The Sons Of Sherwood

by Sistine

URL: http://www.area52hkh.net/ass/sistine/sherwood.php
Summary: One of the untold stories from Sherwood Forest wherein Robin Hood's son is kidnapped, and Little John's son seeks revenge

Chapter 1 - Nottingham, England

The Middle Ages were a tough time in England, especially if one was a Saxon. Because of the invasion of the Normans - or French - many Saxons had lost their land and became slaves to their Norman 'masters'. This produced a lot of resentment on the Saxon side. Those who tried to extract justice, whether it be by stealing, poaching or murder, either found themselves outlawed or dead for their crimes.

When King Richard the Lionhearted had returned in 1194, he had pardoned many of the outlaws, including Robin of Locksley - better known as Robin Hood - and his followers. Robin received his titles and lands back, and married the lovely Maid Marion, the woman who had captured his heart. The following year, they were blessed with the birth of a son, Daniel.

As Robin examined his new son, he noticed a red mark on the baby's right arm that looked a lot like a bow and arrow. "Look," he said to Marian, showing her the mark. "Do you think it is a sign?"

Marian smiled, her blue eyes filled with love. "He is going to be an archer, just like his father." The idea pleased her greatly.

"A champion," Robin decided. He would teach Daniel himself and his son would grow up to be the best.

The day after the birth, Little John brought his family to see the new baby. Young John was five years old, so far the baby of the family, and very good at getting himself into trouble. But today, for some reason, he was on his best behavior, eager to see this new baby that he could play with. He ran over to the wooden cradle that Daniel was sleeping in and peered into it. "He's so little," he commented upon seeing the baby.

"That is because he only arrived yesterday," Little John replied. He knelt down beside his youngest son. "What do you think of him?"

Young John looked at Daniel with a serious expression, trying to decide whether he liked the little person lying in front of him. Just then, Daniel's eyes opened and he appeared to stare right at Young John. The little boy stared back at those deep blue eyes, feeling a connection between them but not understanding it. "My baby." He reached into the cradle and carefully took hold of Daniel's tiny right hand. He and Daniel were going to be very good friends.

Little John ruffled his son's hair, amused by the possessive words. "He is not your baby, he is Marian's." He looked over at Daniel's young mother and received a smile from her.

"Mine," Jack stated, smiling when Daniel's little fingers closed around his. Although he didn't exactly understand the idea, he knew he was going to be Daniel's protector. He would not let anyone harm Daniel.

~~~

For the next four years, Jack stuck by Daniel's side. Both families were amused by this, assuming that Jack had taken on the role of an older brother since he had only one younger sister who was born a few months after Daniel. The three of them were virtually inseparable, and had a great time running around the castle and hiding in the numerous rooms. Daniel's sister Eliza was born in 1197, much to the delight of everyone. It was a wonderful period of time for everyone, and life was good.

However, in 1199, things changed. Richard the Lionhearted died while besieging a castle during his war with Philip II. This brought Prince John back to the throne, and he was no friend to the Saxon nobles nor to the former outlaws. King John quickly got rid of those who had opposed him, which included Robin Hood and Little John. Their lands seized by Norman armies, the men and their families fled back into Sherwood forest in an effort to keep their children safe. They set up a camp in the middle of the forest with ten other families - including Will Scarlet's and others of the 'Merry Men' - and set about relearning how to survive there. Periodically, King John would send troops into the forest in an attempt to find the group but the newly proclaimed outlaws always evaded them.

~~~

By 1202, the children easily adapted to living in the forest and seemed to thrive there. Daniel and Young John remained inseparable, and Meg became good friends with Eliza. As Young John grew up though, he began to realise that his friendship with Daniel ran deeper than any of his other friendships but he didn't understand why. All he knew was that it sometimes scared him how much he cared for his young friend and because of that, he often grew angry if Daniel did something that was dangerous.

It was obvious by this time that Daniel had inherited his mother's looks. His hair was sandy-blonde and his eyes were as blue as the sky, whereas his father had black hair and brown eyes. He had become adept at finding food, and by the age of seven, was showing promise as an archer. Thanks to his mother, he could also read and write, although books were very scarce. And he wanted to be like his father when he got older, and help give money to the poor. Because of all these things, his parents were extremely proud of him.

With a child's innocence, Daniel thought that would never change.

Just about sunset one evening, everyone was gathered around the fires for the evening meal. Daniel and his family sat with Little John's family. There was a lot of chatter, the children relating stories about the days' activities, and the parents proudly indulged them.

Daniel snuggled up to his mother and related how he had caught a fish with his bare hands. "It wriggled so much it almost got away but I held on tight," he stated with pride.

"That is wonderful, Daniel," she said, hugging him close. Her son was the most beautiful child, in looks and personality, and she felt she was blessed for that. He was a loving child, with a beautiful spirit, and she loved him with all her heart. A little whimper at her feet reminder her of her other little blessing, Eliza, already asleep, snuggled deep in a deerskin blanket.

"Indeed it is," Daniel's father said, ruffling his son's hair. He loved Daniel very much, partially because of Daniel's nature but also because he had inherited his mother's features.

"That's nothing," Young John, now twelve, said from across the fire. He and Daniel had argued earlier about fishing in the stream - Young John had been adamant that it was too dangerous but Daniel had done it anyway - and Young John was still sulking. "I could do that when I was five."

"That's enough, Young John," Little John scolded his son. Sometimes he wondered where he had gone wrong raising the boy. If only his Mary were still alive - maybe that would have made a difference.

Daniel poked out his tongue at his friend; John always seemed to be picking on him recently. "Can we go shooting tomorrow?" he asked, turning to his father. He valued the time he spent with his father doing those sorts of activities, and Daniel was always out to impress him.

"First thing," came the promise.

Daniel grinned; he loved using a bow and arrow like his father. He opened his mouth to ask another question but was interrupted by three urgent horn blasts, the last of which was cut off abruptly.

"Quick, Daniel, to the hiding," his father urged as he got to his feet. Three blasts on the horn meant danger.

"Young John, make sure the children get to the hiding," Little John instructed as he, too, rose.

Annoyed that he would not get to join the fighting, Young John grudgingly obeyed. He started to gather the children to him, picking up a still sleeping five year old Eliza in his arms, while shouting orders for the other kids to hurry and follow him.

Daniel, however, clung to his father. "I don't want to go," he complained. "I want to stay with you."

His father knelt and gripped Daniel's arms. "I need you to be safe, son, you know that. Please go with the others to the hiding," he said earnestly.

Reluctantly, Daniel nodded his head. 'Yes, Father." He gave his father a quick hug and then ran towards the other children and Young John who seemed to be looking for him, calling his name.

An arrow whizzed past his face and halted his progress. He froze on the spot and looked around to see who had tried to shoot him. A soldier - one of King John's men - came out of the underbrush and headed straight for him. As Daniel turned, ready to run away, he saw more soldiers advancing on the other children. "Father!" he yelled, running back towards the fire.

Daniel's father heard the cry and turned towards his son as the soldier grabbed the boy from behind. "Daniel!" Fearing for his son, he started in that direction, sword in hand.

"Father!" Daniel yelled again, kicking his captor in an effort to get free. He wriggled violently but nothing could loosen the iron grip that held him. He looked across the clearing at his father, whose progress had been halted by another soldier, and they were now fighting. A second soldier came up to join the fight, and Daniel screamed out a warning - "Father, behind you!"

Turning towards the new threat, Daniel's father easily blocked the soldier's sword. But that allowed the first soldier to strike freely.

"No!" Daniel's blue eyes filled with tears as he saw his father fall to the ground, blood flowing from his side. "Let me go!" he yelled, wanting to get free so he could go to his father.

The soldier responded by putting his hand over Daniel's mouth and taking the boy to where the horses were tied up. Daniel was gagged, and his hands tied together in front of him. Then another rope secured him to the saddle of one of the horses, ensuring he couldn't run away. The soldier then went back to the fight.

As the minutes dragged on, more of the children were brought to the horses and similarly bound. By the time the surviving soldiers all returned, there were thirteen children ranging from five years old to fourteen. Most of the girls were in tears, and some of the boys were too.

Daniel tried valiantly to prevent himself from crying but he didn't have the self-discipline to do so. Tears ran freely down his face as he was hoisted onto a horse in front of the soldier who had grabbed him; he was scared of being taken away from his home, and he was sad that his father had died and he wanted Young John to help him as he had always done before. He didn't know what had happened to his mother but he assumed she was dead, along with Young John too, for he did not see him among the others. As the group rode away, Daniel wondered whether he would ever see his home again.

Back at the camp, the survivors started the awful task of searching through the bodies for loved ones. Young John had managed to keep five children away from the soldiers, including Eliza, but not his sister or his Daniel. When he could no longer hear the sounds of swords clashing, he quietly crept out of the hiding and went back to the camp, fearful of what he might find.

The first person he came across was his father. A red stain on Little John's shirt showed where the sword had penetrated his body. Young John knelt quickly by his father's side, anxious to stop the bleeding. Then he realised it didn't matter - the sword had gone straight through his father's heart. Little John was dead.

Pushing back the tears, Young John gently closed his father's eyes, rage burning inside him. He felt a hand on his shoulder, and he looked up to see Will Scarlet standing there. Will cradled his right arm to his chest, blood staining the shirtsleeve. "I am sorry," Will said.

Young John didn't say anything. He stood up and walked away from his father's lifeless body into the forest, vengeance in his heart, for not only was his father dead, but his sister and his Daniel was gone...he had failed to protect them, but he would not fail to give them the justice they deserved. On that fateful night, Young John's heart froze with such darkness that others would come to dearly fear for him.

Will shook his head; he would have to keep an eye on the lad because he knew how much Young John idolised his father and the young charges that had been taken. The lad was very stubborn and hard-headed, and would probably want to seek revenge in a way that would likely get him killed. Will didn't want that to happen, not so soon after all this death. He had already found his wife, her throat slit. Marian had been nearby, her wound not fatal. Allan-a-dale was dead, as were many of the men. Only Robin hadn't yet been found.

Moving on, Will searched the outskirts of the camp towards the hiding. He would have walked past Robin in the dark except for the fact that the man's foot was sticking out from the scrub, almost tripping Will. Quickly, he headed into the scrub and knelt down next to his friend. "Robin, can you hear me?"

There was no answer. Will checked Robin's chest - it was moving faintly up and down so that meant that he lived. But for how long was another matter. Knowing time was important, Will searched quickly for the wound. Upon touching Robin's right side, Will's hand came away sticky with blood. Immediately, he put pressure on the wound to reduce the bleeding, and then called out for someone to come and help him. Robin needed to be moved closer to one of the fires so that his wound could be treated.

Young John heard the call upon returning with the children he had saved and for a moment contemplated ignoring it. But his conscience would not let him, and he moved to help. Together, he and Will dragged Robin to the nearest fire. One of the surviving women came over to treat the wound, and Marian followed not long after upon spying her husband. She knelt down by his side and gently stroked his forehead. "Robin?" Her heart continued to beat its fast rhythm as she worried that she might still lose him, while at the same time trying to calm a crying Eliza who was frightened and too young to understand what was happening.

As a bandage was wound around his waist, Robin came back to consciousness with a yell.

"It is all right," Marian soothed, putting a hand on Robin's chest and holding him down. "You have been injured. Just be still."

"Where.. is Daniel?" Robin asked, breathing heavily. "Eliza, the other children?"

Young John looked at his feet. "The soldiers took him," he mumbled, ashamed of his failure to protect his best friend.

Will nodded his agreement, moving into Robin's line of sight. He wasn't going to mention the fate of the youngest children until Robin was better - the sight was not pretty. "I am sorry, Rob." Placing a hand on Yong John's shoulder, "But thanks to Young John here, Eliza is safe," he added, in hopes of bring some good cheer to this dismal situation, not seeing the guilt crest Young John's face, his mind focused on his failures.

Robin's eyes filled with tears; his only son, gone! He had hoped that Daniel had somehow managed to escape from his captor but obviously that wasn't the case. A strong hand gripped his, and he looked up into his wife's anguished blue eyes. "We will get him back," he promised.

Marian simply nodded, hanging onto the hope that Robin could indeed do what he had just promised. But a small part of her wondered whether she would ever see Daniel again.

~~~

The soldiers and their prisoners arrived at Nottingham Castle at midnight. Many of the children were sound asleep, exhausted by fear, but some of the older ones remained awake, keeping a watch over the young ones. Inside the castle, the children were taken - those who were sleeping were carried - down to the dungeon and then left there. Annie, the oldest girl, and Michael, a twelve year-old boy, worked at each others bindings until their fingers were raw. But they managed to free themselves, and then they set about releasing the other children. Then the older children all picked a young one and cuddled them for the rest of the night so that they would not be alone.

~~~

Daniel woke, crying out for his father. Annie, who was holding him, tried to soothe him, rocking him back and forth, and stroking his hair. The young boy, remembering everything that had happened, buried his face in Annie's shoulder and cried until there were no more tears left.

Many of the other children were in tears too, and the older ones were hard put to hide their own fear. When the tears dried up, the dungeon door opened and ten soldiers entered the room. A well-dressed man was in the lead - Apophis of Gisbourne. Besides being the new Sheriff of Nottingham, he also ran the local slave market - behind the scenes, of course. When news had come of a group of outlaws in the forest, he had planned an ambush, drawing on all recorded knowledge of Robin Hood's exploits. The soldiers had been told to get as many children as possible and to kill the rest. By the looks of things, his men had done a good job.

Apophis advanced down the stairs until he was standing in front of the children. "A bit scrawny," he commented, looking the children over. "But they will do. Bring them upstairs," he ordered his men.

As the soldiers advanced, the children clung to each other, desperately hoping to stay together. But the men pulled them roughly apart, each solider forcing two children - one with each hand, out of the dungeon.

Daniel fought like a wildcat, as did some of the other boys. But they were no match for the strength of the soldiers.

Within ten minutes, all the children were up on a wooden platform in the middle of the castle square. There was a crowd milling around them, many of them eager to buy a servant. Daniel and the other boys who had struggled were worn out, and didn't fight when they were pushed forward to the front of the stage.

Jeanne de Gaulle, a twenty-three-year-old Norman woman of medium height and fair complexion, couldn't look away from the young boy in the middle of the group. The child looked so vulnerable, so lost, with his wide blue eyes, tear-stained face, and shaggy blonde hair. She knew that this boy was the reason she and her husband hadn't been blessed with children; God had wanted them to wait for this one.

She nudged her husband, Pierre, when the boy was singled out by the seller. "That one," she stated. "That is our son."

Pierre, as blonde as his wife, looked at her with love, knowing exactly what she was talking about. "Are you sure?"

"I am." She gave no thought as to why the boy was up there or what had happened to his family; all she knew was that the child was meant to be theirs.

Accepting her word, Pierre started bidding for the boy. The bidding was spirited but Pierre eventually outbid the others. He went up to the platform and handed over his money to an official, then lifted the boy into his arms. The boy hardly weighed anything, and Pierre wondered how old he was.

As he was carried away, Daniel looked over the man's shoulder at his friends still left on the platform. Ten still remained - Michael had just been pushed forward as the next round of bidding began. He said a silent goodbye to them all, especially to his friend Meg; he knew that he might never see her again.

Jeanne held out her arms and her husband placed the boy in them. "Welcome home," she whispered, feeling slightly overwhelmed by her dream finally coming through. She hugged him close, relishing the feel of the little body against hers. "What is your name?"

Daniel remained silent, his eyes locked on his friends.

Sighing, Jeanne looked over at her husband; had they got a mute? Another look at the boy's face told her that he was simply tired and maybe a little upset. That was all right then. "How about I just call you Dory?" The name meant golden-haired.

Pierre just shrugged when the boy didn't answer. Like his wife, he didn't question where the boy had come from; all he knew was it was stated he was an orphan and that he was theirs now. He put a hand on his wife's back and guided her through the crowd over to the stables where their horses were.

Daniel stayed silent throughout the whole journey to his new home despite the woman's efforts to get him to talk. He ate little of the food he was offered but his appetite was gone. He slept for part of the journey, worn out from all his emotions and the long, gruelling journey.

It was just on night when the travelling party reached the de Gaulle estate. Jeanne took the sleeping boy straight up to the nursery, which had been prepared many years ago for the children that had never eventuated. She laid him out on the bed, and removed his deerskin boots and shirt so that he could sleep more comfortably. Then she drew the covers up over Dory's small body and tucked him in.

Pierre came up to the bedside and stood beside his wife. He looked down at the sleeping boy. "He looks like an angel," he said softly.

"He is," Jeanne replied. "Our angel." She smiled at her husband. "Our prayers have been answered."

If Daniel had been awake, he would have disagreed with that.

~~~

The next morning, Daniel awoke in a panic, his surroundings unfamiliar. He immediately got out of bed and ran out of the room, trying to find a way out. The front door was in sight when a pair of arms grabbed him from behind. "No!" he yelled, struggling fiercely. "Let me go! Let me go!" The woman from the previous day came towards him. "I want to go home!"

"You are home, Dory," she said as she got closer.

"This isn't my home! And my name is not Dory!" With his fists, Daniel beat against the arms circling him, trying to break free. "I want my mum!"

Jeanne's eyes filled with tears. "I am your new mother," she said, hurt that Dory hadn't accepted that already.

"I don't want a new mum, I want my mum!" Daniel started crying although no tears fell - he was all cried out. "I want to go home!" he sobbed.

Pierre turned the boy in his arms. He stroked Dory's back in an attempt to soothe him. "This is your new home."

Daniel hid his face in the man's shoulders and just continue to cry. He would never accept this as his home.

~~~

Once Dory had calmed down, Jeanne took him for a bath. He remained silent, not helping her in the slightest.

Jeanne's attention was draw to the unusual birthmark on the inside of Dory's right wrist. It was a semi-circle speared through the centre by a long straight line. If one looked at it in a certain way, it looked like a bow and arrow. She lightly traced over it, creating a reaction in Dory.

Daniel quickly pulled his hand away, cradling it against his chest. Unless he could get home, it was all he had to remind him of his life in the forest. His father had always said it was a sign that Daniel would grow up to be a champion archer, and that he was blessed by God. Right now, though, Daniel didn't feel very blessed.

~~~

It was a very trying day for both the de Gaulles and for Daniel. Once, when he thought they weren't looking, he tried to run away but he didn't get very far. That action meant that when he went to bed that night, his bedchamber door was locked. Daniel pounded on the door, yelling at the top of his voice of how he wanted to go home or how his Father and Young John would come for him, for an hour before finally wearing himself out. He slid down onto the floor and cried himself to sleep, knowing his words were lies...his father was dead, this he knew, and since Young John or his mother never showed, they were too.

A while after the yelling stopped, Pierre unlocked the door and went into the bedchamber. He picked Dory up and put him in the bed. As he watched the boy sleep, Pierre wondered whether the lad would ever accept his new life.

~~~

The next few days continued in a similar fashion. But Jeanne and Pierre persevered, meeting the tantrums with love and understanding. Finally, Daniel began to accept that he was stuck with them for the time being until someone came to take him home. He reluctantly revealed his name to them, much to Jeanne's delight, and he gradually started to like his stand-in parents. But his wish to go home didn't fade for a very long time, until he had finally given up all hope of them ever coming for him.

~~~

A year passed in Sherwood Forest. Most of the children had been recovered but several, including Daniel, were still missing. Marian spent much of her time moping even though she had six-year-old Eliza to care for. Robin spent his time on horseback searching the countryside for miles around to find his son. But it was to no avail.

Young John - now known as Jack, as the name John was too painful - was busy planning his revenge, and he focused his energies on becoming the best marksman and swordsman in the forest, becoming more and more determined with every day that passed and Daniel's failed return.

Will Scarlet watched as the formerly happy band of people drifted apart. The young adult boys who had survived formed their own band with Young John... Jack as their leader, and took great pleasure in killing Normans; while Robin and Marian's grief started to tear them apart. Will resolved he would not let that happen, especially while there was still a chance Daniel might still be found. But even he held out little hope of that happening and felt pity for poor Eliza who seemed to be lost in her parents' grief over her brother.

Chapter 2

Six years passed before Jack, now nineteen, got the chance to get his revenge on Apophis of Gisbourne. Disguised as a beggar man, he managed to sneak into Nottingham castle one night. He had planned to ambush the Sheriff in his bedchamber but came across Apophis in a hallway. Pulling his sword out from under his cloak, Jack said, "I hope you are prepared to die." Then he lunged forward.

Apophis had his sword drawn and up to defend himself in an instant. He was confident of winning but soon found that this young man was not an easy opponent.

Jack fought hard, an icy anger running through his veins but not interfering with his swordplay. He was determined to win and avenge all those who had died that fateful night and those who were still missing.

A sharp nick across his right eyebrow from Apophis' sword caused a trickle of blood to run down into his eye but he ignored it as best he could. Pressing forward, he managed to trap Apophis against the wall. Then he feinted to the Sheriff's left and then changed direction and ran his sword straight through Apophis' heart.

There was a sound behind him. Jack turned to see a boy not much younger than himself standing at the end of the hallway. Quickly, he pulled the sword from Apophis' body and ran.

Somehow Jack managed to make it back to the forest without getting caught, and from there he returned to the camp, very pleased with himself. The countryside would be finally free of Apophis of Gisbourne's sense of justice, and the dead and maimed were finally avenged. All that remained was justice for the missing... Daniel.

~~~

Four more years rolled slowly by. Daniel of Locksley became Daniel de Gaulle, a rich young noble who had forgotten all about his Saxon roots, the memories fading along with his hopes of rescue - he had deliberately forgotten, thinking that he had been abandoned and his family dead. He became an upstanding young man, fluent in French, English and Latin, and very intelligent. He also excelled in archery despite the fact he was slightly short-sighted. And he didn't go down the path of many of his contemporaries, who involved themselves in drinking and debauchery. Some of his long-forgotten Saxon morals still had subconscious hold on him. This made him the subject of a lot of teasing and speculation but he ignored it all, preferring to concentrate on his studies.

Jeanne grew desperate for a grandchild, and as much as she loved her adopted son, she decided to take action. She got her husband, Pierre, to travel around and find a suitable bride for her eighteen-year-old Daniel.

The woman Pierre found most suitable was Lady Samantha Carter, as Saxon heiress near Nottingham. Her father wasn't initially keen on the idea but Pierre managed to talk him around. And so it was that Daniel found himself visiting the Carters' estate that summer, almost eleven years to the day that he had left Nottingham.

Lady Samantha Carter was an independent young woman just a year younger than Daniel. She was intelligent, and was looking for a husband who was just as smart. She was immediately attracted to Daniel because of his good looks but she decided to reserve judgment until she had engaged him in conversation.

Daniel couldn't tell what Samantha looked like until he had dismounted from his horse and got closer to her. Her long blonde hair was flowing freely down her back, contrasting nicely with her blue eyes and form-fitting green dress. He thought she was beautiful but he didn't feel any attraction towards her yet. "Lady Carter," he greeted her formally, bowing in respect.

"My lord," Sam curtsied in return.

Pierre, who had accompanied Daniel, smiled. Things seemed to be off to a good start.

During the feast at dinner, the conversation flowed between Daniel and Sam. Each found the other to be an interesting companion, and they both began to believe that perhaps a marriage between them could be suitable. However, both were cautious and decided they would need more time before they committed to anything. To that end, they decided on a horse ride into Sherwood Forest early the next morning.

~~~

Jack had grown into a tall, wiry man. He wore his blonde hair short, mainly to be different to all the others, and he bore many scars on his body from fights, including one through his right eyebrow, in which he gained from his fight with Apophis. Still filled with vengeance, he had led his men on many adventures, mainly to kill Normans. Most of the men, however, had lost their taste for this over the years, until only Jack's vengeance remained; he had killed Apophis but he still hated Normans. He remained haunted by the death of his father, and the kidnappings of his older brother, younger sister, and his Daniel. Successful expeditions had retrieved Meg, but not before her master had made her a cripple, her broken leg not healing properly; while Henry, two years older than Jack, had survived although his mind was not the same. Henry now worked with Jack, taking orders from his younger brother.

It was Henry, now, who spoke to Jack of the information he had overheard while in Nottingham, that two nobles from the de Gaulle family had arrived earlier that day.

"Keep an eye on them," Jack ordered. "They may be useful." As Henry disappeared, Jack began to form a number of plans, all of which involved the kidnapping and subsequent death of one or both of the Normans.

~~~

Daniel met Sam and her handmaiden, Anne, in the stables early the next morning. Anne was a maiden only four years older than her charge with no prospects of getting married, and although she was quite short, she was nonetheless formidable. She would be going along with the young couple to make sure that nothing inappropriate happened during the horse ride.

Daniel had not slept well, his sleep having been disturbed by strange dreams of the forest nearby. He couldn't remember them clearly now but they had left him with an uncomfortable feeling.

"So, what do you feel about us getting married?" Sam asked as they rode off towards the forest. She had been thinking about it all the previous night and had come to the conclusion that she could do much worse.

"I am not sure yet," Daniel admitted. "You?"

"The same." Unaccountably hurt, she spurred her horse on. "Race you to the forest." And off she raced, closely followed by Anne.

Never one to refuse such a challenge, Daniel kicked his horse into a gallop also. He had just drawn level with them when they reached the edge of the forest, and so had to slow down to a walk.

They entered the forest, talking about various subjects, none of them aware that they were being watched. Therefore they were surprised when the ambush came thirty minutes into their journey.

A dozen men armed with bows and arrows surrounded them. Daniel's hand went to his sword but he didn't draw it, seeing that he was outnumbered. He quickly sized up the threat and decided to go on the offensive. "What is the meaning of this?" he demanded.

"Simple." A man with short blonde hair and an air of authority stepped forward. "You are our prisoner. Now, get down off your horse."

Sam looked at Daniel to see what he would do. The romantic part of her wanted him to fight but the practical part didn't want him to get killed. So when Daniel slowly dismounted, she was relieved. Sam started to get off her horse too but was stopped by the blonde man.

"You are free to go, Lady Carter, along with your hand maiden," he said, nodding at Anne as well. "Please convey to de Gaulle's father that he needs to pay 100 gold coins by sunset two days hence or his son will die."

Sam shook her head. "I will not deliver that message."

"M'lady," Anne gasped with fear at her charges' defiance.

Daniel turned his head to look at her, surprised. He had thought that Saxons stuck together. "Samantha..."

"No, Daniel. They can find someone else to do their dirty work." Sam dismounted and stood defiantly in front of the blonde man. "I am staying here." She wasn't sure she trusted the outlaws to keep their word.

"Your father will not approve, and he'll have my head if you don't return with me," Anne pointed out, very aware of her duty to bring Sam back home safely.

