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Chapter Text

    1 May 1188, Huntingdon, England

    "The Earl seems distracted," Robin said to his friend Robert de Ros.  Everyone was eating outside for May Day.  

    "There has been speculation that he is going to marry Matilda of Chester soon."

    "Or it could be he doesn't like that I'm friends with Prince Richard."

    "Better Richard than John!"

    David was Scottish, but he held the English lands of Huntingdon, and Robin was his yeomen because his father Duncan was the bastard son of King David I of Scotland, meaning both Robin and David the earl had a common grandfather.  "Fitzooth" was the Norman-French "fitz" combined with the Gaelic word "úd," meaning "son of yonder," changing the 'd' into a 'th' because his father thought it sounded better.  Twenty-two years ago, while Duncan was in his birthplace of Cumbria (a place considered to be "yonder"), he had an out-of-wedlock child with a lady from Embleton, who was Robin's mother.  Such a thing was not scandalous to the Scots, but it is to the English, which was why Robin was sent away to Huntingdon, and he barely got to see her while she was alive.  Later, he spent time with Prince Richard in France.   

    It was Robin who was distracted when he saw his friend Marian approach them.  Marion her father were shepherds from Lenton in Nottingham, and they have traveled south to Huntingdon to sell wool. 

    "Say Robin, you know how you say archery contests are boring because they're too easy for you?"

    "What about it?"

    He was both concerned and attracted to her mischievous grin.

    "How about you shoot an arrow throw and wagon wheel hole?"

    "That would be interesting to try, but we don't have anything to hold the wagon wheel high enough."

    "Me and Much will do it!" Robert said.  "And I'll talk to Earl David to make the winner the Mayday king."

    "In that case I will do it and make you my Mayday Queen," Robin said to Marian. 

    Marian blushed. 

    "I will kick you in the leg if you make me the center of attention like that!"

    "It will be worth it." 

    22 Aug. 1188, Lenton Priory, Nottinghamshire

    Unlike other priories in England, Lenton Priory was French, and because of current anti-foreign sentiment most people in the village did not come here, but Alfred FitzWalter's grandfather was a French shepherd who came to England to work for the monks, so his family still came here.  The family legend was that their house was made with the broken stones and leftover bricks from its construction at the beginning of the century.   

    On the second anniversary of Duncan Fitzooth's death, he came to the chapel to light a candle and pray for his friend's soul, and for the protection of his daughter Marian and Duncan's son Robin.

    Before he was disgraced for sleeping with a lady outside of marriage, Duncan was a spy for King Henry, who sent him to Paris to keep an eye on the middle Plantagent son, Geoffrey Duke of Brittany.  Unfortunatley, both the duke and Duncan died that year.

    Decades before, Duncan and Alfred betrayed William of Blois, who was the son of King Stephen and Count of Boulogne.  Alfred saw Duncan's death as the outcome of the blood curse William placed upon them, which means it's likely he will be the next victim.

    The solitude was interrupted.

    "You were warned, Alfred of Lenton, that vengeance would come, even if it was beyond the grave."

    Alfred gasped at the ghost he was seeing.

    "No!  You are dead!  William of Blois died almost thirty years ago, I saw it!"

    "William of Blois is dead....for the time being, until I claim the throne that was unjustly taken from me."

    "Kill me if you must have vengeance, but do no harm my daughter, let the blood curse only apply to me and Duncan."

    "No.  Duncan also begged mercy for his child, and I will tell you what I told him:  Even the Lord, our God, has decreed that the sins of the fathers shall be visited upon their sons and daughters."

    "NO!" Alfred tried to fight William, but he was eventually stabbed in the chest.

    Guy was waiting outside the chapel when the doors opened, and the Baron of Argentan emerged with blood on his tunic.

    "Gisborne, take Robin's dagger and plunge it into the man in there where I stabbed him."

    "Yes, my lord." 

   Argentan said the goal was to put John on the throne, but Guy didn't understand how killing a shepherd would make that happen.

   He knew better than to question his superiors.  

    25 Aug. 1188, Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire

    Robin woke up with pain around his neck.  

    "Are you awake Robin?"  he heard Much say.  "You're lucky to be in Sherwood Forest instead of Heaven."

    That's right, his last memory was of being hanged despite his innocence.  

    While he was in southern France, he learned the culture of courtly love, which went together with the veneration of St. Mary.  He prayed to her for mercy, and on the gallows he loudly swore on her name that he was innocent.  Before his death, he prayed that if he was unworthy of mercy, then Marian should receive it.  

    Robin tried to speak, but it was too painful.  He needed to rescue her from Argentan and Gisborne!

    "You were rescued by a group who calls themselves the Merry Men.  They should call themselves the Wild Men since they live in the forest.  Their leader Little John owed me for grinding his wheat at a third the old price plus a favor when my father raised the cost."

    Robin raised an eyebrow.

    "I did not ask how a man who lived in the forest acquired wheat," Much said.    

    26 Aug. 1188, Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire

    "That was a good show beating Little John in a fight," one of the outlaws said to Robin while they were setting up camp.  

    "Why is he called Little John when he is so big?"  Robin's throat did not hurt as much as it did yesterday.  

    "Irony."

    "That's unusual."

    "We're all unusual here, which makes you the odd one out.  The reason I became an outlaw was because I was kicked out by my father for wearing my sisters' dresses."

    What he said was so unexpected that Robin laughed.  

    "You laugh, but I would look prettier than you."

    "I'll take your word for it.  My father and I did not get along either."

    "My father thinks it's from the bad blood of my infamous grandmother, who had been the mistress of the Earl of Cornwall.  My father is William Brewer, Forester of Bere and Sheriff of Devon, and the family name comes from how our household makes the best ale.  Instead of Will Brewer, I now go by Will Scarlet, because of the fine wool cloth I wear from when I was the son of a lord, and I love a woman named Joan de Redvers."

    "I thought it would be because you wear red dresses in particular."

    Will laughed.

    "Alas, I have not been able to wear dresses as much as I like.  In case you haven't noticed, the Merry Men wear Lincoln green."

    "I promise I will get you a red dress."

Chapter Text

    2 Sept 1188, Nottingham Castle

    Marian was kicking herself for being careless.  Robin was framed for her father's murder while the Earl of Huntington was away by Guy's master Alaric de Montabard of Argentan, so he must have been the one to kill her father.  

    She was a prisoner here in Nottingham Castle, and Odella was only here for a short time to give her the message that Robin was going to rescue her, but before that she was opening up to Guy as a friend, but his wooing took an awful turn when he assaulted her mouth.  Like every woman, she has experienced unwanted attention from the men in her village, but being a prisoner made her physically and emotionally vulnerable in a way she wasn't before.  What's worse is that every time she didn't give in, it made him desire her even more.    

    Guy has not given up on his plan to marry her, and women were coerced into marriage all the time, even the powerful Eleanor of Aquitaine was almost a victim of marriage-by-rape.  The rule that marriage was invalid without consent was empty, otherwise people would end their marriage all the time, and many women would not marry at all.  In her case, her low birth means that people would not care if she was violated, and they would chastise her for not wanting an advantageous marriage with a knight.      

    She now sees Guy in a new light, and he must have been his master's accomplice in her father's murder.  What she doesn't understand is why Argentan would kill her father and frame Robin for the murder.    

    8 Sept 1188

    After sunset Guy paced his room.  Despite Marian's low birth, her beauty and chastity made her the perfect bride for him.  Earlier today, he almost broke his promise not to lie with her until their marriage.  His own mother was prone to lust like most women were and was Argentan's mistress, but Marian was above that.  From the outside, it seemed as if the gender roles were reversed, that he was the one consumed with lust, but he swore it was a physical manifestation of his love.      

    He went up into the tower and knocked on her door.

    "My lady, I wish to apologize; I cannot sleep unless I hear your words of forgiveness."  Marian would be so moved at his chivalrous behavior, which was usually only given to those of higher birth.  When they were alone together, he always spoke to her as if she was a lady, but unlike the high-born ladies of courtly love who must be admired from afar, he was going to marry her.   

    Marian didn't answer him.  He opened the door and was shocked to find Robin in the room with her. 

    Guy drew his sword out.  "Move away from her!  I have pledged to marry her." 

    "I did it first," Robin said, pulling out a sword.  "Without holding her prisoner."  

    "Where did you get-that's Argentan's sword!"

    "There's an inscription that says 'I am immortal,' so it's obviously meant for me since God decided I should survive a hanging."

    "You are a thief and a liar!  God is not the reason you survived.  A yeoman like you should not have a sword."  

    "I saw you murder an old, unarmed peasant.  Some knight you are."

    "My lady, please stand back," Guy said to Marian.  It's possible Robin learned sword fighting from the Earl of Huntingdon, which means this won't be a quick and easy fight.  "I swear to the Virgin I will protect you."

    "I also did that first," Robin said.  "Go, Marian."

    Marian fled from the chamber, and Guy was relieved she was no longer in danger.

    Just like he predicted, Robin was more skilled at sword fighting than a yeoman should be.  To his embarrassment, Robin won when Guy's sword was flung across the room.

    Robin pointed his sword at Guy's chest and glared at him.  

