Disclaimer: I do not own Robin Hood or profit from this writing. Only OCs and plot (post series 2) belong to me.

A/N: This is one of my favorite chapters because so many of Marguerite's best lines are in it! And some loose ends with Gretchen and Eleanor are starting to get tied up (not all, of course. Still need some drama).

Chapter 41: The White Queen in Action

Eleanor cornered Gretchen the next morning as the outlaws were making early rounds before they all met up with Marguerite. "What did you say to Allan?" Eleanor demanded angrily. After whatever had happened between the two of them the night before, Allan had been distant, then he did the unthinkable.

He had slept in his hammock.

"I didn't say anything!" Gretchen insisted. "I don't know why he is being distant. We talked about me and Much, and how you and I are mothers. I told him not to give up hope!"

"Then what did I do?" Eleanor asked dumbfounded. She had missed cuddling with him.

"You didn't do anything," Gretchen insisted. "Maybe…" she couldn't think of any good excuse. "Maybe he wanted to give you space to think? About our decision with Marguerite?"

"If he wants me to stay, then why was he staying away?" Eleanor asked confused.

Neither had any answer as they started to walk towards Locksley, meeting up with the gang on the road, unaware of another conversation that had been held without their knowledge.

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Marguerite paced as she waited. It had been a long time since she had seen Colin, and she wanted to know everything. Guy watched her. Since Vaysey thought he was going out of the county he was staying in Locksley. It gave him the excuse of staying close with Marguerite. He studied her these past several days when she thought she was alone and Guy was a little worried over Marguerite's behavior.

At first, he had thought it was due to her near death experience. Then Anne shyly confronted him out back. "My lord? I am concerned about Marguerite…" she hesitated. "I don't want to break her trust in me, but I am afraid for her. Her moods are becoming even darker than normal."

"Normal?" Guy repeated.

"She has a tendency to be melancholic, but ever since that day she left Nottingham… something seems broken in her. I… I am just really afraid for her, my lord," she finally said.

"Stop with the 'my lord'" he said first as he thought. Normally he reveled in the address, yet she was the third person in two days he told to stop with the formalities. "I thought she was acting oddly…" they suddenly heard a horse was approaching Locksley.

Marguerite flew out of the manor house as the man dismounted. A man only a few years older than himself and too handsome for his taste. Guy frowned over the entire situation. "Colin!" Marguerite said happily.

"Your father is fit to be tied. He wants Vaysey's head on a spike, ma fey" he told her as he enveloped her in a bear hug. "You are alright, aren't you?" he asked.

"I am back to my normal self," she answered.

It wasn't what he was hoping for, but she was alive. He offered his arm and they strolled off for a private conversation. "Your father briefed me on all of your correspondences. I am intrigued by this Guy and Robin."

"We can use both of them, Colin. I trust them both."

He nodded. "How much do they know?"

"Guy knows most everything. Robin doesn't know about us, though. What is the latest from my aunt Eleanor?"

"She is already planning the welcome feast for Richard's return. You know your Aunt," he sighed. "The sun and move revolve around her favorite son."

Marguerite rolled her eyes as they returned to the Manor house. "Colin, this is mon chevalier noir, Guy of Gisborne. Guy, my brother in law Colin, Earl of Derbyshire and prince... ah, here are the others," Marguerite said as she saw the gang approach. (A/N: My black knight)

"Colin, love, this is Robin Hood. Robin, mon archer, this is Colin. Earl of Derbyshire, a prince in the Welsh court."

"You say that so flippantly, ma fey," Colin teased. "I've heard of your exploits in London before you left for the war," Colin laughed. Robin was simply glad Marion wasn't there to hear it. Until he looked up and saw her in the window above them, torn between frowning at Robin and smirking. He was going to give her a tongue lashing for risking exposure when he was finished.

"Refreshments?" Anne offered from the doorway. She had drinks set out for everyone and then went to make sure no servants were eavesdropping.

Marguerite told him about Granger and Vaysey's attempts to plot an 'accident' for Richard. "It's like you predicted," Colin nodded to Marguerite.

"Predicted?" Will asked.

