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: I should have added in an AN last chapter, but the song last chapter was an arrangement of Heather Dale's Mordred's lullaby. I am not heather dale, only an uber fan
Chapter 62: Generosity
Marguerite's good luck didn't hold out. Richard learned of Guy's work for the sheriff and was furious. "He saved your throne," Marguerite told him as they waited for their announcement behind the closed doors. The family could practically feel the court pushing in on the other side of the doors, eager to get a look at the king they have only seen once.
Joan, John, and Geoffrey shared a look: they weren't sure which tension was worse—the court's anticipation for their brother, or the death glares between their brother and cousin.
"Richard," Prince John began, ready to champion Guy on behalf of his cousin.
"You would agree to this nonsense! I should have him locked in the dungeon," Richard said.
"I have given my permission, gladly, for the match," William spoke up.
"I am the king, it is my right to punish those who make an attempt on my life," Richard obstinately didn't acknowledge William's speech.
"Richard, so help me…" Marguerite began when a page began announcing them.
His Royal Highness, Prince Geoffrey, Duke of Brittany. Her Royal Highness, Princess Joan.
Geoffrey gave her a look of sympathy before walking out with Joan.
Her Royal Highness, Queen Eleanor, Duchess of Aquitaine.
His Royal Highness Prince William, Duke of Canterbury.
Eleanor and William walked out, nodding in agreement over something.
"Richard, for once be reasonable," John began.
"The fact I haven't sentenced him to death yet should be considered reasonable," Richard pointed out.
His Royal Highness, Prince John, Lord of Ireland.
John frowned at his brother before walking out. Great, she was purposely left alone with Richard. And she didn't have enough time to guilt him into agreeing to the match. "I thank you for allowing Guy to come, Majesty," Marguerite bowed her head. "It was so gracious of you to spare a man's life." Her voice dripped in venom as she turned on a dime, anticipating her announcement.
"Marguerite," Richard sighed.
Their Royal Highness, Marguerite, Duchess of Kent.
Marguerite walked out on Richard then. She would have Richard agree to it by the end of the night, she vowed. She was running out of time, he decided to leave for Normandy the next day.
His Majesty, King of England, Duke of Normandy, Lord of the realm, Richard.
Everyone bowed and curtseyed as Richard stormed in. He motioned for Marguerite to follow him and waved the musicians to begin. "I don't like this."
"I think all in the palace are aware of that now," Marguerite drawled as they curtly bowed and curtsied.
"He tried to kill me," Richard argued.
"Then he saved your throne," Marguerite countered as they waltzed around the ballroom. After several bars other couples began dancing as well. "We couldn't have done it without him."
"He used you to get this," Richard believed.
"Do you think I am so foolish as to fall for that?"
"He is hardly worthy of you," Richard pointed out.
"You were going to marry me to Robin! In terms of lands and titles, Guy has now surpassed Robin," Marguerite countered.
Prince John was suddenly cutting in and Richard danced with John's wife, Isabel. "How goes the inquisition?" John asked.
"I thought only the Spanish were this ruthless," Marguerite deadpanned.
John laughed as the song ended and he allowed Guy to cut in. "I'm on your side, cousin," he told her, kissing her cheek.
After the first two dances, Richard moved to sit on his throne as musicians continued to play. Why didn't anyone believe that this man was guilty of treason, attempted regicide, and a slew of other charges, any one worthy of the death penalty? And Marguerite chose this man to give her heart to?
It wasn't up to her to give her heart away, anyways, he mused surly. Where the hell was everyone, anyways? Even his mother seemed to be keeping her distance. Not that he particularly wanted her company at the moment, he felt like a bear that just escaped hibernation. But as he glanced—alright, glared—around the ballroom, he noticed every single member of his family was keeping their distance.
Were they avoiding him? After he just returned home? Absurd!
He really was surly. He took the time to study the court that flitted about him. The nameless lords and ladies held no interest for him. He was leaving again in the morning, learning any names would be pointless. At least they didn't seem to care about his sour mood as they all snuck glances at him.
