Part 21

The Forest was completely still.

Not a breath of air stirred the leaves on the trees.

It was as though every living creature, including the wind, was waiting for something…

Lady Elizabeth DeParkeville knew exactly what they were waiting for.

The end of her freedom and any potential happiness in her future.

It caused a shiver to descend Elizabeth’s spine as the cortège accompanying her to her wedding wound its way down the King’s Highway.

The Sheriff and Sir Kyle had determined that the wedding would take place early that afternoon at the Monastery at St. Stephen’s. The large and sumptuous nuptials that Queen Eleanor would have planned for her had been discarded in favour of small and quick.

They wanted the deed done before anyone became aware of their plans, the Queen, but more importantly Maxwell of Huntington.

For as Kyle had told her this morning, "He will not let a prize such as you slip through his fingers easily Elizabeth. He has bewitched you to gain access to your dowry - and you have allowed it to happen. You have brought this unseemly haste on yourself."

Elizabeth had gazed at him pityingly for a moment before replying. "You would like to think that Sir Kyle. It is sad that you do not understand love. Max would have me whether I was rich or not…and I would have him - and do - despite your untruthful accusations against he and his brother."

Kyle’s face had reddened with rage. "He is an outlaw you stupid whore! A thief and a murderer…"

When Kyle had seen her visage darken at his accusation he had continued. "Oh yes, he is Elizabeth. For not only were my father’s men killed two days ago…the entire shipment of taxes en route to London to help ransom the King was waylaid as well only yesterday. It does not seem too farfetched that a man who would convince a stupid girl to fall in love with him would not feel a qualm about stealing money that is meant to save his king."

"You are lying." Elizabeth had told him calmly, although her heart had been thundering in her chest. She knew it was not true, and yet she also knew that Sir Kyle would convince his father to lay the blame on Max and Michael as well. Thus, they were not only now charged with murder, but also treason.

Kyle had stalked forward, taking her chin in a rough grip, forcing her to look at him. "And you are ridiculous. He will not come for you. You have sacrificed any potential happiness that could have existed between us during our marriage. I will catch your lover and you will watch the demon hang." When she flinched at that, his eyes had lit with malice. "Yes, you know it is true do you not Elizabeth? Maxwell of Huntington is an unnatural freak - one who kills without weapons - and the Church WILL punish him for it. We may not have found the bodies little witch, but my father has accepted that Father Desmond spoke the truth. He WILL hang or, if the Church has its way, burn at the stake. And not even a demon heretic can withstand that…"

Elizabeth had managed to hold her composure until he had stormed from her chamber, barring the heavy oak behind him. It was only then that she allowed herself to cry.

Even then she had refused to give up. She had been about to string the sheets on her bed together in order to climb out the window of her tower, when Parkyla had appeared in her doorway.

Her maidservant had been nearly hysterical with worry over her. "Oh milady! I was sure that he would kill you!"

Elizabeth had helped Parkyla to her feet. "I am fine. And yet the worst has occurred. Kyle is going to force me to marry him tomorrow. I MUST escape. And you must help me. I have to get to Max and warn him that Kyle knows where he is. What I cannot figure out is why the Sheriff and his men have not already attacked their camp. It is passing strange."

"It is too dangerous milady. They will be watching the stables and the gate like hawks. There is no way of escaping without being caught." Elizabeth had felt tears fill her eyes again at Parkyla’s words. Her maid was right. Parkyla’s eyes had suddenly lit with an idea however. "There is a way however…"

Now, as Elizabeth sat on her steed, her hands bound yet hidden under her cloak so that no one was aware that she was going to her own wedding against her will, she wondered if Parkyla had been successful in making it to the camp unmolested. For, at this point, Max and the others were her only hope.

The thought of actually marrying Kyle - and the wedding night to follow - made her physically ill.

From the first moment Max had ever touched her she had vowed to herself that no one else - ever - would touch her in that way. She would kill herself first.

"We are here milady." The knight who had been riding close by her side pointed ahead. "St. Stephens is just around the next bend. The chapel is only slightly beyond there."

"Thank you Matthew." Elizabeth replied sadly.

After that things progressed much too quickly for Elizabeth’s peace of mind. Before she knew it she was standing at the back of a small stone chapel, her hand on the Sheriff’s arm as he made to lead her down the aisle. His grip on her hand was almost painful.

The Sheriff had disappointed her in these proceedings. Where he had seemed so unwilling to accuse Michael and Max posthaste at the Fair, since he had discovered her betrayal of his son…he was now their staunchest enemy. He even seemed proud of the way Kyle had taken the initiative to claim Elizabeth as his own.

The Chapel was decorated with flowers and greenery from the Forest. For a moment Elizabeth allowed herself to envision the scene as though it was Max awaiting her at the altar. Yet, it was not to be. Kyle’s face came into her field of vision too soon to allow that fallacy to continue.

Her last hope was to refuse to say her vows at the altar. And this was what she planned. She knew that the priest awaiting them there would not let her marry against her will.

It was at that moment that she caught sight of the priest and all hope disappeared.

It was Father Desmond, the one who had witnessed Michael destroying the Sheriff’s men with naught but an upraised hand…

MAX! Where are you? Elizabeth thought desperately as she began to fight against the Sheriff, who was now literally dragging her down the aisle.

It took several moments for the voice shouting from the back of the chapel to penetrate the panic that was beginning to set in.

"I refuse to allow this wedding to proceed."

The entire company whirled as one to face the figure in the doorway.

Part 22

"I refuse to allow this wedding to proceed."

Max watched Alexander stalk down the aisle of the Church, his expression fierce. Max couldn’t help but smile to himself. Alex was doing his best to put on a show.

Thus far, the plan was proceeding smoothly. If only they could be guaranteed that it would continue to do so.

Max elbowed Michael, who was fidgeting beside him. "Michael." He reprimanded.

"This damn robe is beyond itchy." Michael complained in a grumpy whisper.

"Grow up." Max ordered. He had to agree with Michael though. He knew that monks enjoyed torturing themselves in the name of their God, but this was ridiculous.

"You realize that this isn’t going to work Maxwell?" Michael continued.

Max felt Michael bump into him as he was elbowed on the other side. "It will work if you could keep your mouth shut." Max heard Mary whisper urgently.

"Alex!" Liz was exclaiming, her relief evident in her voice. Max felt a flash of anger that she should be so afraid, forced into a situation so clearly against her will.

"What is the meaning of this Whitfield?" Sir Kyle demanded. He was glaring at Alex, who by this time had reached the altar. Max could see Liz trying to wrench her arm out of the Sheriff of Nottingham’s grasp, but he was having none of it.

"I might ask you the same thing Sir Kyle." Alex replied calmly. "Is the Queen aware of what is going on here? This entire wedding seems a tad shady to me."

"She is my betrothed." Sir Kyle snapped. "I can marry at my whim. And might I add that you have absolutely no say in this matter. You are not her brother, nor are you her guardian." Kyle grabbed Elizabeth by the wrist, hauled her up beside him. Max felt Michael clamp his hand down on his shoulder. It was a good thing to. It was taking all of Max’s self-control not to go and punch Sir Kyle’s lights out. "Proceed Father." Kyle said to Father Desmond, who was watching the whole proceeding with concern.

Max didn’t blame him. The priest was definitely caught between a rock and a hard place. Marry Elizabeth and Kyle or risk the Sheriff’s wrath. Not marry them or risk Alexander Delucie of Whitfield, one of the most important young lords in the country’s anger.

Max flinched when the priest began to intone quickly in Latin.

"Wrong decision you ungrateful bastard." Max heard Michael mutter under his breath. Max couldn’t help but agree with him. After all, it was Father Desmond who had gotten them into this mess in the first place by exposing them to the Sheriff.

They had to give Alexander a chance to resolve this situation without blood-shed though- without compromising themselves. Max knew that that would be Elizabeth’s greatest concern - that he might be captured. He wasn’t about to give her anything else to worry about.

Besides, if it didn’t work, there was always Plan B.

"Alex! I don’t want this!" Elizabeth was saying. "Please! Take me away from here."

Alexander had an expression of anger on his face. He grabbed Sir Kyle and pushed him away from Liz. "I have every intention of doing so Lizzy." He stared Sir Kyle down. "I suggest that you let us leave and I MAY not tell the Queen about this travesty." Alexander turned to the Sheriff. "You know this is wrong my lord Sheriff. Let me take the Lady Elizabeth away and we will have the wedding in a few months as was originally planned."

Max saw Liz’s face darken at the last, but she stayed quiet, clearly trusting Alexander in whatever it was that he was doing.

For one happy moment, Max thought that Plan A MIGHT actually work. He watched the Sheriff’s face carefully, could practically see the wheels in his brain turning.

It wasn’t really Sir Kyle they had to be concerned with anyway. It was the Sheriff who held the balance of power in this Church at this moment…

If the Sheriff let Alexander take Elizabeth away, he, Michael and Mary would just slink out the back of the Church, their faces and forms concealed by their long, brown monk’s robes. They would meet Isabel at the horses and he and Liz would be reunited, fleeing happily into the Forest together.

They would leave the country. They would be happy together.

But if the Sheriff didn’t cooperate…

"Proceed." He told Father Desmond curtly. Before Alexander could lodge a protest, the Sheriff turned to two of his men-at-arms standing nearby. "Seize Lord Whitfield until the ceremony is complete."

"Alex!" Liz shrieked.

"Bloody hell…" Maxwell heard Michael mutter. His brother grabbed Mary. "Be careful." He ordered her.

Max could almost see Mary’s face light up in her cowl.

"I’m always careful." She whispered back. "You’re the one liable to fall on someone’s sword Lord Incompetant."

Max heard Michael snort as he moved away from the bickering pair to take his position.

Max passed a small chapel in one wall of the Church, casually picked up the sword concealed there. He saw one of the Sheriff’s men glance at him as he walked sedately past, but the soldier just frowned slightly and turned back to watch the wedding.

"Lizzy, just say no!" Alexander was yelling over the drone of the priest’s voice. "It goes against every tenet of the Church to marry you against your will. If you say no, it doesn’t count!" Max was pleased that the plan was proceeding smoothly. Everyone in the Church was so distracted by Alex’s outburst, they did not pay attention to the three figures slowly taking up position…

"NOOOOOO!!!!" Elizabeth began screaming.

"Not now you stupid whore." Max could hear the amusement in Sir Kyle’s voice. "We haven’t gotten to that part yet."

Max could hear Father Desmond’s voice faltering. The priest paused. "Sheriff, perhaps it would be best to delay…at least until the Queen…"

"Proceed you coward!" Sir Kyle yelled. "Or I’ll finish what those demons should have let happen to you in the Forest two days ago!"

Max was almost in position. If they could only stall a minute longer…

**LIZ!** He sent it out on a tiny thought wave, not expecting her to answer. But, strangely, he was unsurprised when she stopped screaming.

*Max?* The voice was tentative in his head, but it was definitely there.

**Just hold on a minute longer sweeting. Everything is going according to plan.** Max felt Liz’s rush of relief flood through him. It almost made his knees weak.

Max had now reached the end of the chancel. He walked slowly up behind Father Desmond.

"Do you Sir Kyle deValence take this woman, Lady Elizabeth DeParkeville to be your wedded wife?"

Kyle’s voice was confident and cocky as he replied. "Of course I do."

