Elizabeth didn't know how long she had been sat by the fire before she heard a banging noise at the door. She opened her eyes wide and turned her head to the side, looking at Sir Guy as he sat up in his chair. He stood slowly, ignoring Elizabeth whilst she sat where she was, dropping her book to the floor.
Sir Guy's boots thumped along the wooden floor towards the door which was still banging. His hand rested on the hilt of his sword before he pulled the wood open and his brows furrowed at the sight in front of him.
"Where's my daughter? Where is she?"
Elizabeth stood up once she heard the voice enter the room. Her skirts dropped to her feet and she rushed to the door. Sir Guy held it open, his hand resting at the top of it as Elizabeth ducked under his arm to come face to face with her mother. The sight of the elder woman's face was enough to make Elizabeth's blood run cold with fear.
"Mother, what is it?" she worried and Roselyn scooped her into her arms, holding her tightly to her.
Gisborne took a step back, his brow arched at the sight. He said nothing, watching the sight with intrigue.
"Your father...there was a brawl...he tried to stop it...they took him...arrested him...they've ruined the tavern...he's to be hung at noon...Lizzie..."
Elizabeth's blood ran cold as Sir Guy took in the words. He wet his lips and folded his arms over his leather clad chest before he spoke.
"Who ordered this?" he demanded from Roselyn.
The elder woman stepped out from Elizabeth's arms and held her head high, refusing to show fear in front of Gisborne. Lizzie watched her mother, knowing full well that fear radiated through her body. She wasn't the only one to feel it. Elizabeth couldn't comprehend what she was hearing. She longed for it all to be a lie.
"The Sheriff's guards," Roselyn said, her voice cold and calculated. "They've taken everything from us...and Joe...he did nothing wrong..."
"Is there nothing you can do?" Elizabeth piped up, her gaze set firmly on Gisborne as she asked him. His cold eyes found hers and he saw the moisture forming in her orbs. What did she expect him to do? Did she think that he could stop the Sheriff from doing as he pleased? Did she think him that grand?
Gisborne sniffed and a small nod escaped him. "I shall speak with him. I promise you nothing."
Roselyn broke down again, her hard exterior cracking as Elizabeth caught her mother in her arms, whispering soothing words into her ear as she looked back to Sir Guy;
"Can she stay here tonight?"
"In your room, yes," Gisborne tautly spoke. "I see no reason why not."
"Thank you."
"Don't thank me yet."
...
The sun was warm the following morning as Gisborne walked besides Elizabeth into Nottingham Castle. They had dropped Roselyn off at the tavern; the sight of destruction greeting her as a neighbour came to offer some support. Gisborne had demanded Elizabeth to come with him. She had protested but his stare had silenced her. She knew it was not worth her time to argue with him. It would do her no good.
"Stay here," Gisborne gruffly spoke once he came to the main hall. The guards on the door regarded him for a moment as he stroked Lizzie's hair and pushed it behind her ear. She nodded and watched him enter the vast oak doors, his head held high as he did so.
"Ah, Gisborne," the Sheriff spoke once he saw the man enter. He remained sat where he was, picking at his food whilst Gisborne stood at the other side of the table, his head tilted to one side. "You're in time for our hangings tonight. The villagers have grown increasingly difficult to control."
"There is one man in the dungeons who did nothing." Gisborne informed the Sheriff, his voice gravelly. "I've been informed he was trying to stop the fight."
"And?" the Sheriff wondered from Gisborne. "What does that have to do with me? And who told you this? His wife? His son?"
Gisborne swallowed and felt his throat dry up for a moment. He shook his head slowly and bowed his head, his hair falling into his face when he realised that there would be nothing he could do to stop the Sheriff. He could not help Elizabeth, nor could he change the Sheriff's mind.
"His daughter," Gisborne decided to say.
The Sheriff stood up and chuckled deeply. "Since when did you fall for the peasants sob stories?"
"I don't."
"Then prove it," the Sheriff said, his hand slapping against Gisborne's back before he reached to finish off his goblet of wine. "Come along, Gisborne, you're getting soft in your old age. Is it that maid of yours? The one you took in?"
"He is her father," Gisborne grunted out. "I did not promise to save him. I promised to tell you the truth."
The Sheriff took a step back, a small tut escaping his lips as he did so. He shook his head back and forth, his lips curling into a sinister smile before a loud laugh escaped his mouth and he began to move towards the door, unable to control the noises coming from his mouth.
"You're falling for her, Gisborne; you sad fool. Make sure she's there...it's always good to see the peasants weep..."
