Denial, Chapter 50: Mist Opportunities
Title: Denial, Ch. 50: Mist Opportunities
Author: wastingyourgum
Characters/Pairings: Little John, Djaq, Legrand
Mentions: Will, Robin, Little Little John, Queen Eleanor, King Richard, Guy
Rating: PG (for language and teensy hint of implied slash)
Genre: General
Words: 1927
Disclaimer: BBC & TA own; we just want to play in their universe
Notes: Takes place between 2x12 and 2x13. Beta'ed by the ever-lovely robinfanatic and darkentwisted.
Summary: The outlaws' boat gets stuck in fog after leaving Marseilles, leaving time for some conversation and for John to find out a little more about the Gang's newest member...
Want to play? Come join us! Check out the Rules and join in the Round Robin fun!
Previous Chapters: Summary of previous chapters...
Mist Opportunities
by wastingyourgum
On the third day out from Marseilles, the world vanished.
A heavy blanket of fog descended on the ocean, meaning that from the bow of the boat the stern was barely visible, never mind any glimpse of shore. John woke and rushed for the deck, anxious for fresh air and a horizon. He found only muffled damp whiteness and his face turned the same colour as the clouds of moisture surrounding them. The ship's crew and passengers could have been the only people left alive on God's earth.
Djaq emerged from below decks, yawning and looking surprised at the change in weather. Legrand came up shortly behind her, scratching the stubble on his chin.
Djaq noticed the colour of John's face and quickly moved to reassure him. "It's just mist, John. It will clear and we will see land again soon. It is entirely normal for this time of year." He nodded but she could see the unease in his eyes.
John jumped as he felt Legrand's hand on his shoulder. "Are you feeling well, John? You look like you've seen a ghost."
"There are ghosts at sea?" John's knuckles tightened around the rail.
"Oh yes," Legrand said as he looked around the boat and out into the mist. "The sailors talk of ships crewed by dead men, damned to sail for eternity and hunt down unsuspecting voyagers to join their never-ending journey." He sounded quite cheerful about the whole prospect but his grin faded as he looked at John's face. "It's just a story, John."
"Right." John didn't sound convinced.
"There's no dead man's ship and we're not going to sail off the edge of the world," Legrand said, firmly.
"What?!"
"Well the edge of the world is West - we're heading East," Legrand replied.
"How do you know? You can't even see the Sun!" John wailed.
Djaq put her small hand over John's much larger one and soothingly stroked it. "It will be fine, John," she reassured him. "The fog will lift and then we'll see land again. We just need to wait it out." She scowled at Legrand who just shrugged.
"I hate waiting - I'm never waiting for anything good," John growled. He snatched his hand away and stomped off back down below...
>>>----------------------------->
Legrand assumed John had gone to get some breakfast so was surprised not to see him in the galley. He eventually found him in the forward hold, sitting on a pile of sacks of grain with his head between his knees. His face was still very pale.
"Not hungry?" Legrand asked.
"No."
Legrand nodded and sat down on top of a barrel a short way away.
"Go away, Legrand."
"I'm comfortable here."
John scowled up at him from under thick eyebrows. "What do you want?"
"I thought we might talk, since we have nothing else to do," Legrand suggested.
John made a disgusted noise and looked back at the floor.
"I already know Robin quite well and I've talked many times with William and Safiyya..."
"She's called Djaq."
"You're right - she did request that I call her by her brother's name. It just still seems strange to do so and I keep forgetting. I've known people in the Holy Land called both Djaq and Safiyya and she is definitely a Safiyya."
"Not when she fights."
Legrand smiled at the pride in John's voice for his friend. "No, when she fights she is as good as any man I have seen and better than most. She is also an excellent physician - that young carpenter is a fortunate man."
"Yes, well, she's lucky to have him too - Will's a fine boy."
"He has great strength of character for one so young - I think he's learned some of that from you."
John raised his head and his eyes narrowed. Legrand smiled, trying to reassure John that he was being sincere. "He had that already from his father along with his carpentry," John said. "Dan Scarlett was a good man. I haven't taught Will anything beyond some basic woodcraft and tracking."