"Do you promise to love, honour and keep her, forsaking all others, keep you only unto her as long as you both shall live?"

There was a pause. Max stopped, stared at Kyle’s face. He felt a pang of sympathy for the other man. He understood why Kyle wanted to marry Elizabeth so much. He might spout about the dowry, but he was in love with her too.

Who could blame him?

"I do." Kyle said quietly.

"And do you, Lady Elizabeth DeParkeville, take Sir Kyle deValence to be your wedded husband?" The priest continued without even waiting for a reply. "Do you promise to love, honour and obey him, keeping you only unto him as long as you both shall live?"

There was a long moment of silence. Max was still moving, but he could see Elizabeth’s face. She was staring at Kyle, an expression of sorrow visible even from where he was. "I am sorry Sir Kyle, but I canno…"

"Yes! Of course she does!" Kyle had grabbed her, clamping a hand over her mouth. Liz’s eyes were wide with astonishment over his hand.

Father Desmond was staring at the farce playing out in front of him.

"Then, if there be no just cause why these two should not be joined in Holy Matrimony…"

Max moved into position. Concealed in the shadows behind the altar, he pulled the sword, concealed under his robe, out and gently placed it against the small of Father Desmond’s back. "I suggest that you do not finish that statement." He said quietly.

Father Desmond almost went into convulsions. "Er, uh…"

Kyle and the Sheriff were both staring at Father Desmond. "Father?" Kyle demanded, sounding annoyed. Max could hear Liz struggling to get away from Kyle. It seemed likely that he still had his hand clasped over her mouth as she made no noise.

"End this travesty…NOW!" Max ordered the Priest.

"I…I’m sorry Sheriff…but I have come to my senses." The priest said, his voice becoming stronger with every word. A sword in the back had the tendency to do that to a man, Max thought wryly to himself. "This wedding cannot proceed."

"You’re damn right it won’t!" Max heard Michael’s voice. He saw the Sheriff and Kyle both whirl. Michael had knocked out the men holding onto Alexander and was now standing next to Alex, his bow in hand. The knocked arrow was aimed directly at the Sheriff’s head. "Let her go." Michael ordered.

"You heard him." Mary was on the other side of the aisle, bow knocked as well, the arrow pointed squarely at Kyle’s heart.

"Mary of Whitfield!" Kyle yelled in fury. "I should have known a wench like you would get yourself mixed up with outlaws!"

Mary just smiled. "That’s Martin of York to you Lord Supremely Boring." She paused. "Or was that Lord Ridiculously Arrogant Lizzy?" She turned to Elizabeth with a grin. "I keep forgetting upon which we decided!"

Kyle had blanched at the realization that the third place contestant in the archery contest two days ago had been none other than Mary Delucie. With that, he knew exactly in how much danger he found himself. "Where is he?" He demanded instead, barely keeping control of his rage.

Max stepped forward, thrusting the priest aside. "I assume you are referring to me?" He glanced at Kyle, who still had a firm grip on Elizabeth’s wrist. Max’s eyes narrowed. "I suggest you let her go."

"Max!" Liz said in relief.

Kyle’s nostrils were flaring. "She is mine you damned outlaw!"

Max raised an eyebrow. "Mary?"

Mary smiled like a cat with a new bowl of cream. "With pleasure. My finger was growing anxious…" She let loose the arrow. It whistled straight and true, literally parting Sir Kyle’s hair as it passed within inches of his skull.

"Hmmmm…" Mary said assessingly. "I missed."

Kyle’s face was even whiter. Max could not tell whether it was from terror or fury. He thrust Elizabeth away from him. She ran towards Max. He caught her around the waist, thrusting her behind him. "This isn’t over." Kyle ground out. His eyes were dancing frantically around the small Church. "You idiots!" He yelled at the guards. "Seize them!"

Mary was clucking with disapointment. "You really are as stupid as I thought you were Kyle." She looked at the collection of guards, all of whom were staring at her in astonishment. "Leave it alone boys."

She loosed another arrow which actually shredded Kyle’s cloak at the shoulder. Kyle bellowed in frustration. "And there’s plenty more where that came from." She told the room at large.

Max grinned to himself as he took Liz’s hand and started backing away. Michael and Alex, both with bows in hand, were backing up the aisle, guarding their backs.

"Mary! Get your butt down here!" Michael yelled at her.

"Coming dearest!" She paused at the entrance to the Church. "Thank you for having us Sheriff! We’ll repay the invitation very soon!"

Max and Elizabeth were the first to reach the horses. Isabel was already mounted. "Lady Elizabeth! I am pleased you are safe!"

Max practically threw Liz onto Evander’s saddle. "Not quite safe yet!" He said, climbing up in front of her. "Hold on my love!" He felt his heart skip a beat as Liz’s delicate arms clutched him around the waist.

They barely left the clearing in time. The guards were beginning to stream out of the Church. Max heard an arrow whistle over his head. He felt Liz tense up against his back.

Max plunged Evander into the dense foliage of the Forest which surrounded the Church. "Max! You cannot return to the Sanctuary!" He could hear Liz talking in his ear. "Kyle knows where it is!"

Max felt his heart stop. "But we left Tess and Lord Edmund there!" He called back.

He reined in a few minutes later. Michael, Mary, Alexander and Isabel all did the same. "Michael, you need to go back to Sanctuary and tell Tess and Lord Edmund what has transpired. Bring them to the waterfall and we’ll find a new hiding place from there."

"What? Maxwell, we agreed that Lord Edmund was not to know about this little adventure!" Michael exclaimed.

"I don’t have time to argue with you Michael. Either they find out or they die!" Max snapped back. Michael’s face whitened.

"Very well." He ground out.

"I’m going with you!" Mary exclaimed.

"No." Michael said firmly.

"Michael! You can’t go by yourself! It’s too dangerous!" Mary screeched, sounding on the verge of tears.

"NO!" Michael bellowed.

"Mary, I’ll accompany him." Alex decided. And then… "Wait a minute…Lizzy! What’s wrong!"

"Nothing…I’m fine Alex." Liz’s voice was strained. Max realized that she was clutching his robe tightly.

"Oh God!" Isabel had moved her horse up near Evander. She gently pushed Liz’s cloak aside. Max inhaled sharply at the sight that greeted him.

There was an arrow imbedded in Liz’s side. "I’m fine!" Liz insisted. "We must keep going!"

And with those words, her eyes rolled up into her head and she fainted. Max barely caught her before she fell of his horse.
Part 23

Mary felt her heart stop. It began to beat in an uneven rhythm as Maxwell managed to catch Elizabeth before she tumbled off his horse. His grip on her was not firm, however. Isabel was helping to hold her up.

Max’s face was as white as Mary was sure her own was. "Bella! There’s blood everywhere!" Mary had never heard Maxwell lose his composure - not through any of the disasters which seemed to be piling one on top of the other. She had not seen it up until this point. He was a born leader, but he was clearly terrified. For the first time Mary understood how Max felt about Elizabeth. That concern for her should bring him to his knees - it was unlike anything she had ever seen before.

"It’s all right Max." Isabel told him firmly, taking charge of the situation. "You can heal her." She slid off her horse, helping Max to do the same. They gently laid Elizabeth on Alex’s cloak, which he had removed for the purpose.

Elizabeth moaned. She was still unconscious but Mary was sure that the pain must be excruciating. They had been riding for a good half and hour. How could her friend have hidden her condition for so long?

Michael had joined the others on the ground. He was looking down at Elizabeth in horror. Mary saw him glance up at her, his expression unreadable. "I’ll go find Tess and Lord Edmund. She’ll be fine Maxwell." He said gruffly, when Max managed to pull his eyes off of Isabel, who was ministering to Elizabeth, preparing her for healing. She had removed Elizabeth’s cloak and ruthlessly ripped her wedding gown, exposing the arrow where it penetrated Lizzy’s delicate skin. It was deeply imbedded. Mary felt bile rising in her throat. "You don’t have to worry about them. We’ll meet you at the waterfall."

When Alexander made a move to join him reluctantly, staring at Elizabeth in concern, Michael stopped him with an upraised hand. "You are needed here. I’ll be fine."

Mary pursed her lips, was going to protest, but the expression of barely controlled rage on Michael’s face halted her. He didn’t even look at her as he swung up onto his stallion and disappeared into the foliage.

"Be careful." Mary whispered to his disappearing back.

"Mary! Stop daydreaming and come help!" Isabel ordered shrilly. "This is not going to be pleasant for Lady Elizabeth. We have to take the arrow out before Max can heal her." She glanced at Max, who was clutching Elizabeth’s hand tightly. "We have little time Max. They are still after us. They could stumble across us at any time."

"Liz has even LESS time." Max replied evenly. He turned to Mary. "Can you hold her head?" He asked, clearly beginning to get back on the road to capability, which was generally his permanent residence.

Mary fell to her knees at Lizzy’s head. She gently lifted her friends shoulders, began to stroke her hair lovingly. "You’ll be fine Lizzy dearest." Liz’s face was pale and her breathing was beginning to shorten.

"You’re going to have to remove the arrow Alex." Isabel told him. Mary watched her brother’s face blanch. "Max needs to conserve his strength for the healing." She explained. "It takes a lot out of him…" She paused, glanced at Max. "And this is the biggest injury he’s ever had to heal."

"WHAT!" Mary shrieked.

Max frowned at her. "It will be fine." He gentled his voice. "I will NOT let her die Mary." The quiet confidence and certainty that had appeared on his face made Mary feel better.

"We’ll hold her down." Isabel said. "Max, hold her shoulder there. I have this side."

Alex slowly fell to his knees beside Isabel, staring at the arrow in consternation. "This is going to hurt her so much," he said finally.

Mary watched Isabel reach out and touch his shoulder. "You love her Alex. You can do it." Mary wondered suddenly when Isabel had started to call her brother ‘Alex.’"

Alex nodded with determination. He put his hands on the arrow, flinched when Lizzy moaned again, trying to twist away from the pain.

"HOLD HER!" Max yelled at Isabel. Isabel’s grip on Elizabeth tightened.

Mary’s gaze flitted to her brother’s face. He was breathing hard. He swallowed…and then yanked on the arrow with all his strength.

Elizabeth’s scream of agony filled the clearing.

Mary’s eyes had closed in horror. She felt tears trying to squeeze through her lowered lids. She angrily brushed them away. She continued to stroke Elizabeth’s hair gently. "It’s all right Lizzy. The worst is over." When she managed to open her eyes, she breathed a sigh of relief to see the offending arrow safely in Alexander’s hands. He was staring at it in astonishment.

Mary looked at Isabel when her friend said, "You must hurry Max! That scream is going to bring Kyle and his men down on our heads!"

But Max had already begun. "Liz…LIZ! Open your eyes sweeting. You must look at me." Mary felt her heart contract at the tenderness in his voice.

She was not at all surprised when Elizabeth’s eye-lids began to flutter. "Max…" She moaned. Mary bit her lip. Blood was now flowing freely from the wound in her side.

Mary watched as Max gently placed his palm face-down on the horrifying tear in Elizabeth’s body. Was this really going to work? Mary knew that Maxwell had done something to Tess that Elizabeth had witnessed - something that had let Elizabeth know that he was not normal, but she had not yet come to fully accept that her new friend had miraculous healing powers…

And yet Isabel did not look concerned. There were tears in her eyes, but Mary felt that they were more for the pain Elizabeth was enduring rather than over any concern that Max wouldn’t be able to heal her.

