Disclaimer: I do not own Robin Hood or BBC. This writing is just for fun, no profit is being made.

There is one moment in here that may be RATED M due to violence/gore.

Chapter 56: Executed Plans/Tuck's history

The day had finally arrived. A letter from John and William arrived for Marguerite telling them of their success. All the Black Knights had been captured and disposed of with minimal losses on their side. In fact, a grand total of only four of their men had been wounded and no one was killed. Marguerite applauded herself mentally for her well planned attack. If she was lucky she would successfully dispose of Granger by the end of the day and have Michel avenged.

And the answers to questions that had been plaguing her for years.

"Guy is keeping him busy, we'll sneak in here," Marguerite nodded to the entrance on the north of the castle as the outlaws waited for the signal from Guy to enter.

"I still don't like this part of the plan," Robin sighed. "Marguerite will stay with Marion and I until we are in place, then Marion and I will take our cover. Once we move, you are to fall back, Marguerite. Understand? I don't want to explain to your father, John, and Richard how you were hurt," Robin demanded.

"Ah, mon archer, you are adorable when you are ordering me around."

"Even Queen Eleanor listened to me better than you do," Robin sighed.

"I'll fall back and leave the sheriff for you, happy? I will not try to dispose of the sheriff on my own. You have my word on that, Robin," Marguerite said solemnly.

Robin nodded. "Gretchen and Eleanor will slip through the back chambers letting Allan, Luke, and Much in. Djaq, Will, and John will move in from the side barracks. The guards from the dungeons will respond first." Guy had managed to arrange it so that the captains in the guard were in the city. There weren't so many guards to be overwhelming but enough of the leadership that they could easily displace the elite in Nottingham's guard.

"Yes, we all know the plan. After the seventh review," Marion sighed. "Except one part: where is Marguerite changing?"

Robin and the other men ogled Marion making the women sigh. "It is all about presentation, mon archer," Marguerite purred, grinning mischievously.

And Marguerite planned to put on one hell of a show.

Guy saw Robin blending into the crowd and gave a discreet nod. He led the way in for one of Prince William's (Marguerite's father) messenger disguised as a Black Knight. He was the fourth today to bring one of the letters to Vaysey. "This is it, Gisborne," Vaysey clucked, feeding his hawk. "We are just one short of finding out if we have done this. John has to be gone," Vaysey sighed.

"You have no problem disposing of John?" Guy wondered. "You always brag of being friends." He couldn't reconcile it.

"He got me this far, I did have difficulty in signing that order, but he would hold us back, Gizzy," Vaysey clucked. Vaysey had paused for one whole second before signing the order, giving directions to his London Black Knights to execute the Prince Regent. "The problem with John is while he may not care one wit for his brother, he does care for his own protection. If he thought I would move on him, not happy with using him as a puppet for my power, he would move against me without batting an eyelash."

"So betray him before he betrayed you," Guy drawled. With that logic it was a good thing Guy betrayed Vaysey before Vaysey lost or betrayed Guy.

"You make that sound like a bad thing, Gizzy. Think of it as self-preservation. After all, I would have had no problem gutting you back in Acre if you were going to act on Marion's plea of killing me. But look at us, Gisborne! We are one letter away from it all! And having stood through all this with me, you will be richly rewarded, no? So what do you want? Huntington? You have put so much time into Locksley I assumed you wished to keep it," Vaysey gleefully offered.

"Why wouldn't I keep it? Surely you don't want it. I can't imagine you have a use for it when you have the entire country at your disposal," Guy feigned shock.

"Oh, I plan on relocating. London I hear is wonderful this time of year. Court is just going into session, I have to assert myself in the capital after all. And it is long past time you get past that Marion prat, London may just be the cure. Although, if you didn't go for that blond viper, I doubt anything else will entice you. No matter!"

A trumpet sounding had Vaysey jumping excitedly. "Get me that letter!" Vaysey chirped.

The trumpet sounding was the signal to Guy that everyone else was in place. Vaysey strutted into the throne room he had refashioned to receive the final dispatch, the throne finally being complete. With all the tax money at his disposal he had a throne to rival the one he would soon be occupying in London.

"Even from this angle it is marvelous," Vaysey tutted seeing it was facing away from him, overlooking the view of the window. The back was just as lavish as anything else, jewels embedded in the eyes of his eagle that was embossed in gold in the back of the throne.

Vaysey jumped as the throne turned. How was that even possible?

"No, this is impossible. You're dead! Dead!" Vaysey hissed.

