#step robin

[cianmars]

Prodigal Son:

When his mother and brother die in a car crash David discovers that he was in fact adopted, sent to live with his father who had no idea about his existence the two are both in shock and find themselves butting heads, will the two be able to accept the other as family?

[AO3]

[FF.NET]

[cianmars]

Patchwork:

Robin was tasked by his father, Francis, to kill the Dark Queen Ruth and Prince David, instead he found himself falling in love with Princess Regina and the prince who quickly became his son. Aware his plans were all about to fail Francis decided to try to gain power again, this time in a new world.

In the Land without Magic, Robin is a successful lawyer who adores his young stepson. But he is forced to keep his relationship with Mayor Regina secret as his abusive father continues to try and control his life, Robin fears he will do the same to David. Or put David or Regina or her sons in danger. He is desperate to try and finally control his own life, but that is not what Francis had cast the curse for.

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Chapter 1: Anniversary.

Robin stood in the ballroom with a champagne glass made of pure diamond, he was dressed in a deep purple doublet made of pure silk which cost more than some homes, he should be happy. But it was the first anniversary of his wedding to Queen Ruth, so how could he possibly be happy?

He had heard the rumours of course, everyone had, before he was married to her: she was rumoured to be the daughter of a fairy and a king, to have once been the kindest purest soul, that there had once been two princes not just Prince David, that she had withstood abuse from King Robert and was finally free when he died, that she was heartless to all even to her only child. He had heard them but it wasn’t until he took her hand in marriage that he understood how right the rumours were.

He hadn’t expected the marriage to be one based on love, he wasn’t stupid, he was young and expected to help produce heirs to continue Ruth’s family’s rule, and Robin got… well he got to be king, and if his father had his way he would be king as soon as Ruth and David died before their time.

Robin didn’t want to kill them, even after David had been the one to spill about his relationship with the scullery maid Marian, even after Ruth started to hit him. Robin didn’t want to kill them and he hadn’t thought he’d get a choice.

But Robin hadn’t been able to hate David for long, only a few weeks into his marriage he fell in love with the boy, and a week or so after that he decided no matter what he would put David first, that David was his son even if they didn’t share blood. David had been one of the only sources of light in the last year, in fact in Robin’s entire life.

The other source of light Robin had met on his wedding night, and it certainly wasn’t Ruth. No, King Robin had been dancing with other royals, as was his duty, when he was paired with a minor royal, the daughter of Prince Henry, they had both been subtly laughing at one of the traditional dances they were expected to perform. The slipped out of the ballroom to a quieter room, neither had wanted to stay in that room with all those bloodthirsty royals. They had gotten to talking and had found that they had hit it off. Their lives were similar, they had loved one of their parents and been abused and controlled by the other, they had both tried to escape only to have their loved one killed, and Robin had a new son, David, while Regina had two boys, Henry and Roland. They hit it off on other subjects too, they both had the same sense of humour, they both wanted to do what was good for their family and for strangers, they both liked the same books and had watched the same plays. They stayed in the room talking for three hours before they were discovered. They had both agreed to lend each other support, to continue their conversations, to write to each other.

They had met at first just the two of them, but soon they would bring their sons along, Robin had never seen five year old David smile so much. And Robin had smiled more than he had in his life. At David. At Henry. At Roland. And at Regina…. He smiled a lot at Regina.

They had fallen in love.

He had been hoping to bide his time, he was waiting until the opportunity where both his father and Ruth were away from the castle, then he would run away with Regina, taking David with him. But recently Francis had been losing his patience, he had expected Robin to have an heir by now, and to have killed David. There wasn’t time to wait for the opportunity. They had to run. Tonight.

Regina had already left the party, to finish packing ready to sneak away from Cora. Ruth had long left the party, she didn’t like spending time around people who smiled, she didn’t like joy, Robin was just happy that she hadn’t decided to end the party early by killing someone. It wouldn’t have been the first time. Robin had told David to pack quickly, just the things he really wanted, Robin had already prepared a bag with clothes for the both of them and some food, along with money to get the five of them far away from this land and to Arendelle.

