Disclaimer: I do not own Robin Hood.

Chapter 1 – The Real Treasure

Robin and his gang arrived at the abbey on the south side of the river. They hadn't run into the Sheriff on the way and were hopeful that they'd made it here before him, that he was still searching the abbey on the north side. As they entered the building and saw no soldiers they let themselves breathe a little easier though did not let their guard down; a trap would be just something the Sheriff would do. They searched the abbey and found nothing until finally, in a tiny chamber off to the side they were met with two cloaked figures, one of whom Robin recognized.

"Your Majesty." He murmured, dropping to one knee.

"Eleanor of Aquitaine. The Queen Mother." Said Much as he and the others joined Robin on their knees.

"Less of the mother if you please." Said The Queen as she removed her hood.

"Thesaurus patrii. You're the treasure of the nation." Said Robin. The Queen quirked an eyebrow but said nothing.

"Robin of Locksley, it has been far too long. And this must be your famous gang." Robin nodded and introduced them. "This is one of my ladies, Anna." She introduced the other cloaked figure.

"Well met." She said, though she did not remove her hood and kept her distance.

"You're late, Robin." The Queen said.

"Apologies, Your Majesty, we ran into a few problems."

"Are you not meant to be in France?" Much blurted out. "Your Majesty." He amended.

"No wonder it's taken you so long to find me if that's where you've been looking." She quipped. "My son, Prince John, invited me to spend Christmas with him. Festive celebrations included locking me in the tower at Pontefract castle."

"So Prince John announces your allegiance and secures the army of Aquitaine to fight against King Richard." The Queen nodded. Suddenly two arrows landed near them. Little John, the one nearest to The Queen, shoved her behind him while Robin did the same with Anna.

"Time to go!" He said.

"But that's the only way out!" Djaq returned.

"Provision has been made for all eventualities." Said The Queen, pointing to a trapdoor. Little John didn't hesitate and lifted the door. Robin went first in case they should run into trouble on the other end and John motioned for The Queen to follow, but it was Anna that she pushed forward before her. The tunnel led them out to a part of the forest where the Sheriff's men hadn't yet gotten to, but they knew it wouldn't be long and so kept running until one of them couldn't.

"I must rest, I can't run anymore." Said The Queen.

"We really shouldn't, Your Majesty, the Sheriff's men could be on us at any moment." She shot him a look that immediately had him backing down. "A few moments then." They sat down, The Queen and Anna in the middle of a protective circle with each member of the gang scanning the forest.

"You gave up a life of ease to be hunted down like a common outlaw." She said. "Strange choice."

"It's an easy choice." Robin replied easily. "When the county's being run by corrupt men such as the Sheriff and Prince…" He trailed off, looking embarrassed. "I speak out of turn, I'm sorry." The Queen didn't seem disturbed by his slip, she knew exactly what her younger son had become.

"Do you always seek out trouble?"

"No, trouble has a habit of finding me."

"It's the attraction of excitement. Like the-" She was cut off as a horse neighed nearby. Robin jumped up and looked over the ridge to see the Sheriff and his men. "I can't run anymore." The Queen reiterated when it looked like he was about to order just that.

"John." Little John looked entirely uncomfortable but with little choice he stepped forward.

"Apologies, Your Majesty." He said and picked The Queen up. Robin then turned to Legrand who nodded and approached Anna.

"I am quite alright, thank you." She said and followed directly behind Robin as they continued on.

"I think we lost them." Said Robin nearly a half hour later, only to be proven wrong.

"Think again Hood!" Said the Sheriff, walking calmly out from behind a tree. The outlaws drew their weapons but saw quickly that they were out numbered. John put The Queen down and she spoke lowly but clearly, giving a royal command.

"Protect Anna at all costs." She said. If the outlaws found this command weird, they did not have time to show it. "I assume for the right price you'd be willing to let us go?"

"No no, Your Majesty, you're worth far more to me than jewels." The Sheriff replied. "Bring her, kill the rest." The battle began and obeying their Queen's command, Robin ordered John, Will and Djaq to protect The Queen while he and Much grabbed Anna. The fight was short and heavily in the outlaws favour until the end when Robin lost his bow and the Sheriff got his hands on The Queen. Thankfully, he was the only one left.