Marguerite grinned from where she was seated in his throne. She had worn her most regal gown salvaged from her belongings, pure purple with her blue sash with enough gems to finance the entire country of England for a year. Her hair was twisted up with pale blue stones the color of her eyes embedded into her hair, as if she had dozens of eyes all focused on him. Her crown, gold and fur designating her as part of the Royal Family, a Plantagenet, was on top her head as if it was a natural extension of her.

"Ah, ma puce, if I didn't know better, I would say you were upset to see me! Which is absurd, everyone knows to associate my presence with the most exciting of times," she purred. (ima puce=my flea)

"You are dead! How are you not dead! Gisborne!" Vaysey screamed out, that vein ticking.

Marguerite laughed as Vaysey drew his sword and charged her. Marguerite swiftly came to her feet, faster than anyone could anticipate considering how heavy her gown and jewels were. She parried his blow, knocking his sword to the side. "You know what your one mistake in all this was, Vaysey? You had the one card in your deck that would have gained my loyalty, you had it in your hand the entire time and didn't even know it. If you had even just mentioned Granger's name, dropped it in casual conversation, I would have given you Richard's throne on a golden platter," Marguerite drawled.

She blocked his attack, moving out of range. "I don't know how you are not dead, how you must have turned Guy against me. But you would have never given me Richard's throne. What I find entertaining, though, is why you have not taken it for yourself yet."

"I'll be an Empress soon enough. Ma Puce, this is where we say goodbye. Someone else is very eager to get reacquainted," Marguerite grinned as she stepped back as Marion, dressed in her nightwatchmen breeches and tunic but with a thin coronet with the Locksley symbol, emerged.

"Impossible! I saw at least you die!" Vaysey's jaw clinched.

"There is a rational explanation," Marion smirked as Marguerite stormed through the doors down the hall. With the excitement, no one would know where she was, this part of the plan was completely her own, no one else knew that Granger was waiting for her in a separate drawing room.

"I knew his face would be worth it," Robin grinned from where he emerged, leaning against the doorframe. "Wouldn't you say my wife looks in excellent health, Vaysey?" Robin said dangerously.

"Well, compared to how I last saw her," Vaysey snarled. "So this is it, the game is up, and you want to hand me in to London. Except! London seems to be under my control."

Marion snorted. "If you really believed that you wouldn't be trying to head backwards to the exit that leads to a chute that will dump you outside the castle."

Vaysey's vein ticked in annoyance he knew about his tunnel. "It doesn't change that my men have taken out the opposition. The Black Knights will reign even after my death."

"Only if they can come back from the grave," Robin informed him as he and Marion moved on Vaysey. "This is checkmate, Vaysey."

**scene**scene**scene**

Gretchen and Eleanor, raised on the second level, used their bows and arrows to help thin out the crowd of guards Much, Luke, and Allan were fighting through. "Hey, that was the one that propositioned me," Gretchen said, aiming.

"Shout that a bit louder and I think Much will get him for you," Eleanor teased. They had to fight Allan and Much, nearly everyone, to be allowed to join them in this. With everyone still wounded—especially Much—Eleanor and Gretchen refused to be left behind. Eleanor couldn't imagine not being there with Allan. She wanted to fight alongside him, and couldn't bear the thought of something happening to him while she was hiding in the forest.

When told they would simply sneak into the city and help anyways, Robin caved and made a plan that included them in the fight. Willa eagerly agreed to watch the kids with Anne, both hoping the rambunctiousness of Ygraine would take their minds off what was happening. Everyone Willa cared for was going into this plan, she prayed all of them (a small part of her whispering 'especially little John') would come back.

"How do you think everyone else is doing?" Allan wondered as Eleanor and Gretchen joined him and Much after the last guard was killed or surrendered.

"No shouts of 'I captured Robin Hood' so I am hoping that is a good sign," Gretchen tucked a hair behind her ear. She turned concerned eyes on Much. "How are you doing?"

"I'm looking forward to sleeping for the next week in a nice bed. I think we deserve a real bed after this, a soft bed with goose feather pillows. And a nice long bath," he decided, giving her a reassuring smile.

"But your side," Gretchen bit her lip, biting back her overt concern. This was a battle, not a time to fret and worry.

"I'll hold up," Much promised as Tuck and Guy came crashing through with Guards, swords clashing and clanging in the afternoon air and Luke somehow joining their fight.

"I'm not being funny, but Tuck's ability with a sword is just frightening," Allan commented. "I thought men in monk robes were suppose to turn the other cheek?"

"Which is why he isn't wearing his monk robes," Eleanor grinned cheekily as the four of them raced off to help Tuck, Luke, and Guy.

