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

a shorter chapter, and I know I said we would see more of all the couples evenly--we will, just after this chapter. Some things had to be explained, first.

Chapter 42: Seven to One

Marguerite came upon a fallen log and used it to step up to the saddle. As soon as she was seated Arkvior took off towards Locksley. Guy came across them on the way and grabbed her horse's reins.

"Take good care of him," Marguerite ordered when they entered the barn and she lowered herself down. She strolled past everyone, not sparing anyone a glance, as she went into the manor house.

Anne fluttered around her and led her to her upstairs bedroom. A hot bath was prepared before a roaring fire and Anne quickly stripped Marguerite.

Marguerite slipped bonelessly into the tub, all the fake energy she boasted completely gone; she laid back against the tub as Anne poured her herbal tea. "It should help you. You are going to catch your death," Anne said as she hovered. "Guy was looking all over for you."

"Give him some of this tea, then."

"Marguerite, you terrified me! Don't you realize you could have died?" Anne demanded.

She raised an eyebrow over Anne's tone. "You can't kill what's already dead, Anne." She pulled her knees up to her chest as she tried to get warm. Anne helped Marguerite out of the tub and dried her before cloaking her in a fur robe as she laid before the fire to let her hair dry.

"I want to understand, Marguerite. You've said that before. Why would you do this?"

"I have nothing to lose. I died a long time ago," Marguerite murmured. "They are all gone."

"Who?"

"Everyone!" Marguerite said as tears washed down her cheek again. She hadn't cried since they laid Michel to rest. It seemed she was making up for lost time. "We were 8 when mama died. She caught fever. It was a bad winter and she never recovered. Jacqueline was the one who taught me what it meant to be a woman. She was the only other woman in the family until Henri married Rebecca."

"Jacqueline is your sister and Henri your eldest brother, right?" Anne clarified. She knew so little about Marguerite's life.

"There were 7 of us," Marguerite nodded. "Seven. Henri, Jacqueline, Jean-Paul, Pierre, Christophe, Michel and I." Anne placed Marguerite's head in her lap as they sat before the fire, stroking Marguerite's hair as she listened to Marguerite talk.

"We hadn't really known anything so tragic before Mama died. I was too little when the baby died. Jacqueline became my maternal influence. Henri was the eldest and heir to papa's estate, Canterbury. He was also the Duke of Flandres because of our maternal grandfather. When Richard took the throne he made Henri the Duke of York instead of my father, not that papa minded so long as it stayed in the family. Henri married Rebecca, second daughter of the Scottish king. Henri was so gentle with the rest of us; he always had time for us, even with all of his other duties. My brothers idolized him, the knights worshiped Henri, even Richard considered him an equal, something very rare with Richard," Marguerite smiled. "He indulged the rest of us, I think. He didn't let the burden of controlling so much so young weigh him down."

"Jacqueline was born a year after him. She practically raised me, even waited to marry because of it till she was 24. I don't think she knew, but I remembered how fierce her love for us was," Marguerite whispered, remembering back to that day with the cook. "Jacqueline married Colin—a cousin to the Welsh court and earl of Devonshire at the time. Derbyshire was Jacqueline's dowry. He was not only a good match but he meshes so well with our crazy family. He quickly felt like a brother to the rest of us."

"Jean-Paul was born after Jacqueline. When Richard ascended the throne he gave Jean an estate closer to Wales. It was how he met and married the Welsh countess. Jean-Paul wanted to be just like Henri but unlike the rest of us he had red hair," Marguerite laughed. "He hated it. He wanted the sandy blond the rest of my siblings had. Although, he was happy to see his daughter with red hair, he claimed she wore it better than he ever did."

"Pierre was in the middle. Stubborn, dramatic," Marguerite grinned. "His grin made everyone crazy. He married Marie, Duchess of the Loir. Christophe was only a little more than a year older than me and Michel but he always played with Pierre. They claimed that we had each other, and Henri, Jacqueline, and Jean were a team, so he and Pierre would be a team. I heard stories about how they could out-drink the other knights in the tavern," Marguerite said impishly. "I won't repeat to you the tales I heard about my brothers and women, either."

"Did Christophe ever marry?" Anne asked curiously.

Marguerite shook her head. "No, he went to Ireland on one of the Norman campaigns. He had an affair with one of the daughters of a clan leader, a wonderful, fun woman named Maeve. His son is about 4 now," Marguerite added.

