Subject: D&D Cartoon On-Line Fan Club Newsletter Spring 1999 -- Part 7!
Date: Sun, 21 Feb 1999 14:57:11 EST


As you can tell from the title, my "D&D Elseworlds" story places our favorite
group members in a world very similar to that of Robin Hood's -- with, of
course, a few little changes.  I didn't take any one interpretation of the
Robin Hood story as my reference -- it's kind of an amalgam of all of them --
but most of it is derived from the storyline of the 1991 movie, with my own
little changes here and there, of course.
This story is rated RBPOTM (Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves Movie), as it has
the equivalent level of action, references, and language, etc., as the movie
does.  (It was rated PG-13 for those of you who didn't see it).  But unlike
the movie, my Robin Hood actually keeps his English accent throughout the
story!  (Sorry, I like Kevin Costner too, but I couldn't help myself on that
one).  If you didn't like the movie, don't read the story.  If you don't like
PG-13 level action-adventure movies, don't read the story.  If you don't like
to read stories where people rarely use contractions and speak all fancy-
schmancy-like, don't read the story!  So there.
So, without further adieu, here is the finale of:
Henry Hood: Prince of Thieves!
by Amy Elizabeth Hodman

?Preston??
Preston whirled around to look at John, who was approaching him from the main
entryway of the castle.  Several of Henry?s men were milling about, on the
lookout for any reinforcements from either their men or Venge?s, but none of
them seemed to be paying Preston any mind.  John sighed as he sat down next to
Preston.  It always seemed to be this way with him.  To everyone but Henry,
Preston was practically invisible.
?Do not try to...? Preston started, wiping his hand under his reddened eyes.
?I am not going to try and do anything, Preston? John said.  ?I am not going
to tell you to get over this, that it is fair, that life in itself is fair,
that anything is fair.  It is not fair.  Diana?s death is not fair.?  John put
a big-brotherly arm around Preston?s shoulder.  ?All we can ever hope for --
all we can ever fight for -- is the chance to make our lives a little better.
But we cannot ever make the world be fair, much as we would like to.?
Preston sniffed back more of his emotion as he turned to look at John.  ?It's
just -- if I had just had one more minute, I could have...?
?VICTORY TO THE HOUSE OF GRAY!!!!!?
Preston suddenly jumped up.  ?I -- that could not have been who I think....?
John craned his neck to look up at the top window, his eyes narrowing.  ?It
certainly sounded that way.?
?VICTORY TO THE HOUSE OF GRAY!!!!!!!!?
Preston beamed.  ?It is her!?  He raced towards the group of Henry?s men still
standing outside the entryway.  ?Diana is still alive!  We have to help her!?
John leapt to his feet as he approached the group, who had also heard the cry
and were already picking up their weapons and readying to enter the castle.
"Quickly, men!?  As the group turned to go into the castle, they almost ran
smack into the other group of Henry?s men, who Preston stormed through without
even a word.
Matthew looked at Preston, stunned by his brusqueness, then he saw John behind
him.
John, we can?t go back there,? Matthew said, stopping John with a strong hand
on his shoulder.  ?Henry said that...?
?Diana is alive,? John pointed down the hallway at the stairwell they had all
been standing near mere minutes before.  ?And I for one am going to ensure she
stays that way.?
With that, John pushed past Matthew and his men, along with the rest of the
group that had been standing outside with them.
Matthew stared at them, then back down the hallway that had led them from
Venge?s throne room.  ?Bloody stubborn idiot,? he muttered.  ?He?s going to be
the death of me.?  Matthew turned to address the rest of his men.  ?Half of
you, follow John and Preston and see what you can do to help Diana.  The rest
of you are coming with me.?
?Where are we going?  I thought that....? a voice in the back piped up.
?Forget what Henry said,? Matthew yelled back at the group.  ?He would never
desert us, no matter how much we implored him to.  Surely there is something
we can do to help.?
The rest of the men looked at him, silent.
Matthew took his sword out of its scabbard and shook his head.  ?The rest of
you can stay here if you like, but I for one cannot stay here a minute
longer.?
With that, he took off down the hallway towards Henry, leaving the rest of the
men silently staring at each other.