Legrand shrugged, "If you say so, John. I think Will would disagree with you though."
John snorted and lowered his head again. There was a long silence before he spoke. "I suppose you think I'm just an ignorant peasant - frightened of fog and sea monsters."
"There's no shame in being either ignorant or a peasant, John. The only shame is in not striving to better yourself, either by education or hard work. Besides, ignorant is not the same as stupid and not knowing is not the same as not wanting to know. You have a keen mind and know a great many things on subjects I know nothing of."
"Like mushrooms," John said, with emphasis.
Legrand sighed. "Yes, John, like mushrooms. But I have learned of England's plants from you as you are learning your letters from Robin. Not staying ignorant is the important thing. When we land you will no longer be ignorant of sea travel and it will hold fewer fears for you."
He moved over and squatted down next to John. John looked up sharply when he heard Legrand's voice much closer to him, though quieter.
"When I was eighteen, Queen Eleanor moved her court from London to Argentan before she returned to Aquitaine and separated from King Henry. My mother sent me by boat from Bordeaux to Dover to meet her and join her service. The weather was not kind and I was certain we were going to sink beneath the waves despite the sailors assuring me it was a very mild storm. When we landed at Dover I did not have one clean pair of breeches and it took me a week to get the smell out of my armour..." He looked sheepishly at John who burst out laughing, obviously amused at the thought of a teenage Legrand soiling himself. Legrand pretended to look aggrieved. "It's not funny, John! I almost stayed in England rather than making the return journey!"
Legrand sat down beside him and waited until John's laughter faded. "Tell me about your son."
John's face instantly lost most of its good humour. "There isn't anything to tell. I barely know him."
"Then tell me what you do know. What is his name? Does he look like you?"
"He's called John, after me, but in looks he's more like his mother so I suppose he can be grateful for that at least."
"You do yourself a disservice, John. Queen Eleanor is a woman of great taste - she would not have taken a fancy to a man she did not find physically attractive."
"You neither, I suppose."
Legrand smiled when he saw John also had a smirk on his lips. "No, John, I think you're hideous. I'm merely feigning interest in you to keep you away from the Queen on King Richard's orders. He told me that if his mother should fall for a scruffy English outlaw it was my duty to sacrifice myself, no matter how ugly, ignorant and repulsive that peasant may be."
John laughed and shook his head. "You're really not winning me over here, Legrand."
"No? I thought I was being quite flattering..." he shrugged. "It's Guillaume, by the way."
"Ghee-om? What is?" John asked.
"My name. Guillaume Legrand of Châtellerault."
"Guillaume."
"Yes, it's the same as William."
"So you're called Will as well? Or is it Bill? Or Billy?" John grinned.
"I am called 'Guillaume' by my close friends and 'Legrand' by my colleagues. You, peasant, can call me 'My Lord'," Legrand said haughtily.
"How about 'stuck-up French braggart'?" John suggested, with a raised eyebrow.
Legrand laughed. "That fits too!"
"So where is... Shah-tell-er-o?" John took his best stab at pronouncing Legrand's home town.
"Châtellerault. It's just north of Poitiers. The Queen's mother was daughter of the Vicomte de Châtellerault - we're distantly related."
"Huh - aren't all nobles related?" John scoffed. "You're probably related to Robin somehow!"
"Quite possibly. Wasn't Gisborne's mother French? We may be cousins."
John shuddered. "Don't even joke about that. There's no way you share blood with that black-hearted bastard."
"No, I share blood with a black-finger-nailed thief, remember?"
"So you do." John looked down at his fingers then back up, questioningly, at Legrand. "Have you known the Queen all your life?"
Legrand was slightly surprised by the question. "As good as. Though I didn't see her for many years when she was imprisoned in England by King Henry. I had joined Richard's service by then and was fighting for him, since he is also Duke of Aquitaine."
"Is she always so..." John tried to think of something that wouldn't risk Legrand chopping his head off for insulting the Queen. "Bold?"
Legrand laughed. "She always knows what she wants and will let very little stand in the way of her getting it."
"And does she often want...er..."