"He will understand," Sam replied, knowing that she would actually get in trouble when she got home. But she didn't want to abandon Daniel to these outlaws.

Hesitantly Anne got off her horse, "If your staying, m'lady, then so am I," she said, determined, but still fearful of what fate awaited them at the hands of these bandits.

The man nodded sharply. "If that's what you want." He gestured to another man nearby, who came forward to tie Daniel's wrists behind his back. Daniel's sword was then removed, and with another gesture silenced any protest Lady Carter would have over her hand maiden staying; he understood propriety, contrary to what others may think of him.

Daniel let himself be bound and disarmed, knowing that it was useless to fight. There would be opportunity to escape later under the cover of darkness, he was sure of that.

The group made their way back to camp. Daniel observed the crude huts made out of tree branches and wondered how they could live like that. He was used to the stone castle on the de Gaulle estate, hot water, and being close to the market. Living in the forest was something he couldn't imagine.

Daniel's arm was grabbed by the man in charge and he was led into one of the huts. "Make yourself at home," he was told.

"Why are you doing this?" Daniel queried, turning to face his captor.

"Because I can." The man left the hut, obviously wanting no more contact with him.

Looking around him, Daniel saw some straw strewn on the ground. He assumed it was a bed - an extremely uncomfortable one at that. But it was better than the dirt, so he awkwardly sat down on the straw and leaned back against the wooden wall to wait.

Outside, Jack paused for a moment before going back to the others. Daniel de Gaulle wasn't what he had expected. Most young Norman men would have complained loudly all the way to the camp, or foolishly tried to fight their way free. Daniel had barely spoken the whole time, and had enough common sense not to challenge anyone to a fight. This strange behavior intrigued Jack, as did the young man's good looks. There was something familiar about de Gaulle but Jack couldn't put his finger on what. Jack was no stranger to intimate relations with men, and he briefly entertained the idea of doing de Gaulle. Then he shook his head; no - business before pleasure.

Jack resumed walking and went over to where Lady Carter and her lady friend were impatiently waiting. "Go home," he ordered her.

"No."

"Why not?"

"Why did you kidnap Daniel?" she countered. "He has done nothing to you."

"It is not what he has done," Jack replied, "it is what he is. I thought as a Saxon, you would understand that."

Sam glared haughtily at him. She didn't exactly like the Normans either but that didn't mean she condoned this course of action. And, of course, she liked Daniel and didn't feel that he deserved this treatment. "Why not choose a Norman who has actually caused you harm?"

"Because they are all the same." Jack didn't have to explain his reasons to this Norman sympathiser.

"Well, Daniel is not."

"And I am just supposed to accept your word, am I?" Like he was going to do that.

"Yes." She had no reason to lie.

"Well, I don't." Jack turned to Henry, who was standing nearby. "Escort Lady Carter and her friend to an unoccupied hut and put a guard at the door. I don't want them to get any ideas about helping their Norman friend." He sent her a mocking look.

Sam straightened up, refusing to be provoked. She allowed herself to be led to a nearby hut and silently planned how she could help Daniel.

From another hut, a dark-skinned Moor emerged. Teal'c had returned from the Crusades some years ago as a young man with Robin Hood. He had remained in the background - a surprising feat for such a big man - serving mainly as a spy. Unfortunately, he had been away from camp on the night of that devastating raid, and had carried the guilt for that for nearly eleven years. That was part of why he assisted Jack in his endeavours; the other reason was simply to keep an eye on the younger man. "This is not wise," he stated, having heard the conversation from his hut.

Jack crossed his arms and glared at the man. "I didn't ask for your opinion."

Teal'c nodded in apology. "Do you believe that the ransom will be paid?" He knew of the plan.

"Norman lives are important to other Normans," Jack replied. "His father will pay."

Teal'c wasn't so sure. "And if he does not?" He didn't condone killing in cold blood; he didn't approve of kidnapping for ransom either.

Jack stayed silent for a few seconds. The thought of killing the young noble left him feeling cold but he knew that such a step could be unavoidable. "Then de Gaulle dies."

~~~

After half an hour, Daniel became restless so he stood up and started walking around the hut. He could only sit still for long periods of time if he was studying, so the enforced inactivity was frustrating. He wondered how Sam was faring, and he hoped that these outlaws would not hurt her just for staying with him. She had courage, Daniel thought, acknowledging that most women would have ridden away. Courage and loyalty, both for a man she had known less than a day; Daniel was very impressed with those traits and with her.

A shadow across the doorway made him turn to see the man from before enter. "What do you want?"

"Have you had breakfast?" The man held out some smoked fish.

"Offering the condemned man a meal? How very generous of you," Daniel scorned. "Thank you but I have already eaten." And even if he hadn't, he would not accept anything from his captors.

"Suit yourself." The man shrugged his shoulders and left the hut again.

Daniel scolded himself; that very well could have been the last meal he was offered. Maybe he should have swallowed his pride and accepted it. But how would he have eaten it with his hands tied behind his back?

Angry and frustrated, Daniel resumed his pacing.

~~~

Morning turned into afternoon, and the rider who had been dispatched to the Carter estate returned. Jack met him at the camp entrance. "Is it delivered?"

"Of course."

"Any initial reaction?" Jack asked.

The dark-haired teenager dismounted from his horse and smiled. "Shock, rage - about what you expected. You could hear the cursing for miles. You always call them right, Jack," grinned the enthusiastic youth

Jack felt a small measure of satisfaction upon hearing that. "Good. You did well," he praised the boy. Then Jack went into de Gaulle's hut. The young man was sitting on the straw. Jack crouched down in front of him and smiled inwardly when de Gaulle stared defiantly back. The clear blue eyes glinted with anger, lighting a spark of desire deep inside Jack. "Enjoying your stay?" he asked conversationally.

"What do you think?" Daniel shot back.

"I will take that as a 'no'," Jack commented. "I suppose the accommodation isn't quite what you are used to but I am afraid it will have to suffice."

"My father will hunt you down," Daniel stated, anger at the injustice rising in him. "And I will be glad to see you hang for your crimes."

Jack laughed harshly; the young man had spirit. "Would you really?" Deciding to have a bit of fun, he reached forward to stroke his fingers through de Gaulle's shoulder-length sandy-brown hair.

Daniel flinched away from him but not quickly enough. Strong fingers slid through his hair, almost caressing his scalp. "What do you think you are doing?" he demanded.

Jack didn't reply, preferring to smile wolfishly at the young noble. The hair had felt so smooth, so different to anyone else's. Living in the forest meant that hair got dirty very quickly but it seemed that Normans must wash their hair often. The touch had also created more sparks of desire within him so he reached out again, wanting more. This time, he caught the silky hair in his fist so that the young man couldn't move away.

Daniel had again tried to move but found himself held in place by the grip of his hair. Pain shot through his skull when he tried to pull away. "Let me go!" His words were tinged with puzzlement though; why was the man doing this? His question was answered when he looked into the man's eyes: desire. Daniel had seen that expression on other men's faces, although never directed towards him. This new knowledge scared him; he had heard stories about what men did to other men. "Get away from me!" he said forcefully.

"Why?" Jack caught a hint of fear in de Gaulle's eyes and decided to tease him a bit more. Slowly, he drew the young man towards him for a kiss.

"No!" Daniel tried to turn his face away and when that didn't work, he kicked out with his foot, catching the man in the groin.

Jack fell backwards, one hand protectively cradling his groin. He cursed fluently for a minute and then, when the pain started to subside, slowly got to his feet.

Daniel watched him carefully, wary that the man might try it again. "Do not ever touch me again!" he warned as his captor took a step forward.

"Anyone would think you were a virgin," Jack scorned, halting his advance.

"I have plenty of experience with women," Daniel replied. Then he berated himself for replying; he should not have given the man the satisfaction of saying anything.

"I bet you do," Jack mocked. He took another step towards de Gaulle and was pleased to see the young man tense in preparation to fight. "But none with men."

"Why should I have? That would have been a sin." His Christian upbringing had taught him that. Not that he had ever been tempted but the monk who had been his teacher, had been very expansive on the subject of 'sins of the flesh'. "You will go to hell."

"I've already been there," Jack retorted. He didn't imagine it could be any worse than his life since the raid.

Daniel couldn't think of anything to say to that; the pain in the man's eyes was obvious. What had happened, Daniel wondered, that he thought he had already been to hell?

"Someone will bring you some food later," Jack stated, turning to leave; suddenly, baiting de Gaulle didn't seem like fun.

"Wait!" Daniel shifted uncomfortably, an urgent need making itself known. "Do you, uh, have a latrine?"

Jack's brain didn't switch gears fast enough. "What?"

"A... you know, a latrine." It was embarrassing asking the man about this.

"Oh, right." Jack smirked, some of his humour restored. He was tempted to say they didn't have one but then he thought that there might be more entertainment in taking him to the real one. "Follow me." He walked over to the doorway and waited for de Gaulle to follow him.

Daniel glared at him; because of his own warning not to touch him, the man wasn't going to help him. Daniel struggled to his knees, almost losing his balance once but righting himself in time. From there, he was able to get to his feet. During that time, he had kept his eyes lowered but now he looked at his captor, who was standing there with a grin on his face. The fact that the man was enjoying seeing him struggle reinforced his low opinion of Saxons.

"If you're ready..." Jack gestured for de Gaulle to go out in front of him.

Lifting his chin, Daniel stalked out of the hut, loftily trying to ignore his captor nearby. As he emerged into the sunlight, he felt a hand grip his upper arm and instinctively, he tried to move away.

"Uh-uh, none of that," Jack admonished him. He kept a firm hold of de Gaulle and led him over to the small creek that ran behind the camp. When they reached the creek's edge, Jack let go and untied the young man's hands. "In case you get any ideas about running, there is an archer on the other side who will shoot you before you can reach the middle."

"I am not that stupid,' Daniel replied, rubbing his sore wrists. It felt good to have them free again. "Do you mind?" he said when the man didn't turn his back. "I would like some privacy."

"That's too bad."

Muttering curses in French under his breath, Daniel proceeded to relieve himself into the creek, very much aware of the steely brown eyes watching him.

"Jack!" One of the younger men in the camp ran over to the leader and took his attention away from Daniel for a few moments. Daniel crouched down to wash his hands in the running water and contemplated whether there really was an archer over on the other side. Probably not, but he couldn't take the risk. He stood again and looked at his captor - Jack, if he had heard the name correctly. An abrupt name for an abrupt man, Daniel noted.

"Time to go back," Jack announced, securing de Gaulle's hands behind his back again.

Daniel gritted his teeth as the rope dug into his skin but he didn't make a sound. He would not allow Jack to see any pain. He was escorted back to the hut and then left there again, Jack making a quick exit. Slowly, Daniel sat down on the straw again and waited for the next interruption.

Meanwhile, Jack went to check on Lady Carter. As he approached the hut, he could see her standing in the doorway chatting to her guard. Jack sighed; it appeared Lady Carter was going to be more trouble that de Gaulle.

The young man talking to Lady Carter stopped as soon as Jack approached. "I was just, uh--"

"I know what you were 'just' doing," Jack cut in. "Go and find Teal'c. He will stand watch for the rest of the day." Teal'c would not be swayed by the woman's charms.

Sam watched the young man run away and then turned to Jack. She had found out a lot of interesting things about the group. "I was simply making conversation."

"Well, don't. You are a prisoner," Jack pointed out.

"And that means I am not allowed to talk, does it?"

"Pretty much, yes." Especially when the guard was susceptible to a pretty face and feminine charm.

Sam huffed in indignation. "Wait until my father hears about this."

"Yeah, wait until your father hears about this," Jack snorted, eyeing Anne who looked sick with worry about her charges current actions, then looked back at Lady Carter. "Hey, remember it was your choice, m'lady. Now you are here, you have to abide by the rules or I will have you gagged," Jack threatened.

"Why you--"

"Teal'c!" Jack called out to the Moor as he approached. "Can you keep an eye on Lady Carter and her lady friend for me?"

"I will keep both my eyes on her," Teal'c replied with dead-pan humour.

"Right." There were times that Jack couldn't tell if Teal'c was joking and this was one of them. With a final warning glance, Jack left to go hunting.

"So, Teal'c, is it?" Sam smiled at the huge dark man. "Where do you come from?"

Teal'c remained silent, his face impassive.

"How long have you been in England?"

Still no answer.

Sam tried a few more questions, as did Anne under Sam's silent encouragement, but eventually they gave up. Still, they had a lot of information from David, the other guard. The thing they had to do now was to put it to use.

~~~

Jack took several of his men out into the forest to hunt for game. They were fortunate, snaring several birds and fish, and they took the food back to camp. The animals were roasted on a spit and then divided up amongst the men.

Once they were finished, Henry took some of the remaining food over for Teal'c, Lady Carter and Anne, while Jack went to de Gaulle's hut. Despite the fact that he knew de Gaulle despised him, Jack was intrigued by the young man and wanted to see his reaction to being force-fed.

Daniel was in the middle of the hut, having been pacing to keep himself occupied. Now he stood still and glared at Jack. "What do you want now?"

"I thought you might like something to eat." Jack held up the stone plate with fish on it.

"I am not hungry," Daniel lied, ignoring the hollow feeling in the pit of his stomach. He was used to several sumptuous meals a day, and his stomach was protesting the lack of food. Loudly.

Jack grinned when he heard the rumbling stomach. "Sure you're not." He stepped forward and waved the plate under de Gaulle's nose. "Not even one little bite?"

Daniel's resolve wavered as he smelled the delicious aroma of the fish. Did he really want to starve himself if he was going to die tomorrow? "Maybe just a couple of bites."

"Good. Open wide," Jack instructed as he held out a piece of fish.

"What?" Daniel stepped back instinctively. "You are not going to feed me!"

"It is the only way you are going to get something to eat." Jack grinned as he waved the plate about. "Changed your mind?"

"Yes!" Daniel declared. He was not going to let this man feed him!

"Very well then." Jack popped the piece of fish into his own mouth and chewed. "Mmm, tastes good." He stepped forward again, this time not stopping until he had de Gaulle backed against the wall. "Sure you do not want some?" He held up the plate again.

Daniel had flattened himself against the wall to get as far away from Jack as possible. "I am sure," he grated out despite his stomach's protests.

"Your funeral." Jack ate another piece and smile inwardly as de Gaulle watched him chew.

"Oh, all right," Daniel gave in. It was only a few pieces and then Jack would leave him in peace.

"Wise choice." Jack picked up a piece and held it up to de Gaulle's lips. "You know, it would be easier if you opened your mouth," he commented when de Gaulle's lips remained closed.

Daniel bristled in anger but opened his mouth anyway. As soon as he felt the fish on his tongue, he clamped his lips shut and started chewing. After he had swallowed, he looked to Jack for the next piece.

Jack obliged by putting another piece in de Gaulle's mouth but this time he let his fingers linger so that those full lips closed around them. He grinned at de Gaulle's startled look and deliberately ran his index finger over the soft lips.

Daniel's breath hitched in his throat and he forgot to chew. His eyes caught Jack's brown ones and he just stared, unable to look away. No-one had ever touched his lips in such a way and Daniel found it quite erotic... No! He wrenched his gaze away from Jack's, his breathing rapid. It couldn't be erotic because that would be a sin. Daniel started chewing then swallowed the piece of fish. "I told you not to touch me," he said, keeping his eyes away from Jack's.

"You touched me first." The spark of sexual energy between them had excited Jack; he was definitely attracted to the young man. And there was something about those eyes... something he should remember...

"Did not."

"Did too."

"Did not."

"Did too."

Daniel broke off arguing as he realised his eyes had strayed back to his captor's face. He looked away again. "I want you to leave," he stated forcefully.

"Why? Are you afraid of what I might do? Or are you afraid of what you might do?" Jack observed.

"I am not afraid," Daniel lied. The touch on his lips had shaken him badly.

"I think you are." Jack put the plate down then straightened up and leaned in towards de Gaulle until only an inch separated them. He put his palms flat on the wall either side of de Gaulle's head. "I think you're very afraid of committing a sin and enjoying it."

"Get away from me!" Daniel demanded; his breathing becoming shallow again until he got his reaction under control. However, he couldn't get the reaction in his groin under control, and he was angry with his body for reacting that way. He was not attracted to Jack!

"No," Jack refused. He angled his hips forward so that his erection rubbed against de Gaulle's groin.

"Stop it!" Daniel hissed, trying to ignore the sparks of pleasure that the contact produced. This was wrong!

Jack drew back slightly, pleased with de Gaulle's reaction. It seemed that de Gaulle's body was attracted to him, despite the young man's protests. Then, in a quick move, Jack spun de Gaulle around to press his front against the wall. Jack put his hands over the bound wrists and, as he started untying the rope, leaned in to whisper in de Gaulle's ear, "Enjoy your meal." Then he left, giving the rope to the guard outside.

Daniel remained where he was for a few seconds until his panic had receded. When he had been turned around, he had become worried that Jack might force him into an act of sin. He wasn't sure whether God would make the distinction between willingly lying with another man and being forced into it - his teacher had never made that distinction, and he didn't really want to find out.

He sank down to the ground and absently reached out for the plate of food. It might not matter - his body had reacted as if Jack had been a woman. That was probably a sin in itself, and Daniel felt disgusted with himself. That was possibly what Jack had been aiming for, he thought, and he hated the man even more for it. Jack didn't seem to care about sin - Daniel had felt the hard erection pressing into him - so he would not worry about forcing Daniel into it.

Reaching for another piece of fish, he was surprised to find the plate empty - he had eaten the food without even noticing. Daniel sighed and leaned back against the wall. How was he going to keep fending Jack off if the man decided to force him? With his hands tied behind his back, it would be virtually impossible. But he would certainly do his best to prevent it.

A knock on the hut had him looking towards the door. He was prepared for it to be Jack again but to his surprise, it was someone else. The new man was obviously related to Jack though - there was a striking resemblance superficially but this man had a much kinder face.

"I'm here to escort you to the river," the man explained. "My name is Henry, by the way."

Daniel nodded in acknowledgment of that. He stood and then followed Henry out of the hut and down to the river.

Unbeknownst to him, Jack was watching from a discreet distance. It had taken a few minutes for him to recover from his arousal, during which time he had to keep away from everyone because erections weren't exactly easy to hide under the tight fitting clothes that he wore - although the tunic did hide it a little. He had managed to keep his urges hidden from the rest of the men in camp and only indulged when he went into Nottingham at night - there were a couple of young men who provided services to like-minded men. The presence of de Gaulle, however, threatened that because Jack found that he was having trouble keeping his hands off him. That was a recipe for disaster because he knew most of his men would not tolerate his sexual leanings. He would become outcast from the outlaws, the lowest of the low - not exactly a happy prospect. So he should stop looking at de Gaulle.

If only he could. The young man was a temptation, with his good looks and slim body and he felt so drawn to him. Actually, now that he had seen de Gaulle up close, Jack realised there was something familiar about him but he couldn't his finger on what...

Abruptly, Jack turned away and went to his hut to sleep. Whatever it was could wait until the morning.

Chapter 3

It was completely dark and there were no sounds of humans still awake when Sam convinced Anne to attempt a rescue. They carefully crept out of the hut past the sleeping guard. Sam had waited for just the right moment to mount the rescue, and she prayed that they could pull it off.

They crept around to the back of the hut then slowly made their way forward until they could see the guard outlined by the moonlight. The guard was unaware of their presence as they were of the man behind them.

Teal'c had been meditating, not sleeping, when Lady Carter and her friend had snuck out, so he had decided to follow them. It was interesting that Lady Carter felt such loyalty towards de Gaulle to the extent of trying to rescue him; Teal'c wanted to see how far she would go.

Using a heavy branch she had found on her way, Sam struck the guard on the side of his head and he fell to the ground. Then she crept into the hut, closely followed by Anne. "Daniel," she whispered.

He had to be hearing things! Daniel rolled over on his bed of straw and saw a dark figure coming towards him. "Samantha?"

"Yes." She approached him and crouched down beside him. "We are here to help you escape."

Daniel was amazed at their courage, defying the Saxon captors to help him. "Let us go then." He accepted Samantha's assistance to stand and then they all headed for the door.

A dark imposing figure loomed over them. "You will not leave," Teal'c stated. A vision during his meditation had hinted that there was something special about Daniel de Gaulle and that he should not leave until the reason had been discovered.

"Oh yes, we will," Anne countered, standing in front of her charge. "Move out of the way you oversized...brute." Though she was scared, she was fueled by the determination to see her charge and Lord Daniel free, and felt duty bound to help them.

"I will not."

"Fine." She took a guess and aimed a kick at the man's groin. The kick didn't connect though, the man somehow sensing her intention and catching her leg. "Let me go!"

Teal'c released her leg and turned to look at Daniel. "You were brought here for a reason beyond the one you know. You must remain for a time."

"Your leader wants to kill me," Daniel cut in.

"But he will not," Teal'c replied. "I will guarantee that."

That was a relief; Daniel could sense this man meant what he said. "Then let us go."

"You would not get far. These woods are patrolled by men well trained by their leader." Teal'c pointed out. "You must stay."

Realising the man had a point, Daniel reluctantly decided to stay put; fumbling around in a dark forest with no idea of where they were going was just asking for trouble anyway. "All right. We will stay."

"Daniel--"

"We do not have a choice, Samantha," Daniel stated flatly.

"Indeed you do not," Teal'c agreed. "I recommend that you get some rest now."

Sam stalked over to the bed of straw, and Anne followed. Daniel took a seat nearby. "I am not happy about this," Sam hissed at him.

"Neither am I," Daniel replied. "But I want to get home in one piece, as I presume you do."

"I suppose," she grumbled. "I'm sorry," she apologized for not rescuing him.

"No, I'm sorry, m'lady, it was my fault..." Anne stated, feeling somehow she let Samantha down.

"It certainly was not," Sam protested. "I was quite proud of you standing up to..." she gestured to where Teal'c stood guard outside. Seeing Anne's small smile, she turned back to Daniel, "I guess we are both sorry it did not work."

"That is all right. Let us just get some sleep." Daniel leaned his head back against the wooden wall of the hut.

Sam sighed. "Goodnight, Daniel. Goodnight, Anne."

"Goodnight, Samantha."

"Goodnight, m'lady. Goodnight m'lord."

~~~

The morning dawned bright and clear. Jack, as usual, rose with the sun. He went outside, went to the river to relieve himself, and then came back to the camp. It didn't quite register at first that Teal'c was guarding a different hut but when it did, he quickly went over to the Moor. "What happened?" he demanded.

"Lady Carter attempted to escape with Daniel de Gaulle," Teal'c replied in a low voice. "I stopped them."

"Where is Henry?" His brother had been supposed to guard de Gaulle.

"Lady Carter hit him with a branch. When Henry awoke, I sent him to his hut."

Jack stepped around Teal'c into the hut, angry that the woman had hurt his brother. His forward motion was arrested, however, upon the sight that greeted him. De Gaulle sat up against the wall facing the doorway, and one of Lady Carter's hands reached out from her position curled up on the straw to hold the young man's ankle. Jack felt a spike of jealousy at the sight. He wanted to be the one touching de Gaulle.

He took a few steps forward and looked down upon de Gaulle's sleeping form. The young man looked so innocent in sleep that Jack began to have grave misgivings about the whole plan. How could he kill de Gaulle when he looked like that?

Lady Carter stirred and tightened her grip on de Gaulle's ankle, causing jealousy to again rise in Jack. Letting it take control briefly, he kicked Lady Carter's booted feet. "Wake up!"

Sam woke suddenly as did Anne. It took her a few seconds to realise where she was and where her hand was. She quickly let go and sat go, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. Then she realised someone was watching her. She looked up to see Jack standing there. "Good morning," she said politely as if she hadn't just been caught holding onto Daniel, glad that Anne didn't seem to have noticed it either.

"Just what made you think you could escape?" Jack demanded to know.

Sam didn't bother to answer. "Did you bring breakfast?"

"No, I did not." Jack tried to rein in his anger at this woman. He opened his mouth to ask her again but saw de Gaulle stir.

"What's going on?" Daniel said sleepily as he was pulled back to consciousness by the voices.

"Oh, nothing," Jack stated. "Just wondering why the two of them are doing in here."

"I am sure you already know so there is no point in asking us," Daniel replied as he woke up fully. He lowered his head carefully, his neck muscles having seized up because of the awkward position he had slept in.

"You have until sunset to live, de Gaulle," Jack bit out, annoyed that the young noble had hit upon the truth. "I would not provoke me if I were you."

"If you were me, you would not be here in the first place," Daniel shot back. "At least Normans do not kidnap people!"

"Oh, I would not bet on that," Jack said, his demeanour suddenly icy-cold. "They kidnapped my brother and sister when they were too young to fight, plus a whole lot of other children, and they tried to kill the rest. Several of the children are still missing. So do not tell me the Normans don't kidnap people."

Daniel could hear the pain that Jack still felt. "I am sorry." He felt sympathy towards the man - that was obviously why Jack hated Normans so much.

"A lot of good that is to me," Jack bit out. He didn't want de Gaulle's sympathy.

"Well, killing me is not going to help either," Daniel pointed out calmly. "How did you get the others back?"

"By tracking them down all over the countryside. That--" Jack shot a look at Lady Carter and changed his mind about the word he had been about to use, "--piece of filth, Apophis of Gisbourne, had sold them all as servants." Jack still found it very satisfying to have run him through with a sword.

Sam, who had been listening to the exchange in silence, softly exclaimed, "Holy Mary!" She couldn't fathom.

"So I am sure you will forgive me if I do not like Normans," Jack finished with.

"My father would never be a party to anything like that," Daniel stated with confidence. His father would never be that cruel.

"You are sure about that, are you?" Jack questioned harshly, not believing de Gaulle. All Normans were like that.

"Yes, I am." Daniel looked steadily up at Jack.

Unable to think of a reply to shake that conviction, Jack hauled de Gaulle to his feet.

"Ouch!" Daniel protested pointedly, the movement causing the ropes to dig into his skin.

"Oh, for crying out loud," Jack muttered. He deftly undid the rope and inspected the wrists for damage. "There is hardly a scratch..." he trailed off as he saw something on de Gaulle's right wrist. He pushed the tunic sleeve up to get a better look. "Oh my God." It couldn't be...

"What?" Daniel was puzzled by Jack's behaviour. "It is just a birthmark."

"Shaped like a bow and arrow," Jack breathed. No, it couldn't be little Daniel. The children had all been sold as servants. But yet... "Teal'c!" he yelled.

Teal'c immediately entered the hut. "What is it?"

