Robin Many Feathers

Chapter 2

Richard paced his rooms like a trapped panther. He had to get away! With mounting panic, the young prince knew he could not stand another night with the insane Laughing King. He knew he could not survive a wedding night. Which could very well be the point. If Richard did not survive the night, the Laughing King would be the sole ruler of the Haly Realm as well as his own. Richard shuddered in horror at that possible fate of his people.

'I must get away! I must leave!' But his reckless vows made him honor bound to stay. Richard's thoughts were in turmoil, chasing themselves in smaller and smaller circles until he became frozen with indecision.

"Stop this!" Richard had stopped himself in the middle of the room and spoke sharply. He had to think. He had to plan. He had no allies, but the fate of Haly, not just his own well being, depended upon him escaping and breaking the engagement. He would not let Haly fall to the Laughing King, personal honor be damned. Dick settled himself into a chair, marshaled his resources and began to plan.

Two hours later, a message was given to the Laughing King. He had been planning the reception for the following day. It had consisted of ordering people about with a whip, having them move decorations - of deep purple, green and blood red - from one spot to another at his whim. When the message came, he was in the process of beating a young page to death.

"A-a message for you, your Highness." The man holding it went pale when he saw the look in the King's eye. "It is from young Prince Grayson." The look in the King's eye turned from homicidal rage to maniacal lust. As he read the note, he only backhanded the messenger into a wall.

"Ah! So, he wants me early! I knew the young man would come 'round to my way of thinking!" Decorations forgotten, the Laughing King went striding off to the rooms of the young prince.

The messenger slowly picked himself up. Only one bone had been cracked with that backhanded assault. He went over and helped pick up the young page, who was still, thankfully, breathing. The messenger determined right there that he and this poor young girl in his arms, were getting out of the castle. The Laughing King's insanity was not getting better, but worse. They had sacrificed Prince Richard for nothing.

Slamming the door open, the Laughing King entered Richard's room without so much as a by your leave. He had hoped to startle the young man and see him cower before him. Instead, the room was caught in lantern glow, the bed covered in furs and satin. On a table near the bed, wine and two cups had been placed. Upon the bed, naked and with fear in his eyes, Richard reclined knowing that he must go through with this. Pay for his mistakes with blood and pain.

"My- my lord. I had thought we might 'dally' earlier today for the gift of the cloak. I wish to be in fine form for tomorrow's celebration. I've had the wine that you like so well brought up for you." The fear in Richard's voice was evident. The disgust at himself for going through with this was not. "I thought we might share a toast to tomorrow's venture."

"My young, beautiful prince." The Laughing King purred. "I am so glad that you have come 'round to my way of thinking." The mad man stopped at the table and drank straight out of the bottle before advancing on the reclining figure, pulling off his clothes as he moved. "We shall make such beautiful music together." Brutal lips took the firm young mouth. Malicious fingers groped, bruised and lacerated the young man upon the bed. The pain, as always, was unimaginable. But Richard did remember to scream. The screams seemed to sate the Laughing King's lust. Long, loud and with full venting of the fear and anguish that was being visited upon him. His screams held his worst fears for Haly, the hurt and loss at being left in this madman's hands for ten years. Payment for gifts that should have been impossible to create. His screams held the betrayal he felt at the hands of the people of this realm and the crumbling of dreams held close, now turning to ashes in his heart.

The Laughing King was soon done. He did not want to kill his young prize yet. The pain in young Richard's cries and the blood on the sheets were a masterwork to the King, but not yet the masterpiece. That would be the Kingdom of Haly, Batman, crying out for their broken prince, as the streets ran red with blood. The Laughing King ran a hand down the cheek of the sobbing boy, moving lower and scoring marks upon his chest. "Until tomorrow, my dear prince, when you and your kingdom will become mine forever". An insane laughter following the King as he exited the prince's rooms, not caring about the state of his dress, staggering off to his chambers to sleep the sleep of the corrupted. The insanity seemed to linger in the hallways and walls as if the castle itself was becoming infected with the Laughing King's insanity.