"Vaysey can hardly try another attack in the Holy Lands. Too many failures. His only chance now is to stop Richard somewhere between here and there," Marguerite told the others. "Unfortunately, we still have no idea who his spies are so we can't plant any false information," she frowned. Not even Guy knew the names of Vaysey's spies.

"How long have you been working against Vaysey?" Robin asked. "I sense there is more here than I know."

"I told you you were in over your head, Robin," Marguerite smirked. "You jumped into the middle of something much bigger than you know."

"Then explain it to me," Robin said. "Vaysey and John are planning Richard's throne…" he started.

Marguerite shook her head. "The Black Knights claim to be instilling John as King. John accepted their 'support' but do you honestly expect men like Vaysey to hand over the crown?" she asked Robin. "John would be a king in name only. John isn't a fool, he knows this. But he plays the part of le fool very well, mon archer. He accepted the Black Knights claim and challenge to Richard's throne on his behalf. It allows him to keep close watch over the group."

"Remember in the Holy Lands when we left, Richard didn't expect John to be taking his throne…" Djaq spoke up. "It was you!" she said suddenly as realization dawned on her. "Robin! She is the one Richard said would be returning to England! The letter he was writing!"

Marguerite smiled. "I was in France when you were in the Holy Lands. I divide my time between my French and English estates. I returned to England when Vaysey continued to make a nuisance of himself. Eleanor told me about her escapade with all of you."

"John held the Queen Mother hostage!" Robin argued, not understanding.

Marguerite snorted. "Please, Robin. Everyone in the known world knows Eleanor favors Richard above all her children. Not that she wanted children. If she could have had her husbands bear childbirth, I'm sure she would have. Eleanor is the first to admit to being more 'Queen' than 'mother.' No, John invited her over. They quarreled, Eleanor went to you knowing if she claimed any slight against Richard you would assist her. Two months later she invited John to her palace in Aquitaine for the Autumn festival and they had a nice time from all accounts."

"You are all insane," Robin shook his head.

"You don't know the half of it," Colin grinned. "You get use to it, though."

"As if your family in the Welsh court are any better, Colin," Marguerite pointed out.

"Can we get back to the sheriff?" Eleanor asked. "You have been fighting the sheriff longer than Robin, it seems," she deduced.

"Since before Robin left for the Holy Lands. Although we didn't realize the extent of his ambitions. His dispossession of the late Lord Edward as sheriff caused John a few concerns. Then we learned of the Black Knights. Since Richard is always off to one war or another, someone has to watch his throne."

"And that's you?" Little John asked.

"Not just me," Marguerite said. "It's like in Chess. I am the White Queen, but I have the other players on my board, too. You have the black team, and then we are the white team. John, my father, Colin, Eleanor, a few other family members and trusted friends scattered throughout," Marguerite named them, ticking them off her fingers. "I think you have met one of them, Count Friedrich?"

"You know Friedrich? The Boob?" Will asked amused.

"Friedrich and I get along exceedingly well. Nous aimons es uns les autres. He insists on proposing every year, I insist on declining every year," Marguerite laughed. "My point is that Vaysey is hardly the first to covet the throne, although he is proving to be the most entertaining. I did get some of Winchester's estate out of all this so it has been profitable as well." (a/n: we adore each other)

"Why do you need the land?" Robin asked surprised, he had no idea what had happened to Winchester's estate.

"Need? I don't need anything, Robin. I simply wanted them," Marguerite said, surprised.

"But wait, you took Winchester's lands after his death. What could you want with more lands? How many estates do you have?"

"What else am I to do?" Marguerite countered. "Life is a game. In this game, he who has the most is the winner. I intend to make that winner me. Besides, I was bored." The gang simply ogled her. "Were you hoping for something a little more philanthropic? There was the matter that Winchester ran his estates about as well as Vaysey runs his. Winchester knew the game, he certainly didn't care what happened to those below him as he ascended to the top. Well, attempted to ascend to the top," she grinned. "And 6: Kent, Flanders, Paris, part of Sussex now, and I am acting regent for Tours and Essex."

"I am tired of family politics," Robin said frustrated. "Good, bad, somewhere in between. The lot of you are crazy."

"Why, thank you," Marguerite said smugly. "Are you really that surprised? We are rich, we are royal, and we are bored. We do what we can to entertain ourselves."