"No, I am not falling for her."
"Yes, you are," the Sheriff had the last word as the doors opened and the Sheriff stepped outside, laughing once more and leaving Gisborne alone in the room.
Sir Guy shook his head and moved purposefully out of the room, his gaze flitting to anyone who dared to look at him, one look causing them to turn in the other direction. He finally found Elizabeth down the corridor, pacing up and down with five steps. She turned around once she heard him, her gaze full of hope. It wasn't until she stared at his narrowed and cold gaze did she realise that there was no hope whatsoever.
Gisborne didn't even say anything and he saw her fall forwards slightly, her legs seemingly turning flaccid. Gisborne dared to move his arms out to take hold of her waist, holding her upright.
"You cannot cry," Gisborne informed her as she sunk closer to him. He kept his hands on her as she moved hers slowly to her hair, tugging at it frantically as a manic expression crossed her face. "I'm warning you, Elizabeth. If the Sheriff sees you and you say something then he will see you swing next to your father."
"No," Elizabeth shook her head. "He can't...he can't die...he did nothing..."
Gisborne gulped loudly once again before he bent down to look at her, roughly holding her chin in his fingers. "Are you listening to me?" he demanded from her. "Elizabeth, you need to compose yourself. Stop this now."
"How can you say that?" Elizabeth snapped at him. "How can you-"
"-I say it because I do not wish to see you buried six feet under," Gisborne interrupted her in a harsh snarl. "Do you understand me? Your father and mother would not want to lose you, so I suggest you take a moment to gather yourself."
He released her and let her stumble to the wall, watching as her hand rested against the cold stone and she peered out of the window, looking into the courtyard which was slowly growing with numbers. She shook her head, wondering if Robin Hood had any intent on making an appearance. She sincerely hoped that he did so. If not then she would do her best to escape Gisborne's clutches and save her father. She could not stand by and do nothing. The thought of that sickened her.
Gisborne gave her a moment or two before he took hold of her by the elbow and led her down the corridors. She didn't fight him; she seemed to walk calmly by his side and down the corridors until they came to the courtyard. He noted Marian stood by the top step near the outside walkway.
"Sir Guy," Marian greeted him. "I see that you have brought your maid with you."
Elizabeth looked over to Marian with wide eyes and the brunette seemed initially confused as to why the girl looked as pale as a ghost. Gisborne sniffed again and looked down for a moment.
"Her father is to hang," he informed Marian.
Marian looked perplexed for a moment, daring to move closer to the maid and rest her hand on her arm. "And you bring her here?"
"The Sheriff's orders," Gisborne gruffly spoke. "You know that disobeying him would do her no good."
"This is cruel," Marian snapped. "Look at her...she can scarcely stand."
Marian deemed Sir Guy incapably to take care of the girl during the public hanging as the noise and commotion suddenly rose up. Marian looked up to the walls, longing for the sight of Robin to grace her orbs. She continued to stare as she wrapped her arms around Elizabeth and held her tightly to her, trying to be some source of comfort.
Guy watched on as the girl shook and contemplated what she would do. He did not know, nor did he have a chance to find out as the Sheriff made his grand entrance, his arms outstretched in front of him. Marian stroked Elizabeth's hair back down, trying to soothe her.
"People of Nottingham!" the Sheriff called out, his voice full of glee as he spoke. "You know as well as I that Nottingham is a respectful town; it cannot be brought down by those who think it is right to brawl and fight in the streets! Those who feel it is their right to restore justice to the town and take matters into their own hands! That is why there is a hanging today; to show you that justice will always be restored; that people cannot get away with crime; and that there will always be a punishment for people's consequences!"
Elizabeth's eyes moved as she saw several men being pushed forwards by guards, their wrists chained and then a chain keeping them together. Elizabeth stirred in Marian's hold; the sight of her father causing her to move.
"No," Marian urged her. "You cannot do anything...you cannot be next to him..."
Sir Guy watched on as the Sheriff came to stand next to him. His eyes remained firmly set on the walls above, almost as though he was waiting for Hood to make an appearance.
"Is that your maid?" the Sheriff tilted his head to the side and Gisborne looked over at Elizabeth. "The people are already looking at her. She's doing well...the tears...fear...it'll keep them in line..."
Gisborne gulped but said nothing as a yell erupted from the crowd. He drew his swords halfway from its sheathe and moved forwards for a second.
"No!" a woman yelled. "He's my husband! He did nothing!"
