Chapter fourteen:
Marian's POV:
Father's whole body sagged with regret and loss. "No, please! Marian, you're not thinking straig-"
At the click of Sheriff Malcom's finger, one of the guards came forward and punched him in the stomach. My father doubled over in pain, clutching his bloody hands to his stomach. This only made the men laugh.
"What can I really say, Fredrick? You've brought this on yourself! This is what cowards deserve," Guy's father sneered.
"Shut up!" My mouth opened before I could stop myself, "My father is not a coward, you two are!"
This made Gisborne stride over, and grab my face. I wanted to punch him, but I knew that the punishment would only be worse, I let my hands stay by my side.
His greasy hand held my neck, so tight that it was a struggle to breathe. "Ah, I can see why Guy has such a keen interest in you. He will be overjoyed knowing that you will be staying with us for the forcible future."
My stomach turned.
"Will Guy also be overjoyed knowing that his father has to hide behind his guards, instead of doing the fighting himself?" I tried to keep my voice steady, but it was hard with his beefy knuckles closing in on my vocal cords.
"I'd watch your tongue, girl. Or else you'll find yourself with two dead parents!" He roared, spit flying into my face.
The sheriff tutted Gisborne, "We are not here to find your son a love match, Gisborne. Now, let's take the girl and go, I can stand being here much longer. The stench of cowards is making my nose itch!"
Gregory began to trudge off, but I needed to do something first.
"Wait! I have to get my belongings!" Rubbing my sore neck, I announced.
"What makes you think we will let you do that?" Malcom questioned, already bored.
"If I'm not back in five minutes, you can kill me and my father. I won't run away, knowing that my father will die!" I needed to say goodbye to William too.
"Fine, be quick!" Gregory grunted.
I'd never ran so fast in my life. Grabbing a bag, I filled it with a few more daggers, a drawing of mother that I had done years ago, and finally the note which robin had left me with. Wil I ever get a letter from him now that I was being taken away?
Heading to William's room, a black object caught my eye. It was the ring that Guy had given me, all of those years ago. I stuffed it in the bag. If Guy was at the castle, he would no doubt ask about it, and there was no point in giving them a reason to come back here!
Last stop: my little brother. Time was ticking, so I had to be quick.
William was curled up in a little ball, thumb still in his mouth.
"William, wake up!" I shook him, "Listen to me now, okay?"
He sat up slightly, rubbing his eyes.
"I have to go, and I won't be back for a while, but daddy will still be here! I can't explain, but I need you to know that I love you, and so do mummy and daddy."
Biting my tongue was the only way to bite back a sob.
"I wove you too, Mawian." He yawned, hugging me.
"Goodnight, Will," I hugged him tightly, before letting go and running back to my fate.
"Just in time," sheriff voiced, slightly disappointed that he would not get to kill father or I.
Father was released out of the guard's hold and wrapped me in a massive hug. "This is not goodbye, darling, I will come and get you!" He pulled back slightly, giving me a once-over.
I tried to steady my shaking body but it was no use, my sobbing was uncontrollable. His hand gripped my chin gently, bringing it up so that he was looking into my eyes.
"You look just like your mother; she couldn't be prouder of you!"
"Goodbye, daddy!" I wept, giving him one last hug.
"Goodbye, birdy! I love y-"
One second, I was in the warm embrace of my father, the next, two guards had me by the arms, and were dragging me towards the carriage.
Father looked helpless. He had lost his wife, his daughter, and his job, all in one night!
They pushed me into the back of a dark carriage, and it started to drive off. Looking out of the back window, I was faced with my father, on his hands and knees, wailing with grief. The lifeless body of my mother was behind him.
How would father and William cope? Knowing that mother was dead and that I had been taken away, who knows for how long?
Gregory and the sheriff were not in the carriage, I assumed that they were on horses, in front of the carriage. This left me alone, in the dark, rattling tin can. The moon was high in the sky now, but I didn't seem like I would be getting much sleep, not after the traumatic events I had witnessed tonight.
It seemed so long ago that I was sitting in the forest, my newly found arrow in my hands, watching the stunning sunset. Back then, I still had a mother, and my life wasn't in complete shambles. Now, at age fifteen, all I was left with was a dead mother, and I was being taken to a dark castle, so that no one would murder my father.
All of this on my birthday.
On top of all that, the love of my life and my best friend were in the Holy Land, fighting a war. My life was not a stunning painting anymore, but more of a black canvas.
The carried jolted to an immediate stop, forcing me out of my thoughts. Two guards came forward and opened the door, reaching inside and pulling me out.