    "I have a message for Argentan:  the men of Nottinghamshire have declared him unfit for the office of sheriff because he has abused his post."

    "King Henry appointed him, what you are saying is treason!"

    "This is not an insurrection; it is a defense of what is right.  I will work tirelessly to oppose Argentan's tyranny."

    "You are not only going against the king, you are also going against God for acting in a way unsuited for your station, you yeoman!"    

    "It's not like I'm going to kill him.  Once the king hears what he has done, you and your master will face justice."

    "Your king is far away from England.  You will fail."

    Robin laughed.  

    "Have you forgotten that he is your king too?  Henry rules Normandy, not the French king."

    Guy mentally kicked himself.  If it was discovered that they were plotting to put Prince John on the throne, they would be executed.

    "Little John, I think Gisborne needs a rest in order to recover from his humiliating defeat at the hands of a yeoman."

    Guy barely had time to register that there was another person in the room before he was knocked unconscious.

    When he woke up later, he was horrified to discover that Marian was gone.  

Chapter Text

    18 Nov. 1188, France

    King Henry destroyed the room around him, throwing cups and plates and ripping the sheets off the bed.

    "You're getting old," his son Richard said.   "I've done worse."

    "You are an unnatural demon just like your mother!"

    "If there's anyone 'unnatural,' it is you!  What kind of father does not name his eldest son as his heir?"  

    "My instinct is correct, considering you would wage war against your king and your father!  By Christ, I wish that my seed was barren when I see what it has brought forth!"

    "A warrior!  Worthy of being a king!  I cannot go on Crusade until I know John will not crown himself if you were to die while I'm gone.  Many men have said that they would be proud to have me as a son, but not my own father!"

    "You are Eleanor's son, not mine."

    Richard knew that John was his favorite son, but his words still hurt.

    "You are right, I am my mother's son, because I'm not incompetent like John."

    He turned around and stormed off before his father could respond. 

    He spoke to William Marshal while the horses were being saddled.

    "My father has not given you your due," Richard said to the older man, "I would not waste your loyalty."

    William bowed. 

    "I am loyal to the king, whoever he may be."   

    "Then you should pray that John shall never be king!"  

    Dec 1188, Embleton, Cumbria

    Marian paced around the bedroom of Robin's cousin, Constance de Toury.  

    The land in northern England was great for sheep, and Marian expected to take up being a shepherdess again and practice her archery until Robin came back, but something unexpected has happened.  

    "A woman in your condition should not be stressed too much," Constance said.

    "I know your father said Robin and I are married because we made our vows in a church, but I don't have the money to take care of a baby by myself.  The money from selling wool will be enough to pay your father for feeding and housing only me.  Plus, if Guy were to find me and it was known I had Robin Hood's child, my baby would be in danger."  

    "I have an idea: my gossips say that Kirklees Priory in Clifton is the place to hide a pregnancy.  There are nuns there who are healers, and they'll take in babies, in your case, temporarily.  We'll tell Father that we'll be staying there in seclusion for spiritual reasons."

    "There's a Clifton in Nottinghamshire, is that the place you are referring to?"

    "No, it's in the parish of Dewsbury in west Yorkshire.  You can't be close to home if you want to hide a pregnancy."

    "Do I really need to hide the pregnancy from your father?"

    "No, you need to hide it from my brother, otherwise Lionel will tell everyone about it."

    "That means I'll have to leave my child in the priory until Guy and Argentan are no longer a threat."

    "I'm sure Robin will come back before the baby is born."

Chapter Text

     April 1189, Kirklees Priory, Clifton, West Yorkshire

    The moment one of the nuns saw a group of men on horseback galloping towards the priory, Marian was sent to the basement to hide inside an empty wine barrel, which wasn't easy considering her growing belly.  From what she heard, this is not the first time they hid a woman from a man who felt he could invade a religious site for women to find "his woman."

    She held her breath when someone entered the basement with a lantern.

    "Somebody has been down here recently, I can tell by the dust on the floor," Guy said.

    "Well of course, I was down here this morning to get a cheese wheel," Sister Avina said.  "It is blasphemous for a man to be in the place of nuns."

    "Robert of Huntingdon's sister has been known to come here.  I am looking for a woman named Marian, who has been dishonored by him.  I want her to know that no matter what he has done to her, I still want her as my wife."

    Marian tightened both her hands into a fist.  He was the one who almost dishonored her!

    "It is true the Prioress has taken Lady Constance under her wing to teach her medicine and herbs, but she has always come here with only an escort, who is way too old to be her cousin.  This Marian you are looking for is not here."

    "I will pray in the chapel for her safety, and that God may lead me to finding her," he said.   

    21 July 1189, London

    Ida was ill when her husband Roger summoned her to London.  She traveled in the wagon while her son Hugh rode his pony, excited to be on an adventure.  

    London was not a place of good memories.  Years ago, her brother sold her to King Henry to be used as a concubine, but he was dead now, and she was hoping that she could see her eldest son William, who was now the half-brother of the new king.  

    "I have said prayers for the King's soul, and I have ordered vigils to be kept, and masses said," she told Roger in the yard.

    "I have paid for masses too.  All should be done with respect and propriety."

    "I assume King Richard will be here soon to be coronated."

    "He will not be in England until August at the earliest, and he still intends to go on crusade," he said with disapproval.  "The Dowager Queen Eleanor will be regent while he is gone, but it's still not a good idea for him to go on crusade unless he has an heir who is not Prince John."  

    "She will not want me as one of her matrons."

    "I didn't bring you here for that.  I know you were friends with Isabel de Clare, and she is getting married tomorrow to William Marshal."

    "I am glad to see her again!"  High-born women usually do not choose their husbands, so it was an unspoken tradition to have female friends provide comfort and a shoulder to cry on after the wedding night.  All men think it's normal to have blood on the sheets, but women know that that only happens when there's assault.  

    Ida was so happy on her wedding day.  Most concubines are banished to a nunnery, but she was lucky enough to marry Roger, who was more agreeable than Henry.  

    "I gave William some horses as a wedding gift," he said, "I was thinking we could give Isabel a cradle."

    "No!"

    Roger was surprised.

    "I don't understand, I remember how happy you were when you got one on our wedding."

    "Surely you understand that the circumstances are different.  Isabel is going to feel uncomfortable wedding a stranger who is older than her, and a cradle will make her feel embarrassed.  I will give her one of my new dresses."

    "Fine, I'll leave the matter of wedding gifts to you."

Chapter Text

    Aug. 1189, Sherwood Forest

    Instead of going to a church, Robin would go to the tree in Sherwood Forest which had "R+M" carved onto it.  He can here to pray to St Mary and to think about Marian, who has been staying with his maternal uncle for many months now, and he was rarely able to communicate with her.

    Last month, they heard that Henry II died, which filled Robin with hope.  His master, Earl David, could not help him, because he couldn't risk the ire of King Henry and lose hope of helping his brother the Scottish King regain the kingdom's freedom from England.  Richard will come home, and the new king will vouch that he was no murderer.  Robin heard from his sources (Robert de Ros) that there is a plan to buy Scotland's freedom so Richard will have money for the crusade.

    It did give him pause to hear the king of England boast that he would sell London if there was a buyer, but surely that was a jest.  

    "Robin!" 

    "Much, you have found my secret hideout.  I'm glad that neither Guy nor Argentan has your tracking skills." 

    "Will says this was posted though out Nottingham."

   Robin took the parchment.  

    Alaric de Montabard, Baron of Argentan and Sheriff of Nottingham, herby proclaims that the vile murderer of Alfred FitzWalter of Lenton has been captured and has given a full confession.  

    With a contrite heart, Baron of Argentan regrets the misunderstanding that led to the false conviction of Robert Fitzooth of Huntingdon, who is absolved of all crimes.  He will be given an official pardon at Nottingham Castle.

    "Little John thinks it's a trap," Much said.

    "Definitely.  It's suspicious how it doesn't say who the murderer was."

    Back at the camp, they received more news.

    "Queen Eleanor has been released from confinement, and she has ruled that those who have been jailed for breaking the forest laws should be free."

    "Those Normans have no business claiming sole ownership of the forests," Little John said.  "Let them have the castles, they are not connected to the forests like the English are."  

    Will Scarlet whispered in Robin's ear.  "I think Little John worships the pagan gods."

    "Or it could be that the old gods just happen to be associated with places and things that should be owned by the commons."

Chapter Text

    Oct. 1189, Sherwood Forest

    Will and Little John fled away from Nottingham on their horses.

    It was unbelievable how quickly Fortune's Wheel had turned.  King Richard had appointed a new sheriff of Nottinghamshire who proclaimed that the Merry men were all pardoned and Argentan arrested for corruption.  Will should have known there was an ambush afoot when Guy of Gisborne made a show about how he was only following Argentan's orders, which included capturing Will months ago and torturing him to find out where Marian was. 

    Shockingly, Argentan appeared and murdered the new sheriff.  Gisborne briefly fought with his previous master, but Argentan got away.  Gisborne proclaimed that as captain, he was in charge and ordered the arrest of the Merry men.  There was much fighting, and Little John dragged him away.

