I'm sorry! I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sooo sorry. I'm honestly so swamped
with work that I don't have time to read for pleasure, let alone write. I
really wanted to be done with this whole story a long time ago, but life
never works out the way you plan. Spring break is coming up soon, and I
promise to write a chapter then. I won't promise to finish the story
because I have several papers and presentations to work on also. It is
nearly done. There are only two chapter (3 or 4 if I stretch it) left.
You're going to kill me at the end of this chapter, but I write it with the
promise of more in less than a month's time. So enjoy!
Chapter 20
Piper found herself roaming the halls of Mark Manor late into the night. Her high spirits lasted only until it was time to sleep. The still and the quiet left her with far too much opportunity to think about what was coming. She found herself restless and twitchy, but her endless tossing and turning did nothing to relieve the feeling. Eventually she settled on getting dressed and walking.
It felt good to roam the passageways alone. This place was her home, and it occurred to her that she might never see it again after the hanging, so perhaps this was the best way to say goodbye. She passed by two tapestries, which she passed so often before, they had nearly become invisible. This time she took a moment to really see them.
The first was of a knight and his lady. The knight was on horseback, fully suited in armor and very handsome. He had dark hair and a strong, Norman face. He was depicted with an air of nobility that Piper suspected no longer existed in the world. His lady was fair skinned and beautiful of course. She was tying her favor onto his arm with great care.
Just next to it was a tapestry depicting a battle scene. There were archers and infantry, and knights on horseback. It all looked very senseless and violent. Piper couldn't place the battle historically, but suspected that perhaps it wasn't meant to illustrate a particular event. There were many characters embroidered in the scene which gave a sense of chaos, but they were so small that there wasn't enough room to put any detail on their faces. Still, Piper couldn't help but notice that in one corner there was a knight, dead on the ground with an arrow through his heart. He had dark hair and what looked like a favor on his arm.
"Foreboding, is it not?"
Piper was so startled by the voice that she nearly fell over in surprise. The Sheriff was standing just behind her. She had been so engrossed by the wall hanging that she did not hear his approach.
"Sir," she had no idea what she was about to say, but her mouth closed when she saw the calm, sad look in his eyes. She turned back to the tapestry. "I thought they were supposed to show pleasant things, like glorious victories, banquets, and unicorns under pomegranate trees." How could she have missed such a macabre thing in her own home for so many years?
"Tell me when was the last time you saw a unicorn, or a pomegranate tree for that matter? We create from what we know. The person who created this must have known loss." Piper considered his words. She didn't need anymore loss at the moment. What she could really use was hope.
"Have you heard the rumors that the Lionheart has returned to England?"
She looked at him sharply, but didn't answer. The news sparked a dozen thoughts questions in her mind, but he wasn't done speaking yet.
"Who knows what is truth anymore? I don't suppose it really matters right now. If he is back, he's for London, to reclaim the throne. By the time news of the hanging reaches him, it will be far too late. Those men were fools for following Locksley. Robert is an even bigger fool for starting this war against John. Perhaps I'm the biggest fool of all."
They were both silent. Piper looked at the tapestries again. She knew what she saw in them. She saw her fate with Much. One of them would die in battle, or the both of them would. There was hope for England, but not for them. She wondered what the Sheriff saw.
Tentatively she asked "Have they found the Lady Marian yet?"
His jaw tightened and his eyes shut briefly in an effort to control his emotions. "I only hope that Robert cares for her enough to keep her away from the fighting, and has the good sense to know that she will try to find a way no matter what he says. She is no fighter and John's men won't care that she is a woman. If she is found with the outlaws, they will kill her."
Piper was quiet again. She thought for a long time. Reflection was not one of her strengths, and she felt out of place doing it, but her thoughts were beginning to coalesce into one dangerous and consuming idea.
"Sir, maybe the time has come for a change of plans." When he didn't respond, she continued. "The ransom has been sent and whether the King be in England or still in some prison in the Holy Lands there is nothing more that this charade can accomplish."