Dick lay panting on the bed, his body hurt too much to move, the bedding smeared with his own blood. But he had to. Soon. His people, the realm of his parents, depended upon it. The drugged wine that he had left for the Laughing King would only hold him in sleep for so long. Dragging himself from the bed, Richard cleaned himself up and staunched the blood flows. He gritted his teeth and pulled on the tunic and trousers of the Undermountains. The clothing clung to him like darkness clings tonight. It soothed his aches and hurts with the coolness of hidden lakes, deep underground. His movements became muffled and quiet, silenced by the rock of the mountains and swallowed by the huge caverns hidden in their depths. He wanted to put on the Mask of the Forest, letting it's healing properties ease the pain and aches he had suffered. He needed to see however and put on the mask of twilight, covering his features and allowing him to still see as he put out the lanterns in the room. He thought, for a moment, that he saw a sparkle near the discarded clothing of the Laughing King. Unwilling to go near it, Dick skirted around the area as he secured some clothing and belongings into a magical case that had come to him from his mother's people. Anything of cloth or fiber could be folded and fit into the small case, leaving it slim and easily stuffed into a pocket or a gauntlet. He stowed the green mask upon his person and the crystal rope upon his hip. Finally, Dick swung the cloak of many feathers around his shoulders. It whispered and sang to him. Calling him to come and play in the trees, stoop upon the unsuspecting prey in the field, and feel the wind as he soared to freedom. Dick reveled for a few moments in the feeling of flight that the cloak gave to him. He wanted to be truly free and the Realm of Haly safe from the madman's hands.

Dick touched several owl feathers woven into the cloak. If he was quiet before, he was silence now. Dusk had come upon the castle and Dick moved into its welcoming embrace.

Stealing through the castle like an unattached shadow, Dick made his way to the courtyard and the freedom beyond. He must stay hidden and disavowed for one year to break the engagement forced upon him by the Laughing King and his own words. It was one the oldest tradition of the kingdoms for breaking an unwanted engagement. There had been times when mates and spouses had been captured and forced into alliances against their will. If they could escape and remain free for a year, honor was served and unwanted alliances broken. Dick cold think of nothing more unwanted than the alliance between Haly and the Laughing Kingdom.

With no orders from the Laughing King, the palace guard and watch was haphazard at best. The thugs and brutal men that made up the insane king's army were not disposed to self motivation and their actions were sluggish as if they were as drunk as their king. Dick's path to freedom was made much easier by their lack of thought and the lack of demands from an unconscious Laughing King.

Reaching the walls of the courtyard, Dick unwound the crystal rope from his side. Throwing it up, it attached itself to the crenellation at the top. In silence, a shadow drifted up a glimmer of starlight, landing on the guard's walk on top of the wall. The shadow let itself down the other side just as quietly. Tugging gently, the rope slithered down the wall, coiling itself again in the hands of its master, sitting securely on his side.

If anyone in the town surrounding the castle saw a shadow slipping by or running into the forest, no one mentioned it. To speak of such things would be to invite the attentions of the Laughing King. Those were attention that everyone in the Kingdom could do without.

Dick ran through the forest, allowing some of his panic to surface and spur his movements. He dearly wanted to stop and deal with the pain and blood but the fear of capture and the Laughing King kept him moving. With the mask of Twilight, he could easily see obstacles and avoided them. His presence went unnoted by the predators of the night, just another darkness caused by the moon and the trees. Although some found the deep, wet scent of caves, where no caves were, to be slightly strange.

Dick traveled this way for many days. Sleeping in the tops of trees for a few hours each day, his cloak of feathers giving him the lightness and balance of blue jays, swallows and robins. With every step he took away from the Laughing King's castle, Dick's heart became lighter. Occasionally, the whistles and songs of the birds would break from his throat, causing him to laugh and smile as he headed further and further away.

Passing over a mountain range, dividing the Laughing Kingdom and the next kingdom over, was easier than expected. The suit of Undermountain helped him find caves and tunnels that led him through the mountains rather than over them. After three days of traveling through beautiful caverns and twisting tunnels, Dick emerged into a deep, pine forest.

The forest looked old and untouched by the hand of man. The trees were old and large, wider around than Dick could span with his two arms. He traveled further into the forest, silently moving among its inhabitants and hearing the birdcalls in the branches above him.

Dick traveled on for several more days, until he found a likely cave surrounded by ancient oaks and pines. Here, he decided to spend his year of hiding. No one would think to hunt for a prince in the forest, much less an area that looked as if human hands had never touched the tree trunks nor gazed upon the ponds and meadows in the area.