    "We can't rescue them if we are in prison ourselves!" he said.  

    They reached the hideout, which was a large, ancient oak with a hollowed-out trunk.

    "I would bet everything I have that Gisborne is still loyal to Argentan," Will said.

    "Definitely, this way Argentan still has a man in Nottingham, because it's not like Argentan can be sheriff again. Publicly murdering the sheriff picked by King Richard is treason, not even his benefactor Prince John would be able to protect him." 

    "Prince John might be the one behind all of this."

    "Or maybe Argentan is using Prince John."

    They sat in silence.  How were the other men going to be rescued when they are outnumbered, and Robin plus Allen Dale were probably in Dover by now to leave for Outremer?

    "We need to hide somewhere else," Will said.  "That time when Guy was torturing me, I would have told him anything.  Robin was wise to not tell us where Marian was, and if he had asked where this hideout was, I would have told him."

    "There is a place we can go," Little John said.  "It's to the west of here."   

    The next day, Little John took him to a place where there was a dilapidated stone structure, and next to it was a small wooden house. 

    "I haven't been here in a long time," Little John said.  "My great-grandfather built that house."

    "What about that," Will said about the stones. 

    "Hundreds of years ago, my Viking ancestors built an assembly place here in Sherwood.  The location has been passed down for generations."

    Little John grabbed Will by the shirt and pulled him closer.

    "You cannot tell anyone about this place, not even Robin!  The Church has a long history of razing pagan places to build a church on top of it."

    "I promise I won't!"

    Will was let go.

    "We need to stay here for a few days," Little John said.  "When Gisborne gives up the search, we'll be able to sneak back for information about the others."   

Chapter Text

    Late March 1190, Pontefract Castle, West Yorkshire

    The two men bowed to the young woman at the head of the table.  Matilda was the sister of the Earl of Chester, and she was staying in Pontefract Castle because it was faster to communicate with her brother in Brittany here than in Chester.  

    "Sir Roger FitzJohn, I hear you are now Sheriff of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, you must be very busy," she said to one of them.  

    "I am also Constable of Chester since my father is going on crusade, and my top priority is the safety and welfare of my lady," he said before kissing her hand.  "I have loyal men like Guy FitzCurzon here, who is my captain in Nottingham."

   "I am pleased to report that all is mostly well in Nottingham," he said.  He wanted to be back at home looking for Marian.  His first thought was that Robin hid her in a convent, but he has already searched everywhere.  Where was that bastard Robin Fitzooth hiding her? 

    "Sir Guy, you must be pleased to have a different master now," she said.  "The next time you go south, have someone imply to my future husband that if he mistreats me, I can be as much trouble as my sister-in-law."

    "The Earl of Huntingdon should feel blessed to have someone as beautiful as you," Roger said.

    Guy was irritated at his flirting.  Roger was almost twenty, about a decade younger than he was, and Guy felt like a babysitter.

    "The King may die while he's on crusade," Guy said to him while they were alone.  "I know a person who is close to Prince John who can put in a good word for you."

    "I support Prince John over a foreign king like Richard, but I will not commit open treason."

    "You are smarter than I thought you were." 

    "Smarter than William Marshal's brother John, who's unlikely to going to continue as sheriff of Yorkshire.  King Richard is furious at him for allowing all the Jews in York to be killed, but he should be glad that people took out their anger at them instead of the king who is taking one tenth of their income so he can spend it on his crusade."

    "I wonder if 'Robin Hood' feels uneasy about serving a king who extorts his subjects," Guy said.  "People who don't pay the Saladin tax get imprisoned or excommunicated." 

Chapter Text

    Early April 1190, Shropshire, England

    Fulk FitzWarin slowing walked through town.  It was Hocktide, which meant that women were "kidnapping" men for "ransom" to give money to the church, but it was an open secret that they will keep a coin for themselves.

    He stood still and grinned when he heard footsteps, and he was blindfolded.

    "Oh no, I have been captured!  Do your worst ravishing ladies!" he said as the rope was tied around him.

    "It's just me," a girl said, dragging him away. 

    Fulk deflated.  Maud le Vavasour was a pretty girl, but she was only 13, seven years younger than him.

    "Shouldn't you be in a group of merry women?" he said.

    "I wanted to capture you."

    "Indeed you have, fair maiden.  Take a coin from my pouch and let me be on my way."

    He was kissed on the cheek and Maud giggled before scurrying away, leaving him tied up and blindfolded.

    "You wench!"

    The rope wasn't too tight, but it took a while to get out.  When he lifted his blindfold, he noticed his whole pouch was gone.  

    Maud had never felt so happier in her life.  This year Hocktide was extremely important because they were getting money to help people pay the Saladin tax.

    Although she did regret kissing Fulke on the cheek instead of the lips like she always thought about.  

Chapter Text

    22 Sept. 1190, Mileto, Italy

    On their way to the Holy Land, Robin was sitting at a communal fire with the other knights for supper.

    "When Richard heard that his sister Joan was imprisoned by the new ruler of Sicily, his Angevin temper flared up, and he broke a chair with his sword," Robin said.  "He decided to go horseback riding to release energy, and we pleaded with him to take an escort.  He only chose one person: Sir William FitzOsbert."

    There was a time Richard would have chosen Robin, but their friendship chilled when he tried to talk to the king about how oppressive the Saladin tax was.  There was also the fact that not only did Robin's lord did not come on the Crusade, Earl David did not try to influence his brother the Scottish king, William the Lion, to instigate the tax in Scotland.

    "We rode for about half an hour," William FitzOsbert continued, "and came across a peasant's hut and heard the sound of a hawk.  Richard was offended that they had something that should only be owned by landowners, and he broke the door and took the bird."

    "That must have given the family a fright," Allan said.  "They probably thought the unnaturally tall foreigner was going to molest the women.  Instead, it was a bold looting."

    "One of the children must have ran to the village for help.  A dozen or so people, men and women, arrived with basically sticks against two warriors with armor and swords.  The leader attacked with a small knife, and the king hit him in the head with the blunt of his sword.

    "They had determination and numbers, and Richard's sword broke while we were escaping.  It's a sign that the poor can achieve anything when they work together, they just need a leader."

    "That reminds me of my outlaw days," Robin said.  "One time we were almost captured by the mercenaries hired by the lord we were taking money from, and we got away thanks to the villagers."

    "The poor in spirit shall have the kingdom of Heaven, but the poor in wealth shall have Heaven of Earth."

    Even to Robin Hood, that sounded too idealistic.  

Chapter Text

    4 Oct. 1190. Messina, Sicily

    Robin ran to the church, and there was so much blood on the streets he almost slipped.

    Unlike the people in Melito, who were able to defend themselves, the people of Messina were no match for an occupying army.  

    When he opened the doors, he was horrified that it was filled with even more blood and dead bodies of people, including children, who sought sanctuary.

    "Robin, you have missed all the fun!" King Richard said.  He was covered in blood, and Robin could hear other soldiers elsewhere in the church.

    "Your majesty, we are damned for this!  I know killing and looting, but this is slaughter and raping!"

    "You were an outlaw, but this is the life of a soldier!  Both steal for personal gain, but armies don't need to leave and hide in the woods."

    "This wasn't supposed to be like that!  We are supposed to be holy warriors for God.  We are going to fail in our quest, and it will be because you allowed this!"

    Richard's happy demeanor changed.

    "How dare you speak to your king that way!  I am ordained by God, it is not for a yeoman to pass judgment on me, and it is blasphemous for you to claim that we will fail."

    Robin didn't know what to say, and he was surprised he said that.  During his outlaw days, he stole for survival, and as Robin Hood he helped the peasants because he believed in justice and charity, but it never occurred to him to go against the king himself.

   He bowed.

   "You are king, and I beg of you to have mercy on these people."

    "Those who oppose crusaders go against God, and they shall have no mercy.  I order you to remember that."

    Richard turned around and left.

Chapter Text

    Jan. 1191.  The Alps

    After sixteen years of being imprisoned by her husband, Eleanor was excited at the opportunity to travel to Navarre to bring her future daughter-in-law to Richard in Sicily.  Not only was she seeing places from her youth when she was queen of France, but she will meet her daughter Joan again when they get there.

    They were sheltering inside a hut that is used by shepherds and pilgrims traveling through the Alps.    

    "You're probably wondering why we didn't wait until later in the year to travel," she said to Berengaria.

    "It's because avalanches are more common in the spring when the snow is melting."

    "Yes.  It's also because the wedding needs to take place before Lent."  Eleanor prayed that Berengaria would have children quickly.

    "I heard Richard is renown warrior and a devout Christian."

    "He is a military man, which means he will be away most of the time, even after the Saracens are defeated."

    Berengaria remembered what her brother Sancho said to his friends while she was eavesdropping:  "When Richard was in Paris, he preferred to be with the king of France over any woman," he said.  "The bed did not separate them, if you understand my meaning."  Sancho and his friends laughed.

    Of course her worldly brother didn't understand; Richard was a true Christian man who spent all his time with men because he did not succumb to the sin of lust. 

    "I am honored to marry a man like Richard," Berengaria said.   

    Temple Church, London

    "You are not going to believe who's here," somebody said to William Marshal.  "One of Robin Hood's men needs a loan."