"Get Robin and Marian straight away." Jack lifted dazed eyes to Teal'c's. "Daniel's come home." His childhood friend, his Daniel, whom he had thought was gone forever.

Teal'c looked at the young noble in a new light. Of course - how had he missed the resemblance before? The roundish face and blue eyes were virtually identical to Marian's. "I will fetch them immediately." He left at a run.

Daniel yanked his hand away from Jack's grasp. "What are you on about?" The reaction to his birthmark had shaken him.

"Do you not remember anything about your childhood?" Jack asked, still unable to believe that little Daniel was standing in front of him.

"I remember plenty," Daniel shot back.

"Really? Then how come you do not remember living here?"

"Because I never did." Daniel was certain about that. "I grew up at de Gaulle castle."

Jack shook his head. "After the age of seven maybe. But before that, you grew up here."

"That is not possible." No, it couldn't be true. His parents would not have lied to him about something like that.

"Oh, believe me, it is," Jack affirmed.

"So you are saying that Daniel's parents actually bought him?" Anne said in amazement from her position near Sam; unlike many of the nobles, she was not sheltered and heard of such things happening before.

"That is what appears to have happened."

"Well, if that is the case, why do I not remember?" Daniel challenged Jack. "Tell me that!"

"I don't know." He wished that Daniel did though because that would make things a lot easier.

"That is because it did not happen. You are clearly mistaking me for someone else." That had to be it.

Jack grabbed Daniel's hand and displayed the birthmark again. "How many other people have a mark like this? Your father always said it was a sign that you were meant to be a champion archer. How could you not remember that?" he demanded.

The words struck a chord with Daniel although he didn't know why. His gaze fell to lock onto the birthmark. Why would Jack make up something like that? "I do not know."

Just at that moment, Henry poked his head in. "Hey, Jack, are you com--" He trailed off upon seeing his brother holding Daniel's wrist. "What is going on?"

"Take a look." Jack held the wrist out for Henry's inspection.

Henry came in and looked at the birthmark. Then he looked up at Daniel in astonishment. "Oh my goodness."

Sam stepped forward to get a better look at the mark. "Do you recognize it?" she asked the newcomer.

"Beyond a doubt," Henry replied. "Daniel of Locksley, son of Robin Hood." He remembered that birthmark well.

"Robin Hood," Sam echoed, staring at Daniel. Who would have thought?

Daniel was shaken even further by Henry's identification of him. There was no doubt that Henry was genuine in his belief - there had been no chance to plan this beforehand with Jack. "That cannot be."

"It is." Henry drew Daniel in for an embrace and clapped him on the back. "It is good to have you back. Your parents are going to be delighted."

At that, Daniel pulled away. "My parents are Pierre and Jeanne de Gaulle," he stated. They were the only parents he could remember.

"The evidence proves otherwise," Jack argued.

"Give Daniel some time to get used to it," Henry tried to calm things down. "This must be quite a shock. Daniel," he went over to where the young man was pacing. "How about we freshen up and have something to break the fast?"

Daniel paced a few more steps then halted in front of Henry. "All right." He needed some time to take all this in. He followed Henry out of the hut.

Jack went to follow but Sam stepped in front of him. "I don't think he wants to speak to you at the moment."

"That is too bad." Jack went to step around her.

Sam moved again to block him. "No. Leave him alone."

"You are very protective of him," Jack noted with some interest.

"Someone has to be." And Sam had designated that role to herself. "Leave him be."

Jack found his jealousy coming back at her comment. "For the moment," he conceded. "But eventually he will have to accept who he is." He stepped around Lady Carter and exited the hut.

"Not if he does not want to," Sam muttered, having the feeling that might be the case. She could only imagine what Daniel must have gone through as a child, torn from his parents and sold to strangers. Maybe he had put his memories behind him as a way of coping.

Shaking her head sadly, Sam and Anne followed Jack out. Too many people were now in line to be hurt.

~~~

Teal'c rode quickly to the camp where Robin and Marian resided. The horse had barely slowed down when he dismounted.

Robin spotted his old friend and stood, wondering why the visit. The years had been kind to him as his physical build was still the same. However, the dark hair was beginning to grey, and the wrinkles on his face indicated the stress he had constantly been under. "What is it, old friend?" he asked as Teal'c approached the fire.

"Young John has something he wishes you to see." Teal'c decided not to get their hopes up too much.

"Daniel," Marian breathed. Her blonde hair was nearly completely white now despite her young age, and her blue eyes held the first spark they'd had for nearly eleven years. She believed there was only one reason that Jack would send for them.

Teal'c did not confirm or deny it. "You must come."

Robin was suddenly as eager as Marian. Was it possible that their son had been found after all these years? "Of course."

"I am coming too," the young woman nearby said. Her long blonde hair and blue eyes proclaimed her to be Marian's daughter.

"No, you stay here, Eliza," Robin told her. "If it is Daniel, we do not want to overwhelm him."

Eliza remained seated on the log and pouted. All her life she had heard about Daniel - she could barely remember him from when she was a child - and she had always felt that she was second best. Now she felt that she had received proof of that this very minute.

Robin and Marian saddled two horses and followed Teal'c back to the camp. Robin was trying not to get his hopes up but Marian gave hers free rein. She had been waiting nearly eleven years to see her son again and she was not going to be swayed from that belief.

They reached the other camp just as everyone was finishing breakfast. Marian's eyes immediately locked onto the blondish young man seated on the end of the log - that was her son. Quickly, she dismounted and ran over to the fire where Daniel sat. "Daniel!"

Upon hearing his name, Daniel's head shot up. He saw a woman approaching rapidly and he instinctively stood and took several steps back.

Marian was pulled up short by that reaction. "Daniel?" Her face reflected her hurt and puzzlement.

Robin came up behind his wife and put his hands on her shoulders in support. He couldn't speak though, finding that Daniel's appearance had robbed him of that ability. Daniel looked so much like Marian only more masculine. His son had grown into a handsome young man.

Daniel hugged himself, feeling totally at a loss. There was no-one nearby whom he could turn to about this - his support system was miles away. He knew Sam would offer her support but he couldn't ask her to do that after such a short acquaintance. "I am sorry," he said inadequately. He didn't know what to say to these people, and he didn't want to hurt the woman, who obviously had been missing her son. "I do not remember you."

Marian's eyes filled with tears, the words tearing through her heart. She turned blindly and sought out her husband, who enfolded her in his arms.

"What?" Robin finally found his voice. "How could you not remember?" He could feel his wife's silent tears seeping through his tunic.

"That is what we have been trying to figure out," Jack cut in, coming over to the group. "I'm sorry. I didn't have time to warn you."

"It is not your fault," Robin stated, rubbing Marian's back soothingly. "I am sure there is a good reason."

"I think they have mistaken me for someone else," Daniel said, looking apologetically at the couple. "I am sorry to get your hopes up."

"He has the birthmark," Jack stated, glaring at Daniel; couldn't he see what this was doing to Marian?

"Let me see," Marian said shakily, pulling away from Robin's arms. "Please," she pleaded when Daniel remained silent.

Daniel bit his lip in indecision then finally nodded slowly. He held out his right arm as the woman tentatively approached him, and he didn't even flinch when she pushed the sleeve of his tunic out of the way.

Marian's hands trembled when she saw the bow and arrow imprinted on Daniel's skin. "'Blessed by God'," she said softly. "My little Daniel."

"Excuse me?" The words struck him like Jack's had earlier. But he didn't want to believe that he had been living a lie.

Looking up at the sky, Marian said, "Thank you," before embracing her son for the first time in what seemed like ages. He had grown so much - he was now a head taller than her - and he was very much the young man. "Welcome home."

Daniel didn't know what to say - this woman obviously believed him to be her son. But he couldn't be... could he?

Robin saw the hesitance in Daniel's body language and the uncertainty in his eyes, and knew that his son had indeed forgotten them. Turning to Jack, he murmured, "If we could have some privacy?"

"Of course." Jack moved over to talk softly with Teal'c, and together they cleared the area of onlookers. The two of them remained nearby but not close enough to intrude. Lady Carter joined them.

Stepping over to where his wife was still clinging to the young man, Robin held out his hand. "Robin of Locksley."

"Daniel de Gaulle," came the reply.

Robin smiled sadly as Daniel took his hand and shook it. "You really do not remember?" This wasn't how he had imagined their reunion would be.

"I am sorry. I wish I could tell you otherwise." He really did; these two people seemed to have suffered so much.

Marian pulled back and wiped her hand under her eyes to get rid of the tears. "Did they love you? Your... your other parents?" It hurt her to say those words.

"Yes, they do," Daniel told her.

"Have they treated you well?"

"They have."

More tears appeared in Marian's eyes at the affection in Daniel's voice. It should be her and Robin that Daniel was talking about like that, not... not them. "They are Normans?"

Daniel nodded. "They are."

Robin hated them for keeping his son away from his home but grateful that they had obviously taken good care of him. But the one thing he wanted to know was - did they know Daniel had been stolen? "You were taken from us by Norman soldiers. By the time anyone reached Nottingham Castle to retrieve you and the others, you had already been sold."

"No," Daniel stated. "That is not possible." He would have known if that had happened.

"Then how else do you explain it?" Robin questioned.

Daniel opened his mouth to speak then shut it and shook his head. "I cannot."

"You are our son," Marian told him, pleading with her eyes for him to remember. "I know it in here." She put her hand over her heart.

"I am sorry," Daniel said for the third time. "I need some time to think about this." With that, he started to walk away.

Marian went to follow but Jack was quicker. "I will watch him," he promised her. Then he followed Daniel out of the camp.

"Oh, Robin, Marian said sadly, turning into her husband's embrace. "What are we going to do?"

"I do not know." But Robin did have a plan - as soon as possible, he was going to speak with the couple who had bought his son and give them a piece of his mind.

~~~

Daniel wandered blindly through the forest, his arms wrapped tightly across his chest. This whole situation had thrown him and he didn't know what to think. If these people were telling the truth, why couldn't he remember it? He couldn't get himself to believe it was a joke because there had been no time to plan it. And surely Robin Hood - if that was really who that man really was - would not be a part of such a thing. Although everyone there was an outlaw so it was possible that they might do something like this. But for what purpose? Daniel couldn't figure that out.

He, the son of Robin Hood? Only in literature could that be true. He was Daniel de Gaulle, son of Pierre and Jeanne. He loved reading, especially historical novels, but was handy with a sword. And his skill at archery was... Archery. Daniel traced a finger over his birthmark. A champion archer. He was a champion archer. Just like Robin Hood. Could it be possible...

No! His parents would not have kept that a secret from him. And if he had been seven, as had been suggested, then he would remember life here. And he didn't. So it couldn't be possible.

Yes, it could, his subconscious told him. Just because you do not want it to be true does not mean it is not. Accept it.

"I cannot," he muttered softly to himself. Because to accept it meant that he would also have to accept that he had been abandoned by his 'parents' and left in the care of strangers. "Why did they not rescue me?"

"Because we could not find you," Jack stated, making Daniel jump. "We looked everywhere for you. Except, obviously, as the son of a Norman noble." He regretted the oversight because it meant that the other missing children could have followed that fate.

"Why are you following me?" Daniel demanded even though he knew the reason.

"Do you remember anything of your life with the de Gaulle's before the age of seven?" Jack pressed, ignoring Daniel's question.

"Of course I do!" Daniel lied. His first clear memory of being with the de Gaulle's was his eighth birthday. Jack said nothing, just stared at him patiently. "How do I know this is not just some elaborate plan of yours to divide a Norman family?"

"You always did have a vivid imagination," Jack commented. "And you were stubborn and argumentative, always trying to talk people around to your point of view. I see things have not changed much."

"I would bet that if this were all true, I did not like you back then," Daniel said snidely, resenting the character description.

"Actually, we were best friends," Jack informed him, deeply hurt at Daniel's words, but he would not show it.

Daniel raised an eyebrow; he couldn't believe that.

"The day you were taken, you had just caught a fish with your bare hands," Jack recalled. The events of that night were imprinted on his memory as if it were only yesterday. "I had told you not to do it because it was too dangerous but you didn't listen. I was not happy with you about that."

"Why?"

Jack shrugged. "That and you did not listen and could have got hurt. But you proved me wrong. "

Sensing there was nowhere else he wanted to go in that conversation, Daniel changed the subject. "Do you realise that you are asking me to believe that my whole life with the de Gaulles has been a lie? How can you ask me to do that?"

"Because it is true," Jack said simply. "I know this is hard for you but do you have any idea how your parents felt after you were kidnapped? Robin almost got himself captured several times searching for you, that is how desperate he was to get you back."

"I do not want to hear this," Daniel stated, turning away.

"Well, that's too bad." Jack took hold of Daniel's bicep and spun him around to face him angry and determined to get through to Daniel... his Daniel. "Because you are going to."

"I never asked for any of this," Daniel said, anger coming to the fore. "I was happy with my life the way it was."

"You know, that is a pretty selfish thing to say, and the Daniel I knew was never selfish," Jack argued. "Stubborn and argumentative but never selfish."

"Well, some things have changed obviously. I am not the Daniel any of you claim to know anymore!"

"Obviously."

Daniel wrenched his arm free of Jack's grip. "Now, I want to be left alone for a while."

"Fine. But I will be watching so do not think you can leave," Jack told him.

"Fine." He hadn't actually thought about that, his mind was so full of other things. Arms hugging his chest, Daniel set off on his walk again.

Jack waited for a minute and then followed.

~~~

"I do not think this is a good idea," Jacob Carter stated to his new friend as they both got on their horses mid-morning.

"Maybe not but it is our children out there," Pierre de Gaulle replied. He was worried about Daniel's safety. The bag of gold coins that were his son's ransom was secured firmly to the saddle. "Would you trust Samantha's safety to anyone else?"

"Very good point." Jacob trusted Sam's safety to no-one else but himself.

They set off into Sherwood Forest, keeping an alert eye out the whole time. Both of them had heard the stories about outlaws in the woods and neither of them wanted to be robbed before they rescued their children.

~~~

Marian sat alone near the cooking fire, her arms wrapped tightly around herself to keep warm. She was devastated to have her son back physically but with no memory of who she was. That was not how the reunion was supposed to have gone. She had waited so long for Daniel to return and his rejection had left her as devastated as his kidnapping had.

Robin had been nearby for a long time but had just recently moved away to talk to Teal'c. He was at a loss on how to continue and needed some advice on how to proceed from his old friend. "What do you make of this all?" he asked.

"He has been returned to us for a reason," Teal'c stated. "That is for certain. However, that reason is not yet clear." His vision had not been specific.

"He does not remember us," Robin said, struggling to hold onto his emotions. "How could that be possible?"

"The mind is capable of many things." Teal'c had been considering that question for a while and had come up with a possible solution. "You believe he saw the soldier strike you on that night?"

"Yes. He was the one who warned me."

"Then he most likely believed you to be dead," Teal'c continued. "And when no-one came to rescue him, he would have believed that either no-one could or would ever come. Then, to deal with the disappointment and grief, he willed himself to forget what he could no longer have."

That explanation made a lot of sense, Robin had to admit. "You know more about the mind than anyone else. Is it possible that he could will himself to remember?" That would be the best solution for everyone.

"It may be possible," Teal'c replied. "But he will need to want the memories."

Robin accepted that with a nod but already he was planning on how to get Daniel to want to remember.

~~~

When Daniel started wandering too far away from the camp, Jack interrupted his solitude and turned him around. Daniel ignored the intrusion but started the walk back to the camp. He had been trying hard to remember anything about his life in the forest but hadn't had any success so far. So now he was thinking about the potential ramifications of the situation. Everyone here in the forest would want him to stay with them but Daniel didn't feel he belonged there. His life was now as a Norman. And then, of course, there were the de Gaulles to think of. They would not want to lose him, especially as he was the only child God had gifted them with. He could never hurt them that way.

Daniel was still deep in thought when he arrived back at the camp. Fortunately there wasn't time to get into another conversation with his possible parents. One of the look-outs came running over to Jack and informed him of the two older gentlemen who were riding in the forest.

"Looks like your Norman father has come to your rescue," Jack commented dryly to Daniel.

"I told you he would," Daniel replied, brought out of his thoughts by the activity surrounding him.

"So you did." Jack retrieved a piece of rope and went over to Daniel. "May as well make this look authentic," he said as he started to tie Daniel's wrists together behind his back.

"What are you doing?" Daniel tried to free his hands but with no luck.

"Jack, what are you doing?" Robin echoed the question, coming over to the two men.

"De Gaulle is going to expect to see Daniel tied up, isn't he? Otherwise he will suspect something is up."

Robin's eyes narrowed. "What are you planning?" He knew how much Jack hated Normans, and if he confronted the man who had bought one of the stolen children...

"I just want him to tell the truth, that is all," Jack replied innocently, giving a final tug on Daniel's bonds.

"Jack, untie him." Robin caught the younger man's gaze and held it.

After a few moments, Jack undid the rope. Maybe it would be better if it looked like Daniel had been well treated. "Henry!" he called out to his brother. "Get the men ready."

"I am coming too," Robin decided.

Jack nodded. "You can take my bow," he offered, seeing that Robin hadn't brought his with him.

"You are not going to kill my father!" Daniel protested to Jack. "He has done nothing wrong!"

Jack ignored that, deciding to reserve judgement until he had spoken with de Gaulle. "If everyone is ready, let us move out."

"What about me?" Sam cut in, advancing on Jack.

"You were not the one we were after," Jack told her. "You will be free to go home."

Sam saw Daniel's eyes widen as the implications of that sank in. "And Daniel?"

"We will see," was all Jack would say before he started walking, pushing Daniel ahead of him. He hadn't quite made up his mind what to do yet. But he knew he wasn't going to let this Norman get away with what he had done.

Chapter 4

Pierre looked around him anxiously. "Why have they not stopped us yet?" he complained.

"They are probably waiting for some sort of signal," Jacob replied.

"What kind of signal?"

Ten men stepped out as one from the bushes and aimed their weapons at the two older men.

"That kind of signal," Jacob said dryly.

One of the young men stepped forward. "Which one of you is de Gaulle?"

"I am," Pierre replied.

"Get off your horse," came the command.

Pierre slowly did as he was ordered. "Where is Daniel?" he asked once he was on the ground.

"Nearby." A tall, thin blonde man in his twenties stepped out from his hiding place. "I just wanted a word with the man who stole Daniel away from his home."

Immediately defensive, Pierre straightened up and looked down his nose at the man. "I did not steal Daniel."

"Steal, pay for, same thing." The man shrugged. "Give me one good reason why I should allow Daniel to return with you."

"He is my son," Pierre said stiffly; he didn't like where this was leading. Over the past eleven years, he had occasionally wondered where Daniel had come from, and obviously he was about to find out from these people.

"No." An older man stepped forward. "He is my son."

Pierre stared at the man. The conviction in the man's voice, plus the vague physical resemblance, persuaded Pierre that it could be the truth. But... "They said the children were orphans."

~~~

Behind a nearby tree, Daniel rested his head back against the trunk. He could overhear everything, and his father's words stunned him. The outlaws had been correct - he was not the natural son of the de Gaulles.

"And yet you never once questioned it?" Robin was saying.

"What would have been the point? They would not have admitted otherwise. And if we had pushed the matter, Daniel would have been taken away from us and we could have been thrown in a dungeon," Pierre stated. "What good would that have done?"

"You could have brought him back here," Jack said angrily.

"And risk getting this reception?" Daniel couldn't see it but he could imagine his father staring hard at Jack. "Besides the fact that we truly thought he was an orphan, Daniel himself cried about his parents' death, and I presume his older brother John, which made him better off with us."

"That was not for you to decide," Robin said, taking insult. Daniel bristled also - he'd had the choice taken away from him apparently. "He had a family here."

"All the evidence pointed otherwise," Pierre defended himself. "What would you have done in my position?"

There was silence, neither Jack nor Robin able to answer that question. Daniel pondered it too - if the positions had been reversed, what would the outlaws have done? Kept him or try to find his natural parents though everyone, including him, believed they were dead at the time? That was indeed a dilemma.

"Daniel is my son," Pierre continued. "How he came to me does not matter. It was obviously God's will that brought him to me."

"And that same will has brought him back," Jack argued. Daniel wondered whether Jack was arguing this because of what had happened to his own family or whether there was something else behind it. "And here he is going to stay."

Daniel's anger immediately rose at that - it wasn't Jack's decision to make. Pierre obviously agreed. "You cannot keep him here."

"I think it is only fair to give him a chance to see what was stolen from him," Jack shot back. "Not to mention for his real parents to get to know him."

Daniel went to move away from the tree but was prevented by one of Jack's men. Frustrated, he leaned back again and listened to the argument being waged. Why didn't they just ask him what he wanted?

He could see Sam looking questioningly at him from nearby and he could only shrug his shoulders in return. He didn't know what to do. Now that he knew that the claim on him by these people was true, he was a little curious as to what they were like. He obviously had inherited his skill at archery from Robin Hood but what else had he in common with his birth parents?

"Well, let's ask him, shall we?" Jack's voice interrupted Daniel's thoughts. He was led out from behind the tree and into the centre of the group. His eyes stayed on Pierre, seeing how his adopted father was trying to mask his concern. It warmed him to know that his father cared for him.

"Daniel, do you want to stay or do you want to leave and hurt your real parents?" Jack asked, trying to influence the vote.

"Daniel, are you all right?" Pierre asked before his son could say anything.

"I am fine." Daniel gave him a shaky smile. "Confused, but fine. Why did you not tell me any of this?"

"We thought you would have remembered." And neither he nor Jeanne had wanted it mentioned again. Pierre took some pleasure in the fact that Daniel had forgotten his Saxon roots. He looked over at the older man claiming to be Daniel's birth father. "My wife and I meant you no harm. We had not even intended to attend the auction that day. But something drew us there and then we saw Daniel... To us, it was meant to be." By the end of the speech, he was looking at his son and smiling.

Daniel found himself smiling back. He had been happy living with the de Gaulles, and they had treated him well. But now he knew the truth, he was curious about his birth parents. "Would you mind if I stayed for a few days? I want to learn about these people."

Pierre started to say 'no' but he saw that Daniel's curiosity was driving the request. Also, he felt that he could not deny Daniel this chance despite the risk of losing him to these people. So reluctantly, he said, "If that is what you wish."

"Thank you, Father," Daniel replied, promising with his smile that he would return to de Gaulle castle.

"And what of my daughter, Samantha?" Jacob cut in, having waited patiently for her appearance.

Jack turned his head and nodded to Henry, who went and brought Lady Carter into view along with her handmaiden Anne. "They are free to go."

"Father, if Daniel is staying then I would like to stay also," Sam stated. She had been thinking a lot about it and had decided to stay with her possible future husband, partly to get to know him and partly to protect him from other Saxon women.

Jacob could never refuse his only daughter anything although he came close now. Although he was Saxon, he had a similar opinion of outlaws as Normans did.

"She will not be harmed," Daniel's natural father spoke. "I give you my word, Sir," Robin said formally with a slight bow or respect.

"Nothing personal, but as an outlaw..." Jacob started.

"M'lord," Anne spoke up, "This is no other than Robin of the Hood," she stated with true enthusiasm, and knew she spoke true, for she remembered him well when she was younger and how he helped her and her family.

The reputation of Robin Hood's respectful treatment of women sealed the decision. Jacob also knew that Anne, Samantha's handmaiden, would protect her charge's honor. Jacob gave Robin a nod of respect in return, "Very well, three days, Samantha, no more, and then I expect you to come home."

"Yes, Father," Sam agreed. Three days should be plenty of time.

Jack mentally sighed; he didn't want her Ladyship to remain because he knew she was after Daniel. "Well, since that is all organised, I bid you good day, sirs." He took hold of Daniel's arm and led him back into the forest; his men followed behind.

Sam, however, went over to give her father a hug and a kiss, and then she turned to Pierre. "Anne and I will look out for him," she promised.

"Thank you." Pierre knew then that he had made a good choice in her. His eyes remained on her as she followed the outlaws into the forest. Yes, Samantha would make an excellent choice for Daniel as she would look after him; a very good trait to have. "You raised her well, Jacob."

"With a bit too much independence for her own good," Jacob grumbled. His fears for his daughter's safety hadn't lessened with her action but he knew she would not do anything stupid.

Pierre nodded; Daniel had the same fault. And although his son was an adult, Pierre still worried about him. He only hoped that nothing would happen while he was not around to protect Daniel.

~~~

Robin moved up to Daniel's side. "I am glad you are staying," he said, pleased that Daniel had made that decision.

Daniel didn't know what to say to that. He gave Robin a half-smile; he hoped that his birth parents weren't going to expect too much from him.

"I should warn you," Robin continued. "Marian - your mother - took your kidnapping very hard. She is not going to let you out of her sight for a few days." He felt the same way himself but knew that such an action would smother Daniel while he was coming to terms with everything.

"I can understand that." But whether he could cope with it was another matter.

~~~

Every minute that Marian waited for the group's return was agony. She was deathly afraid of losing her son again. There had been so many moments she had missed because of those Norman soldiers: Daniel's teeth falling out; seeing him catch a fish with his bare hands; seeing him grow into a young man; not knowing whether he had fallen in love for the first time. So many precious moments lost forever. She had Eliza, of course, but it wasn't the same. Eliza had never shown the same aptitude for living in the forest, nor the same spirit and vitality; Marian didn't stop to consider the effect her mourning had had on her daughter. She only knew that Daniel was her special boy and now he was back.

Her ears eagerly tuned for the returning men, she was able to hear them before they came into view. She strained to catch sight of her husband, and there beside him was Daniel. He had come back! "Daniel!" Uncaring of the spectacle she was making, she ran over to her son and hugged him tight.

Daniel refrained from mentioning that he would only be staying for a few days; better to tell her later. He looked to Robin for some help to free himself.

Robin gently pulled his wife away from Daniel. "Give him some space, woman," he said firmly.

Marian clung to Robin, her knees threatening to give way. She was just so happy. "Our boy is back!" she whispered joyfully to her husband.

"And we do not want to scare him away again, do we?"

She shook her head, terrified at the thought. "I am just so happy," she said, looking up at Robin then over at her son.

Daniel couldn't help but be affected by Marian's joy. She must have loved him very much to have suffered so much while he had been gone. "I would like to know about my childhood," he offered tentatively.

Marian's eyes lit up. "Oh, there are so many stories. Let us sit down and I will tell you." She sank onto a nearby log.

Daniel sat on the one opposite. He had so many questions to ask that he didn't know where to begin. Fortunately, Marian started talking without any prompting.