"Men like you? She's had a succession of champions her whole life - all of them large and fierce warriors - but she hardly ever takes them as lovers, though there have been a fortunate few. I've never seen her show this much interest so quickly and for a commoner, however. She's obviously very taken with you."
John blushed, remembering the particular parts of him Queen Eleanor had seemed most taken with. He had a sudden thought about what Legrand had said. Large and fierce warriors. "Did she ever... I mean, you're large and... not ugly...?"
Legrand roared with laughter. "'Not ugly'? Now who is being the flatterer? And yes, she did. I served as her Champion for a while and very briefly as her lover but she quickly saw I loved her only as my Queen and not as a woman. She held no grudge against me for it and we became good friends. She has no malice in that way. I was deeply honoured by her attention though, as you should be."
"Legrand - I am deeply scared by her attention," John admitted. "She's a beautiful and elegant woman - a Queen! And I'm... I'm..."
"You're a good man, John and only scared because you don't know what that journey holds... but trust me, it's a journey you want to make should you get the chance. And I hope you do."
"Won't King Richard have you executed for giving up his mother to a... what was it? 'Scruffy English outlaw'?"
"He knows I would never do anything to harm the Queen," Legrand said with certainty. "Besides, if she has you in her sights, neither I nor King Richard will have much say in the matter!" he grinned.
There was a gentle tap at the hatch of the hold. It lifted to reveal Djaq's head. "John, Legrand - the fog is lifting slightly - we can see the shore."
"Thank you, Sa... Djaq. We'll be up shortly." Legrand caught himself just in time and both Djaq and John smiled. Djaq's head vanished again. "You see, John. Things have cleared up already." He stood up and dusted off his leggings.
"Yes, they have," John said, thoughtfully, standing up himself. "Legrand?"
"Yes?" He stopped as he was about to climb out of the hold.
"Thank you - for... everything."
Legrand smiled. "You're welcome, John. Thank you for saying I am 'not ugly'!"
"Well you're not. I'm - I'm glad Djaq was able to patch you up." John put his hand out and very hesitantly patted Legrand's arm.
Legrand stepped back off the ladder.
"Call me 'Guillaume'..."
>>>----------------------------->
On to Chapter 51...
Author: wastingyourgum
Characters/Pairings: Little John, Djaq, Legrand
Mentions: Will, Robin, Little Little John, Queen Eleanor, King Richard, Guy
Rating: PG (for language and teensy hint of implied slash)
Genre: General
Words: 1927
Disclaimer: BBC & TA own; we just want to play in their universe
Notes: Takes place between 2x12 and 2x13. Beta'ed by the ever-lovely robinfanatic and darkentwisted.
Summary: The outlaws' boat gets stuck in fog after leaving Marseilles, leaving time for some conversation and for John to find out a little more about the Gang's newest member...
Want to play? Come join us! Check out the Rules and join in the Round Robin fun!
Previous Chapters: Summary of previous chapters...
Mist Opportunities
by wastingyourgum
On the third day out from Marseilles, the world vanished.
A heavy blanket of fog descended on the ocean, meaning that from the bow of the boat the stern was barely visible, never mind any glimpse of shore. John woke and rushed for the deck, anxious for fresh air and a horizon. He found only muffled damp whiteness and his face turned the same colour as the clouds of moisture surrounding them. The ship's crew and passengers could have been the only people left alive on God's earth.
Djaq emerged from below decks, yawning and looking surprised at the change in weather. Legrand came up shortly behind her, scratching the stubble on his chin.
Djaq noticed the colour of John's face and quickly moved to reassure him. "It's just mist, John. It will clear and we will see land again soon. It is entirely normal for this time of year." He nodded but she could see the unease in his eyes.
John jumped as he felt Legrand's hand on his shoulder. "Are you feeling well, John? You look like you've seen a ghost."
"There are ghosts at sea?" John's knuckles tightened around the rail.
"Oh yes," Legrand said as he looked around the boat and out into the mist. "The sailors talk of ships crewed by dead men, damned to sail for eternity and hunt down unsuspecting voyagers to join their never-ending journey." He sounded quite cheerful about the whole prospect but his grin faded as he looked at John's face. "It's just a story, John."