A raised hand demanded Piper's silence, and she granted it. Philip didn't look at her. His eyes had grown cold. "What you are about to suggest is treason."
"Treason to a false king," she said softly.
"The world is a complicated place, Piper. I..." He cast a sideways glance at her. "I have my responsibilities."
There was another pause. Piper didn't understand what he meant. Surely his responsibilities were to the King and England. What responsibilities could require him to hang innocent men? She said nothing because she also had her responsibilities, and they were apparently not as complicated or confusing as his. Hers were to follow orders, no matter what.
"You're really willing to risk everything to do what is right, aren't you," asked Philip. Piper didn't answer. He didn't expect her to. "I wonder where you learned that from. It certainly wasn't me." He didn't give her a chance to respond. He left quickly, but made very little sound. She didn't wonder that he was able to sneak up on her in the first place.
After he was gone, Piper looked at the fallen knight one more time. She felt angry. The knight obviously had no sense, riding on horseback to meet an enemy face to face. No wonder he was killed. Robert of Locksley was just like the knight, waving his sword and loudly crying his defiance to a stronger enemy. The outlaws would never defeat Prince John and his army. They would die trying. Prince John would be expecting an attack from the outlaws. On the other hand, he would not expect a betrayal from one of his strongest supporters.
"We could defeat Prince John if we joined the outlaws tomorrow," she told the knight. "We could end all this tyranny and return England to the Lionheart's control in a day were it not for our damned responsibilities." The dead knight said nothing. He remained in a crumpled faceless heap as the battle continued in its one frozen moment. Piper shook her head and continued her restless pacing through the Manor, determined not to look at any more tapestries.
**********
Morning came with dreadful certainty. Miraculously, Piper was able to sleep through the last couple of hours before sunrise, though it gave her no rest. She moved through her morning routine in a trance, finding herself in the kitchen with no recollection of how she got there. Sarah was moving about in a nervous way, but Piper noticed a small smile competing with the heartsick worried one.
"Where has Milly been," Piper asked. The older woman was once again absent and Piper was concerned. Milly hadn't been in the best of health all spring. Piper had been so focused on the recent turn of events that she hadn't wondered about the servant's absence.
"She's been sent to Nottingham to help with Prince John and his men."
"Is that such a good idea? Her health..."
"She didn't have much of a choice. None of us do." Sarah seemed very busy, and not n the mood for conversation, so Piper left for the guard house. Richard was there, looking unhappy. Bear and Walter were exchanging hushed words while the rest of the guards went through the vague motions of preparing for the day's events. Piper joined Bear and Walter in the shadow of the guard house.
"All I'm saying is that I'm worried," said Walter. "Us siding with Prince John with rumors that the Lionheart is back in England. If the King hears about it, we'll be hanged without question."
"All we can do is follow orders. That's our job."
"Besides, hanging is too kind for traitors. We'll probably be locked in the tower and left to starve." Piper's attempt at levity was not well received by her comrades. She apologized so that they would stop frowning at her.
There was a stretch of time, which seemed like an eternity but couldn't have been more than a half hour when all of the guards waited. No one spoke to one another after Piper's comment. No one even made eye contact. They all floated in their own world, waiting for the inevitable.
As usual, Piper found distraction at the archery range. One arrow after another left her bow, each hitting the center of one of the six targets set up at the far end of the field. She wasn't aware of the passing of time like the others were, and so she was startled when a hand touched her shoulder. She spun around abruptly, stopping herself just short of shooting an arrow into Bear's gut. Bear regarded her cooly, unfazed by the incident. "It's time," he said. No other words were spoken. The two walked back to the group of gathering guards.
By the time they started marching towards Nottingham, the morning fog had burned away. It was a beautiful spring morning. Clear skies and singing birds threw into sharp relief their uncertain future. Piper was certain that it was supposed to be dark and gloomy and raining heavily. She needed more distraction. She decided to obtain it from Bear. The two of them brought the rear of the procession. They walked a few feet behind the rest of the guards so that if anything happened, there would be some space between them. Piper leaned over and quietly asked "How's Sarah?"