In this hidden valley, Dick lived for several months. He spoke rarely, but sang and whistled with the birds that had accepted him. Many of the forest creatures came to accept his presence as well, knowing he would take no more than he needed and could provide protection and shelter. Dick was happy in this life, healing the pain of the Laughing King and nursing hopes of returning home to Haly.

Dick was up in the trees looking for a wounded hawk when he heard them. Laughing, talking, the jingle of bridle and tack. Men had come to his small corner of the world. Dick froze in the tree tops. He had on only regular clothes and the Cloak of Feathers. The garb of Undermountain and the two masks were tucked away in his nest in the cave. His heart thundered in his chest. Had the Laughing King found him? Had he been discovered and did he have time to run again?

He saw the men passing underneath him, dressed in the greens and browns of a hunting party. Dick stayed quietly in the tree tops as they passed, his gaze sharpening on the last few figures of the group. A young man of noble bearing rode between two of the others. One looked to be the Master of the Hunt and had bright red hair. The other also had hair the color of sunset, but of slimmer build and wore finer clothes. But it was the man in the center that truly held Dick's attention. He had dark hair that shone raven black in the bright sunlight. It curled tightly around his ears and neck as if caressing the white skin beneath it. As the noble scanned the area around him, Dick saw that his eyes were a deep purple, as if amethysts had gifted their beautiful, deep sparkle to this man's eyes. The man's body moved with the horse as if the two were one creature. A centaur's handsome form that could be separated into man and horse at whim. His movements were graceful and energized, yet gentle at the same time. The two men at his side vied for his attention, content to be near him when they didn't have it, proud and honored when sharing confidences.

Dick felt the beat of his heart increase as he gazed upon the man below him. Here was a man he would be happy to be betrothed to! Dick kept his silence allowing the party to move under him. He could no more reveal himself to these people than go home to Haly. He must remain hidden or suffer the attentions of the Laughing King. However, that did not mean he cold not find out what they were doing and why they were here.

As twilight approached, Dick crept up to the camp that had been assembled by the hunting party. He had stolen back to the cave and hastily gathered his few belongings, most of them already safely stored in the magical case. He did not know when he would next be able to return to his nest. He left quickly, fearing that the hunters would discover his nest and him within it.

Dick crept quietly closer to the camp fire that burned merrily in the night. He would know who these men were and whether or not they worked for the Laughing King. He found the handsome noble and his two red haired companions seated on the far side of the fire. Dick could hear their words, but wanted a better look at the dark haired man. He could hear their jests and easy camaraderie, giving him a pang of envy for the friendship the three obviously enjoyed. Dick found out, as the men spoke, that he was in the Kingdom of Atlantan and the dark haired man seated before the fire was its king. The two red heads were Roy, the Master of the Hunt and Wally, a close friend and advisor to the young king.

Just as Dick had found a spot where he could observe the trio, his luck ran out. Dick unknowingly brought his knee down upon a branch which cracked like a whip through the night. Every man in the camp stilled and turned towards the spot were Dick lay hiding. Cursing, Dick turned and jumped into the trees, running into the night.

The three men at the fire side had jumped and turned at the loud crack that had sounded unexpectedly. As they watched, they saw a multitude of feathers move and fly into the trees.

"Did you see that? It looked like a bird…"

"No bird that I have ever seen, it had many different feathers…"

"It flew like a bird, it seemed like a beautiful creature…"

The last comment decided for Roy what must be done. "Up men! His highness would have the creature that was just here. And I would have us catch it for him!"

Deep purple eyes looked up at Roy. "Don't hurt it. It maybe the only one of its kind. I would hate to see a unique creature removed from this world."

Roy briefly inclined his head. "As your majesty commands." And the hunt was on.

Dick was exhausted. The hunters had chased and tracked him through the night. Several times during the night, he was sure had lost them. But just as he would let his guard down, he would hear the voice of their Master of the Hunt, Roy, leading them right towards him. Dawn was quickly approaching. If the hunters saw him in daylight, Dick was afraid they would have him. He put on a burst of speed, forcing his aching limbs to move faster through the trees to escape those behind him.

Roy was amazed at the stamina and cunning of the creature they pursued. It had lost them several times and only by luck had Roy discovered its trail again. It had run his men into the ground, causing exhaustion in those known for their abilities in the forest. Even if the king had not ordered its capture rather than just its skin, Roy was not sure he could have killed it. The creature was a worthy adversary and deserving of its life.

