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Chapter 39: Shifting roles

Anne arrived shortly after Guy left. "You look better," she encouraged as trays filled with breakfast foods were laid out.

"I feel better," Marguerite agreed. She opened the tube and pulled out her necklace, placing it around her neck and fingering the signet rings lovingly. "I am determined to dine downstairs tonight when Guy returns." She saw the look on Anne's face. "I'll stay in bed the rest of the day. Happy?"

Anne nodded. "I asked Will to have Luke come see me. I'm sure Luke is going to be furious, but it was the only way I could think of getting to Luke quickly."

"He will forgive you. He loves you too much to stay mad at you," Marguerite said making Anne smile. "And you must begin wedding preparations. Spring is here and summer is going to be here soon, too."

"I don't know, Marguerite…"

"Fine, I'll be better in plenty of time. Don't let me worry you."

"It's my job," Anne pointed out with a grin. She tried to keep Marguerite occupied all morning to keep her mind off other things. At the mid day meal, Will arrived back with Luke. Marguerite watched her run down the stairs to him. She was surprised when Anne led him to her bedroom.

"Marguerite, this is my Luke. Luke, Lady Marguerite," Anne introduced.

Marguerite dazzled Luke with her smile. "It is a pleasure to finally meet the man who captured Anne's heart. I thank you, Luke, for all the messages you carried for me."

"It was an honor to assist you, my lady."

"I may have use for you again," Marguerite offered. Luke eagerly nodded. Meeting her in person was something he would carry with him, he couldn't put it into words.

Marguerite watched as Anne led him out. She grinned as she lay back and dozed. Anne returned later and servants assisted in carrying Marguerite downstairs into the parlor. A fire was blazing. It wasn't quite as comfortable as her rooms in Nottingham but the atmosphere was certainly easier.

Guy strode in that evening and the first thing he noticed was Marguerite sitting before the fire, Anne sitting across from her as servants scurried in their duties. A man servant came to assist Guy in changing but he dismissed him. If every day could end like this…

He was so busy watching the firelight dance in her hair he nearly missed her speaking to him. "Is Vaysey suspicious?" she asked curiously.

He noticed it wasn't a condemnation or questioning his ability to protect her but simple curiosity. "No, he isn't. He…well, he honestly is congratulating himself on a job well done. Another team was sent to scout and discovered the destroyed carriage and saw all the blood."

Marguerite sighed. "He really should learn to do a body count."

He grinned. He had been worried he might shock his sensibilities but decided she was adept enough at this game he didn't have to hide the details from her. "I am afraid he is going to try to contact John or your father, so we have to first."

She nodded. "I thought of that. I have letters written to both to send. They are there for you to read."

"I don't need to read your letters, Marguerite."

"How do you know I haven't asked for them to kill you?" Marguerite grinned.

"If you say you haven't, I'll trust you."

Amusement danced in her eyes. "Intéressant," she purred.

"I trust you, Marguerite. I am hoping you trust me." He motioned for the servants to serve them in the parlor instead of the dining room since Marguerite was comfortable. "Are you sure you should be out of bed so soon?"

"I have done nothing but sit here for the past half hour. If I stay in bed I will go mad. I can't stay in bed."

"I thought Anne was suppose to keep you from being bored."

"I can only do so much, my lord," Anne apologized.

"What happened to my beautiful horse?" Marguerite asked.

"I talked Vaysey into letting me keep it. He can't ride your stallion."

Marguerite grinned. She loved her stallion. Few she knew could handle him. "If you are suggesting you are capable of riding Alsvior, then I would love to see that."

"When you are better," he promised. Anne listened to them chat thinking how the whole thing was comfortable, even to her on the sidelines. Marguerite occasionally drew her into the conversation so she wasn't completely left out. For the most part, she studied her mistress. It was clear Marguerite was physically healing, but she could tell that Marguerite was starting to behave like she had in the castle—projecting a carefree, sassy mood to cover up her melancholic tendencies.

What worried Anne terribly was when she heard Marguerite cry in her sleep in the middle of the night.

Guy carried Marguerite back up the stairs that evening and Anne helped her get ready for bed. "I am right next door if you need anything, Marguerite."