It took them about two seconds to follow.

v

?Leave my brother be!? Sheila screamed at Shad, her eyes narrowing as she
swung the heavy sword in the air.  ?Save yourself a gruesome death and let him
go!?
Shad Dem looked at her and spit out a laugh.  ?You must surely be joking,
m?lady,? he said derisively.  ?You or your pitiful sibling could not harm a
fly sitting on the wall if you tried.?
?Want to bet??
Shad Dem?s knife clattered to the floor as he clutched his midsection in
agony.  Robert smiled as he bounded towards his sister.
?Robert?? Sheila breathed, dropping the heavy sword to the floor and catching
her young brother in her arms.  ?What did you...?
?Remember when we learned the art of self-defending back home?  Remember that
one kick you told me about, the one that really, REALLY hurts??
Sheila winced as she remembered.  She looked over at Shad Dem, who had fallen
to his knees, his eyes rolled to the back of his head in agony.  ?Yes, Robert,
I do.? She smiled at him. It was obvious Shad wasn?t going to be hurting her
or Robert anytime soon.  She bent down and retrieved the heavy sword from the
floor.  She had almost forgotten all about...
Both of them whirled around as they heard the sound of steel grating against
steel behind them.  Venge and Henry were locked in the deadly dance of battle,
neither one of them focusing on anything else but each other.
?You are pitiful, Gray,? Venge sneered as he raised his sword above his head.
?You are a warrior who is a disgrace even to your pathetic father.?  He
slammed the blade down towards Henry?s head.
Sheila and Robert gasped, but the sword was blocked inches away from Henry's
skull.  ?You are the pathetic one, Venge.?  He turned the blade out from under
Venge?s and jabbed it straight towards Venge?s chin.  ?Or how much of a man
can you be by gaining the throne through a cowardly kidnapping??
Venge?s eyes glared red as he shoved the blade away from his face with his
bare hand.  ?You WILL die tonight, Gray,? Venge hissed.  "Of this, I am
certain.?
Sheila?s face tightened as she turned to face Venge and Henry.
?Let the coward face the same odds he placed me in,? Sheila sneered, her hands
tightening around the blade handle.

