KNIGHTON
It was raining once more.
But unlike that morning, where the sun had still streamed through the sky… the sky was dark.
The rain was cold.
There as a knock at her door, and Sarah walked to answer it.
She blinked in slight surprise at the sight of Lady Marian stood on her doorstep.
Sarah noticed almost instantly that she was not wearing her dog tag, a mark that tied her to the gang.
Her eyes widened slightly as Marian sniffed, composing herself, and ran a hand through her hair.
Her ring did not sparkle in the sun Sarah noticed, and she felt small and evil, shallow, at the realisation that her lady was not wearing it.
The tie to her husband, like the tie to her friends, to a cause she believed in, was broken.
"Come in, my lady, please." Sarah moved out of the way and Marian walked in.
Marian put her hand's on her hips and bit her lip as Sarah stared at her.
"Your husband and the rest of the men will be home this afternoon, the gang… Rob…." Marians voice broke and she took a breath to stop herself from bursting into tears.
"They have been well looked after." She sniffed.
Sarah stared at her, "What is wrong my lady?"
Marian swallowed, "You were right… I found the locket… there is something to between them, something I didn't see I…."
She let out a stuttering breath, "I can't wait around to be hurt again so…"
Sarah stared at her, "You are leaving?"
This had been the last thing Sarah had wanted, to expected to happen.
She had thought that lady Marian, far cleverer than he, would see the game and threat the Isabella had created and made before Sarah would have to confess it.
She had thought that Marian would see Isabella's threats and tell Sarah that it would be okay, that she could play the game to save Sarah's husband…
Sarah had not anticipated that it would work.
"I cannot run from him." Marian breathed, "he is my husband, we are tied together under god's and man's law… but I can't watch him with her I…" She let out a breath, "I will probably go to my aunt in Thorne, Doncaster for a while, until I…. until I come back, which I will have to." She whispered and looked down.
Sarah walked over to her, "I am sorry my lady."
Marian nodded, "I know you are, I just came to say goodbye… and that if you see the gang tell them…" Her voice cracked.
Marian did not want to say it, she couldn't.
She nodded and shook her head, turning towards the door.
"I doesn't matter…"
"My lady?" Sarah's voice made her stop.
Marian turned to see her friend and former maid shake her head against her own tears.
"I am so sorry…"
Marian sniffed, "It is not your fault."
"No, you don't understand." Sarah shook her head, "I was trying to protect my husband… I had to do it…."
Marin stared at her, "DO what?"
Sarah put her hand to her head.
"Robin does not love Isabella…" She shook her head, "It was me, I planted the locket in his bag for you to find…"
Marian could barely speak, "why?"
"Isabella."
Marian straightened as Sarah started to cry.
Sarah felt so small.
"She threatened my husband, she said she would kill him, make him suffer if I did not do it, she wanted you to think that he loved her, because she believes he does…"
Mariam stared at her, "What?"
"I did it, because I love my husband, as yours loves you."
Marian sniffed and shook her head, she clung to Sarah's words, and the realisation nearly knocked the wind out of her.
But the doubt in her head came flooding back all too quickly.
She had seen them kiss.
"But that doesn't explain why he would… why he would…"
She couldn't say the word.
"My lady, listen to me." Sarah walked forwards.
"I betrayed you, and I am sorry, for I love my husband more than anything… as you do yours." She breathed.
Betrayal or no betrayal, Marian could no hate Sarah.
Yes, it stung in her chest, but she realised Sarah thought that she had had now choice.
Marian was all too aware that evil like Vaisey and Isabella would search for good people to do their work, people who they could exploit and use…
Another log was added to the beacon of hatred for Isabella in Marians mind.
"I saw them kiss." Marian whispered, "He has to feel something, he has to love… feel… for her."
"Marian, my lady…" Sarah took the woman hands.
"Forget my betrayal, for it is one I am sorry for eternally, forget Isabella…" Sarah stared into her eyes.
"Think about and our husbands."
Marian's heart felt tight.
Sarah gripped her hands with a whisper.
"You know who he loves…"
NOTTINGHAM CASLTE
Isabella had no idea how well her plan had gone.
The men, most of them were still missing from the villagers, still being protected by Hood in the forest.
His wife, had she divided them yet, had the gang fallen?
Would that be enough to save her from Vaisey's wrath when he returned to find her plan in tatters?
If she had not managed to deliver him a broken gang, or the prince the men se had sought to…
What had she achieved?
Blamire was in the courtyard brushing his horse, preparing to ride out.
She had no idea where.
"Balmier you have to help me, when Vaisey returns and finds this mess god knows what he will do, please… help me get back to Shrewsbury."
Blamire lifted dark eyes to glare at her.
"Where do you think your brother and The sheriff have been, on some Easter trip to York?" He sneered, "You have no idea what is happening here, and neither does Hood…"
Isabella's eyes widened.
"I do not think that the sheriff will be interested in anything you have been doing." Blamire snapped and climbed atop his horse, setting off at a walk out of the castle.
"Blamire!" She cried, unnerved by his words, taking off at a run after the man.
What did he mean?
What had her brother kept from her?
What had they kept from Hood?
What were they doing?
What was their plan?
When she skidded to a stop on the open portcullis, and gazed up at the hill that was between the castle and the hill, she saw what was going on.
She gasped.