——————————————————————————————

“Excuse me, your highness.”

Robin turned. It was a small red haired teenage boy, thin and pale, he knew he was one of his father’s servants. This couldn’t be good. “Yes?”

“Your- erm, Prince Francis asked me to pass on this note.”

“Thank you.” Robin took it and pulled the wax tab to open it. ‘Meet myself and your Queen upon the heath. This is about your heir.’

Robin swallowed. It was about David? What the hell was going on? Why were Ruth and Francis there together? Robin wouldn’t put it past Ruth to be won over by Francis, to do away with David, he had seen how dark she had become. He would not let either of them touch his son.

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Robin raced his horse to the nearby heath where Robin had met Francis many times. It was dark and damp but the stars and the moon shone above head, a little bit of light to guide him on his way, as his mother would have said. The figure of Francis was clear despite the dark thanks to a glowing deep purple flame floating in the air.

Ruth was there, he shouldn’t be surprised that Francis was telling the truth he was a bastard but he didn’t often lie, at least not to Robin, but he was surprised to see Ruth smiling.

Robin glanced from smiling Ruth to his father nervously. “What is this?”

“Well, our Queen has news for you, but first I have to talk to you, my son.”

Shit, did they know he was going to snatch David and run?

“My loyal, faithful, obedient son.” Francis was smiling but it wasn’t friendly, it was a sneer.

He was mad, super mad, this wasn’t good, Robin would have to think on his feet.

Francis waved his hand and suddenly an invisible sparkling pair of handcuffs encircled Ruth’s hand. She stopped smiling but there was a magical patch appeared on her mouth to stop her from saying anything. Francis could use magic, thought normally he preferred to inflict pain with his own hands: up close and personal.

“Father-.”

“No.” Francis growled. “You were tasked with killing the queen, and the brat.”

Robin could see anger in Ruth’s eyes. “I was… I was waiting to produce an heir.” He lied.

“Congratulations, my son, you’ve produced one.” He looked almost regretfully at Ruth.

“W-What?!”

“It doesn’t matter anymore.” Francis sighed. “You disappointed me. I know of your plan, with the brat and with that, that common -“

A sudden fire of bravery alit inside his heart. “Do not talk about David or Regina like that. They are better, kinder, people than you will ever be.”

Francis’ face scrunched up. He looked at his son as though he was a particularly unpleasant type of unidentifiable algae. “Why on earth would I ever want to be kind?”

Robin’s stomach turned. When he was a child he had hoped his father was secretly kind, that he was wearing a mask of evil for some reason, later he had hoped he would turn good. Now Robin knew that he genuinely didn’t understand being nice or kind or good.

“What are you going to do to me?”

“You? I think you mean what am I going to do to this entire kingdom. Someone close to you helped me prepare something special. You disappoint me Robin. This was all going to be ours, power was finally within our grasp, nearly.” He sighed again, a heavy genuinely disappointed sigh. “Anyway, let us try again, in a new kingdom. It will require a sacrifice though. Only this time, you will do as you are told.”

Robin steeled himself. “Father-.”

Francis drew a shining dagger from his belt.

With one flick of the wrist the dagger went flying, cutting Ruth’s throat before imbedding itself in a tree with a flunk.

Robin hadn’t loved Ruth, he hadn’t even liked her, hell he hated her but as he watched the blood spurt out of her throat in forced silence thanks to Francis’ magic, Robin let out a yelp of protest. But he couldn’t move for fear of it being done to him too, and he would leave David defenceless. “B-But she meant nothing to you! She wasn’t a sacrifice-!”

“I wasn’t lying about your child. That’s the sacrifice I am making.”

“You’re deranged!” But as he spoke Ruth’s blood rolled through the dirt into a dip in the ground Robin was only just noticing…. It was bubbling as though it was being boiled.

Green fog rose from the sordid ground thick and fast, engulfing them and spreading quickly across the entire kingdom.

“What the fu-.”

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When the fog faded all the people had gone.

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There was a weird bell ringing.

No.

It was his alarm clock buzzing.