v

?Lochtomen et finale, sethe meth patuhle....? Ti?amat rasped, waving her hands
over a small bowl in the center of the room.
?Mmmmmmuuhhhhh,? Diana mumbled as M?toth finished tying the gag around her
mouth.
?This shall keep you from interrupting again,? M?thoth stated as he stepped
back, then turned towards Eric with another piece of cloth.
?You -- you don?t really want to put that on...mmmmmhhh!? Eric was interrupted
by the placement of his own gag over his mouth.
?Yrtomen et rastie,? Ti?amat finished, holding her arms up to the sky.
Diana?s eyes widened as she looked through the window.  Clouds were blocking
out all semblance of any light in the sky.  Rain began to come down in sheets
outside, and Diana felt drops falling on her head.  She looked up and saw
water dripping through a small opening above their heads in the roof.
Lightning danced across the skies and thunder seemed to threaten the very
foundations of the castle.
Ti?amat turned to look at Diana, smiling crookedly at her.  ?And now, my dear,
it begins.?  She strode towards Diana, clutching the small bowl.  ?Ayel su
demodragone, yahna....?  She held the bowl above Diana?s head.  Diana pulled
madly at the constraints to no avail.  ?Yahna dragone!!!? The woman screamed
as she began to tip the bowl?s contents over Diana?s head.
Suddenly Ti'amat gasped, clutching her hand as the bowl clattered to the
ground.  It took Diana a moment to decipher what had happened, and when she
saw the arrow stuck in Ti?amat?s hand, she knew.
?MMMhhh!!? She yelled happily as Preston strode over and took the gag out of
her mouth.  She smiled as she looked at him.  ?You heard us!?
Preston grabbed the keys from a now-captured M?thoth and started to unlock
Diana from her shackles.  John stepped towards them and smiled.  ?It was your
call, Diana, that told us where you were.?  He held his bow down next to his
side.  ?It appears we got here just in time."
Diana embraced Preston and she pulled herself out of the now unlocked
shackles.  ?Thank the goddess you found me!? she breathed happily.  Preston
put an awkward arm around her.  John just smiled.
?Ahmmmm,? a muttering broke their reverie.
?Oh, I almost forgot about Eric,? Diana said, shaking her head and smiling.
Preston sighed as he reached over to unlock the chain around Eric.  ?There,
very well, now we can leave...?
?Preston!  I am surprised at you,? Diana said as she leaned down to unwrap
Eric from the heavy chains.  As Eric slowly got up, she grinned.  ?But perhaps
you are right about leaving the gag in.?
Eric, now free, yanked the gag off of his mouth.  ?Very amusing,? Eric said
snidely as he looked at Diana.  ?But see?  Our plan did work!?
Eric and Diana happily embraced while Preston looked on with an irritated
look, crossing his arms in a very un-Prestonlike manner.
Suddenly Preston felt something clamp around his ankle, and he was suddenly
pulled to the floor, a withered hand wrenched around his lower leg like a
vise.
?You do not know what you have done to us!? she hissed at him.  Preston
desperately pulled away from the old woman in horror as she reached for the
small bowl she had dropped, shoving it at him.  ?YOU DO NOT KNOW....?
Suddenly the rain, thunder and lightning struck all at once, hitting the small
bowl that Ti?amat was holding.  It enveloped her and Preston in a blinding
light.
?Preston!? Diana yelled, lunging towards him.  John put his arm up to stop
her.
The light and deafening noise faded as quickly as it had come.  Preston
slumped to the ground, unconscious.  Diana flew to his side, cradling his limp
form in her arms.
The rest of the group looked on in amazement.  Even Diana?s face was turned at
such a sight.
What had once been Ti?amat was gone.  There was no sign of the old woman
anywhere, nor was there a sign of her servant, M?thoth.  He had wafted away as
she had just moments ago.
But it was not this bizarre fact which held everyone?s attention.
It was the ghostly apparition of a five-headed dragon was standing right in
front of them.
No one breathed.  No one blinked.  The apparition gave them the once over,
then moved through them all as it lumbered towards the stairwell entrance, as
if they did not even exist.  The strange being made almost no sound as it
moved.  There was no vibration as the animal?s heavy feet hit the floor.  The
only sound it made was that of an eerie whisper as it passed through each one
of them.
Then, almost as abruptly as it appeared,  it was gone.
Preston opened his eyes slowly, then looked up at Diana, holding his head.
"What happened?" he asked.  No one answered, and no one turned away from the
stairwell entrance where the beast had just departed.
Eric broke the silence first, breathing deeply.  ?All I know, ? he gulped, ?is
that I would not like to be where that thing is headed right now.?

