Here's chapter 12. Still not a lot of action, but some important plot
exposition, an encounter with the Sheriff, some emotional healing
and...Marian actually appears on the scene! Remember, this story is from
Piper's point of view. Marian isn't a bad character or even a weak
character, but Piper has her own opinions about her that show up in this
chapter.
CHAPTER 12
Piper moved nervously through her home. She avoided the training field and the kitchen, and was now listening intently for footsteps. She knew that she couldn't avoid discovery forever, but she wanted to delay it as long as possible. She wasn't sure she was ready to explain what had happened. She shivered as the memory passed through her mind once again.
A slow tide of relief began to wash over her as she neared her room. There had been no sign of people so far, and she was nearly safe. She knew that it was her duty to report immediately either to Richard or the Sheriff, but once she left Much at the forest's edge, all she wanted to do was to crawl under the blankets of her bed and sleep until she was able to wake up from the hellish nightmare of the past two days.
A few paces from her door, Piper's heart froze. Heavy footsteps were fast approaching. She recognized the determined, purposeful tread. The Sheriff would soon be there. Piper looked around, with the brief hope that there was someplace to hide. There wasn't. Even if she tried to escape into her room only a few feet away, the sound of the old oak door scraping against the stone floor would alert him to her presence. So, Piper took a deep breath and readied herself for the confrontation that was about to come.
Because she heard him coming, Piper saw the Sheriff before he saw her. He rounded the corner with his head lowered in thought, and Piper could tell that he was troubled. He was concerned about something.
She shifted her weight nervously, the slight movement stirring her guardian out of his reflection. Piper was taken completely by surprise when he gasped at her battered appearance. "What the hell happened to you," he asked hoarsely as he rushed towards her to take stock of her injuries.
Piper didn't know what to do. She didn't know what to think. She always hoped deep down inside that the Sheriff did care for her like a daughter, but she could never believe it. As far as she knew, he only ever saw her as one of his guards. Now, after everything that had happened to her, she was facing this uncharacteristic display of concern, and it was almost too much for her to bear.
She took a deep breath to combat the tears that were threatening to appear, and tried to explain in as few words as possible. "I was attacked in the forest, while I was looking for the outlaws. I'm fine."
Philip ushered her into her chamber and sat her down on her bed. In the dim light from the window, Piper watched him cross his arms in front of his chest and take a firm, unmoveable stance. "You are going to tell me who did this to you, and then you are going to rest. I'll send Milly up here to take a look at your injuries."
She didn't want to talk about it. The images that were already running through her mind were dangerously close to overwhelming her. She wanted to defy the Sheriff's request; to fight him in a way, so that she could gain back some of the control that had been taken from her.
She closed her eyes against everything, and felt a single tear escape it's way down her cheek. Philip had just expressed care for her for the first time. If she disobeyed him, she might loose that forever.
"It was Scarlett." Her voice was flat when she said it. She was trying to protect herself from the emotions that she was experiencing. She couldn't help but notice the whispered oath that came from the Sheriff's direction.
"I was by the stream when he and two others came from the trees. I fought them as best as I could," she felt that it was important to let him know she fought. "The other two would have been easy, but Scarlett," she shook her head at a loss for words. "He wasn't human."
"How did you escape? He didn't..."
"No," she answered his question before he could ask it. "He would have. He was about to, but then there was a sound. Something must have scared him off. The next thing I knew, I was waking up on the forest floor. Someone must have found me. They cleaned my wounds, but when I woke up they were gone." She finally raised her eyes to meet his and saw sadness there. His arms were no longer crossed over his chest, and he seemed to be on the verge of a decision.
She shook her head and lowered her eyes again in shame. "I was helpless. I was useless. I let a monster get away to do that to some other poor girl." The full weight of her failure came crashing down on her, and she couldn't stop the tears from falling any longer. She made no sound as she cried, hoping that she would not draw attention to it. There was no way for her to hide the fact, and the Sheriff was soon aware of the pain that she was in. In an awkward effort to comfort her, he sat down next to her and wrapped one arm around her shoulders. Surprised once again, this time at his attempted hug, Piper didn't immediately fall into the embrace, neither did she pull away. Instead, she fought for control of her emotions.
When she calmed down enough to stop her tears, Philip stood back up. "I want you to get some rest now. I'll send Milly with some food, and to look at those injuries. You may return to duty whenever you feel ready. I'll let Milly know that there will be no arguments from her. When you feel ready, you should have no trouble from her, but before I go, may I ask you a question?"
Piper nodded.
"Was there anything to suggest that Scarlett was allied with Locksley?"