She could see him trying to hide the surprise on his face from the corner of her eye. But he recovered quickly and retaliated with an even quieter "How's the outlaw?"
Piper felt blood rush to her face and was glad that no one else could see her. "Does anybody else know?" Bear shook his head. "How long have you known?"
"Not for very long." Bear was being intentionally vague. He was enjoying watching her squirm. She returned the favor, remaining as vague as possible when he asked the same questions.
They arrived in Nottingham without incident, an hour before the execution was set. The people in the town were nervous. They avoided the guards as much as possible, keeping their eyes on the ground. There were very few people out near the edge of town, but the crowds grew denser as they neared the castle wall and the gallows. Spectators filled the space, all hoping to get a good view of the event. Prince John's men were already in place, except for the six that were to transport the outlaws. They watched the gathering crowd uneasily, holding their weapons in plain sight as means of communicating some unspoken threat.
Richard gave the order, and the guards spread out into the crowd. They didn't watch the crowd as they passed through it. They looked at individuals. There was Mr. Thomas the fletcher. His son had recently turned outlaw, and while he was not one of the outlaws captured, Mr. Thomas looked heartbroken and angry all at once. Just beyond him was Father Oliver. He was reciting scripture to a group of angry young men and women. He was a peaceful man, and it was obvious he was trying to calm their tempers with only mild success. Piper passed one good person after another, all showing various degrees of distress. There was nothing that she could do for them. She couldn't tell them that everything would be all right, because she didn't believe it herself. So she continued to pass by them, until a loud fanfare drew everyone's attention to the wall.
Prince John ascended to the top of the wall and proceeded to a fancy high backed chair that had been set out for him. It offered him the best view of the gallows in the whole town. He was followed by Maid Marian, who was trying to look seductive. She followed at a respectful distance. How had she managed to earn Prince John's interest so quickly, and what was she planning on doing with it? Behind her, the Sheriff looked even more unpleasant than usual. He kept his eyes focused several feet to the left of Marian, refusing to acknowledge her presence. When the Prince stopped at his throne he turned to Marian and spoke with a lecherous smile. Marian blushed, but nodded meekly. The Sheriff scrutinized the empty air even harder.
There was another fanfare. The trumpeters, who stood at posts on the wall at either end of the gate, heralded the coming of the prisoners. The crowd began to press forward in order to better see. Piper didn't look in the direction of the prisoners; she was too well trained for that. She watched the people around her. She was looking for something out of place. She found it in very little time. There was a man who was not pressing forward with the rest of the crowd. He fell to the back of the throng, where there was a little more space. His face was hidden by a hood, and he wore a long cape which obscured most of the rest of him.
Piper looked over to the gallows. The outlaws were being led up the platform and positioned, each by a noose. Their hands were bound tightly in front of them. She looked back to the crowd and scanned it. There were more hooded figures, most of them near the back. They were positioned in a semicircle surrounding the gallows and the crowd. A few of them were at the front of the crowd, very near the outlaws. John's men were watching the hanging and didn't see what was happening. Several of the guards, who were obviously more attentive than John' men, were moving into place to intercept the hooded figures.
Piper also began advancing on the nearest one to her. He was all the way at the back of the crowd and was moving with some ease. There were many people between her and her target, but there was an opening in the crunch of people not too far away, in the opposite direction. She headed there, thinking she would reach him faster that way.
On the gallows, nooses were being fitted around the outlaws' necks. On the wall, Prince John was eying Marian's cleavage. The Sheriff was eying his guards.
Piper cleared the crowd just as the hooded figure drew a bow from under his cape. It appeared to be aimed at the gallows. Piper drew her own bow, fitted it with an arrow, and shouted a warning. Townspeople, who were just noticing something more interesting than a hanging happening next to them began clearing out of the way at the sight of the drawn weapons. The archer turned, aiming his bow at her. His hood fell back.
