The Sheriff's Daughter

Part 5

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I've been stuck in this cell for four days now, its as if my father has forgotten about me. I heard from some guards that Robin escaped to Sherwood Forest with a bunch of outlaws. That explains why I was left here. My father is punishing me for it, as if I had been involved. I'm cut out of my thoughts by the door swinging open. Looking up I see Guy standing in the door with the keys to my chains in his hands.

He slowly walks towards me. "How are you Evangeline?" I raise a brow at him but keep my mouth shut. He kneels down to where I'm sat on the ground. "I'm sorry you had to stay here, I know how you hate it down here," he looks at me with a genuine look of sympathy. He unchains me and my hands instantly go to my wrists that are raw from the pulling I had done. "Your father wants you to get ready and then go to the great hall. The nobles are meeting and he asks for your presence." He stands and holds out his hand for me to take I take it and stand. He leads me out of the dungeons and to my chambers where I get ready for the day. 

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The council of nobles takes place in the great hall. The Sheriff is seated behind a table, I stand behind his chair with my hands daintily laid in front of me. Gisborne stands at the end of the table to his left, De Fourtnoy at the end to his right. Marian stands behind her father,who is sitting in the half-circle of nobles facing the Sheriff. "The villagers of Nettlestone report that Robin Hood killed an innocent bailiff today." I look at my father shocked not believing his words. "This is marvellous,isn't it? What drama. Because now, even his beloved villagers will lose patience when their heroes start picking them off." I shake my head but keep quiet, Robin wouldn't kill unless it was necessary, my father looks at Gisborne and begins to talk. What else are they saying?" Gisborne smiles, "Hood was fulfilling a promise to prevent an eviction." Hood? Why are they calling Robin, Hood?

 "Mm. War has addled his brain. I'm not at all surprised.So, what do you propose we do?" Gisborne answer almost immediately, "immediate reprisals against villages." Marian bravely speaks up, knowing she's expected to remain silent, I smile that she spoke and for once it wasn't me. "Joderic would not want that. Why should more innocent people suffer because of his death?" Edward holds up his hand, trying to silence her. "The same people who witnessed and reported the crime?" My father patiently lets her speak. She looks straight at Gisborne, "and did this strategy of reprisals work in the villages before?" He shakes his head, "no." Guy says this almost like a child. "Marian is right." My father speaks up, Gisborne stares at Marian with a mixture of anger and disbelief. Marian resolutely keeps eye contact with him, causing me to laugh. "We will not be going down that road again. De Fourtnoy,alternatives?" My father looks to De Fourtnoy. "There is a... political advantage to be had here." Gisborne scoffs silently, I cover my mouth to hide my smile.

"Robin Hood has given us the high ground, we should keep it. My thoughts exactly."  De Fourtnoy looks at my father then nobles then back to him. "We could have the town criers announce what's taken place. Make sure everybody knows that an... an innocent was killed." My father smiles slyly, "good. We are going to win hearts and minds." The Sheriff stands and walks with me falling in step behind him. He walks past Gisborne, who follows him next to me. "My lord." My father stops. Guy talks quietly, "I still believe actions rather than words. If I had the resources, I could deal with him. I could hunt him down."  My father shrugs his shoulders, "very well. We'll do both and may the best man win." The Sheriff leaves, and I quickly follow him. 

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I sit in the library silently doing my hand embroidery. I'm so engrossed in the detailed pattern that I don't hear the door open and someone slip inside the room as well. A pair of hands slip their way over my eyes. I smile as I hear Micheals voice in my ear, "I've missed you so much." He drops his hands as I drop my embroidery, turn and wrap my arms around his neck. I kiss his lips, as I pull away he holds the back of my head deepening the kiss. After a couple of minutes we both pull away, leaning our foreheads against each other. I smile at the love of my life. He gently grabs my wrist causing me to wince. "I hate that he hurts you," he brings my wrists to his mouth and gently kisses the red skin. "He was just teaching me a lesson," Micheal looks to me shocked and annoyed. "No, Evangeline. He hurts you and for no good reason," I look to the ground. Tears threaten to spill from my eyes. He gently lifts my chin and wipes his thumb across my cheek. "We will leave soon, I have almost saved enough money for us." I smile at him. "Then we can finally be together," he nods and smiles to me. I kiss his lips one more time before pulling away, "don't ruin the moment." Micheal says when he sees the look on my face. "I have to go, my father will get mad if I miss the eulogy." I quickly peck his lips again and then rush out the library leaving him behind. 

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I stand, in the courtyard, behind my father as he stands on the steps delivering Joderic's eulogy to a gathered crowd. Gisborne and De Fourtnoy stand on either side of him. Joderic was unique. He was kind, compassionate, learned." Marian and Edward are in attendance, listening. My father voice fades as I concentrate on Marian and Edward who whisper between each other. Marian notices a older man standing guard in the crowd beyond Edward. My father continues his speech, Marian walks over to the man and speaks with him. "In response to this change of direction from Robin Hood(who now seems to be targeting innocent civilians, I have recalled all men of eligible age to join us in this war on terror. Make no mistake, that is what this is, a war on terror. These people, Robin Hood. . . striking the very heart of our system, of our compassion..." I look away from Marian and the guard and to my father as I can't hear what they are saying. "Of our humanity and of our innocence." There is a smattering of applause. My father raises a finger.

"All this is gone in one moment, with one arrow fired fromthe bow of," he clenches his fist, "Robin Hood! And in thatmoment, Robin Hood has forced upon us the responsibility.The responsibility to choose..." 

"... between stability, order, authority, or the random, chaoticcruelty of Robin Hood and all outlaws like him. This cowardly crime, this murder, will be punished. Wewill hunt Hood down, with dogs if necessary, and wewill ensure that he does not succeed. We will not becowed. This is what he wants..." my father's voice once again drowns out as I see Micheal working beside the stable. He smiles when he catches my eye and winks causing me to blush and look down. Guy notices my blush and looks around trying to spot what or who I was looking at. As my father finishes his speech, he turns to me and grabs my chin making me look at him. "You will retire to chambers for the evening, Evangeline. I do not want to see you out of your chamber unless you are being escorted by your maid." I nod to him, he turns and tells a nearby guard to escort to my chambers.

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I sit at my window with a book placed in my lap in my nightgown, as I hear a knock on my door. I stand and walk to the door opening it slightly to see Micheal standing outside. Quickly grabbing his arm I pull him inside, checking the hall before I close and lock the door. When I turn Micheal pushes me against my door kissing me. I immediately kiss back. He lifts me up causing me to wrap my legs around his waist. He carries me to my bed not breaking the kiss until he drops me on it. He pulls off his own shirt and then my night gown. Gently he pushes me down until I'm on my back and begins kissing down my body, causing a warm feeling to spread through my body. The rest of the night we spend together is full of passion and love. 

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