Robin groaned. He needed a holiday, a vacation as it was called in this realm, realm? He meant country, of course. He pushed himself to sit up in his bed, everything was in its usual place but it felt strange, he felt strange, he had had the strangest dream… his father… David… nope, it was gone.

He scrubbed his hand over his face and forced himself out of his bed.

He went about his usual morning routine; he showered, trimmed his beard so it was fashionably short yet present. His work ‘uniform’ was all pretty similar, an expensive suit in grey, navy, or black, a well fitting shirt, and a tie. He dressed and spritzed cologne before heading downstairs.

He headed to the kitchen and prepared what was sure to be the first of many coffees that day. He didn’t bother to start breakfast, he’d already decided to grab food on the way to work, instead he headed into his office, he had already gotten things in order the night before but he took them out of his briefcase and flicked through some of the cases he was working on, he flicked through emails, sending quick rather curt replies to several, he was ready for work early.

That was the easy part.

He headed back upstairs, stopping before he could reach his own bedroom door, he pushed it open and walked in.

He perched on the side of the bed and flicked on the bedside lamp on. He smiled for the first time that morning when the little blonde head came out from inside the burrow of blankets on the bed.

David wasn’t even awake properly yet and there was already a pout on his face and a small whine accompanying him being woken up.

“Hey there, Sunshine. It’s time for school, we’ve gotta get going soon.” He tugged the blankets down knowing if he didn’t David would try and bury back down again, especially today, even if David didn’t understand why.

David pushed himself to sit up, a mini-mirror of his step father’s waking up habits, he rubbed his eyes with his fists, but instead of moving to stand up he slumped against him, hiding his face against Robin’s soft cotton shirt. “Daddy I’m poorly.”

Robin frowned, David never admitted to being sick, even if he was puking his guts up he would claim he was okay.

“I’ve gotta stay home with you.”

Robin squeezed his eyes and let his head drop as he realised exactly why it was David was admitting to being ‘sick’, he had been doing this all week but he seemed okay. He pressed a kiss onto the top of his blonde slightly curled hair, David looked at him with those beautiful blue puppy dog eyes. He pretended to feel for his temperature quickly, he was a little warm but that was due to being wrapped up to his forehead in layers of duvet and blankets for the past ten hours. “Hmm, you don’t seem to have temperature, do I need to take you to see the doctor.”

“No!” David pulled a face. He didn’t like doctors clinics and hospitals, they smelt weird and he didn’t like Robin having to say some things quietly to David’s doctor, he didn’t like not knowing if Robin was about to disappear. “I just need to stay with you.”

“Davey, you’ve got to go to school, it’s the law. If you still feel poorly at the weekend I’ll take you to get checked over and I’ll stay home with you next week.” He promised.

“It’s not fair.” David crossed his arms over his chest and pouted.

“I know.” Robin soothed. He stood up off his bed and picked him up under his arms placing him down so he was forced to stand up and start getting ready. “Go the loo mate, I’ll get your school uniform out, we really need to get a move on or we’ll both be late.” He rolled his eyes as the little boy made his way out of his room, deliberately making his footsteps as loud as possible without outright stamping.

Robin grabbed David’s uniform, he went to local the public school, Storybrooke Elementary but they still wore school uniforms, it reminded Robin of his own primary education back in England, he’d hated wearing them too.

He grabbed what David needed and laid it all on his bed, quickly making his bed as he did so, their housekeeper would be coming today to put new bedding on but Robin liked the house to look at least a little neat before she got there. He had gotten that from his mother.

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Robin went downstairs and grabbed the food he had gotten ready the night before and packed it into David’s lunchbox, then he went hunting for the signed forms for David’s field trip, and the cheque for his after school care for the next month, and for David’s homework and reading books, he never understood how the kid somehow managed to lose everything even if Robin did his best to put them safe.

David came down the stairs still pouting, Robin knew he didn’t realise that it was actually just adorable not in a ‘win them over’ sort of way. It didn’t work on Robin. It really, really, really didn’t.

“C’mere mate.” He crouched down and straightened up his polo shirt collar so it was straight and the buttons were done up. He quickly switched which feet David’s shoes were on. He grabbed David’s brush to try and tame his wild hair at least a little. “Perfect.” David’s face showed it was anything but. “C’mon Davey, kindergarten isn’t that bad.”

