To my complete surprise, I made it back to my room without incident. I thought for sure I'd get caught coming back; surely Will's breakout couldn't be this easy.
As I lay in my bed, my mind began to wander. Had I done the right thing? What if someone saw me and I didn't notice? But then, did that even matter? No, it didn't. In my heart, I know I did the right thing. Will seemed like a quiet boy. While he was an outlaw, he probably hadn't done anything horribly wrong. People were hanged for all sorts of silly, minute things these days.
And furthermore, Will was just part of a plan. I couldn't let him get hurt because of someone else. I wouldn't.
As for if someone saw me, I realized that it didn't matter either. For one thing, I'd have been arrested on the spot if I was seen. For another, I knew freeing Will was the right thing to do. With this thought in my head, I fell peacefully asleep for the first time in a while.
The next morning, I woke up to much shouting. There were bells and alarms going off. I could hear the clanking of the guards' swords and the thumping of their boots as they ran. Though they were about ten feet below my window, I still could hear the cacophony of voices clearly. I stretched, pulled on my robe, and approached the window. I looked down and couldn't help but smile.
The Sheriff was having an absolute fit. Still in his nightclothes, he was stomping about the public square, barking orders and hitting whoever was closest to him at the time. Guy was following him around, repeating his orders like some kind of parrot. The whole scene was comedic.
"There were guards posted outside his cell!" the Sheriff yelled, "Now someone needs to tell me: HOW DID HE ESCAPE?"
As I was watching the whole charade, a knock came at my door. I didn't even bother to tear my eyes away from the scene as I yelled, "Come in!"
Charlotte walked up beside me.
"Charlie, have you seen this?"
She nodded.
"Yes, didn't you hear? The outlaw escaped!" she looked around.
"Did I hear it?" I asked sarcastically just as the Sheriff was yelling something about the escaped outlaw. Charlotte glared at me.
"I'm serious! How can we expect to feel safe in our own castle if we can't even keep a measly, no-good outlaw inside?"
I had to fight the urge to stick up for Will. When did she inherit the right to judge people before knowing them? But, I kept my mouth shut. I turned back to the scene playing out before us. The Sheriff was so mad that he looked red, even from here. I stifled a laugh.
At that moment, I caught something out of the corner of my eye. I was sure I saw a shadow jumping into one of the towers. Then again, I had been up late. It was probably just a trick of the light.
Charlotte walked away from the window. I followed as she sat down on my bed. She was kneading her hands together, a tell I'd learn to suggest that something was upsetting her.
"Charlie, what's wrong?" I cautiously asked.
"I'm just worried. I don't like the fact that it seems that outlaws can come and go as they please! It's almost as if someone is helping them on the inside," she explained. Well, she wasn't that far off.
"Perhaps it was just luck on his part," I suggested. I hated seeing my friend so nervous. I took her hand and gave it a squeeze. She smiled appreciatively at me.
"Now, why don't you give me a moment to change and we'll go pick fruit in the garden. Fresh air ought to do us some good," I smiled and ushered her to the door.
Once she was out, I shut the door. I stood there for a few moments, trying to make sense of everything. The moment I turned to by bureau to pick out a dress for the day, I gasped in surprise, clutching my now rapidly beating heart.
"Robin!" I exclaimed. He chuckled, leaning lazily against my window.
"You really need to stop sneaking up on me like that!" I scolded him. He continued to laugh. I glared at him.
"My apologies," he smiled smugly. I continued to glare.
"Look, I just wanted to say thank you," he explained. I gave him a funny look.
"For saving Will," he finished. He gazed at me. Though he was still smirking, his eyes shone with something else. Could it be…gratitude?
"Well, you're welcome," I nodded, "Now would you please get out. In case you didn't hear, my friend is expecting me."
He didn't move.
"Robin, you need to go!" I stressed. He still didn't move.
"Will is very grateful, too."
"Okay, Robin, tell him it was my pleasure, now will you go!"
"Marian," he began. I waited. Finally, he sighed and shook his head.
"I'll see you, Marian," and with that, he jumped out the window. I fought the urge to run after him to see what he would do, how he would get out of the square. After all, it was crawling with guards. Instead, I went to my chest to pick out a dress. I pulled out a simple lavender gown. The short sleeves were loose and the dress billowed. It was quite comfortable. I braided a section of my hair to keep it from falling in my face.