"It's over Hood! We go free or she dies."

"You mean you go free." Said Robin. Vaisey looked around and, indeed, found himself alone. "I can't let you hurt her, Sheriff. The King wants her safe."

"Then I guess we're at an impasse." Suddenly, an arrow shot from behind the Sheriff, grazing his shoulder and forcing him to release The Queen.

"Leave. Now!" said Anna, notching another arrow on Robin's bow. The Sheriff growled but left knowing he was beat without a hostage. Once he was gone, Anna dropped the bow and ran to The Queen.

"Are you alright?" she asked.

"Yes, yes I am fine, not a scratch on me. Are you alright?" The Queen replied. Anna nodded and pulled her hood tighter, ensuring it was still in place as Robin and the others came upon them.

"What were you thinking?" Robin demanded. "You could have killed one of them!"

"My aim was true. I had no intention of killing either of them. Her Majesty for obvious reasons, and we know all about the arrangement Prince John has with the Sheriff. The arrow hit where I wanted it to." She defended.

"This time. You were playing with two important lives!"

"Robin." Interrupted The Queen. "She has a shot to rival yours. I trust her implicitly." Robin was not happy, but acquiesced. They walked through the forest to the point where horses waited to take the Queen and her escort to France.

"Thank you Robin. You and your gang have done a great service and King Richard will know it." Said The Queen as John helped her mount her horse. Robin smiled and wished The Queen well as he moved to help Anna mount. However, he was stopped as she stepped away from the horse and spoke to The Queen.

"I am staying here." Everyone looked at her as if she had just declared Prince John the best thing to happen to England, everyone except The Queen.

"Is it really necessary?" she asked.

"Yes, it is. You saw how things are here. I cannot abandon England to John and the Sheriff."

"What do you expect to be able to do?" Robin asked.

"You saw my skill with the bow. My skill with a sword is nearly as good." She replied. "And you already have one girl in your gang, why not two?"

"You want to join my gang?" Robin asked incredulously. "You do realize, My Lady, that we live in the forest. There is no soft bed, no maid to dress you or draw a bath. No privacy and no telling when you will eat next."

"Yes I am well aware of that, nor do I need any of the aforementioned comforts." She snarled, narrowing her eyes. "Besides I can be of use. I am a decent cook and am skilled in the healing arts."

"A cook and a physician we have."

"But it cannot hurt to have two, can it? What if more then one of you is hurt? Or your physician is hurt? What if the Sheriff's next scheme harms more then one village? No matter how skilled your physician she cannot be in two places at once." Robin was about to retort but The Queen spoke first.

"You'd best give in, Robin." She said. "Once her mind is made up there's no changing it. If you deny her she'll simply go off on her own."

"But Your Majesty can order her with you to France!"

"I'm afraid not." Said Eleanor ignoring the looks of confusion and addressing Anna.

"I will not stop you staying, however I insist they be made aware of the truth."

"Are you sure we can trust them?"

"The King trusted them with both our lives, with your life. If a man who has not seen Robin in some time can be sure of his allegiances, surely we can be after what we've seen here today." Anna sighed but did not fight it. She stood beside The Queen who addressed those around them.

"Your Majesty what…?" asked Robin.

"Gentlemen, Lady," She amended to Djaq. "I am afraid that I am not the treasure you have sought. Allow me to introduce you to my granddaughter, Princess Lilyanna. " all eyes turned to the young woman standing beside The Queen Mother, who finally removed her hood to reveal a woman of about seventeen years, with long red-gold hair. Over which she wore a crown which had only been seen before on the head of King Richard and the Kings who came before him.

"Your Highness." Murmured Robin after the shock wore off, as he again dropped to his knees, closely followed by his gang.

"Rise, Robin of Locksley, and all those who remain loyal." Said, Lilyanna, a tone of authority evident in her voice.

"Your Majesty, Your Highness, I don't understand. King Richard has a child? A child no one knows about? How is this possible?"

"Everything shall be explained, Robin. But here is not the place. Grandmother must be on her way."

"And you!" insisted Robin. "The forest is no place for a Princess!"

"My Lord Huntington, I believe The Queen has already informed you that should you deny me I will simply go off on my own." Robin glared at her, not caring who she was.

