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I made a mistake. From now on, the story is from Marian's point-of-view. I will change the first chapter soon. So please be gentle about the POV change when you review. Thanks.
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The sheriff smiled cordially at both of us from the end of a wide oaken table. He lifted my hand in his own, and kissed it. His lips remained quite longer than necessary, as did his grip. I awaited release patiently as I was able, although my free hand fell absently to the hilt of my sword. I would need to curb my tongue if I was to gain all I wished.
The sheriff gestured kindly towards the chairs round the table. I gracefully accepted, and sat down in the chair left of the head. Richard planted himself on the right side with a loud bang. The sheriff stood patiently until both his guests were seated before sitting down himself - at the head. He smiled in that forced manner once again. From his mien, one would have supposed this was a friendly gathering. But it was truly a council of war.
I smiled cordially, though the mockery of joy was strained. I prayed that neither of the others in the room could decipher my facial expression.
"How are you this evening, my lady?" the sheriff questioned. My eyebrow convulsed. It had begun.
"I should be fine, my lord, but for the fact that my father has been imprisoned in this very castle," I returned. The sheriff's peaceful countenance went through a spasm of anger for a trice, but he quickly regained his calm. "I am deeply sorry for that, my lady, but it was, as you see, inevitable. He simply owed too much."
I chose not to argue. I would wait it out. "My lord," I began instead, "I will pay the debts, if need be. But is there some quicker manner of earning his release?" The false cordiality was getting to me.
The sheriff grinned. Perfect.
"Why, my lady, we are not here to discuss that. We are, instead, here to discuss a statement of young Richard's," he replied.
I started and snapped a glare at my betrothed. The weasel. He couldn't have known -
The outlaws.
"What might that statement be?" I asked, a little too quickly. The sheriff's smile dissipated. "I fear," he began, 'that Richard claims you have been consorting with a particularly troublesome band of outlaws, and their leader" His lips curled in utter loathing. "Robin Hood."
Damn it.
I jumped up in outrage. Time to play the lady. "How dare he?" I screeched, "How dare he accuse me of such a crime! I have never done such a thing! I would never-"
"Exactly what I said," the sheriff interrupted. I felt adrenaline rush through my veins. That was not the answer I had expected. The sheriff could take Whitby in one fell swoop if I proved a traitor and my father perished. Something was definitely wrong. What was the man up to?
"And so," he continued, "I propose that you and I prove him wrong." Richard's face contorted. He had not been expecting such a turn as this either.
"How?" I replied sweetly.
Again I had fallen victim.
"My captain of the guard has devised an excellent plan, dear. We shall capture the infamous bandit, therefore proving your loyalty to the crown and disloyalty to the rogue in one fell swoop."
I felt my heart wrench in my chest. Betray Robin. I could not. I refused to sink so low on the moral ladder. But my poor father.
"If I should not?" I snapped. My patience was greatly strained. The sheriff bowed his head. "Then I am afraid your father shall die in the dungeons." He looked back up, and waved a hand dismissively. "Oh, and you shall perish as well."
I bowed her head submissively. "I shall do it," I whispered. The sheriff patted my shoulder. "There's a good girl," he comforted.
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I made a mistake. From now on, the story is from Marian's point-of-view. I will change the first chapter soon. So please be gentle about the POV change when you review. Thanks.
********* ******* ******* ******
The sheriff smiled cordially at both of us from the end of a wide oaken table. He lifted my hand in his own, and kissed it. His lips remained quite longer than necessary, as did his grip. I awaited release patiently as I was able, although my free hand fell absently to the hilt of my sword. I would need to curb my tongue if I was to gain all I wished.
The sheriff gestured kindly towards the chairs round the table. I gracefully accepted, and sat down in the chair left of the head. Richard planted himself on the right side with a loud bang. The sheriff stood patiently until both his guests were seated before sitting down himself - at the head. He smiled in that forced manner once again. From his mien, one would have supposed this was a friendly gathering. But it was truly a council of war.
I smiled cordially, though the mockery of joy was strained. I prayed that neither of the others in the room could decipher my facial expression.
"How are you this evening, my lady?" the sheriff questioned. My eyebrow convulsed. It had begun.
"I should be fine, my lord, but for the fact that my father has been imprisoned in this very castle," I returned. The sheriff's peaceful countenance went through a spasm of anger for a trice, but he quickly regained his calm. "I am deeply sorry for that, my lady, but it was, as you see, inevitable. He simply owed too much."
I chose not to argue. I would wait it out. "My lord," I began instead, "I will pay the debts, if need be. But is there some quicker manner of earning his release?" The false cordiality was getting to me.
The sheriff grinned. Perfect.
"Why, my lady, we are not here to discuss that. We are, instead, here to discuss a statement of young Richard's," he replied.
I started and snapped a glare at my betrothed. The weasel. He couldn't have known -
The outlaws.
"What might that statement be?" I asked, a little too quickly. The sheriff's smile dissipated. "I fear," he began, 'that Richard claims you have been consorting with a particularly troublesome band of outlaws, and their leader" His lips curled in utter loathing. "Robin Hood."
Damn it.
I jumped up in outrage. Time to play the lady. "How dare he?" I screeched, "How dare he accuse me of such a crime! I have never done such a thing! I would never-"
"Exactly what I said," the sheriff interrupted. I felt adrenaline rush through my veins. That was not the answer I had expected. The sheriff could take Whitby in one fell swoop if I proved a traitor and my father perished. Something was definitely wrong. What was the man up to?
"And so," he continued, "I propose that you and I prove him wrong." Richard's face contorted. He had not been expecting such a turn as this either.
"How?" I replied sweetly.
Again I had fallen victim.
"My captain of the guard has devised an excellent plan, dear. We shall capture the infamous bandit, therefore proving your loyalty to the crown and disloyalty to the rogue in one fell swoop."
I felt my heart wrench in my chest. Betray Robin. I could not. I refused to sink so low on the moral ladder. But my poor father.
"If I should not?" I snapped. My patience was greatly strained. The sheriff bowed his head. "Then I am afraid your father shall die in the dungeons." He looked back up, and waved a hand dismissively. "Oh, and you shall perish as well."
I bowed her head submissively. "I shall do it," I whispered. The sheriff patted my shoulder. "There's a good girl," he comforted.
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