    Robert de Ros knew everyone here disapproved of him; the Merry Men immediately and indiscriminately redistributed money, which goes against the business of the Templars, which is to hoard money for the benefit of those rich enough to do business with them.  The fact that they were exempt from the Saladin tax made many people dislike them, but now that the outlaw days were over, this was the only way to get a large sum of money.  It was legal, but he still felt like he was stepping into foul-smelling manure.  

    William walked up to him.  "What do you need money for?"

    "I need to pay the fee to get my late father's lands back from the Justiciar, so that I can marry the widow Isabella MacWilliam, the Scottish king's daughter."

    Robert mentioned the Scottish king because an order like the Templars value ties to powerful people.  

    "Why should we trust an outlaw?"

    "Former outlaw, soon to be a civilized married man."

    That made the other man chuckle.

    "I think it will be good for our Order to do business with a former Merry Man, it will show everyone that we represent the future."

    March 1191, Nottingham Castle

    Guy was glad to be back in Nottingham castle.  After King Richard left, his justiciar William de Longchamp seized it when Roger FitzJohn returned home to claim his late father's land.  The former sheriff was now calling himself Roger de Lisours, because he was now heir to his grandmother's lands. 

    Guy and many of his men snuck back into the castle to take it back, and they would have died if Prince John had not arrived with reinforcements, but Guy had to make peace with the Sheriff of Nottinghamshire who was appointed by Longchamp: William de Wendenal, who immediately surrendered and swore fealty to John.  

    "My loyal men!" Prince John said to the crowd inside the castle's great hall.  "My brother is incapable of governing England, because he's not English!  He did not grow up here like I did.  His Chancellor and Justiciar, William de Longchamp, has been giving out lucrative positions to his Norman friends and family, leaving English men of good birth with nothing!"

    It was unusual for him to be talking like that.  The peasants were the only ones who bore a grudge against the Normans, and Guy thought it was silly to be so emotional over an invasion that happened over a hundred years ago.  When it came to ancestry, John was more Norman than he was English, just like everyone of high birth.  Perhaps the common people thought that at least with English lords and barons in government and church positions, the money from rents and taxes will stay in England.   They will still have rents and taxes and have no say on what the money is being used for no matter if the person collecting it is Norman or English, and the biggest source of wealth leaving England and Normandy was the Holy Crusade, which Prince John wanted no part of.  Guy was possessive of what money he had, which was why he resented Richard's Saladin tax.  What he really wanted, besides having Marian as his mistress, was to own land, something Argentan promised would come to him when Richard was no longer king.  

    "Longchamp is weak," John continued, "The people of London are in full revolt against him.  Never forget that it was Richard who made him chancellor, but what's worse is that my brother declared Arthur, who is a weak, foreign child, as his heir, along with Longchamp as regent if he dies in the Holy Land!  Because he and Richard are known to be lovers!  Richard was also lovers with the Brabant mercenary Mercadier!"

    People gasped.  Everyone heard the rumor through whispers, they were not expecting to hear it out loud. 

    "I will be the heir!  And if God calls for it, I will be your king!"

    The crowd cheers, including Guy. 

    "It's unusual for you to be cheering," Wendenal said.  "You're as much as a 'Norman foreigner' as I am.  Plus, he didn't give you my position as sheriff."

    "There are other positions besides sheriff.  Plus, he's only saying what's currently popular to garner support."      

Chapter Text

    30 March 1191, Reggio Calabria, Italy

    Richard's sister Joan was eager to see their mother again after being separated for fourteen years, and he agreed to surprise them a day early.  Richard greeted his mother courteously instead of his usual boisterousness so no one would notice that he treated Berengaria with a respectful but distant courtesy. 

    "The nerve of that man Tancred!" Eleanor said.  "He treated my daughter with such disrespect, and he delayed our journey in Naples!  He likely made up the excuse that our retinue was too large to avoid me."

    "He likely knew you were going to give him a lashing for imprisoning your daughter and taking a crown that a bastard like him has no right to," Berengaria said.

    "You need to give a lashing to your son, too," Joan said.  "He's been friendly to my former jailor."

    "It was politically necessary," Richard said.  It was also personal:  Tancred had them delayed as a favor to him.  If they had arrived before Lent, his mother would have insisted they get married immediately, and it would be impossible for him to get away with not consummating with Berengaria.  The idea of bedding a woman was distasteful to him.

    For years, he avoided marrying Philip's sister Alys, going so far as to claim that she and his father were at one point lovers.  The truth is that his father was a lecher who likely flirted with her, but nothing else.    He was going to tell Berengaria that he was going to be celibate until Jerusalem was free from the Saracens.  After that, he planned on having her live in England while he lived in Normandy or Aquitaine.  As for the succession, he had a better physical prowess than John, so he will out-live his brother.  The crown will either go to his nephew Arthur of Brittany, or an unborn nephew sired by John.   

    "Have you heard about the trouble in England?" he said to change the topic. 

    "You mean how your justiciar Longchamp has been so terrible that some of the barons have gone so far as to ally with your brother?"

    "Yes, you're the only person I trust to sort this situation out."

    "You're sending your mother away?!  After I just traveled all this way, including crossing the Alps in winter?  Walter de Coutances can do that, I don't want to miss your wedding."

    "He's going with you, and I will give you the means to remove Longchamp from office if it becomes necessary."

    Her facial expression changed.  He knew how much she loved political power.

    "Very well," she said.

    "She doesn't need to leave very soon," Joan said.  "Richard has agreed to take me to the Holy Land too so I can keep Berengaria company."

    "Is this true Richard?  Must I always be separated from my children?"

    "You're going to be reunited with John, and I promise you'll see Joan and I again when the crusade is over."

    "I hope you and Berengaria will have a son, and I will see my grandson before I die."

    "I pray for it," Berengaria said.  "Imagine the heir to the throne being born in the Holy Land."

    Richard laughed nervously.      

    During the feast, one of the musicians sang about a 

Dark haired beauty

My eyes longed to see

Now you are here

I won't be separated from thee

    It was likely intended to be about him and Berengaria, but his thoughts were for Mercadier, who was in Anjou.    

Chapter Text

    21 July 1191, Acre

    During the attack on Acre nine days ago, Robin was instrumental in bringing down what was known by the crusaders as the Accursed Tower.  Not only was he more popular, but even King Richard was warming up to him again.

   Unfortunately, Richard got into a thunderous argument with the Duke of Austria. 

    "Robin, go to the battlements and take down that popinjay's flag," Richard said.  "The mere duke has no business planting his flags next to those of kings."

    Robin thought the king was being petty and was making more enemies than he needed.  Why would he feel insecure about the prestige of kings?  The Germans under Duke Leopold had been here longer than the English and Normans under Richard, and it was not a good idea to fight the Saracens with a smaller army, but he did not want another conflict with the king. 

    "I'll go with him," said Robert de Beaumont the Earl of Leicester. 

    "Do you think we'll ever get to Jerusalem?" Robin asked him while they were climbing the stairs to the battlements.

    "Why wouldn't we?"

    Robert got to the flag first, and to Robin's shock, dropped it into the moat, which was full of sewage and garbage.

    "That was uncalled for!" Robin said.  "The king will be furious!"

    To Robin's dismay, the king laughed when Robert told him what he did.  

    25 July 1191, Acre

    After that day, both King Philip and Duke Leopold announced their intentions to leave.

    A conflict that was ever present among the crusaders was who was to rule Outremer, Conrad of Montferrat or Guy of Lusignan, and Philip insisted that the matter was to be settled before he left to claim Artois for the French crown.  It was decided that Guy would rule, and Conrad would be his heir.  The decision was another loss to Philip, who supported Conrad.

    For the Feast of St James, there was a tournament, and King Richard took part with William FitzOsbert, Robert de Beamont, and Robin on his team against the Templars, who despite being hosts for the French king, backed Guy because his brother Aimery was a close ally to the Templars.

    "I thought the church didn't approve of jousting," Robert said.

    "The Templars are more warriors than monks," Richard said.

    Against all odds, Robin had unhorsed some of the Templars and acquired extra money through the ransoms.

    "At least now, you're getting money through more honorable means," William said.

    "Do not get used to getting money from the holy order Robin Hood," one of the Templars said.

    "I assure you, I only stole money from corrupt church men."  

Chapter Text

    20 Aug. 1191, Acre

    Saladin underestimated how ruthless Richard is.

    There was an agreement that Saladin would hand over captured crusaders and a piece of the True Cross in exchange for the Saracen prisoners, but Saladin was stalling.  They needed to be on the march before the rainy season, and once they leave the coast and travel east, the only food they will have will be what they can carry.  

    It wasn't surprising to Robin when the king ordered the execution of all the prisoners.

    Robin kneeled before the king after the council.

    "Sire, a small portion of the prisoners are civilians, it would not take a lot of men and food to continue to hold them for ransom here in Acre."

    "I am the king, and I have made my decision, but I understand your sentiment.  You will go to the prisoners and only execute the soldiers, other men will take care of the civilians."  

    This was not an order Robin was expecting.  He kneeled lower.