Piper and Much stared at each other in frozen shock as screams of terror erupted from unarmed onlookers. "This seems oddly familiar," Piper groaned. Then all hell broke loose.
Chapter 20
Piper found herself roaming the halls of Mark Manor late into the night. Her high spirits lasted only until it was time to sleep. The still and the quiet left her with far too much opportunity to think about what was coming. She found herself restless and twitchy, but her endless tossing and turning did nothing to relieve the feeling. Eventually she settled on getting dressed and walking.
It felt good to roam the passageways alone. This place was her home, and it occurred to her that she might never see it again after the hanging, so perhaps this was the best way to say goodbye. She passed by two tapestries, which she passed so often before, they had nearly become invisible. This time she took a moment to really see them.
The first was of a knight and his lady. The knight was on horseback, fully suited in armor and very handsome. He had dark hair and a strong, Norman face. He was depicted with an air of nobility that Piper suspected no longer existed in the world. His lady was fair skinned and beautiful of course. She was tying her favor onto his arm with great care.
Just next to it was a tapestry depicting a battle scene. There were archers and infantry, and knights on horseback. It all looked very senseless and violent. Piper couldn't place the battle historically, but suspected that perhaps it wasn't meant to illustrate a particular event. There were many characters embroidered in the scene which gave a sense of chaos, but they were so small that there wasn't enough room to put any detail on their faces. Still, Piper couldn't help but notice that in one corner there was a knight, dead on the ground with an arrow through his heart. He had dark hair and what looked like a favor on his arm.
"Foreboding, is it not?"
Piper was so startled by the voice that she nearly fell over in surprise. The Sheriff was standing just behind her. She had been so engrossed by the wall hanging that she did not hear his approach.
"Sir," she had no idea what she was about to say, but her mouth closed when she saw the calm, sad look in his eyes. She turned back to the tapestry. "I thought they were supposed to show pleasant things, like glorious victories, banquets, and unicorns under pomegranate trees." How could she have missed such a macabre thing in her own home for so many years?
"Tell me when was the last time you saw a unicorn, or a pomegranate tree for that matter? We create from what we know. The person who created this must have known loss." Piper considered his words. She didn't need anymore loss at the moment. What she could really use was hope.
"Have you heard the rumors that the Lionheart has returned to England?"
She looked at him sharply, but didn't answer. The news sparked a dozen thoughts questions in her mind, but he wasn't done speaking yet.
"Who knows what is truth anymore? I don't suppose it really matters right now. If he is back, he's for London, to reclaim the throne. By the time news of the hanging reaches him, it will be far too late. Those men were fools for following Locksley. Robert is an even bigger fool for starting this war against John. Perhaps I'm the biggest fool of all."
They were both silent. Piper looked at the tapestries again. She knew what she saw in them. She saw her fate with Much. One of them would die in battle, or the both of them would. There was hope for England, but not for them. She wondered what the Sheriff saw.
Tentatively she asked "Have they found the Lady Marian yet?"
His jaw tightened and his eyes shut briefly in an effort to control his emotions. "I only hope that Robert cares for her enough to keep her away from the fighting, and has the good sense to know that she will try to find a way no matter what he says. She is no fighter and John's men won't care that she is a woman. If she is found with the outlaws, they will kill her."
Piper was quiet again. She thought for a long time. Reflection was not one of her strengths, and she felt out of place doing it, but her thoughts were beginning to coalesce into one dangerous and consuming idea.
"Sir, maybe the time has come for a change of plans." When he didn't respond, she continued. "The ransom has been sent and whether the King be in England or still in some prison in the Holy Lands there is nothing more that this charade can accomplish."
A raised hand demanded Piper's silence, and she granted it. Philip didn't look at her. His eyes had grown cold. "What you are about to suggest is treason."
"Treason to a false king," she said softly.