Once I was ready, I pulled on a light cloak and headed outside. I found Charlotte sitting on a bench beneath an apple tree. As I walked up, I picked one and tossed it to her. She smiled. We sat there for a long time, just talking. It seemed to be good for her. We laughed. Conversation, I believe, kept her mind off the outlaws.
Before I knew it, the sun was beginning its descent over the horizon. We'd been out there all day! I could still faintly hear the Sheriff and guards running about in the square. I smiled to myself.
"What?" Charlotte asked. I glanced at her.
"Oh, nothing," I replied, "Come on, it's almost time for dinner." She nodded, linked arms with me, and the two of us went back inside the castle.
As we walked through the halls, we continued to talk. All of a sudden, Guy appeared in front of us.
"Hello, Sir Guy," Charlotte curtseyed and tried to drag me around him. He stepped in front of us.
"Um, Guy, if you keep this up we'll be late for dinner. The Sheriff is already having a bad day, would you care to make it worse?" Charlotte let go of me and put her hand on her hip. I had to stifle a giggle at my friend's sarcasm.
"I'm sorry milady, but we will not be having dinner in the dining hall tonight. It's too dangerous. If you would please go back to your rooms, a servant will bring you your supper there," he explained while ushering us back the other way.
"Wait, what's going on?" Charlotte demanded to know. I, however, continued to keep my mouth shut. It was fine with me if we weren't going to eat with the Sheriff. Good riddance!
"Nothing, just extra precautions," Guy answered a little too quickly. I gave him a funny look, but remained silent.
Once Charlotte was safely in her room, Guy walked me to mine. I couldn't part without figuring out what was happening.
"So…what is going on, Guy?" I asked.
"I told you Marian, just extra precautions," he explained without looking at me.
"Guy…" I pressed. I knew he wasn't telling me the truth, or the whole truth at least. He raised his eyes to mine and sighed.
"We think someone on the inside might have helped the outlaw escape," he whispered to me. The disgusting tone he took on when referring to the outlaw did not escape me.
"Well, who do you think it may be?" I asked after a bit. He shrugged.
"We have our suspicions, but no one really knows for sure. Don't worry Marian, we'll find whoever did this," he took my hand and gave it a squeeze. I smiled awkwardly before disappearing into my room.
I sat on my bed, finally alone with my thoughts. After a while, my servant, Sarah, came in carrying a simple meal. She placed it on my nightstand and sat on my bed next to me. Though this gesture would call for consequence anywhere else, Sarah was my friend. She would always listen to me and was the only person I would ever care to see when I first got here, besides Charlotte. She was the closest thing I had to a mother.
"What is it, Marian?" she asked, placing her hand over mine. I let out a long sigh.
"Can you keep a secret?" I asked, even though I knew the question was unnecessary. I could trust Sarah. She helped me get out of the castle on my own sometimes, but I asked her anyway.
She gave me an incredulous look. I smiled shyly.
"You know I can," she answered matter-of-factly.
"Well, do you know how they all think someone helped the outlaw escape?" I asked.
"Yes," she exaggerated.
"Well, they're right," I paused, "I helped him."
My eyes fell to the floor as I waited to hear what she would say. Would she condemn me or congratulate me? Would she turn me in? I thought that very unlikely, but my hands still shook slightly.
My fears, however, were put to rest as she pulled me into a hug.
"Good," she whispered. I hugged her back and buried my face in her shoulder. It felt good to finally let that out, to finally tell someone about what I'd done.
"So, do you think I did the right thing?"
"Well, if you didn't do it I would've found a way to do it myself," she smiled as we pulled away from each other.
"Oh, Sarah, what if they find out about what I've done!" I began to panic. I knew I'd done the right thing, Sarah knew I did the right thing, but there were quite a few people who thought I'd done the wrong thing.
"I'll be hanged for sure!" I jumped up and began pacing as I continued my rambling.
"They'll find out and take me away and I'll be hanged and I'll die. Oh Sarah, I don't want to die!"
"Marian!" she shouted. I faced her. When she shouted, it was time for me to listen.
"Marian, it's going to be fine. Nothing is going to happen to you! Guy would not let anything happen to you!"
I didn't like the fact that the son of my mother's murderer was my protection from a trip to the gallows, but she was right. He would do anything to keep me safe.
As I calmed down, Sarah led me back to the bed.
"Now, eat! I have some business to attend to," she ordered.
"Oh, business? What sort of business?" I asked playfully. She sent me a look and walked out. I ate, changed into my night clothes, and went to sleep.
What is Sarah up to? What will happen with the outlaw escape? R&R!