"I know, Anne. Good night." Anne nodded as she closed the door.

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

To Anne's relief, Eleanor arrived the following day as Guy was leaving. "I thought I would come see how Lady Marguerite was. How are you, Anne?" Eleanor asked kindly. She didn't mention that she was also trying to get out of the camp and away from Allan.

"I'm worried about Marguerite," Anne confessed. "Physically, I think she is improving rapidly. But…"

"There were wounds there long before you met her," Eleanor agreed knowingly. "There are several different ways of healing a person," Eleanor said, thinking of Allan and Gretchen. Sometimes, if Eleanor really thought about it, she wondered how well she had recovered from her own mental and emotional wounds. "Will you watch Tom for me?" Anne quickly agreed, taking the smiling baby.

"My lady," Eleanor curtsied as she entered. "May I check on you?" she asked politely.

"I hope you brought your adorable boy," Marguerite smiled.

"Which one?" Eleanor asked making both of them laugh.

"Either," Marguerite decided. "Allan and Tom are both adorable."

"I did bring Tom, Anne has him right now."

"Ah, it will be good practice for her. She wishes to wed this spring," Marguerite said as Eleanor checked her injuries. She studied the young woman. "How are things with you and Allan?"

"Everyone asks me that," Eleanor sighed. "Things are how they always are. I think…"

"You don't have to talk about it, forgive me for asking," Marguerite said, sorry to make the woman uncomfortable.

"It isn't that… things are just complicated. For me. Allan makes everything so simple, but in my own mind… it's a mess," Eleanor admitted.

Marguerite understood that.

"If I may be so bold, my lady. Something is hurting you besides your physical injuries," Eleanor said knowingly.

Marguerite frowned but wasn't really surprised. She knew ever since she first arrived at the outlaws' camp that this woman was extremely perceptive.

"I don't wish to overstep my bounds. I wouldn't have said anything, except I see the same ghosts haunting you that haunt me."

That captured Marguerite's curiosity. "What ghosts?"

"For me it was my family. Gretchen and Allan helped me to fight my past. I still feel like I am fighting it," Eleanor admitted. "It seems as if Anne wants to help you, too. And so do I," Eleanor insisted. Before Marguerite could answer Eleanor opened the door and Anne walked in with Tom, bringing him to Marguerite.

"He has gotten so big!" Marguerite said happily.

"We were going to have a cup of tea, is it alright if I leave Tom here?" Eleanor asked. "I can take him if he is going to bother you."

"Don't be silly; Tom and I shall get along like two peas in a pod."

Eleanor grinned as she led Anne out. "There are all ways to heal a person, Anne," she repeated. She had noticed how Marguerite doted on Tom and hoped the child would help whatever was hurting Marguerite.

Gretchen was watching Ygrainne run and play in the meadow. She was getting so big, and she had a birthday coming up. Ygrainne saw John and rushed up to the big man making Gretchen grin. Please lord, don't let this sacrifice be in vain she prayed. She hoped everything went the way she planned with John. She had been avoiding Much since her trip to Nottingham where they ran into Anne. His trips with Robin and Allan on various drops helped matters.

It was laying in bed at night, unable to sleep, that was driving her mad.

She approached John and Ygrainne with a grin. "I was showing Little John my new secret toy," Ygrainne said showing Gretchen the polished stone she had found. "He said it is a gift of the fairies!"

"You know, he is right," Gretchen said studying it. "Do you want to see if we can find one for Tom?" Ygrainne nodded happily and went to look for one for little Tom.

"We need to talk, Gretchen," John said.

"Yes?" Gretchen asked eagerly. Could her prayers finally be coming true after all these months of less-than-subtle flirtation?

"I know what you are doing, and I think I understand why. But you know I still love Alice."

Her face started to fall but she nodded. "I know, and I don't expect to change that, John."

It was his turn to look surprised. "What? But why then? Can't you see the way it hurts Much?"

"I don't want to hurt anyone. But I can't get from Much what I want. I can, I think, from you. You are a good man, John. And I don't expect you to fall in love with me like you did with your Alice. I don't want you to." He looked even more confused but looked at Ygrainne flocking around and suddenly understood. "I will always look after Ygrainne, we all will."