He watched his family. Joan was finally getting some color back in her cheeks as she talked with Marguerite. That disaster of a marriage was finally annulled, he thought thankfully. He wondered how old his nephew was now, didn't Joan say he was near 8? He was only a babe the last time he saw the boy.
He studied Marguerite. He had left her with Michel and Pierre as he left with Christophe. A stab of guilt pierced his heart as he studied his cousin. John, Geoffrey, even his mother, had told him how well Marguerite could act like things were okay. He was gone for the darker years, he never witnessed Marguerite's pain firsthand. In all honesty, he wouldn't have known what to do if he did see Marguerite in her darkest days.
Even now he could see she was like a fragile flower beginning to bloom after a frost. The question was, would keeping her from Guy really crush what was left of her spirit?
As he mused about his cousin, Richard studied Robin and his gang. Robin had always been a favorite of his crusaders, and he couldn't fault him for keeping Marion's death a secret. Despite the years at war in Acre, and then here at home, Robin's spirit seemed to be unbroken. Something Richard was thankful for.
Richard found the ragtag group from Sherwood amusing. Certainly more amusing than the lords and ladies of court.
And then there was Guy, the object of his cousin's affection. He studied the tall, dark man as he led Marguerite onto the dance floor. Marguerite's eyes danced in the candlelight as she laughed at something Guy had said.
"Glaring at him will not kill the man," Geoffrey said as he sank into the chair on Richard's left. Not that there really was a comfortable way to sit in the tall, wooden chair but at least it gave his feet a rest.
"Was Marguerite really as bad as John described? Or is he doing Marguerite's bidding and just trying to make me feel guilty?" Richard asked his brother. He trusted Geoffrey in ways he never would John. Geoffrey had fought with him, fought against their father, helped Richard ascend to the throne. It was a loyalty that few had earned from him.
"John is furious with you, still, for what happened to Marguerite. I can't say I blame him, either." Geoffrey surprised him.
"What on earth for? Making him my heir? Making him regent?" Richard demanded, their whispered conversation turning heated.
"Because he was the one who had to tell Marguerite Michel died. But he hasn't lied about Marguerite," Geoffrey confirmed Richard's worse fears.
When there was a lull in the music, Richard waved his hand and the musicians stopped. He nodded towards William. "What's happening now?" Djaq wondered. The entire experienced was surreal for the Saracen. She never imagined she would be in the court of the country that started this war. At least, not as an invited guest!
"This is a big night for Us," Richard began. "We appreciated all the affection bestowed upon Us, and the love shown to Us in our darkest hour."
"I'm not being funny, but does he have to speak about himself in the third person, plural, all the time?" Allan asked.
"In public," Tuck answered. "He speaks for himself, his crown, his kingdom."
"I think it would give me a headache," Much sighed.
"We are happy to welcome Our oldest nephew," Richard continued and motioned for the doors to open.
"Marguerite said that this would be the only time for Henri to officially be presented to the king in court," Guy explained. "Essentially, it is his presentation into court life."
"Announcing his lordship, the Duke of York," the page announced loudly as everyone stared at the doors that were pulled open. Henri strode in—already at his age he carried himself like a Plantagenet-Capet—and proceeded to the throne where he gave a slight bow.
Richard laughed and came down to hug his cousin. "You make me feel old, Henri," he laughed.
"You hardly look old, cousin," Henri said with a smirk.
"Really? You don't think he already looks befuddled in middle age?" Prince John teased his brother. "I think I saw a grey hair."
Marguerite laughed as she approached her nephew. "Well, I claim the honors of your first dance," she said decisively. "Can you dance with an old woman?" her eyes sparkled in amusement and pride.
"Older, hardly old, aunt," Henri smiled.
"Well, unfortunately for you, the youngest woman here is still a decade older than you," Marguerite smiled as they led the dance.
"That hardly matters," Henri shrugged. He had two cousins who, as kings, were already fishing for appropriate matches.
The outlaws, who had been watching aunt and nephew dance, scattered as Queen Eleanor made her way over to them. "I was hoping to get a dance with Big Bear," Eleanor sighed as she found only Tuck.