“I wanna stay with you.”

Robin nearly broke hearing how sad he sounded. “I know, I would love to spend the day with you too. But you know what daddy does for his job, right?”

“You make sure people don’t get in trouble?”

“Well,” fuck, “kind of, I help people who don’t have anyone else to help them, I make sure they don’t get in trouble for things they didn’t do.” He also, sometimes helped people who did do it, though legally he never asked it was just easier that way, and sometimes he helped people who did have other people but also had money and could pay him so he could afford to help those who needed it most. But that was a little complicated to explain to a five year old.

“Do you understand why I need to go to work today?” He still felt bad. David nodded and he felt worse because he knew he couldn’t win. “Good boy. Let’s get some breakfast, yeah? We can go to Granny’s cafe.”

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David had cheered up enough by the time they were seated in Granny’s that Robin wasn’t double guessing pulling a sickie.

Robin drank tea and ate eggs and toast, while he had treated David to waffles.

“Remember to drink your milk.” He nudged the glass closer to him. “It’ll help you grow up big and strong.”

“Did you?”

“Of course! It’s how I’m so tall and strong!” He showed off his muscles, pulling a funny face to make David giggle. He felt surprisingly flattered when David drank his milk despite the laughter.

Robin heard someone clearing their voice and ice ran down his spine, he found himself clutching the cutlery as he turned around. Francis. He didn’t look happy. “Father. It’s good to see you. You’re looking well.” He didn’t look unwell but he definitely looked angry, but Robin couldn’t begin to think why. He also was surprised to see him stood in line to get coffee here- his large house was between Storybrooke and his offices in the city, the opposite direction. Why would he need to get coffee here when he could get some from a million other places?

“Hello Grandad Francis.” David greeted politely.

Robin looked at his son how he often did, with pride, but he couldn’t help but wish that Francis was a few hundred miles away from the two of them.

“David.” Francis greeted curtly. He looked at Robin and David curiously. His jaw clenched in thinly veiled and unreasonable rage. “What a nice stepfather - stepson outing.”

Robin didn’t have to look at David to know that upset him, hell it upset Robin too. He had been in David’s life since for nearly three years half of David’s life, and had been David’s only parent for the past two years - he was the only one who could claim to be David’s father, he wasn’t a step anything. “Father, it was nice bumping into you, but I must take David to work, I have cases to examine at work.” He smiled but it was as cold as Francis’.

“Ah yes, of cause. Perhaps lunch then?”

“I’m sorry, I have a business lunch. Perhaps another time?” He was not about to give a date for when, not if he could help it.

“I will hold you to that. I hope you behave at school today David.” He stood for thirty seconds before his name was called. “That’s me.” He nodded a goodbye and took his leave.

[cianmars]

Step Robin Series: The Heir. AO3

Robin is married to the cold hearted Queen Ruth, but is biding his time to kill her and David, who told Robin's father of his relationship with Marian, getting Marian killed.

When David becomes ill, his mother banishes him to his tower so he won't be near anyone else, Robin can't help but take pity on him and reluctantly takes charge of getting him better.

Basically Robin is Regina and David is Snow AU.

Inspired by @findingtallahassee

Robin had been intent upon hating David:

After all he had told Robin’s father that Robin was in love with Marian - so Francis had killed her in front of him, and Robin had been forced to marry Ruth.

Ruth was closed off, she had apparently had a rocky marriage with King Robert, Robin was relieved that other than official engagements, and emotionless sex, Robin didn’t spend a lot of time with her.

But neither did David.

Robin had been intent upon hating David… but he couldn’t, not fully.

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Robin was stood in the common, he had set up targets and was stood aiming his bow and arrow at them in turn, it was early in the morning and very few people were around.

He pulled the string back, then let the arrow fly, it hit the direct centre exactly where he had aimed it.

“Can you teach me?”

Robin jumped at the small voice. He quickly recovered and looked down at David who stood fidgeting by Robin’s side, he was still in his bed clothes and he kept sniffling.