v

?Give up this pointless fight now, Gray,? Venge screamed at Henry, lunging
towards him with a jab aimed at his heart.
?Not likely,? Henry said, kicking Venge back with a push of his leg.
Venge sneered, then turned and parried as another blade entered the fray.
?Foolish girl,? he sneered as Sheila shoved her sword against his, pushing it
towards his neck.  It didn?t budge.  ?You never quite know when to stop, do
you??  With that, he pushed Sheila?s sword back with his own, sending her
stumbling backwards.
Henry?s blade took full advantage of Venge?s sudden lapse of attention, and
the dark overlord screamed in pain as the tip of Henry?s sword grazed his
cheek.  Venge raised his hand to the wound, then pulled it back, studying the
damage it had done.  ?You insolent boy,? Venge sneered, tossing the blade back
and forth between his hands with ease.  ?You will need to do much better than
that to defeat me.?
Suddenly the air grew cold, and Venge?s last words hung in the air like frozen
droplets of falling snow.  Venge?s eyes widened as he looked behind Henry, and
he dropped his sword as he stumbled backwards towards the throne room wall.
?Stay away from me!? he screamed, holding his arm in front of his face in
protection.
Henry raised his shoulders proudly as he strode towards Venge, his sword
raised.  ?Well, Venge, it is about time you came to your senses. This won?t
take too lo...?
Henry was interrupted as Sheila yanked him away.
?What are you doing?? Henry demanded.
Sheila was a pale as a ghost, and Robert stood next to her, equally stunned
and silent.
?Henry,? she managed to whisper, ?look behind you.?
Henry?s face drained of all its color and he dropped his sword as he looked
straight into the slitted eyes of the ghostly dragon walking right behind him.
?Saints preserve us,? Henry breathed as he watched the five headed beast pass
right behind him, heading towards Venge.  As it passed Henry, one of the
smaller heads swirled and hissed an eerie whisper in their direction.
The trio stood motionless until they heard a weak voice behind them.  ?I did
not fail you,? Shad Dem?s voice responded as he inched along the back wall
towards the exit.  ?It was not my bargain, witch.  It was his and his alone.?
The head studied him, only hissing another whisper in response.
?Stay away from me, witch! I owe you nothing!? Venge?s voice creaked.  ?There
is no punishment which you must exact upon me.?
A deafening scream filled the room as the main head of the dragon turned
towards the ceiling, then lunged at Venge.
?Nooooooo!? he screamed as the red vapor of the dragon?s head enveloped him.
The smaller white head lunged out at Shad Dem as he raced into the hallway,
wrapping him in the bite of the same vaporous smoke.
Another unearthly howl filled the room, so loud and piercing that Sheila,
Henry and Robert had to clutch their ears to shield them from the unbearable
noise.  Henry?s eyes narrowed as he tried to see through the smoky vapor
enveloping Venge.  A flash of blinding light and the sound of thunder struck
the center of the room where the dragon stood, sending the threesome falling
to the floor.  Henry rubbed his eyes and looked up as he regained his
bearings.
All of them -- Venge, Shad Dem, and the mysterious dragon -- were gone.
Henry reached down to Sheila, helping her up, as Robert crawled up next to
them.  Henry then turned and strode towards his sword.  He picked it up,
studying it intently.
?Henry?? a soft voice asked behind him.
Henry turned to face Sheila, who reached for him and took his other arm.
?I.....? he started.  ?I should have been the one who....?
Sheila embraced him and the two stood there for a moment in silence.
?I understand,? she whispered as a tear fell down her face.  ?I understand
more than you will ever know.?