Tuck frowned behind the queen's back, mentally muttering about the outlaws that had abandoned him to the queen. Little John had practically ran away, he had never seen the big man actually look frighten.
"Well, you will suffice, Father Tuck," Eleanor regally declared, her hand demanding his arm. With no ready excuse, Tuck found himself escorting the Queen mother to the dance floor, scouring the room for Little John. He was the same height as Guy and John, so he found himself the object of the queen mother's affectionate flirtations.
Marguerite and Henri snickered the entire time.
"Well, my lord, I am very proud of you," Marguerite smiled at Henri as the song finished.
"I think I leave you in fine hands, I will find Joan now," Henri excused himself. Marguerite turned to see Guy and her whole face lit up.
Allan and Eleanor finished the dance and went to get something to drink. Robin found them and swept Eleanor back onto the dance floor with him. Allan watched Eleanor, thrilled she was enjoying herself. She had been so nervous beforehand he thought she might try to escape through a servant passage. She was still too nervous to dance with anyone she didn't know, terrified of not just being with a strange man but one of title.
But she had danced practically every dance. Most with him, Allan thought with a grin. But the other outlaws, Guy, and Tuck had danced with Eleanor as well.
To Eleanor's complete and utter shock, even Prince John had asked for a dance.
As the night wore on, Richard hushed the musicians so he could make an announcement. One the outlaws had already heard about, although not directly from the king. "We will take leave once again tomorrow evening to return to Normandy. We leave with confidence in Our brother, to rule justly in Our place," Richard turned to acknowledge Prince John. "And are happy to know that We leave with all those We have missed all these long years."
"Wait, does he mean what I think he means?" Will wondered, trying to decipher Richard's speech.
"He is leaving for France tomorrow, and the family is going with him. Not just his mother," Tuck drawled, glaring at Little John who looked slightly sheepish. "The Queen Mother told me as we danced."
"Richard, dear, stop grandstanding and get on with it," Marguerite teased.
"Only because you asked so nicely," Richard sighed. "We leave knowing that We leave everything behind in safety. In addition to Our Brother, your Regent, we know that those who fought so hard, so honorably, will protect what We love."
At this, everyone turned to stare at the outlaws. They had been staring all evening, wondering exactly what they had done. Rumors ran rampant, and none of the royal family had confirmed or denied anything. If anything, the cousins seemed to have had fun encouraging the rumors.
"I know I heard Prince John telling the Count of Sussex that Father Tuck was a trained assassin, who lived a cloistered double life. The count's wife practically swooned, and it wasn't out of fear," Allan snickered.
"We find it only right to bestow these men and women with tokens of Our thanks for all the sacrifices they have made on Our behalf," Richard continued.
"A royal thank you?" Gretchen wondered in amazement.
"Robin," Richard called out and waited for Robin to step forward. Marguerite and Joan, who were standing on the right of Richard's throne, shared a grin. "We happily restore Robin to the title of Earl of Huntington, with all his lands and the title of Defender of the Realm," Richard began. "May you and Lady Marion finally live a life of wedded bliss," he added with a grin.
"Thank you, Sire," Robin smiled.
"Marion," Richard surprised Marion who had come to stand by her husband. "We are most intrigued by you, a woman who has fought for Our cause long before anyone else realized there was a cause to fight for," Richard studied the woman. "So We shall ask you this: are you content with your husband? A husband who seems to have put the crown before his wife?"
Marion was flabbergasted. "Robin's loyalty to you, sire, could be, at times, agitating. But I never doubted him. I wouldn't have any other husband," she said firmly.
Richard smiled. "Excellent answer. I didn't expect any less. So We demand that you both marry. Properly, this time. And We will be giving you away," he smiled.
Marguerite snickered at her friend's complete shock.
"Now, there are several deceased lords, their lands confiscated. There are also several who have fought, and sacrificed, for Our sake," Richard continued. He motioned for Marguerite to sit at the chair on his right and they held a whispered conversation. And to some surprise, Richard listened to what Marguerite had to say and nodded.
