I returned from the village with ill news. The Sheriff of Nottingham, curse
him, had designs on my Ladyship's land. He is starving his people, they
grow poorer by the day. I know my Lady does all that she can, but there is
a limit to what she can do. Her position is compromised, for if she pushes
the Sheriff too far, he will take action against her. But now I hear that
despite the Maid Marion's discretion, his men are already encroaching on
her land, and are taking liberties with what they find there. I hastened to
my Lady's quarters to deliver the news.
"Idle gossip from the villagers, Sarah," she said, but I could see in her eyes that she was perturbed by what I had to say.
"But I must advise you to be vigilant, my Lady, they say the Sheriff was raised by one of the most powerful dark witches in England!"
"Nonsense Sarah!" but she wrung her hands as she spoke. "I am capable of taking my own counsel and I don't take kindly to -"
We were interrupted by a commotion downstairs. There were three men outside the castle door arguing with the housekeeper. I reached the window first, my Lady peered over my shoulder. She put a hand to her heaving bosom.
"Robin of Locksley!" she gasped.
I turned to face her. "Robin of Locksley? Is that really him? I thought he had been killed in the East!"
We turned back to the window again, but we were too late. Only two men stood outside the door now. The housekeeper had let Robin of Locksley into our home.
"Go in my place Sarah, I beg of you!" she whispered, in considerable distress.
"But surely you wish to meet this man in person this time,"
"We always do it this way!"
"But that was for your own protection my Lady, surely Robin -"
"I can't face him Sarah, not like this."
*
I stepped out into the shadows where I knew he could not see me. He was stood in the middle of the hall with his hands on his hips looking a little foolish.
"What do you want?" I growled.
"I am looking for the Lady of this house, the Maid Marion."
The man looked a prat. I thought I would play with him a little. "Turn around." I said imperiously. He did so. "Do you want me to dance for you also?" he asked sarcastically, obviously irritated. I resisted the temptation to further humiliate him. "Who are you?"
"I am the Maid Marion,"
"Then come out into the light where I can see you,"
I stepped out into the shaft of sunlight and revealed myself before his eyes. His nostrils flared in surprise. I stifled the urge to laugh at his obvious consternation upon seeing this plump wench standing in the place of his childhood sweetheart. I glared down coldly at him.
"The years. have been kind," he stuttered. I had to bite my lip to keep from guffawing out loud.
"Now get out." That would put an end to his amorous quest.
"But the problem is, I have sworn to protect you." Oh Good Lord. Was there no discouraging the man? I saw the glint of a sword tip behind him. Marion! I smirked. Despite her earlier qualms she had resorted to our usual tactic.
"As you can see, we have enough protection."
*
I enjoyed the spectacle of the fight between the arrogant nobleman and the Lady who I served. It was unfortunate that her disguise was discovered by him and our cover blown. I watched from the window as the two talked outside. Robin of Locksley was perched on the castle wall in what could only been seen as a blatant crotch-display. He seemed insistent, and my Lady appeared disturbed greatly by his presence and whatever he was saying to her.
Then what I had feared since my visit to the market happened sooner than I had expected. Guy of Gisborn and a dozen men in armour rode straight through the grounds beyond the outer castle wall. Robin and his companions leapt upon two of our finest horses and clattered off to chase them away. They succeeded, but I fear they will soon return.
The Maid Marion flew into my arms sobbing violently. The days' events had all been too much for her. I helped her into her bedroom and handed her a fresh handkerchief. She seemed more concerned about Locksley than Nottingham's men.
"All I remember of him was a spoilt bully who used to burn my hair as a child!" She sobbed. "He can never replace my brother, no matter how much he brags about 'protecting' me, I will not have it! He will never take my brother's place!"
"What of your brother?" I demanded, a chill settling on my heart.
"He died at the hands of the Turks!"
Alas. It was as I had feared. "My lady, if this man seeks to protect you surely -"
"How do I know he didn't compromise my brother's position out of cowardice?"
"But you must place your trust -"
"His father has been accused of being a Devil Worshiper!"
"But surely -"
Her Ladyship was hysterical. "All the evidence.I just don't know what to believe!"
