The Sheriff's Daughter

Part 3

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I sneak to the stables early in the morning hoping to meet Micheal before my father can wake. When I get there I run up to him and put my hands over his eyes, "guess who?" I sing song in his ear. I feel his face lift with a smile. "I don't know... cook?" I remove my hands, he turns and gives me a long kiss. I grin into the smile, wrapping my arms around his neck as he wraps his around my waist. "I heard about your punishment. Are you ok?" He brings his hand up to my face and I lean on his hand. I look up into his eyes and give him a gentle smile.  "I'm fine now," he pulls me into a tight hug, laying his chin on my head. "I'm gonna take you away from here and we're gonna get married and be happy I promise you," he lifts his head and pulls my chin up gently with his hand. "You understand, I'm not going to leave you... ever." He brings me in for a gentle kiss as I nod in reply. We jumps apart when we hear someone enter the stables. I turn and see Guy, I hope he didn't see us. "You! Stable boy get the Sheriff, mine and Evangeline's horses ready we are riding to Locksley today," he comes up to me and grabs my arm and drags me out of the stable. "What were you doing there?" I pull my arm out of his grip. "Nothing that concerns you." I walk away to my chambers to collect my cloak, apparently I'm going to Locksley today. 

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Me, my father, Gisborne and his men gallop into Locksley. Apeasant man bows to my father and Gisborne in exaggerated mockery as theypass. My father scowls will saying to one of the men. "Find out that man's name." He orders the soldiers to bring all the villagers to the centre of the village. Once the villagers have been gathered into the centre of the village. My father begins pacing slowly before the peasants. "I have come to visit Robinof Locksley, but find him not at home. Perhaps one ofyou would like to inform me of his whereabouts. Heand I need to have a little chat, a conversation." Nobody answers, eye downcast.Nobody knows. My father turns to Gisborne and then looks to me. "Nobody knows." He turns to face peasants. "Then... there is a reward." He swings a purse infront of him. "Shall we say £20? And then all of a sudden,somebody does know." I shake my head disgusted at the lengths my father is going to. "Loosen your tongues or lose your tongues!" All the villagers visibly tense and shake frightened, but still nobody comesforth. My father nods to Gisborne, who jerks his head atthe sergeant, who in turn nods to two guards. They comeforward and one grabs the previously disrespectful man asthe other opens and closes the shears near his face. "Cut out his tongue.... one an hour.... until somebody talks." The shears reach into the villager's mouth and he screams. "Please father don't do this!" I grip onto his arm as he takes a seat, but he just shrugs me off. "Go get some wine from the manor... you escort her," he pushes me towards a guard who leads to get my father some wine. 

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Gisborne yawns, standing beside my father, who is sitting inhis high-backed chair. "Tick-tock, tick-tock." The peasants remain silent before him, their heads bowed. I pour my father some wine into a goblet in his hand and then move to give Guy some who nods in thanks. My father drinks from a goblet, sloshes the liquid in his mouthwith a grimace and sighs. "Have I told you that I can't taste wine? Have the best... ofcourse, but I don't have the "palate" for it." He dumps itscontents on the ground.Gisborne rolls his eyes, unamused, then takes the empty gobletwhich the Sheriff is holding up to him. I look to my father disgusted and am about to say something but with a warning glare from him I stay quiet. My father staresat the villagers, then sticks out his tongue and makes scissors-likemotions across it with his fingers. Mocking them, my stomach turns in disgust, I can't believe this vile man is my father. Not wanting to get punished I silently move to stand on the other side of him with my head down.