"It isn't the same as having a father, a family, John. That's all I am looking for, a father to give YGrainne."

"Much surely…"

"You took the time to befriend her, John. She loves you and looks up to you. And while I know I would only take second place to your Alice, I am okay with that because I know you would come to accept Ygrainne as your own," she explained. "That is all I am looking for."

"You would give up on Much…"

"Is any sacrifice too great for a child? Wouldn't you do anything for little Little John?" she challenged and he nodded, understanding.

"I understand," the big man said. "I still think you are making a mistake with Much."

"Ygrainne," Gretchen called out and went out to the little girl. "Come on, little lady. We are going for a walk," she said keeping the tremble out of her voice. She walked to Locksley knowing Eleanor was still there. She needed to talk to her friend. More importantly, she couldn't return to the camp yet while the humiliation was so great.

She left Ygrainne to play with her old friend, Jess, and went to find Eleanor. She found Eleanor was still in the manor house, visiting with Anne and Marguerite. "Greta?" Eleanor asked concerned. "What's wrong?"

"My pride has been completely shattered is all," Gretchen muttered.

"Sit," Marguerite ordered as Anne poured a cup of tea for the woman. "Who was he?"

"Little John," Gretchen confessed, blushing. She recounted the mortifying experience.

Marguerite studied the other blonde. "Little John? I thought you and Much had an understanding…"

Eleanor choked on her tea as Gretchen stared at the lady. "No, I had no understanding with any of the men," Gretchen admitted. "I was hoping to convince John," she confessed.

"When I was in the camp, I saw the way Much looked at you," Marguerite said, trying to understand. "I saw the way you looked at him. Why John?"

"He could give Ygrainne everything I wish for her," Gretchen confessed. She had come to vent to Eleanor and found herself having a meeting with a small group of women. Somehow, though, this was therapeutic. "I was, am, attracted to Much, ever since we met in the Castle. I mean, he's charming in his own way, loyal, and… goofy," she grinned.

"From what Luke knows about him, he seems like a wonderful man," Anne offered, trying to understand the problem.

"He is Robin's man, through and through," Gretchen sighed. "He always will be, even as a free man. And when he first discovered Ygrainne…" she could never forget his reaction, it was etched in her mind.

"You are afraid he won't be loyal to you and Ygrainne first," Marguerite guessed it immediately. Gretchen nodded. "But why John?"

"He wants to be a father. He enjoys Ygrainne. He would come to accept her as his own, raise her as his own blood. Love her like a father should, give her the home and family I want her to experience," Gretchen explained.

"You would give up your feelings for Much for this?" Anne asked.

The other three shared a look. They understood the bonds between mother and child. "It is a lovely gesture, Gretchen," Marguerite said. "Are you so sure, though, Much can't give that to you as well?"

"He is awkward around Ygrainne, even know. Ygrainne adores John—"

"She adores everyone in the camp," Eleanor interjected.

"Yes, she does, even Much. But Much… Much isn't ready for her, if he ever will be," Gretchen tried to explain.

"What do you plan on doing now, then?" Anne asked.

"I am mortified to return to camp," Gretchen admitted. "It doesn't help that I feel as if I am slowly going mad there. I'm grateful, don't misunderstand, that Robin and the others are helping us. But we can't do anything to help them," Gretchen said.

"You aren't the only one going mad," Eleanor grumbled.

Gretchen studied her friend. She had been quiet the entire time. "Elle?"

"I need to get out of the camp," Eleanor announced shocking the other three. "I don't want to leave, but I can't stay," she tried to explain.

"I thought you and Allan…" Anne started.

"Had an understanding?" Eleanor sneered. "I don't even know any more. I… when he left, I hated him. But I hated myself more; I allowed myself to convince myself that my father was wrong. I had so many hopes… I knew Allan would rejoin Robin's gang, I just didn't anticipate how badly it would hurt for him to leave me," she said softly.

"Why haven't you left before?" Anne asked.

There was silence as Eleanor gathered her thoughts. "I didn't leave when Tuck offered because, well, honestly I'm afraid this is the only way I can have Allan. He already chose Robin and the others once over me, and I didn't think I could stand to watch him chose Robin and Marion again."