"You are our first born," she stated, folding her trembling hands in her lap. "You were always curious about things, which gave me many causes for worry, I can tell you. You were very friendly with everyone, especially with Jack." She tried to smile at Little John's son, who had brought Daniel back to her. "You were very clever, and kind, and you loved going shooting with your father--" She broke off, aware of what she had just said. Daniel had two fathers now. "With Robin," she corrected.

"Was I good at archery?" Daniel asked as Sam sat down beside him.

"Better than some of the older boys," Marian replied with a sad yet proud smile. "We always thought that you were going to be the best."

Daniel shifted uncomfortably. "I, uh, I have won a few competitions," he admitted.

Marian's face lit up. "You have? Oh, that is wonderful! Robin, did you hear that?" She turned to her husband, who was standing right behind her.

"I did." It made him proud to know that his boy was a champion. "Perhaps you could show us later."

"All right," Daniel agreed; if it would make them happy, he would.

Jack had watched quietly, having not wanted to intrude on the family moment. His watching had included a hint of desire towards Daniel but now he knew it could never go anywhere. Daniel was Robin's son, and that meant he was off-limits. Which was too bad really - Daniel was very desirable. So since Jack couldn't have him, he would have to go elsewhere to avoid temptation. "The men and I are going hunting. Teal'c and a couple of the others will remain here to keep an eye on things."

"Can you get a message to Eliza and tell her to come over here?" Robin requested. He didn't want his daughter to feel left out of things for too long.

"Sure." Jack would send someone over to the camp as they passed nearby. "We'll back in a few hours."

"Who is Eliza?" Sam asked as Jack walked away.

"Our daughter," Marian replied, tearing her eyes away from Daniel for a few seconds.

Daniel's eyes widened. "I have a sister?" he asked in surprise.

"Born two years after you. She was five when you left," Robin explained.

"Is that why you stopped searching?" Daniel asked, a sudden feeling of abandonment coming over him.

"No!" Robin protested vehemently. "We never stopped looking! Do not ever think that!"

Daniel was taken aback by the strength of the response. "Uh..." He didn't know what to say. "Did I have an older brother... John," he asked, recalling what his Father, Pierre, had said.

"No," Robin stated, puzzled, then recalled the earlier conversation and knew of the young man's confusion. "Young John changed his name to Jack shortly after..." He trailed off. "Anyway, the two of you were thicker than thieves since the day you were born," he chuckled warmly, recalling how possessive and protective little 'Jack' had always been of Daniel.

"Where did you live?" Marian interrupted eager to hear about her son's life.

"De Gaulle castle, a day's ride north from here."

A day's ride; that explained why they hadn't found Daniel - because of the distance, Robin thought. He ran a hand through his greying hair. But at least there had been one advantage to Daniel growing up as a Norman - his life hadn't constantly been under threat as theirs had been. That was one good thing.

"Tell me about it," Marian invited.

So Daniel did, and the rest of the morning until Eliza arrived at the camp was spent relating stories. At that time, Daniel had a good understanding of his early life but he still couldn't remember it. He was starting to wish he could because then he would be able to remember how much these people loved him instead of just hearing it in their voices and seeing it on their faces. Not that he wasn't loved by the de Gaulles but it meant a lot coming from his birth parents. And Jack - Young John as he had been called - and the bond his parents spoke of... He wanted to recall that as perhaps it would explain the feelings he had been experiencing ever since that touch.

Eliza was not happy. She walked into the camp, a sullen pout on her face. Her much-missed brother had turned up out of nowhere and now she would be relegated to second-best child even more. She had never been the best because her parents had clung desperately to Daniel's memory, meaning that she had grown up in his shadow; she resented him for that fact. Eliza felt that she had never truly received her parents love because they had still hoped for Daniel's return. She had lost her husband of six months only a month ago, and Eliza felt that she needed her parents' love right now. Well, she was going to do something about that. While she waited, she had started planning how to get rid of him. He couldn't die - that would just make things worse. But if she made it look like he had injured someone else deliberately - her - then he would not be wanted any more and she would finally receive the attention she deserved. There was also the matter that she was with child - if she delivered a grandchild that would make her popular indeed.

That thought in mind, she went over to her parents, a smile on her face. "Hello," she said to her brother.

"Hello," Daniel replied, an alarm going off in his mind. There was something about this young woman that he didn't trust but he didn't know what.

"You must be Daniel. I am Eliza, your sister," she continued.

Daniel could see the family resemblance between mother and daughter and even between himself and Eliza in the colour of their hair. The evidence was beginning to pile up. "It is nice to meet you."

"Likewise. I have missed having you around all these years." Her voice had a bitter edge to it but her parents didn't pick up on it, so focused were they on Daniel.

Sam, however, heard it and made a note to warn Daniel about it as soon as possible. "Hello, I am Samantha Carter," she introduced herself. "I am a friend of Daniel's."

"Eliza of Locksley." The young woman noted the beautiful features of Daniel's 'friend' and grew jealous. It seemed that he was still blessed. "How do you do?"

"Very well, thank you," Sam replied. She saw the flash of anger or jealousy in Eliza's blue eyes and was put on guard. This girl needed watching. She'd make sure to mention this to Anne, though her sharp-eyed hand maiden probably already spotted it.

"So, what were you all talking about?" Eliza asked sweetly, sitting down possessively next to her parents.

"Daniel has been telling us about his life with the de Gaulles," Marian replied.

Normans, Eliza thought with hatred. Her eyes narrowed briefly before she got the reaction under control. "Then do not let me interrupt."

"There is not much more to tell anyway," Daniel stated. "I am afraid my life has not been filled with adventures. I am more of a scholar than a soldier," he admitted.

A scholar? Hardly a worthy heir to Robin Hood, Eliza thought. She would be doing her parents a favour by getting rid of him. "Sounds unexciting."

"That depends on your definition of exciting," Daniel responded. "I find it exciting to learn about other cultures."

"Have you been to any other countries?" Robin asked with interest.

"I am afraid not. I have only read about them," Daniel replied, smiling ruefully. He would have liked to travel but his mother hadn't wanted him to. He looked at Robin, guessing at his approximate age. "Were you part of King Richard's Crusades to the Holy Land?"

"I was," Robin stated. He then fielded interested questions from Daniel for the next half hour. He was impressed by Daniel's curiosity and the intelligence he showed in his questions.

When Daniel's stomach rumbled a while later, Marian fetched him, Samantha and Anne some food. Those who lived in the forest were used to only two meals a day but the newcomers were used to at least three. The talking then continued as Daniel and Sam ate, Marian wanting to know everything about her son.

Jack and his men returned early in the afternoon with a good haul of fish and rabbits. "How are things going?" he inquired, walking over to Daniel and the others.

"Just fine," Marian replied.

Looking at Eliza, Jack had to disagree; the girl was feeling resentful and left out. He knew Marian and Robin didn't see it though, and he wondered whether Daniel could. "That is good. I believe some mention of archery was made." He and his men had set up some targets on their way back.

"Oh yes, Daniel, you must show us your skill at archery," Marian gushed. She stood, pulling Robin up with her. "Come."

Daniel stood as well and followed his birth parents to where the targets were. Sam walked closely behind, keeping an eye on Eliza.

A line of archers quickly formed - Robin first, Daniel fourth, Jack next to him, and Eliza seventh. Robin's arrow flew straight to the bulls-eye, and there was applause for his shooting - age hadn't diminished his skill. The next two archers were slightly off target, and then it was Daniel's turn.

He stepped up to the marker, a borrowed bow in his hands. His birth father's bow actually, and surprisingly Daniel found that it felt right. He looked at the target, which from this distance was a bit blurry. Then he lifted the bow, narrowed his eyes, took aim, and released the arrow at the target.

There was silence for a moment and then applause broke out - Daniel's arrow had hit the target right next to Robin's; only a millimeter separated them.

Jack patted Daniel on the back as he stepped up for his shot. "Well done," he said sincerely.

"Thank you." Daniel instinctively tensed at the touch but Jack showed no sign that he had noticed. The young man didn't like people touching him familiarly unless they were friends, and Jack was a long way from being that yet; he didn't recall their friendship, and felt that Young John and Jack were far from the same person at the moment. Daniel stepped away from Jack, giving the older man space for his shot.

Narrowing his focus so that he wasn't distracted by Daniel, Jack took his shot, his arrow landing an inch to the other side of Robin's arrow. "Nearly got it," he said over his shoulder to Robin.

"That is what you have been saying for years," Robin stated with good humour. It was a running joke between them.

They watched as one of the other men had his turn and then Eliza stepped up to the marker. She was planning on impressing her father with this shot, as Robin didn't actually know how good she was at archery. Will Scarlet had been the one to teach her, Robin being too occupied to bother. Eliza took careful aim and then released the arrow.

There was a resounding 'thwack' as it hit the target between Jack's and Robin's arrows. There was a stunned silence as no-one had been aware of Eliza's skill, and then there was applause. Robin went over to his daughter and clapped her on the shoulder. "Well done," he said in praise; he hadn't even known she could shoot. What kind of father did that make him? A neglectful one, he decided ruefully as Eliza's face lit up with the praise. So wrapped up in finding Daniel that he had paid little attention to his daughter. "Who taught you?"

"Will," she replied, smiling up at him. Finally, he was paying attention to her.

Robin nodded; unfortunately he would not be able to thank Will for that as his friend had died two years ago. "You have learnt well."

Eliza positively beamed. Not even the fact that Robin went over to Daniel dimmed her spirits. Her father had praised her! It was something she would not forget for the rest of her life.

~~~

There was a lot of talking and activities for the rest of the day. Daniel made a discreet inquiry to Henry about his family and received the information that Robin and Marian had been pining for him all these years, most noticeably Marian, and that they were good people who continued to help the poor even when they had little themselves. Eliza, on the other hand, was very sullen and demanding, and - Henry believed - resentful that she was not the golden child. Daniel took note of that - he didn't need to add to Eliza's resentment.

After the evening meal, everyone got ready for bed. Jack offered his hut to Robin and his family, figuring he could bunk down in one of the other huts. Problem was, the only one with enough room was going to be Daniel's as the rest of the huts already housed two or three men. Daniel was not going to be happy about that.

Giving Teal'c orders to make sure Lady Carter and Anne were not disturbed, Jack headed to the hut. Daniel was already lying down on the straw but was far from sleep. "Don't mind me."

"What are you doing?" Daniel demanded, able to identify Jack even in the dim light just by his voice.

"There is nowhere else to sleep," Jack responded, lying down on the opposite side of the hut to Daniel. "Don't worry, I will stay on this side." He rolled over to face the wall. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight," Daniel echoed a little ashamed that he had jumped to the wrong conclusion. Jack had been nothing but friendly - mostly - since discovering the birthmark. Maybe he wasn't so bad after all.

Chapter 5

Daniel awoke early the next morning as light filtered into the hut. He turned onto his side and opened his eyes, hoping that Jack had already left. He hadn't. Jack was still sleeping, curled up on his side facing Daniel. He looked peaceful, Daniel though, without all the worries that plagued him in the daytime. Daniel noted the scar that ran through the outlaw's left eyebrow and he wondered how it had been received. Surely in a fight of some kind.

Moving into a sitting position, Daniel continued to silently observe Jack. The face was quite handsome in a rough sort of way - if one liked that sort of thing, which he didn't. Daniel tried to erase that thought, knowing that he shouldn't be sizing Jack up as if he were a potential spouse. That was just wrong.

"Looked your fill?"

Daniel jumped at the voice and guiltily turned his eyes away from Jack. "Good morning."

"Good morning," Jack replied. He had woken to the sense that someone was watching him, and he figured there would only be one person who would do that. "Did you have a good sleep?"

"Yes, thank you." Daniel decided not to mention the strange dreams he'd had about the forest.

"Good." Jack sat up and ran his eyes over Daniel. "You need a shave," he commented. "Unless you have decided you want a beard," he added, knowing that most nobles didn't partake to a lot of facial hair as did common folk; he was one of the few exceptions about, not including Teal'c.

Daniel reached up and rubbed his chin - he did too. He hadn't even thought about it yesterday. "Do you have the necessary implements?"

"Of course we do," Jack bristled at the insult; how else would those that chose to keep clean-shaven do so? "If you wait here a minute, I'll get them."

Staying where he was, Daniel waited for Jack to come back. He knew he had insulted the older man with his question and he couldn't work out why he had done it. Some in-built prejudice against Saxons, no doubt. He would have to try and overcome those prejudices now that he knew he was one by birth. Since his stay would be short, however, maybe he would not have to.

Jack came back into the hut carrying a bowl of water, some soap root, a dagger, and some drab clothing. "You had better get changed. You do not want those fancy clothes of yours to get spoiled, do you?"

"Changed into what?" Daniel asked before his brain caught up with his eyes. "You expect me to wear that?" He just couldn't wear something so old and drab!

"Yes, I do. They might be a little long but other than that, they should fit," Jack replied. He didn't mention that they were his clothes, not after that reaction. However, he got a small bit of pleasure from knowing that Daniel would be wearing his clothes.

Daniel's Norman upbringing showed in the way he wrinkled his nose. He had been raised to appreciate the finest clothes, not peasant garb. "No."

"Yes," Jack contradicted. "If you stay in those fancy clothes, they are going to get ruined. So get changed." He threw the garments at the young man.

Deftly catching them, Daniel looked at them with distaste. The tunic was a dark green colour and the leggings were brown - not colours Daniel liked wearing. He compared the garments to his own brightly coloured outfit and found it sadly lacking. However, Jack did make a good point - he needed something nice to wear home in a few days. "Very well." He looked up at Jack, who was staring at him. "Please turn around."

"Oh, right." Jack turned his back and listened to the rustle of clothing as Daniel changed into the new outfit. He steadfastly resisted the temptation to peak at Daniel's naked body. Jack imagined that Daniel would be smooth and soft as a result of pampered living - much like a woman, he thought, only much better.

"I am ready," Daniel announced a couple of minutes later. The tunic and leggings were slightly too long and a little tight but other than that, fit well.

Jack turned and looked him over. Nicely built, he thought, a flicker of interest appearing in his groin. Trying to ignore where his thoughts were going, Jack picked up and the shaving implements and went over to Daniel. "I assume you are used to doing this in a mirror. Out here we do not have that luxury so you will have to trust me to do it."

Daniel shook his head. "I am sure I can manage it." He didn't want Jack getting that close to him.

"And risk cutting yourself with this?" Jack held up the dagger. "I don't think so. Now sit down and hold still so I can do this."

Reluctantly, Daniel obeyed. He watched Jack lather the soap root, which the older man then applied to Daniel's face using his fingers. Then, ever so carefully, Jack started the shaving. Daniel closed his eyes at the touch, strangely trusting Jack not to harm him. He could feel Jack's fingers gently caressing his face and neck, and he started to become aroused by it. Daniel's eyes flew open to meet Jack's knowing ones. "Stop it!" he demanded.

"No." Jack could see the stirrings of arousal in Daniel's eyes and he grinned wolfishly. "I'm not finished yet." His grip on Daniel didn't tighten yet the young man stayed put, causing Jack's grin to widen. Daniel was so ripe for the picking; too bad he was out of reach now.

Daniel tried desperately to quell his growing erection but he couldn't, especially while Jack was looking at him in that way. The desire Daniel had seen two days ago was back and his body was traitorously responding to it. No! he told himself; it's a sin! You'll be punished for this!

Jack gently scrapped away the last of the stubble but didn't let go of Daniel's chin. He could see the internal struggle Daniel was having. "It is not a sin," he said, allowing one thumb to move up to skim over Daniel's full bottom lip. How he wanted to kiss those lips!

"Yes, it is," Daniel automatically replied, pinned in place by Jack's intense gaze. Desiring other men just wasn't right... yet despite knowing that, he couldn't move away.

"Not if it is love," Jack stated, believing that to be true although he had yet to find love himself. However, he had a feeling it might not be too far away. After all, he and Daniel had been such good friends when they were young, and there had been something else there as well - perhaps a precursor to this desire.

"I do not love you." Besides the fact Jack was a man, and they had apparently been close friends, Daniel hardly knew him. Still, that didn't appear to make a difference to his body.

"Not yet," Jack agreed. His eyes were drawn to those tempting lips again. Surely one taste would not hurt...

"No!" Daniel panicked and scrambled out of the way as Jack leaned in. "Go away!"

"You want this!"

"No!" Daniel denied vehemently. He couldn't!

"Young John."

Teal'c's disapproving voice sounded from the doorway. He was well aware of the man's sexual leaning but had not spoken of it to anyone before. However, he didn't like what Young John was trying to do. "You will desist immediately."

Jack knew an order when he heard one. He stood up and gathered the shaving things up. "Morning, Teal'c. Just giving Daniel a shave."

Daniel glared at Jack, hating the man for making him feel this way and then lying about it. If Daniel had a spiteful nature, he would have told Teal'c what had happened, hoping that Jack would be punished for it. But he couldn't do that no matter how much he disliked the man.

"Lady Marian is awake and requesting you to join her for breakfast," Teal'c passed on the message. He would have a word with Young John later.

"I will be right there," Daniel stated. He wiped the remaining foam from his face and then walked out of the hut.

"He is feisty," Jack commented with a grin once Daniel was out of earshot.

"If you attempt to pursue him, I will stop you," Teal'c stated his expression forbidding. "He is betrothed to Lady Samantha." He had discovered this in conversation last night with the young woman, although he had the suspicion the betrothal wasn't confirmed yet.

Jack felt jealousy ignite inside him again. "Good for her." That woman would not be able to handle Daniel.

"I will not warn you again." Teal'c inclined his head before leaving the hut.

"Great," Jack muttered. Teal'c was threatening to kill him - or worse, castrate him - Daniel hated him, and he would have to watch Lady Carter cozy up with the man he desired. There were just some mornings when he should have stayed in bed.

Outside, after Daniel relieved himself in the river, he joined his birth family and Sam for breakfast. He greeted them with a half-smile and sat down next to Sam.

Marian was pleased to see her son dressed in more appropriate attire. She went over and sat down next to Daniel, making sure he was real and not something she had dreamt. Tentatively, she stroked his hair and then his smooth cheek. He was real. This time wasn't a dream.

Robin caught the look Daniel shot him and explained, "She is just making sure she is not dreaming." He was used to his wife's dreams and had often wondered whether she was entirely sane after waking up and insisting that Daniel had returned. He hated telling her that she was imagining things because in spite of her delusions, he still loved her. "I must admit I had a few doubts upon waking this morning."

Understanding this completely, Daniel allowed Marian to hug him again, even returning it slightly. He was liking these two, even though he wasn't yet ready to call them Mother and Father. "It is a shock to everyone," he said.

"You can say that again." Robin smiled at his son. "If you would like, we want to take you to our camp today and show you where you used to live."

"I would like that," Daniel stated politely; he wasn't sure that he wanted to see if because that would make it more real. But he would go anyway.

~~~

"Do you have bathing facilities?" Sam asked after everyone had finished eating. She had gone two days without bathing and felt that she really needed to rectify that as soon as possible.

"There is a small pool upstream that suffices," Jack replied. He was sitting next to Robin and covertly watching Daniel. "I can take you there if you wish, and the others too."

"Surely someone else would be better," Sam said. "I mean, are you not busy?"

"The pillaging is not until this afternoon," Jack said sarcastically. "You need someone to keep eye out. I am volunteering."

"I will go too," Eliza suddenly volunteered from her position on the other side of Robin.

Jack nodded; that was fine with him. It would give him an extra pair of eyes just in case. "I will just grab a few things and then we will be off."

A minute later, he joined the others at the edge of the camp. He was carrying a couple of meter-long pieces of material that would serve as drying cloths. Jack led the group to the pool, keeping an eye on his surroundings at all times.

It was like a little oasis in the middle of the forest. The pool was almost circular, the river flowing in one side and out the other. Trees and scrub encircled the pool, giving the swimmers a degree of privacy.

Jack gave one of the pieces of cloth to Eliza then sat down on one of the rocks near the edge, his back to the water. "Ladies first," he said.

Neither Sam or Anne were comfortable bathing with an audience, even if the men weren't looking. But since there was no other option, they stripped down to their undergarments.

"All of it," Jack stated without turning around.

Fuming, Sam glared at the back of his head and removed the rest of her clothing, and Anne did likewise. Then they quickly went into the water. "Oh my, it is freezing!" Sam exclaimed.

"It takes a while to warm up in the mornings," Eliza stated with smug amusement. "Midday is the best time for a swim."

Daniel, who had sat down near Jack facing away from the pool, asked the older man quietly, "Teal'c called you Young John earlier, yet you now go by the name Jack." That name had been familiar but he couldn't place it

"Yes." Teal'c was the only one who still did that.

"Why?"

"Because," Jack replied shortly. He didn't want to discuss this.

A flash of memory came to Daniel. "Little John's son."

Jack looked at him with wide eyes. "How did you know that?"

"I do not know," Daniel replied. "I just do." He couldn't explain it. "Does he still live here?"

"He is dead," Jack stated flatly. "He died the night of the attack."

"I am sorry." Daniel felt the words were inadequate but at least he knew why Jack had changed his name.

Jack nodded in acceptance then went back to watching the surroundings. The two men then sat in silence for the next few minutes until the women got out of the water. Eliza handed Sam a cloth towel first, then Anne, and the women quickly dried themselves and then got dressed. Sam decided, as she pulled on her clothes, that she wasn't comfortable with this style of bathing.

Daniel smiled at Sam as she came to sit next to him, shivering. "Cold?"

"Very. Enjoy," she said with an answering smile.

"Thanks," he said dryly. Daniel stood up and headed over to the water's edge. He was aware of Jack doing the same. "Are you going to watch?" he asked in a low voice. Daniel didn't like that idea at all.

"Do you want me to?" Jack returned the question with a hint of slyness.

"No!"

"Then I will try not to." Although he fully intended to sneak a few glances Daniel's way - he was curious. "Now, hurry up. We have other things to do today."

Turning away from Jack, Daniel stripped quickly and walked into the water. Sam had been right - the water was freezing - but Daniel persevered until he was waist deep and then he ducked under the water.

Jack let his eyes drift over Daniel's naked body; he thoroughly approved of what he saw. Daniel was lean, and the muscles weren't overly defined. And the rear view... Jack's mouth went dry at the sight. If only he could bury himself between those perfect buttocks... He pulled his eyes away and made sure the women weren't watching, and then he looked back at Daniel. If only circumstances had been different.

Daniel was fully aware of Jack's eyes on him, and he fought the urge to blush like some silly maiden. It shouldn't matter to him whether Jack was eyeing him or not, but somehow it did. As he scrubbed his skin with his fingernails, Daniel could feel the heat in Jack's gaze, and he found himself reacting to it. Not much, because the water was so cold, but enough to worry him. What was it about Jack that made him react so?

When Jack felt himself harden, he turned away to search the trees. "Hurry up, Daniel, we have not got all day." Any longer and he would be tempted to get in there with the young man.

Glaring at Jack, Daniel made his way over to the bank. "Turn around," he ordered. There was no way he was getting out if Jack was watching.

"Fine." Jack turned to face away from the pool; too much temptation wasn't good for him.

Daniel got out of the water and grabbed the cloth towel to dry himself quickly. He kept one eye on all four of his companions, making sure they weren't peeking as he dressed.

Jack turned around just as Daniel put the tunic over his head - my, that was a gorgeous body! Jack's fingers lifted towards Daniel before he realised what they were doing and he quickly pulled them back. No! he told himself; no touching. Even if Daniel was enough to tempt a saint.

Eliza had managed a few peaks and if Daniel hadn't been her brother, she would have considered bedding him. Then jealousy took over; it wasn't fair that he was good-looking as well as a talented archer! She was now more determined to get rid of him as soon as possible.

Although she had tried hard not to, Sam had peaked once as Daniel had entered the water. She hadn't seen many naked men so the sight of Daniel's body had embarrassed her rather than inflamed her with passion. She wondered briefly why it hadn't provoked desire then put that thought aside; she was sure that once they were in bed together, it would. Of course it hadn't helped that she received a slight scolding from Anne about her 'peeking', either.

When Daniel was ready, the group set off back to the camp. As soon as Marian saw them - she had been waiting anxiously - she went over to Daniel's side; she didn't like being separated from him at the moment.

Eliza quietly seethed; it was as if she didn't exist. Last night in their hut, all her parents had been able to talk about was how good it was to have Daniel back. Her name hadn't even been mentioned. As everyone stood there talking, she ran through her various plans to get rid of him in her mind.

An hour later, the party of eight - Robin, Marian, Daniel, Eliza, Sam, Anne, Teal'c and Jack - arrived at the other camp. It wasn't in the same place as it had been eleven years ago but it was set up in a similar fashion. A young woman, who had been weaving outside her hut, limped over to the group and hugged Jack. Daniel was surprised by the anger he felt at the action. Jack had a wife and yet he had wanted to mate with him! How dare he!

Jack put his arm around the woman's shoulders and gently led her over to the group. "Meg, this is Daniel, formerly of Locksley, and this is Lady Samantha Carter, his friend. This is my sister, Meg," he introduced.

Daniel felt guilty at the assumption; of course they were siblings - the similarities were unmistakable now that he was looking. "I am pleased to meet you," he said, bowing slightly to the young woman.

Meg shot a puzzled look at her brother. "He doesn't remember," Jack explained.

"Oh." Meg smiled at Daniel. "In that case, I am pleased to meet you too."

"We have come to show Daniel his home," Marian stated, moving up to stand beside her son. Taking his arm, she said, "This way."

Daniel let himself be led over to one of the huts. It didn't look any different on the outside but on the inside, it was actually quite homey. A beautifully patterned rug partitioned the hut into two with a large wooden cot separated from the smaller one. Daniel looked at the coarse brown blanket that covered the single cot and experienced a sense of familiarity.

"What is it?" Marian asked upon seeing a change come over Daniel's face.

"This is familiar... I think." Daniel went over to the cot and ran his fingers over the blanket. The touch intensified the feeling of familiarity but he couldn't remember it visually.

Marian positively beamed; hope rising in her that Daniel would eventually remember everything. "You used to sleep here when you were a boy. Your father would tell you a story every night before you went to sleep." And of course she had listened in, while watching her two men indulgently.

Daniel ran his hand over the blanket one more time, wishing that he could remember everything. His childhood sounded wonderful and he appeared to have been loved very much. "Did you have any children after I... left?"

"No." Marian smiled radiantly at her son. "We were only blessed with two."

Daniel ducked his head in embarrassment; he obviously meant so much to his birth parents.