"Much, step forward," Richard demanded. Nervous, Much did as he was commanded. "We know of Robin's promise and We will uphold it. The lands of Bonchurch shall forthwith belong to you and your descendents," Richard declared. "And contrary to what Robin may believe, it is not Robin's prerogative to give out titles," he glanced at Robin. "We will, however, bestow upon you the title of Viscount. Forthwith, you shall be known and addressed as Lord Much, the Viscount Bonchurch," Richard proclaimed.
Marguerite led a round of applause for the surprised Much. He had honestly not expected Richard to uphold Robin's promise. He was ready to make a life with Gretchen in Locksley or wherever she chose. Worried, he turned to Gretchen. Yes, as a Viscount he could give her and Ygrainne a better life, but would she be happy there? He knew she wanted to be close to her friend, and who knew where Eleanor would live?
Gretchen threw her arms around Much, hugging him tightly. "Don't even begin to doubt this," she demanded, smiling as she kissed him. "You deserve all of it," she promised.
"Listen to her, Much," Will smiled.
"Will Scarlett, Saphia," Richard continued as things began to settle down again. This was certainly amusing, he should give awards out more often he decided. "We will admit to having confusion why a Saracen would help save Our throne."
Djaq was surprised he would even talk to her. "It gave me the best friends I've ever had, and the love of my life," Djaq said, holding Will's hand.
"What would you ask of Us?" Richard surprised the entire hall of spectators, and even the gang.
"Nothing," Djaq surprised Richard.
He seemed to mull things over, whispering with Marguerite and Prince John. "Is it still your decision to return to the Holy Lands?" he asked the couple.
"Yes, majesty," Will spoke up.
Richard nodded. "Kent," Richard referred to Marguerite, "reminded Us of our Crusader state in Acre. We will need someone to continue the relations begun with the Saracens, and appoint you Our royal representatives in Acre. With the title of Sir William, Lord of Tripoli. A living shall be provided for you, and your brother's family, should they wish to join you," Richard announced.
Sharing a look of surprise, the couple whispered about what they were going to do next. Djaq knew that Will wanted his brother Luke to go with them, and she hoped they could convince him of it.
"John Little," Richard continued. "We need a new sheriff of Nottingham. A man who will not overlook the care of the people under him," Richard surprised everyone with this decision. He held up a hand to stop any protest the man might have. "We know you consider yourself a simple man, but We have it on good authority you are quite capable of leadership, justice, and fairness. So you can either become Sir John, Sheriff of Nottingham, or…" he nodded his head towards where his mother, Queen Eleanor, was sitting.
"Thank you, Majesty," Little John said quickly, causing several to snicker.
"A final piece of advice: Nottingham could certainly do with a feminine touch," he hinted, causing Little John to blush and several of the outlaws to snicker.
Eleanor let out a breath she had been holding when Richard called for Allan. She was terrified he would be overlooked, or punished for his short time with the Sheriff. She was still terrified he would not get the reward he deserved. And she didn't care if it was treason, she would give Richard a dressing down if he didn't reward Allan for all the sacrifices he had made.
To Eleanor's surprise—and complete fright—Allan gripped her hand in his and dragged her alongside with him. She didn't need to be there, what was he thinking? Marguerite grinned seeing the action, and tried to reassure Nora. "You deserve to be up here as much as me," Allan whispered to her.
"Now you're being funny," she squeezed his hand.
"We find We need a new noble in Norfolk," Richard announced. The previous had been a Black Knight and killed in the raid. "Kent speaks highly of you, Allan a Dale, and of you, Eleanor," Richard smiled seeing the surprise in both of their faces. He had only a little knowledge of the pair of them, but from what Marguerite had shared, he was happy to give the young woman something good in her life. "Robin has also been nagging Us to no end about his men and women. So We declare Allan a Dale forthwith to be Our new Count of Norfolk."
Eleanor squeezed Allan's hand, she had felt him tense up a moment ago, and if she had to guess, he was surprised Robin had championed him. She leaned up to kiss him on the cheek, her hand cupping the side of his face. "So I'm not the only one who believes in you after all, Allan a Dale," she grinned.
Everyone expected Guy to be next, everyone was expecting something. Would a fight break out?