Mary heard Alexander gasp as Max’s hand began to glow…but she could not tear her gaze away from the miracle that was taking place in front of her eyes.

As Mary watched, the blood on Lizzy’s side began to disappear. The hole in her side began to disintegrate. Mary felt her mouth fall open, glanced up at Max.

He had a slight grimace on his face. It looked for all the world like all of Elizabeth’s pain was being transferred into HIS body. Isabel reached across Liz’s body suddenly, putting her hand on Max’s shoulder. The expression of agony on Max’s face eased slightly, as Isabel’s body began to tense. She was clearly deflecting some of the pain away from Max and into HER body.

And then it was over. Max, who had been crouching, balanced on his heels, collapsed onto his knees, fatigue evident in every part of him. He did not tear his gaze from Elizabeth’s face however. Isabel looked drained as well.

Elizabeth still had not moved. The foursome gathered around her continued to watch her tensely.

Mary felt her heart leap with joy as her closest friend’s eyelids began to flutter again. Lizzy opened her eyes, stared up at Max in shock. "Max." She said clearly, her voice melting with emotion. She reached up a hand, touched his face. "My love."

Mary began to sob. She had just witnessed a miracle. She could see that Alexander was trying hard to maintain his composure as well.

Elizabeth sat up, looking for all the world like she had just awoken from a refreshing nap. Her face reflected her concern though. "Max? Are you all right?" Mary glanced at Max, saw that his face was still whiter than it should be, but the smile that illuminated it more than made up for it.

"I am now sweeting." He pulled her gently into his embrace, closing his eyes in relief.

Alexander was helping Isabel to her feet. "Thank you." He said to her, his voice cracking with emotion. She stumbled slightly. Alexander steadied her, pulled her into his arms. Isabel looked tense for a moment, but gradually relaxed.

It was then that Mary allowed herself a stab of concern for Michael. He was all alone in a forest crawling with men who wanted to kill him, commanded by a man who hated him almost as much as he hated his brother.

But she had no time for her concerns. Max was gently lifting Elizabeth back onto his stallion. Isabel had already mounted and Alexander was soothing his own horse before he swung up onto its back.

"Mary!" Maxwell called out. "We must ride."

You better be safe you big lummox! Mary thought to herself. For if you are not, I will have to save you and then kill you myself.

She hurried to her steed and followed closely after the others.

Part 24

Michael thrust his sword into the smoldering ashes, looked up scowling.

Where the hell were they?

He had left the others more than three hours ago, had made it back to Sanctuary in record time, despite having to avoid the Sheriff’s patrols more than once. He had expected them to be waiting, had been anticipating a tongue-lashing from Lord Edmund, had expected Tess to weep and wail about how they were all betraying her, but he had not expected to find them completely gone.

There was no sign of either their guardian or their sister, not even any sort of message to relay where they had disappeared to.

It made Michael supremely uncomfortable. He wondered again whether he should have let Max talk him into the rescue of Lady Elizabeth. They had just infuriated the Sheriff and his son even further. Now there was no question that neither man would rest until he got his hands on Max…on all of them.

The hatred Michael had witnessed on Sir Kyle de Valence’s face when he had looked at Max back in the chapel… It had frightened Michael in a way nothing had ever frightened him before and Michael had ALWAYS been frightened, since the day he had been old enough to realize that he and his siblings were different, that if they were ever found out, they would be killed, no questions asked.

But Michael had been unable to say no. He had seen the hopeful expression on Mary’s face, had been unable to deny Max the right to claim the lady he loved when that same lady had brought Mary Delucie into his life.

She was a like a burr in his side, like a worm in his mead, like a frayed bow-string…

She infuriated the hell out of him, inflamed him like no one else ever had….

And for some strange reason, he found that the last thing on this planet he wanted to do was disappoint her. So, he had graciously let himself be convinced, but not before he had amused himself by making Mary think that he wasn’t going to help. Her cheeks had become flushed, her enraged breathing causing her chest to heave in outrage…she had managed to berate him verbally for a full five minutes, Maxwell, Bella and Alexander all watching this with surprise, interest and amusement respectively.

He had finally shut her up by planting a kiss on her full lips. She had stared at him in full shock for a minute afterward, her mouth, for once, mercifully quiet. The silence that had fallen over the group gathered secretly near the waterfall, hidden from Lord Edmund and Tess, who would try and stop them, had been shattered when Isabel had started to laugh.

"That was amazing." Alexander had told Michael. "You’re the first person who’s ever been able to get her to stop talking for more than three seconds."

Michael smirked to himself now as he remembered. It made him want to climb back onto his steed and hurry to the rendezvous point, to see her again. He had not liked the fearful expression on her face when he had left her -frightened for her friend, who Michael knew without a shadow of a doubt that Max would save. But there had been something else as well…

She had been frightened for HIM.

Unfortunately Michael was not going to be able to return to his friends immediately however. He had to find Lord Edmund and Tess. No matter if they were both acting strangely of late, they were still his family. He had a duty to them. If Sir Kyle had found them, they were no doubt in grave danger. Sir Kyle would use them as bait to lure Max out of the Forest, which would result in complete exposure.

It had to be avoided at all costs. Lord Edmund had already made it clear that their presence on Earth had been completely compromised, that they were going to have to return to Antar far sooner than had been planned. But they still needed time to arrange for passage off the planet…

Michael felt a pang. For the first time ever, he realized that perhaps he was not ready to leave Earth yet.

He flinched. This was not a good sign. He knew what his destiny was…he had no choice! He had to find Lord Edmund and Tess, had to get that cursed Delucie wench off of his mind! What was becoming of him? He was a warrior, one who had a duty to save his planet.

Michael swung up onto his horse, his jaw set.

He was NOT going to turn into Maxwell, mooning and wailing over a female.

His resolve lasted about five minutes. That was how long it took for Mary Delucie to return to his thoughts. Michael clenched his fists on the reins, cursed a blue streak….

And heard a whistling sound that was all too familiar…followed by a loud twunk.

Michael threw himself off of his horse, plunged into the foliage. His heart was beating at double-time. He took a great gasp of air, closed his eyes, awaiting capture…

He realized suddenly that arrows were still whistling through the air and that not one had come anywhere near him. He could hear yelling nearby.

He frowned, quickly tied the horse’s reins to a nearby tree, swinging his bow down off of his back and knocking an arrow as he followed the sound of the din.

He practically broke into a run when he recognized Tess’s shriek. "MY LORD!"

Michael forced himself to slow down, made himself think rationally. He was alone. If he was going to save his sister, he needed to plan carefully. He couldn’t let his instincts rule him as he had when the original outlaws had attacked them two days ago. It was that foolishness, the open use of his powers, that had landed them in their current debacle.

Of course all the planning in the world would have done no good had he stumbled into the clearing like a thundering stag, which he nearly did before he stopped abruptly.

Taking a deep breath, Michael peered around the tree he had barely concealed himself behind in time.

His eyes lit on Tess immediately. She was tied to a tree across the clearing, her gown in rags, her blonde hair streaming around her face, which was streaked with tears. In fact, she was currently sobbing uncontrollably.

Michael saw the reason why a moment later.

Lord Edmund was lying flat on the ground, his eyes open and staring up at the sky vacantly. An arrow stood straight up from his chest, having pierced his heart.

Good Lord.

Michael felt a stabbing pain behind his eyes, swallowed hard. This was no time for sorrow. He could mourn his foster father later. He had to save his sister!

But he knew almost instantly that he couldn’t do it by himself, that he needed to go find Max immediately. He could use his powers and take out every single one of the Sheriff’s men in the clearing…but without Lord Edmund they had no way of escaping the planet.

And if he used his powers in front of the Sheriff, every single lawman in the country would be searching for him.

Michael felt intense rage squeezing his heart as Sheriff Valenti came into view. "We’ll string him up on the London Road." He was saying to Sir Kyle, who started poking at Lord Edmund’s body with his sword. Michael pressed his lips together, lowered his forehead against the trunk of the tree behind which he was concealed.

"WHY???" Tess was shrieking, her sobs barely under control. "He was innocent! Why would you kill him?"

Sir Kyle lifted his head, eyed her for a moment. "Maxwell of Huntington stole my betrothed." He replied coldly. "It should be he lying on the ground under my sword. But until that happens - which it will, mark my words - I will kill every single being dear to him in this world."

Michael forced himself to stare at Tess as her blue eyes widened in terror. "Are you going to kill me?" She asked in a small, frightened voice. He barely managed to control himself from barreling out of his hiding spot when Kyle grabbed Tess roughly by the chin and lifted her pretty face so that he could stare right into her eyes.

"I’m not done with you yet sweeting." The endearment sounded more like a curse. "You are what is going to bring that heretic right to my keep."

"He won’t come." Tess said, her voice sounding weary. "He has tired of me. She is all he cares about now."

Good Tess! Michael encouraged her silently. Make him believe it!

Michael narrowed his eyes as he looked more closely at his sister’s posture. For one horrible moment he thought that maybe she DID believe that Max, that Michael and Isabel would leave her in Sir Kyle’s hands…

The expression on utter despair on her face…

But no. She would never believe such a thing. She knew that they had always been most protective of her. She was their beloved Tess. The rest of them could take care of themselves, Bella included, but Tess had always seemed so fragile in comparison. She had to know that they would come for her!

"We’ll see." Sir Kyle replied, not sounding convinced. He motioned one of the guards forward with a gesture from his mailed hand. "Put her on a horse. We return to Nottingham."

Michael didn’t move a muscle until he had seen Tess thrown face-down across the guard’s horse, still bound hand and foot, didn’t dare start breathing until the last of the guards had ridden out onto the King’s Highway and had started to gallop off in the direction of the town.

He was back on his mount moments later, thundering off in the direction of the rendezvous point.

*********************************************
Max lifted Elizabeth gently off of Evander, held her briefly against him before letting her fall to the ground. "My love…I am so sorry that I have brought you to this." He whispered against her hair. He felt her bring her arms around him, felt her sigh of contentment as she pressed her cheek against his chest.

"I am with you. That is all that matters to me." Elizabeth replied quietly. "Why are we here though?" She stepped away from him, her hand still in his, started to look around. "We cannot be gone for long. We are both responsible for this disaster my love. We must assure that our friends are safe."

Max pulled her back against his chest, kissed her lightly on the temple. "But first I must assure that YOU are safe." He felt Elizabeth flinch against him, knew that she thought that he was planning to abandon her again, that he thought that she would be safer away from him. He smiled slightly. It, of course, could not be further from the truth.

They had left the others back at the waterfall a few hours before.

It had not taken Max long to realize what needed to be done as quickly as possible to keep Elizabeth out of Sir Kyle’s hands. He had taken Alexander aside immediately to tell him what he planned.

Alexander had smirked after he had finished speaking with him. "Well, I cannot say that I am surprised." Had been his only response. "Mary is not going to be happy to be left out of this you know."

"We’ll make it up to her." Max had replied. He had looked seriously at Alex. "I need you to protect Bella Alexander. Please promise me that you will do this."

Alexander’s eyes had flashed momentarily. "You don’t even need to ask Maxwell." Max had watched the young baron’s eyes stray to his blonde sister, who was foraging in the nearby bushes for some berries with Mary at her side. The expression of adoration on his face was all the convincing Max needed.