    "Have me whipped sire!  I cannot kill men who are bound instead of on the battlefield!"

    "Indeed you will, you disobedient yeomen and thief!  Since you have proven yourself to be no warrior worthy of setting eyes on Jerusalem, you will stay here in Acre with my wife and sister."    

    Sept. 1191

    Robin had no regrets about disobeying King Richard, even if it meant giving up the chance to be a knight.  Little John was right: climbing above your station can only be done by selling your soul to evil.  He did regret that he was here in relative safety, while the army, including his friend Allen Dale, was suffering and risking death.

    Allen's lover who was also Joan's Saracen servant from Sicily, Safiya, left after the massacre, and Allen was shocked and devasted that she would do that, naively believing that their feelings for each other would persevere.  Before leaving, he left his dog and young servant behind in Acre with Robin.

    "The King really enjoys my music," Allen said before he left.  "He calls me Blondel in reference to my long blonde hair."    

    Robin did not like Queen Berengaria.  "God glorifies in the death of pagans!" she said that day.  He considered Richard's sister Joan to be the true queen, and he was pleased to act as her bodyguard.  

    One day, she was walking in the garden, and she bade him to sit down next to her.  

    "Do you have a wife at home?" she asked.  

    "I was going to have a wife, but Marian was upset that I chose to come here before marrying her."

    Joan placed her hand on his.

    "If I was her, I would also be eager to have you.  Since you are no longer bound to her, you are welcome to share my bed while Richard is away, and you don't need to hold back at the end.  It's obvious that I'm barren."

    Joan was a beautiful woman, and he was tempted; the last time he had been with a woman in that way was that one time with Marian.  

    Instead, he kissed her hand.

    "My queen, I am honored, but I want to try to smooth things out with Marian when I return."

    "She may have moved on by now."

    He had thought about that many times.

    "I still need to try."

    Joan had tears forming in her eyes.

    "You are so different than my husband William was, and it's likely whoever Richard chooses for my next husband will also not be passionate about me."  

    Robin kissed her hand.

    "I will serve you for the rest of my life," he said in an attempt to comfort her.

    Later, he realized he forgot to include the king in his pledge.    

Chapter Text

    7 Oct. 1191, St. Paul's Cathedral, London

    Roger Bigod was going to his confessor later for thinking the blasphemous thought that regaining Jerusalem was not worth the conflict happening in England.  Yes, John was being treasonous by coveting his brother's crown, but if William Longchamp had not been so unpopular, John would not have amassed support, nor would the citizens of London would have welcomed John's rebel army last night.  It was ironic because fifty years ago, they blocked John's grandmother from being coronated and drove her out of the city. 

    "Be wary when Londoners arrive with torches," the bishop of Hereford, William de Vere said to him last night.

    "Citizens of London!" John said.  "I will always remember your joyous welcome, I assure you I am no longer the inexperienced young man I was in Ireland.  I declare that William Longchamp shall be banished from London, and I declare that you will now be able to choose your own mayor!"

    There was loud cheering and applause.  King Stephen had first granted them that right in 1141, but John's father took it away as revenge for their support of Thomas Becket.  

    "Your Grace, what if the new chancellor does not approve?" Roger asked John.  

    "I reminded him that my brother has no heir."

    29 Oct. 1191, Dover, England

    Marian, dressed as a man, looked out at the water at Dover, impatient for the ship to get here sooner so they can get to Outremer sooner.

    I'm coming Robin!  We will stop the king from being assassinated, and then we will have sex, and you will be so shocked when I tell you about our son Robbie.   

    Close to her, there was a large, elderly merchant woman who was out of breath pulling a cart full of pots.

    "Do you need help ma'am?" Marian said in a deep voice.  

    "Thank you lad for helping a widow."  

    "Which ship are you taking?"

    "Whichever is leaving England first."

    "Grandmother!" someone called.  A tall woman in a red dress and a red hood covering her face rushed toward them.  "I have been looking everywhere for you!"

    "You are mistaken, I don't know you," the merchant woman said.  

    "Grandmother, your voice is deeper."

    "I'm not your grandmother, and I have a cold."

    "Grandmother, since when do you sell pots?"

    "Since now!"

    "Grandmother, your boob has fallen out of your dress."

    There was a small bag of sand at the merchant woman's feet.

    "Go away you-...you're a man too!"

    Will Scarlet hit them in the head with a pot.

    "A man who looks better in a dress than you do!"

    "Do you know that person?" Marian said.

    "It's William Longchamp."  Will spat on the unconscious body.  "That is for what happened at the Blue Boar Inn."

    "What happened at the Blue Boar Inn?"

    "He knows what he did."

    "Will was wearing a dress and a drunk Longchamp thought he was a prostitute," Little John said, suddenly appearing.

    "What's offensive is that he thought I'd take two shillings."

    Jaffa, Outremer

    Robin stood outside the door with the guards and Queen Joan's ladies.  For once, Richard was on the receiving end of the infamous Angevin temper, and he smiled picturing Lionheart cower from his sister.

    "You treacherous pile of idiocy and shit!" Joan shrieked.  "I will slit your throat before I marry Saladin's brother!"

    "May I remind you of your duty-"

    Crash!

    Robin and the others flinched.

    "Shut up you monk!  You haven't done your duty with Berengaria since your wedding night."

    Robin saw the maid in front of him raise her eyebrows.

    "You'll be queen of Jerusalem, and this will end the conflict, and cause a rift between Saladin and his brother than can be exploited."

    "If you wanted my marriage to end a conflict, then you should have made me queen of France!"

    "I am the king!"

    "And I will have every priest, bishop, and pope on my side that this is blasphemy!  You'll be excommunicated, and my brother King John will be more reasonable."

    The doors slammed open, hitting the guards and almost hitting Robin, and Joan stormed out.       

Chapter Text

    22 Feb. 1192, Acre

    Robin and Allen received word that Will Scarlet was waiting for them in the Templar compound, and they hurried out.  

    "Will would not come all this way if he had good news!" Robin said.  Has Marian been kidnapped again?  Or worse?

    "It's probably about Prince John," Allan said.  "I'm sure Marian is fine."

    Robin was rendered speechless when he saw Marian, who was wearing a nun's outfit.

    "I haven't joined the church!  The Templars were offended that I was wearing men's clothes, and this is the only outfit that was available," she said.

    "I offered to give her my dress since I would have to change, but she thought it was too gaudy," Will said.

    "Are you two mad?!" Robin said.  "There is a war going on here!"  

    "Why are you two here?" Allen said.  

    "Argentan and Guy are here to kill Richard so John can be king."

    That woke up Robin from his haze, and he gave orders to Allen and Will to bring the king here for his protection, and they scrambled away, leaving him alone with Marian.

    "Why did you come here?  Will could have come on his own," he said.  He thought about his own journey to Outremer, which was perilous enough, but it was even more dangerous to be out at sea during the winter.

    "So could I, but it's better that we came together."  Marian smiled and came closer to him.  "It's good to see you, Robin.  I see that you have stayed away from razors."

    "I'll gladly shave, if it would please you."  Robin felt vulnerable, which made him feel embarrassed.  "Stay here!  I'll come get you when it's safe."  He rushed away.

    Marian left out a disappointed sigh.  "I don't appreciate being left behind like I'm useless," she said to the air.  

Chapter Text

    Late 22 Feb. 1192, Acre

    Marian's eyes were still red from weeping, but right now they stared at nothing because she felt only numbness.  

    Robin was dead!

    She had sworn that she would never allow Argentan or Gisborne to make her feel helpless again, yet that is exactly what happened when she was captured by Guy and Argentan and used as bait for Robin.  

    Robin is dead!

    She was completely helpless when Guy had stabbed Robin in the chest.  Her only solace was that earlier she finally got to tell Guy how much she hated him, and Robin lived long enough to forgive her for her anger.  

    Marian, I will wait for you in heaven.

    I will kill Argentan and Gisborne!  I will make their lives a living hell for what they did to my father and my husband!

    Robin was lying down on a table and she pressed her forehead against his shoulder.  

    I never got to tell you about our son.

    Before Robin had his final confession, he insisted on a marriage ceremony.  King Richard and many men Marian did not know expressed their sadness at Robin's death.  She could not help but be angry at the king and was glad that she was a shepherdess and a yeoman's widow, if she had been a lord's daughter he would want her to be a lady-in-waiting to his mother or wife.    

    Marian curtsied before the king.

    "Your Grace, I would like to go home, may I take Robin's weapons with me?"  She had already taken the dagger the physician had pulled out of Robin's chest, and he would likely think that she was going to sell them for money.  

    "Of course, I will make the arrangements.  I want you to know that even though Robin was...Robin, he was still the bravest person I know." 

    Marian curtsied lower so the king could not see the anger on her face.

    He was more loyal to you than to me! 

    5 April 1192, Ascalon

    Normally after a solemn Easter ceremony in the church, there is a feast and everyone was happy it is the end of Lent, but this year they did not feel like celebrating.  It was obvious they were never going to take Jerusalem, the popular Robin Fitzooth was dead, and very recently, the Duke of Burgundy ordered all the French soldiers to leave Richard and come to Tyre.  Anyone who had the illusion there was still a chance to capture Israel was not as disappointed as everyone else.

