Disclaimer: I do not own Robin Hood or BBC, this is purely for fun not profit. All plot post series 2 belongs to me as do OCs.
Author's note: Randal and Archer are the same person I created the character of Randal, then learned who Archer was in Series 3 and just had to use him. Archer is Randal's nickname, although both names are used this chapter.
Chapter 61: Royally Dysfunctional
The large oak doors were opened and Prince John arrived first with Marguerite's father and a teenage boy. "So this is Gisborne?" the boy asked his grandfather and uncle, eyeing Guy critically.
"Henri," John laughed. "We discussed this, go easy on the man. Marguerite is not easy to court."
Guy offered his hand and the boy shook it. Guy knew Henri, Marguerite's oldest nephew, was only 14 but he was tall for his age. And he was also the Duke of York, so Guy knew he outranked Guy and everyone else from Nottingham.
"I see you have settled in," William addressed everyone. "Your daughter is a treasure," he told Gretchen. "Genevieve is always happy when she has someone to play with besides her cousins."
"Ygrainne loves every minute," Gretchen smiled.
The doors opened again and everyone quickly bowed and curtseyed as they saw Richard was walking in escorting his mother. "Good evening mother," Prince John greeted.
"John," she greeted. "William," she greeted Marguerite's father.
"Marguerite and Joan are not ready yet?" Richard asked looking around. "I'm starving."
"You act like they didn't feed you," Prince John rolled his eyes. Before anyone could speak again the doors opened as three figures strode in. "Finally. Marguerite, Richard is already complaining," he teased.
"He's your brother," Marguerite drawled.
"Joan," John teasingly implored.
"Good God, it hasn't even been five minutes," the man with Marguerite and Joan moaned. "Remind me, again, why I crossed the channel to come here?" he turned to Joan.
Marguerite rolled her eyes as she walked up to Guy, smiling. "You know John, already," she began. "And Richard. This is Geoffrey," Marguerite introduced the man who came in with them. "And this is Joan. They are my cousins, Eleanor's children," Marguerite introduced. The family resemblance was evident; all of Eleanor's children had brown hair with piercing eyes.
Richard walked up to Marguerite and kissed her cheek. "Richard, you remember Robin, earl of Huntington. And his wife," Marguerite smirked. She had been waiting for this moment.
"Wife? You didn't marry him," Richard remembered. "So… Marion?" Richard demanded, staring at Robin. "I distinctly remember you saying Marion died, Robin. Died for my sake, to save my life and crown," he reminded him.
"I apologize, sire," Robin bowed. "The only way to protect her was to make sure everyone believed Marion was killed."
"Lying to the king is treason," Richard drawled. "You look much better than the last time we met, Marion."
"Thank you, your majesty," Marion curtseyed.
"I ask you forgive my lies, sire, but I couldn't risk any harm coming to her," Robin apologized.
"Well, you helped save my crown so I can hardly hold it against you. It is a testament to how much you love your wife, I find," he nodded. Richard turned back to Marguerite, grinning. "I heard you sang," he said casually, as if afraid she was going to deny it.
Marguerite glared at John. "It seems no one can keep a secret in this family."
"No," several voices spoke at once. "So who else do we have here?" Richard asked looking around.
"Everyone else who helped save your thrown, and defeat the black knights," Marguerite said.
"Yes, some interesting figures, brother," Prince John smiled knowingly.
Marguerite glared at him, now was not the time for Richard to learn Guy had tried to kill him. "If you dare mention…" she threatened. "Ah, duck. It looks marvelous," Marguerite said glancing down at the food. A servant pulled her chair for her and the other women, then the men sat. "It is daring, cousin, having a family dinner tonight when all of court is eager to see you again." Most had only ever seen him once.
"Why sit around with boorish people when I can enjoy a nice, hostile family meal?" Richard teased making John, Joan, Geoffrey, and Marguerite chuckle. "How is Aquitaine, Geof?" he asked his brother.
"Eager for your return. Mother and I are coordinating your return. Philip sends his best."
"To who? Certainly not to me," Richard gruffly replied.
"To Marguerite," Geoffrey grinned. "He is sorry to have angered you. He said, and I may be paraphrasing a bit: I knew they wouldn't kill the bastard. Be back for the autumn festival."
Eleanor 'humphed' as she motioned for a servant to poor her a glass of wine. "That sounds like him," William smirked.
"Henri, you have grown over a foot since I last saw you," Richard turned to Marguerite's oldest nephew, Henri's son and now the Duke of York.
"I hear I am nearing my father's height," Henri said happily.
"You are," several people said at once.
"So, how troublesome were these black knights?" Richard asked.
"That sheriff was insufferable," Queen Eleanor complained.
"Ah, ma puce was entertaining," Marguerite grinned.
"You would say it was all entertaining, wouldn't you," Joan laughed.
Chatter continued on as servants filled and changed plates. Most of the outlaws were relatively happy to have the royal family carry on most of the conversation. Overall, it was pleasant and enjoyable, easier than most had expected.
At first.