Just as dawn was insinuating her fingers across the lands and through the forest, Roy saw the creature put on a burst of speed that would allow it to escape from his faltering men. Not wanting to lose to the creature, nor face the king empty handed, Roy had one more trick up his sleeve. Pulling out a set of bolos, Roy wound them up and released them at the fantastic creature. Roy was know throughout Atlantan and beyond for his marksmanship. But even the best archer in the world needs light to see his target. Roy hoped that the faint light of dawn would be enough for him to capture his target. The bolos whistled through the air. In the distance, he heard a faint cry, like the call of a mourning dove, crashing, and then silence. A fierce grin swept across the hunters face. He had captured his quarry.

Dick heard the whistling of the bolos seconds before he felt them wrap around his knees and calves. The bolos had hit him just as he was about to land on the branch of a tree. Their weight and impediment caused Dick to lose his balance and fall. With a heartbroken cry, Dick crashed to the forest floor and knew no more.

The hunters came upon their quarry warily, ready for any last minute tricks or evasions. It appeared to be a mass of feathers and not just one type of feathers, but all types. Hawk, Sparrow, Dove, Owl, Crow. So many types that the hunters could not name them all, puddled on the ground in an unmoving heap. Roy cautiously touched the feathers, stroking the softness that lay upon the ground. Calling for a tarp, they bundled the creature into it, securing it with rope so it could not escape. Hefting their burden, which seemed to be no heavier than a large bird, they took their prize back to their king.

Wally watched his king, pace back and forth in front of the dying fire. Garth was worried for his huntsman as well as the amazing creature that they had only caught a glimpse of. The king would have no harm come to any if he could help it. They had been gone all night, but they had heard them moving through the forest calling out to one another as their prey was sighted, lost and sighted again.

"Garth, your highness, please sit down. You'll only exhaust yourself." Wally looked at his friend and ruler with exasperated affection. Garth had been a good king to Atlantan. He had been given the crown when he had turned eighteen and for the last two years, the kingdom had flourished. He had kept the country from war with the Laughing Kingdom to the west and gained closer ties to the Realm of Haly to the North. He had actually hoped to unite Atlantan and Haly with a wedding alliance between himself and the young prince of the northern kingdom. To his surprise and dismay, Garth found himself dealing not with a handsome young man, but with the older Lord Marshall, Bruce Wayne. Young prince Richard was missing.

Wally was pulled from his musings when Garth threw himself down next to him. "Where could they be Wallace? I had not expected such a fantastical creature to put up such a fight." Garth chuckled. "Or, I suppose, flight." Wally shook his head. Garth's sense of humor always seem to run to puns.

"They will return soon, my lord. With the first stirrings of light, Roy will either catch the creature or admit defeat."

Garth looked over at his friend. "So what you're saying is, is that we could be stuck out here for the next six months?" Both men laughed. Roy was knows for his stubbornness and pride. While a gracious loser, he went to every extreme short of cheating to win. Roy was not known for giving up.

As the two men continued in amiable conversation, they heard the return of the hunters. Looking to the forest, Garth and Wally saw Roy and his assistant carrying a tarp covered shape. The bundle was unmoving and seemed to sag between the two men as they advanced on the campsite. Garth sat up straight as the two hunters set their burden down in front of him. Garth looked up at Roy. "You didn't kill it, did you?"

Roy shook his head in bemusement at his monarch. "No, your highness. I believe that it is only unconscious. I had to knock it out of the trees." Roy and his assistant knelt down to undo the ropes and remove the tarp. They also stayed close incase the creature was playing possum.

The tarp was pulled back to reveal a carpet of feathers. Dazzling, plain and shinning the feathers wove patterns of light and dark into a tapestry of beauty and flight. Above this tapestry, almost hidden in the cloaks deep hood, was the bewildered face of a young man. The face was smudged with dirt and grime as well as a few bruises where a leap had been misjudged. The long black hair was tangled and full of leaves and twigs as it escaped out of the cloak behind the young man. Garth was stunned as was all his party. This exotic, fantastical creature was a young boy? A soft voice pulled Garth back to his senses.

"Please, please don't hurt me." The face before Garth seemed unaccountably young and frightened. Garth's heart went out to the young boy.

"Easy young one. We shall not hurt you. We thought you were a fantastical creature out of myth, not a young boy. Who are you and where are your parents? How do you come to be out in the deep forest alone?"