    "I know there is reason to be ...not joyous," Richard said to a small group including his wife and sister in the "Great Hall," which was actually a large tent.  "But there is good news that is befitting for Easter, the day Jesus rose from the dead.  We had a miracle in Acre: somebody was so close to death that we truly thought they were dead, but we discovered God gave him mercy. We were not sure he would survive because of wound fever, but now we are sure, and he is well enough to have made many attempts to get out of bed.  Robin Fitzooth has returned to us!  He's still in Acre right now, in the best of care."

    Everyone gasped.  Was the heat so much affecting the king's thinking that he was playing a cruel joke? 

    "He's a revenant!" someone said.  "I heard about one in Hereford from Walter Map who rose from the grave and prophesized people's deaths."    

    "Nay, the physician has confirmed that he is not."

    "Do you truly mean it brother?" Joan said.  

    "Truly!"

    "This is a miracle!"

    "Yes, but the information cannot spread further."

    Late April 1192

    Joan was about to go to bed and was about to order all the candles and lamps out when someone unexpected arrived.

    "Safiya, you're back!"

    "My lady, can I speak to you in private?"

    "Of course, sit next to me on the bed."

    Joan shooed the other women away.

    "After I left, I joined the household of Queen Isabella," Safiya said.  "She hates Conrad so much that..." she leaned closer and whispered, "she has allied herself with the Templars to have Conrad be murdered by the Order of Assassins, and in exchange, she will marry Guy's brother Aimery."

    "The Templars really are more warriors than they are monks if they are working with Muslim Assassins."

    "No, they are an economic order more than they are an order of Christian warriors.  This war is profitable for them, and Conrad has offered a deal with Saladin to end it."

    "I don't blame her for wanting him dead, given the circumstances of her marriage to Conrad, although it's likely that a husband of Richard's choosing will be forced on her."

    "My lady, I must warn you that your brother will be partly blamed.  All of Europe will see him as an enemy."

    "Only Philip and Leopold see him as an enemy, however, the timing will give Richard more of the blame than you think:  he's making plans to go home soon and deal with John, who has been conspiring with the French king, and very recently the Templars trusted Guy with the island of Cyprus, which would leave Richard without an ally here."   

    "It will look like he is tying things up for Guy to remain in power once he leaves," Safiya said with understanding, "especially since Isabella is with child."

    "Right, and there's also the fact that Richard has been known to have negotiations with Muslims, much to the suspicion of other crusaders."

    "Including one to marry you to Saladin's brother."

    Joan grabbed Safiya's hand.

    "You should stay here, there will likely be a backlash against all Muslims when this happens."

    "I will, but not yet." 

    Safiya was a part of "the arrangements," and in the meantime, she knew Joan would not tell her brother anything.  

Chapter Text

    May 1192, Kirklees Priory, Clifton

    Marian and Will returned to Dover, then they traveled north to Huntingdon where Marian spoke with David of Scotland.  Robin owned land as the Earl of Huntingdon's servant, and she made it clear that as Robin's widow, she was entitled to one third of it, but she also had to pay the fine on behalf of Robin for marrying someone who is not from Huntingdon.

    Will and Brother Tuck escorted her to Kirklees Priory, and she told them to come take her back to Sherwood Forest in two weeks.  To her happiness, Constance came to visit while she was shearing the sheep.  Normally, she would do this in June, but the weather was warm, and she wanted to do it now.     

    "I heard about what happened to Robin," Constance said.  "I came here to see Robbie, I don't need to pray for his soul because a Crusader will go to Heaven with ease."

    "My own son sees me as the shepherdess who visits the priory occasionally," she said sadly.  "I was hoping that Robin and I would raise him in Huntingdon, but that was not meant to be."

    "You and Robbie can come with me to Embleton," Constance said.

    "After I sell the wool, I'm going back to Sherwood Forest to get revenge!" Marian said.  "Robbie has to stay here for his safety."

    "I hope you do it soon, otherwise Robbie will become a feral child of the forest next to Kirklees."

    1 June 1192, Sherwood Forest

    The first thing Marian did as the new leader of the Merry Men was make it clear to the surrounding villages that women could enter Sherwood Forest to pick bilberries and raspberries.

    "Come to think of it, it is unusual that we haven't seen women gathering fruit and St John's wort in the forest," Little John said.

    "Surely you understand why women would avoid a large group of armed men," Marian said.

    "But we would protect them from such men," Much said.

    "You are the group of armed men they were wary of," Marian said.

    "But why did nobody say anything whenever we were visiting the villages?"

    "Because you were very clear that your comradery was for yeomen and peasant men, otherwise you would have realized sooner that there were no women in Sherwood Forest."

    Later, Marian realized she was to blame too.  The last time she was with the Merry Men, she was so caught up with her feelings for Robin, learning new skills, and fear of Argentan and Gisborne that she forgot about the community of women.  The only way she could think of to atone for it is to offer to teach the women and girls archery, so they don't have to rely on men for protection.    

    24 June 1192, Nottingham Castle

    This was the first time Constance was inside a castle, which is happening because of her betrothed.  Guy of Gisborne was a knight, albeit one with not much land.  His master kidnapped her brother so she would have to marry Guy, which would give him land through her dowry.  Argentan was probably rewarding his captain to keep him silent about Alfred FitzWalter's murder.  

    He was tall, with striking blue eyes which she found captivating.  Marian told her about how he treated her, and she was quietly asking around about poisons to get rid of an abusive husband, but she was now rethinking that.  Guy made her whole body stir, and she was eager to experience sex for the first time.  At 24, women her age already have husbands, or at least have had lovers.  Unlike Marian, who had blonde hair and a pear-shaped body, Constance was dark haired and had a tall, stick-shaped body.       

    "I want to thank you again for this brooch," she said.  She knew it was not as expensive as the ones he gave Marian, but she liked this better.  Instead of having a jewel, there was a Celtic design on it.  

    Constance was tall herself, so it's not often she has to look up at men.  Our children will also be tall.

    He reached out and held the necklace she was wearing, which had a single, small blue jewel.  His fingers against her chest made her heartbeat faster, if only there wasn't so much fabric there right now. 

    "Who gave this to you?" 

    "It was my mother's.  I got it after she died."

    "It's not from a lover?"

    She blushed and looked down.

    "No."

    "That's not surprising, you look like a tall, skinny boy."  

    "How dare you!"

    She rushed away before he could see the tears in her eyes.  

    It took a while before she was ready to socialize again.

    "Where you able to find anything in Sherwood Forest?" she asked her father.

    "Yes and no.  It's fortunate that I have a close friend among William Brewer's men.  Brewer has impressive investigation skills, and he found evidence that some of the Merry Men are still living in the forest.  Brewer believes one of them is his son, and I really hope they have heard something about Argentan keeping a man prisoner somewhere."

    "I promise I will do everything I can to find information about Lionel."

    "Be careful about it."

    "Have you heard anything about Robin or Marian?"

    "No."

    Constance let out a disappointed sigh.  

    I hope for Robbie's sake they are alive.

     July 1192

    Argentan and Guy went to Guy's rooms in Nottingham castle for privacy.

    "What is the update?" Argentan said.  "People have been talking about how the outlaws are taking a portion of money from men of means again."

    "My lord, in the last few days, Wendenal, Brewer, and I have searched the woods for Marian and the outlaws.  However, I have only recently recovered from the injuries I received when you abandoned me here after the wedding."

    By "injury," he meant the whipping he received for murdering Robin.  The only reason he wasn't tortured to death was because Lionel was still a hostage.  

    Argentan slapped Guy across the face.

    "Don't whine to me!  Your whipping was deserved for failing to kill King Richard.  Prince John was furious about that, and now Queen Eleanor and other have urged Richard to come back from the crusades to deal with him."

    "But the queen is allied with the Templars and relies on them to enforce her will regarding John by cutting off his funds.  They wouldn't want Richard to come back before liberating Jerusalem."

    "The Templars know that so long as Richard lives, he will not give up.  He will only come to England for a short time and extract all the money he can, just like the last time he was here."

    "Shouldn't we do something about the Templars?  King Philip is supposed to be John's ally, and he's in a better position to deal with them than us."

    Argentan scoffed.  "I'm not worried about those religious fanatics.  In the meantime, we will conscript men from the villages into an army ostensibly to defend against Philip, but it will really be to stop Richard from conscripting them against John when he returns."

    "We need those men for next month's harvest," Guy protested.

    "Why do you care?  You're not a peasant at risk of starving."

    Underneath the wooden floor in the cellar below, Constance was listening by standing on top of a barrel.   

    Her husband and his master were working for Prince John, but she still didn't know where her brother was.  

Chapter Text

    11 Jan. 1193, London

    Robin and a group of others risked crossing the Narrow Sea during winter to reach London to tell the news of what happened to Richard:  He was alive, but he was captured by Duke Leopold of Austria and was now a prisoner of the Holy Roman Empire.  Allan agreed to stay on the continent and travel to Durnstein Castle as Blondel the traveling troubadour in order to keep an eye on the king's imprisonment.    