"The world is a complicated place, Piper. I..." He cast a sideways glance at her. "I have my responsibilities."
There was another pause. Piper didn't understand what he meant. Surely his responsibilities were to the King and England. What responsibilities could require him to hang innocent men? She said nothing because she also had her responsibilities, and they were apparently not as complicated or confusing as his. Hers were to follow orders, no matter what.
"You're really willing to risk everything to do what is right, aren't you," asked Philip. Piper didn't answer. He didn't expect her to. "I wonder where you learned that from. It certainly wasn't me." He didn't give her a chance to respond. He left quickly, but made very little sound. She didn't wonder that he was able to sneak up on her in the first place.
After he was gone, Piper looked at the fallen knight one more time. She felt angry. The knight obviously had no sense, riding on horseback to meet an enemy face to face. No wonder he was killed. Robert of Locksley was just like the knight, waving his sword and loudly crying his defiance to a stronger enemy. The outlaws would never defeat Prince John and his army. They would die trying. Prince John would be expecting an attack from the outlaws. On the other hand, he would not expect a betrayal from one of his strongest supporters.
"We could defeat Prince John if we joined the outlaws tomorrow," she told the knight. "We could end all this tyranny and return England to the Lionheart's control in a day were it not for our damned responsibilities." The dead knight said nothing. He remained in a crumpled faceless heap as the battle continued in its one frozen moment. Piper shook her head and continued her restless pacing through the Manor, determined not to look at any more tapestries.
**********
Morning came with dreadful certainty. Miraculously, Piper was able to sleep through the last couple of hours before sunrise, though it gave her no rest. She moved through her morning routine in a trance, finding herself in the kitchen with no recollection of how she got there. Sarah was moving about in a nervous way, but Piper noticed a small smile competing with the heartsick worried one.
"Where has Milly been," Piper asked. The older woman was once again absent and Piper was concerned. Milly hadn't been in the best of health all spring. Piper had been so focused on the recent turn of events that she hadn't wondered about the servant's absence.
"She's been sent to Nottingham to help with Prince John and his men."
"Is that such a good idea? Her health..."
"She didn't have much of a choice. None of us do." Sarah seemed very busy, and not n the mood for conversation, so Piper left for the guard house. Richard was there, looking unhappy. Bear and Walter were exchanging hushed words while the rest of the guards went through the vague motions of preparing for the day's events. Piper joined Bear and Walter in the shadow of the guard house.
"All I'm saying is that I'm worried," said Walter. "Us siding with Prince John with rumors that the Lionheart is back in England. If the King hears about it, we'll be hanged without question."
"All we can do is follow orders. That's our job."
"Besides, hanging is too kind for traitors. We'll probably be locked in the tower and left to starve." Piper's attempt at levity was not well received by her comrades. She apologized so that they would stop frowning at her.
There was a stretch of time, which seemed like an eternity but couldn't have been more than a half hour when all of the guards waited. No one spoke to one another after Piper's comment. No one even made eye contact. They all floated in their own world, waiting for the inevitable.
As usual, Piper found distraction at the archery range. One arrow after another left her bow, each hitting the center of one of the six targets set up at the far end of the field. She wasn't aware of the passing of time like the others were, and so she was startled when a hand touched her shoulder. She spun around abruptly, stopping herself just short of shooting an arrow into Bear's gut. Bear regarded her cooly, unfazed by the incident. "It's time," he said. No other words were spoken. The two walked back to the group of gathering guards.
By the time they started marching towards Nottingham, the morning fog had burned away. It was a beautiful spring morning. Clear skies and singing birds threw into sharp relief their uncertain future. Piper was certain that it was supposed to be dark and gloomy and raining heavily. She needed more distraction. She decided to obtain it from Bear. The two of them brought the rear of the procession. They walked a few feet behind the rest of the guards so that if anything happened, there would be some space between them. Piper leaned over and quietly asked "How's Sarah?"
She could see him trying to hide the surprise on his face from the corner of her eye. But he recovered quickly and retaliated with an even quieter "How's the outlaw?"