And so Max had spirited Liz away. She had gone with him willingly enough once he had promised her that he was not planning to desert her in some forsaken castle in a misguided attempt to keep her safe.

"I will never allow you to be away from my side again." Max had replied. "I have made that mistake once and it almost resulted in disaster. I will never do it again sweetheart."

Liz stepped away from him again now though, looked around with an expression on her face that could only be suspicion. "Max, this looks disturbingly like a convent to me." She said accusingly.

"It is a convent." Max told her, raising an eyebrow. "You have a good eye sweeting."

She frowned at him, pulled her hand away from his, placed them on her slender hips. "I do not like the sound of this."

"There is only one way to keep you safe and it is here."

An expression of hurt flashed across her face, but was instantly replaced by anger. "You promised me! You promised that you were not going to abandon me again!" She whirled, stormed back over to Evander. "Take me back immediately." She told him imperiously, the slight tremble in her voice the only indication of how hurt she was.

Max felt a pang of guilt, but forced himself to say lightly. "I suggest that we go in at least. The good sisters are expecting us. You can see if you like it."

"No." Liz said mutinously. She folded her arms across her chest, stared past him, her expression stony.

"Liz…"

"No."

"Very well then." Max sighed heavily, turned and pulled the bell near the door to the convent. "I will just tell them that we are leaving."

"Yes you will." Liz replied, sounding extremely angry.

The door opened after a few moments. A veiled nun smiled out at them. "Yes my son?"

"Hello Sister." Max bowed slightly. "I am afraid that you will have to tell Father William that there is to be no wedding today. Please convey my apologies that my message forced him to travel here to meet us, but my bride has decided that she does not like the looks of me after all."

He had barely managed to keep a straight face when he had heard Liz gasp following the word "wedding." He had regained control of himself by the time she shrieked his name. "MAX!"

"Yes my love?" He glanced over his shoulder. She was staring at him in astonishment.

"Why are we here?" Liz demanded, glancing at the nun, who was beginning to look amused now too.

"To get married of course." Max returned calmly. "Why else would we be here?"

Liz blinked. "But…why?" She sounded totally astounded.

"Because I love you." Max replied. "And because when you are my wife, Sir Kyle will have no legal right to ever lay hands on you again."

He felt a lump beginning to form in his throat when tears filled her dark eyes. He felt another pang of guilt. Maybe this hadn’t been such a good idea after all…but he had wanted to surprise her, had not expected that she would be upset…

Max hurried back towards her. "Liz? I’m sorry…we don’t have to if you don’t want to." He stopped about a foot away from her, reached out and gently brushed away the tear that was trailing down her soft cheek.

She sniffled. "Of course I want to." She told him, her voice soft with emotion.

He pulled her gently into his embrace. "Then why are you crying sweeting?"

"Because I didn’t believe it was possible to love you more than I did before we entered this clearing, but I now know that I was wrong." She replied. "It frightens me Max. I could not bear to lose you."

He lifted her chin with his index finger, gently kissed began to kiss her tears away. "You never shall my love."

"But Max…" Liz glanced over his shoulder at the nun who was still watching them, a tolerant expression of amusement on her face. She lowered her voice. "What about when you have to go back."

Although Max knew exactly what she was talking about, he pretended ignorance. "Back?"

Liz frowned at him again. She clearly was irritated that he was being so difficult. She raised her index finger up to the sky. "BACK."

He took her hand gently in his, brought her knuckle to his lips. "Oh, back." He grinned at her.

"Will you stop being so ridiculous?" Liz asked, although Max could tell that she was beginning to melt again. "Can you not be serious for one instant?"

"Well, I see two possible solutions to that." Max told her finally, when she looked like she was truly ready to explode. "One, I don’t go back."

"Max!" Liz stared at him. "You HAVE to go back. It is your destiny. I will not stand between you…"

He put a gentle finger against her lips, cutting her off. "OR…" He continued. "I WILL go back someday."

He felt her stiffen against him.

"You will?" She asked in a small voice.

"With my queen by my side." He finished quietly. "I have told you Liz that I will never leave you alone again and I mean it. If I go back, you go with me. That is all there is to it." He paused. "If you will go with me that is." He brushed his lips against hers. "Will my queen agree to return to my world and rule by my side?"

Liz bit her lip, smiled up at him, her smile like the sun coming out from behind the clouds. "Only if her king agrees to allow her to love him for the rest of his days."

Max felt his heart skip a beat. "She does not even need to ask." He told her, completely serious for the first time since they had arrived at the convent. "He will allow it for much longer than that." He brought his lips down onto hers again.

The nun cleared her throat delicately. "My lord? My lady? Father William awaits you. He must return to the Abbey before dark."

Max and Liz smiled at each other for a moment longer and then allowed themselves to be lead into the convent.

Part 25

Elizabeth closed her eyes briefly after lighting the candle. Her heart was beating so rapidly, she was sure that Max, who was across the chamber fiddling with the fire in the grate, would hear and wonder at it.

The wedding ceremony had been short but sweet, so different from the unholy sacrament Sir Kyle had tried to force her into much earlier that day. It had ended with a kiss from Max that had been full of promise and love. Even the stern priest had been beaming at them both when they had left the small convent chapel.

Could it only have been that morning that she wondered if she would ever see Max again? And now she was his wife, bound to him for life. And she was not only his wife. She was his queen.

For this was one of the many things they had talked of on the long ride through the Forest from the convent.

It had not dawned on Elizabeth until he had started to tell her the truth of his origins that she really knew nothing about him. She knew the most important things: that he was kind and loving, intelligent and devoted, but she did not know about his life.

What he shared was astounding. She had been sure that he had only been using romantic endearments when he had called her his queen.

She could not have been more wrong.

She knew already that he was from another world, that he had been sent to HER world to protect him for some grander purpose. The fact that he was a king on that other world had come as something of a shock. She remembered how he had insisted that he was not a nobleman when they had first met, had seemed uncomfortable with that idea. He was, it turned out, much more than that. She had gotten the idea from the way he spoke of it that he was not particularly pleased with his heritage.

"I don’t feel like a king. I wish I were not. I do not remember who I was on Antar." He had told her, kissing her lightly on the temple. She had been seated in front of him, her back pressed against his front. It had been most pleasant and his touch against her hair had caused a shiver to descend her backbone. Thinking that she was cold, he had tightened his arms around her, bringing his cloak more closely against her so that his warmth had practically burned within her. "Earth is my home now, is the only home I recall." He had continued, sounding sad. "But I know my duty. I will return there someday, soon if what Lord Edmund says is accurate." He paused, running his hands down her sides lovingly. "But I do not dread it so much now. Not with you by my side."

Elizabeth had felt hot everywhere, his breath on her neck only increasing the feeling, warm as it was in the cool evening air. She had wondered if it was possible for a woman to burn alive with desire.

That was the only way to describe the way she felt about him. She BURNED for him.

And yet it was sweeter than that too. At times her heart swelled at the thought of him, bringing her so much joy that she barely avoided weeping at the feeling.

Max had brought her to a small cottage near the waterfall where they were to meet the others. He had gently lifted her off Evander, carrying her through the door and setting her on her feet only after kissing her thoroughly.

Her knees had been weak when he had moved away from her to light the fire.

Now he turned back, his dark eyes smoldering as he gazed at her. Elizabeth bit her lip, swallowed convulsively.

"We do not have much time my love." Max told her finally, after Elizabeth had briefly wondered if she would burst into flames from the expression on his face. His tone was regretful. "I wish that we could stay here forever but we must go make certain that the others are safe."

"I know it." Elizabeth managed to reply, although her voice sounded strangely breathless to her own ears.

Max walked slowly towards her. Elizabeth saw him take a deep breath before he reached out and pulled her into his embrace. She leaned her head against his shoulder, her head barely grazing his chin. She could hear his heart thundering beneath her ear.

And instantly all her nerves vanished. He was nervous too. He wanted her just as much as she wanted him.

They were meant for each other. It would be perfect. Had her dreams not told her so?

It still amazed her that she had found him, but it only convinced her even more that they were destined to love each other.

Tonight would be the beginning.

Elizabeth pulled back slightly, gazed up at him. He was breathing unevenly now, his eyes hooded.

"Liz."

Hearing her name on his lips, the love he felt for her resounding in that one single syllable was her undoing. She reached up, ran her fingers through his soft, dark hair.

"Max. My love. Make me truly yours."

He swallowed again but smiled slightly. He lowered his lips down to meet hers, brought his hands up to cup her face. It was not long before he was lifting her into his arms and laying her gently down on the bed.

And they were both lost.
**************************************

"Where the hell are they?" Michael stormed, pacing back and forth in front of the log on which Mary and Isabel huddled together for warmth. Alexander had resisted lighting a fire, had warned that the smoke and the light thrown by the flames would be a beacon for Sir Kyle’s men.

Michael had returned moments before, the expression of grief and anger on his face a mask that had sent a chill down Mary’s spine.

"Maxwell assured me that they would be back before sunrise." Alexander explained patiently for the third time. He was leaning back against a tree, his arms folded over his chain-mailed chest. Mary could tell that he was beginning to get worried too though. Max and Lizzy had disappeared into the Forest many hours before. Although Mary had an idea that Alexander knew where they had gone, he was not telling, but he was also becoming concerned at the lengthy span of their absence.

"I did and we are." Max’s voice caused them all to whip their heads around. He and Elizabeth were suddenly there. They were holding hands and both looked a little peculiar as a matter of fact.

Guilt was written all over both of their visages.

"Where’s Evander?" Michael snapped, asking, in Mary’s opinion, the least important question. Something had happened between these two, that much was evident. Who the heck cared about Maxwell’s stupid horse? But Mary had the feeling that Michael was trying to avoid having to find out where they had been because he knew he wasn’t going to like it.

Mary’s own curiousity was practically eating her alive.

"I left him at Lord Edmund’s hunting cottage." Max replied. "I will fetch him when I need him. He is safer there."

"Max." Isabel was on her feet, her voice concerned. "What have you done?" There was no avoiding it now. Mary had the strange feeling that all four of them knew exactly what Max and Elizabeth had gone, but were scared to find out for sure.

It changed everything.

Max glanced down at Elizabeth lovingly. She smiled slightly at him, something secretive passing between them. "We are married." Max finally said shortly.

Isabel collapsed back onto the log. "Max." She sounded shocked and horrified.

Michael was not nearly as composed. "Well, you’ve screwed us over royally this time, haven’t you?" Mary exchanged a wary look with Alexander, who did not look at all surprised by this announcement. She had known that he had been in on the secret. She was going to have to punish him soundly later for keeping her in the dark.

"Michael." Max said warningly.

"Maxwell, you know that we can’t have any attachments on this world!" Michael continued his rant. "Are you planning to bring her with us when we go home?"

"Yes." Max replied evenly.

"Max! It is impossible." This was from Isabel, who still sounded completely shocked, but not nearly as angry as Michael did. Mary believed that she understood Bella enough to know that while she did not entirely approve of Max’s actions, she would be brought around to support the newly wedded pair. She loved her brother. Anyone could see that she only wanted him to be happy.

Mary was also fairly sure that Isabel was not adverse to the idea of marriage to a human herself. The looks she sent in Alexander’s direction when she though no one was looking seemed to support this idea.