    He wasn't there when Queen Eleanor heard the news, but everyone else was glad Richard was alive, including his liege lord David of Scotland, and Robin knew it was because he did not want John to be king.  The people of Wales, Scotland, and especially Ireland remember how much of a tyrant he was when he was ruling Ireland.  

    David dropped the cup he was holding when he saw Robin.

    "Cousin?! You're alive!"

    "I am."  Robin wanted news about Marian, but he didn't know if David would have any, perhaps the servants would.

    "Your widow has taken up your previous occupation, leading the band of outlaws in Sherwood Forest," David said.  "Churchmen are louder about condemning her than they were about you, because having a woman in a leadership position among bachelors makes the Merry Men look like the heretic Cathars."

    Which means they are speculating that she is having sex with them.  After all, it was known that most of the Merry Men would gladly sleep with a widow.

    "I don't understand why she would risk her reputation like that."

    "Revenge for your death, she's been antagonizing Guy of Gisborne and by extension the Sheriff of Nottinghamshire William de Wendenal."  A servant gave the Earl of Huntingdon another cup of wine.    

    "I have no reason to complain," David said.  "She's still providing wool.  As for the other matter, her proclaiming to be acting on the will of St Mary the Virgin to avenge your wrongful death means you probably won't be seen as a cuckold."

    Marian was not violent, so she was probably doing nothing more than pranks.  

    12 Jan. 1193, Sherwood Forest

    Guy was tied up and kneeling before Marian, and the dagger he used to kill Robin was now pointed at his throat.

    "Aren't you going to beg for your life?" she taunted.  

    "No.  My usefulness to Argentan is ending, and....I have grown fond of Constance, it's better that she be made a widow now.  Argentan has been plotting with the French king, and I am loyal to Prince John, so if Richard's infamous luck holds out and he returns, I will be likely executed for treason."

    Marian has killed two times, but they were both accidental, this was different, and despite her grief and hatred, she could not kill him.  Instead, she used the dagger to cut a vertical scar, marring the left side of his handsome face. 

    Guy screamed in agony.

    Marian pulled out a knife from her boot and threw it on the ground in front of him so he could cut the rope.

    "Let the king kill you, for I will not," she said, turning away so he could not see the tears in her eyes. 

    Forgive me Robbie, and Robin!    

Chapter Text

    Late 25 Jan. 1193, Embleton, Cumbria

    Marian was awake with Robin asleep next to her.  She could not make sense of her actions today.  It makes sense that she did not jump for joy when Robin revealed he was alive, because surely, she was in shock.  She did feel extremely joyous moments earlier when she was intimate with her husband after almost four years, but why did she not immediately tell him about Robbie instead of waiting till morning?   

    It was because of her lack of "maternal nature," which Robin will attribute to her leading the Merry Men.  Robbie knew she was his Mama, but she still had no idea how to calm his tantrums, which has been happening more because the stability and familiarity he had at Kirklees is gone.  

    Now that her husband was back, he was either going to take over as leader of the Merry Men to fight Argentan, or they will leave it all behind to live as yeoman instead of outlaws, in which case he will still be taking over.  

    All her life, the elder women would say "behind every great man is a great woman," as if there was honor in that.  They probably believed it themselves in order to accept a world where men were always in charge.  Even Eleanor of Aquitaine could only rule on behalf of her son.  

    Marian placed her hand on top of Robin's.  Whatever happened, King Richard was not going to come between them again.  Let the Queen find money for the ransom, Robin can pay what he can and stay out of it.  

    Late Feb. 1193, Oxford

    William Marshel left his wife and two sons at Caversham to travel north to see Queen Eleanor at Oxford, stopping at Wallingford Castle along the way and found it occupied by Welsh mercenaries hired by John.

    If only Richard was here instead of imprisoned in Germany.  The Queen's court was not a good place to find a courtesan, and he was in need of one.  He thought that a young high-born wife would smile and dote him in a manner more innocent and purer than a courtesan, but nobody ever told him that Isabel was just like a Southwark whore:  she wanted him to leave her alone after "the business" was done.  

    He and William Brewer bowed before Eleanor, who was sitting down.

    "I have bad news," he said.  "John is conspiring with Philip to invade England and see to it that Richard stays imprisoned forever."

    She got up and started pacing.

    "Why is John like this?!  He has land now, why isn't that enough for him?  Why can't he accept that Richard is king?"

    "I heard that a witch told him that he would wear the crown."

    "You mean a charlatan fortune-teller working for Philip who told him what he wanted to hear."

    "That is what I told him, but he believes it to be real."

    "Richard will come back, and it will be safe for Berengia and Joan to leave Rome.  When Richard has a son, John will see what a fool he has been to believe such lies."

    "My Queen," Brewer said, "John has proven that he is a traitor to the king and a threat to the realm.  He needs to be confined."

    "He is your prince!"  Eleanor stomped her foot in anger.  "Whatever happens, I will not have John imprisoned like I was!  If there is an invasion, it is because of Philip, who has John under the influence of his spider web."

    For the first time, Brewer thought that her advanced age was negatively impacting her thinking if she still thought of John as a boy who could not be responsible for his actions, a mistake he did not do with his own son.   

Chapter Text

    23 March 1193, On the Road in Rutland, close to Oakham.

    "Papa, can your horse fly?"  Robbie asked Robin.  Little Robbie was holding onto the bridle just like Papa.  

    The house on his property in Huntingdon was finished and they planted the spring crops there.  Now they were on the way to Lenton to plant crops there, which won't take too long since Marian's family land, which was now his, was not a big as the land in Huntingdon.      

    Robin laughed.  "No, but he can jump over logs."

    Robin brought his treacherous cousin Lionel along to keep an eye on him, along with Constance.  Ostensibly, she was here to get her away from Guy and keep Marian company, but the real reason was to get Marian to stay at Lenton while he traveled further north with the Merry Men.  Every landowner was supposed to have a wife at home to weave and do other domestic duties.  One time Lionel told him in front of the men that he was weak and that he should "give her a good slap when she is disobedient, that's what every man does with his wife." He gave Little John the honor of giving Lionel a black eye.    

    "Robin, are you certain that I can't go to Tickhill with you?  Constance can stay in Lenton with Robbie, and I can cook and do laundry for the army with the other women."

    Robin sighed.  He knew full well that she fancied herself as someone who could join the fight.  

    Suddenly, Robin sense that something was wrong.  He moved the horse next to Marian's and passed Robbie to her before jumping off his horse and placing his ear to the ground.

    "Take Constance and Robbie into the woods for at least thirty yards, then tie your horses and continue on foot.  Do you know how to cover your tracks?"

    "Of course I do.  If there's danger, I can climb a tree and provide cover for you."

    "It's not just any danger, there's a large group of mounted men coming this way."

    Robin looked at both directions of the road.

    "How would you know that?"  Lionel said.  "Even if you're right, they could be on their way to Tickhill like we are."

    Robin turned to answer him but was dismayed to see that Marian was still there.

    "I told you to go!  We could be facing a battle, and you must hide in the woods, now!"

    He was more harsh than usual, and Marian turned around and left.  

    During the battle, a few of the Merry Men died, but most of the bodies were the enemy, who left in retreat.

    "Will, take Lionel and follow them, they could be regrouping."

    There was movement at the corner of his eye, and he quickly notched an arrow.  The blood in his face drained because he was a hair-second away from shooting Marian, who stepped into full view with her palms raised and blood on her face.

    Lionel road past Marian and sang to her "Sir Marian is in trouble."  

    "What in God's name are you doing here you foolish woman?!  I almost killed you when I realized there was an archer behind the tree!"  He looked past her into the woods.  "Where's my son?"

    That was the last straw for Marian.  

    "Our son is hiding with Constance!  Did you really think I would hide and be useless instead of coming back to help?!"

    "Help?  You're lucky to be alive.  Those men weren't forest bandits; they were trained soldiers!"

    He picked up the bow she threw on the ground.

    "Where did you get this?  Why is your face bleeding?"

    Marian touched her face.

    "It doesn't matter, what matters is that I did help by wounding one of those men.  I may not be as good as Robin Hood, but I can still hold my own with a bow."

    He threw the bow on the ground and realized that the other men were watching them.

    "Get back to work!  See to the dead and wounded!"

    He softened his voice.  "Marian, never, ever do anything so foolish again.  Do you understand me?  I need to hear your solemn promise at once."

    "Never!  Who are you to call me foolish when you would have done the same thing in my position?!  If I need to protect myself, our son, or you, or anyone, I will do it.  I will never be the passive and biddable wife you want me to be!"  

    Marian was holding back tears, and Robin moved closer to comfort her, but she stepped away.

    "Marian, please understand, I can't stand the thought of you in danger, I need you, our son needs you."

    "How dare you weaponize our love for each other!"

    He didn't understand what she was talking about, but before he could ask Will Scarlet and Lionel arrived back.  

    "We rode for a mile, but we didn't see them," Will said.

    "If they come back, we won't be able to take them a second time without reinforcement," Robin said.  

    "I can ride ahead to get them," Lionel said.  

    "Will can do that."  Robin did not trust his cousin to be on his own.  "Oakham is nearby, we will wait for you there."