"I don't think so. He mentioned someone named Robin Hood, I think he meant Lord Robert. He didn't sound too fond of him."
He seemed satisfied with her answer, and left the room with a heavy silence in his wake and too many thoughts for Piper to handle. Without undressing, she curled into a ball and pulled the blankets over her head. Milly be damned, she was going to sleep.
**********
Piper spent the next three days recovering from her wounds and sorting out her thoughts. She wasn't even aware of the events occurring outside of her room until the third day, when she went for a walk. First, she decided to visit the kitchen. Milly thought that the quickest path to recovery was through bland, tasteless food. Piper was sick of being sick and was ready to steal something more substantial while Milly's back was turned.
As she neared the kitchen, Piper heard Milly and Sarah talking, and they were using the voices that they only used when they thought she wasn't around. They were gossiping. Piper crept closer, so that she could hear what they were saying.
"....saying is that I am relieved that Prince John won't be coming," Sarah said.
"Don't yeh be mistakin' girl. Those revolts may keep him busy fer a time, but mark my words, when he's done with 'em, he'll be here, expecting us to feed him and all his royal guards."
"Yes, but maybe the King will return before then."
"Maybe. Yer an optimist if I ever met one, Sarah."
Piper backed away from the kitchen, curiosity overwhelming her hunger. Prince John was delayed. They had some time now. She didn't know what that meant. What would the Sheriff do with that extra time? Why had no one told her about this new development? She knew that everyone in the Manor was being very careful around her. Perhaps they thought it would upset her.
There was only one way for her to find out what was going on. It was time to do a little spying once again. It felt good to focus on something other than herself. For the first time in four days, she wasn't thinking about her helplessness. Images of Scarlett were not running through her head. It was a relief to be temporarily free of the memories.
It took very little time for her to find the Sheriff; he was in his chamber, as usual. It shortly became clear that he wasn't alone in there either. The angry alto voice of the Lady Marian could be heard ranting furiously at him from t he wide opened door. Piper had to have some respect for the woman, she was the only person who could get away with verbally abusing Philip Mark. Piper approached the open door as closely as she could without being seen, and listened to what Marian was saying.
"It's absolutely ridiculous. You claim that you're concerned for me, so you're going to arrest me?"
"Marian," the Sheriff's voice sounded wearied. "I'm not arresting you..."
"Of course not, you're only locking me in a room with guards at the door. What are they for, conversation?" There was some shuffling of feet, and Piper heard the clearing of a throat that she recognized as Walter's.
"I know you're going into the woods to see him, and my personal feelings aside, that's just not safe right now."
"Are you afraid one of your guards is going to mistake me for an outlaw, possibly run me through? I know that you're looking for them, and you won't find them. The only threat to me in that forest is you, and I..."
"One of my guards was attacked several days ago."
"Excuse me?" Her tone of voice clearly questioned why that should concern her.
"She was attacked by Scarlett." There was an audible feminine gasp. Without being able to see into the room, Piper knew that Marian had clutched a hand to her breast in a classic distressed lady pose. Piper smirked at the image, despite herself.
"She survived. She's good at that. But Marian, she almost didn't. Piper..." his voice broke at the mention of her name. "....she knows how to take care of herself, better than most men twice her size, and she almost didn't make it. I don't fancy your chances should you run into him while looking for your precious..." he paused for a moment, trying to recall the right words "What are they calling him now, Robin Hood?"
"Sheriff," it seemed as though Marian had regained her composure. She used his title as though it were the worst kind of insult. "your concern for my safety is admirable, but I assure you that I am in no danger..."
Piper began to quietly back away from the door. It was obvious that this argument was going to go on for some time, and Piper did not want to be anywhere near the Sheriff when it ended. She would probably be able to hear the furious loss of temper from her own room. One thing was certain, Marian and the Sheriff were not intending to talk about Prince John.
For the rest of the day, Piper wandered through the halls and over the grounds of Mark Manor. She stopped by the training field to let Richard know that she would be t=returning to duty the next day. The resulting display of concern and fussing by all of the guards in their own way, would put Milly to shame. Each one vowed that they would kill Scarlett in some very bloody and painful way. Piper thanked them all for their concern and restrained the urge to tell them that she would prefer to kill him and a very bloody and painful way.
She excused herself from them after only a short visit. She was uncomfortable with all of the sympathy that she was getting. She didn't want sympathy. Sympathy was for those foolish and useless ladies that preferred to be victims. She was not a victim. She refused to be.