"Right." John didn't sound convinced.
"There's no dead man's ship and we're not going to sail off the edge of the world," Legrand said, firmly.
"What?!"
"Well the edge of the world is West - we're heading East," Legrand replied.
"How do you know? You can't even see the Sun!" John wailed.
Djaq put her small hand over John's much larger one and soothingly stroked it. "It will be fine, John," she reassured him. "The fog will lift and then we'll see land again. We just need to wait it out." She scowled at Legrand who just shrugged.
"I hate waiting - I'm never waiting for anything good," John growled. He snatched his hand away and stomped off back down below...
>>>----------------------------->
Legrand assumed John had gone to get some breakfast so was surprised not to see him in the galley. He eventually found him in the forward hold, sitting on a pile of sacks of grain with his head between his knees. His face was still very pale.
"Not hungry?" Legrand asked.
"No."
Legrand nodded and sat down on top of a barrel a short way away.
"Go away, Legrand."
"I'm comfortable here."
John scowled up at him from under thick eyebrows. "What do you want?"
"I thought we might talk, since we have nothing else to do," Legrand suggested.
John made a disgusted noise and looked back at the floor.
"I already know Robin quite well and I've talked many times with William and Safiyya..."
"She's called Djaq."
"You're right - she did request that I call her by her brother's name. It just still seems strange to do so and I keep forgetting. I've known people in the Holy Land called both Djaq and Safiyya and she is definitely a Safiyya."
"Not when she fights."
Legrand smiled at the pride in John's voice for his friend. "No, when she fights she is as good as any man I have seen and better than most. She is also an excellent physician - that young carpenter is a fortunate man."
"Yes, well, she's lucky to have him too - Will's a fine boy."
"He has great strength of character for one so young - I think he's learned some of that from you."
John raised his head and his eyes narrowed. Legrand smiled, trying to reassure John that he was being sincere. "He had that already from his father along with his carpentry," John said. "Dan Scarlett was a good man. I haven't taught Will anything beyond some basic woodcraft and tracking."
Legrand shrugged, "If you say so, John. I think Will would disagree with you though."
John snorted and lowered his head again. There was a long silence before he spoke. "I suppose you think I'm just an ignorant peasant - frightened of fog and sea monsters."
"There's no shame in being either ignorant or a peasant, John. The only shame is in not striving to better yourself, either by education or hard work. Besides, ignorant is not the same as stupid and not knowing is not the same as not wanting to know. You have a keen mind and know a great many things on subjects I know nothing of."
"Like mushrooms," John said, with emphasis.
Legrand sighed. "Yes, John, like mushrooms. But I have learned of England's plants from you as you are learning your letters from Robin. Not staying ignorant is the important thing. When we land you will no longer be ignorant of sea travel and it will hold fewer fears for you."
He moved over and squatted down next to John. John looked up sharply when he heard Legrand's voice much closer to him, though quieter.
"When I was eighteen, Queen Eleanor moved her court from London to Argentan before she returned to Aquitaine and separated from King Henry. My mother sent me by boat from Bordeaux to Dover to meet her and join her service. The weather was not kind and I was certain we were going to sink beneath the waves despite the sailors assuring me it was a very mild storm. When we landed at Dover I did not have one clean pair of breeches and it took me a week to get the smell out of my armour..." He looked sheepishly at John who burst out laughing, obviously amused at the thought of a teenage Legrand soiling himself. Legrand pretended to look aggrieved. "It's not funny, John! I almost stayed in England rather than making the return journey!"
Legrand sat down beside him and waited until John's laughter faded. "Tell me about your son."
John's face instantly lost most of its good humour. "There isn't anything to tell. I barely know him."
"Then tell me what you do know. What is his name? Does he look like you?"
"He's called John, after me, but in looks he's more like his mother so I suppose he can be grateful for that at least."
"You do yourself a disservice, John. Queen Eleanor is a woman of great taste - she would not have taken a fancy to a man she did not find physically attractive."
"You neither, I suppose."
Legrand smiled when he saw John also had a smirk on his lips. "No, John, I think you're hideous. I'm merely feigning interest in you to keep you away from the Queen on King Richard's orders. He told me that if his mother should fall for a scruffy English outlaw it was my duty to sacrifice myself, no matter how ugly, ignorant and repulsive that peasant may be."