I let her cry on my shoulder and my mind drifted to more pressing worries. I had served the House of duBois all my life and it was my duty to look out for them. The threat from Nottingham was drawing ever closer."
****
I promise you, the next chapter will have some action in it! Brace yourselves! It will be going onto R-Rated next time, so adjust your settings before checking again.
"Idle gossip from the villagers, Sarah," she said, but I could see in her eyes that she was perturbed by what I had to say.
"But I must advise you to be vigilant, my Lady, they say the Sheriff was raised by one of the most powerful dark witches in England!"
"Nonsense Sarah!" but she wrung her hands as she spoke. "I am capable of taking my own counsel and I don't take kindly to -"
We were interrupted by a commotion downstairs. There were three men outside the castle door arguing with the housekeeper. I reached the window first, my Lady peered over my shoulder. She put a hand to her heaving bosom.
"Robin of Locksley!" she gasped.
I turned to face her. "Robin of Locksley? Is that really him? I thought he had been killed in the East!"
We turned back to the window again, but we were too late. Only two men stood outside the door now. The housekeeper had let Robin of Locksley into our home.
"Go in my place Sarah, I beg of you!" she whispered, in considerable distress.
"But surely you wish to meet this man in person this time,"
"We always do it this way!"
"But that was for your own protection my Lady, surely Robin -"
"I can't face him Sarah, not like this."
*
I stepped out into the shadows where I knew he could not see me. He was stood in the middle of the hall with his hands on his hips looking a little foolish.
"What do you want?" I growled.
"I am looking for the Lady of this house, the Maid Marion."
The man looked a prat. I thought I would play with him a little. "Turn around." I said imperiously. He did so. "Do you want me to dance for you also?" he asked sarcastically, obviously irritated. I resisted the temptation to further humiliate him. "Who are you?"
"I am the Maid Marion,"
"Then come out into the light where I can see you,"
I stepped out into the shaft of sunlight and revealed myself before his eyes. His nostrils flared in surprise. I stifled the urge to laugh at his obvious consternation upon seeing this plump wench standing in the place of his childhood sweetheart. I glared down coldly at him.
"The years. have been kind," he stuttered. I had to bite my lip to keep from guffawing out loud.
"Now get out." That would put an end to his amorous quest.
"But the problem is, I have sworn to protect you." Oh Good Lord. Was there no discouraging the man? I saw the glint of a sword tip behind him. Marion! I smirked. Despite her earlier qualms she had resorted to our usual tactic.
"As you can see, we have enough protection."
*
I enjoyed the spectacle of the fight between the arrogant nobleman and the Lady who I served. It was unfortunate that her disguise was discovered by him and our cover blown. I watched from the window as the two talked outside. Robin of Locksley was perched on the castle wall in what could only been seen as a blatant crotch-display. He seemed insistent, and my Lady appeared disturbed greatly by his presence and whatever he was saying to her.
Then what I had feared since my visit to the market happened sooner than I had expected. Guy of Gisborn and a dozen men in armour rode straight through the grounds beyond the outer castle wall. Robin and his companions leapt upon two of our finest horses and clattered off to chase them away. They succeeded, but I fear they will soon return.
The Maid Marion flew into my arms sobbing violently. The days' events had all been too much for her. I helped her into her bedroom and handed her a fresh handkerchief. She seemed more concerned about Locksley than Nottingham's men.
"All I remember of him was a spoilt bully who used to burn my hair as a child!" She sobbed. "He can never replace my brother, no matter how much he brags about 'protecting' me, I will not have it! He will never take my brother's place!"
"What of your brother?" I demanded, a chill settling on my heart.
"He died at the hands of the Turks!"
Alas. It was as I had feared. "My lady, if this man seeks to protect you surely -"
"How do I know he didn't compromise my brother's position out of cowardice?"
"But you must place your trust -"
"His father has been accused of being a Devil Worshiper!"
"But surely -"
Her Ladyship was hysterical. "All the evidence.I just don't know what to believe!"
I let her cry on my shoulder and my mind drifted to more pressing worries. I had served the House of duBois all my life and it was my duty to look out for them. The threat from Nottingham was drawing ever closer."
****
I promise you, the next chapter will have some action in it! Brace yourselves! It will be going onto R-Rated next time, so adjust your settings before checking again.