Which made Mary realize that Michael’s anger could only mean that he had never had any honourable intentions towards her. And his next comment made her realize why.

"What about your betrothed?" He spat out, fury in every line of his stiff stance. "What about Tess Maxwell?"

Mary saw Max flinch at that. Elizabeth did too, but brought her arm up to hold him, in support. "You know that I do not love Tess Michael. Not in that way. I only ever accepted what was to be because I did not realize that I was capable of loving anyone else." He brought his arm around Elizabeth. "I love Liz."

"You know that doesn’t mean a thing." Michael snapped back. "You are meant for Tess, I am meant for Isabel. End of story."

Mary glanced at Alexander in shock. He looked as astonished as she did.

They always called each other brother and sister! How could they be meant for each other?

"I don’t care." Max responded stubbornly. "Tess is my sister. Nothing more. Being King of Antar does not hinge on marrying her."

"How do you know this Max?" Isabel asked quietly. Mary could see her eyeing Alexander sadly, probably wondering how he was taking the news of her betrothal to Michael.

"I know it Bella." Max asserted firmly. "It does not matter. Lord Edmund only ever told us this because we were lonely here. He was trying to help us to see that we would always have each other." He looked at his sister pleadingly. "And we still do Belle. It doesn’t matter if we bring others into our circle. We will always have each other."

"I know it Max."

"Funny that you should mention Lord Edmund so carelessly Maxwell." Michael said. "Do you even care why he and Tess are not with us?"

Max eyed him for a moment, his expression unreadable. Mary saw Liz gently take his hand, stroking it soothingly. It made her sad to see them that way. The love they exuded was beautiful but something about it was frightening.

In that instant, Mary Delucie knew that none of this could last. They were on road into the unknown and the destination was still undetermined, but in her heart of hearts she was afraid.

It could not last.

"Tell me." Max finally ordered softly.

Michael sounded cold when he finally said, "Lord Edmund is dead Maxwell. While you were off marrying your human," Michael made it sound like a curse. "Our guardian was being murdered by her jilted lover. And our Tess has been kidnapped." He stared at Max in disdain for a moment and then stormed off into the woods. "I wish you great joy with your whore." He yelled over his shoulder. "I am going to save our sister." The freezing tone of his voice frightened Mary even more.

A rift had been created here that might not be capable of healing, not even with Max’s miraculous touch.

Mary watched passively as Isabel rose from the log again and hurried after him, but not before she had shared a long meaningful glance with Max. She would support him, but in the meantime, she had to go after Michael.

And Mary knew that whatever it was that she had shared with Michael of Huntington was over before it had even truly begun.

Part 26

"Michael! Please stop!" Isabel called after her betrothed. She could hear him crashing through the green wood ahead, clearly too upset to even take care that he was making so much noise, it was only a matter of time before the Sheriff’s men fell down on them. "Michael! Please!"

She stumbled upon him so abruptly, she gasped. He had stopped, was leaning up against a tree, his forehead cradled against his forearm. It was the exact same pose he always took when he was on the verge of completely losing it. It was the same stance he had held after having killed the Sheriff’s men. It was impossible to believe that that life-altering event had only taken place three days before. Isabel felt as though she and her siblings had lived a lifetime since then.

"I’m not going to apologize Bella." Michael finally said, after she had stood behind him for several moments, wracking her mind for what to say to him. "I cannot believe that he has done this to us. Our entire purpose has been compromised because of his obsession with that… that human."

"Michael, her name is Elizabeth and she is now our queen. Even now she could be carrying Max’s heir. Whether you like it or not, you have to accept it." Isabel replied quietly. "You don’t have to apologize to Max, but I do think you should try and be nicer to her. None of this is her fault. She has only ever tried to help us. Don’t forget that it was she who was responsible for your escape from Nottingham and it was also she who sent us Mary and Alexander. Please don’t try and tell me that we could have survived this long without them."

Michael turned around suddenly at the mention of Mary and Alexander. His eyes blazed while he listened to Isabel. Finally he ground out, "They have been helpful , yes, but we would have survived without them. We have Lord Edmund…" Michael stopped abruptly. "We HAD him, I mean." Isabel felt her eyes widen as Michael’s dark orbs filled with tears. She had never, not once, seen him cry in all the years she had known him.

"Michael!" Isabel moved forward, wrapped her arms around him, bringing his head down onto her shoulder. "It will be all right. I promise. We have to believe that as long as we stick together, we will survive."

Michael let himself be comforted for a moment, but then wrenched away again, swiping angrily at his eyes. "We are meant to do much more than survive Bella. You know it, I know it, Maxwell SHOULD know it. We are the Royal Four and we have a duty to return and liberate our people. It is the only reason for our existence."

Isabel smiled softly at him. "But Michael - if it the only reason for our existence, then why do we feel that we want more? Max and I have never denied that to ourselves." She brought her hand up, touched him on the shoulder. "You have always said that all you want is to return to Antar. I believe that’s true, but I also believe that the past few days have opened your eyes to the joys that life on THIS planet can bring as well."

Isabel saw Michael’s eyes flash again. She knew he was thinking about Mary. "Whatever I want is insignificant." He said finally. "I have a role and I intend to play it. I will marry you and we will return to Antar and free our people."

"Why do the two have to be intertwined?" Isabel demanded, frustrated by his stubbornness. "Just because we were married in our previous lifetime, it does not mean that we have to be in these lives. Why can’t we still free Antar and marry others?" She paused, moderated her voice, which was beginning to rise hysterically. She had had this argument with him many times before - not necessarily about marriage, but about why returning to their planet eventually had to mean that they could not make lives for themselves on Earth in the meantime.

Michael had always ever been about waiting for his destiny to find him. Isabel wanted a hand in MAKING hers. "Can you really tell me that you have ever wanted to marry me Michael? Me, Isabel, not Vilandra, not who I once was, not who you were told I was and what I meant to you THEN, but who I am now."

Michael frowned down at her. "Of course I do. I love you Bella."

Isabel reached up and stroked his face. "I know you do Michael, but you don’t love me in the way I want to be loved. And don’t tell me that you don’t know what I mean." Isabel held her hand up and covered his mouth. Michael snapped it shut, as it had been open in an attempt to protest. "You do know what I mean because you feel it for someone else. You don’t feel for me what you feel for her." Michael scowled at her. "Please don’t try to deny it Michael. I see the way you are around her. She brings you to life in a way I’ve never seen before. With Mary, instead of waiting for life, you are LIVING."

Michael stared past her, his eyes softening. "She is driving me crazy."

"She has brought you to life." Isabel replied, hugging him again. "And I think that after you apologize to Elizabeth, you should also apologize to Mary. Because what you said - it was designed to hurt Max, but I think you hurt our three human friends much more than you could ever hurt him. He knows you, knows that you don’t mean half of what you say when you flare up like that. They don’t."

Michael had whitened at her words. "I did not think Bella. I was just thinking about our Tess…she must be so frightened."

"I know Michael. And we are going to save her, but first you must reconcile with Max and the others. We all need each other."

"What are we going to do without him Bella?" Michael asked, sounding frightened. Isabel was glad that he was finally letting down his defenses. Michael’s anger was always designed to hide his fear - he had ever been that way since he was a small boy. Lord Edmund’s death had hit him harder than any of them because their guardian’s presence had been the only thing that had ever made him feel safe on this planet. Lord Edmund’s knowledge of their destiny had reassured him that he would not make a mistake, would not betray his people.

And now that Lord Edmund was gone, Michael’s destiny was all on his own shoulders.

For Isabel it was a release from the years in which she had felt confined. For Michael, a prison of fear had risen in the stead of the confidence his guardian gave him.

"We will survive. Max is our king. He has grown into that role more in the last three days than in the entire time we were under Lord Edmund’s control." Isabel told him. "And Michael, whether you like it or not, it is Elizabeth who is responsible for it. She is his inspiration. Max would never have been happy with Tess. Just seeing the way he looks at Liz - how could he have ever been happy with our sister when she did not make him look that way? Not even once Michael."

Michael sighed heavily. "I have tried to ignore it Bella, because of what it meant. But you are right."

"You have to let go of your fear Michael. I know that you are afraid of what you feel for Mary Delucie, but if Max can claim his happiness, then so can we. I have a feeling that Mary would be perfectly willing to follow you to the ends of the Universe, if only to make sure that you didn’t lose your way." Isabel teased, taking his hand and leading him back towards the camp, where she knew the others awaited them.

Michael snorted as they started back. "If there is one thing she likes, its to order me around." Michael admitted wryly.

"She is a caring girl Michael. I think she is one who has never wanted a day in her life and instead of it spoiling her, it has made her more generous and outgoing. She is special. They are all special that way."

Michael and Isabel did not speak again until they were almost back at the camp. They were still holding hands, companionably rather than romantically, which was why Isabel’s arm was almost pulled out of the socket when Michael stopped abruptly. "What about Tess?"

Isabel frowned at him, not understanding. "We will save her Michael. All of us. Together."

"I know Bella, that’s not what I mean. What I mean is, what about Tess and MAX? She is going to be devastated by this." He grimaced. "Because whether you, or I, or Max has ever wanted to marry each other, I know Tess loves Max. I think it has become more than clear in the past few days that Tess loves him in the way HE loves Liz - and more than any of us ever realized."

Isabel’s eyes widened. "She will be upset Michael, but will she not be comforted that Max is so happy? I cannot believe that she will not see that Liz will never replace her in Max’s heart. She is one of the Four, one of us. We will always be bonded in a way that others can not break."

Michael shook his head. "Isabel, I admire you for thinking so highly of Tess, but I don’t think that she is going to look at it in that way at all."

Isabel felt a shiver descend her spine. While she did not want to betray her sister by thinking that she could ever try and hurt Liz or Max, she had seen changes in Tess over the past few days that did not deny what Michael was saying.

All Isabel could do for the moment, however, was hope that they were wrong.

*******************************************

Mary watched Maxwell pace the length of the clearing, his face deeply reflective. Elizabeth was standing nearby, watching him as well, and as Mary observed, her friend moved over to join him, smiling up at him sympathetically.

Max’s expression softened immediately. He reached out, pulled Lizzy into his embrace, seemed to calm down instantly. Mary bit her lip, felt tears well up in her eyes. She knew that she would never have that sort of relationship with Michael. While Max and Elizabeth’s love had burned brightly and steadily from the moment they had met, she and Michael flared in fits and starts of passion.

It was a passion that was not healthy Mary saw now. Max and Liz were meant for each other because they became complete in each other’s presence. She, Mary, just upset Michael, disrupted his calm, interrupted his goals, rather than bringing him peace as Elizabeth did for Maxwell.

"Are you well?" Alexander had been standing near the spot where Isabel had disappeared after Michael ages ago, but now he came to join her on the log she had been sharing with Isabel earlier that evening. He had clearly been concerned for Isabel’s welfare, but also did not want to interrupt a conversation between two whose relationship Mary and her brother were only beginning to understand.

Mary swallowed, smiled at her brother. "I am just sad Alex. It is hard to see people you care about in pain. And I know that Michael’s outburst was less about hurting Max and Lizzy than it was about concern for Tess and grief for their foster father."

Alexander reached out, put his arm around her shoulders, bringing her head down upon his own shoulder. "It is difficult dearest." He paused. "I do not think that he meant to hurt you with what he said Mary. I think your Michael would be most upset if he knew you were in pain."