That evening, Piper entertained herself with violent revenge fantasies all carried out on William the Scarlett. She smiled before she went to bed, filing the best fantasies away for later reference. That night, she slept peacefully. Things might not end up alright, but whatever happened she would survive it. She would beat fate, even if she had to use her bare hands to do it.
CHAPTER 12
Piper moved nervously through her home. She avoided the training field and the kitchen, and was now listening intently for footsteps. She knew that she couldn't avoid discovery forever, but she wanted to delay it as long as possible. She wasn't sure she was ready to explain what had happened. She shivered as the memory passed through her mind once again.
A slow tide of relief began to wash over her as she neared her room. There had been no sign of people so far, and she was nearly safe. She knew that it was her duty to report immediately either to Richard or the Sheriff, but once she left Much at the forest's edge, all she wanted to do was to crawl under the blankets of her bed and sleep until she was able to wake up from the hellish nightmare of the past two days.
A few paces from her door, Piper's heart froze. Heavy footsteps were fast approaching. She recognized the determined, purposeful tread. The Sheriff would soon be there. Piper looked around, with the brief hope that there was someplace to hide. There wasn't. Even if she tried to escape into her room only a few feet away, the sound of the old oak door scraping against the stone floor would alert him to her presence. So, Piper took a deep breath and readied herself for the confrontation that was about to come.
Because she heard him coming, Piper saw the Sheriff before he saw her. He rounded the corner with his head lowered in thought, and Piper could tell that he was troubled. He was concerned about something.
She shifted her weight nervously, the slight movement stirring her guardian out of his reflection. Piper was taken completely by surprise when he gasped at her battered appearance. "What the hell happened to you," he asked hoarsely as he rushed towards her to take stock of her injuries.
Piper didn't know what to do. She didn't know what to think. She always hoped deep down inside that the Sheriff did care for her like a daughter, but she could never believe it. As far as she knew, he only ever saw her as one of his guards. Now, after everything that had happened to her, she was facing this uncharacteristic display of concern, and it was almost too much for her to bear.
She took a deep breath to combat the tears that were threatening to appear, and tried to explain in as few words as possible. "I was attacked in the forest, while I was looking for the outlaws. I'm fine."
Philip ushered her into her chamber and sat her down on her bed. In the dim light from the window, Piper watched him cross his arms in front of his chest and take a firm, unmoveable stance. "You are going to tell me who did this to you, and then you are going to rest. I'll send Milly up here to take a look at your injuries."
She didn't want to talk about it. The images that were already running through her mind were dangerously close to overwhelming her. She wanted to defy the Sheriff's request; to fight him in a way, so that she could gain back some of the control that had been taken from her.
She closed her eyes against everything, and felt a single tear escape it's way down her cheek. Philip had just expressed care for her for the first time. If she disobeyed him, she might loose that forever.
"It was Scarlett." Her voice was flat when she said it. She was trying to protect herself from the emotions that she was experiencing. She couldn't help but notice the whispered oath that came from the Sheriff's direction.
"I was by the stream when he and two others came from the trees. I fought them as best as I could," she felt that it was important to let him know she fought. "The other two would have been easy, but Scarlett," she shook her head at a loss for words. "He wasn't human."
"How did you escape? He didn't..."
"No," she answered his question before he could ask it. "He would have. He was about to, but then there was a sound. Something must have scared him off. The next thing I knew, I was waking up on the forest floor. Someone must have found me. They cleaned my wounds, but when I woke up they were gone." She finally raised her eyes to meet his and saw sadness there. His arms were no longer crossed over his chest, and he seemed to be on the verge of a decision.
She shook her head and lowered her eyes again in shame. "I was helpless. I was useless. I let a monster get away to do that to some other poor girl." The full weight of her failure came crashing down on her, and she couldn't stop the tears from falling any longer. She made no sound as she cried, hoping that she would not draw attention to it. There was no way for her to hide the fact, and the Sheriff was soon aware of the pain that she was in. In an awkward effort to comfort her, he sat down next to her and wrapped one arm around her shoulders. Surprised once again, this time at his attempted hug, Piper didn't immediately fall into the embrace, neither did she pull away. Instead, she fought for control of her emotions.
When she calmed down enough to stop her tears, Philip stood back up. "I want you to get some rest now. I'll send Milly with some food, and to look at those injuries. You may return to duty whenever you feel ready. I'll let Milly know that there will be no arguments from her. When you feel ready, you should have no trouble from her, but before I go, may I ask you a question?"
Piper nodded.
"Was there anything to suggest that Scarlett was allied with Locksley?"
"I don't think so. He mentioned someone named Robin Hood, I think he meant Lord Robert. He didn't sound too fond of him."