v

?Then what happened?? the young voice inquired as Sheila smiled at her.
?Very well, Melanie, and all the rest of you,? Sheila said as she placed the
wreath of flowers on each girls? head.  ?Are you certain you want to hear this
again??
Diana chuckled in the back of the room.  ?It?s not as if they have not heard
this story a hundred times already.?  She walked over to Melanie. ?Don?t you
think this is a day we should take a small respite from this story??
?Nuh-uh!? the girl smiled as Diana handed her a small bouquet of flowers.
?As you wish,? Sheila smiled as Diana gathered up the silken veil behind her.
?After Preston stopped the witch from taking Diana, she turned into a
dragon...?
?Ahem,? Melanie snorted, her arms crossed.
?I am sorry,? Sheila smiled at her, ?the mythical ghostly five-headed mystic
dragon.  It came into the room of Venge and Shad Dem, and took them away as
punishment.?
?So the dragon IS a hero!? Melanie clapped.
Diana leaned over to Sheila as she placed the shimmering veil over her head.
?I suppose it is not quite as exciting as saying that the dragon WAS evil as
well and only took those two because they did not fulfill their end of the
bargain??  Sheila laughed.
?That is quite all right, I suppose we all need fairy tales.?  Diana smiled as
she stepped back and looked at Sheila.  ?And speaking of fairy tales, yours is
about to start.? She took Sheila?s hand and smiled warmly.  ?It is time to
go.?
As Diana followed the young girls of the village out of the tent, clasping
their flowers in their hands and giggling amongst themselves, Sheila took a
deep breath and pushed open the tent opening.  The smell of fragrant summer
flowers filled the air, and the meadow outside of the village had never looked
more beautiful.  As Sheila followed Diana out to the area where everyone was
seated, she was met by Robert.
?Are you ready?? he smiled at her.  Melanie walked by and winked at him, and
he made a face as he looked back up at his sister.  Sheila smiled.  The
horrific experience of the past few days had not changed a bit of her
brother?s ebullient personality, and she was thankful for that.
The flutes began to play, and Sheila took a deep breath as they began walking
down the small walkway between the rows of seats set up in the middle of the
meadow.  Sheila looked up and saw Diana?s face smiling at her, as well as Eric
and Preston?s.  She breathed out a little, then looked straight in front of
her and caught Henry?s eye.
He looked back at her, a serene and approving smile on his face.  Sheila
smiled back at him.  Suddenly she didn?t feel so nervous anymore.
She and Robert reached the end of the walkway, stopping in front of Henry and
the pulpit where Friar Lorne stood.  Robert put Sheila?s hand in Henry?s.
?You have to put up with her now,? Robert smiled.  Sheila?s eyes narrowed in
mock irritation.  Henry stifled a laugh. ?Thank you Robert.  I will be sure to
never forget your words of wisdom.?
Sheila and Henry gazed at each other happily as Friar Lorne raised his hands
above them.  ?These two brave souls wish to be united in the holiest of
matrimonies.  If there is any objection speak now or forever hold your...?
?I object.?
The meadow filled with stunned whispers as everyone looked to see who had
spoken such words.
Sheila?s eyes brightened as she watched a very familiar figure approach them
on horseback.  ?I object, madam, because I could not let you be married unless
I was here to celebrate with you.?
?King Daniel Matthew!? Henry exclaimed.  Sheila rushed up to her uncle as he
got off his horse and embraced him warmly.
?Uncle, we thought you were dead,? she breathed happily.  Robert ran up and
hugged him as well.
?As I am sure you have learned, never believe what people like Venge have to
say,? he smiled. ?It is good to see both of you again.?
Daniel Matthew looked over at Henry and motioned to him as he took off his
heavy helmet, his white hair spilling from it.  ?I can never thank you enough
for what you have done, Lord Gray.? He smiled at him.
?I have done nothing,? Henry said modestly.  ?Venge?s evil proved to be his
own undoing.?  Henry said these last few words with a tinge of regret, and
Sheila took his arm reassuringly.
?Nonsense, boy!? Daniel Matthew chuckled.  ?You saved my only family from
death several times over, and you and your men ensured that Venge?s
destructive dynasty ended before it began,? he finished.  ?For was it not you
who led them into the castle?  Your men who stopped the witch??  Daniel
Matthew clamped Henry?s hand in his own. ?It is not the ending which is the
most important part of the journey, it was what you did to get there in the
first place that counts the most.  For without a beginning and a middle, there
is no ending.?
Daniel Matthew put a hand on his shoulder.  ?So now I order you to kneel,
young man. Before I allow you to take my niece as your wife, there is
something I must do.?  He took out his golden sword as Henry kneeled in front
of him.
?With the proclamation I restore all lands and titles to the house of Gray, as
well as appoint him a member of my High Council.?  The crowd gasped at such an
estimable honor.  The king tapped Henry on each shoulder with his sword, then
held it up to address the crowd.  ?And let it be known to all assembled here
that the former land holdings of Venge will be divided so that each of you may
have a true home once again.?
The crowd cheered as Daniel Matthew moved through it.  He stopped in front of
Diana, Eric, and Preston.
?And for your brave acts, I also knight -- and in your case Sir Eric, re-
knight -- you all.  Sirs Eric, Preston and..? he stopped at Diana, puzzled as
to what her title should be.
?Do not, worry, you Majesty,? Diana smiled.  ?I wish to stand with my
comrades.?
?Very well then, Sir...Diana,? the king smiled, tapping each one?s shoulder
with his sword.  The crowd cheered again as the trio shook hands and heartily
congratulated each other.
Eric watched as Preston and Diana happily embraced each other, then smiled
lopsidedly as he approached them.  ?Preston, wasn?t there something you wanted
to talk to Diana about?? he winked at him.
Preston looked at him, his eyebrow raised suspiciously. ?We are in the middle
of a wedding, Eric, and besides, what are you talking abou...?
Eric pushed Preston.  ?You know, that thing that you wanted to talk to her
about before, you know...?
Preston turned bright red as he shook his head.
Diana looked at him, puzzled.  ?If there is something you wish to discuss,
Preston, I would be more than happy to.  Now that the king is here, I think
the wedding will be slightly delayed.  Is it very important?? She studied him
quizzically.
?Yes it is, very important, critical, crucial to the whole of Sir-dom,? Eric
said, shoving Preston down the walkway.  ?Our very lives depend on it.?
Diana grabbed Preston by the arm and led him towards two of the seats.  ?Then
we must discuss it now, let us go.?  Preston could only look panickedly at
Eric as Diana led him away.
Eric smiled and crossed his arms in satisfaction.  He felt someone tap him on
his arm, and was surprised to see Robert.
?That was really a great thing to do, Eric,? Robert said admiringly.  "You
really aren?t so bad after all.?
Eric ruffled Robert?s hair.  ?You know what, that is probably the nicest thing
anyone has ever said to me.?