Mary sighed. "It does not matter Alex. He is not mine anyway. He and Isabel are to marry." She frowned. "Why would they not tell us so? I do not understand why they hid it."

She felt Alexander shrug under her cheek. "I don’t know Mary. Maybe it was such an accepted fact for them that it did not even cross their minds that we should know. I know that Isabel has never said anything to me that implied that she wanted to be with me. I have only myself to blame for seeing something more in our relationship than was really there."

Mary pulled back, stared up at her brother. "I do not think you were mistaken Alex. Isabel does have feelings for you. I have seen the way she looks at you. I think, perhaps, they are trapped in a betrothal that neither wants." Mary began to speak more earnestly. "Perhaps they just need US to make the first move, so that they know that they will not be alone if they break from each other. It takes courage to do what Max and Liz did, both denying marriages they did not want to claim their happiness. Neither of us knows the courage that it would take, both being in control of our own fates."

Alex smiled affectionately at her. "Does nothing ever dampen your optimism my sister?"

Mary grinned back. "It is sometimes hidden Alex, but I am not one to give up something I want easily." Mary realized that it was true. Not matter how hopeless it seemed to have any sort of relationship with Michael of Huntington, she was not willing to give up so easily - at least, not before she knew for sure that Michael and Isabel WANTED to marry. "You should know that by now."

"Oh I know it MARTIN of York." Alex replied wryly, kissing her lightly on the forehead. He looked at Max and Liz across the clearing. "I think we should go talk to Maxwell." He told Mary. "We must begin to formulate a plan for a rescue of the Lady Tess so that we do not waste any more time once Michael and Isabel have returned."

Mary shook her head. "Let’s leave them in peace a while longer Alex." She paused, admitted quietly. "I have a feeling that soon there will be very little peace for those two. "

Alex looked at her, one brow raised, but did not dispute what she said. While Max and Elizabeth had boldly claimed the right to be together, there were going to be a lot of people who were very, VERY unhappy about this union. Michael’s reaction was going to be minor in comparison to that of Sir Kyle DeValence, and perhaps Tess as well. Mary only hoped that Tess did not suffer because of Kyle’s anger. While Mary did not like Tess at all, she knew that Max and Elizabeth’s guilt about her was great enough without having to bear the guilt of actual, physical harm coming to her because of their marriage.

Mary’s thoughts were interrupted as Michael and Isabel appeared suddenly from the Forest. She frowned slightly, glanced at Alex, when she saw that their hands were joined. She climbed slowly to her feet, took Alex’s hand in hers when he followed her, for comfort and to lend him strength as well. She felt him squeeze her hand in response.

Mary looked at Max and Elizabeth, who were both staring at Michael tensely. Elizabeth whispered something to her husband, but Max shook his head sternly.

Michael let go of Isabel’s hand, marched forward resolutely. Mary gasped when he fell to his knees in front of the newly wedded pair. Max was scowling down at him, but Elizabeth just looked shocked.

"Please accept my apology my queen. I should not have reacted in anger but should have welcomed you to our family with all the joy in my heart that you have brought to my king’s. And let me tell you, you have brightened up his dour personality quite impressively." He added, winking up at her.

Liz just continued to stare down at him. Mary saw Max roll his eyes, glare across the clearing at Isabel. Isabel looked amused.

"Get up Michael." Max snapped. "Your apology is accepted. Stop being so ridiculous. We have work to do."

Michael looked up. Mary was surprised to see a teasing grin on his face. "Are you saying I don’t need to apologize Max? Because I wasn’t apologizing to you…or did you not notice? I’m still angry with YOU. Michael’s gaze was momentarily challenging, but he quickly returned his attention to Elizabeth.

Liz relaxed visibly. "Michael, please. Stand up. I accept your apology." She let go of Max’s hand, moved forward and knelt down in front of her husband’s brother. "Please stand up. I appreciate where your anger came from and I share your concern for Tess. It is important that we put all of this behind us and move forward. Her welfare is our only concern at this point."

Mary watched Michael’s expression gentle from mocking to one of actual respect. "I mean what I say Milady, even if my brother does not believe it."

Elizabeth smiled at him. "I believe you Michael."

Michael stood up, reaching down and pulling Elizabeth to her feet. "Good. Then since you’re the only one he listens to, maybe HE’LL believe it too." While the words were confrontational, Michael’s tone reflected the teasing nature of his comment.

Mary felt the first glimmering of hope she had experienced since Michael had returned from his failed mission to retrieve Tess and Lord Edmund. When Michael suddenly turned and stared at HER across the clearing, his dark eyes smoldering, it blossomed full-fledged.

It was no longer three and three. They were six now. And the expression on Michael’s face told her that he now knew it too.

And together they could do anything.

Part 27

"Are we just going to give up then?" Michael demanded, jumping to his feet and pacing the length of the clearing. "There is no way to get her safely so we give up?"

"Of course not." Max snapped. He rubbed his hand across his face wearily. Elizabeth watched him with concern. She could tell that he was holding in his own frustration, but just barely.

They had been trying to devise a plan to rescue Tess for almost a full day now. It did seem virtually impossible.

It had been confirmed that Tess was being held in Nottingham Castle. Alex had returned only an hour before, having ridden hard to his estate just north of Sherwood. He had sent one of his retainers to Nottingham to listen in the taverns and on the streets and word had already leaked out to the public that Sir Kyle had brought a blonde girl in chains to the stronghold the day before. The story had been well into circulation because it was a rare enough thing in these times to see a woman bound hand and foot and under heavy guard, so even those who had not seen Tess themselves had heard of it.

The fact that Tess had been so heavily guarded only confirmed Elizabeth’s fear that Sir Kyle no longer underestimated Max. Having his bride stolen right from the altar had not only humiliated him, it had made him more careful and less cocky.

And so, it seemed hopeless. There was no way the six of them could sneak unimpeded into a stronghold of the magnitude of Nottingham Castle. Elizabeth knew that the way Max had infiltrated several nights before was most likely completely shut off now.

Because there was no doubt Sir Kyle expected them. What Michael had overheard guaranteed it.

There was also no doubt that the Sheriff had his guards out in full-force as well. They were still combing the Forest in search of the outlawed Max and Michael. Alex had not yet been outlawed because of his close ties with the Queen, but he had still feared for his life when had almost run head-first into a contingent of them on his way back to their hiding spot. The Forest was becoming increasingly unsafe for them now because they had to stay close to the city for Tess’s sake.

Elizabeth suspected that Max and Michael had spent the time Alex was gone plotting ways to get them all to France once Tess was back. Fleeing meant that Alexander and Mary were going to lose everything. Alex would lose his lands and his title unless he found some way to appeal to King Richard directly. The King’s no-good brother Prince John was presently the regent of the country, but he would support the Sheriff in this. He needed all the allies he could muster because rumours were circulating in the city too that Prince John was about to try and usurp in absent brother’s throne. The King was completely out of reach and unavailable since he had been captured by the German Emperor on his way home from the Holy Land. His ransom had yet to be set and it was possible that he might not have a throne to return to when he was released.

She felt guilty about Alex and Mary. It was she who had placed them in this position after all, having asked them to accompany Isabel and Tess into the Forest. Elizabeth knew that Alexander would have the King’s ear upon his return, but if the King didn’t return…But she knew her friends did not blame her. Seeing the way Mary acted around Michael and the way Alexander looked at Isabel, the Delucies were not sorry and had not regrets.

"There is one piece of good news." Alex spoke into the tense silence that had fallen, snapping Elizabeth back to attention. "Although I am unsure if it will help our cause or not."

"What is it Alex?" Isabel asked. She had gone to stand with Michael, her hand on his arm in an attempt to calm him down. Elizabeth frowned slightly when she saw Alex’s eyes planted firmly on that hand.

"The King is to be ransomed. The Emperor has finally set the price." Alex tore his gaze away from Isabel and Michael looked directly at Elizabeth. "The Queen will return to Nottingham to collect the taxes to use in that effort."

Elizabeth jumped to her feet from boulder on which she had been perched. "This is wonderful news!" She looked at Max, who was staring at her, his eyes shadowed.

"And this helps us how exactly?" Michael inquired. Elizabeth was still looking at Max, slightly disconcerted by the strange expression on his face. She forced herself to look at Michael. She could from the tone of her brother-in-law’s voice that he was doing his best not to make a snide comment, although he desperately wanted to. He was keeping his pledge of treating her like his queen, even though Liz suspected that he still was not completely comfortable with the idea, despite his graceful apology of the day before.

Elizabeth could understand his wariness. None of their new friends understood her relationship to the Queen.

"She will help us! I know she will." Elizabeth explained quickly, willing Max to see that all their troubles were over. "I will go to her and I will explain what Kyle has done and she will order him to release Tess."

"Liz…" Max began, clearly not believing it could be as simple as that. She had to convince him.

"I know her Max. She loves me! She will do this for me."

"After you defied her will by not only refusing to marry Sir Kyle, but by then eloping with a known outlaw?" Max asked gently.

Elizabeth looked at Mary and Alexander for confirmation. "Explain it to them. They don’t understand. If there is anyone who understands following your heart, its Queen Eleanor. She divorced the King of France of love of the King of England after all!"

Mary was leaning against a tree, her arms wrapped tightly around herself. Alexander did not look convince either. "Mary! Alex! It is the Queen!"

Mary moved forward, put her arm around Elizabeth. "Lizzie, she was going to marry you to Sir Kyle against your will." She frowned slightly, glanced quickly at Michael before continuing, "She was going to marry ME to some old baron next. The Queen does what she believes to be right for her wards. She is Eleanor of Aquitaine, the greatest heiress in Europe. What she does is not necessarily suitable for every girl. If it were, our society would be in anarchy!" Liz’s mouth dropped open. "I’m not saying that I am agreeing with it Liz. Of course I don’t. But the Queen will be angry. You must see that!" She paused. "She is also preoccupied with ransoming the King. She will not look kindly on being asked to deal with what she will consider something insignificant."

"Marrying Kyle was NOT against my will!" Liz returned sharply, upset by what Mary was saying because she knew it might be true. There was dead silence following that statement. She could have kicked herself. "At least not at first." She amended hastily, not daring to glance at her husband. "I didn’t know I could ever have anything more," she continued passionately. "None of us did until three days ago! The Queen will help us when I explain it to her! I know she will. I just need to go to her."

"No." Max’s voice was harden than Elizabeth had ever heard it, at least directed at her. "It will not work Liz. Mary has given a valid argument. You will not put yourself in danger like that." Elizabeth still did not look at him. She was scared of what she might see on his face. That comment about Kyle had hurt him - she knew it had.

"I don’t know Maxwell." Michael said, sounding interested. "I don’t see that we have many other options."

"At least it will get one of us into the Castle." Isabel added. Elizabeth smiled at her friend, thanking her silently for her support. She didn’t know why it was so important that she be able to do this for them, but it was.

She needed to get Tess back for them. For him.

"No." Max repeated. "Even Mary and Alexander see it for foolishness. I will not allow it."

Elizabeth’s head snapped around. "Foolishness?" She asked dumbly.

Max’s expression softened. "I know that you want to help Liz, but putting yourself anywhere near Sir Kyle again is just that - foolishness."