Eliza stood in the doorway seething at Daniel touching her bed. It wasn't his bed, it was hers. And when she had the chance, she planned to teach Daniel just what else was hers.

~~~

The afternoon passed in normal fashion, and evening found everyone back in Jack's camp, sitting around the fire. Stories were flowing freely and Daniel found that he was actually having a good time. These people were very nice, and they had welcomed him with open arms. His opinion of Saxons had changed quite dramatically over the past two days although he still wasn't sure about Jack. He had watched the older man interact with his sister and saw a devoted brother. And Jack was a good friend to his men. But there was the hatred Jack held for Normans that had caused him to kidnap Daniel and threaten his life - how did Jack reconcile those two parts of himself?

Nearby, Sam was also enjoying herself. She had struck up a friendship with Henry and was animatedly talking away with him - and Anne was listening discreetly beside her. Like Daniel, Sam hadn't thought well of the Saxon outlaws even thought they were technically kin, and she found herself revising her opinion. These were just ordinary men and women trying to survive as best they could considering the Normans had taken their lands and their freedom.

Jack sat across from Daniel and just watched him. It was fascinating just viewing the different expressions cross his face and seeing the interest Daniel took in the stories. Jack could also see much of Robin in the expressions, although Daniel's features were more like Marian's. The tilt of the head, a raised eyebrow - the similarity was interesting. The more Jack watched, the more he became intrigued by Daniel, even though he would not be able to do anything about it. But there was no harm in thinking about it. He also recalled their time together as children and he felt the first breath of warmth in his heart for eleven years.

The sleeping arrangements were the same as the previous night. Marian was loathe to let Daniel out of her sight again but relented when her husband led her off to their temporary home. Daniel went to his hut and Jack followed soon after. They laid down in the same places except this time Daniel lay facing Jack. "What happened to your sister's leg?" He had been wondering about that since he had met her.

"Her Norman 'master'," Jack said the word with distaste, "broke her leg. It didn't heal properly."

Daniel's eyes widened. "So it has been like that for... for eleven years?"

"Pretty much, yes," Jack replied bitterly. "Meg was one of the children we rescued in that first year."

"I am sorry." Daniel genuinely was sorry. Jack's life since that day had been much worse than his.

"It was not your fault," Jack stated. He rolled over, facing away from Daniel. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight," Daniel echoed. He watched Jack for a long time, trying to comprehend this man's life. Then he finally rolled over to get some sleep himself.

~~~

"Father!"

"Daniel!"

The vice-like grip around his chest tightened as he struggled. Daniel could see his father heading towards him and soldiers right behind. "Father, behind you!"

There was the clash of steel upon steel all around as events started to slow down. Daniel could see with shocking clarity the moment a soldier struck his father's side. "No!" He struggled more, watching his father slowly sink to the ground. "Let me go!" He needed to go to his father.

"Daniel, wake up!"

The young man's eyes flew open, pulled abruptly from his sleep. He blinked a few times then slowly focused on the man kneeling beside him. "Jack?"

"Morning. You sounded like you were having a bad dream," Jack stated. He had been woken by Daniel's shouts, and he hoped no-one else had been.

Daniel stared at Jack for a long moment. "It was not a dream," he said in realisation. "It was a memory."

That was interesting. Jack moved into a sitting position. "Really? What about?"

"Someone was holding me and I was trying to escape. I could see Robin fighting with a sword, and then a soldier killed him," Daniel related. Then he shook his head. "Maybe it was a dream because Robin is still alive."

Jack shook his head. "It sounds like a memory of the Norman attack. Robin took a severe wound to his side but it was not fatal, obviously. But from your point of view, it might have seemed to be. Then you might have assumed everyone was dead, and that was why you stopped believing in a rescue."

Daniel thought about that. It made sense. "And then I made myself forget because I did not want to remember." That would certainly explain his memory loss concerning his early life.

"It is possible." Jack wished he could have done the same thing.

Suddenly realising how close Jack was to him, Daniel sat up and moved away. "What time is it?" he asked to cover the movement.

"Just after dawn," Jack replied. He eyed Daniel with concern. "Are you all right?"

"I am fine." If one didn't count everything that had happened in the past few days. Daniel turned his head to see Jack staring at him. "Stop," he said, uncomfortable with the scrutiny.

"Stop what?" Jack hadn't noticed the previous mornings but Daniel looked edible with his hair all messed up and straw sticking out of it. There was a twitch of interest in his groin; what he would not give to lie down right here and make love to Daniel...

"Stop staring at me." Daniel saw the desire reappear in Jack's eyes and he started to get worried.

"Why? You are worth staring at," Jack replied.

Daniel scrambled to his feet, wanting to get away. "Stop it!"

Jack quickly stood and went to block Daniel's exit. "I am sorry. I didn't mean to say that. It is just... I have never come across anyone quite like you before." He felt that was an inadequate explanation.

"What does that mean?"

"I don't know."

Daniel licked his lips nervously, Jack's proximity making him skittish. "Well, stop thinking about me like... like that," he ordered. "I am not going to - to fornicate with you!"

Jack grinned. "Who said anything about fornicating?" It seemed that he wasn't the only one thinking about such matters.

"Move aside," Daniel demanded, ignoring the question and silently cursing himself for the slip of the tongue. He really needed to stop thinking about what Jack wanted to do to him. When Jack stepped aside, Daniel quickly moved outside into the early morning light and headed down to the stream.

Chapter 6

Eliza had woken early, feeling unwell, and had decided to spy on her brother. When she had heard voices inside, she remained outside but near the door so that she could listen in. The recall of memory had angered her because she didn't want him to remember. And then she had been surprised by the indication that Jack seemed to desire Daniel physically. Such a thought was repugnant to her but the information could come in handy, especially if Daniel returned that desire.

When Daniel walked quickly out of the hut, Eliza checked to see whether Jack would follow before going after her brother. She followed him down to the stream and watched discreetly as he relieved himself, his back to her. Then, as he turned to go back to the camp, she stepped out of hiding. "Good morning."

"You're up early," Eliza commented innocently.

"Yes," Daniel agreed, not wanting to give too much away. He still wasn't too sure about his sister - something just didn't feel right.

Eliza walked towards him, pretending not to notice how close to the water he was. Not that she could do any real damage by pushing him in. But she could at least give him a scare. "How do you like it here so far?"

"It is very nice," Daniel replied, stepping carefully back. He knew he was close to the edge of the stream and he didn't want to fall in.

"Do not get used to it." She moved until she was toe to toe with him, although Eliza had to look upwards to stare at him. "This is my home. You do not belong here anymore."

"Excuse me?" Daniel was surprised by the words.

"All my life I have heard about you and how wonderful you were," Eliza complained, letting her bitterness show through. "If you stay here, they will not even know I am here."

"I am sure that is not--"

"I do not want you to stay," she cut him off. "You will leave today."

"And if I stay?"

"I will reveal yours and Jack's little secret. After all, they need to know that their son mates with other men," Eliza said sweetly.

"But that is not true," Daniel automatically denied. He realised she must have overheard part of the conversation earlier. "I am going to marry Samantha," he said with conviction. He could do much worse than Samantha.

"A cover to hide your true feelings," Eliza argued. "Just imagine how they will react when I tell them."

"They will not believe you. And I will tell them the truth," Daniel warned, the disbelief he felt at his sister's dislike evident in his face.

Eliza just smiled. "You were raised as a Norman. Everyone knows that the Normans are an immoral people." She had it all planned out.

"Apparently no more than the Saxons," Daniel countered, glaring at his sister. Her hatred for him had twisted her own morality.

"You have until sunset to leave," Eliza informed him. As she turned away, her right foot slipped on the grass and she fell heavily to the ground.

Daniel was immediately at her side. "Are you all right?" he asked.

Eliza grimaced as she tried to move. There was an ache in her back where she had landed on a protruding rock, and the nausea she had felt earlier was back again. "I will be fine," she said shortly as she carefully sat up.

Daniel nodded although he didn't move away. "Listen, I do not want to upset things between you and our parents. But do I not have the right to know them too?"

"You lost that right when you stayed with that Norman family!"

"I had no choice!" He had only been seven years old! How was he have supposed to have returned home?

"Sure you did," Eliza said, refusing to believe him. "You just did--Argh!" A sharp pain in her stomach made her double over.

"What is it?" Daniel asked anxiously, concern immediately quelling his anger.

"I do not know." Eliza clutched her stomach. The pain was quite bad.

Daniel didn't know what to do. He considered going for help and then he saw the red pool of blood forming under his sister. "You are bleeding."

Eliza looked down. "No!" she gasped. No, it couldn't be her baby! "Please, no!"

"I will go for help," Daniel suggested but Eliza grabbed his wrist before he could move.

"Do not leave me," she whispered in a scared voice. She was only sixteen and in some ways, still like a child. "Please!"

"I will stay," Daniel promised. He helped her to lie down and just knelt there, not knowing what else to do. As he tried to comfort her by soothing her brow, he yelled, "Jack! Robin! Marian! Can anyone hear me?"

"It hurts!" Eliza curled up on her side, holding her stomach protectively.

"I know, I know." Daniel took his tunic off and then balled it up. "Here, put this between your legs." He had guessed where the bleeding was coming from judging from although he was trying not to think about it.

Eliza didn't worry about embarrassment and parted her legs, allowing Daniel to place the material between them. "Am I dying?"

"No, you are not," Daniel said firmly. He stroked her hair as he looked around the clearing. Had anyone heard him? He didn't want to call out again and alarm his sister. "Listen, I just need to go and get help--"

"No! Stay--please!" Eliza was nearly in tears what with the pain and fear. She reached out to grab Daniel's hand and held on tightly, preventing him from leaving her. Don't let me lose my baby, she prayed desperately.

"It is all right, I am not going anywhere." Daniel used his free hand to continue stroking her hair. He was completely out of his depth and he didn't know what else to do.

A noise nearby startled him and Daniel looked up to see Henry walk into the small clearing. "Do you have a healer or something?" Daniel asked before Henry could say a word.

"Teal'c," Henry replied.

"Get him now!" Daniel ordered. As Henry ran off, Daniel turned his attention back to Eliza. "It is all right, help is coming."

"I'm sorry, Daniel," Eliza managed to say past the pain. This was obviously her punishment for trying to get rid of Daniel. God obviously wanted him to stay.

"There is nothing to be sorry about." He could understand what she must have been feeling. "You just hold on."

A couple of minutes later, Teal'c arrived on the scene, accompanied by Henry. Jack, Marian and Robin followed close behind. "What happened?" Teal'c asked as he knelt next to Eliza.

"She slipped and fell onto her back," Daniel explained. "Then the bleeding started."

Teal'c nodded. Given the nature of the bleeding, he knew what was occurring. He gave instructions to Henry to fetch some of the roots from his hut, and the younger man left quickly to get them.

Eventually, what seemed like hours later, the bleeding stopped. Daniel stayed by Eliza's side the whole time, his sister not releasing his hand once until Teal'c gave her something to make her sleep. Then Daniel finally moved away, his legs unsteadily carrying him over to the others.

Jack reached out to support him once Daniel drew close. He could see how pale Daniel was; he wasn't feeling too good himself. Jack absently noted the bare torso and the feel of smooth skin under his hand, but he had too much else to worry about right now to think about it for long.

Teal'c carried the sleeping woman over to the group. "We will return to the camp," he stated.

Back at the camp, Teal'c settled Eliza into one of the cots in his hut and then returned outside to speak to her family. "She has lost the child she was carrying," he said without preamble.

Marian went faint with shock and slumped against her husband, while Robin simply stared at Teal'c. A child? Eliza had been with child? "How - how could we not have known?" he asked of no-one in particular.

"A severe jolt can sometimes cause this," Teal'c replied, although he wasn't entirely sure that it was the cause in this case. Part of his medicinal studies in Palestine had included pregnancy and childbirth, so he had some knowledge of these matters. "It will take some time to recover from the loss of blood."

"May we see her?" Marian asked in a small voice. Her daughter had been with child and she hadn't even told her! Moreover, Marian hadn't even seen any evidence!

Teal'c declined. "She is sleeping now. When she awakens, then you may enter."

Relieved that Eliza would be all right, Jack went to his hut and retrieved another tunic for Daniel. He handed it to the younger man. "Here."

"Thank you." Daniel put the tunic on automatically.

"You look like you could use something to eat," Jack stated. "Come." He put his hand on the small of Daniel's back and gently pushed him away from the hut. He got Daniel settled on a log, retrieved some food and then handed it to the younger man. "Here, eat this."

Daniel looked at the piece of bread blankly, his mind still on his sister. He didn't know what he would have done if no-one had shown up to help.

"Hey."

A light touch on his arm made Daniel jump. He automatically flinched away as he looked up at Jack. "What?"

"She's going to be fine. You did a good job," Jack stated, masking the small sting of hurt at Daniel's reaction.

"I did not know what to do," Daniel admitted. He decided not to mention the conversation they'd had because he didn't want Jack to think ill of Eliza - or to think him a liar.

"Not many people would have." Jack wasn't sure what he would have done.

Looking down at the piece of bread, Daniel had to agree. "How did Teal'c know what to do?"

"I assume he studied it in his homeland," Jack replied. "He is very much into the spiritual side of things."

Daniel put the bread in his mouth as he thought about that. What was it Teal'c had said to him? "Teal'c said I had been brought here for a reason beyond the obvious." He chewed and swallowed automatically.

Jack nodded, accepting that. "Teal'c always says things like that, and he is always right." Often to Jack's annoyance. Of course, that could mean Daniel that was to be wedded to Lady Carter, and he desperately hoped was not the case.

"Daniel." Sam appeared from behind the two men and sat down next to the younger man, Anne not far behind her. "I just heard. First her husband died and now her child, poor girl. Are you all right?"

"I am fine." He gave her a weak smile. "Sore hand," he said, flexing his left hand that Eliza had clung to, trying not to think about it all.

As Lady Carter continued to talk to Daniel, Jack grew jealous of the attention he was paying to her - and not to him. Although Jack kept handing food to Daniel, the young man wasn't even looking at him. So after a while, Jack put his hand on Daniel's arm and said, "You will probably want a bath. Come, I will take you."

"I will go too," Sam said, not wanting to be left out.

"No, you won't," Jack replied, a heartbeat before Anne did. "Men only."

Daniel smiled apologetically at Sam. "I will be right back," he promised. Now that the shock was beginning to wear off, he realised that he did need a bath.

On the way to the small pool, Jack stopped to tell Robin where they were going, and he also retrieved a cloth towel. Then they continued on to the pool.

This time, Daniel didn't worry about modesty, just taking off his clothes and walking straight into the water. It was still very cold but he hardly noticed it as he scrubbed himself clean with his fingernails. When the cold finally did register, Daniel got out and took the towel from Jack. "Thank-you."

"Not a problem." Jack let his eyes roam over the naked body while Daniel was distracted. Jack had rarely seen such a beautiful body and his arousal was sudden. He wanted Daniel. Without thinking of the consequences, Jack stepped forward, put his hand behind Daniel's head, and swiftly pulled him in for a kiss.

Daniel was startled when Jack's lips suddenly pressed against his mouth. He tried to pull away but he was held firmly in place. As Jack's lips moved on his, Daniel was filled with a familiar heat, and he started to get hard. Because of that, he lifted his arms to Jack's chest and pushed him away. "No!"

Jack's brain was fuzzy from arousal but he understood what Daniel had said. His eyes flicked down to see the young man's erection. "Why?" he replied. "You enjoyed it." The evidence was quite clear.

"No, I did not," Daniel refuted. "That was just an automatic response that had nothing to do with you." It couldn't have anything to do with Jack.

"So if Teal'c had kissed you, the same thing would have happened?" Jack queried harshly.

"Possibly." Daniel turned away and started getting dressed, not caring that he was still wet. But he didn't want to be naked in front of Jack for longer than was necessary.

Jack moved forward quickly and put his arms around Daniel's bare waist, his hands coming to rest on the flat stomach. Daniel tried to move away but Jack held firm, pulling him back against his body. "I don't think so," he said into Daniel's ear. He could feel the slim body shaking with fine tremors. "Your body wants this."

"No, it does not," Daniel denied strenuously. It was a sin to want this, therefore he didn't. He tried to will his body to stop reacting but it didn't work. "Let me go."

"It could be good," Jack promised seductively, allowing one hand to roam up Daniel's chest until it reached a hard nipple. That kiss had been so sweet.

Daniel bit his lip as the sensations flowed through him. It could be good but he wasn't ever going to find out. "The only reason I would ever consider mating with another man is if I was in love. And since that will never happen, I will decline."

Jack slowly withdrew, the words stinging more than they should; after all, he wasn't in love with Daniel either... right? "Fine." He would not force Daniel.

"Thank-you," Daniel said as Jack moved away. The air chilled his back where it had been pressed against the older man, and he shivered. Quickly, he pulled his tunic over his head, both to cover up and to keep warm.

Walking a few steps ahead so that he would not be tempted again, Jack changed the subject. "Lady Carter will be returning to her home today. What will you be doing?"

"I do not know." Daniel hadn't thought too much about it. He had enjoyed the time with his birth parents but he was wary of what Jack might try if he stayed. And there was Eliza to consider - would she still want him gone? "I want to see if Eliza is all right first."

Jack nodded. "Let's go then."

They walked back to Teal'c's hut in silence, Daniel keeping a careful distance from Jack. The tingling in his body from where Jack had touched him had taken a few minutes to fade, and he was positive he could still feel the harsh pressure of Jack's mouth on his lips. Why had Jack affected him so? Jack was a man, and moreover, Daniel wasn't even sure that he liked him. So how could Jack arouse him?

Robin and Marian were still waiting outside the hut when Daniel returned. He went straight over to them. "Any news?"

"She is still sleeping," Marian replied. She reached up to give her son a hug. "Thank-you for saving her."

"I-I did not do anything," Daniel replied modestly.

"Yes, you did," Robin agreed with his wife. He put his arm around Daniel's shoulders. "Teal'c told us that you had come here for a special reason. We believe it was this. Were it not for you, Eliza may have bled to death."

Daniel didn't think it was likely but he didn't contradict Robin; he could see that his parents would not listen anyway. They wanted to believe it. Although he felt unworthy of the praise, it felt good to hear it.

Jack left the family in peace and went to search out his brother. Lady Carter would need an escort home as it looked like Daniel would be staying.

~~~

When Eliza awoke, her family gathered around her bed. Her blue eyes sought out Daniel's, and upon finding him, said weakly, "Thank-you."

"Are you all right?" Marian fussed her hand on Eliza's forehead.

"I think so." Eliza gave her a wan smile. "I was going to tell you about the baby, Mother." She had just been waiting for the right time. Now she had lost the last link to her dead husband.

"I know. We will talk about it when you are better."

Eliza nodded weakly. Her gaze fell on Daniel again. "Are you staying?"

"If you want me to," Daniel replied.

"I want you to," Eliza stated. He had helped save her life and had stayed with her the whole time.

"Then I will," Daniel promised, giving her a smile. Maybe he would get to know her better now.

~~~

"I am not going without Daniel," Sam was saying some time later.

Jack glared at her - why would not this woman co-operate? "Your three days are up, and you promised your father you would go home."

"I am sure he will understand," Sam argued.

"No, he will not!"

"I do not think so, m'lady," Anne added on top of Jack's comment.

Daniel walked up to them. "What is going on?"

"Are you staying, Daniel?" Sam asked him.

"For a while," Daniel said. "I want to get to know my family better." Since he had remembered the kidnapping, he had wanted to know more.

"Then I am staying too," she stated. Since she was going to marry Daniel - that had become a fact in her mind - she wanted to stay with him.

"M'lady!" Anne exclaimed, ready to argue with her charge some more.

"No," Jack contradicted Samantha, "you are not. You are going home and then you can ask your father for permission to come back here. But I do not want him to come looking for you with a bunch of Norman soldiers!"

"How about we escort you back?" Daniel suggested. "I would not mind the ride, and I need to talk with Father anyway. My other father," he corrected at Jack's glare.

"Good, that is settled. I will round up a few of the others," Jack said, glad to be getting rid of the woman. He hated to admit it but she was competition for Daniel's affections. Once she was out of the way, he would have a better chance of winning Daniel over. That was, providing he wanted to win Daniel over. If he was in love. Which he wasn't... right?

"I will let Robin know where we are going," Daniel said, heading back to the hut.

Sam was left standing in the middle of the clearing. "I will just wait here then," she said to herself and Anne, who was desperately trying to hide her smirk. Men!

~~~

Jack spent the entire journey looking at Daniel's back. The young man had pointedly guided his horse next to Lady Carter's when the trip had started, forcing Jack to either trail behind or ride in front. He had chosen to remain behind Daniel because he had wanted to keep an eye on the couple.

He didn't think they were well-suited. All right, so both had been raised as nobility, and were educated, but other than that they had little in common from what Jack had observed. Well, there was also the stubbornness trait that they shared but that was all. Jack predicted the marriage would not last two months before they started irritating each other, and it would not be the good kind of irritation that was easily forgotten. There was also Lady Carter's strong personality that would easily push Daniel into the background. No, they weren't suited at all, Jack decided. But he knew that he couldn't mention it to either of them because that would only serve to make them want it more.

When they rode onto Jacob Carter's estate, Daniel breathed a mental sigh of relief. He liked Sam, he really did, but she had been full of talk about their future at de Gaulle castle, and Daniel was no longer certain of that future. After all, he had a second home now and he would want to spent time there too. And from what he had gathered, Sam hadn't exactly enjoyed living in the forest, so she would not want to come back with him. However, he didn't let any of that show as he needed more time to think about it before saying anything.

Jacob and Pierre were waiting outside the castle when the group arrived. Sam slid off her horse and went over to hug her father. Daniel was more dignified, giving Pierre a bow and a warm smile. "Father."

"You have returned." Pierre was very pleased about that, and he eyed Daniel's Norman clothes with satisfaction. It was good to see that living with the outlaws hadn't corrupted his dress sense. "You must come and eat."

"Soon," Daniel promised. "Before I do that, however, is there somewhere these men can rest for a while? They have had a busy day so far."

"Of course." Jacob gestured for the escorts to dismount and follow him inside.

"So, Daniel," Pierre said as they headed towards the castle. "Tell me everything."