Chapter Text

    April 1193, Lenton, Nottinghamshire

    Marian settled into a routine where Odella will come to her house for a few hours early in the morning to milk the sheep while she was inside getting the fire started.  Later, Marian will turn the milk into cream and then go to the brewer of Lenton, Cecilia, and exchange it for ale. 

    She also told stories of fae, wild men and King Arthur to Robbie to counteract the new trend of having stories with demons and the Devil.  A popular one was about the Sorceress of Berkeley, who prophesized her son's death then gave the rest of her children instructions on what to do with her body when she died, but was she was still taken from her coffin by a demon on a black horse.  It wasn't lost on her that many of the new stories featured revenants who came back from the dead, just like Robin did.  Whenever he could, he would go inside a church, and many times people he allowed people to put their hands on his chest to feel his heart beating.     

    "Will Scarlet got good news," Odella told her one day.  "His sweetheart Joan was supported to marry the Earl of Kent, but she disappeared before the wedding."

    "He likely helped her escape, but now he's more of an outlaw than before.  It's one thing for people like me and Robin to have a clandestine marriage, but Joan is the daughter of an Earl."

    "I wonder how Will's father is going to take the news."

    "If it were different circumstances, he'd probably be happy his son made an advantageous marriage."

    Late May 1193, Framlingham Castle, Suffolk

    Ida was in the solar, sewing a shirt for her husband.  As a countess, she could hire a seamstress, but it was relaxing to be up here by herself working with her hands. 

    Roger came through the door. 

    "A messenger came," he said.  "I'm afraid I have bad news."

    Ida put the shirt down.

    "What is it?"

    "William Longchamp has returned, and he's called a meeting at St Albans."

    "I can't believe that man would come back!" Ida said.  "I'm surprised he hasn't been banished again."

    "He's here on the King's business.  Longchamp is in charge of raising the king's ransom and having it brought to the Emperor in Germany."  Roger paused, Ida was going to be distressed.  "Once the first 70,000 marks has been paid Richard can go free, but the Emperor demands hostages as a guarantee of good faith."

    She stood up and the shirt dropped to the floor.

    "Who?"

    "Me...and Hugh."

    "Absolutely NOT!  King Henry took William from me, and I will not allow Richard to take my other son!"

    "It will not be for long, especially since Richard's nephews will also be hostages."

    "William will also be going, won't he?"

    "Yes."

    Ida threw herself in his arms and cried.

    "Damn the Angevin kings!  They sustain themselves on the blood, sweat and tears of the English," she said.

    "Richard in particular has squeezed everyone of their coin, not just in England."

    Ida hugged him tighter, "I will pray every day for you and William, but I will not surrender Hugh!  I'll sell my jewelry and give them extra wool clippings in return."

    16 June 1193, Huntingdon, England

    Guy and William de Wendenal visited Robin at his house in Huntingdon.  Guy heard that Robin's father was the bastard son of a Scottish king, and that Robin could have been an official knight despite his time as an outlaw but was still officially a yeoman because he disobeyed orders in the Holy Land.  However, Robin's house showed more prosperity than the typical yeoman.        

    "So, you're Robin Hood," Wendenal said.  "The man whose wife has caused me a lot of headaches."

    "And gave me this scar," Guy said.  "Where is she?"

    "She stayed behind in Lenton to see to the sheep," Robin said.  "They must be sheared in the summer."

    "I will get to the point," Wendenal said.  "In Cambridge a carriage carrying coin heading towards London was ambushed by a group of men wearing red clothes and red cloaks."

    "If you're wondering if I am responsible, the answer is no.  I would never commit treason by stealing coins meant to pay the king's ransom.  Besides, the Merry Men wear Lincoln green."

    "It's our belief that Will Scarlet is the leader."

    "I would swear on a relic he is not.  Despite the animosity between him and his father, he has been referring to himself as Will Brewer again to add legitimacy to his marriage.  These men are probably copying the idea of the Merry Men because of the hardships caused by the ransom money collection on top of the Saladin tithe." 

    "I spoke to the guards, these men were not amateurs," Guy said.

    "Then they could be men hired by King Philip to stop the ransom from being paid."

    Guy and Wendenal looked at each other.

    "I admit I did not think of that," Wendenal said.  "I will speak with the Queen immediately to hire more guards during the transports."      

    24 June 1193, Marseille, France

    Joanna was combing Berengaria's hair.  They were in Rome for the longest time, but now they were in Marseille because they are on their way to Poiters.

    "You need to stop being so friendly to Raymond of Toulouse," Berengaria said.  "Him and his father have allowed Cathar heresy instead of bringing those peasants back to the Holy Church.  I know in Sicily there are Jews and Muslims, but at least they were born as heathens.  Christian heresy is truly evil, and tolerating it is the same as encouraging it."   

    "I'm surprised you're not more concerned about an unmarried woman being close to a man."

    "You are a noble born princess, not a rustic woman prone to dishonor."

    Joanna fought the urge to laugh, because earlier that day, her and Raymond were kissing passionately.  

    "The Cathars preach chastity," Joanna said.

    "Chastity is for the holy, which they are not!  Heretics have orgies and kill their babies.  Peasants are supposed to be having children through marriage...."

    Berengaria signed sadly, thinking about her own inability to have a child.  

    "When we get to Poiters, things will be better," Joanna said.  "Being imprisoned will make Richard yearn for human touch when he is released."    

Chapter Text

    10 July 1193, Nottingham Castle

    Marian entered Nottingham Castle with a cart full of wool to both sell wool and to see Constance while Guy was away.  

    "Hello Marian," Constance said.  "I have the ingredients for pennyroyal tea, but I'm afraid I don't have a lot of coins.  I can make do with less wool."

    "You can take all the wool, and in exchange, you can give me as much healing salve and food as you can."

    "You haven't asked for that ever since you were with the Merry Men."

    "Argentan is still at large, so it's better to be prepared."

    That was half of the answer.  The other half was that she was helping the group of Merry Men who was taking back wealth that was extracted from the peasants and poor townsfolk so that the lords and ladies above them would not have to make sacrifices and continue living lavishly.  The Merry Men lived in the forest which made it easier for them to evade capture, but the Charitable Men, secretly led by Will Scarlet, took a bigger risk by spending so much time in the Nottingham caves in order to be closer to the town to help the people.   

    She will never tell Robin what she is doing for fear that he would find a way to put a stop to them.  

    "I was hoping to not need the pennyroyal tea by now," Marian said.  "I could use another child to eventually help with the chores."

    "If I wasn't barren, I wouldn't want to have a child in these bad times either," Constance said.  "I heard things are worse in London, since most of the people there have to buy their food, they are especially losing their coins." 

    "Robin talks about a priest in London who Robin knew from the Crusades named William Osbert, but now he calls himself William Longbeard.  He's been preaching against exploiting the poor, and the rich have stopped going to his sermons, while the poor flock to them." 

    "The next time I'm in London I will look for him."    

Chapter Text

    6 Sept. 1193, Lenton, Nottinghamshire

    Marian was out in the open field with the sheep.  This was the first time that Robbie wasn't with her, since he was now old enough to help his father with the crops.  It was the time of year when people began harvesting grain and hay to prepare for winter, and later this month vegetables will be collected and animals killed for the Harvest Festival.  

    "I smell smoke," she said.  

    There was a large amount of smoke coming in the direction of her home, she dropped her staff and ran towards it.  Did Robbie knock over a lamp in the barn?  Why would they need a lamp when it's daytime?

    On the way there, she was intercepted by Guy.

    "Did you do this?!" she screamed at him.

    "I swear I did not know about this.  Argentan must have hired the mercenaries to attack the village before he left for Paris to deal with the French king's wedding disaster."

    She tried to rush past him, but he gripped her arm.

    "Your son is safe, and your barn is beyond saving.  Robin would not want you putting yourself in danger."

    "Of course you would deny my will, just like that time you almost raped me!"

    Guy reacted as if he had been punched in the gut, and she used the opportunity to get away.

    Guy was going to chase after her, but he saw his own wife running towards him.  Constance must be scared and in need of a hug. 

    Instead, she kicked him in the leg. 

    "What were you doing manhandling Marian like that?!  You said you were not that kind of man anymore."

    "It wasn't for amorous reasons Wife, I was trying to protect her for Robin's sake."

    She kicked him again. 

    "What was that for?" he said.

    "To get it in your head that a woman's will is more important than a man's sentiment."   

    Barns were the most popular targets for mercenaries to burn; they were made of wood, full of hay, and essential to peasants' livelihood.  Guy was right that her own barn was beyond saving, but she did help to prevent her neighbor's barn from having the same fate, and Robin stopped the fire from spreading to the church, which was good thing because the grain that was saved from the fires or wasn't harvested yet would be stored there.  

    Later that day, William Marshal paid the mercenary captain for his work.  The ransom money for King Richard was all collected, so for a while there will be no large loads of cash on the road in the woods for the Red Robin Hoods to steal, and they will financially exhaust themselves into oblivion attempting to help the people of Lenton. 

    The Crusades will the biggest source of money for the Templars, and the biggest source of soldiers and servants for armies were religious fervor and desperate peasant men.  With King Richard soon to be free, God will make them prosperous.