Chapter 14 – Relocation

As was to be expected by Gisborne's early arrival, another return was brought forwards – this one even more of a secret than the first. The residents of Locksley had been forced out of their homes with the arrival of Thomas of Worcester as Vaisey's 'replacement' so that the village could be used as a garrison (with the evicted families having to seek refuge in Knighton or Clun, or with relatives elsewhere, or religious shelters like Kirklees Abbey), so there were no witnesses to the comings and goings of the manor's inhabitants. Even the guards of the manor were completely separated from the guards in the barracks, with the latter faction under the impression that the soldiers adorned with the slashes of maroon among their chainmail were the elite group of soldiers responsible for the personal safety of the new sheriff, and that Locksley was their exclusive quarters when they retired after their shifts.

The only indications to Marian of the Sheriff's imminent return was that Nicholas (who Guy had now adopted in full confidence as his new sergeant following his actions since Marian had arrived) had spent the entire morning closeted with Gisborne, while Thornton and Lucy had been, on Guy's orders, fetching dark cloaks and getting horses ready. Marian's guess that they would not be remaining in Locksley for much longer was soon proved to be correct, when, at dusk, Lucy came to her with a black hooded cloak and informed her that they (she, Thornton, Marian, Guy, Nicholas and a select few guards) would be leaving for the castle at nightfall.

As the last light faded, Marian found herself sitting next to Gisborne as the unobtrusive black carriage jolted out of Locksley. Completely hidden by its walls, the carriage's occupants were safe, not only from outlaw ambushes (because Nicholas was driving the carriage), but also from the prying eyes of guards and anyone they happened to pass. Thornton and Lucy had already set off for Nottingham an hour ago, but Guy had waited for the cover of darkness until he and Marian left; he could not, under any circumstance, risk anyone seeing her. When asked to explain his paranoia by Marian, he brushed it aside with an evasive "I will tell you later" and the rest of the ride was spent in silence.

***

It was dark when she finally finished her work for the day, and pitch-black night as she traversed the corridors of Nottingham Castle, careful not to jostle the baby she held in her arms. She was exhausted, but had no other option other than to toil away in the castle kitchens until the callous brute of an overseer finally let her leave the cramped and stuffy confinement of the cellars, even though she had long finished her shift of work and, as usual, would not receive her money's worth. Her husband, though only a poor farmer himself, had been the main earner of the two of them, and so when he died of a fever the previous winter she had been left by herself, alone, and with a month-old baby to raise.

Nevertheless, six months on, Jenny was coping as well as any villager in these tough times. She was taxed no more than most, had a place to live in the home of a merchant and his family who had taken pity on her and given her a small room in exchange for cooking services, and while she was earning a pitiable amount, it was enough to sustain her and her daughter. She had a fairly quiet, relatively simple and rather contented life.

So it was quite a surprise for her to find herself carted off by a pair of 'Scarlet Guards' (as they had come to be called) to the castle dungeons, and locked into a cell, without warning or a given reason. She had heard the sound horses approaching, and had climbed up the ladder to the side of the portcullis to see better, resting her baby on the ground, safely tucked out of harm's way, so she wouldn't drop her and would have both hands free. From the top of the wall, her keen eyes were quick to pick out the inconspicuous yet ominous black carriage in the far distance, confirming that her hearing had been correct, though the sounds had carried well in the still night air so it was far further away than she had thought. There was no insignia to identify the carriage but it was surrounded by more of the Scarlet Guards who now dominated the castle – it was much like the carriage that had arrived discreetly very early that morning, although with less of an army enveloping it.

However, like the arrival of the first carriage, this one was just as much of a secret, so when a group of guards came across her, they had no choice but to restrain her, gag her, and take her down to the dungeons, leaving behind a small, frightened baby by the portcullis.

Bit of a filler chapter, like the next few will be, and also inexcusably late (for which I apologise sincerely), but I think I've got the plot sorted now, and I got this chapter up in time for Christmas – call it my present to you incredible people who have put up with my appallingly irregular and infrequent updating for so long (you guys are absolute angels, and I salute you and offer you all a mince pie :P)

I will try to have another chapter done over the holidays, but in the mean time, have a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

~ Nia (explanation of my sudden name change on my profile)

P.S. Thanks again to TheSingingGirl for all her help!