"Granger, unfortunately, is not on our side," Colin spoke up. "And there are a lot between here and Acre that want to see Richard's throne topple."

"What about your cousin, King Philip?" Gretchen asked.

"He is ambivalent. He likes the rest of us well enough, but turned cold towards Richard once he helped Richard steal the throne," Marguerite said. "He won't help—or hinder— unless it peaks his interest."

"What do we do now?" Much asked Robin.

"For starters, tell Vaysey you think you can pull me in," Colin told Guy. "You can tell him I have no love for Richard, and no ties to Canterbury since my wife died."

Guy nodded. "We will need a way to communicate."

"Tuck!" Marguerite said happily. "He can come and go between the two of you easily, I'm sure." Between Tuck and Luke she had a nice line of communications established.

Guy and Colin nodded. "Alright. Then we need to get word to Richard," Robin decided, not wanting to feel left out of a leadership position. Marguerite seemed to understand and choked on a laugh.

"I am going to return to my estate for now. I'll send word to John," Colin said standing. Marguerite stood to walk out with him. "You know, you could come with me. We could be comfortable together, Marguerite."

"Colin," she sighed. They had talked about marriage before. Colin still loved Jacqueline, she knew, and thought of it simply as a marriage of convenience. Neither loved each other in that way, but it would be comfortable and a good match. "How was Genevieve? I was terrified my leaving would hurt the girl."

She knew this was a touchy subject with Colin. The one thing they had in common—besides saving Richard's throne—was family. Unfortunately, they couldn't seem to talk about any of their family without causing pain for one of them. Another reason they didn't marry. "I'm told Genevieve did suffer from your departure. She has gotten better, though, with the help of her friend Joan."

"I still pray she will improve one day," Marguerite sighed. "Be safe, Colin," she said kissing him goodbye. "It looks as if a storm is coming. Are you sure you don't wish to stay the night?"

"I'll ride hard and stay with this Tuck you mentioned. Marguerite." He searched her face and she knew he saw through her mask. Saw that it was all, or almost all, still pretend. "I was hoping this Guy, or Robin, would help you. Just come home."

"Où est la maison, Colin? Things haven't settled here yet," Marguerite said simply as she stepped back. He gave a final nod and rode off. (a/n: Where is home?)

She returned to find an uneasy parlor filled with outlaws and Guy. "Haven't you called a truce yet?" Marguerite asked puzzled. "Both of you have my faith and trust."

"He is the sheriff's man. How can you trust him, Marguerite?" Robin asked trying to understand.

"He saved my life, Robin. He hasn't betrayed me to the sheriff. He could have while I was in the castle, or he could have anytime since I've been here." She saw the stubbornness of both men. "He knew of my position as the white queen, leading this side to protect Richard's throne. Guy is on my side. Short of an oath, he has done nothing to loose my trust. Much like you, mon archer."

With a sigh she walked back out the back. Anne joined her. "Why don't you return home, Marguerite? If you would be happier there I wish you would."

"I'm not happy here or there, Anne."

"But…"

"He chose Marion, Anne. I can't fight a ghost. I have too many of my own," she said as she called for her horse to be prepared. Storm clouds were fast approaching and she hoped Colin made it to shelter in time. She knew Marion was escaping from the manor and leaving with the rest of the outlaws.

"We have a temporary truce," Guy's voice said as he entered the stables as the sky was darkening overhead, straining to be heard above the crash of thunder.

"The two of you are more alike than either of you wishes to acknowledge," Marguerite said, stroking the nose of her stallion. She gripped the bridle and led him out of the stall Guy had given him.

"What are you doing?" Guy asked.

"Going for a ride," Marguerite stated the obvious.

"Have you seen the storm coming in?" Guy asked. "You can't go out there."

"You made your choice Guy. I appreciate everything you are doing for me, truly."

"What choice, Marguerite? You've said that before and I don't remember having to make a choice," he said grabbing her stallion's bridle. He thought he was proving he was on her side, not Vaysey's.