~~~

The Sheriff of Nottingham looked over the report with interest. For four years he had been waiting for an opportunity to exact his revenge on the people who had killed his father, and now it seemed that opportunity had arisen. He gave orders for the group to be ambushed and then headed towards the stables, a smile on his face.

~~~

Stories were exchanged over a long lunch, and Jack took the opportunity - since the outlaws had been invited to the luncheon - to observe Daniel in this environment. He was very much at ease, and smiled a lot more, and it was very easy to see that Daniel loved his adopted father; likewise was true - Pierre doted on his son. Jack began to understand why Daniel had been reluctant to accept that someone else was his father. He certainly hadn't gone unloved like so many of the outlaws' children had, and Jack wondered why fate had chosen Daniel to have that instead of one of the others. Not that he would wish slavery on anyone, especially a child, but why hadn't it been his sister instead of Daniel?

The young man was enjoying being with his father again but it wasn't the same anymore. There was now the fact that Pierre wasn't his birth father, and Daniel was very aware of that. But that didn't stop him from loving Pierre as a son would.

After a couple of hours, Pierre looked at the shadows that were forming inside the castle and said to Daniel, "Your friends should be starting back soon if they want to reach the forest before dark." Pierre wanted them out of his sight so that he would not be reminded of Daniel's heritage.

"Yes, about that." Daniel paused, knowing this wasn't going to go over well. "I will be going back with them. My sister is not well and I want to be there while she recovers," he explained.

It was at that moment that Pierre realised that he had lost Daniel - maybe not forever but the young man was no longer solely a de Gaulle. Daniel had another family now. "Your mother will be awaiting our return."

"I know. This should only be for a few days, and then I promise to return." Hopefully by then, he would have made a few decisions regarding his future. "I do not wish to hurt you, Father, but I believe that I need to spend some more time with these people."

Pierre could never deny his son anything. The guilt of taking Daniel - however unknowingly - from his birth family prompted him to nod his head, granting permission for his son to go. He turned his eyes on the man Daniel had introduced as Jack. "Return him safely."

"I give you my word." As if he was going to let anything happen to Daniel.

Good-byes were said - Sam wanting to go with Daniel but being denied permission - and then the group set off for Sherwood Forest. Jack moved his horse next to Daniel's as soon as possible. "So, how long are you going to stay?" he asked.

"I do not know yet," Daniel replied, shooting Jack a sideways glance. "Why are you interested?"

"Just curious."

"Right." Somehow, Daniel didn't quite believe that, not given Jack's behaviour towards him. He looked around to see if anyone was listening and then said in a low voice, "I am staying because of Eliza."

"So you said that before." A part of Jack believed it was because of him though. Daniel's mind might not approve of an intimate liaison but his body did, and Jack planned to do something about that. No more than a little kissing and touching though - any more, and Robin would have his hide.

"You do not like Pierre, do you?" Daniel asked, narrowing his eyes. Jack had all but ignored Pierre during their short stay.

"I don't like Normans at all, Daniel," Jack replied. "It's nothing personal, I am sure your... 'parents'-" he didn't like saying that word in relation to the de Gaulles, "-are very nice people. I just do not want to get to know them."

"You wanted to know me," Daniel pointed out, obliquely referring to Jack's behavior. "And I am Norman."

"Firstly, that was different," Jack argued. "And secondly, no, you are not. You are Saxon."

"By birth maybe. But by upbringing, I am Norman." And he was not ashamed of that fact. "And you did not know about my birth until the next day."

Jack had to admit Daniel had him there. "It was a tactic," he stated.

"There was no need for tactics once you found out who I used to be," Daniel continued to argue as the group skirted around the town of Nottingham. "Yet you have persisted."

"This is not exactly the kind of thing we should be discussing in the open," Jack said, looking around him to make sure no-one was listening. As he did so, he caught a glimpse of something in the scrub. "Daniel, return to the castle."

"What? Why?" Daniel was surprised by the order.

"Just do it," Jack hissed, keeping a wary eye on the scrub. He was pretty sure they were about to be ambushed and he didn't want Daniel caught up in that.

"I told you, I am--"

The rest of the sentence was cut off as a group of twenty Norman soldiers suddenly surrounded the outlaws.

"That is why," Jack muttered as his hand reached for his sword. Then he looked puzzled at Daniel when the young man put a hand over his.

"Let me talk to them," Daniel said. He didn't like bloodshed, and he didn't want anyone to die. Locating the leader of the soldiers, Daniel focused on him and said, "My name is Daniel de Gaulle. Would you care to explain your actions?"

The leader looked Daniel up and down. "You are Norman."

"Indeed I am. My father is Pierre de Gaulle, and we are guests of Jacob Carter and his daughter."

"And these men are...?"

"Saxon peasants whom my father hired to protect me," Daniel lied smoothly, giving nothing away. "He would be most displeased if I were to tell him about this."

"Just as well you will not be able to tell him." A figure in black emerged from behind the soldiers. "For anyone who harbours a murderer is guilty of treason. Therefore, you are under arrest."

"Murderer?" That surprised Daniel and he couldn't hide his automatic reaction. "You must have the man mistaken for someone else. Surely a murderer would be an outlaw and not venture out of hiding."

"Oh, he has been very good at hiding for the past four years." The man looked directly at Jack. "But I would know him anywhere. He is my father's murderer."

Jack stared back at the man he had last seen as he had been fleeing Nottingham Castle. Anubis of Gisbourne was now a grown man but the hate in his expression added years onto his face.

"Arrest these men," Anubis ordered. Although the law stated that he could behead these men immediately, it would be far more satisfying to see them executed properly. Besides, there hadn't been a good execution in a long time. "Send a man to de Gaulle's father in the morning and explain the situation." When the young man's father came to get his son, Anubis would be able to extort a large ransom for the young man's release.

"Yes, Sheriff," the leader of the soldiers replied. "Off your horses," he ordered the prisoners.

Jack looked around and saw that his men were outnumbered; a fight would be suicidal. If they tried to resist, they would be killed, and he couldn't let that happen to Daniel. Slowly, Jack dismounted, aware that his men were doing the same. Only Daniel remained on his horse. "Daniel, get down," he hissed.

Daniel didn't want to but after he eyed the man who had known Jack, he decided to comply. That man would be a dangerous enemy, he realised. "I am sure we can work this out," he said as he dismounted, still optimistic that he would be able to talk his way out of this.

Anubis eyed up the young man and for the first time, noted the beautiful features. A plan began to form in his mind. "I am sure we can." Maybe a ransom would not be necessary.

Chapter 7

The outlaws were taken back to Anubis' castle and thrown into the dungeons - by coincidence, the same dungeons that the stolen children had resided in all those years ago, although no-one was aware of that. Daniel was taken to a bedchamber on the other side of the castle.

Anubis followed Daniel into the bedchamber and locked the door behind him. "You are really a Norman?" The brightly-coloured tunic and leggings told him that but it was difficult to believe since the man had been in the company of Saxons.

"I am," Daniel replied. He looked around him with distaste. Given the ostentatious surroundings, he figured this was probably one of his captor's rooms. The bed sheets and pillows seemed to be made of silk, and were in rich purple and red colours. "Is that why I am here?"

"I thought you would be more comfortable than in a dungeon," Anubis stated. He watched the man with interest, desire starting to grow inside him.

Daniel went over to the window and looked out; there were no handholds for climbing, and it was a very long way to the ground. "What of the others?" he asked, moving back into the centre of the room.

"They are in more appropriate surroundings," Anubis replied, a sly smile gracing his lips. The question was perfect. "If you wish, you can try to negotiate for their release. All except for the murderer, of course."

"Because you think he murdered your father," Daniel stated. Unfortunately, he knew Jack had in revenge for his own father's death.

"He did." There was no mistaking the man - the features had been burned into his brain.

"My father will pay for their release and for mine."

Anubis smiled and advanced on Daniel like a predator. "It will take more than that."

Daniel's eyes widened as he backed away; he had seen that expression before on Jack. "No."

"You do not know what I am asking yet."

"The answer is still no," Daniel stated. He was most certainly not getting intimate with this man.

"You would let those men suffer in the dungeon?" Anubis asked in an amused tone.

"Yes." Normally he would not but the thought of his body being used in that way disgusted him; he could not do it. Daniel's backwards movement was halted and he found that he was pressed against the wall.

Anubis quickly advanced and pinned Daniel to the wall by pressing on his shoulders. "I am a man of my word. You join me in my bed and I promise the men will be released immediately. Refuse, and you will join them."

"My father will not be happy with you when he learns of this," Daniel threatened, trying to move away but the man's strength had him pinned.

"Then he will join you," Anubis promised. "And he will join the rest of you awaiting execution for your crimes."

Daniel paled; he couldn't let Pierre be drawn into this if that was the consequence. But could he let this man use him sexually? A finger traced over his lips and Daniel shuddered. "You cannot do that."

"You are mistaken. I can." And he would if that was what it took to get the young man into his bed. Anubis moved his hand lower and put it under Daniel's tunic.

Taking advantage of the loosened grip, Daniel wrenched free and quickly moved away. His skin was crawling, and he knew he couldn't do it. "No." Pierre would understand.

Anubis stared at Daniel for a long moment then went over to the door. He unlocked it before opening it, and briefly disappeared from sight. Then he returned, followed by two soldiers.

Daniel moved to the other end of the bedchamber but the two soldiers followed him and eventually caught him. He was dragged into the centre of the room and held there as Anubis came towards him.

"You are a foolish boy," Anubis commented and backhanded Daniel across the face. He smiled in satisfaction as a trickle of blood ran from the full lips. "I offer you a chance to save those men and you choose not to," he said, smearing the blood over Daniel's lips until they were covered. Then he leaned in and kissed the blood-covered mouth; it tasted so sweet.

Daniel just stared at his captor as the man drew back, seeing blood on the man's lips before it was licked away. This man was sick, he realised; sick in the mind. "What you are suggesting is a sin."

Anubis shrugged his shoulders; it didn't worry him if it was. Looking directly at Daniel, he ordered the two soldiers, "Explain to Monsieur de Gaulle what his options are. I will be back presently."

As Anubis left the room, the soldiers started hitting Daniel...

~~~

Jack sat alone in one corner of the dungeon, the other five outlaws not imprisoned with him. He berated himself for not considering this possibility earlier - that was why he had always avoided the town in the past. Now he had got himself, his men, and Daniel captured.

Speaking of Daniel, where was he? Jack was very worried that Anubis might try to hurt him in some way. It could be possible that Daniel was talking Anubis out of killing them but Jack doubted it. He knew what revenge was like, and knew that Anubis would want a death for a death. But surely Anubis would not risk executing a Norman? What would happen afterwards when Pierre de Gaulle came looking for his son? How would Anubis explain it?

His thoughts were interrupted when the door to the dungeon opened. Jack's eyes narrowed against the sudden influx of light, and he was able to make out the outline of Anubis. "Come to get a confession?" he asked casually.

"I do not need your confession," Anubis stated, coming into the dungeon and standing a few feet away from the murderer. "You are guilty of the crime and you will hang for it."

"So this is just a social visit then?" Jack refused to be intimidated by the prospect of his death.

"On the contrary." Anubis almost smiled; under different circumstances, he might have liked this man for his banter. "Daniel de Gaulle's life rests in your hands. All you need to do is tell me your name and de Gaulle goes free. Refuse, and I will go back upstairs and slit his throat."

"You're bluffing," Jack said, an icy chill running through him.

"Am I? De Gaulle is presently sleeping like a child. He would not even wake as the knife sliced through his skin," Anubis painted a vivid picture.

Jack gritted his teeth; he couldn't let Anubis do that to Daniel, but nor could he give Anubis his real name. "Tom Miller."

"That was not too hard, was it?" Anubis grinned in satisfaction - he finally knew who his father's murderer was. "As promised, de Gaulle will live." After all, Anubis had plans for him.

"How do I know you will keep your word?" Jack demanded.

"You will just have to trust me."

Like he was going to do that! "Set the others free. They have done nothing."

Anubis pretended to consider it then shook his head. "Nottingham will be well rid of six outlaws."

Jack knew no amount of arguing would persuade Anubis otherwise. He glared at the man as Anubis stood. "I did not murder your father." It was a clean fight so Jack didn't consider it to be an illegal act.

Anubis ignored him, turning and walking out of the dungeon. Time to check on how Daniel was faring.

~~~

Daniel couldn't recall even being in so much pain, not even when he had fallen off his horse when he was twelve. The soldiers had thrown so many punches and kicks that Daniel didn't think a single part of his body had been left untouched. He curled up into a ball, grateful that the beating had now stopped.

The door opened not long after and a couple of seconds passed before he saw a pair of deerskin boots appear in front of him. Daniel looked up to see Anubis standing there.

"Have you had a change of heart?" Anubis inquired.

"No, I have not," Daniel replied defiantly. Despite the prospect of being beaten again, he would not let Anubis use him.

"Pity." Anubis kicked at Daniel's chest, catching the younger man on his shoulder and flipping him onto his back. Then he placed his foot on Daniel's unprotected stomach to prevent him from moving. "You could save everyone a lot of pain if you would just give in."

Daniel stared defiantly up at the man, hatred in his eyes. "I will never give in to you." He didn't believe that the threat to his father would be carried out.

"Remember that when your father joins you in the dungeon," Anubis said, unknowingly responding to Daniel's thoughts. He removed his foot and looked at the soldiers. "Take him to the murderer."

Daniel allowed himself to be half-led, half-dragged to the dungeon, wondering whether he had made a terrible mistake. Pierre's life was worth more than his dignity. But then Anubis would forever have a hold over him, and would threaten Pierre's life continually to manipulate him. There was no way Daniel wanted that to happen.

He was pushed down the dungeon stairs, landing in an undignified heap at the bottom, his body aching. He decided to remain where he was for a while until he felt he could move.

"Daniel?" Jack's voice inquired from the near-darkness.

"Mmm?" The sound came out as more of a groan than a word.

"It is me, Tom. Are you all right?" Jack didn't use his real name just in case the guards were listening.

"Tom?" Daniel was puzzled, and he lifted his head carefully in Jack's direction.

"Yeah," Jack confirmed, hoping that Daniel would understand what he couldn't say. "Can you move?"

Daniel paused and tentatively wriggled his fingers. "Think so." Although it was going to be painful.

"Good." Jack could make out Daniel's form in now that his eyes were used to the dim light coming in from the dungeon door. "Come over here." He wanted Daniel nearby - for his own piece of mind. Jack stood up and moved as far as he could with the chain around his left ankle.

Daniel slowly pushed himself into a sitting position then crawled over to Jack. With assistance from the older man, he made it over to the wall and sat back against it.

"What did he do to you?" Jack asked, noting the care with which Daniel moved.

"I believe he was trying to persuade me to see things his way," Daniel replied, not wanting to speak the words.

"About what?" Jack queried before his brain supplied an answer. "Never mind." His hands clenched into fists. If Anubis wanted what Jack suspected... The man deserved to die just like his father. "How bad is it?"

"I can still breathe," Daniel responded, trying to be light-hearted about it.

"That is not funny, Daniel." In some respects, Jack was glad of the dark as he quickly ran his hands over Daniel's body, checking for broken bones. Fortunately, there didn't seem to be any, although judging by Daniel's sharp intakes of breath, there were a fair number of bruises. "So what other threats did he make?"

"If my father makes a fuss tomorrow, Anubis will put him in here with us. Oh, and the same thing will happen if I do not agree to - to mate with him."

"And you still said no?" Jack would have thought that Daniel would have caved at that point.

"I could not do it," Daniel whispered, hoping that Jack would understand. It was bad enough that he already felt guilty - he didn't need confirmation that he had done the wrong thing.

Jack reached out and put his arm around Daniel's shoulders, drawing the young man close to him. He felt Daniel's head rest on his shoulder. "Get some rest," he suggested. "He will not hurt you again tonight."

Glad of that reassurance, Daniel quickly obeyed.

~~~

A soldier left Nottingham Castle early the next morning to deliver the message to Pierre de Gaulle.

"Why?" Pierre asked after being told Daniel was being held as a prisoner.

"He was harbouring a murderer in his party," the soldier replied.

Pierre wondered which one of the outlaws it was and whether Daniel had known. "How much for Daniel's freedom?"

"I was not informed of that."

Pierre nodded. "Then I shall make a guess. Thank-you," he dismissed the soldier.

"How dare they!" Sam exclaimed as soon as the soldier had left the room. "Daniel has done nothing wrong!"

"We are well aware of that," Jacob stated calmly although he was angry inside. "But this is the kind of thing the Sheriff does to raise taxes for the King." The words were said with distaste.

"He does it very well," Pierre commented dryly. He thought about the bag of coins that he had been going to use for Daniel's ransom - perhaps that would be sufficient for Daniel's release. "Jacob, I will require my horse."

Jacob nodded in agreement.

"I will get it, Father," Sam said. She was planning to ride to Sherwood Forest and alert the rest of the outlaws, regardless of what her father thought. Then they would be able to rescue everyone just like in the stories, and she would get Daniel back.

~~~

Meanwhile, in the castle dungeon, Jack had just woken from a bad dream - a memory, actually, of the night he had killed Apophis. If only he had the chance to do the same to Anubis...

There was movement against his side and Jack looked down to see Daniel stirring. The young man had slept fitfully all night, pressed up against Jack, and the latter had found that he liked it. It felt good to be holding Daniel like so, even if it was only with one arm. Jack wondered whether Daniel liked it too.

Daniel's breathing became more rapid and then he woke up with a start. He blinked a few times as he tried to remember why he couldn't see much and then he remembered. A dungeon. He was in a dungeon. Again, if his dream was correct.

"Morning."

Daniel became aware of the arm around his shoulder and he slowly moved away, recalling just whose arm it was. "Morning." He felt its loss keenly, although he told himself it was just because it had been warm.

"How did you sleep?" Jack asked, missing Daniel's warmth immediately.

"I think I remembered something else. Being here before." Daniel wrapped his arms around his bruised ribs. "It was dark and cold, and there were children crying..." He trailed off.

Jack reached out to find Daniel's leg and rested his hand there. When he felt Daniel shift uncomfortably, he removed it. "I'm sorry," he said, although he didn't know what he was apologising for.

"What is going to happen now?" Daniel asked, trying to still his shivers.

"Well, Anubis is going to hang me. Then he will try to get you into bed," Jack stated, his fists again clenching at the thought. "Or maybe the other way around."

"Why is he doing this?"

"Because he can," Jack said bitterly. Daniel sounded so bewildered that Jack guessed he had lived a sheltered life and wasn't aware that those in power often abused it.

Daniel looked through the dim light at Jack. "Do you think he will really imprison Father?"

"If it gets him what he wants."

Daniel bit his lip, aggravating the split; he couldn't let that happen to his father. But he was scared of what Anubis would do to him if he agreed to sharing his body. "What would you do?"

"Smother him the first chance I got," Jack replied promptly. "Or club him over the head with a candlestick."

"I do not think I could do that." Daniel had never killed before.

"You might have to."

Footsteps sounded outside, and the door was unlocked. A tall figure advanced down the steps - Anubis had come to visit.

"What, no breakfast?" Jack commented, wishing he wasn't chained so that he could get between Daniel and Anubis.

"You are going to die tomorrow. What need have you for food?" Anubis replied. He stood towering over Daniel and looked down upon the young man. "Have you changed your mind?"

"I do not understand why you want me," Daniel tried to stall.

Moving out of Tom's reach, Anubis crouched down next to Daniel and ran the back of his fingers over the young man's cheek. He smiled when Daniel moved his head away. "Because you are the most beautiful thing I have seen in a long time."

"I am not some commoner you can have at your leisure," Daniel shot back, filling his voice with disgust.

"You forfeited your rights as a Norman noble when you decided to consort with Saxon outlaws," Anubis informed him. "Your decision?"

Daniel glanced briefly over at Jack then back again. "Would it be just the once or a permanent position?" If it was just the one time, then maybe he could do it.

Piercing green eyes raked Daniel over, coveting the young body. "Somehow I do not think I will be satisfied with just the once."

"I knew you were going to say that," Jack commented, wanting to take the attention off Daniel for a few moments. "That way, you can hold the threat of his father over him indefinitely. Nice plan but very overused. Can't you think of something more original?"

Anubis quickly backhanded the Saxon across his face. "Perhaps you think you have nothing to lose."

Jack just stared at him, ignoring the pain in his jaw. Of course he had nothing to lose; he doubted he would be rescued before tomorrow.

"Perhaps you think to offer yourself in his place?" Anubis continued, amused.

"Sure, why not?" Jack would be able to cope with that.

Anubis merely smiled; not a good sight. "A generous offer but one I have to refuse."

"I will not do it," Daniel stated, having thought about it some more. "I will not be your bed-slave."

"A pity." Anubis crouched down again and threaded his fingers through Daniel's soft hair. The fingers tightened and Anubis pulled Daniel up into a standing position.

Daniel bit back the exclamations of pain that radiated throughout his entire body. "Ow!" he said pointedly when he was face to face with Anubis.

"I have done the polite thing and asked," the older man stated, his predatory eyes gleaming. "Since you continue to refuse, I see I will just have to take." He pushed Daniel face first against the wall.

"Hey!" Jack exclaimed, standing up. He tried to go over to Daniel's aid but was pulled up short by the chain around his ankle. "Let him go!"

Daniel struggled, the jagged surface of the wall digging painfully into his already abused body. All his refusals were going to be in vain, and Anubis was going to take him right here in front of Jack. He could feel a hand at the waistband of his leggings and he intensified his struggles, trying to strike out with his elbows. A pained grunt told him that he had hit his target but it wasn't enough to make Anubis let go.

Anubis pressed his body up against Daniel's, pinning him in place. "You know, I like it when you struggle."

Straight away, Daniel ceased his struggling. He could feel something hard pressing into him from behind and he didn't think it was Anubis' dagger. Panic continued to bubble inside him as he waited for the man's next move.

Jack muttered a few curses and looked around to see if there was something he could use to hit Anubis with. There wasn't, so he tried stretching - unfortunately, Anubis was just out of reach.

"You will enjoy this," Anubis promised Daniel, his fingers stroking through the soft hair.

"I doubt it," Daniel retorted defiantly.

"My lord Sheriff!"

Daniel breathed a sigh of relief when the guard called down to Anubis.

"What is it?" Anubis called back, not moving from his position.

"Monsieur de Gaulle has arrived."

"What unfortunate timing," Anubis murmured into Daniel's ear. "I suppose I had better greet him." He moved away from the young noble and noted with interested the speed with which Daniel turned around to face him. "Last chance."

Now that Daniel knew what Anubis meant what he said, he was tempted to say yes so that his father would go free. The stubborn part of him didn't want to give in but he knew that he had no choice. One way or another, Anubis would force him so it was up to Daniel to save Pierre. "On two conditions. One, my father remains free. Two, that you wait until tonight." By then, he might have thought of an escape plan.

Anubis gave him an evil smile. He had Daniel right where he wanted him. "Agreed. Until tonight then." He ascended the steps and disappeared through the door.

"Are you insane?" Jack blurted out. "What happened to 'never'?" He couldn't believe that Daniel had given in.

Daniel sat on the floor and hugged his knees to his chest. "It was that or have him try again while Father was in here. This is the lesser of two evils."

"Not by much." Jack paced the dungeon as far as the chain would let him. "He is not going to let your father go, you know. Men like Anubis don't know the meaning of honor."

"Well, I can at least try." Daniel knew he had to take the risk.

"And what are you going to do when Anubis gets you into the bedchamber?" Jack continued.

"Pray." Besides fighting back, which would not get him anywhere anyway, that was all he could do. Daniel just hoped that someone would be listening.

~~~

Pierre stood in front of the Sheriff of Nottingham and glared at him. "Why is my son a prisoner?" he demanded to know.

"He was travelling in the company of a murderer," Anubis replied calmly. "Who, incidentally, he said you had hired."

"That does not warrant his arrest," Pierre countered. "Nonetheless, I have brought the money you requested." He held up the canvas bag.

Anubis eyed the bag with practiced eye. "That should be sufficient," he said, gesturing for a servant to fetch the bag. Once he had the money in his possession, Anubis looked at it. Gold pieces - Pierre de Gaulle must be rich to gather this amount so quickly. "He will be released tomorrow morning."

"Excuse me?" Pierre did not like the sound of that. "I have paid for his release."

"The murderer will hang tomorrow morning. His death shall serve as a lesson to your son not to consort with such people." Anubis smiled at de Gaulle. "If you wish to protest this, you may join him."

Pierre held his tongue. He would do Daniel no good if he was imprisoned too. "I shall return on the morrow then." He bowed quickly and left the room.

The Sheriff's smile widened. He would use Daniel as much as possible tonight.

~~~

Sam and her maid rode as quickly as possible into Sherwood Forest. They were met partway by Henry and a few others. After Sam explained what had happened, she and Anne accompanied them back to the camp. Robin and Marian were still there, looking after Eliza, as was Teal'c. The former two were understandably worried by this turn of events, and Robin immediately started to organise a rescue party. Teal'c volunteered, as did Henry, and all the other men in the camp. They carefully planned the rescue and then set off within two hours, ready to blend in with the villagers and be ready to invade the castle at dark.

~~~

It was a long day for Daniel. He alternated between pacing and sitting, which got on Jack's nerves. Eventually Jack snapped, "For crying out loud, Daniel, will you stop!"

Daniel glared at him and continued pacing.

Jack sighed in frustration. "Daniel, will you come and sit over here please?"

"Why?"

"Because I need to talk to you and I don't want to shout across the dungeon."

Daniel stopped pacing and looked at Jack, considering the request. To tell the truth, the pacing wasn't helping to calm him. So he went over and sat down beside Jack.

"Now, I know you don't like me very much," Jack started with. "But I want you to listen to me. Unless there is an unexpected rescue tonight, Anubis is going to force you." Jack forced down the anger inside him. "Do you know exactly what he wants to do?"

Daniel nodded. "I believe it is called sodomy."

"Right." Jack never thought of it like that. "If you don't try to relax, it is going to hurt like nothing you have ever imagined."

"Relax?" How was he supposed to do that?

"Trust me on this," Jack continued, seeing Daniel's skeptical expression. "Even though you do not want it, you have got to try not to block him; otherwise he could literally rip you apart."

Daniel paled. What had he let himself in for?

Jack reached out and put his arm around Daniel's shoulders, drawing the younger man to his side. Daniel initially resisted then leaned against Jack. The older man's heart skipped a beat when he felt Daniel relax a little. "I wish I could stop him."

"Why can you not? I mean, you have not even been trying to escape," Daniel accused him. It felt... nice... to be sitting like this with Jack, and he was a little angry with himself because of it.

"There's no point right now." But when they came for him tomorrow, he would make his move. He couldn't say that aloud though in case the guards were listening. He didn't think he had much of a chance anyway. "Daniel?" he said in a soft voice.

"Yes?" The answering voice was equally as soft.

"May I kiss you again?" If he was going to die tomorrow, he wanted one last sweet memory to take with him.

An automatic 'no' was on his lips but Daniel made the mistake of looking at Jack's face and seeing not desire, rather something more akin to affection. It warmed him to see that and he wondered whether he had misjudged Jack's feeling. "Yes."

The reply surprised Jack but he didn't waste any time. Cupping Daniel's face with his free hand, he drew the younger man in for a sweet, lingering kiss. Daniel tasted so good that Jack never wanted to surface.

Daniel's toes curled as Jack kissed him slowly and tenderly. It was so unlike the first kiss they had shared, and Daniel found it disturbingly arousing. A slow heat started inside him but this time he didn't reject it; instead, he let himself enjoy it.

Slowly, Jack pulled away; pleased to see Daniel's flushed face. He traced one finger over the soft lips. "I think I am falling in love with you," he said in wonder.

Daniel didn't have time to process that before footsteps sounded outside the dungeon door. Two guards entered and dragged him away from Jack. Daniel looked over his shoulder as they reached the top of the steps and saw Jack staring after him with resignation, and knew that Jack wasn't expecting to see him again. Then the door was closed behind him and Jack was gone.

Jack stared at the door for a long time. Despite only knowing Daniel again for a few days - and despite Daniel being a total pain at times - Jack admitted to himself that his feelings ran deep for the young man. The jealousy, the anger, the desire and the protectiveness during their short childhood together all added up to what he had said to Daniel - he was falling in love. What a wonderful time to realise this, Jack thought; he was going to hang and Daniel would be raped. Perfect timing.

Silently, he prayed for a miracle.

~~~

As the sun started to set, the outlaws put their plan into action. Teal'c led a group of men boldly through the gates, posing as hunters bringing in the meat for the feast. The others would remain outside the wall, bows at the ready, to assist when necessary.

Once inside and the meat was delivered, the men split up into groups to search for the prisoners.

Chapter 8

Daniel was taken to have a bath and then led up to the main bedchamber. He had only been given a pair of leggings to wear - presumably Anubis wanted his body to be on display. Bruises from the previous day mottled his torso and arms, and Daniel couldn't see how that would be appealing to Anubis.

The bedchamber door was locked behind him and Daniel was left along to contemplate his fate. Taking the cover from the bed, he wrapped it around his body to keep warm, not realising the chill was coming from inside him. Then he went over to the window and stared out at the sunset.

If only he and Sam hadn't gone for that horse ride. Then none of this would have happened. He would not have found out that his life had been a lie, and he definitely would not be here waiting to be used against his will. On the other hand, he was pleased that he'd had the opportunity to meet his birth parents and sister... and, he supposed, that he had met Jack.

The whispered declaration came back to him - 'I think I am falling in love with you'. How was that possible? Men didn't fall in love with other men; they just used them for sick pleasure. Even Jack had behaved similar to Anubis when they had first met, giving the impression that he was going to force him. So he couldn't possibly be falling in love with Daniel... could he? Daniel couldn't get his mind around the concept. Men fell in love with women - that's the way man had been created. But why would Jack say something like that if it wasn't true? One thing Jack wasn't and that was a liar, so he must have believed it was the truth. But was it real?

Daniel brought a finger up to touch his lips. The kiss certainly hadn't been one of passion but of something else instead. Love? Daniel wasn't sure and hadn't had a lot of experience to be able to judge accurately. It had definitely aroused him though, something that Daniel couldn't put down as an automatic response. He certainly hadn't responded when Anubis had kissed or touched him, yet with Jack, he had. Maybe there was something more. Maybe deep down, he was attracted to Jack.

No! That was be a sin! Daniel berated himself. But would it, he thought in the next second. If two men were in love with each other, would it truly be a sin? Daniel was a great believer in the theory that everything happened for a reason, so two men in love would have to be part of the Big Plan.

Wait... He wasn't in love with Jack. So far, it only seemed to be attraction. That was a different thing altogether and definitely fell into the category of sin.

Speaking of sin, Daniel thought as a key turned in the lock. He stayed where he was, choosing to ignore his captor's entrance.

"Cold?" Anubis inquired as he entered the room and saw Daniel wrapped in the bedcover.

"Yes."

"You will soon warm up." Anubis advanced on the young noble. He had chosen to bed Daniel first before heading down to the feast.

Daniel ignored that and backed away as far as he could. "My father?" he asked.

"Will return to collect you in the morning after the execution," Anubis replied, continuing to close the gap. "Whether you will be permitted to leave depends on your performance tonight."

A sick feeling lodged in Daniel's stomach. Who knew what Anubis would base his decision on? "Will this take long?" he inquired as Anubis came to stand in front of him.

Anubis reached out to run his fingers through Daniel's hair. "All night. I promise that you will enjoy it."

Daniel lifted his chin defiantly; he most certainly would not find this enjoyable. "You are a sick man."

"Possibly," Anubis agreed. He pushed the cover from Daniel's shoulders then took a step back and looked at the bruise-covered body with desire. "How is it that no man has coveted you before?"

"They were obviously better at controlling themselves," Daniel retorted.

Anubis almost smiled; Daniel's defiance would make the coupling most satisfying. "Much as I would like to savor our first time, I have to make an appearance at the feast soon. So, get on the bed."