"You mean when he went to the holy lands?" Marguerite asked gently.

Eleanor nodded. She rested her head in her hands, elbows resting on the table. "I can't explain it, that feeling of every ounce of self worth I finally felt was snatched out from under me when I realized Allan was gone. That I had to face the unknown, again, on my own. That I had to save myself from the mobs as they pelted me with stones. Now, I just sit around, happy that I sort of have Allan, even if he isn't completely mine. If it was just me, I could handle it—I love him to much to put him in the position of having to choose."

Silence enveloped them until Eleanor snorted. "I have way to much time to think, I'm going stir crazy."

"That makes two of us," Gretchen said, placing her hand gently on Eleanor's. She understood better than the other two what Eleanor meant because she knew what Eleanor's life with her father had been like, had seen Eleanor arrive in Nottingham after fleeing her father's.

"Well, I can't tell you what to do with Much or Allan," Marguerite finally spoke up. "But, I think I can solve one of your problems," she grinned mischievously.

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

Marguerite was sitting before the fire again, dressed and her hair done up, when Guy arrived. "Another good day?" Marguerite asked as he entered.

"Yes. You look much better."

"Thank you," Marguerite grinned. They chatted as dinner was brought out to them again. "Do you think we could go for a stroll?" Marguerite asked afterwards. He nodded and offered his arm. She leaned on it a little more than a woman usually did and he worried it was too soon for her to be about.

"I'm fine. It takes me a minute to adjust to up and down," she explained. He led her out the back. "I wanted to talk to you where we wouldn't be overheard. You are going to a lot of trouble and I thank you for it. And I want you to understand completely what you are getting into," she explained.

"So I can finally be on equally footing with Robin?" Guy asked.

"I dare say you will be ahead of him," Marguerite grinned as she saw the surprised look on his face. "Now, what Robin already knows about me. I can really tell I am in the country because no one knows the significance of my name."

"Owens is the Canterbury estate. I know your father is Richard's uncle. Why does he not use the name Plantagenet?"

She nodded. "it's a long story that includes my mother. I am also a Capet and Laurent on my mother's side…. Does no one follow French nobility?" she wondered at his blank look. "Phillip, king of France, is also my cousin, Guy. My mother's mother was sister to the late King Louis. She was a member of the Capet dynasty and kept her name after she wed into the Laurent family."

He took a step back in surprise. "You are cousins to 2 kings?" he demanded.

"It is worse than that, I'm afraid. I am heir to both courts. Well, not heir apparent. I am about 5th for Richard's throne and 6th for Phillip's, if you take out the children," she clarified.

He looked horrified. "Please don't be angry with me," she said.

"Angry? You think I am angry?"

"I didn't speak of it in the castle for fear Vaysey would learn of this."

"He would never have killed you…" he saw her bland look, "alright, he still probably would have. This is just a … huge surprise, Marguerite."

"There's more."

"Are you also related to the Holy Roman Emperor?" He asked warily

"Not yet, that I know of," she smirked. "No. You know I am the Earl of Kent. I inherited it after my brother passed without heirs. Special arrangement with Richard. But…" she hesitated.

"What?"

"Well, besides Marion, the only other thing you have desired is land. And I have so much land in my control to make an island. I am La Duchess de Flandres and la Comtess de Paris and regent for my niece who is Comtess de Tours. My family has so many titles that it is rumored a man once fainted before finishing his address to my grandmother," she sighed.

She studied Guy as he processed what she said. "You did warn me you have more power in your pinky…" he remembered.

She nodded. "I am sorry, Guy."

"Robin knows all this?"

"He knows I am related to both kings, and in line of succession. I don't think he knows I am the landholder, though. That all happened while he was in the holy lands."

"What else doesn't he know about?"

"Are you sure you wish to hear more?" Marguerite asked warily. He nodded. She took out the tube she had originally prepared to send to her father and upended it into his palm. "I am the White Queen."

Because I got some reviews really quickly, here is the next chapter! There is much more Allan/Nora to come! And we are starting to get to the Much/Greta stuff, too.

Huge thanks to Jessica, Vintage200000, Fireheart93, and I-can-spell-confusion-with-a-k.