John laughed and shook his head. "You're really not winning me over here, Legrand."
"No? I thought I was being quite flattering..." he shrugged. "It's Guillaume, by the way."
"Ghee-om? What is?" John asked.
"My name. Guillaume Legrand of Châtellerault."
"Guillaume."
"Yes, it's the same as William."
"So you're called Will as well? Or is it Bill? Or Billy?" John grinned.
"I am called 'Guillaume' by my close friends and 'Legrand' by my colleagues. You, peasant, can call me 'My Lord'," Legrand said haughtily.
"How about 'stuck-up French braggart'?" John suggested, with a raised eyebrow.
Legrand laughed. "That fits too!"
"So where is... Shah-tell-er-o?" John took his best stab at pronouncing Legrand's home town.
"Châtellerault. It's just north of Poitiers. The Queen's mother was daughter of the Vicomte de Châtellerault - we're distantly related."
"Huh - aren't all nobles related?" John scoffed. "You're probably related to Robin somehow!"
"Quite possibly. Wasn't Gisborne's mother French? We may be cousins."
John shuddered. "Don't even joke about that. There's no way you share blood with that black-hearted bastard."
"No, I share blood with a black-finger-nailed thief, remember?"
"So you do." John looked down at his fingers then back up, questioningly, at Legrand. "Have you known the Queen all your life?"
Legrand was slightly surprised by the question. "As good as. Though I didn't see her for many years when she was imprisoned in England by King Henry. I had joined Richard's service by then and was fighting for him, since he is also Duke of Aquitaine."
"Is she always so..." John tried to think of something that wouldn't risk Legrand chopping his head off for insulting the Queen. "Bold?"
Legrand laughed. "She always knows what she wants and will let very little stand in the way of her getting it."
"And does she often want...er..."
"Men like you? She's had a succession of champions her whole life - all of them large and fierce warriors - but she hardly ever takes them as lovers, though there have been a fortunate few. I've never seen her show this much interest so quickly and for a commoner, however. She's obviously very taken with you."
John blushed, remembering the particular parts of him Queen Eleanor had seemed most taken with. He had a sudden thought about what Legrand had said. Large and fierce warriors. "Did she ever... I mean, you're large and... not ugly...?"
Legrand roared with laughter. "'Not ugly'? Now who is being the flatterer? And yes, she did. I served as her Champion for a while and very briefly as her lover but she quickly saw I loved her only as my Queen and not as a woman. She held no grudge against me for it and we became good friends. She has no malice in that way. I was deeply honoured by her attention though, as you should be."
"Legrand - I am deeply scared by her attention," John admitted. "She's a beautiful and elegant woman - a Queen! And I'm... I'm..."
"You're a good man, John and only scared because you don't know what that journey holds... but trust me, it's a journey you want to make should you get the chance. And I hope you do."
"Won't King Richard have you executed for giving up his mother to a... what was it? 'Scruffy English outlaw'?"
"He knows I would never do anything to harm the Queen," Legrand said with certainty. "Besides, if she has you in her sights, neither I nor King Richard will have much say in the matter!" he grinned.
There was a gentle tap at the hatch of the hold. It lifted to reveal Djaq's head. "John, Legrand - the fog is lifting slightly - we can see the shore."
"Thank you, Sa... Djaq. We'll be up shortly." Legrand caught himself just in time and both Djaq and John smiled. Djaq's head vanished again. "You see, John. Things have cleared up already." He stood up and dusted off his leggings.
"Yes, they have," John said, thoughtfully, standing up himself. "Legrand?"
"Yes?" He stopped as he was about to climb out of the hold.
"Thank you - for... everything."
Legrand smiled. "You're welcome, John. Thank you for saying I am 'not ugly'!"
"Well you're not. I'm - I'm glad Djaq was able to patch you up." John put his hand out and very hesitantly patted Legrand's arm.
Legrand stepped back off the ladder.
"Call me 'Guillaume'..."
>>>----------------------------->
On to Chapter 51...