There was a long pause as Anne waited for Marguerite to sort through her thoughts, her memories. "Henri went on campaign for Philip when I was 16. Against a Germanic tribe. His men were successful but he fell in battle," she said numbly.

Anne continued to stroke Marguerite's hair. "Rebecca sent his son, petite Henri, to foster with my father. He looks just like Henri. She travels around now. Last I heard she was in Spain."

"He is about 13 now, right?" Anne did some quick math.

Marguerite nodded. "And looks just as Henri did when he was that age. Just as gentle hearted, too. I told Frederick I may adore him, but I have not forgiven the rest of Germany."

"You have other nieces and nephews living with your father…" Anne said cautiously, afraid where this was going.

Marguerite studied the fire. "Richard sent Jean Paul to investigate excursions on his border. They captured him for ransom. I still don't understand it. We were able to raise the money in just a week because of all of our estates--hell, we run half of England and half of Franch. When they got the money, they sent us his corpse."

"That's atrocious!" Anne felt sick to her stomach hearing the atrocities, the lack of honor dealt to this man she never met.

"Christophe died in the Holy Lands fighting with Richard and Philip nearly 4 years ago. Pierre drowned at sea on his way back from another campaign about the same time. Jacqueline died in labor 3 years ago giving birth to my little Genevieve. Colin blames the girl for her death. The mid wife wanted to kill the babe because she was born cursed and claimed it is what killed Jacqueline."

"How?" Anne asked confused

"Genevieve is mute. She hears and understands people talking to her but she can not speak. She is 3 now and hasn't spoken a word her whole life. They were going to bury Jacqueline in unconsecrated ground!" she said angrily. "Not only was everyone dying, but they wouldn't even give dear Jacqueline a proper funeral. Father and I finally convinced that with all of the sacrifices my brothers had done for King, Country, and God, some of the absolution they earned could be used for Jacqueline."

She seemed lost in thought, fuming over the injustice all those years ago. "I thought you had another brother?" Anne asked quietly.

"He wasn't just a brother, Anne," Marguerite said as Anne wiped away the tears falling down Marguerite's cheeks, her own tears silently falling unattended to. "We were twins, Michel and I... I can't begin to explain how that was so different. I loved all of my siblings, Anne, but Michel was a part of me. We shared everything from our looks to our personality. We shared the same soul, Anne. I knew when he was hurt or sick or sad, and he knew when I was in trouble. Even distance couldn't separate us. I was in London and became terribly ill. Michel had left to visit Pierre at his estate. He was three days away and turned around. He rode tirelessly to be by my side.

"I knew he was dead before they brought his body to me…" her voice trembled. "I felt it when it happened, this searing pain in my stomach. John arrived to tell me and I knew before I saw him how he died. I died that day they brought me my Michel…" her voice cracked. "They could have taken anyone, anyone from me, Anne. They already had taken nearly everyone. But how could they take him?" she cried into her friend's lap. "Why does everyone leave me? What kind of God takes away the person holding your heart?" she demanded in a choked voice. "I begged, I begged, Anne. Begged, pleaded, bargained. I would have, I did lower and debase myself in any manner conceivable. How is that not enough?"

"I don't know," Anne said rocking her.

"I died that day. We always thought we were inseparable. Nothing could keep us apart. We always said we would be together from womb to tomb. He left me behind."

"Not on purpose," Anne said as she rocked Marguerite. "He didn't want to leave you any more than you wanted him to."

"It doesn't change that he's gone! I'd give anything and everything to be with him again. I saw him, Anne. When I was fading away. I saw him and then I was ripped away from him again. How can anything be so cruel?" Marguerite choked out.

"I don't know…" Anne said as she rocked her mistress as they both cried until finally Marguerite cried herself to sleep.

Anne sat there holding her mistress, broken hearted. She had lost her own brother and knew what that was like. But she still had her father. She had Luke. She had Marguerite. She couldn't comprehend what it must feel like to loose so many people and feel so alone in the world.

The door eased open and Guy walked in. She could tell by the look on his face that he had eavesdropped. He stooped down and gathered Marguerite into his strong arms and carried her to her bed.

I finally got 3 reviews so I uploaded this today. I had a lot written from Marguerite's past, dealing with her family. Some might make it into flashbacks, most probably won't but I wanted to at least have her explain (to Guy in a round about way) her past. HUGE thanks to Vintage20000 Fireheart momto5 (I would have loved to have written season 3 ;) I haven't seen all of it yet, but Allan wouldn't have died, that's for sure) for the wonderful reviews!!