A few minutes later it was announced the sheriff was no longer, and the guards immediately surrendered. All they knew was they were ordered to attack Robin and his men, and that Guy had turned traitor and was considered to be enemy number two, right behind Robin.

Most actually liked Guy and didn't want to follow the order, so with the Sheriff dead they could ignore the order.

"Where's Marguerite?" Guy demanded as everyone congregated in the square. A quick head count showed everyone was there, relatively unhurt (or worse for the wear, as it were).

But Marguerite was nowhere to be seen.

xxxxxxxdddddddddxxxxxxx

Marguerite glided through the doors as the castle broke into chaos, the cacophony of noise a backdrop to both Marguerite and her guest of honor: Granger, sprawled in a chair, his legs crossed and resting on the table. "Drop your sword, my lady," he said easily.

Marguerite threw her sword, it landed with a clang on the table. "I see you are stupid enough to accept my invitation. Oh, yes, I know you will pass it off as curiosity, as feeling self-assured enough against me, a mere woman, to have accepted this invitation. Whatever your reasons for accepting it, I gladly thank you." Her eyes were smoldering as she took in the sight of the man who was responsible for Michel's death.

"I knew you were a talker, that mouth of yours is bound to get you in trouble. If these types of events, or men like myself, don't get to you first," Granger drawled, his sword within easy reach.

"Why?" She had to know.

"Money, what else?" Granger shrugged.

"Michel was killed to fill your purse?" Marguerite demanded. "You could have had even more by bringing your backers to our attention. Instead you killed the only remaining male heir in my family."

"But it wasn't complete, was it?" Granger pointed out. "Jacqueline took care of my problem for me, she died doing her womanly duty. Childbirth would take care of her for us. You, though, my lady. You seem to just linger on. I wonder, though, what kind of existence it has been for you these last few years." The bastard actually took a sip of his wine as he bantered with Marguerite.

"Are you going after my nieces and nephews?" Marguerite demanded. She would fight like a wild beast protecting her young.

"Not at the moment. There are so many of them, and they are further removed they are less of a threat. You are the only person left who is immediately attached to so many kingdoms. Did you know your aunt Eleanor has left you in her inheritance as well? She has actually made you an equal heir in her estate. You have ties to France, Normandy, Aquitaine, England, and rumor has it, soon to be Germany as well. What is enough for you people?" Granger demanded, his feet slamming down. "You aren't happy with your own country so you take ours. Even that isn't enough for you now is it! Is it any wonder your siblings had to be disposed of?"

"Henri was the only one with any chance of seeing a throne. If Richard, John, and Geoffrey all died before a son reached maturity, it would have gone to Henri. Equally as many people would have to die before he saw the French throne. You know how little chance he had. How little chance any of us have of sitting on a throne. Why target us?" Marguerite demanded.

"You are attached to thrones as bees are to honey. Is there a country your family is not attached to?" Granger pointed out. "Name one country in Christendom you are not attached to." He paused but she didn't say anything. "That is my point. Here is a question for you. How did you know it was me?"

"Your mercenaries referred to the 'grey ranger' who hired them. It took me years, until I saw you with Vaysey, to realize the grey ranger was not just a description but also a name: Granger. And the description fits you well. Who would have thought a displaced, pissed off noble would off the entire Owen-Capets? Well, almost all of them," Marguerite amended.

She walked up to the side of Granger's chair. His sword was still within easy reach, she couldn't spook him before she got close enough. She eased her crown off, tossing it in front of him on the table. "That's what you want, isn't it? Cut the crown off my head as you had Michel? Did you organize it for my other brothers as well?"

"You already know the answer to that," Granger pointed out, lazily. He hadn't taken the life from her brothers, personally, but he had been in on the planning of it. He obviously wasn't worried about her. His mistake.

"You know Michel and I were inseparable. He taught me so much," Marguerite talked, walking around his chair to the other side, wanting him to feel relaxed around her, that she wasn't a threat. "All of my brothers taught myself and Jacqueline. They brought out that Viking heritage you despise you much." He would experience firsthand what the hell from the north was really like.

Granger's taunt cut her deeply but it showed how secure he still felt: "The last few years have taught me that this existence for you was icing on top of the cake. You should all suffer before you are disposed. Michel suffered, those last few moments as he bled to death were agony as he knew he was leaving you, that I would come after you."

"The men you hired talked a lot, just like you," Marguerite whispered, bending her head down low to his. "They all squealed like pigs before the slaughter. Then again, the bloody eagle is aptly named and provides plenty of opportunity for squealing. Did you expect me to show them mercy?"