He seemed satisfied with her answer, and left the room with a heavy silence in his wake and too many thoughts for Piper to handle. Without undressing, she curled into a ball and pulled the blankets over her head. Milly be damned, she was going to sleep.
**********
Piper spent the next three days recovering from her wounds and sorting out her thoughts. She wasn't even aware of the events occurring outside of her room until the third day, when she went for a walk. First, she decided to visit the kitchen. Milly thought that the quickest path to recovery was through bland, tasteless food. Piper was sick of being sick and was ready to steal something more substantial while Milly's back was turned.
As she neared the kitchen, Piper heard Milly and Sarah talking, and they were using the voices that they only used when they thought she wasn't around. They were gossiping. Piper crept closer, so that she could hear what they were saying.
"....saying is that I am relieved that Prince John won't be coming," Sarah said.
"Don't yeh be mistakin' girl. Those revolts may keep him busy fer a time, but mark my words, when he's done with 'em, he'll be here, expecting us to feed him and all his royal guards."
"Yes, but maybe the King will return before then."
"Maybe. Yer an optimist if I ever met one, Sarah."
Piper backed away from the kitchen, curiosity overwhelming her hunger. Prince John was delayed. They had some time now. She didn't know what that meant. What would the Sheriff do with that extra time? Why had no one told her about this new development? She knew that everyone in the Manor was being very careful around her. Perhaps they thought it would upset her.
There was only one way for her to find out what was going on. It was time to do a little spying once again. It felt good to focus on something other than herself. For the first time in four days, she wasn't thinking about her helplessness. Images of Scarlett were not running through her head. It was a relief to be temporarily free of the memories.
It took very little time for her to find the Sheriff; he was in his chamber, as usual. It shortly became clear that he wasn't alone in there either. The angry alto voice of the Lady Marian could be heard ranting furiously at him from t he wide opened door. Piper had to have some respect for the woman, she was the only person who could get away with verbally abusing Philip Mark. Piper approached the open door as closely as she could without being seen, and listened to what Marian was saying.
"It's absolutely ridiculous. You claim that you're concerned for me, so you're going to arrest me?"
"Marian," the Sheriff's voice sounded wearied. "I'm not arresting you..."
"Of course not, you're only locking me in a room with guards at the door. What are they for, conversation?" There was some shuffling of feet, and Piper heard the clearing of a throat that she recognized as Walter's.
"I know you're going into the woods to see him, and my personal feelings aside, that's just not safe right now."
"Are you afraid one of your guards is going to mistake me for an outlaw, possibly run me through? I know that you're looking for them, and you won't find them. The only threat to me in that forest is you, and I..."
"One of my guards was attacked several days ago."
"Excuse me?" Her tone of voice clearly questioned why that should concern her.
"She was attacked by Scarlett." There was an audible feminine gasp. Without being able to see into the room, Piper knew that Marian had clutched a hand to her breast in a classic distressed lady pose. Piper smirked at the image, despite herself.
"She survived. She's good at that. But Marian, she almost didn't. Piper..." his voice broke at the mention of her name. "....she knows how to take care of herself, better than most men twice her size, and she almost didn't make it. I don't fancy your chances should you run into him while looking for your precious..." he paused for a moment, trying to recall the right words "What are they calling him now, Robin Hood?"
"Sheriff," it seemed as though Marian had regained her composure. She used his title as though it were the worst kind of insult. "your concern for my safety is admirable, but I assure you that I am in no danger..."
Piper began to quietly back away from the door. It was obvious that this argument was going to go on for some time, and Piper did not want to be anywhere near the Sheriff when it ended. She would probably be able to hear the furious loss of temper from her own room. One thing was certain, Marian and the Sheriff were not intending to talk about Prince John.
For the rest of the day, Piper wandered through the halls and over the grounds of Mark Manor. She stopped by the training field to let Richard know that she would be t=returning to duty the next day. The resulting display of concern and fussing by all of the guards in their own way, would put Milly to shame. Each one vowed that they would kill Scarlett in some very bloody and painful way. Piper thanked them all for their concern and restrained the urge to tell them that she would prefer to kill him and a very bloody and painful way.
She excused herself from them after only a short visit. She was uncomfortable with all of the sympathy that she was getting. She didn't want sympathy. Sympathy was for those foolish and useless ladies that preferred to be victims. She was not a victim. She refused to be.
That evening, Piper entertained herself with violent revenge fantasies all carried out on William the Scarlett. She smiled before she went to bed, filing the best fantasies away for later reference. That night, she slept peacefully. Things might not end up alright, but whatever happened she would survive it. She would beat fate, even if she had to use her bare hands to do it.