered his arm to Marguerite. "Take a walk with me, Marguerite," he said. She nodded and placed her hand in the crook of his arm. They walked down the hall until they reached the curvature of the tower. They stood, looking out at the manicured lawns of the Canterbury estate. "You agreed to this quickly," John confessed. "I thought I would have an uprising on my hands for sure."
"My father may still rise up," Marguerite grinned.
John knew that grin well. It was so well manicured that it fooled everyone, all but the very small number of people close to her. It nearly fooled him, and he sometimes thought it would be easier if he allowed himself to be fooled by it. He desperately wanted to be fooled by it so his own heartache would ease. Her deadened soul broke his heart into pieces. "Marguerite…ask me why I didn't burn the letter."
"I was hoping for an explanation," she offered.
"Did you read his reasons for why my war-driven brother agreed to this whole insane idea?" he saw her nod knowingly. "I want the same thing, Marguerite. God, I want that smile to be real. I want to see those ghosts from your eyes. I want you to have just one drop of happiness back in your life. If this is the only thing I can give you to replace…" his voice choked.
She placed her hand on his as they framed the turret window. "I remember another conversation we had in this same location years ago," Marguerite said quietly. "I accepted long ago that I wasn't meant for the type of love most men and women find."
"That's not what I meant, I meant…"
"I know what you meant, John, cher. I want you to accept that this is all I have now. I will eventually marry for real, have heirs of my own. Perhaps," she shrugged. "That plan has never changed, not even after… after."
John kissed the back of her hand, his forehead resting on her hands that he clasped them in his own. "I will send word as soon as I have the annulment. Once you learn enough about Vaysey just return home. Don't even wait for the annulment," he said. He placed a kiss gently at her temple and turned to leave before she could see how upset he was.
Before he could get angry at the dead look in her eyes.
He would get the annulment, but if Robin gave her even an ounce of happiness he would burn it and act as if it never was approved and buy off or dispose of anyone who dared to contracted him.
I am hoping the lack of reviews was because the system was down. Thank you, Padme for the wonderful review!
French translations: (All words are in italics, hopefully not to confusing)
ma Fae means my fairy/fey
mon petite aigle = my little eagle
bébés means babies, petite chous is a term of endearment for her nieces and nephews
Pépé is granddad
tante is aunt
cher is dear