Dick came back to consciousness as he was being carried back to the camp. Refusing to resign himself to a horrible fate if his true identity was discovered, Dick came up with an alternate solution. Slowly and gently, so as not to alert the hunters, he touched the feathers of the hatchlings and chicks that were woven into his cape of many feathers. They would give him the appearance of being younger than he truly was and keep his identity secret. Unfortunately, to maintain the appearance, it would take some of his strength and ability. In a way, it truly did make him younger. He hoped he would not have to stay this way for long.

Dick looked up into the concerned eyes above him. He hated to deceive someone that seemed so gentle and kind, but there was nothing else for it. "My parents are dead, good sir. I was turned out from my home when I was very young. The forest has given me shelter these last few months. I beg pardon if I had broken any of your laws by staying here." Dick made himself smaller and more vulnerable hoping they would grow disgusted with such a weak person and leave him to the mercy of the forest. Once he had answered their questions and satisfied their curiosity, they would move on and he would be alone once more.

Garth saw the frightened and wary look in the eyes of the boy before him. He felt sympathy for his plight as his own parents had died when he was young and had been raised by his uncle. Where he had been raised in acceptance and love, this poor boy seemed to have been cast out and left to fend for himself. "You have broken no laws young one, but I cannot let you stay our here to fend for yourself. Do you have no one you can turn to for succor?" At the shake of the dark head before him, Garth made a decision. "Well, then. Since no one else claims you, I will." He looked down at the young boy with satisfaction.

Dick's eyes widened in apprehension. He did not want to be claimed by anyone! Dick tried to bolt. He got to the edge of the encampment before he was tackled by the Master of the Hunt. Lost in the hysteria of being 'claimed' by anyone, Dick struggled and fought liked a wildcat against the larger man.

Roy tensed when he saw the panic in the boy's eyes at Garth's words. For Garth, it meant that the young boy would become part of his household. For the boy, it seemed to have different connotations entirely. He was after the stripling as soon as he bolted, but had not expected the speed. He should have. He had chased him through the forest for the entire night. A flying tackle brought the youngster down before he could again escape into the forest. Expecting a sigh of defeat, he was unprepared for the hysteric panic that fueled his captive's limbs. The boy struggled and fought as if he wrestled the devil for his freedom. There was no intelligence in the deep blue eyes, only terror and panic. Roy subdued his quarry, gently coaxing the youngster back into a semblance of humanity. "Gently, gently. Good King Garth means you no harm. To be claimed is to be taken into his household and provided with work and lodging. I am claimed by him as are my huntsmen. It means to be part of the King's household. That is all, nothing more. No harm will come to you. I promise you, no harm."

Dick slowly came back to himself. He found himself pinned in the arms of the red haired Master of the Hunt, being coaxed and gentled into a state of normalcy. For having been chased by the man for most of the night, Dick felt safe in his arms, protected. He stiffened as the man who would 'claim' him came striding over. Dick felt the arms around him tighten so he cold not bolt again. The dark haired man crouched in front of him with a rueful expression upon his face.

Garth looked at they young boy before him, still apprehensive and clearly ready to run if Roy had not such a tight hold upon him. "I'm sorry. I did not mean to frighten you. I only wish to make you part of my household so you will have its protections as no one else has done so for you. You will come and work at the castle and receive bed, board, and pay for your work. You will be protected there and given the chance at a productive life." Garth looked into the boys eyes and saw the spark of hope at the idea of 'protection'. "My name is King Garth of Atlantan. You will be under my protection." Garth smiled at the young boy in Roy's hold. "What is your name? I prefer to have names for my household rather than just 'you there, the one with all the feathers'." Garth waited patiently for an answer.

Dick looked up into purple eyes. He felt his defenses coming down at being offered protection. For so long, he had been the only protection he had and since he was six had protected the people of Haly as well. It would be nice to be sheltered, if just for a short while. He felt the arms around him loosen as his own body began to relax. He would be stuck as a younger, weaker version of himself, but it would be a good trade off for the anonymity he would gain. He almost panicked again when asked for a name. He couldn't tell them his name! They would know who he was! The sweet song of a bird caroled through the tops of the trees, redirecting Dick's attentions. Yes! Turning to handsome king Garth, Dick was able to give him a name. "I am called Robin many feathers, your highness, for the cloak that I wear."

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