Elizabeth startled for a moment when she saw her mother push her way to the front of the crowd, her red face staring up to the Sheriff with pleading as she did so. Elizabeth shook her head and pushed herself from Marian. Sir Guy intercepted her, his arm clamping around her waist and pressing her back flush against his chest.
"I beg you," Roselyn sobbed, "do not kill him! He did nothing wrong! He was helping...he tried to help..."
"Roselyn, no!"
Elizabeth looked to the gallows, the sight of her father stood there enough to make her fight Sir Guy with every ounce of fight she had. She pushed against him, but he dared to wrap his other arm around her, whispering into her ear as he did so;
"Don't," he drawled, his breath tickling her cheek. "Don't do anything."
"This man has been found guilty," the Sheriff informed Roselyn.
"By who?" she dared to stand up and ask, looking over to her daughter for a moment. "There was no trial or jury. Are we supposed to believe that this is justice? Nottingham is rotting! Hangings shall not save this town!"
"Mother...please..." Elizabeth called out, not too sure what she was trying to say.
"This really is a family affair, isn't it?" the Sheriff clapped his hands and chuckled gleefully. "Gisborne's been using your daughter as a bed warmer, hasn't he? Do you think that will help you? If anything it will condemn you more."
"You rotten bastard," Roselyn snarled, unable to control her temper as she spat on the ground. "This is not fair!"
The Sheriff chuckled and nodded to his guards to restrain her. They took her by the arms and kept her restrained as she fought.
"No, but that is life," the Sheriff bellowed. "And if you wish to insult me then I have no issue in seeing you hang next to your husband."
He inclined his head once more and the guards moved with Roselyn in their arms. Elizabeth's brows furrowed for a moment before she saw them take her mother to the gallows.
"No," she whispered. "No! You cannot!"
Marian noted what the Sheriff intended to do and she jumped forwards quickly, brushing past Sir Guy as he held Elizabeth to him, keeping her in his hold. She shook her head, yelling loudly as the hangman slowly readied his prisoners.
"My Sheriff," Marian spoke, "perhaps this is too much? Her mother did nothing but speak out of turn. Surely a turn in the dungeon shall help?"
The Sheriff reluctantly tore his eyes away from the gallows and down onto Marian. "You're a woman, Marian; compassion is instilled in you. It is a downfall."
"But-"
"-Perhaps you'd like a turn in the dungeon for interrupting my enjoyment?" the Sheriff suggested to her and she held her tongue, shaking her head back and forth before looking to the sky for a sign of Robin.
"No...please...no!" Elizabeth continued to yell as she saw her parents look over to her. She watched as both of them stopped crying, their eyes set firmly on her as she struggled about in Sir Guy's hold. She continued to yell as the nooses were placed around their necks and she knew that there was nothing more as the drums begun to play.
She could feel herself weaken as her mother and father looked to each other and the executioner moved to the side, the lever to the trap doors in his power. Elizabeth shook her head as Marian came to stand next to her, catching her as Sir Guy's grip slackened and she fell from his hold. Marian held the girl, stopping her from rushing forwards as her parents took one more look back at her.
Sir Guy failed to see the trap doors opening as Elizabeth's gut wrenching yell escaped her and she finally fell forwards, Marian unable to hold her up as Elizabeth still tried to crawl forwards. Her eyes were stuck on the figures around the noose, the crowd gasping at the sight in front of them.
"Come on," Sir Guy whispered to her as he bent down and did his best to pick her up.
"No," she gurgled and Marian helped Sir Guy haul her up to her feet. Gisborne grabbed her waist and pushed her over his shoulder, carrying her kicking and screaming body further into Nottingham Castle's empty walls. Elizabeth yelled out in pain, refusing to be quiet as Sir Guy finally put her down, her back resting against the windowsill.
She seemingly stopped fighting, her body giving up on her as Gisborne kept his hands firmly on her upper arms. Her body shook as she sobbed lightly and he looked at her, thinking of what she had just lost. Everything had been taken from her in one moment.
"Elizabeth," he whispered her name, needing her to look at him for a moment.
Her orbs slowly lifted up and she moved from the ledge, trying to get away from him but failing miserably as he caught her once more and she finally cracked. Gisborne startled as she failed to fight him and her hands held onto his shoulders tightly. Gisborne slowly dared to wrap his arms around her waist as her hair tickled against his neck and she cried against his chest.
And he didn't even move when he heard guards yell the name of Robin Hood; he stood in that corridor and offered her what comfort he could.
...
A/N: Depressing chapter, but the last sentence does hold some hope I suppose! Anyway, thanks to everyone reading and hope you've all had a great Christmas!