"Don't placate me!" Marguerite ordered and mounted the stallion. "You could at least have the decency to remember when you kiss one woman but say another's name. You made your intentions quite clear, cher," she said, squeezing her knees. He was so surprised by what she had announced, his hold on the bridle slackened and the stallion barreled out of the barn.

Anne stood outside, overhearing the conversation, and watched her mistress gallop out into the storm that was fast approaching Locksley. Guy ordered his horse to be saddled. "Even if you catch her, she is gone," Anne said.

"Why are you being so cryptic?" Guy demanded.

Anne took a step back out of fear but met his eyes. "She hasn't been right for a long time. Since before I ever met her. This I think was just the final straw."

The outlaws heard horse hoofs fast approaching and hid from view of the road. A moment later Marguerite flew by. "Marguerite?" Marion asked. "What does she think she is doing?"

They couldn't follow after her since they knew the only sane thing to do was to find shelter. Even if they wanted to follow after her, it would have been foolhardy to follow after her on foot. Eleanor watched on sadly; she knew you couldn't outrun your past.

"What was Marguerite thinking?" Marion asked as they reached camp right as the rain clouds released their torrential downpour. Contrary to Gretchen's outburst the night before there were no leaks in Will's camp.

"She's running away," Eleanor said as she grabbed Tom the toy boat and horse Will had carved for him.

"From what? To where?" Much wondered.

"From herself. I don't think the where matters," Eleanor decided.

Robin was leaning against the center post, thinking. "What do you think of this truce?"

"I think it's about time," Marion smirked.

"You should be happy with this side of Guy, then," Robin said darkly making Marion sigh. "Eleanor? Gretchen?"

They were surprised he was asking for her opinion. "I think it's long overdue," Gretchen decided.

Eleanor nodded. "Despite working for Vaysey I didn't think Guy was evil. And I think he is starting to realize that for himself now, with Marguerite's help. I just wonder, hope, he can help Marguerite."

"I owe you both an apology," Robin told Eleanor and Gretchen, startling them.

"Of course not," Gretchen said immediately.

Robin grinned. "I told you they wouldn't let me apologize," he smirked to Marion who elbowed him.

"Allan and I took him to task for being an idiot," Marion assured them, only confusing them even more. Even more confusing was that everyone else seemed to know what was going on except them.

Robin took out two dog tags. "I should have given these to you a long time ago. Eleanor, you should have never have given them back."

"But… they were Allan's," was all Eleanor could think to say.

"I know this is your decision to make, and you will both do what's best for Tom and Ygrainne," Robin said, placing the necklace around Eleanor's neck first. "I understand all of that, Eleanor, and I want you to do what you think is best. But when you make your decision, just remember you are both one of us." He saw her confused look. "I know it hasn't been easy for you here, I'm sorry if we did anything to hinder …"

Eleanor shook her head. "If Allan told you anything about me, you should know it isn't you. It's just me, I don't always handle being around men. Which makes things difficult for all of you, I'm sorry."

"Don't even think of apologizing, Eleanor," Robin said quickly. "We want you here. Don't feel like you have to leave."

She ogled him making him grin. "I know you all think of Tom as the next generation outlaw," she started but Robin cut her off.

"We all adore Tom, but we adore you too, Eleanor," Robin grinned. "You are a part of us, even if you didn't have Tom."

Eleanor looked up at Allan thinking she was part of the gang because Allan made her part of the gang. "No," Robin said understanding what she was thinking. "I pick my men, Eleanor," he said. "You and Gretchen are part of them. Even if you choose to leave."

Gretchen was speechless as Robin placed the tag around her neck. Eleanor she could understand, she was connected to Allan. "I'm not like Elle, I'm not with one of your men…" she started.

"You are one of my men, Gretchen," Robin grinned. "You don't have to be connected like your thinking. Eleanor is just as much a part of my gang as you are, as John or Marion are." He looked at her with his infamous grin. "We all love you, whether you stay or go we will all still love you. I just wanted you to know that as you think it over."

Gretchen nodded numbly. "Robin. I just don't understand why we should stay. We could support you just as much, maybe even better, if we were elsewhere."

"But then you wouldn't be here with us, with the family," Robin insisted. "It might be hard here, but we don't want you to go. But it's your decision."

