The Sheriff's Daughter

Part 7

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I sit in the Great Hall I sit at the table my father usually sits, I look towards my fathers grand chair which is empty.Council of Nobles. Marian is in her usual place behind her father'schair, leaning her hands on it. My father enters the room and begins walking downstairs. "Good news from the village of Clun.No more outbreaks for a fortnight. The pestilence, orwhatever it was, is gone." Goes to stand beside his chairbehind the table, he places his hands on my shoulders. "Then we can lift the quarantine. Feed the survivors," my father chuckles at Edward. "No, the people of Clun, they are a grubby people,the great unwashed. Low on taxes, high on moaning.The quarantine remains." I look to my father behind me and scowl. "They must be fed. They will die," Marian speaks up. Edward begins admonishing. "Marian..."                           "Ah, sweet. My dear, you have to understand, these are incapablepeople. They do not look after themselves.We must not, we cannot... nanny them." I open my mouth to say something but my father squeezed my threateningly, making me shut my mouth. "But how can they look after themselves if we will not allowthem to leave their village?" Marian however Edward looks back at her, silently wishing her to be quiet. "I agree. This is a conundrum." My father releases my shoulders and walks around to the front of the table into the half circle of chairs to face Marian. The centre chair is empty. "Another conundrum is this. Whom do I tax to pay for thefood for the hopeless of Clun? Hm? Do I rob from Peterto pay for Paul? No. Walking along the rest of thehalf-circle: Simpler to keep the quarantine in place and then," he turns around dramatically, "after one or two weeks, we saythat the village has been... sneering: cleansed. I may house my garrison there." I finally decide to speak out, "father, you cannot let healthy people die. It is barbaric. If it became known we have delib—" He interrupts me, sending a fierce glare in my direction. "Interesting, hm? This fire in your belly." Marian and I scowl at him. "Is this reason talking? Or is it frustration? Frustration atbeing how old now, and still a maiden?" I'm shocked into silence, as is Maria who pulls her hands off the chair. A guard walks to my father and whispers in his ear. "Excuse me. I have other business." He heads for the stairs as Edward glares at him. My father gives one more fierce glance to both Marian and I before mounting the steps. Marian hangs her head, as do I, unable to look at him.

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Hours later I stand in my horses stall brushing her hair. I look towards the stall where Guy stabbed De Fourtnoy, I look away from the stall and begin to leave the stables. I walk to the courtyard and see my father watch a man mount a horse.He begins to walk up beside the man's horse, "So, you've made an heroic escape,I think, don't you?" I watch as the man sits dejectedly on the horse. "And my men, well, they're determined to catch you. Oh,look..." he holds up a tag... "don't forget your littlebadge of honour." The man takes his tag. "Well, go on then, run." My father turns to go back inside as the man dismally looks out the gate. I quickly rush inside after my father. What was that?

"Father!" I rush after my father, who stops and begrudgingly turns to look at me. "What child?" I stop once I reach him. "Could I leave the castle grounds and go for a ride on my horse?" He pretends to look thoughtful, tapping his fingers on his chin. "Would I let you leave? A clue... no." He turns leaving me in the hall. Turning I leave to go back to the stables.
When I arrive at the stables I see Micheal brushing a horse. I begin to sneak up to him, "don't do it Evangeline" he turns to look at me and I pout. "How did you know it was me?" He walks towards me, "I heard you walk in." He leans down and kisses my lips, when he pulls away he brushes a piece of hair behind my ear. "We should be ready to leave by the end of the week, so begin packing a small bag, the day after next." He quickly pecks me on the lips before gently pushing me out the stables.

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The night after seeing Micheal in the stables, I rush around my chambers packing a small satchel. A knock on my door makes me drop the comb in my hand. "Who is it?" I call through the door. "It is Guy, Evangeline open the door." I quickly hide the satchel under the my bed as Guy walks through the door. I turn around when I hear his foot steps in the room, I hold my hands behind my back and look at him as innocently as I can. "Your father has called for you to meet him in the courtyard. We are going to Knighton hall." I nod and turn to grab a cloak, Guy follows silently as I walk out of my chambers. 

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"Father why are we here?" my father is sitting at a table in the main room of Knighton Hall, he merely raises is hand in response to my question, silencing me. Gisborne leans against the wallbehind him. Marian stands facing my father, her back toa post. Edward stands nearby. "Rumours abound. The pestilence is over," I look to Marian as she  quietly yet defiantly replies, "It is over."                                                                   "No, no, my dear. That..." he picks up a grape "...was between youand me and the Council of Nobles. You see, now wehave a problem. Either I say you were wrong, youmade a mistake, and leave the quarantine in place..." Marian again defiantly interjects, "I was not wrong." But my father ignores her and continues. "Or... or I say you were right, lift the quarantine, let thelayabouts live, and then look for somewhere else tohouse my garrison."                                                "Then say I was right." My father chuckles at Marian and I can sense this is not going to end well. "No. You see, there's always a catch," he pops a grape in hismouth. "In politics, there's always a deal. If I were tosay that you were right, then I would lose face. Well,that can't happen, hm? We must have authority. So,I'll have to punish you..." he gives a malicious grin... "for your outspokenness," he stands. Marian scoffs, "punish me?" The Sheriff walks around the table to her and puts his face inhers. Marian stares him in the eye. "I do not listen to suggestions that you were consortingwith Robin Hood." Marian turns her gaze away. "That would be unforgivable." He turns to leave, as Marian calls a bit panicked. "What punishment?" He turns back and gives another one of his grins that I hate. "Oh, don't worry, nothing personal. Just politics.It would have to hurt, though." He nods once and leaves. "What punishment?!" Marian shouts again as Gisborne follows the Sheriff out the door. Edward and I look fearfully at Marian. I open my mouth to say something as my father shouts, "Evangeline!" I give Marian a quick hug and whisper in her ear. "I am sorry," I pull away and rush away from him. 

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