v

As the King made his way through the crowd of giddy onlookers, Henry pulled
Sheila close to him.
?Henry?? Sheila asked.  ?What are you doing??
?Well, is it not time to kiss the bride?? he asked.
Sheila raised an eyebrow at him.  "Is it not Friar Lorne?s job to say that??
?As a lord and member of the king?s high council, I think it is safe to say
that I have the authority,? he smiled smugly at her.
Sheila fought an amused smile at his attitude, then her face grew concerned.
?Henry, are you certain about all this?? Sheila asked.  ?I know how much you
wanted to exact your revenge upon Venge, and how disappointing it must have
been when it was his own actions that led to his destruction.? She studied him
intently.  ?I have felt your sense of things not being done.?
Henry smiled at her.  ?That is where you are wrong.  True, that is what I did
feel and believe.  But your uncle proved it to me, it is not the action but
the results that matter.?
He pulled her closer again.  ?I have you, that is all the result that matters
to me.?
?Ahem.?
Sheila and Henry turned to see the King and Friar Lorne standing right behind
them.
Henry smiled at Lorne.  ?Well, my good man, shall we be on with it??
Friar Lorne chuckled.  ?You may now kiss the bride.?
A cheer filled the air as Sheila and Henry met in a long kiss, a kiss whose
image began to swirl and fade in the small crystal globe it appeared in.

v

?You see, my son?? A short man with a bald pate and a long wave of grey hair
behind it smiled as he sat back in the plush chair he was seated in.  ?Even in
a world such as this one, even when they were not already known to each other,
my pupils were still able to put an end to your evil plans.?
A menacing figure snapped his fingers, and the image of the happy wedding
scene dissipated from the small crystal globe that sat between the two men.
?Very well, Dungeon Master.  You and your pupils were victorious this time,
but,? he smirked evilly as he waved his hands rhythmically over the globe,
?perhaps they shall not be as fortunate in another world.?
?We shall see,? Dungeon Master said, gathering his small frame up to lean
closer to the globe, peering into its swirling image.  ?We shall see.?

THE END