Talk of war and training began as Richard and Robin reminisced about the crusades and talk about the war against the sheriff. "Aunt, Richard has asked me to join him, to train as his page," Henri spoke up.
Suddenly everything stopped. "You're 14, Henri. We agreed when you were 16 you could."
"Father was already training at my age," Henri argued. "By 16 he was leading his own army, just as Richard was, just as Philip was," he pointed out.
"Henri," Marguerite warned.
"Marguerite," Richard began.
"Richard," Geoffrey and Joan warned, how their brother could be an idiot and not realize the problems he created was beyond them.
"William?" John asked, wondering his uncle's opinion.
"Well, now that we know we're all present," Queen Eleanor drawled. "And I thought my biggest worry would be John learning about Otto's proposal," Eleanor sighed.
"What?" Richard, Geoffrey, and John asked, silverware and glasses clanking on the oak table.
"Yes, Henry said he would release Richard if I married Otto," Marguerite threw out.
"And you didn't?" Richard asked Marguerite.
"Didn't?" Marguerite asked agast.
"Why would she when we raised the money?" John demanded.
"Your mother sent a contingent of soldiers to abduct me!" Marguerite pointed out. The proclamation was followed with a cacophony of noise from arguing, plates, silverware, chairs scraping the floor.
"Mother!" Several people yelled.
"And to think that you have been sitting on that juicy piece of information on who your Archer is," Queen Eleanor told Marguerite, ignoring her children.
Marguerite smirked. "You thought you could sway Randall against me because of who his parents were? I knew who he was when he pledged himself to me," Marguerite laughed.
"The bastard son of Huntington and Gisborne would have to work harder than anyone to gain anything in life," Eleanor sighed.
"What?" several voices at the other end of the table finally spoke up.
"I didn't mention that Archer was the son of Robin's father and Guy's mother? How on earth did I not mention that little piece of information," Marguerite sighed as she took a sip of her wine. "I don't appreciate anyone trying to turn my men against me. Especially my own family, aunt," Marguerite glared at Eleanor.
Henri motioned to the manservant to clear his plate and he excused himself. "Brother? You are saying he is both Robin's brother and mine?" Guy demanded.
"Younger brother, yes," Marguerite nodded.
"How long have you known that?" Robin demanded.
"How could you not notice what was right in front of your nose? Well, more specifically, Robin's nose, and Guy's eyes. He also has Robin's hair and Guy's height. It seems Archer got the best of both parents."
Realizing Henri had left, Marguerite motioned the manservant to take her plate. "Well, it has been everything I expected, cousin. Happy homecoming," she said as she stood, the men standing with her. "If you are looking for Archer, it is his night off," she told them.
"A tavern then," Eleanor spoke up.
"Hardly. He is too much like his brothers. You can find him at the archery range," Marguerite told them. She went to find her nephew.
He was just as easy to find. Just like his father, Marguerite mused, as she found him in the study. "Bringing it up at dinner was ingenious," she told her nephew.
"I stupidly hoped you wouldn't say no with so many people, so many soldiers, around," Henri shrugged.
"Henri," Marguerite tried to reach out but he shrugged her off.
"Father was training, all of my uncles were training, by my age. Father had his own army at 16, just like Richard. And you would keep me in the nursery!"
"Yes, when Henri was 16, he was out fighting. Do you know what happened when I was 16? He was killed," Marguerite said sternly. Lord, how she had wished she could avoid this day. "You are so eager to go off and fight."
"You would keep me in the nursery forever," Henri countered. "How can I be the Duke I need to be when you want to keep me behind your skirts? No one will respect me."
"What would your mother say if she was here? Rebecca would not want you rushing off…"
"I don't give a damn what that woman has to say," Henri frowned, cutting her off. "You have been more of a mother to me than her. I care what you have to say, aunt. No one else's except pépé." (pépé is William, his grandfather)
Marguerite sat down. "You are only 14, Henri," she began and held up a hand when he began to argue. "There is still so much for you to learn, even about fighting. I do not want you to just charge in. If you are so eager to learn, then fine. I want you to study with Philip."
"Philip? He is hesitant to take me under his wing." He had asked when they were in Paris last month.
"Because he knows I will personally kill him if something happens to you. But I want you to study with him. Richard just got himself abducted, hardly the best tutor for my nephew," Marguerite huffed making Henri laughed. "Richard is good at fighting, yes, but Philip and Henri were always better at strategizing. We all knew it, it was one reason Richard asked your father for help when he had his coup. I want you to be smart, Henri, like your father was. There is more to war than swinging a sword."
"I wish you would have taken me with you when you went to Nottingham," Henri told her. "I could have helped."
"Don't mistake me for a damsel in distress, nephew."
Henri chuckled. "I remember him, right before he left on the last campaign, that I could learn a lot from you, aunt. You are hardly a damsel in distress, only a fool would think so."
Him. Michel. No one, not even the servants, spoke his name, which is what led to the confusion with John and Guy this morning.
"Yes, well, study a year with Philip. We will renegotiate after that," Marguerite promised and they shook hands.
"John said you sang today," Henri said hopefully.