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Marguerite flew like the wind. If she wasn't so miserable she would have loved it. The wind whipped over her like chilling knives as the rain began to pour but she pushed herself and her horse harder. They slashed through the mud as they cut through the forest. She didn't give a damn where they were going. They would simply run until they had no more earth to run on. And maybe a little further.

Rain started to pound on them as the storm was overhead. Lighting crashed, cryptically illuminating their path.

They finally came across a meadow. It was more of a muddy plane now with the rain gushing across the field, too much for the ground to absorb.

She dismounted, practically jumped off Arkvior before he completely stopped. She turned her face skyward as she twirled.

They had played in the rain when they were children. They would run through the mud playing as if they weren't the children of the manor but of the fairies. Mother had a fit when she found them soaked through, furious they thought the mud so much more fun than the palace walls, terrified one of her babies would catch a fever and leave her.

In the end, she had left them first.

It was like a floodgate was unleashed in her mind. She couldn't keep the memories back, not after they found her again after her accident.

"I was right there!" She yelled out to everyone and no one. "I was going to join you! I was about to come home!" she yelled out into the night as the wind whipped around her, rain driving into her skin.

So many memories, so much pain. If she didn't think about them, they didn't hurt. It was the only way to live day to day. But now they wouldn't leave her alone.

She did what she couldn't have done before: she screamed into the night. All the raw pain and emotion she had kept buried seeped into that one anguished cry echoed in the tempest building around her. Years and years of loneliness, pain, and guilt she had carried around like a weight on her dead soul.

She knew as soon as her consciousness began to wake that it wasn't a dream. 'Just don't wake up, Marguerite…let it all go' she thought to herself.

She knew instinctively she was in her bed. Her hand reached out, as if hoping this was a dream and she was really just imagining the last two days.

The piercing pang in her stomach that crippled her.

John's arrival the following afternoon as they brought him home for the last time.

She knew it wasn't a dream. Pain like this was too raw, too real. It cut right through flesh and blood and straight to the heart.

"It really happened, Marguerite," John's voice said. He had seen her wake even if she hadn't opened her eyes. "I wish to God I could tell you differently," his voice choked.

She opened her eyes to see John sitting beside her bed. Watching her as if she might fade from sight if he blinked. "How long was I gone?"

"It is the following morning. Your father and the Cardinal are with your brother now. Geoffrey and Joan are making arrangements in France for Michel. Colin will arrive in London about the same time we do. I understand your in laws are also going to be here by week's end."

"You don't have to be here, John…"

He shook his head. "You should hardly be alone. Not right now."

It was too late. She was already dead and gone. All that was left was to bury her heart and soul.

Marguerite had dropped to her knees under the weight of reliving so much. "How could you take him!" she challenged out loud. "You already took EVERYONE else! Wasn't it enough? Couldn't you have taken me too now?" she demanded. "Why do you force me to linger on like some wandering spirit!" she hit the muddy earth, dug her fingers into the icy wetness.

God, she was so alone in this world and she couldn't even leave it to be reunited with them.

A nose knocked her over and she stumbled into the mud. She looked back and saw Arkvior waiting for her. "Why haven't you left me to you stupid animal?" she demanded. She grabbed the bridle and he licked the side of her face.

She would have given up everything—all the lands and titles and wealth— just to be able to see Michel again. To stop him from leaving her that time. To have gone with him. Anything. Even if it meant that she had died after Vaysey's attempted murder. If only Guy hadn't saved her! "Why am I being punished?" she whispered to Arkvior, crying into his neck.

She was so numb, had been numb for so long, she didn't even feel how cold she was standing in the center of the storm as it waged havoc on the countryside. Arkvior nudged her and she slowly rose to her feet. She didn't' have the strength to pull herself up on the saddle so she grabbed the reins and started to walk, the rain mingling in with her tears till it was impossible to tell which were which.

Happy Thanksgiving to all my American readers!

Special thanks to I-Can-Spell-Confusion-with-a-k for reviewing the last chapter! I am glad you are so involved with my characters! It is nice to know someone besides the author loves them ;) I had to put some of the Allan/Nora, Much/Gretchen stuff on the back burner whiled I built up Marguerite and Guy, but now we should see all 3 fairly evenly.