Elizabeth just stared at him. She could feel tears beginning to well up. He thought she was a fool. Actually he thought she was worse than a fool. He thought she was a weakling who needed protecting.

It was why he had married her after all. To protect her from Kyle, because she was too foolish to do it herself.

She thought she heard Alex muttering under his breath. "Uh oh…" But she couldn’t be sure. The blood was rushing in her head, causing her hearing to be slightly off.

She wanted to protect HIM. It was all she had ever wanted to do. And he thought she was a fool.

"Lizzie." Mary spoke directly into her ear. "Don’t. Don’t freeze up. He didn’t mean it the way it sounded."

Elizabeth drew herself up to her full height, which, annoyingly, was very little and spoke to Max coldly. "I apologize your highness if my foolishness has wasted your time. I also apologize that it has put you all in this position in the first place, because I couldn’t save myself from Kyle. If it wasn’t for me, Tess would not have been taken. If I am a fool because I want to make amends for that fact, well, then, so be it."

She grasped her cloak tightly, meeting Max’s eyes squarely. He was staring at her in shock, clearly unused to seeing a less than pliable side to her.

But, then, why should he not be? She had been nothing but pliable since she had first met him and had fallen head over heels in love with him.

And yet, he didn’t really know her at all, did he?

Elizabeth whirled, stormed off into the bush. She heard Alex calling after her, heard Isabel tell Max to follow her, heard Mary tell him not to, to let her cool off.

He better not follow me, Elizabeth reflected venomously. I will toss him into the waterfall if he tries to follow me.

The thought of Max dripping wet in the stream was enough to make her anger fade. She could just imagine the look on his face.

It would be horribly similar to the one he had just displayed - shock, but with an underlying affection and love that would result in her throwing herself into his arms.

He might think she was foolish, but she did not doubt that he loved her.

Elizabeth sighed heavily, leaned against a tree and slid until her bottom hit the forest floor.

What kind of witch was she anyway? She reflected guiltily now that her icy rage had melted. Max was only concerned for Tess’s safety, concerned for HER safety. He certainly didn’t need her throwing temper tantrums at the moment. He had enough to deal with.

She wondered momentarily how Tess would have behaved in similar circumstances - if she was Max’s wife as she had been meant to be.

Probably like the queen she was born to be. Instead he has me. She felt her tears welling up again. She swiped at them angrily.

But its you he loves another voice, deep in her heart, argued. He would give up his planet for you.

Which only makes it worse, Elizabeth reflected glumly. She now understood why she was being so unreasonable, why she had taken offense where Max had intended none, why she so desperately wanted to be the deciding factor in liberating Tess.

It was good old-fashioned guilt. It was guilt that she, Elizabeth, had stolen the other girl’s place. A girl she disliked, yes, but Liz could not blame Tess for fighting tooth and nail for Max. He was a king. He was her intended mate. He was MAX.

She also felt guilt that he might not be the king he was supposed to be because of her. He had already put his own life in danger several times in his quest to keep her safe.

She was beginning to understand how her husband saw her - as something pure and priceless, to be admired and protected.

While that was romantic and gratifying, it wasn’t really her. She had many flaws.

She had a tendency to freeze people out when she was angry at them as Mary had just warned her against doing. She could be stubborn and headstrong when she felt that she was right. Her behavior over the last three days had more than shown this. She had believed Max and so had pulled her two best friends away from their comfortable lives to help him.

She could be selfish. She had married Max on a romantic whim, not knowing beforehand that he was a king with responsibilities to an entire planet. But she HAD known that he was betrothed and she had married him anyway. She had done it because she loved him and wanted him for herself.

And now Tess was paying the price for her faults - and Elizabeth was beginning to wonder if Max would still love her when he found out about them.

When she fell off the pedestal upon which he had placed her, would their marriage become a disaster in his eyes. Would he regret it? Would he wish that he had married the one who was meant for him all along?

The fact that she was worried about his during the current crisis was just more evidence of her selfishness. Poor Tess. Who knew how Sir Kyle was torturing the poor girl because he could not get his hand on the true object of his wrath - Elizabeth herself.

All of this was why she wanted to go to the Queen, wanted to fix some of the disaster for which she had been responsible.

"Liz?" She had been so wrapped up in her own thoughts, she had not even heard him approach until he was directly behind her. "It is not safe for you to be out here alone sweeting."

She felt him ease tentatively to the ground beside her, could sense his unease, his concern that she would send him away.
Elizabeth felt a lump rise in her throat. She was responsible for that too. When he should be worrying about Tess, instead he was being forced to deal with a difficult wife.

"Liz, I am sorry. Sometimes I say things before I think how they might sound. You might ask Michael about that," he added wryly. "He surely has much to say on the matter." He paused, waiting to see if she might say something. If she spoke she would start to cry, so she remained silent. Max continued. "You know that I don’t think that you’re foolish."
The end of the comment was raised like a question, as though he was unsure that she actually knew this, and that if she didn’t, he felt awful.

"Please don’t apologize to me." She managed to whisper back, through the lump that wouldn’t go away.

"Liz?" He sounded truly confused now. She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. He had plucked a blade of grass and was twisting it nervously.

She realized that he had never apologized to anyone before. Of course he hadn’t. In his small society he had always been acknowledged leader. Even when Michael had been angry about their marriage, Max had never apologized. He had been sorry that his brother was upset, but he had not felt the need to be sorry.

He was a king. Kings did not apologize.

Liz realized that if he didn’t know her, she still had much to learn about HIM as well.

"Tell me the worst thing you ever did to another person." She blurted abruptly.

"What? Why?" He sounded completely dumbfounded.

"I want to know everything about you." Elizabeth insisted, finally looking right at him. His face was shadowed in the twilight, but she could still see the wariness and uncertainty. "The good AND the bad. You’ve already seen MY bad side tonight." She added guiltily.

"Well, I once locked Isabel in the privy overnight." He looked embarrassed. "Is that what you mean? And I beg to differ about seeing your bad side," he continued. "You don’t have one."

Elizabeth sighed, let herself lean back against him. She felt him relax, breathe a sigh of relief. His arms came around her, holding her tightly against him.

"Max, everyone has a bad side." She told him. "We need to acknowledge each other’s faults if this is ever going to work."

"Are you saying I have faults?" He demanded in mock outrage. He squeezed her lightly to let her know that he was not serious.

Liz rolled her eyes, held up her hand and began to list them on her fingers. "Impatience? Stubbornness?" She asked sweetly. "Overprotectiveness? The complete inability to take anything I say seriously?" Her tone was light, but she could feel him tense. She knew that he was NOW taking her seriously.

"Is that what you really think?" He inquired quietly. "That I don’t take you seriously?"

"Well, I don’t blame you." Liz replied quickly. "I have been a tad impulsive over the span of our acquaintance."

"Are you telling me that you don’t jump on the Bishop every week? That you don’t wed complete strangers after three days acquaintance all the time?" He asked teasingly. "I may have to rethink this whole marriage thing." He said, pretending to be disconcerted. "I was very much looking forward to the weekly bishop thrashing."

Liz elbowed him soundly in the ribs. He kissed her lightly on the temple in response, but only after giving a satisfying grunt. "I’m serious Max! This is not ME. I am usually very steady in temperament." She twisted around so that she could see his face. "It was why I did not protest my betrothal to Sir Kyle overmuch at first. I am steady, predictable and boring." She paused. "My guess is that the Queen will not even believe that I have eloped. She would believe it of Mary, but never of me."

Max was listening to her seriously now. "I fear that you are beginning to regret your impulsiveness." He paused, causing her to open her mouth to protest. The last thing she regretted was marrying him! Her main concern was that he should regret marrying HER.

Max gently placed a finger on her lips to silence her, then looked away briefly. "Do you truly understand why I fear to send you to the Queen?" Liz shook her head, frowning. "I think I am afraid that if you go back to her, she will remind you of all you are giving up to be with me."

Elizabeth stared at him in astonishment. His shadowed gazes showed that he was really serious. "What I gave up?" She asked in amazement. "What about you?"

Max started. "What do you mean?"

"You gave up the queen you were meant to rule with! You gave up your secret and your freedom and you may have to give up your throne!" She shook her head at him when he scowled. "You cannot deny its true Max. Your people might not accept me. We know that your guardian would not have. You even lost HIM because of me. And Tess is in captivity because of me as well."

"Liz," Max interrupted firmly. "I would be rotting in the dungeons of Nottingham Castle or swinging from a rope right now if it wasn’t for you."

Elizabeth smiled gently at him. "And I would be married to Sir Kyle, miserable and lonely and destined for a life without meaning if it wasn’t for you." She shuddered at the thought.

Max’s arms tightened around her. She buried her face in his neck, inhaled his scent, the combination of the forest and wool and just MAX. Her heart began to thump irregularly. "I would never have known what happiness was." She whispered.

"Well, we certainly are a pair." Max finally said after she had stopped shivering. "We are both so guilty about what we’re making the other lose, we both forgot that all that matters to either of us is the other."

"Flaws and all?" She asked quietly.

"Flaws and all." Max acknowledged. "Not that you have any. And I am having a hard time remembering mine." He grinned at her teasingly.

"MAX!" Liz glared at him. "I want you to admit that I have flaws - that you love me in spite of them."

He continued to smile. "Well, you do have the extremely irritating tendency of talking when I want to kiss you. Will that do?" He asked innocently.

Liz rolled her eyes. "I will not allow you to kiss me until you accept that I am going to the Queen." He was trying to kiss her as she said it, but she had turned her head firmly aside and he ended up kissing her ear instead. She turned back to see his expression darkening as her comment penetrated though.

She refused to back off though. "Max. I am not some pretty flower that is to be protected. I am your wife - your queen. It’s my fault that Tess is where she is. Let me do this one thing."

She saw him open his mouth to protest. She melded her lips to his instead, bringing her hands up to cup his face. "Say yes." She murmured several moments later when she had him breathing heavily. Her own breath was coming quickly, but she was not to sidetracked from her mission.

"No." Max gasped when she began to trail light kisses down his jaw. She was fumbling with the laces on his tunic.

"Say yes Max. You know I’m just going to go anyway." Liz helped him pull his shirt over his head. She swallowed, licked her lips at the sight of his muscular chest and abdomen.

All guilt about stealing him away from Tess fled her mind.

He was hers. She would feel no more shame for loving him so completely.

Elizabeth looked up at his face. His dark eyes were watching her, shadowed still, but with desire now rather than hurt. His hands were snaking through her braids, unwinding them mercilessly until her hair hung around them both.

"No." Max said quite clearly, considering the current expression on his face. "I will not risk you." It startled her. She had thought him well beyond their argument, had been sure that it would only be a matter of time before she convinced him. But he sounded just as adamant as he had at the beginning.

She frowned at him for a moment, then sighed. "Well, then, you leave me little choice." She told him, trying to sound grieved. "I’m just going to have to convince you."

"You can try." Max smirked, although his eyes were hot as he watched her begin to unlace the ties on her gown. His voice was a little raw, but he did manage to say, "You listed over-protectiveness as one of my flaws my queen. In my opinion it is not a flaw. It is a virtue." He grabbed her suddenly, burying his face in her long hair. "I cannot lose you Liz." His tone was now completely serious.

She pulled back gently. "And I cannot lose YOU Max. Can you tell me that you will be the same if we do not save Tess? The guilt will eat you alive. It will torment me. It will KILL us. Can you not admit that this is the only way?" She touched his face, pleaded. "Let me save her. To save us."