“Why are you awake? And why are you outside in your night clothes?”  

David shrugged awkwardly. “I couldn’t sleep. And I’m bored.”

“Why don’t you play with your toys before your tutor comes? Or go and find a book in the library?” Robin suggested. “Arrows aren’t toys.”

“My tutors not coming. And I’m not allowed to go to the library until I’m no longer poorly.” David was pouting now, and sniffling even more.

Robin frowned. “I’m sure if you spoke to your mother-”

“-I’m not allowed to go near mother until I’m better, she doesn’t want to get poorly. Nanny checks on me sometimes and the healer, but I have to stay by myself so people don’t become unwell…” He took a step back. “Sorry, I didn’t think about you getting sick too… I’ll go back to my bedchamber.”

Robin watched as David headed back to his tower as fast as he possibly could, coughing as he did.

Robin felt a stab in his heart.

He wanted to hate the child… but…

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He paced back to the castle, instead of heading back to his own chambers he headed down into the bowels of the castle.

The servants immediately stopped talking when they saw the king, he smiled slightly at them to try and put them at ease, he headed to the head cook.

“King Robin, your highness, is there something I can help you with?”

“Yes, I’ve been made aware that Prince David is unwell, and I was told that you are from the same area of the kingdom as my mother, in fact you used to work at our castle, I’m sorry I didn’t know that until now.”

The cook cutsied again. “There is no need to apologise, your highness, none at all.”

“I remember, when I was a boy and was unwell, you used to make a chicken soup which always made me feel better.” He took a deep breath. “I was wondering if you could make it again, for the Prince, if you’re not already.

The cook beamed. “I would be honoured to. Prince David’s nanny has me making a clear broth for him, should I tell her that you asked me to change it?”

“I’ll tell her. Thank you, Nora.” He started to walk away then turned back to look at her. “Oh erm, could you please have it sent to my room, I’d like to keep an eye on my step son while he’s ill.” He could see that it clearly pleased her that he was taking charge of the boy, she smiled and nodded.

He headed next to the healers, there he gathered both the healer in charge of David, and an older, quieter, healer. He frowned hearing that the original healer had done little to actually help David’s illness, he asked the older healer if she knew of anything to help his illness and his lung problem, she nodded quickly and explained a little about some potions she could make using herbs to help, and that she would teach David’s previous healer them too.

The younger healer protested that it was David’s physician who had told her to give David the antiquated medicine. Robin gave her a look he had learnt from his father and she soon shut up.

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Robin’s blood was boiling, by the time he reached David’s tower. He took the stone stairs two at a time. His own father had been terrible, much like David’s, but at least he had his mother. Queen Ruth basically had her own son locked in a tower whenever he was sick, away from her, and barely able to even talk to anyone.

It wasn’t right.

He flung the door open with a little too much gusto, David hadn’t been near it (luckily) but he still scrambled back, dropping the wooden horse and cart he had been playing with.

“I’msorryI’msorry.” David skidded to the corner of the room bringing his arms up to protect his head.

Robin stopped and crouched a little from David. “Whoa, what are you sorry for?” The boy didn’t answer so he was forced to think, then it dawned on him. “You think you’re in trouble because you went outside while you’re sick?”

“Because I went near you. You’re”

His voice was so small and heartbreaking that Robin forgot (at least momentarily) that he had vowed to get his revenge on David for getting Marian killed. “ David, I’m not angry.” He sighed. “You’re a child, and you’re sick; that means you get to stay close to those who love you, or at least those who know you should be cared for.”

David lowered his arms, tilted his head to the side, but stayed quiet.

Robin sighed again. “I’m only doing this because you’ll be too sick to remember it properly.” He picked the boy up into his arms, he noticed a slightly worn teddy bear on the boys bed and passed it to David.

“Where are we going?” David was beyond confused as Robin left the room and started to carry him across the castle, and up the stairs of a tower he had never stepped foot inside.

Robin didn’t say anything as he carried him through the door at the top of the tower, to his own room, it was warm as the servants had lit the fire for him ready for him after going for a shoot.

