The Sheriff's Daughter

Part 4

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My father paces the room in front of me, the anger doesn't leave his face. "Sit" I stay still causing my father to get angrier, "I said Sit!" He shouts causing me to jump and scramble to sit at the table in his chambers. "I do not know where this sudden string of disobedience has come from but I suggest it ends now because it will not end well for you!" I nod my head silently in response to him. "What should your punishment be daughter?" He does this when I push him too far and if I don't answer he gets mad. Before I can answer he slams his fists on the table beside me. "I expect an answer Evangeline!" I slowly look up to him with tears in my eyes and on my cheeks. "I'm s-sorry father, I d-don't know w-what came over m-me." I look back down at the table when my father moves towards me. He sighs and strokes my cheek, "you know I don't like punishing you... but its the only way for you to learn." He hugs me and strokes my hair in an almost comforting way but I know that he's still going to punish me. "You will watch Locksley's hanging and then spend the next three days in your cell," I look to him shocked. "Please father don't make me watch Robin's hanging I beg," he looks at me shocked before smiling slightly. "What does Robin of Locksley mean to you Evangeline?" I look down not answering. He roughly grips my chin. "Answer me girl," I look to him and see the warning look on his face. "We were friends as children when mother was alive," I say it quietly but I know he heard me because he steps back. "And you didn't think to tell me?" I shake my head and just as I finish my head snaps to the left and a stinging feeling runs through my cheek. My father slapped me, I look back at him bringing my hand to my cheek and gently touching the inflamed skin. "Next time you do not tell me it will be more then a slap you recieve." He walks to the door slamming it closed as her leaves I hear the feigned click of the lock, knowing I've now been locked in his chambers. I slump to the floor and finally cry fully letting the tears from today pour out of my eyes. 

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My father returns an hour later and grabs my arm dragging me to the dungeons. When we get there I spot Robin in a cell who looks at me confused. My father stops in front of his cell, still holding tightly onto my arm. "Ahhh, Locksley... just was letting you know that I know of your relationship with my dear daughter and that because of you she is being punished." Robin gets an angered look on his face and stands up putting his arms on the bars leaning forward. "What man punishes his daughter for someone else's misdeeds?" My father pulls me closer to him and away from Robin. "She needs to learn to respect me," his grip tightens making me wince in pain. Robin tries to move forward. "I am okay Robin... just try and stay alive." I give him my best reassuring smile. And he nods to me but still has a worried expression on his face. 

My father obviously bored with the conversation pulls me away from the cell and towards my personal one. I begin to fight his grip, now he knows my hatred of this place, so he just tightens his grip. "Please father! I'll behave... I promise!" he just ignores me and opens the door dragging me to where the chains on the wall are and chaining me there so I can't stand. I begin struggling and pulling on them. "Your punishment begins now... and no food while you're down here." He walks out the cell locking the door behind him. I hear his laugh down the corridor as he leaves. I look around the room and begin pulling on the chains as I feel the room closing in on me and it gets hard to breathe. The last thing I hear before the darkness fully consumes me is the screams of a prisoner being tortured, hoping and praying it isn't Robin.

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