"Liz, I can’t." She could hear the fear in his voice, underlined by a note of hard resolve. He was not going to budge on this, she realized.

Elizabeth sighed, brought her mouth up to meet his again, determined to erase his fears, willing to give in for the moment.

"It will be all right my love." She whispered. "We will find another way."

And as she let him make love to her, she could feel his relief and fear for her making him urgent. She gave herself over to him completely, as she had done since the first moment they had met.

But, as she lost herself in the love she felt for him, she reflected very briefly on one more flaw she possessed of which her beloved would soon be aware.

She was a liar.

Part 28

"Going somewhere?" The voice was familiar and the tone wry, but Elizabeth’s heart still jumped into her throat as she whirled. It was not yet light, but the grey of pre-dawn was beginning to invade the glade within the Forest, making his position easily identifiable. She pulled Max’s cloak, the one she had filched, more closely around her, breathing in his scent to try and calm herself before facing the owner of that voice.

Michael was leaning against a tree, his arms folded across his chest, one eyebrow raised, a half-annoyed, half-admiring expression on his handsome face, although Elizabeth wondered if she was imagining the latter.

She had been so sure that she had gotten away without waking anyone.

It had not been easy to evade Max. After they had made love, she had pretended to fall asleep in his arms. She had allowed him to wrap her in his cloak and had felt him lift her, carrying her back towards the clearing where their friends waited. She knew it was because he felt they were safer near them all, but internally she had been cursing, wondering if there was any way she was going to be able to sneak away with the other five all around her.

Fortunately Max had still wanted some privacy. He had gently laid her on the far side of the banked fire, had disappeared for a few moments (she had watched him through lowered lashes as he spoke quietly with Michael on the other side of the fire) and then had returned, lying down next to her and pulling her into his arms. It had seemed to take him forever to fall asleep, but she had finally been convinced when his breathing had become deep and even for a fairly lengthy period of time.

It had taken almost an hour to gradually wiggle out of his embrace. He had only stirred once though, murmuring her name in his sleep. She had watched him sleep for several moments, her heart contracting at the dark circles under his eyes. He was clearly exhausted. She had been breathless with tension, but also breathless with love.

There had been one heart-stopping moment when she had wondered if she would ever see him again. And if she did, would he ever forgive her? It had almost been enough to make her lie back down, to throw her arms around him, to even wake him so that he would again join with her and take her to the plain of existence that only he opened to her.

But she was doing this for HIM. She would save Tess and then they would begin their lives together without sorrow and without guilt.

She had avoided the other four by skirting around the fire and heading straight into the underbrush. She had not even looked in their direction, which was obviously the reason that she had not noticed that Michael was not sleeping at all. Max must have ordered him to stand guard. She cursed herself for not realizing he would do such a thing - not because he didn’t trust her, but because they WERE wanted outlaws after all. It would have been careless for them all to fall asleep and Max was anything if not level-headed when it came to HER protection.

Which was what had led her to lie to him in the first place, because she knew she was right and he would never admit it.

Michael had obviously been following her for the good hour that she had been traipsing through the Forest, hoping that she was headed in the direction of Nottingham. She had been fairly certain in which direction the King’s Highway lay and so had intended to follow it along the edges.

Michael had only made his presence known when she had paused to get her bearings. She continued to stare at him now but finally opened her mouth to reply. "Clearly." It was all she said. He had to know where she was going.

"I thought Maxwell told you that you weren’t going to do this." Michael told her, sounding merely curious, rather than angry.

"He did." Elizabeth returned, raising her chin slightly.

"And you chose to ignore him?" Michael inquired, his tone still wry.

"He was wrong." She eyed him, wondering what game he was playing at. Why hadn’t he just thrown her across his shoulder and hauled her back to Max for the tongue-lashing he would likely enjoy seeing her receive? He might even be hoping that Max would set her aside, would have their marriage annulled because she had disobeyed him. He could do it after all. Many marriages had been annulled for less.

"Hmmmm…" Michael continued to smirk at her, seeming to be enjoying her nervousness. And so her shock was even greater when he finally said, "I agree."

"You do?"

"Did I not say before that it was a good plan?" Michael asked, scowling slightly.

"Well, yes, but…" Elizabeth just continued to stare at him.

"But Michael would never go against Max?" He grinned openly now. "We’ve all seen that that is NOT true."

"Are you saying that you want to help me?" She asked in astonishment. "But Michael! You are still a wanted outlaw! If Kyle catches you, he will hang you!"

"Then we will not let him catch me, will we?" Michael replied calmly. "I am trusting in your confidence in your Queen Eleanor. I will NOT let Tess remain in the hands of that madman for a minute longer than necessary. If Maxwell wants to rest on his laurels, then I’m going to go with the monarch who believes in action before caution." He grinned again. "Not to mention, I have to make sure that you stay out of trouble long enough for Max to thoroughly thrash you when we return."

Elizabeth felt a rush of affection for her brother-in-law. It was so sudden and unexpected, she gave into it, throwing her arms around him. "Thank you."

Michael stiffened, took a step back, but didn’t seem displeased when she looked up at him again. "So then. Shall we my queen?" He motioned in the opposite direction from the one in which she had been headed. "By the way," he whispered, as though he was telling her a great secret, "The road is THAT way."

Elizabeth felt the heat rising in her face. "I knew that." She muttered, kicking her skirt out of the way and heading back in the direction from which she had just come. Michael’s amused snort reassured that he was following.

*****************************************************

"LIZ!" And then, several moments later. "GOD DAMN HIM!"

Isabel’s eyes snapped open. She sat up abruptly, nearly toppling over onto Mary, who had been curled up against her back in an attempt to share her warmth. Mary’s eyes were staring straight up, as though she was trying to get her bearings.

It was Max of course. And it was obvious that Michael had done SOMETHING to their new queen - again. Isabel sighed heavily. It had been too much to hope that her betrothed would get over Max’s marriage so easily.

And Michael had seemed so earnest when he had recognized Elizabeth as Max’s consort…

"What’s wrong?" Mary asked wearily, sitting up as well. They were both still under the small shelter Alexander had constructed for them while Max and Elizabeth had been off together the evening before. It was into this space that Alex poked his head a moment later, concern etched on every feature. Isabel felt her heart skip a beat at the sight of the handsome knight despite herself.

But for once, Alexander reserved his admiring looks. "Good. You’re awake. Bella, you had better get out here. I think Max is going to bring the whole of the Sheriff’s guard down on our heads if he doesn’t compose himself."

"What has happened Alexander?" Isabel demanded as she crawled out into the bright morning sunlight. She stared around her in amazement. It was at least mid-morning. Max had ordered Michael to awaken them at first light.

Which meant that Michael had to be gone.

This surmise was only accentuated by the sight that greeted Isabel’s astonished eyes. She had never seen her brother in such a fury. He was pacing back and forth on the far side of the clearing, his hands clenched at his sides, his expression ferocious. He actually wasn’t making any noise, but he looked like he was truly about to explode in rage.

Mary stumbled out after her, paused next to her in amazement. "Well, someone certainly got up on the wrong side of the pine-needle encrusted floor." She murmured, sounding a little frightened.

Max stopped pacing, glared at her. Isabel felt Mary jump next to her. Bella took her friend’s hand in reassurance, but also to bolster her own courage. She had never had to face Max down in such a state - EVER. And that was saying a lot.

"Did any of you know he was planning to do this?" He growled.

"Who?" Mary asked in confusion.

"Do what?" Isabel demanded at the same time.

"Elizabeth is missing." Alexander informed them under his breath. "Michael is gone as well."

"Where did they go?" Isabel asked. She looked at Max. "Max, you don’t think that Michael did something to her?"

"Oh no…" Max replied, his voice suddenly TOO calm. He was moving towards them, making Isabel back up despite herself. "I think he TOOK her somewhere. Namely to Nottingham to find the Queen."

Mary, Alexander and Isabel all exchanged looks. "You think he took her against her will?" Isabel inquired incredulously.

"That’s impossible!" Mary exclaimed. "He would never do such a thing!"

Max continued to speak in that frighteningly calm tone. "She told me that she would not go to the Queen. She would not lie to me and, thus, Michael took her."

Isabel saw Mary glance at Alexander. He was grimacing, as though he knew something that the others might not. When Isabel saw the expression on Mary’s face, she realized that her friend knew whatever it was too.

Mary moved forward slightly, her face crinkled. "I think you had better tell us exactly what Lizzy said to you last night Max."

Max stared at her for a moment. "Why?" He demanded.

Alex rolled his eyes. "Our Lizzy has a way of saying one thing and meaning quite another Maxwell. My guess is that she never told you that she would not go to the Queen, but rather something that made you think that’s what she meant."

"I told her that I could not let her go and she told me that we would find another way." Maxwell replied impatiently. "What double meaning could that have?"

Mary tentatively smiled. "Er, perhaps the other way was by sneaking off, so that you wouldn’t HAVE to give your consent?"

Isabel watched her brother’s face become one of absolute dumb-founded amazement. "Are you telling me that she LIED to me?"

"She didn’t lie." Alexander insisted. "She never SAID that she was not going to go."

Max stared at him. "This is ridiculous!" He bellowed a moment later. "She LIED to me."

"She did not." Alex yelled back. "She told you what you wanted to hear."

"Stop it!" Mary shrieked. Both Max and Alex whipped their heads around to stare at her. "It doesn’t matter. The point is that that they are gone and they are falling into danger." Isabel could hear the tears in her voice. "How could Lizzy do this?"

Max sighed heavily. Isabel could see that his anger was beginning to burn itself out and that now he simply seemed resigned. "She is desperate to save Tess. She has convinced herself that our marriage is doomed to failure if she does not rescue her herself." He shook his head. "How could I have believed her?"

Mary went to put her arm around him. "You are only just learning how stubborn our Lizzy can be Maxwell. You may love her, but you are still getting to know her." She paused, continued gently. "Lizzy will not be content to be a pretty ornamental queen you know. She will expect to be your partner, consort and helpmeet in every sense of the words. But I think you did know this about her - its why you love her because if she wasn’t so stubborn she never would have hazarded all to be with you anyway. I think you convinced yourself you believed her but you knew what she was going to do all along."

Max rubbed his eyes wearily. "Although I hate to admit it, I think you are right." He shook his head again. "Which does not negate the fact that she and Michael have both foolishly thrown themselves right back into Sir Kyle’s clutches."

"Not necessarily." Alexander replied. "If I know Lizzy, she will try and rendezvous with the Queen before Eleanor ever makes it to the city."

"Which also means that we will never find them." Max sighed again. "They are all alone wandering through this Forest in search of a Queen who may never come, in danger of stumbling across the Sherriff’s men at any moment." Isabel could hear the fear in her brother’s voice. She better than anyone how little he liked to be out of control.

But it was the price he paid for his marriage to Elizabeth. Because, whether he would admit it or not, the thing he most loved about his bride was her courage and the fact that she had a mind of her own.

"Well, at least they are together." Isabel spoke up, trying to reassure him, although her stomach was clenching at a sudden vision of Michael in chains in Nottingham Castle’s dank dungeon. "What do we do now?" She directed the question at the other three, knew that no one had any better idea than she.

For, in the end, there was only one thing to do.

Wait.