~~~

The guards in charge of the dungeons didn't hear a thing as they were attacked and quickly rendered unconscious. Teal'c had led the assault, with two other big men assisting. He retrieved two sets of keys from the unconscious men, and a sword, and handed one set of keys to Henry. "I will go this way," he indicated to the left with his head.

Henry nodded and set off to the right, followed by one of the big men.

The first room Teal'c tried was empty; the second was locked. "Hello?" he called through the door.

Jack's ears pricked up. Had his prayers been answered already? "Hello?" he called back.

Quickly unlocking the door, Teal'c advanced into the dungeon. At the bottom of the stairs he would make out Jack's features. "I found Young John," he called to the other man before going over to the younger man. "Just one minute," he said to Jack, sorting through the keys for the most likely one to unlock the chain.

"No hurry," Jack replied impatiently. As soon as he heard the lock click, he pulled the chain off and stood up. "Anubis has Daniel," he stated, heading for the door.

Teal'c followed Jack out of the dungeon. "Where?"

"My guess would be the main bedchamber."

"He would not."

"Believe me, he would." Jack stopped to look at Teal'c. "Got an extra sword?"

Teal'c handed over the sword he had taken from one of the guards.

"Thank you." Jack accepted the sword. "Shall we?" he said, gesturing with his hand towards the door.

~~~

Daniel eyed the bed with trepidation - he really didn't want to go near it.

"We can do it right here if you prefer," Anubis continued, not fussed as to position.

"No, the bed sounds... fine." Daniel walked slowly over to the bed then turned to Anubis. "You know, we should really get to know each other first."

"Stop stalling," Anubis said, following. "You made a bargain." He stripped off his tunic and threw it on the floor.

"Right." Daniel turned away. His eyes fell to the pillows and he wondered whether he would have the strength to smother Anubis. He shied away from that thought; he couldn't kill like that.

"Lie down on your front," Anubis instructed upon reaching the bed.

Reluctantly, Daniel obeyed, lying down in the centre of the bed. His body was tense and he pillowed his head on his arms, his head facing away from the other man.

Anubis straddled Daniel's legs and ran his hands over the lean buttocks up to the broad shoulders. "Very nice."

Daniel fought down the panic he felt at the man's touch. He remembered Jack's words about trying to relax but he couldn't make his body obey, not when he knew that Anubis would soon violate him.

"Roll over," Anubis commanded, kneeling up enough for Daniel to turn over.

Slowly, Daniel complied, keeping his eyes turned away from Anubis. He felt the hands glide over his chest, and his stomach turned at the soft caress. He couldn't go through with this; his breathing became more rapid as his panic increased.

A knock at the door surprised them both. "What is it?" Anubis called out impatiently. He had given strict instructions not to be disturbed.

"Your father was a lying, murderous thief," came the answer.

Recognising the voice, Daniel used all his strength to push Anubis off then he rolled off the bed. "It is locked!" he yelled out. How had Jack got free?

Outside the door, Jack gestured to Teal'c. "Would you like to do the honours?"

"With pleasure." Teal'c aimed a solid kick at the heavy wooden door.

The door exploded inwards, the lock shattering. Anubis made a grab for Daniel but the younger man was too quick, quickly moving away from the bed. Giving up on that idea, Anubis got off the bed and confronted the intruders bare-handed. "Who are you?" he asked as a big black man walked into the room.

"Justice," Jack replied as he followed Teal'c into the bedchamber, sword drawn. "Daniel, are you all right?"

"Your timing is impeccable," Daniel said with a half-smile. He stood up and went over to the two men, grateful that they had come to rescue him. "Let us go."

"We're not finished yet, Daniel," Jack said, still eyeing Anubis, waiting for the man to make a move; he needed an excuse to run him through.

"If you kill him here, they will tear the country apart looking for you," Daniel pointed out. He didn't want Jack to be a hunted man anymore. "Do you want to put everyone at risk?"

Jack said nothing. He could see the bruises on Daniel's body and really wanted to kill Anubis for that.

"We cannot leave him either," Teal'c told him. "He will come after us. And you."

Thunder crashed through the sky, signalling the start of an oncoming storm - and giving Teal'c's words an ominous feeling. Rain started to fall, tentatively at first and then increasing in intensity.

"I will take that risk." Daniel couldn't let a man - even an evil man - be killed in cold blood.

"I will not." Jack threw Anubis his sword and then took Teal'c's. "No-one can dispute it if he dies in a fair fight."

"Young John," Teal'c warned.

Anubis looked at the murdered anew. "John? So you did lie to me," he stated, intrigued by this. The man had lied to spare Daniel's life - very interesting indeed.

"What did you expect?" Jack countered, annoyed that his identity was now known but not blaming Teal'c as the older man hadn't known about the alias.

A cry from downstairs raised the alarm that the prisoners had escaped. Anubis used that moment of distraction to grab his sword and then strike.

Just getting his blade up in the time, Jack parried the blow. "Get Daniel out of here!" he ordered Teal'c while keeping his eye on Anubis.

"Come." Teal'c ushered Daniel out of the bedchamber.

"We cannot leave him there!" Daniel protested.

"Jack is an expert swordsman. He will be fine," Teal'c replied. He didn't like it any more than Daniel but he accepted that it was part of life. Jack had made his choice, and now it was Teal'c's responsibility to get Daniel out so that the sacrifice would not be in vain. "Now let us move."

With a last glance towards the bedchamber where he could hear the swords clashing, Daniel followed Teal'c through the corridors.

~~~

Jack circled Anubis warily - he wasn't going to underestimate his opponent. Anubis did likewise - any man who had defeated his father would be a skilful swordsman.

Anubis struck several times in quick succession. His opponent blocked them all. "Not bad. For a Saxon," he goaded.

"Your father said the same thing before he died," Jack retorted, launching a brief attack of his own, testing for the other man's weaknesses.

"You seem quite proud of that fact," Anubis commented, moving around so his back was to the door.

"I do take pride in good work," Jack said smugly.

That enraged Anubis but only for a moment; he was too experienced a swordsman to let his emotions rule during a fight. "You also seem very protective of Daniel de Gaulle."

"I was charged with protecting him," Jack bent the truth a little as he continued to block Anubis' sword. "Unlike you, that is the kind of responsibility I take seriously."

Anubis chose not to respond to that. "Then I wish you luck." Deciding on a new plan, he disappeared out the door, slamming it shut behind him.

Cursing, Jack opened the door and took off after him.

~~~

Meanwhile, in another part of the castle, Teal'c, Daniel and the other outlaws were fighting for their freedom. They had appropriated a couple of swords so that both Teal'c and Daniel were armed, and were slowly making their way to one of the exits. Daniel and Teal'c were fighting back to back as if they had done so all their life, cutting through the ranks of soldiers with ease. A couple of other Saxons weren't so lucky, falling to enemy swords.

Just as the numbers of soldiers were dwindling, Anubis appeared in their midst and headed straight for Daniel. Teal'c's instinct told him to turn around, and when he saw the Sheriff approaching, he quickly stood in front of Daniel. "Go!"

"But--"

"Go!" He would ensure Daniel was not troubled by Anubis again.

Daniel obeyed - mainly because Henry had appeared beside him and had hold of his arm - fleeing with the other Saxons. If Teal'c died protecting him as Jack apparently had, Daniel would not forget it. A stab of grief accompanied the thought of Jack's death but he had no time to dwell on it as the group came upon another party of soldiers.

~~~

Jack cursed when it became obvious that Anubis had given him the slip. Going on intuition, he headed for the main exit.

~~~

Not far away, Teal'c was finding himself hard pressed in the fight against Anubis - although age had not slowed him down, he was fighting against a much younger opponent. There were a few scratches on his arms from where Anubis' sword had got through his defenses.

Anubis smiled at him. "Getting old?"

"Not old enough," Teal'c replied.

In a fast move, Anubis closed the gap between them and his fist connected with his opponent's face.

Teal'c didn't even flinch but instead stared steadily back at the Sheriff.

"Hey!" Jack's hunch had paid off. He ran up to the fight and took up a stance near Teal'c. "We hadn't finished our chat."

Anubis saw his chance of remaining alive diminishing. Eyeing his two opponents, he wondered what he should do next.

Without taking his eyes off Anubis, Jack said quietly to Teal'c, "Go. I will take care of him."

"I will not leave you," Teal'c replied to his friend.

"I need you to make sure Daniel is safe," Jack stated, knowing how upset all Daniel's parents would be should anything happen to him. And it was easier to fight Anubis if Jack knew that Daniel was safe. "Please."

Teal'c nodded reluctantly. "If you are certain."

"I am."

Giving Anubis the evil eye, Teal'c backed away and headed into the shadows.

"You must be determined to die," Anubis taunted, emboldened now that there was only one opponent.

"You are the one who ran away," Jack countered as he warily watched the Sheriff.

Anubis' eyes seemed to briefly glow with anger before he controlled himself. "You will not be so lucky." He lunged forward.

Jack parried the thrust and launched his own counterattack. He didn't have to think about what he was doing - his arm simply seemed to know where to strike. However, he couldn't breach Anubis' defenses, and he grudgingly admitted to himself that the other man was good. Maybe the overconfidence had been well warranted. Fortunately, Jack knew that he was equally as good as Anubis. All he had to do was get his sword through the Sheriff's defenses.

Anubis pressed Jack back through the hallway. "You should have left when you had the chance."

"And miss out on the chance to kill you? I don't think so," Jack replied. He lunged forward but Anubis blocked the blow.

They continued the fight for several more minutes, both tiring but refusing to give in as that would mean death. However, Anubis had the advantage because he knew every inch of his castle whereas Jack didn't. The Sheriff continued to back his opponent down the long hallway, still trying to find an opening to deliver the killing blow.

Jack was finding it harder to keep Anubis at bay - swords weren't exactly light, and his arm was growing tired. When he stepped back onto an out-flung hand, he stumbled, losing his balance briefly. In that instant, Anubis struck his right arm with the flat of the blade and the sword flew from his hand.

Anubis put his sword at the man's throat. "Are you prepared to admit defeat now?"

"I never admit defeat," Jack replied, his voice resolute even though he was facing death. He didn't have anything to live for - well, except for his sister and maybe Daniel, although he could never look after the latter the way he wanted to. He would be far better off dead.

Anubis just stared at him, gloating over his victory. "I guarantee you that when the noose is around your neck tomorrow morning, you will admit it." He turned his head at a movement behind him and saw two of his guards running towards him. He slowly slid the blade along the vulnerable throat, drawing blood. Then he stepped back and ordered the guards to take the murderer back to the dungeon. As the guards dragged the man away, a satisfied smile appeared on Anubis' face. The man would pay for both the murder of his father and for preventing his consummation with Daniel de Gaulle. Anubis had never looked forward so much to seeing someone hang.

~~~

The dark rain clouds hid the moon from view, and the rain added to the poor visibility. This hampered the fleeing Saxons as much as helped them - they couldn't see the enemy and the enemy couldn't see them. But the main group, which included Daniel and Henry, still managed to make it safely out of the castle gates and onto the waiting horses.

Daniel hesitated. "We cannot leave him there!" he shouted to Henry; the rain was very loud and heavy, and stung his body on impact.

"Teal'c will be fine!" Henry had not mounted a horse yet. He was going to stay and wait for his friend to return - or, if necessary, retrieve his body. "The others will get you to safety! You must go with them!" That way Daniel would be out of danger, not to mention shorten his exposure to the cold rain. Henry wrapped a sodden cloak around Daniel's shoulders. It would not keep the young man dry but it would give him a measure of protection against the hard rain. "Go!"

Bowing to common sense, Daniel rode away with the rest of the Saxons, his heart heavy with the knowledge of Jack's likely death.

Once the outlaws were out of sight, Henry headed back towards the castle to determine the fate of Jack and Teal'c.

The latter met him just outside the castle doors. Teal'c had disobeyed Jack's order and had stayed behind to protect him. The Moor had felled several guards but had then been overwhelmed; the only course of action had been to retreat. He had then sought out Jack but had only arrived in time to hear Anubis' pronouncement. Jack would hang tomorrow. Teal'c could not let that happen. But he could not do that by himself; he would need reinforcements. Therefore, he had retreated and had run into Henry outside the castle.

"What happened?" Henry asked anxiously over the sound of the rain.

Teal'c debated whether to tell the young man anything then decided against it. "I will explain later. For now, we need to return home."

Henry accepted that with a nod of his head. Then they ran to their horses, mounted them, and galloped away.

~~~

The rain had eased by the time Daniel's group arrived back at the camp. The moon was starting to peep through the clouds, giving a little light to see by. Marian and several of the other women had been waiting anxiously for their loved ones to return. When Marian saw Daniel, she rushed over to his side, barely waiting for him to dismount before embracing him. "Thank the Lord you are safe," she said, grateful that he had been returned to her. Then she noticed that he was only wearing a cloak over bare skin. "You are not wearing a tunic," she mused. "You will catch your death of cold. Come inside."

Daniel allowed himself to be ushered into the hut where a small fire was lit in the centre. Eliza slept peacefully on the bed in the corner.

"You will need to get out of those wet clothes," Marian fussed as she searched for a blanket. Finding one under the bed, she held it out to him. "Put this around you and sit by the fire."

Daniel did so and felt a little better now that he was not so wet. He heard footsteps behind him and turned his head to see Robin enter the hut.

"Are you all right?" Robin asked immediately upon seeing his son. He had been outside getting the report from the other men.

"I will be fine," Daniel replied, managing a small smile for his father.

Marian sat down beside Daniel and gently rubbed his back. In the dim firelight, she had seen a mass of bruises on his body. "Who hurt you?" she asked gently although she was angry inside. Who would dare to do this to her son?

"It is not important," Daniel replied, not wanting to think about it.

"Yes, it is," Robin contradicted.

Daniel turned his head to look at him and saw the truth of that. "Anubis' soldiers," he replied.

"Why?"

"I do not know," Daniel lied; he wasn't going to tell them the truth. Changing the subject, he asked, "How did they know to rescue us?"

"Samantha told us," Marian stated, still rubbing Daniel's back. "We had been starting to worry anyway when you had not returned home by this morning."

Daniel held the blanket tighter around himself at the memories of last night.

"Where is Jack? And Teal'c?" Marian asked.

Daniel hesitated before saying, "They stayed behind to fight Anubis."

Oh dear. Marian raised her eyes heavenwards and said a silent prayer for the two men to be returned safely.

Sam made her entrance at that moment. "Daniel!" She started to move over to him but was pulled up short when she realised he must be naked under the blanket. "I am glad you are back," she said, torn between wanting to go over to him and knowing she shouldn't. A movement behind her warned her that Anne was standing there.

"So am I," he stated, a faint blush tingeing his cheeks because of his nakedness. "Thank you for coming here to tell everyone what had happened."

Sam smiled shyly at the praise. "Your father went to pay for your release," she said. "Why did the Sheriff not release you?"

"I am not sure. I think he was playing some sort of game with Jack," Daniel said, skirting the truth.

"Oh my poor boy." Marian reached up to stroke Daniel's hair. Her Daniel had just been caught in the middle.

The three sat around the fire until they heard the muted sounds of horses arriving. Robin got up and went outside to look. Daniel and Sam could hear him call out, "Teal'c!" so it was obvious that he had survived. Daniel found himself hoping that Jack had somehow made it out too - but not because he was in love, he told himself. He just wanted to thank Jack for fighting Anubis, that was all.

Robin returned to the hut with Teal'c a few moments later. "Samantha, can you find a blanket for Teal'c please?" he requested.

"Of course." Sam disappeared from the hut to carry out the request.

Teal'c went over to the fire. "It is good to see you made it out," he said to Daniel.

"Likewise," Daniel replied. "What happened?"

Teal'c related the story and Daniel was horrified to hear that Jack had been captured. "We have to rescue him," he immediately stated.

Sam brought the blanket for Teal'c at that point, interrupting the conversation, then left the hut again at Marian's gesture.

Teal'c quickly stripped and put the blanket around himself - he was chilled to the bone. Then he sat down next to his friend's son. "You fought well," he praised.

"Thank you." Daniel didn't like fighting but he had worked hard to become a competent swordsman, and a part of him was proud that his ability had been noticed. "So what are we going to do?" he asked, getting back to what he thought was the important topic.

Robin and Teal'c looked at each other, a whole conversation travelling between them in just a few seconds. They had done rescues like this before; the question was - were they willing to risk everyone's lives knowing that the Sheriff would most likely be looking out for them?

"We have to do something," Daniel continued, not understanding the silent conversation.

"You cannot go," Teal'c said to Robin.

Robin nodded in understanding; he was too old for this kind of fighting. "You will need an archer."

"I will go," Daniel volunteered himself. When the other two looked at him, he added, "I am the next best archer in this camp. I will go." He would do what was necessary to save Jack from being executed.

Teal'c's eyes had a faraway look for a moment, as if seeing something in his mind. Then he returned to the business at hand. "Very well then."

Daniel relaxed; he was glad that he would be able to help. He stared into the fire as Teal'c and Robin sorted out the details and hoped that they would be in time to save Jack.

Chapter 9

The next morning dawned bright and clear but there were few in camp to see it. All of the able-bodied men had left the camp before dawn so that they would be at Nottingham Castle in time for the execution.

Daniel hadn't slept well despite being tired. Every time he had drifted off to sleep, he had nightmares about Anubis forcing him or Anubis killing people he cared about. He forced those thoughts aside now, needing to concentrate on the rescue.

Once the outlaws were near the castle, they blended in with the crowd that had gathered. Everyone had their tasks to do - getting near the guards to take them out, stealing a few horses, and so on. It would be Daniel's task to sever the noose from the overhead wooden beam so he looked around for the best vantage spot. He would need a clear line of sight but be hidden from the Sheriff's guards.

He moved to the back of the crowd that was gathering and then turned to look at the rope suspended from the platform's overhead beam. Mentally, Daniel gauged the distance and the angle, and decided that he needed to be higher up. There was a wooden wagon nearby - its four wheels would keep it balanced when Daniel stood on it. And it was the perfect height for the shot. Daniel scrambled onto the wagon and surreptitiously got everything ready, being careful that no-one saw the bow or arrows.

It seemed like hours before Jack was brought out to the platform but Daniel judged it had probably only been ten minutes. Jack was taken to stand on a stool beneath the beam and the noose was placed over his head. Steadying his shaking hands, Daniel took careful aim; if he missed, Jack was dead - one way or another.

Up on the platform, Jack stared bravely out into the crowd. Like Daniel, Jack had not slept well, nightmares keeping him awake, but his expression didn't betray that. His dreams had been of being unable to stop Anubis from raping Daniel, and at times the dreams had been so vivid that he thought they were real. Fortunately, they hadn't been but the fear had been very real. He hoped that Daniel was safe; his one regret was that he would not get to spend more time with the young man, or make love with him. It was too late now.

Anubis stood at the edge of the platform and watched Jack with satisfaction. Finally, he would get his revenge for the death of his father, and also for the loss of Daniel. He turned his head and nodded at the executioner.

As the stool was kicked from under Jack's feet, an arrow flew through the air and sliced through the rope, severing it completely. Unprepared, Jack fell to the platform, his bound hands unable to prevent the fall.

There was a flurry of arrows towards the platform, several striking the guards which had surged onto the wooden boards. Anubis prudently stepped off the platform and ordered his guards to find the archers. Then he looked around the crowd to see if he could spot any of the outlaws that he had held prisoner the other night.

Daniel jumped off the wagon and waded into the crowd. The men and women were milling around, frightened that they might be the next targets. Although it took him a long time to reach the platform, he was glad of the crowd for it made it harder for the guards to reach him. "Jack!" he hissed when he was close enough.

Jack craned his head around to where the voice had come from. When he saw the hooded figure, he said, "Daniel?" It couldn't be Daniel; he was supposed to be safely back in the camp.

"Yes." Daniel drew back his hood. "How are you?"

"Oh, I'm fine," Jack replied, not believing what he was seeing but glad nonetheless to see Daniel's beautiful features. "Just a little tied up at the moment." The bruises on Daniel's face stood out more than yesterday and Jack felt anger rise inside him at the sight.

"Hold on." Daniel went over to the steps but didn't get to advance up them. An arm appeared out of nowhere and snaked across his throat. Daniel immediately tried to remove it but found one of his arms immobilised by a steely grip.

Anubis mentally gloated at the easy capture. "It was foolish of you to come back," he hissed in Daniel's ear.

"I do not think so." Daniel grabbed two of the Sheriff's fingers with his free hand and yanked them back hard. That loosened the grip across his neck long enough for Daniel to spin away. He kicked Anubis above the knee, forcing the older man to release his arm, and then he drew his sword, holding it ready in front of him.

Jack looked upon the scene with fear; he knew that Daniel had learnt how to fight with a sword but he didn't know how good the young man was. Therefore, he needed to get free to that he could help. His side aching from the impact with the platform, Jack struggled to sit up; he really needed to free his hands.

As if on cue, Teal'c appeared nearby. "Young John!" he called.

"Teal'c!" Jack turned so his friend could see his bound hands. "Some help here would be good."

The older man quickly cut through the ropes and then gave Jack a sword. "Protect him," he ordered.

"You bet." Jack headed towards the stairs.

In that short amount of time, several people - guards and outlaws - had moved in between him and Daniel, and Jack had to fight his way around the group. The more he advanced, however, the further away Daniel seemed to get. "Daniel!"

The young man heard the call but couldn't acknowledge it as he was too busy. Anubis was a far stronger warrior than he was, and had more experience as well. Daniel was holding his own for the moment but he was rapidly being backed against a wall.

"You know, I really have no wish to kill you," Anubis said conversationally. It would be such a waste of a good body.

"Good." Daniel had no wish to die. He fended off a flurry of blows and tried striking back, only to have the blow deflected. Then Anubis rapidly closed the distance between them and struck him across the face. Daniel was knocked backwards, falling over a prone body on the ground behind him, and his sword fell from his hand.

Anubis advanced on Daniel and knelt on his outstretched arm, holding the younger man in place. "Such a pity." He struck Daniel hard on the side of the head and the younger man lapsed into unconsciousness. "I will be back for you later on."

"Daniel!" Jack saw Anubis stand up and Daniel's unmoving body on the ground. No, Daniel couldn't be dead! He raced over, pushing urgently through the crowd, and knelt at Daniel's side. "Daniel!"

There was no response. Jack put his fingers in front of Daniel's face and felt a faint breeze. Daniel was still breathing! He was alive! After thanking God for sparing Daniel's life, Jack turned to see where Anubis was. It was just as well he did, for a sword whooshed through the air where he had just been. Hurriedly getting to his feet, Jack spun and faced his nemesis. "You bastard!"

Anubis lunged at his father's murderer, incensed by the insult. He didn't bother with insults of his own; instead, he focused on the man with a deadly intensity. Every movement was tightly controlled and deliberate - he knew exactly what he had to do to win.

Jack's own control had improved greatly in the four years since he had killed Apophis Gisbourne. He kept calm and focused on the man in front of him, coldly determined to kill him as well. He launched his own offensives when Anubis paused, and danced out of the way of his opponents' deadly sword. Stroke by stroke, he started to wear Anubis down.

When he realised he was tiring, Anubis started looking for a way to escape. But he couldn't; the crowd had him boxed in. There was no way to get out - he had to fight to the death. He lunged at his opponent, and then turned away from the counterattack. The problem with that, he found, was that the attack had been a feint.

Jack's sword pierced Anubis' body, slicing through his heart. The Sheriff was dead before he hit the ground.

Unable to believe he had won, Jack stared at the dead body for a long moment, then swiftly ran back to Daniel. He knelt beside the young man and put his hand on Daniel's chest. The chest rose and fell rhythmically, and Jack was thankful that Daniel still lived. "Daniel, wake up!"

Teal'c appeared at Jack's side, having dispatched all his opponents easily despite his advancing age. "We must leave now."

"Good plan." Jack started to pick Daniel up.

Teal'c stopped him. "I will do that." He easily scooped Daniel up in his arms.

Jack looked at him enviously for a moment then shook his head; this was not the time to get jealous. He led the way through to the entrance gates, quickly getting rid of any opposition.

Not far from the gates, they ran into Pierre, who had come that morning to retrieve Daniel from Anubis' clutches. "Daniel?" he exclaimed upon seeing the unconscious man in Teal'c's arms.

"He will be fine," Jack said, grabbing Pierre by the arm and leading him towards the gate. "Might I suggest that you come with us?"

"Absolutely." Pierre was not going to let Daniel out of his sight.

~~~

The trip back to camp was uneventful. They had lost two more good men in the battle but everyone agreed that it was worth the sacrifice to know that Anubis and a number of his soldiers were dead.

Daniel lay in Teal'c's hut, still unconscious. He was watched over by Pierre on one side, and Robin and Marian on the other. All three parents were very worried about their son, and when Daniel finally groaned, they all leaned forward anxiously. "Daniel?" Marian whispered.

Where am I? That was Daniel's first thought as he was slowly pulled back towards consciousness. The next thought was, ouch! His head hurt. Then his last memory jumped into his mind and his eyes fluttered open, hoping that he would not see Anubis standing over him.

It was a relief to see his parents staring down at him; it was also confusing. "Where am I?" His voice cracked on the last word.

"You are back at camp," Marian said as she moved forward and took his hand in hers. "We have been so worried."

"Jack?" Daniel remembered that was the reason he had been fighting Anubis.

"He is fine," Robin replied. "He will be glad to know you are too."

Teal'c chose that moment to appear in Daniel's line of vision. "You were struck on the head, Young Daniel. You have been unconscious for several hours."

"Really?" Daniel couldn't believe that. "What happened to Anubis?"

"He is dead," Teal'c replied, a satisfied tone to his voice. He handed over a small bowl and silently ordered the young man to drink.

"Good," Daniel murmured as he accepted the bowl. He had never before been glad that someone was dead but he was glad Anubis was.