"Bullocks, that man cannot keep his mouth shut!" Marguerite frowned making Henri laughed. "Did he proclaim it from the balcony after all? Alright, tonight when the children are done eating, before bed, I will sing. You decide what you would like to hear," she promised. Henri hugged his aunt.
"How upset did Guy and Robin look?" Marguerite asked.
"Surprised, confused, but not angry," Henri assured her. "I don't know if he is good enough for you, but if you like him I will too," Henri promised making Marguerite laugh.
Marguerite kissed the top of his head, something she wouldn't be able to do soon. "Go gather the others, I'll find you in the nursery."
Marguerite entered the nursery a bit later to find that dinner must be over since Gretchen and Eleanor had been coming to play with their children. All of her nieces and nephews were there, waiting with bated breath. "Henri says you will sing again, tante," Victor said excitedly.
"What did Henri want me to sing?"
"Something about Mordred," Henri decided. He had always been fascinated with the dark figure of legend.
"One song, then it's off to bed," Marguerite told them. Some lullaby that was about Mordred… "How about the lullaby Morgana sang to Mordred when he went to sleep," she decided. Henri had enjoyed it when he was younger. They all nodded eagerly so she sang the song Morgana sang to her baby, teaching Mordred to hate his father, corrupting him as a child.
Hush, child
The darkness will rise from the deep
And carry you down into sleep
Child, the darkness will rise from the deep
And carry you down into sleep
Guileless son,
I'll shape your belief
And you'll always know that your father's a thief
And you won't understand the cause of your grief
But you'll always follow the voices beneath
Guileless son,
Each day you grow older
Each moment I'm watching my vengeance unfold
For the child of my body, the flesh of my soul
Will die in returning the birthright he stole
Hush, child
The darkness will rise from the deep
And carry you down into sleep
Child, the darkness will rise from the deep
And carry you down into sleep
Seeing their wide eye, delighted faces made her heart burst. "More!"
Margurite laughed and kissed them all goodnight. "Tomorrow, if you all go off to bed and behave," she promised. Now she had to find Guy and see how upset he was.
She was waiting in a parlor for him to return. She learned, from Joan, that as soon as possible both Robin and Guy had excused themselves and gone to find Archer. She would have to apologize to him, Randall never wanted them to know.
"How long have you known?" Guy's voice drew her from her thoughts.
She looked up from her chair and he thought it was like those nights in Nottingham as she sat in the chair before a fire. He leaned against the doorframe, his arms folded across his chest and she just drank in the sight of him.
"Not until he, Kazim, and the rest came to Nottingham. Eleanor was holding something, some sort of leverage, against him trying to get him to spy on me for her. I told Kazim to find out what it was," Marguerite explained. "I knew he was the bastard son of a noble, a country noble, but I didn't know who. I didn't care," she explained. "He pledged himself to me and has always been loyal. He confessed to me who his parents were after Eleanor approached him."
"And you didn't say anything?"
"I was going to after we disposed of Vaysey. I didn't know the best way to say: by the way, I found a younger brother you didn't know you had. And guess what! He is also Robin's brother. How would you have taken that? Then the miscommunication fiasco," she sighed. "Lord, just promise we will never hide anything from each other anymore because it is exhausting and always comes back to bite me in the arse."
Guy laughed and took the chair opposite her. He grabbed her hand, clasping it in his own, his thumb running along the back of it. "I won't lie, it was a shock. And of all people in the world, why did it have to be Robin? Hell, I would have preferred to find out I shared a brother with Allan, or Tuck."
"And you wonder why I hesitated to tell you," Marguerite drawled. "How is Robin taking this?"
"A bit better than your fiancé," Robin's voice spoke up behind her. She turned to see Robin and Randall in the doorway.
"You haven't killed each other yet, there is hope yet. Sit," she ordered both of them. She watched as they both turned a chair to straddle. "Lord, and you are surprised? The three of you are alike in so many ways, it is amazing I didn't recognize it sooner," she drawled. "I am sorry, Randall, this is certainly not something I planned," she apologized.
"Nothing is normal with you, my lady," Randall smiled. "There is nothing to forgive."
"You certainly have a better temperament than your brothers," Marguerite laughed squeezing his hand. "Do I want to know what happened? I don't see blood," she joked.
"He won us over quickly, Marguerite," Robin grinned.
"See? Right there, how could I not see it?" Marguerite sighed. "What happened? Men are mysterious creatures."
"He told us, in no uncertain terms, that he would kill either of us if it was necessary to protect you," Guy told her
"I simply told them that I had no problem gutting them in their sleep if they ever hurt you," Randall agreed easily.
"And that won you over?" Marguerite shook her head. "This proves my point: men are mysterious creatures."
"Well," she spoke up after a moment. "Best get prepared for tomorrow."
Tomorrow was court.
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Huge thanks to my readers and reviewers :) Something about this chapter just tickles me, I hope you all enjoy it as well! Only a few chapters left to wrap it all up. HUGE thanks to Aloha (I loved the PM :) Fireheart, and Artemis A Dale