"Your family doesn't know the meaning of the word," Granger spat out.

"My brothers taught me well. Every trick they knew, I picked up. And I practiced on your men," Marguerite grinned.

She saw the fury in his eyes, the decision to reach for his weapon as the sound of pounding feet was approaching the door. The dagger slipped out of her sleeve, into her hand, as she gripped his hair and she reached around the chair to slice his throat.

Blood sprayed everywhere as she stepped back. He tried to gasp, choking on his own blood. "Sadly, your death is much swifter than theirs was," Marguerite shrugged, her eyes watching his keenly as the life left his eyes.

Arms reached out for her, turning her around and she saw Guy's worried face. Worried she was injured and he would lose those lands John would give him, was he? "I'm fine," she pulled away from him. "Not even a drop of blood to spoil my gown," she pointed out as she tossed the bloody dagger on the table.

Everyone just seemed to stare between Marguerite and the dead man. "Wasn't that Vaysey's man? The one spying on Richard for him?" Marion finally spoke up.

"You knew he was here and went after him? Alone?" Robin and Guy both seemed to find their voice at the same time.

"Knew he was here? I invited him to this party," Marguerite announced as she swept past everyone and outside. She needed to breathe before her hands started to shake. It was over, all over. Everyone, every last person responsible for the death of Michel, for all of her brothers, was dead now. Michel, Henri, Jean-Paul, Christophe, and Pierre could all rest in peace.

It would also serve as a lesson to others who thought her family should be disposed off like used garbage. They would at least think twice before going after her nieces and nephews.

The entire village had flooded the square as word of the sheriff's demise spread. Marguerite just watched as the joy and laughter—a rarity under Vaysey's reign—seemed to fill every soul in the city. Except her's.

Now she didn't even have vengeance to drive her. Guy came up behind her and pulled her close and she closed her eyes, allowing herself to enjoy the embrace. It was very likely the last, she would just soak in Guy's scent, the feel of him, one last time.

"You didn't have to do that alone, Marguerite," Guy's hold tightened. The thought of what if something went wrong, if it had gone the other way, made his heart skip several beats.

"Why not, when I am more than capable of doing it? Don't think Granger was the first. He was just the last," Marguerite frowned at him. "The point is moot. The lot of you had better mingle, reassure the people of their safety and freedom before chaos breaks out," Marguerite pointed out, directing the entire gang behind Guy as Eleanor handed her the crown and gems from inside the room.

As if to emphasize her point, she turned and walked to the main steps leading out of the castle. "I honestly didn't expect an explanation," Robin sighed easily. "Sometimes there just is no answer with the Capets-Plantagenets."

Marguerite glided down the steps into the throngs of the crowd that had gathered, the crown placed back on her head simply so she had her hands free. Not that she needed to worry, everyone was too busy bowing so they were out of reach of the top of her head. Marguerite pointed to where Robin was and everyone started cheering for him, actually drawing a blush from the outlaw and a laugh from Marguerite.

Marguerite bought the entire town's provisions for the party that was quickly unfolding. She had no doubt feasting would ensue for a long time and made a mental note to make sure more supplies were sent to Nottingham.

Everyone ended up finding rooms in the castle for the night as the celebration refused to end. The outlaws snuck out the next morning before anyone would know they had gone.

The day was spent with the gang going throughout the shire to make sure everyone knew the sheriff was dead and to ensure there was no chaos or anarchy erupting.

"This just feels surreal," Gretchen sighed as dinner was dished up. They had all congregated in Sherwood for the evening meal, partly out of habit, and partly for that sense of camaraderie after everything. Marguerite and Guy, even Tuck, had all gathered in the camp.

"What I think we all want to know, is how does a monk know how to fight so well? Even after all this time, we know so little of you, Tuck," Robin asked as everyone lazily laid about.

"Maybe it is a sad story to tell," Eleanor defended Tuck. She new his history from when she was at the convent.

"It's okay, Elle," Tuck nodded. "Becoming a monk was not my greatest hope in life, it became my only option, though."

Everyone waited for him to continue. "I was the eldest son of a farmer, further north, closer to the Scottish lowlands. My family was a little better off than those here. As a young lad I fell in love with the daughter of the local lord. He was only a baron, but had ambitions of more. We made plans to marry, to convince her father of the match. Foolish dreams," Tuck sighed.

"Love tends to be foolish," Marguerite sighed. "Makes people blind."