"Fine. But there are a few ground rules. Otherwise I shall get Legrand and his men to forcibly take you to France. I'd rather have an angry Princess on my hands than deal with The King when he finds out I let something happen to you." Lilyanna raised an eyebrow in response and Robin took that as a sign to continue.

"Firstly you follow my orders. No exceptions." She nodded in acceptance, having expected that one.

"Secondly, no one will be waiting on you. You're not a princess while apart of my gang. And lastly, you keep your identity secret. The Sheriff and subsequently Prince John knowing you're with me will only cause more trouble." She nodded again.

"Very well, while with you I am merely Anna."

"No. The Sheriff knows a woman named Anna was with The Queen. It won't be hard for John to figure out that's you. I don't think he got a good look at your face though, which is good. You will be Lily for as long as you're with me."

"Very well." Said Lily. Robin stared at her for a few moments, looking for any sign of untruthfulness. Finding none he turned to The Queen and bid her farewell. Lily embraced her grandmother, who gave her a stern look she seemed to understand, before departing. After Legrand and The Queen were gone, Robin turned to his newest gang member and lifted her hood over the crown.

"Keep that hidden." He said. Lily nodded and adjusted it more firmly as Robin steered her in the direction of the camp, keeping her in his sight. When they reached the camp, Lily looked around in awe. They had a genuine hideout here in the woods, with its own secret entrance and everything; it was undeniably impressive. After taking a look around, Lily turned to see that the outlaws had settled in and were clearly waiting for her to begin her story.

"My mother was the only daughter of one of the many Barons in the North. Even though my parents knew they could never be together, King or not, father could not marry a lowly Baron's daughter who would never inherit, they still fell in love and married in secret. Shortly after my mother conceived and nine months later I was born. My mother died of childbed fever, and as very few knew of their marriage, fewer still knew of me, so father kept me a secret. I expect he thought he'd re-marry and produce an heir. Then it would not matter if he had been married and already had a legitimate child as I was girl. But he didn't, and I am all he has. He went off to war when I was a child of three. He left me in the care of a few trusted servants, my grandmother, and my uncle John."

"And how is your uncle John?" asked Robin.

"Desperate to get his hands on me. When I was nine, it became clear that the power of being regent had gone to his head. My Lady Grandmother took me to France with her and we returned some months ago for Christmas. As you heard, John in fact shut us in a tower. You see he learned something, which could stop him becoming King. When my father left for the Holy Land, he named his brother regent, but only until I reached my majority." The outlaws stared in shock at the woman who would be Queen.

"But this is great news!" cried Much. "The day you reach your majority John's finished!" Robin shook his head.

"It's not that simple Much. King Richard did a pretty good job of hiding her away. To the people it'll look like some unknown girl is claiming to be Richard's daughter. It'll be her word against John's, a girl against the Prince and regent of the Realm. Add in the Black Knights and she'll be cut down before she can even start." Lily nodded. They talked a bit more and finally dispersed. Robin led Lily to the spot where Djaq slept, slightly away from the others.

"There's a curtain for privacy, and Will's making you a bed. It's the best we can do."

"It's perfect."

"Djaq and John have gone to the village to get you some clothes. That dress won't do for the forest. Nor will those jewels." He exclaimed, seeing the jewels she wore as she removed her cloak.

"The dress, cloak and most of the jewels can be sold to help feed the poor. The only two I will not part with is the State Crown,"

"For obvious reasons." Imputed Robin. "How did you get it?"

"Stole it from right under my uncle's nose. I told you I could be of use." She replied, smirking at his shocked expression.

"And the other jewel?" he asked, composing himself. Lily lifted a chain and pendent out from her bodice where it had been hidden.

"It was the first gift my father gave my mother, and the last he gave me. Apart from the sentimentality, my father will recognize it. After fifteen years, he'll recognize me by it." Robin nodded in agreement. He made to leave but Lily stopped him.

"Robin," He turned to face her. "When Djaq returns, will you send her to me?" He looked confused. "I may not need a maid for comfort's sake, however I cannot get out of this dress without help." Robin nodded and laughed as he walked away.

A/N - Another story written a long time ago, though with some edits. This was basically a little plot bunny brought on by this episode and will only be a few chapters.

Review please!