Instead, Richard called forth Tuck to everyone's—especially Tuck's—surprise. "We find We cannot decide between rewards for you. So We will give you an option. We can have the Church release you from your life, you and mother superior of Ripley convent," Richard said, shocking the man to his very core. "Or, We will ask that you be placed as the new Bishop of Canterbury."
"I… I will need time to consider this, majesty," Tuck said surprised. Nothing, nothing, could have prepared him for this. He had long given up the idea of marrying his love, had long ago accepted the life forced upon him.
Richard nodded. Everyone waited with baited breath. There was no one else left except Guy. Everyone just watched as the two men simply stared at each other. Finally, Richard called him forward: "Gisborne."
Neither spoke for long moments. Richard was beginning to think he was imagining the nobles in court were creeping closer in their excitement. "Most would consider their lives reward enough," he said, the nature of his voice, his manner, changing. This wasn't a king talking to subject, this was man to man. A man talking to his attempted-murderer.
Marguerite made to speak but John shook his head in warning and Joan placed her hand on her cousin's arm. "It is a sign of the generosity Marguerite spoke of," Guy responded.
It looked as if Richard was trying to kill the man with his hardened stare. Guy, in turn, refused to budge or show any signs of weakness. Any sign of weakness would lose any chance he had with Marguerite, no man in her family would accept a coward who couldn't hold his own.
"Marguerite must have mistaken me for one of her other cousins, then," Richard drawled. "I am not amused by granting favors to those who make an attempt on my life."
"I am more than satisfied knowing I wounded Robin," Guy drawled. "It was well worth the journey."
Robin rolled his eyes even as he and his men made to stand behind Guy in a show of support.
"I may not be generous, nor forgiving. I will recognize, however, the contract my brother made with you as he ruled in my stead: the lands of Sussex and Gisborne shall be yours," Richard announced. "Let it be known that I was able to look past personal insult, to acknowledge the work you had done this past year. Sir Guy, Lord of Gisborne, is now Duke of Sussex," Richard declared. He turned to the scribes taking notes in the corner. "We declare all of these tokens of Our thanks to be made known throughout the realm. Immediately. We will leave on the morrow," he told the court. "We expect all of you to be ready," he told his family.
Suddenly, he stood and the crowd parted, bowing, as he strode out the door. Marguerite simply ogled him as he strode through the crowd, expecting him to admit that he was just jesting. Surely he was joking, he couldn't be done yet!
When it became apparent Richard was done, she stormed after him, the crowds waiting till she past before daring to look up and after the pair of cousins. "Should someone go to make sure there is no bloodshed?" Geoffrey asked.
"And get skinned in the process?" Joan inquired. "I think I'll have another glass of wine," she motioned a servant. "I have a feeling I'm going to need it before the evening is over," she sighed.
Marguerite shut the parlor door behind her as she faced off against Richard in the small parlor. "That's it? You're being generous?"
"Why should I agree to this arrangement, Marguerite?" he demanded, bracing himself with his hands behind his back.
Marguerite matched his stance, he was hardly the only person in the room of royal blood. "I am more incensed you would dare deny me this after everything you have taken from me."
"What have I ever taken from you?" Richard asked baffled.
"You took my name and titles, you humiliated my father and my family when you usurped the throne by denying me and my siblings what was ours by right! By blood! My father agreed to drop the name Plantagenet and took his mother's family name, Owen. Then, if that wasn't enough, you decreed we could not inherit his title! You decreed we could not inherit our father's title Prince. We are reminded of it every single time any of us were announced into a room—any room— as their royal highness. Fine, did any of us make a fuss over that?"
"Marguerite, I had only just taken over the throne, and I had to make sure the nobles wouldn't rise up against me. Your father, as my father's brother, was the most likely person they would rally behind. I had to destroy that symbol."
"And you were generous by not killing my father outright?" Marguerite demanded. "Don't deny the thought didn't cross your mind. We all knew it must have, or your mother certainly voiced it. But you are so generous, Richard," she drawled. "You did as your mother ordered, Richard. You have always been wrapped around her finger. But did we argue? Did any of us threaten you? No, we all agreed to it and Henri even fought alongside you. As if that humiliation and degradation wasn't enough, I hold you responsible for half of my brother's deaths," she told him.