Tuck nodded. "And we were. I foolishly believed we would find a way to marry. I refused to think that our love would harm my family. Her father wanted her to move up in life, marry above her station, not below. When he discovered us, he came in the middle of the night and gave me an ultimatum: my entire family would be evicted, or I could leave. I couldn't ruin my family, not for my own foolishness. I joined the monastery in the lowlands hoping that by giving myself to God it would lessen the agony of loosing Catherine," Tuck admitted. "Several years ago the brothers decided to open a monastery here in the shire and needed a brother to lead, so I came here."

"Did she ever discover what happened?" Willa asked, enraptured.

"I didn't know for years what became of her. She must have thought I ran off, I'm certain that is what her father intended to make her believe. I feared she would forget me. I discovered that she refused all engagements until finally she convinced her father that her two sisters had made advantageous marriages, that she was a spinster and no one would offer for her. She convinced her father to allow her to join the convent. A few years ago she became abbess at Ripley Convent."

Everyone looked at Tuck as if he had spoken in tongues. "But, that is just a mile away from you!" Djaq pointed out, shocked.

"I believe God has a sense of humor, we now are able to visit each other even if we can no longer hope of marrying," Tuck grinned, at peace with his fate after so long. "It is a comfort to know she never married anyone else."

"How do you bear it?" Marion asked

"Love bears all things," Marguerite spoke up. "Just as Penelope, waiting for Odysseus."

"Who?" John asked.

"Is that another tale like the Spartans?" Much asked. "I hope it has a better ending." Robin and Marguerite laughed.

"Penelope was Queen, long ago, and had to wait for Odysseus, first because of the Trojan war, then for years more as he was punished by the gods of old. 20 years in total she steadfastly waited for him," Marguerite explained. "Jacqueline use to sing…" she cleared her throat. "Well, we can figure out proper arrangements tomorrow," Marguerite announced, standing, after supper. She had purposely kept everyone out of Locksley long enough that her men could pack her things for her imminent departure. "I for one am exhausted and plan to spend the night in a proper bed. Willa?" she looked at Willa.

Willa nodded, saddened. Marguerite had pulled her aside and told her they would secretly be leaving in the morning, the final piece of Marguerite's plan put into place. Judging by the secrecy of the plan, and the fact no one commented on it, Willa guessed only she knew about it. Even Guy seemed not to notice, although he did seem to see that something was off with Marguerite. "I have my things," Willa said non-chalantly. She didn't own much, taking them with her to Locksley wouldn't look unusual or draw attention.

She walked up and hugged Eleanor gently. "Goodbye," she whispered so softly, Eleanor barely caught it, as she kissed Eleanor's cheek. Eleanor sent her a surprised look and Willa silently motioned to Marguerite before she went with Marguerite and Guy to Locksley.

Eleanor was leaning against Allan outside, just enjoying being close to him as the stars shone brightly. "What happens now?" Allan wondered lazily.

"I'd assume Robin and Marion take over Locksley and Huntington," Eleanor sighed. "Will and Djaq are going to the Holy Lands, Anne and Luke going with them," she commented.

"Do you think John will speak up?" Allan teased. "I'm not being funny, but for a big man he is too quiet."

It might be too late, was all Eleanor could think. "I hope he will. But what about Much?" she teased him. "They are both almost as bad as you are."

"Ey!" Allan huffed, smiling. He sobered up as he pulled her back against his front. "Vaysey used you and Tom against me," he whispered.

"I know," she reminded him. He had told her a little of what happened, how Vaysey had taunted to take her into his bed and kill Tom. She was glad the bald maggot was dead.

"For a moment, I was afraid I wouldn't make it. I didn't think you would get captured, I had faith Guy, Marguerite, Marion would all protect you and Tom…but the thought I wouldn't be there to protect Tom, protect you…it frightened the hell out of me and pissed me off. I couldn't get you off my mind down there, I didn't want to stop thinking of you," he admitted as he placed a kiss on her temple. "You and Tom are my family, Nora. We'll figure out what to do, and I swear I'm eventually going to make it up to you."

"Make what up, Allan?" she turned to look at him. "Just answer me one question, and we can decide the future tomorrow: do you trust me?"

"I'm not being funny, but you must have addled your brain," he teased, placing his hand on her forehead as if testing for fever.

She rolled her eyes. "And to think I expected a straight answer."

He cupped her face, leaning in, moving his lips against hers in a kiss that was leisurely passionate, as if he had all the time in the world to prove his point. "More than I trust myself, Nora. More than anyone."

"That's all I want to know," she grinned, breathless, as they headed inside.

She was going to test that declaration tomorrow.

Huge thanks to Fireheart for the wonderful review!