"Daniel." Pierre leaned over and patted his son on the shoulder. "You took a big risk today."

"I had to. Jack risked his life to rescue me," Daniel told him. "It was the right thing to do."

Pierre had his doubts about that. He also disliked the fact that Daniel had felt beholden to the outlaw. "I am just glad you are safe."

"So am I." Daniel felt an overwhelming tiredness pulling at him and he shut his eyes, drifting quickly into sleep.

Teal'c gently ushered the other adults out, citing that Daniel needed his rest. Jack waited just outside the door, and was about to step into the hut when Teal'c stopped him.

"I need to see him, Teal'c," Jack protested firmly. He needed to look upon Daniel's face and know that he was alive.

Teal'c stepped aside but didn't let Jack enter the hut. Jack looked over at the young man, seeing the bruise on the pale face even at this distance. "He will be fine, will he not?"

"He will," Teal'c confirmed. "You need your rest also, Young John. You will retire to your hut now."

Jack knew an order when he heard one. After one last look at Daniel, he retreated to his hut, lay down on his bed, and immediately slipped into a peaceful sleep.

~~~

Jack slept for several hours, waking mid-afternoon. He went outside and sat on the log, accepting the piece of rabbit that Henry gave him. The sleep had left him feeling refreshed but not happy - that would only happen when he saw Daniel up and about.

In the hut, Daniel had woken at roughly the same time as Jack. His head hurt less but he still ached all over. Someone moved at his side and he turned his head in that direction. "Jack?"

Teal'c stepped into view. "No, it is I."

Daniel bit back his disappointment; Jack hadn't even been to see him yet. "May I get up?"

"You may try."

Slowly, Daniel sat up and swung his legs over the side of the wooden bed. His head spun for a few moments but then it cleared. "Where is everyone?"

"Your parents are outside. Shall I bring them in?" Teal'c asked.

"I guess so." Better to get the fussing over with now.

Teal'c nodded and fetched the three adults. Marian was the first one inside and she rushed to Daniel's side. "How do you feel?" she asked.

"Better," Daniel replied. He endured his parents fussing for a while, and was grateful when Teal'c said they should get some rest themselves. Once they were gone, Daniel turned to Teal'c and said, "Thank you. For everything."

"You are welcome, Young Daniel," Teal'c stated. "Young John was very concerned for your welfare. He is outside if you wish to see him."

Daniel nodded. "I do." Teal'c assisted him to stand and then Daniel walked outside, still a bit wobbly.

Jack saw Daniel leave the hut; the younger man didn't look too good. "Daniel," he called softly as the young man drew nearer.

"Jack." Daniel sat down opposite Jack, his heart skipping a beat at seeing the man alive and well.

"Hungry?" Jack asked, gesturing to the rabbit that was roasting on the fire.

"Very." Daniel accepted the meat Jack handed over and ate it quickly. When he was finished, he looked over at Jack, who was watching him intently. The expression in Jack's eyes sent a shiver running through him and not in the way Anubis' desire had. "Did you really mean what you said last night?" he asked without thinking.

"I did," Jack replied. He moved around to sit next to Daniel, noting that the young man didn't move away. "I hardly know you, our brief childhood together not withstanding, yet I feel so much for you." Just being this close to Daniel had his gut clenching in desire.

"How do you know it is not just lust?" Daniel needed to know the difference.

"Because I feel too much for that." Reaching across, Jack took Daniel's hand after first making sure that there was no-one else around. "I know you think this is a sin but I am asking you to give me a chance anyway." After all, Daniel had basically said he would consider it if it was love.

Daniel was speechless. He looked down at their joined hands, Jack's weather-beaten skin contrasting with his pale skin. This was going again all the moral rules he had lived by and he needed time to think. He knew he should say 'no' but somehow the word would not form. "Do you think this would have happened had we continued to grow up together?"

"I would like to think so." Then maybe they would have been less likely to earn everyone's wrath as they would now. Jack's thumb started caressing the back of Daniel's hand.

"I do not even know if I am staying here," Daniel stated, his tone uncertain as feelings started to stir at the simple action. "I cannot just cut Pierre and Jeanne out of my life..." He trailed off.

Jack understood that Daniel didn't want to do that. "Walk with me?" he asked, hoping that Daniel would not refuse.

Daniel hesitated for a second then decided to accept. "All right." If he could find out more about Jack, then it might make his decision easier.

Sam stepped out of her hut in time to see the two men head off into the forest. She took a couple of steps forward, intending to follow them, but her way was suddenly barred. Looking up, she saw that it was Teal'c. "Excuse me," she said.

Teal'c remained where he was. Samantha's presence would interfere with Daniel's purpose here; therefore he needed to convince her to leave. "It is meant to be. Leave them."

"What?" Sam was puzzled by the statement.

Teal'c merely stared back at her. He had seen two possible futures in his meditation several nights ago. In the first, Daniel had gone back to his Norman life and because of this, Jack had continued to wage war against the Normans until the entire camp was wiped out. In the second, Daniel had remained, and Jack had given up his cause, allowing everyone to live peacefully. Life would not be easy in the second future but it would be much better than the first. And Teal'c had no problems with the relationship Jack and Daniel would have because he could see that their souls were linked - he had seen that since they were children, he just had not understood. Now he did. Daniel was Jack's salvation and in being so, would ensure the future of the whole camp and, he suspected in time, much more.

Sam waited impatiently for an answer, and when she didn't receive one, prompted, "Well?"

"You will return to your father. Your future does not lie here," Teal'c stated.

"How would you know?" Sam asked angrily. "My future is with Daniel."

"If you remain with him, you will bring about his death."

The belief behind Teal'c's words gave Sam pause. "How do you know?" she said in a softer voice.

Teal'c simply replied, "I have seen it." Then he walked away, leaving Samantha to think on his words.

Sam didn't know whether to believe him or not. She had always been skeptical about people seeing the future but something about Teal'c made her wonder if there was some truth in it. Of course, Teal'c might be spouting all that just so Daniel would stay because of who he was. But what if he wasn't? Conflicted, Sam went back into the hut to think things over.

~~~

Jack led Daniel to a small cave fifteen minutes walk from the camp. He had found the cave by accident many years ago and often went to it when he needed to think or wanted some privacy. On this occasion, it was the latter. Taking Daniel's hand, he led the way inside.

Daniel looked around him with interest. The cave had a small tunnel leading into a medium-sized cavern, and there was enough light from the entrance - and from a natural skylight in the ceiling - to provide reasonable illumination.

After a few seconds, Daniel realised that Jack was still holding his hand. "Um..." He flexed his fingers.

"Oh." Jack let go and stepped away, having briefly forgotten that his advances might not be welcome. "What do you think?" he asked, gesturing around him.

"Nice." Well, what else could he really say?

"I come here when I need to think," Jack explained. "I thought it might help you decide."

Daniel crossed his arms over his chest. "You are asking me to give up my life and live as an outlaw. Moreover, to live with only you because I doubt even your friends will want us to stay with them." Could he do that? Could he give up everything for Jack, for a man he hardly knew? They had talked on the way here but there was still so much he didn't know.

Jack bowed his head. Put that way, it did sound extremely unfair. But he couldn't give up his life here because he had a responsibility to the men and women in his camp. Although if he was outcast, he would no longer have that responsibility.

"I will admit to having - feelings - for you," Daniel continued, "and that scares me. I am supposed to be getting married to Samantha Carter and yet I do not feel the same things about her as I do with you."

Jack's head shot up at the mention of Lady Carter's name, his jealousy tempered by the fact that Daniel had feelings for him. "You don't?"

"No. But say I stayed here with you. What would happen if we got tired of each other?" Daniel questioned. "No-one will welcome us back."

"Your parents will," Jack replied, confidant of that. "Both sets of them."

Daniel wasn't so sure. He ducked his head to stare at the floor, thinking.

Jack stepped close and put his arms around Daniel. The young man's head shot up, bewildered blue eyes looking into confident brown ones. "If you were going to say no, you would have done it back at camp," Jack said.

"Not necessari--" Daniel was cut off as Jack's mouth descended upon his. Because his lips had been parted, Jack immediately delved inside with his tongue, coaxing Daniel to respond in kind. Daniel did so tentatively, their tongues jousting in an intimate dance.

Jack withdrew to change the angle of the kiss. He didn't dive back in but instead just moved his lips against Daniel's, kissing him passionately. He was thrilled when Daniel did the same, the movements uncertain and then gaining in confidence. Moving his hands lower, Jack backed Daniel against the cave wall and pushed against the young man as his arousal grew.

Daniel couldn't remember ever being kissed so thoroughly. His hands moved up into Jack's hair as the older man's erection rubbed against him. His own erection was growing - because of the stimulation, he told himself, not yet willing to admit it was because of his feelings for Jack.

Needing some air, Jack drew back and looked at the dazed young man. Daniel's pupils had dilated so that his eyes seemed black. "You cannot deny that you like this," Jack said softly.

"I am not." That would be a blatant lie. "All I am saying is, how do we know this will work out?"

"We do not," Jack replied. "But does anyone know that when they start a relationship?"

"I suppose not." Daniel shifted uncomfortably, becoming aware of the rocks digging into his back. "I need more time to decide," he stated, his thoughts still whirling - although that could simply be because of the blow to his head.

"How about you stay here for a while and get to know me better?" Jack suggested. He would like that very much. "Then you can decide."

That sounded reasonable. "All right," Daniel agreed. His hands slid down to rest on Jack's shoulders. "I cannot believe that I am even contemplating this," he said, looking into Jack's warm eyes. "Especially after the way we met."

Jack winced at the reminder. "I am sorry about that."

"I hope you don't do that with everyone you kidnap," Daniel said with a hint of jealousy.

"Just you," Jack promised. "There was something about you..." Jack trailed off; he now knew what it had been. "Do you forgive me?"

"Yes. Because I know that despite your actions, you would never have forced me into anything," Daniel stated with certainty. Jack might have done some terrible things but rape wasn't one of them. He jumped when Jack squeezed his behind, banging the back of his head on the rocky wall. "Ouch!" His vision grayed out for a few moments, and he wobbled on his feet.

Jack was immediately apologetic, and one of his hands came up to check Daniel's head for damage while the other held the young man upright. When his hand came away blood-free, he sighed with relief. "So, shall we continue?" he asked, looking at those soft lips with desire.

Daniel stared at Jack for a long moment and then drew the older man towards him. He needed to make an informed decision after all...

~~~

When they got back some time later, everyone else was bustling around. Both men acted as if nothing had happened, mixing with everyone and answering questions about the events earlier in the day. Marian stuck close to Daniel for as long as possible, fussing over him to make up for those years when she hadn't been able to. Sam was close by too but was quiet, still thinking about Teal'c's words.

Pierre went over to his son, curious to where he had disappeared to. But he would have time to ask that later. "It is time for you to come home," he stated. This nonsense had gone on for long enough.

"I, uh, I am not coming home," Daniel said, standing his ground. "At least, not for a while."

Pierre stared at his son in disbelief. "You want to stay after everything that has happened to you?"

"Yes, I do."

"Why?"

"Because I want to spend some more time with them," Daniel explained. "And Eliza is still unwell."

"Daniel, I have supported you through all of this but enough is enough." Pierre put his foot down. "I will not let you run the risk of being hurt again."

"It is my risk to take," Daniel argued, disappointed that Pierre was not supporting him now. He didn't want to argue about it but it seemed that he had no choice. "This is my heritage and I want to know more."

"You are too stubborn for your own good," Pierre stated. "You could have been killed."

"But I was not." Daniel didn't know what else to say to convince his father. He could stay without permission but he didn't want to defy Pierre like that. "Please?"

Pierre looked around at all the Saxons who were pretending not to listen to them. Although he held deep reservations about this, could he really deny Daniel this opportunity? "Your mother will be very disappointed."

"I know. But you could bring her to visit," Daniel suggested.

"And what about Samantha Carter?" Pierre asked.

Daniel was silent for a few seconds as he looked over at Samantha. Having obviously overheard, she glanced up and shook her head. Relieved, Daniel replied, "She will return to her father and keep looking." He was glad that she didn't want him; he had not wanted to hurt her. "Father, please."

Pierre reluctantly relented. "I will bring your mother here in two weeks. I expect you to return with us then."

"Thank you." Daniel made no promise however; he would see what the future brought.

After Pierre left, Sam came over to Daniel. The young man smiled at her. "Thank-you."

"It would not have worked," Sam said with a smile of her own, having just arrived at that conclusion. She didn't love Daniel, although she did care for him, and she didn't want to spend the rest of her life constantly wondering whether he wanted to be living in the forest and not with her. "But I hope that you find what you are looking for."

"I hope so too." Daniel kissed her cheek. "I hope you find someone who will care for you the way you deserve." She was a strong and courageous woman, and she deserved better than him.

"I hope you find the same," Sam stated. The woman that snared him would be lucky indeed. She returned his kiss and then walked over to where Pierre stood waiting.

As they rode away, Daniel hoped that he had done the right thing.

~~~

That night, Daniel accepted Jack's offer to share his hut. No-one thought this strange and only Teal'c guessed the true reason behind the offer.

Jack made sure the door was closed and then led Daniel over to the bed. The bed was wider than the normal ones, specially made by Jack because he liked not being crowded. However with both of them, it was going to be a tight fit. Jack got onto the bed and lay down on his left side. "Come here," he said, patting the space in front of him.

"I had better not fall out," Daniel muttered as he carefully lay down in front of Jack, his back to the older man.

"It'll be fine," Jack reassured him. He put his arms around Daniel and held him close.

Daniel swallowed hard at the feel of Jack holding him like so. It felt so strange and yet not. "You promise you are not going to do anything." He rested one arm over Jack's.

"I promise." He would do - or not do, in this case - anything to keep Daniel.

"Good." Daniel closed his eyes. "Goodnight, Jack."

"Goodnight, Daniel," Jack echoed. He pressed a kiss to Daniel's hair and then settled down to sleep.

~~~

Two weeks later found Daniel thoroughly enjoying himself. He had learnt a lot about his family and the other Saxons, and especially Jack. And most importantly, he had come to a decision. It wasn't one he had made lightly, and he had Jack's total support on it. Now he just needed to find out how his two families would react.

He talked to his Saxon family first, with Jack standing nearby for support.

Robin's initial reaction was anger but as he thought back on all the times he had observed the two men together, he wondered why he hadn't seen it before. And when he remembered Jack's possessiveness towards Daniel even as a child, it suddenly seemed preordained. "Are you absolutely sure?" he asked Daniel.

"As sure as I can be, yes," Daniel replied.

"Then we are happy for you both," Marian said. She was disappointed that Daniel would give her no grandchildren but as long as Daniel was happy - and lived in the forest - then that was all that mattered to her.

"And you are going to split your time between the two places?" Eliza sought clarification. She had enjoyed getting to know her brother and was loathe to let him leave even for part of the year.

"Providing we will be welcome at de Gaulle castle, yes." That was the part he was most uncertain of.

"They will be fools if they don't understand," Robin stated.

"They are strict Christians," Daniel said. "The church doesn't approve of two men being together." He still wasn't sure that this wasn't a sin but there had to be a reason why he had been allowed to fall in love with Jack.

"You are their son," Marian pointed out, resigned to the fact that she would have to share him. "If they truly love you, they will be happy for you."

"I hope so."

~~~

"You what?" Pierre was astounded. He turned on Jack, angrier that he had ever been. "This is all your doing! You and your immoral Saxon ways!"

"It is not Jack's fault," Daniel stated firmly, getting in between his father and Jack to prevent a fight.

"He seduced you!" Pierre protested.

"No, he did not!" Besides, they hadn't even done anything yet, outside of kissing. "I am not some naïve boy, Father! I can decide for myself what I want to do."

Jeanne had just been staring at her son in shock. When Pierre had first brought the news back that Daniel's birth parents still lived, she had been extremely distraught and had taken to her bedchamber for several days. Now she felt like doing the same thing. Her son was going to live in sin! With an outlaw! "I do not believe this," she said faintly, swaying on her feet.

Daniel gently helped her to sit down on a log and then he crouched down in front of her. "I did not believe it myself at first. But remember how you taught me that everything must happen for a reason? Well, there has to be a reason I am supposed to stay here, otherwise I would not have fallen in love with Jack." He truly believed that.

"He is a man, Daniel! That is not allowed!" Pierre argued.

"Do you think I do not know that?" Daniel shot back, turning his head to look at his father.

"Monsieur--" Jack said, breaking his silence.

"You stay out of this!" Pierre rounded on the man. "This is all your fault! I should kill you where you stand!" His hand went to his sword.

"No!" Daniel hurriedly stood and went over to his father, intent on preventing bloodshed. Then he cried out in pain as the sword scraped across his upper arm.

"What did you do?" Jack demanded of Pierre as Daniel cried out and dropped to his knees, clutching his arm.

"I - I do not know." Pierre's sword had just cleared the sheath when Daniel had come over to him. "He must have got in the way," he said in shock. "Daniel, I did not mean to hurt you!" Pierre knelt down beside his son.

"I know. I got too close," Daniel absolved his father of blame. He should have known better than to get in the way. He gritted his teeth in pain as he pressed down on the cut to slow the bleeding.

"Daniel--" Pierre started to help but he was warded off by Jack.

"Stay away!" Jack warned. He put his arm around Daniel's waist and helped him to his feet. "Let Teal'c take a look at that."

Daniel nodded and let Jack lead him over to Teal'c's hut. Fortunately, the Moor was inside. "What happened?"

"It is a long story," Jack stated as he sat Daniel down on the bed. He was aware of the de Gaulles coming into the hut behind him but ignored them for the moment. "Just fix him up and I will explain later."

"It was an accident," Daniel put in. He didn't want Pierre getting blamed for this.

"Right." But Jack was still going to blame the older man. If he hadn't been so quick to go for his sword, this would not have happened.

Jeanne observed, through her shock, the solicitousness that Jack showed for her son, and the way Daniel let him so close spoke volumes. They were in love, much like she and Pierre had been so many years ago - and in a way, still were. Daniel had never let anyone but them close, so for him to allow Jack that liberty, it had to be something special. Tears came to her eyes. She might not approve of his choice or the fact that she would never have grandchildren, but she couldn't make Daniel's life miserable because of it; she did not want to lose him - he was the only child she would ever have. Sitting down next to him on the bed, she said, "You are still going to visit, are you not?"

Daniel nodded. "If we are welcome, yes. Every month." It would necessitate a lot of travelling but he didn't want to stop seeing them. "And you can come here too."

"I think your other parents might not like that," she pointed out. Daniel's birth parents had been conspicuous in their absence.

He couldn't disagree with that; he knew that Marian wasn't enamoured about the idea of sharing. "So you accept that this is what I want--Ow!" Daniel looked down at what Teal'c was doing to his arm. A bandage had been tied tightly around the injured area.

"I have put a poultice on the wound," Teal'c explained. "The bleeding should cease shortly but it will be at least a week before the wound is healed."

"Thanks, Teal'c," Jack said, grateful for the man's knowledge of healing.

"Yes, thank you," Pierre echoed. He too had seen the affection Jack had for his son, and now turned in apology to the man Daniel had chosen. "And to you for taking care of Daniel."

"It is my pleasure," Jack replied. "And I intend to do it for a long time to come," he added as he sat down next to Daniel and put a possessive arm around him. Daniel smiled at him in return; it was a happy smile that Jack had once thought would never be directed at him.

"Why him?" Pierre asked, observing his son's happiness. "He kidnapped you!"

"I know. I cannot explain it," Daniel said, grinning at Jack. "But he is so much more than the man I first met and if you give him a chance, you will see that too."

Jeanne stood up and then extended her hand towards Jack. "Welcome to the family." She wasn't at all sure about this but she didn't want to lose her only son.

Jack looked uncertainly at her then took the outstretched hand in his own. "Thank you," he said sincerely. He was pleased for Daniel's sake that his parents seem to have accepted this.

Pierre walked stiffly over and offered his own hand in welcome; he would reserve judgement, however, about Jack until he saw how Daniel was treated in a month or so once the novelty had worn off.

~~~

The de Gaulles went home the next day. They weren't entirely happy with the situation but they could see that Daniel was happy so they accepted it - for the time being, anyway. They had shared stories with Robin and Marian, filling each other in on what they had missed of Daniel's life. And then they had left, praying that their son would soon follow.

Jack and Daniel managed to sneak away that afternoon. Jack took the younger man back to their cave. Once they were inside, Jack gave Daniel a breathtaking kiss. "I have been wanting to do that all day," he said when they broke apart to breathe.

"Me too," Daniel admitted. He thoroughly enjoyed kissing Jack, and had recently begun wanting more. Problem was, he didn't know how to tell Jack. "Um..."

Jack could feel Daniel's erection pressing against his as the young man leaned into him. A smile formed. "Do you want to make love?" he asked, guessing at what Daniel might be thinking.

"Please." He wanted to know what it was like.

Gently, Jack guided Daniel to lie down and then half-covered his body with his own. "If you want to stop at any time, just say so," he instructed Daniel.

"I will," Daniel promised a little nervously; despite his readings, he wasn't sure what to expect.

"It's going to be fine," Jack stated, letting one hand rest on Daniel's stomach and slowly started massaging it. "I love you, you know."

"I love you too," Daniel replied, smiling up at Jack. He had given up his life for this man and he was sure he would have no regrets. "Show me," Daniel ordered softly.

So Jack did. He slowly moved the tunic upwards, baring Daniel's chest. Then he leaned over and pressed a kiss to every fading bruise that he could see, trying to make up for the pain each one had caused when inflicted. After that, he ran his hands over the hairless chest, tracing over every rib, down until he reached the top of Daniel's trousers. He slowly undid the tie at the front and bared the hardening erection. Carefully, he took it in hand and wrapped his fingers around it. The skin was soft and warm, and it felt good in his hand.

Daniel gasped when he felt Jack touch him so intimately. No-one had ever touched him there before and he found the experience almost overwhelming. His hands clenched at his side, unsuccessfully trying to find purchase on the dirt floor. When Jack moved his hand up and down the shaft, Daniel had to bite his lip to keep from crying out his pleasure. Arousal swirled within him, more intense than he had ever experienced before. When Jack tugged on his trousers, Daniel automatically lifted his hips and the material was stripped from him. He could feel the rocky ground against his bare skin, and it was an erotic feeling, albeit unusual.

When Jack started taking his own tunic off, Daniel sat up and assisted him. Then he ran his fingers through the fine chest hair, the colour darker than the hair on Jack's head. The curls were springy, much like... Daniel's eyes flicked to Jack's groin. Did he dare touch Jack down there? He let his hands glide over Jack's stomach, feeling the solid muscle beneath his fingers; he had the feeling that Jack was much stronger than he was. Then he let one finger dip below the waistband, drawing a moan from the older man.

Jack grabbed Daniel's hand before he could go any further; there would be plenty of time for exploring later. Then he gently pushed Daniel back to lie on the ground before taking his trousers off. Looking around the cave, he quickly found the small jar he had brought with him and carried it back over to where the young man lay stretched out for him. Jack saw Daniel staring curiously at his groin, so he knelt over his soon-to-be lover, the erection bobbing tantalisingly within Daniel's reach.

Fascinated, Daniel traced one finger over the hard shaft, feeling its smooth texture. It wasn't so different from his own, he decided, although it did seem to be longer.

With a groan, Jack took hold of Daniel's hand and put some of the ointment on it. Then he directed Daniel to smooth the ointment over his erection.

Tentatively, Daniel curled his fingers around the shaft and stroked, spreading the ointment over all of it. He didn't know why he was doing this but he assumed Jack knew what they were doing. He felt the shaft get harder in his hand, and a corresponding increase occurred in his own groin.

When Jack couldn't stand it any more, he removed Daniel's hand and then moved off to the side; too much more and he would explode. "On your knees," he instructed.

Daniel looked at him quizzically but obeyed nonetheless. He had seen horses and other animals mate like this but never humans. "Why?"

"Easier," Jack replied. He nudged Daniel's knees apart then moved into place behind him. He stared at the perfect buttocks - which were currently covered in dirt - and then reverently ran his hands over them. Then he ran a finger down the crease and over the hole that puckered tightly because of the touch. After a long moment spent just looking, Jack shuffled forward and lined himself up to enter.

Daniel inhaled sharply as something tried to push into him. Instinctively, he clenched his muscles to prevent the object from entering.

"Push down," Jack panted, suddenly finding himself unable to move. The head of his shaft had breached Daniel's hole but was now stuck. When he felt Daniel unclench, he pushed himself further in.

"Argh!" The pain was sharp and cut through the pleasure he had been feeling. "It hurts!"

"It will improve," Jack promised, rubbing one hand over Daniel's back to soothe him. "Just breathe slowly and then push."

Daniel tried to slow his breathing, taking long breaths through his mouth. Then, when the pain had subsided, he pushed back again. Another shock of pain went through him, although not as bad as the first time, and as he clenched his muscles, he could feel the hard shaft inside him. It was so strange, especially as he could feel the heat from the organ pulsing through him.

Jack waited until he heard Daniel's breathing even out again and then slowly withdrew a couple of inches before pushing back in, aiming for that spot inside Daniel that caused pleasure. He gloated over Daniel's surprised exclamation, and then started to thrust continuously, beginning slow and gradually getting faster.

The amount of pleasure Daniel was getting from this surprised him, and he began pushing himself back towards Jack, wanting more of the sensation. He ignored the occasional spikes of pain and concentrated on how good this felt. As the thrusts grew faster, they became shorter, and Daniel felt the warmth of Jack's skin against his buttocks. A hand reached underneath him to wrap around his shaft, and Daniel began thrusting into that hand as well as pushing back against Jack. The combined sensations gradually became too much for him, and soon his essence spurted out of him. Not long after, a warmth filled him as Jack thrust deeply into him and stilled. Daniel couldn't believe how good the warmth felt, nor how deeply inside him it was.

The two men collapsed to the floor, both landing on their sides, Jack holding Daniel to him. Daniel could feel the shaft inside him soften, and his muscles contracted with it.

Jack wrapped his arms around Daniel's chest, and the latter rested his own over the strong arms. "Still think this is a sin?" he asked softly, his lips brushing against Daniel's ear.

"Definitely not," Daniel replied. It was the most beautiful thing he had ever experienced and his body was still singing with pleasure.

"Good. Because I plan on doing this every day for the rest of our lives." Jack gently pulled out of Daniel and then hugged him tightly.

That suited Daniel just fine. He closed his eyes and, feeling totally loved, fell into a contented sleep with a smile on his face, truly feeling that he had found his home at last in Jack's arms.

THE END