"Don't you think I realize that? That I wish more than anything I could give you at least one of them back?" Richard practically yelled. "Do you know what it was to watch Christophe fall, right before my eyes? My God, we hadn't even finished mourning when we received word that Michel and Pierre were killed, that Jacqueline was dead. Do you know what that did to us? To know that you were all that was left? Everything changed, Marguerite. And Philip and I, we can agree on one thing: we wish we could give you at least one of them back."
"But you can't, and yet you would deny me this one thing. When have I ever asked anything of you, Richard? Ever? Instead, I fight so you can keep your usurped throne. None of these nobles even know you! I know you, Richard. You stole sweets from the kitchen for the two of us, you helped Michel and I hide from our tutors. You were the first person there when Henri died.. You go to war because you need to distinguish yourself as something more. You have taken so much from me, Richard, that I swear I will never forgive you if you deny me Guy."
"You are stubborn enough to do just that, too." Richard paced to the fireplace, leaning one arm against it. "Everything you just said is true, I did deny you all that, but I didn't do it to humiliate you, any of your family. You understand the politics, better than most Marguerite."
She waited for him to continue. "Everything you just said would probably have swayed me, too, if I hadn't made up my mind."
"Everything I said was true, too, Richard." She would never forgive him. She may even hold a coup of her own.
"Still fighting before I tell you which way I am leaning?" Richard teased. "Do you know what convinced me?"
"Convinced you which way?"
Richard grinned. "John has been babbling about you singing again. Of course, we all think he has gone mad, then petite Henri said you did sing. That isn't enough to forgive him of his treason, though. But I watched you tonight, ma fae. Honestly, I don't think any of us ever thought you could fall in love; you always had Michel, you never needed anyone. And love for us, people of our birth, is not even an option. We are destined for something else. But I saw something tonight, from both of you."
It wasn't just his cousin's reaction and feelings for Guy. He would never put her in a one sided relationship, not after having just dissolving the one his sister was in. But he saw and studied Guy's reaction all evening. It was real, which annoyed Richard even more. He would have much preferred Guy to be an enemy—enemies were easier to deal with. "Only a heartless ass would take that away from you." On more than one occasion he had been called a heartless ass by his cousins, his siblings, the Capets, the Saracens, and even his own crusaders. "I am not feeling like being a heartless ass tonight."
"You're feeling generous?" Marguerite laughed and hugged her cousin tightly.
"Let's see who was listening at the door," he whispered in her ear. They snuck over to the door and Richard jerked it open to reveal John, Geoffrey, and Henri listening in. Immediately John and Geoffrey pointed to Henri. "We were just keeping him in line," Geoffrey said as John said, "his idea." Henri looked at his cousins as if they had gone insane.
"What, Joan couldn't be bothered?" Richard drawled.
"Not with anything so inconsequential," Geoffrey mimicked his sister's voice.
"We, however, were ready to jump in and beat some sense into him," John pointed to Richard with a grin. He enveloped Marguerite into a bear hug. "So you are finally getting married?" he teased.
"Fifth engagement's a charm," she laughed.
Richard walked over to the door that led to a second hallway, across the room. He opened the door to reveal his mother and Marguerite's father. "Well," Richard said, at a complete loss of words.
"I am happy to see you have not raised a complete fool, then, Eleanor," William said.
How they could act prim and proper, and not like they had been caught eavesdropping on their children, boggled Richard's mind. He simply shook his head. "I half expected your ragtag group of country ruffians to be here, too," Geoffrey wondered. Marguerite pointed to the door leading to the servant hallway. "I would bet Surrey someone is in there," she smirked. Richard eyed the door warily as he opened the servant door to find half a dozen former outlaws looking sheepish.
"And to think Joan couldn't be bothered," Henri spoke up, causing a wave of laughter throughout the room.
A HUGE thank you to Artemis a Dale, Aloha94, Fireheart93, and Belle1025 for the great reviews! Sorry for the delays, with the end of the semester, holidays, and horrible weather, things have been hectic.