It appeared that I was in the court yard of the castle. Gisborne and the sheriff were heading up the huge set of stairs leading to the entrance, when a guard stopped them.
The guard gestured back at me, probably asking where they should put me. Malcom looked mildly irritated at the interruption, and turned around, to face me.
"Why don't we put our guest of honour in…" he whispered something to the guard, who nodded and motioned for the two guards holding me to follow him.
The guards practically dragged me into a dark hallway, only lit by a couple dark braziers. After a couple more minutes of dragging, they shoved me and my little bag in a small cold, room. Then I heard a key turn, locking the door, sealing me in here for who knows how long?!
The room was pitch-black, except the tiniest bit of moonlight shining in through the curtains. So, all I could really make out was the small bed in the corner of the room.
Looking under the door, I caught a glimpse of a boot. Of course, there was a guard outside of my door!
I couldn't escape tonight, that's exactly what they would be expecting! I would have to bide my time, and escape when the chance arose.
Until them, I needed to sleep, so I flopped onto the bed, which made a creaking sound. Kicking off my boots, I laid up on the hard mattress, and started at the ceiling. The sheets felt dusty and old, so I just laid on top of them.
The dark had never been a massive fear of mine, spider and snakes more so. But tonight was different, the dark seemed, evil, like it was about to come out and reach for me, grabbing at my limbs. The shadows were closing in on me. All that I wanted was to be back in my warm, comfy bed at home. In a house where my mother was still alive, and where Much and Robin hadn't left.
Tomorrow, I would attempt at escape.
The night dragged on, and on. The guards outside my door changed at least twice, I could hear from their heavy footsteps. Moring could not have come sooner; it was almost as if the universe wanted me to feel alone forever. As if the cold would never leave my shivering body.
The sun rose up, shining its light into the room, the light allowed me to see what was inside of it. The small bed I was laying on took up most of the small vicinity, a little window (just about big enough for me to fit through) took its place on the wall adjoining to my bed, and a small chest of drawer's wall leaning against the wall opposite the window. This must be a servant's room.
An idea struck me suddenly, I leapt of off the bed and started to take the sheets off. By the time they were all off, I had enough material to work with. I would join them all together and tie it to one of the legs of the bed, and use it as a rope to climb out of the window. It was genius, I would be home in no time!
Peeing out of the window, the makeshift rope would drop me off roughly a meter off of the ground.
Thank God, I would be in the place for much longer! It was the morning, meaning that no one would be on high alert for a fifteen-year-old girl, sneaking out of a window. Tying the sheets to the bed leg, someone knocked at my door. Ignoring it, I hoped they would go away, so I could get back to my escape.
A gentle knock came again, "Um, Marian?" it was a girl's voice. How did she know my name, and what did she want?
I sped up the tying and made sure it was secure, by leaning my full weight onto the rope of sheets. It held, barely. Climbing onto the bed, my bag was strapped to my back, with my items inside of it, and began to wrap the rope around my hands, so that when I was in the right position, I could start climbing.
My hands were raised, ready to pull myself out of the window, when I heard a key turn, and the door was opened.
Weighing up my decisions, I could either keep climbing, in the hope of escape, or I could try and hide the sheets and escape when it was safer.
I didn't have time to do either.
Turing around, a girl was standing in the doorway, mouth slightly open, a key in her delicate hand.
Was she going to tell on me? What would the punishment for trying to escape be?
The girl was dressed nicely, in an expensive dress, with her hair tied up in a fancy way, that must have taken hours to achieve! Her hair was a sunshine blonde, and unbelievably shiny, her skin was on the tan side, darker than me, but with no freckles and her eyes were of a warm, chocolate brown.
She was beautiful.
The girl must have been related to someone of high nobility, because she was dressed so finely. That only made my stomach turn, she might be related to Gisborne or Malcom. Or worse, King Richard!
"At least you're putting those hideous bed sheets to use," she giggled, closing the door.
"You're not going to…" I gestured towards the door.
"Tell on you? No! Why would I report my only chance of having a friend to my rotten uncle?!" She laughed.
Only chance of having a friend? I thought but instead I said, "Your uncle?"
"Well technically, John's not my direct uncle, but we are related." She blushed, fiddling with the key.
"John, as in Prince John?" I asked, a little shocked.
"That's him. My name is Katherine, by the way, pleased to make your acquaintance." Katherine curtsied.
Jumping off of the bed and landing before her, I held out my hand and introduced myself.
"Marian, nice to meet you, too!"