Piper felt blood rush to her face and was glad that no one else could see her. "Does anybody else know?" Bear shook his head. "How long have you known?"
"Not for very long." Bear was being intentionally vague. He was enjoying watching her squirm. She returned the favor, remaining as vague as possible when he asked the same questions.
They arrived in Nottingham without incident, an hour before the execution was set. The people in the town were nervous. They avoided the guards as much as possible, keeping their eyes on the ground. There were very few people out near the edge of town, but the crowds grew denser as they neared the castle wall and the gallows. Spectators filled the space, all hoping to get a good view of the event. Prince John's men were already in place, except for the six that were to transport the outlaws. They watched the gathering crowd uneasily, holding their weapons in plain sight as means of communicating some unspoken threat.
Richard gave the order, and the guards spread out into the crowd. They didn't watch the crowd as they passed through it. They looked at individuals. There was Mr. Thomas the fletcher. His son had recently turned outlaw, and while he was not one of the outlaws captured, Mr. Thomas looked heartbroken and angry all at once. Just beyond him was Father Oliver. He was reciting scripture to a group of angry young men and women. He was a peaceful man, and it was obvious he was trying to calm their tempers with only mild success. Piper passed one good person after another, all showing various degrees of distress. There was nothing that she could do for them. She couldn't tell them that everything would be all right, because she didn't believe it herself. So she continued to pass by them, until a loud fanfare drew everyone's attention to the wall.
Prince John ascended to the top of the wall and proceeded to a fancy high backed chair that had been set out for him. It offered him the best view of the gallows in the whole town. He was followed by Maid Marian, who was trying to look seductive. She followed at a respectful distance. How had she managed to earn Prince John's interest so quickly, and what was she planning on doing with it? Behind her, the Sheriff looked even more unpleasant than usual. He kept his eyes focused several feet to the left of Marian, refusing to acknowledge her presence. When the Prince stopped at his throne he turned to Marian and spoke with a lecherous smile. Marian blushed, but nodded meekly. The Sheriff scrutinized the empty air even harder.
There was another fanfare. The trumpeters, who stood at posts on the wall at either end of the gate, heralded the coming of the prisoners. The crowd began to press forward in order to better see. Piper didn't look in the direction of the prisoners; she was too well trained for that. She watched the people around her. She was looking for something out of place. She found it in very little time. There was a man who was not pressing forward with the rest of the crowd. He fell to the back of the throng, where there was a little more space. His face was hidden by a hood, and he wore a long cape which obscured most of the rest of him.
Piper looked over to the gallows. The outlaws were being led up the platform and positioned, each by a noose. Their hands were bound tightly in front of them. She looked back to the crowd and scanned it. There were more hooded figures, most of them near the back. They were positioned in a semicircle surrounding the gallows and the crowd. A few of them were at the front of the crowd, very near the outlaws. John's men were watching the hanging and didn't see what was happening. Several of the guards, who were obviously more attentive than John' men, were moving into place to intercept the hooded figures.
Piper also began advancing on the nearest one to her. He was all the way at the back of the crowd and was moving with some ease. There were many people between her and her target, but there was an opening in the crunch of people not too far away, in the opposite direction. She headed there, thinking she would reach him faster that way.
On the gallows, nooses were being fitted around the outlaws' necks. On the wall, Prince John was eying Marian's cleavage. The Sheriff was eying his guards.
Piper cleared the crowd just as the hooded figure drew a bow from under his cape. It appeared to be aimed at the gallows. Piper drew her own bow, fitted it with an arrow, and shouted a warning. Townspeople, who were just noticing something more interesting than a hanging happening next to them began clearing out of the way at the sight of the drawn weapons. The archer turned, aiming his bow at her. His hood fell back.
Piper and Much stared at each other in frozen shock as screams of terror erupted from unarmed onlookers. "This seems oddly familiar," Piper groaned. Then all hell broke loose.