He placed David onto the bed and pulled the blankets up around him. He tucked him in and took a seat beside him on the bed.

David looked around the room, it was bigger than his own but had the same large four poster bed. The curtains on the bed had deep green velvet curtains, compared to his own red ones, though both had the same gold piping. In fact there was a lot of green around the room, including a forest mural which wrapped around the room. When he finally looked back at Robin he was tucking yet another blanket around him. “This is your room?”

“It is. It’s warmer than yours, and as soon as you’re feeling better you’re going back to your room.”

“Okay.” David agreed quickly, and mostly just to make sure Robin wasn’t going to kick him out immediately.

Robin remembered the times he would crawl into his mother's bed when he was sick, he had always sworn to himself he would be as kind and caring as her, he had assumed he was going to be able to do so with his own kids with Marian. Now the only way he would be able to with his own biological children was if he produced an heir with Queen Ruth, like everyone was urging them to, it was expected of them.

It was why his bastard of a father was more than happy to stoke the fire of his hatred of David. He hated that he knew he was being played but couldn’t change it.

He stood up quickly.

David knew that Robin must have realised his mistake in bringing David here. “I’m sorry I- I knew I shouldn’t have come here, I’m really really sorry Robin. You’ll get sick, I’m not allowed to get anyone important sick, I’m not allowed near you, mother will be furious.”

Robin felt his blood boil again. “I’m going to kill-”

“- I’m sorry! ”

“No! No, not you David.” Robin moved quickly to stop the boy from scrambling out of the bed, he already looked like he could be knocked over with a feather. “Lay back down now, you’re not going anywhere. You’re not to blame for being unwell, that idiot of a swordsman had you practicing sword movements in a storm. I’m not mad at you I’m mad at-...” he stopped himself knowing he shouldn’t say what he really wanted to. “You’re staying here until I say so. I wasn’t moving to do anything, I was simply going to bathe and change clothes, I was outside practicing for a long while before you came to join me outside.”  

Robin started to walk to his bathing room where he knew a hot cath would be waiting for him. He stopped and looked back at the small boy shivering in the massive bed. “You’re meant to be looked after. You’re going to be from now on.”

“...Robin?”

“Yes?”

David hesitated, he shouldn’t say it but his fever made the control impossible. “I wish you were my real dad.”

Robin’s eyes widened and he became frozen. What could he say to that? He finally managed to move again. “Get some sleep David.”

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He stayed in his bath for longer than normal, he was hoping that David would be asleep when he went back through to his bedroom, but the boy was stubbornly avoiding his fevered dreams.

Robin walked over to his desk and picked up a battered old book.

He took a seat on the bed next to David again. He opened the book and started to read to David, it was a book of legends his maternal grandfather had gifted him one Yuletide.

He paused only when he felt a sudden pressure against his side, he looked down and saw David was curled into his side, nearly asleep, Robin refrained from pushing him away, instead he continued to read until the boy was finally asleep.

With the fire burning high, the rain lashing against the windows, and David sleeping soundly cuddled against his side, it was no surprise that Robin was soon quietly snoring too.

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The next night Robin paced his floor as two physicians stood in his room arguing over what to give David.

“Enough!” He shouted, finally, he was happy enough to take his frustrations on the men squabbling as David burnt up. “Enough arguing, I am sick of it. This isn’t about your own problems with each other, this is about the Prince, the heir of this kingdom - so know, if you don’t cure him, I will have you hung, drawn, and quartered for regicide.”

Both of the older men sunk into themselves like chastised children at Robin’s growled threats.

“Alistair, what do you propose?”

“The traditional treatment is to flay a fat cat, clean it and draw out the guts. We take the grease of a hedgehog and the fat of a bear, ad resins, and fenugreek, and sage, and the gum of honeysuckle and virgin wax: We stuff a cat as we would a goose, roast it all, then anoint the young Prince with the grease.” He held his nose high in the air as he spoke, barely managing to hide the sneer in his voice at being questioned. “The ancient physicians suggested a drink of owl blood with wine, which we will try if the grease does not cure him. Then it is up to the almighty fates.”

Robin’s frown deepened as he took a seat beside the bed, he ran his hair through David’s curls automatically, it was wet with sweat as the shivering boy burned up. “And you Constantine?”

“A potion of lungwort and belladonna has been very effective for illnesses of the lungs. For the cough I can mix horehound with diapenidion it will be like a sweet treat for the young Prince and will help his cough. I have had a lot of success with this treatment, your Highness.”

Robin thanked his lucky stars and absolutely any and every god that at least Constatine had a treatment which was more likely to work, and that he was familiar with. “Constantine we will start with your treatment. Alistair you are more than welcome to pray to the fates, you are dismissed. Constatine please visit the healers and tell them that you will be taking over David’s treatment. Please inform the Queen that I approved it too, and begin as soon as possible.”

He waited for the physicans to bow to him and leave his room before pulling David into his arms, he picked up an icy cold rag from a bowl on the bedside table and pressed it to David’s forehead, the boy whimpered in his sleep and tried to turn his head. “It’s okay, son, I’m sorry but this will help. It’s going to be okay Davey.”

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Robin spent the next three weeks barely sleeping and worrying constantly about David. The improvement was slow but he improved more than he would have with the other more ‘traditional’ physician’s idea.

“You need to eat all of your soup, David.”

“But I’m bored.” David pouted.

“I don’t care, now, eat the soup. You’ll be going back to your old dining experience tomorrow: Your mother and I are going on a tour of the kingdom for a week.”

David’s face fell. “Oh… I forgot about that.”

Robin felt bad, yet again.

He had been cooped up inside with David the entire three weeks, he was happy to be able to leave even if it was with Ruth, at least he could make a difference in the villages and towns they would be visiting. He forgot it meant David would be left with tutors, and the members of court which Robin had seen happily socialising with with his own father. Luckily Ruth’s ladies in waiting and David’s nanny were nice and would look after him, but Robin had a feeling David would feel lonely suddenly going back to being as alone as he had always been.

“When I get back, if you have behaved, I’ll talk to your mother about bringing you along next time we leave. And maybe I will you how to fire arrows when I return.” He couldn’t help but smile as David buzzed with excitement. “Now, finish your soup and you can come with me to the kitchens to get a cake. You need to stretch those legs again if you ever want to become a knight.”

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The morning of Robin and Ruth’s departure the king headed out of his tower to go and talk to the chef Nora about making David something to cheer him up that night.

He had been happy to have his entire bed to himself that week, even if he found himself missing David a little, though the prince seemed to be following him around as much as possible particularly when Robin didn’t want him around.

“It looks like you’ve taken to fatherhood like a duck to water.”

Robin’s blood turned cold. He turned to look to the voice Prince Francis was leisurely leaning against a pillar next to the door leading to his tower. He hid his fear and put on a look as stony as the pillar his father was leaning against. “As you did.”

Francis let out a bark of genuine laughter. He took a step towards his son. “I thought you would be getting rid of the little prince, after that incident with the scullery maid at our estate, yet I hear you’re the one to thank for him being alive still.”

Robin clenched his fist hearing his father mention Marian, he hadn’t even bothered to remember her name, if David hadn’t told…. If he hadn’t told Francis Marian would still be alive, and he and Marian would be together. He felt hatred for David swell up for a second, then it faded, to just twenty percent, he hadn’t known Francis, he had been manipulated, but Robin still wished he hadn’t told.

“Of course. The kingdom will go into panic if he dies and we’re left with no heir and no spare, which I’m also working on. Once we do, and they’ve reached the age where they’d be safe from infant death, then, and only then, will the prince have an accident. I will be seen as being close to him and will avoid any suspicion. Then the Queen, in her grief, will also sadly depart.”

Francis slapped him on the back and let out another bark of laughter. “I’m proud of you, Robin.”

Robin felt his skin crawl. He wanted to vomit.

“Now, let us go dine with the Queen, I am to depart to a kingdom across the realm at the same time you leave and I was promised a breakfast with the two of you.”

“I was never informed of this.”

“Maybe I wished to leave it as a surprise for my only son.” He led Robin towards the hall with his hand on his son’s neck, keeping him firmly in his control.